First of all, moderators of celestegame , please do not take this down, I know it is off-topic and meta but this is an extremely important matter that needs to be spoken about.
Hello. This is u/somepianoplayer , and I'm speaking for all the moderators (including myself on another account) and people of ModCoord in regards to celestegame
I'm just a normal redditor and moderator (in my other account), living about in my life, however something terrible has been disturbing me.
And it should be disturbing all of you.
The Management team of the reddit API has decided to drastically increase it's API's pricing 10 to 20 times, making it impossible for third-party reddit client's developers to maintain those clients.
​

• Why this is a problem:

1. Moderators: Many moderators use third-party programs and bots that interact with reddit's API and make moderating an infinite amount of times easier. I am an active moderator on another account on various subreddits and make use of those tools regularly. The destruction of those programs and bots, which provide superior customization, streamlined interfaces, spam, link-dumping, karma-farming content etc. blocking and other features that the official reddit interface does not provide, will significantly affect us moderator's abilities to provide and efficient form of of moderation, thus impacting the quality of content and the experience of not just us moderators, but also general reddit users.
2. Mature content: Mature content (also known as NSFW or 18+ content) is openly permitted on reddit. This includes s*xual , s*xually arousing content and gore content. I am not personally a part of communities with that premise, however there are people who depend on this kinds of content as a financial aid and would be severely impacted financially in their lives, as the new changes would completely render unable the access through the API to NSFW content. More importantly though, it is important to note that medical posts with inquiries about medical topics often get marked as NSFW, manly because similarity to gore on some aspects, and oftentimes this content does not even have to have an image attached to it for it to be considered gore. This would have severe backslash in healthcare, as many people (and sometimes people's pets) who are currently unable to receive medical attention would not even be able to get recommendations on medical topics, as comments would likely be flooded with SPAM, karma-farming content, link-dumping and other kinds of detrimental behavior that ruin the accessibility of content on subreddits.
3. Accessibility issues for people with disabilities: As of this date, the official reddit interface does not provide any kind of accessibility options, for example for people with hearing difficulty. The official reddit interface does not even attempt to implement any kinds of aid for these conditions, which is a feature that is already present in various third-party interfaces. This is practically a complete mockery of people with accessibility-related disabilities, and does not improve at all the image of Reddit Inc. , a corporation which is estimated to earn a revenue of over US$522.4 million per year.

• Furthermore, I would like to remind of a very important issue regarding the lack of transparent and consistent communication from reddit's management with one of the most important part of reddit's existence: the Moderators. It is estimated that we moderators collectively work for 466 hours a day, which is estimated to total about $3.4 million of unpaid work each year. In the past, there have been lots of sudden and immediate changes, as new features were launched and changes were made most times with very little notice, if any. This has created and will continue to create major disturbances and unexpected changes that lead to important repercussions us moderators have trouble keeping up. Entire subreddits have been created in order to address these issues, and promises to notice changes in advance have already been made and not been kept. Improvements have mostly been close to null, and us moderators usually are struggling to adapt to these changes. Also, on several occasions there have been inconsistencies between what and how reddit's management team claimed things would be changing and what and how things actually changed, which, again, gives us reason to place mistrust on reddit's official Administrators.

​
The objective of this protest
With this protest, we aim to come to a compromise with reddit's management team for the pricing of the API to be left unchanged or negotiated to a reasonable value. We aim to achieve this by creating a blackout in many subreddits, as we hope that if a sufficient amount of subreddits go private reddit will be forced to disengage or alleviate those changes. The blackout will start 2023-06-12 (ISO 8601 date format (YYYY-MM-DD)), that is, Monday, June 12th of 2023. Some subreddits will halt the blackout for 48 hours, some for 24, some indefinitely. We have already accumulated 4039 subreddits who will be taking part in this blackout, with a number of 18306 moderators being part of the movement, with a collective userbase across all subreddits of 1,666,413,302 users (not unique, duplicate between subreddits) .
Celeste is a beautiful game and I love it a lot, in fact I would say it is one of my favorites, if not my favorite game. It will be sad that this subreddit has to go private but I assure you it will be worth it. I know this will be a difficult decision but I beg you to consider it, as this will be a very important moment in reddit's history.
​

• For an incomplete and still growing list of subreddits that have joined the blackout and have over 50000 joined users, check here . For an incomplete and still growing list of subreddits that have joined the blackout and have under 50000 joined users (it had to be separated due to text limitations) check here .
• For more information on the subject, check here .
• Other sources of data: English Wikipedia site on Reddit

​
As much as indefinitely would definitely be the most effective, we know that this may not be possible, so we urge you to join the blackout for as much time as you possibly can. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance, written for the celestegame community by u/somepianoplayer .

Many years after Steven left Beach City, Lapis and Peridot become a couple. One day, a homeworld gem, Blue Glass, come ask Lapis for help. Glass Planet is now in danger again.
Since Glass Planet’s galactic warp is broken, so they have to take the spaceship. On their way to the Glass Planet, Lapis told Peridot that she doesn’t really want to go on this mission. When they arrive, since this is informal invitation, they get shot by the anti-aircraft artillery. After Gem Empire collapses, some planets chose to be independent nations, Glass Planet is now also Glass Kingdom.
Glass Planet’s energy core is about to meltdown, and Glass gems want Lapis to control water to cool it down. 7000 years ago, Glass Planet met the same problem. Lapis, and her partner then, another Peridot, was also here for help. However, they had an argument, so Lapis decided to take care of the problems on her own way. She said/sang something about how she didn’t care about Peridot, and the Peridot was really sad, so she decided to report Lapis for not following the protocols. As a high ranking gem, Lapis’s punishment was not so bad: she was sent to earth.
Lapis does the same thing this time. She uses water and freezes it into a ice sphere. However, this time she hasn’t solve the problems. Peridot expected this may happen, so she takes her devices to help Glass Planet. Lapis is disappointed: “Did you... expect me to fail?”. She realized that after many things happened on her, she is now unable to use her all powers.
Thus, Lapis decides to go to the place where she was hurt the most: the Earth’s ocean. On her way back to earth, Lapis starts thinking about her past: Earth was beautiful, but then she got dragged into a war. She was trapped inside a mirror, and then freed by Steven, but then trapped by Jasper. Most of her life is about being trapped by something or someone.
At the same time, Peridot is also trying to control the situation. She tells the new leader Glass Princess that she wants to be strong enough to protect Lapis, even though she is a Era 2 inferior gem. She wants to prove to Lapis that they she doesn’t need her protection.
Lapis stands onto the former earth galactic warp surrounded by ocean. It is still broken. She then notices something green underwater. It is Peridot’s limb enhancer. She grabs the limb enhancer, and put it inside Peridot’s room in the little homeworld. When she is about to leave, she sees that Lapidot forgot to close her tablet, and it is playing some audio, so she decides to hear it.
“Log Date 12 15 2, I know it is hard to get accustomed to a different environment, but I am glad am not alone. Lapis is the most important gem in my life, even though I know I am inferior to her, I still want to try my best to protect the gem I love. Earth is really weird, but this is now our home, I want to fight for it, I want to fight for her.”
Lapis suddenly cries. Then Blue Glass comes. They fixed the Glass Planet Warp, so Lapis and Blue Glass immediately return to Glass Planet. The situation is now worse, the Planet starts melting, and it won’t take too long before it explodes into shards. The core is also collapsing, but Peridot is till inside trying to fix it, so Lapis goes inside, too.
The core collapses, and Peridot and Lapis is now trapped. Lapis tells Peridot that she is sorry about leaving her alone. “If this is really our end, I have something to sing to you.”
Lapis thinks that she is always being trapped and betrayed, until Peridot met her. She is always alone, until Peridot came into her life. When Lapis finishes her song, Peridot gives Lapis a kiss, but the core is still melting. Then, someone come to help. Pearl and Amethyst come here after they know about the situation, and with all four of them, they finally fix the core and save the day.
In the end, Peridot tells Lapis that she has many things want to record, and Lapis says that she made many things want to draw. The ending scene is the night after “Hit the Diamond”, Peridot gave her a new recorder, and then she blushed and smiled.

Greetings fellow internet people (and the unpaid intern working for OpenAI who has to classify this, stay strong).
In the hope to avoid you boring paragraph about me, my deepest wishes, my Life, the Universe and Everything, here's Q/A valiantly illustrated :
What am I looking for with this post?
Good question, in short I'll say True Love™, the one that only exist in movies.
I once realized that I wake up alone, eat alone, come home from work alone and most importantly I have to decide alone what to cook. Rince and repeat every day. Of course it could be worse.
I acknowledge that it might be a brief exciting moment of hopeful messages, lasting approximately 60 seconds, before ghosting. But I cling to a flicker of hope, yearning for a lasting relationship in which we make plans, spend great moments, move in together and die.
Bots are welcome too ofc, I don't want to miss again an opportunity to win a ludicrous amount of currencies.
Do I seriously think Reddit is a good place for that ?
No obviously, but I've run out of ideas :/
Also, all the alternatives involve socializing first IRL, which is scary.
Let's start with the basics, what is my resume ?

• 175cm / 60kg / dark hair the last time I've checked.
• I have a master degree in computer science, now I work as a programmer in the family's vineyard. My work is very important to me and I struggle to maintain any semblance of work-life balance. Who needs personal time, right?.
• Clean records. Impressive, I know.
• This is me.
• Despite appearances, I assure you, I am an actual adult, I have a favourite pan, I'm scared of teenagers and I'm confused with taxes.
• I don't drink or smoke (just so you know I like to keep things as dull and monotonous as possible).

What are my hobbies / things I like ?

• DIY (just for the thrill of accidentally maiming myself)
• Gardening and maintaining alive several dozen a few of useless and ungrateful plants.
• hurting myself with fake scenario.
• Wasting my time on reddit, video games or movies.
• Cooking.
• Listening to music : Power Metal, Lady Gaga, Symphonic Metal, Aqua etc. Still unsure how this is relevant, but a saw a lot of people including that, so I did too.
• Cats. When I grow up I will have one.

What are the things I don't like ?

• Alarm clock.
• Slow drivers when I'm already running late because I conveniently snoozed said alarm clock.
• Industrial food.
• Latest "evolutions".
• Peopley or noisy area.
• Irony.
• Lists.

What is my personality ?
As you may have cleverly deduced, i'm slightly introverted, kinda boring and I seriously lack of social and conversational skills.
But fear not! I have self-psychoanalyzed myself and I'm actually fairly happy with my life now even if I think I'm missing something.
Nevertheless, I still hope to find someone one day, I've heard it's nice to be in a relationship.
What about LDR ?
No, not on the long run, even if I understand there is many amazing people around the globe (?).
While looking for someone who shares my desire for a fulfilling, in-person connection, I like my place here, both in my job and personal life. That's why I'm looking for someone who's open to the possibility of joining me if things click. I want to be clear about this upfront to avoid dead-end situation later on.
Also my English is somehow limited
Do you have poor judgment and some extra free time? Don't hesitate to send me a message!
PS1 : Yes, I am aware that this unconventional dating advertisement may not meet the traditional standards. My apologies for any disappointment caused.
PS2 : I'm not looking for something complicated, if you like complicated things, then it'll be too complicated.
PS3 : If you feel like it, I would also appreciate a pic just to know to who I am speaking :)

Hello, I'm an adult but I was getting severally bullied in college and it spilled into my everyday life because I think he put me online to be mocked and strangers started to join in on the bullying. It's people talking shit and insulting me in real life just because they can deny it after, ive seen such evil sneaky shit in real time. Don't know me and don't care to know they just take out their aggression on someone. Its like they are trying to trigger anger and a scene on purpose. It's like whatever is out there people are justifying their hatred. Quick to forgive celebrities but want to tear me apart. I'm human too remember? Im tired of the wickedness I see with people.
I hate people now and distrust everyone equally. People can be so low, I did unacceptable shit as a child for a brief moment where I bullied someone because I was bullied, but I regret it till this day and was mostly bullied just the same by people i wanted to impress, obviously I've grown up years from that and know and do better but devils can't seem to grow up and want to tear me down any sneaky chance they get, this world is full of evil people.
Feel like most people are demons walking at this point. I can't see any good anymore. I'm not looking to be convinced there is, that naive me was dissociated from her abuse and delusional. Grown up me sees the world for the wicked place it is. I was told once that there are more good than bad people in the world but that's such absolute bullshit.

“I never should have married you,” Kimmy sighed as she leaned back against her Corolla.
That wasn’t the reassurance I wanted from the love of my life. But considering how shitty the night had been, the news wasn’t particularly shocking.
She smiled, and it was just the saddest thing. “You know how you won me over, Russ?” she asked, her wavy hair falling over an elfish year in a way that always made my breath hitch.
“I have to give myself credit,” I responded, forcing a grin. “How many people would save a stranger from a barfight?”
Her eyes drifted awkwardly to the side.
“…you said that winning the fight was the sexiest thing you’d ever seen.”
Kimmy’s eyes slid further.
An awkward silence hung.
“Do you know how big that guy was who wanted to kick your ass for flirting with me?” she pressed, finally interrupting the crickets.
I shrugged. “About my height, I think.”
Kimmy wrinkled her nose. “No, that was his friend. He came in to help the collegiate defensive tackle with arms as thick as your head.”
I squirmed. “I thought the guy who punched me was the only other person in the fight.”
Kimmy wrinkled her forehead. “That guy just wanted in on the asskicking you were about to get.”
“Oh.”
“Yep.”
“So… what happened to Mr. Defensive Tackle?” I pressed, confused.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Wait – did you cripple him?”
“I found out later that he never played football again.” She scratched her nose. “I actually don’t feel guilty.”
I nodded slowly. “So you were impressed with how I beat up his shitbag friend?”
She pursed her lips.
My jaw fell. “Did you do your paralyzing trick on him just before he and I fought?”
“You were going to get pounded through the floor, Russ!” she answered defensively.
“I could have held my own,” I whispered.
“He was half-paralyzed and you still barely beat him.” She folded her arms.
I stared down at my crossed legs. “So everything was a lie from day one. You never liked me at all.”
“That’s not true, Russ!” she shot back, grabbing two fistfuls of her hair in frustration. “How do you not get it by now?”
“Maybe the lying has confused me!” I shot back, my heart racing.
She covered her face. Kimmy looked so small in that moment; I had always felt like her protector, and it crushed me to know that she had never needed it.
“I liked you because you were going to get your ass kicked, and you flew to my side anyway. I thought it was cute. I thought you were cute.”
We paused.
“Well, I guess I am kind of charming, from a certain point of view.”
We looked at each other. Pissed as I was, she still made my heart flutter.
“We’re not supposed to marry outside of our kind,” she continued. “So I told myself that I wasn’t falling for you, that it was only a fling. But you were always so desperate for just one more date.”
I shrugged. “You were the hottest girl I’d ever gone out with. I wanted to keep seeing you.”
Her nostrils flared. “I know. And it caught me by surprise when that approach made me want to keep seeing you.” She closed her eyes. “My Tribe had been in this town 106 years when you and I got married in 2019. Our current matron is a woman named Charybdis. When I told her that you and I were getting married, she nearly excommunicated me.” Kimmy rubbed her upper arms, glancing around, anxious. “I was advised not to have children – and that if I did, and that child had Abilities, that I would have to take the baby and leave you.”
A chill settled in my stomach. “And if the baby couldn’t do your… magic shit?”
Her face went blank. “Then I would have to surrender it to Charybdis for a Devouring.”
I wanted to puke. “Does that mean-”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
Kimmy took in a deep breath before staring up at the dark sky. Though she sat just a few feet away from me, my wife was half-obscured in shadow as the moon revealed only what parts of her it saw fit. “I told myself that I wouldn’t get pregnant. Then,” her voice trembled, “I did get pregnant, and everything changed.” She blinked quickly. “Sometimes, there are only wrong answers, and you have to pick what burns your loved ones the least.”
“I’m hoping that means you were never going to feed Ella to your Tribe.”
Kimmy glared at me. “No.”
“So you were just going to wait and see if she had Abilities, then run out on me either way.”
Her face melted in sadness. “What better decision could I have made?” she asked, her voice pleading.
I folded my arms. “You could have told me the truth, and we’d have run away together, Kim!”
She closed her eyes and shook her head, wavy hair bouncing. “They would have chased us, and you’d have gotten your ass kicked immediately, Russ. What’s the point in starting a lifetime journey that would kill you in one night?”
“Because some things are worth getting your ass kicked for!” I shouted, rising to my feet. “In high school, all I did was play video games and gobble bean burritos six hours a day. Do you know the last time I played a video game?”
“Yesterday,” she deadpanned.
“Yeah, but for only like twenty minutes! Kimmy, I can’t go back to a time before you and Ella were the greatest inconveniences in my life!”
The dappled moonlight couldn’t hide her beaming smile. I wanted that fact to make me happy. But a chill crawled up my spine from the inside, licking the crevices between each vertebra as it worked its way into my skull. The fear lapped like a cat, just like a hungry cat, at the vulnerable folds of my brain. Kimmy’s smile turned to abject horror.
I didn’t want to turn around. If my wife and daughter weren’t nearby, I’m sure I would have died browning my underpants as I ran away screaming.
But I had to face what was behind me.
My heart didn’t just fall; it melted. The creature almost would have been human if it didn’t have a circular wound where her mouth should have been; it looked like a vertical Sarlacc pit. When she spoke, her words made me feel like I was receiving an unsolicited rimjob from a snowman.
“Touching story,” she clucked. “Ridiculous, but touching.”
“Russ,” Kimmy whispered in a voice that sounded like cracking glass, “it’s Charybdis.”
I wanted to say something clever, but my mouth wouldn’t make the words go.
“We had an agreement,” Charybdis croak-slurped. “It will be honored, with or without your consent.”
My world changed as she stepped closer, casting moonlight over her full figure. Satan only knows what supernatural abilities this thing had, because she had taken our daughter without either of us noticing, and now held a sleeping Ella in her arms.
“Please,” Kimmy begged, too broken for tears.
“I have a right to the child,” Charybdis pressed, stepping closer. “Are you going to resist, Kim – or will you make a prudent choice for the first time in your life?”
“Look – I don’t know what fucked-up supernatural methods you’ll use to beat the shit out of me, though I know it’s going to suck,” I roared, afraid of my own false bravery. “But you have no right to my daughter.”
Charybdis cocked her head. “Kim? He seems confused. Can you explain to him why I very much have a right to this child?”
I didn’t want to take my eyes off of Charybdis – but even without looking behind me, I could tell that Kimmy was hyperventilating.
I clenched my fists, praying that Ella would stay asleep as I died.
“Russ,” Kimmy gasped, her words coming in short bursts, “She’s been hunting for Ella since she was born. Charybdis is my mother.”
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im an old addict to fapping i would say not just porn because if i dont do the fapping i wont watch it just for fun
anyway im on my sixth attempt day 5 i had the urge to relapse and yesterday i was about to but when i wanted to do it i simply put my phone down and went out.
so i believe that it was me who wanted to relapse and i felt so bad yesterday but i hope i keep it like that this shit ruined my life i cant do anything i dont enjoy studying anymore i dont enjoy games i got depression two times i really want to make it this time i dont like beign like this my whole life
also if anyone got any advice on how to avoid relapsing i really want to learn on how are other people doing to stop themself
stay safe and have a wonderful day

My boyfriend and I have been together almost a year now. We moved in together very early on in our relationship and I’m positive he’s the love of my life. We have an incredibly healthy relationship which we both admire and acknowledge often. We push each other to be the best versions of ourselves both in our careers and personal lives and it’s built on a foundation of strong communication skills. In just the year of being together, we both helped each other in many ways. I exercise more because he inspires and pushes me to do that and read books he has shown me that have developed my personal growth. As a financial planner, I have helped him in an area that he wasn’t really good at before meeting me that he was able to save six figures in a matter of months from having me push him to being disciplined in spending habits and learning to invest. These are just a few examples and there are plenty of others in how we have flourished as individuals as a result of being together. We really have never had any major arguments as a result since we talk everything through logically and always look out for each others feelings. I have been through a lot in my life (battled cancer when I was young, broke off an engagement 2 years ago, etc) that when I met him, I knew what we had was special so I avoid ever nagging at him or picking fights because at the end of the day I love him a lot and enjoy having a blissful relationship very much. He tells me on a daily basis that he can’t wait to propose to me and have kids with me in the near future (1-2 years). We talk about life goals and aspirations and how we will get there together. We also have incredible sexual chemistry. We have sex regularly and we get nasty in bed to fully please one another.
Lately, my boyfriend has been too tired to have as much sex as we once did. It has made me craving it more and we bickered a handful of times but last night, we had our very first major argument… Basically, I went away for a work conference for the entire week. While at the conference, I ordered online a door sex swing to spice things up in the bedroom. It’s also worth noting that he had a toxic relationship in his early 20s and he told me early on in dating that the only reason why he stayed with that girlfriend who was incredibly toxic was because the sex was incredible. He had mentioned they had a sex swing that he got for her and I told him that I would love to try that and he said he would enjoy that with me as well. I paid an extra $15 to overnight it so it can get in by the time I got back from the conference. I got back Thursday late afternoon and sure enough the package was there. I told him I got a surprise and he loved it when he opened it up and set it up excitedly right away. He started teasing me on it and saying once he’s done with work, he’s gonna please me tonight from how much he missed having me all week. We ended up going out to dinner and he ordered dessert to go so we can enjoy the dessert in our sexual activities planned for the night. I was getting tingly down there from the excitement. By the time we got home and settled, he said he was too tired and to save the swing and sex in general for tomorrow night. Even though I was upset, I accepted it and said that I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Friday morning we woke up, worked out, and worked from home together with having an easy work day. We got massages after work and went over my parents for dinner. I noticed when he overeats, his sexual desires diminishes so on the way to my parents we joked about not eating a lot of food for the festivities we had planned for the evening when we get back home. Even while eating dinner we joked about it under the radar. I noticed he was eating way too much so I told him to slow down and my parents said why, it’s a Friday let him enjoy this food and he said,”well your daughter wants to go for a run after this which is why we are trying to eat light.” (going running is code for sex). We then watched the basketball game on the couch and I saw him get more and more comfortable to the point he said,”let’s save it for tomorrow, I’m tired again.” My heart shattered. I was so excited to have sex that night that I was literally throbbing down there all day and night. I got upset but didn’t say anything. Just kept watching the game saddened that I striked out again. By the time we drove off, the argument started. He went on to say that he doesn’t like being pressured into having sex and we should have it when we both feel like it. I expressed to him how I don’t feel as desired in the bedroom as I once did and my emotions carried me to say that he seemed to enjoy the sex so much with his toxic ex girlfriend and asked why he can’t just make the extra effort tonight to have sex with me, the non toxic loving girlfriend. He said he doesn’t appreciate me bringing up his past especially because it was nearly a decade ago and he’s 32 and a grown man now. I continued to express how it was upsetting that I haven’t seen him all week and was really looking forward to making love and respected it last night when he said he was tired since it was a weeknight but the fact that it’s Friday and only 10pm and he can’t give it to me makes me feel insecure. He said he is simply tired and went on to say,”I don’t want to be with someone who nags at me for sex and I don’t like the fact that you carry your emotions on your face like the way you just did at your parents while watching the game when I told you it’s not happening tonight.” I got quiet and said,”do you not want to be with me?” he said,”I want to be with you. I just need you to know that I’m willing to walk away from someone who acts the way you’re acting right now.” I apologized and told him I would be more self aware of my facial expressions moving forward and won’t nag at him for sex ever again and will keep it to myself. The rest of the car ride was silence. I teared up a bit because the fact he threatened a breakup like that was heart shattering. When we got home, I got out the car and gave him a kiss and hugged him. When we got in bed, I expressed that I don’t appreciate threatening a breakup especially when we both know we have such a healthy relationship. He said he loves me to death but is “keeping tabs” when I anger him to that degree because we are not married and again, he’s willing to walk away if he sees a quality in me he’s not willing to live with for the rest of his life. I’m writing this in the middle of the night because I can’t fall asleep. I’m pretty hurt. I understand I was in the wrong in that situation but again, him wanting to contemplating jumping ship the minute there’s adversity from a relationship that is peaceful and blissful 99% of the time is very hurtful. How should I go about this tomorrow morning when he awakes? Move on and learn from this?
TL;DR: In an otherwise healthy, supportive relationship, my boyfriend and I hit a roadblock over differing sexual expectations. I bought a sex swing to spice things up after he expressed his exhaustion, referencing a similar experience with an ex. But he’s been too tired for any activity, causing our first major argument. Despite his alarming threat of break-up, I'm left confused and seeking advice on how to move forward.

I made it out of everything alive to type this up. Unfortunately, not everyone else did.
“I never should have married you,” Kimmy sighed as she leaned back against her Corolla.
That wasn’t the reassurance I wanted from the love of my life. But considering how shitty the night had been, the news wasn’t particularly shocking.
She smiled, and it was just the saddest thing. “You know how you won me over, Russ?” she asked, her wavy hair falling over an elfish year in a way that always made my breath hitch.
“I have to give myself credit,” I responded, forcing a grin. “How many people would save a stranger from a barfight?”
Her eyes drifted awkwardly to the side.
“…you said that winning the fight was the sexiest thing you’d ever seen.”
Kimmy’s eyes slid further.
An awkward silence hung.
“Do you know how big that guy was who wanted to kick your ass for flirting with me?” she pressed, finally interrupting the crickets.
I shrugged. “About my height, I think.”
Kimmy wrinkled her nose. “No, that was his friend. He came in to help the collegiate defensive tackle with arms as thick as your head.”
I squirmed. “I thought the guy who punched me was the only other person in the fight.”
Kimmy wrinkled her forehead. “That guy just wanted in on the asskicking you were about to get.”
“Oh.”
“Yep.”
“So… what happened to Mr. Defensive Tackle?” I pressed, confused.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Wait – did you cripple him?”
“I found out later that he never played football again.” She scratched her nose. “I actually don’t feel guilty.”
I nodded slowly. “So you were impressed with how I beat up his shitbag friend?”
She pursed her lips.
My jaw fell. “Did you do your paralyzing trick on him just before he and I fought?”
“You were going to get pounded through the floor, Russ!” she answered defensively.
“I could have held my own,” I whispered.
“He was half-paralyzed and you still barely beat him.” She folded her arms.
I stared down at my crossed legs. “So everything was a lie from day one. You never liked me at all.”
“That’s not true, Russ!” she shot back, grabbing two fistfuls of her hair in frustration. “How do you not get it by now?”
“Maybe the lying has confused me!” I shot back, my heart racing.
She covered her face. Kimmy looked so small in that moment; I had always felt like her protector, and it crushed me to know that she had never needed it.
“I liked you because you were going to get your ass kicked, and you flew to my side anyway. I thought it was cute. I thought you were cute.”
We paused.
“Well, I guess I am kind of charming, from a certain point of view.”
We looked at each other. Pissed as I was, she still made my heart flutter.
“We’re not supposed to marry outside of our kind,” she continued. “So I told myself that I wasn’t falling for you, that it was only a fling. But you were always so desperate for just one more date.”
I shrugged. “You were the hottest girl I’d ever gone out with. I wanted to keep seeing you.”
Her nostrils flared. “I know. And it caught me by surprise when that approach made me want to keep seeing you.” She closed her eyes. “My Tribe had been in this town 106 years when you and I got married in 2019. Our current matron is a woman named Charybdis. When I told her that you and I were getting married, she nearly excommunicated me.” Kimmy rubbed her upper arms, glancing around, anxious. “I was advised not to have children – and that if I did, and that child had Abilities, that I would have to take the baby and leave you.”
A chill settled in my stomach. “And if the baby couldn’t do your… magic shit?”
Her face went blank. “Then I would have to surrender it to Charybdis for a Devouring.”
I wanted to puke. “Does that mean-”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.”
Kimmy took in a deep breath before staring up at the dark sky. Though she sat just a few feet away from me, my wife was half-obscured in shadow as the moon revealed only what parts of her it saw fit. “I told myself that I wouldn’t get pregnant. Then,” her voice trembled, “I did get pregnant, and everything changed.” She blinked quickly. “Sometimes, there are only wrong answers, and you have to pick what burns your loved ones the least.”
“I’m hoping that means you were never going to feed Ella to your Tribe.”
Kimmy glared at me. “No.”
“So you were just going to wait and see if she had Abilities, then run out on me either way.”
Her face melted in sadness. “What better decision could I have made?” she asked, her voice pleading.
I folded my arms. “You could have told me the truth, and we’d have run away together, Kim!”
She closed her eyes and shook her head, wavy hair bouncing. “They would have chased us, and you’d have gotten your ass kicked immediately, Russ. What’s the point in starting a lifetime journey that would kill you in one night?”
“Because some things are worth getting your ass kicked for!” I shouted, rising to my feet. “In high school, all I did was play video games and gobble bean burritos six hours a day. Do you know the last time I played a video game?”
“Yesterday,” she deadpanned.
“Yeah, but for only like twenty minutes! Kimmy, I can’t go back to a time before you and Ella were the greatest inconveniences in my life!”
The dappled moonlight couldn’t hide her beaming smile. I wanted that fact to make me happy. But a chill crawled up my spine from the inside, licking the crevices between each vertebra as it worked its way into my skull. The fear lapped like a cat, just like a hungry cat, at the vulnerable folds of my brain. Kimmy’s smile turned to abject horror.
I didn’t want to turn around. If my wife and daughter weren’t nearby, I’m sure I would have died browning my underpants as I ran away screaming.
But I had to face what was behind me.
My heart didn’t just fall; it melted. The creature almost would have been human if it didn’t have a circular wound where her mouth should have been; it looked like a vertical Sarlacc pit. When she spoke, her words made me feel like I was receiving an unsolicited rimjob from a snowman.
“Touching story,” she clucked. “Ridiculous, but touching.”
“Russ,” Kimmy whispered in a voice that sounded like cracking glass, “it’s Charybdis.”
I wanted to say something clever, but my mouth wouldn’t make the words go.
“We had an agreement,” Charybdis croak-slurped. “It will be honored, with or without your consent.”
My world changed as she stepped closer, casting moonlight over her full figure. Satan only knows what supernatural abilities this thing had, because she had taken our daughter without either of us noticing, and now held a sleeping Ella in her arms.
“Please,” Kimmy begged, too broken for tears.
“I have a right to the child,” Charybdis pressed, stepping closer. “Are you going to resist, Kim – or will you make a prudent choice for the first time in your life?”
“Look – I don’t know what fucked-up supernatural methods you’ll use to beat the shit out of me, though I know it’s going to suck,” I roared, afraid of my own false bravery. “But you have no right to my daughter.”
Charybdis cocked her head. “Kim? He seems confused. Can you explain to him why I very much have a right to this child?”
I didn’t want to take my eyes off of Charybdis – but even without looking behind me, I could tell that Kimmy was hyperventilating.
I clenched my fists, praying that Ella would stay asleep as I died.
“Russ,” Kimmy gasped, her words coming in short bursts, “She’s been hunting for Ella since she was born. Charybdis is my mother.”
BD
W
E

It is our great pleasure to announce that LaserSeagulls is our Photographer of the Week. This accolade has been awarded based upon the number of votes during week 21, with this post having received the most when searching by top submission: https://www.reddit.com/analog/comments/13psnp9/spring_fest_olympus_xa_color_plus_200/

• How long have you been taking photographs?

Off and on for 15 years. I got burned out on yearbook staff in high school and took a break for college, but then some exciting work related trips got me back in to digital and then film.

• Why do you take photographs? What are you looking to get out of it?

I take photos to document my life and my family. I love being able to capture moments and scenes in a physical medium that should out last me. I want to create a concise body of work that serves as a highlight reel of my life for me to look back on.

• What inspired you to take this (group of) photo(s)?

My wife and I are transplants in Germany; and after COVID cancelled all of the festivals for the past few years I wanted to document our first one together on film. The day we went was absolutely beautiful; and the colors of the fest and everyone’s traditional dress looked amazing when we were on the swing ride!

• Do you self develop or get a lab to process your film?

Self develop and scan; the cost savings are worth my time for me and I think its fun.

• What first interested you in analog photography?

While planning a trip to Iceland I stumbled upon a well-known analog YouTuber and instantly fell in love with his work there. I had been getting pretty heavy in to the Fuji system but wanted to dabble in the real deal. The next day I bought a half broken Rollei XF35 and 3 rolls of Ektachrome to bring on my own trip.

• What is your favourite piece of equipment (camera, film, or other) and why?

My Olympus XA and XA2. They are so easy to carry on trips so I end up getting a lot more shots than if I had brought a larger or more expensive camera!

• Do you have a tip or technique that other film photographers should try?

Shoot more black and white to practice; and bulk load and home develop if you can! With the price of color film ever increasing, bulk loaded black and white is a great way to refine your skills and experiment for a rather affordable price.

• Do you have a link to more of your work or an online portfolio you would like to share?

@brittonhaynes on Instagram

• Do you have a favourite analog photographer or analog photography web site you would like to recommend?

My good friend Andrew Bogard, he has been a huge inspiration and I’ve learned a lot from shooting with him.

• Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself or your photography?

I am a strong believer that you are your best critic. If you like your photos, that’s all that matters at the end of the day!

“Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this just came,” said Slayer with an expression that was unreadable as usual. “You two are no longer at the top.”
The revelation was a harsh one, but the duo to whom it involved remained stoic as befitting of their statuses and personalities. Sol Badguy, one of the most accomplished and infamous bounty hunters in the world, shifted in his seat and rubbed his chin. Right next to him, Leo Whitefang, Second King of Illyria, brushed his beard ponderously.
“So this is it, huh?” said Sol. “Figures.”
“This is an outrage,” Leo proclaimed. “Who could ever surpass us?”
During this peace and quiet time where the flame of war was a memory of the past, Sol and Leo had teamed up with the goal of becoming the number one pornstar in Neo New York where the industry was booming. Things went smoothly at first despite their lack of experience. Aside from being hailed as the heroes who saved humanity, both possessed impressive figures that easily caught the attention if not the desire of every beholding man.
In the years after his temporary retirement, Sol’s appearance had also adapted to accommodate his new job. Even Leo was shocked to see how much Sol had changed since they began their career together. The shoulder he leaned on right now had become out of shape to the point even his closest friends might have trouble recognizing it. His belly was bulging with fat while the muscles across his body had been rearranged at the buttock and thigh regions. These alterations were anything but natural, however. Being the first Gear, Sol had learned to modify his body at will, and this was him putting this new ability to good use.
That the celebrated war veterans, and two sexiest men in the kingdom, could ever be unseated was almost unthinkable. Moreover, Leo was so used to being number one that the very idea of being second to someone else made him fidgety which he hid by pretending to groom his beard instead.
“Chipp Zanuff and Nagoriyuki,” said Slayer. The immortal vampire himself was a former pornstar who rose to the top and stayed there for years. Eventually, he got bored and quit, turning to pursue targets of his own interest instead. When Sol and Leo started, Slayer came out of retirement to act as their teacher and manager, as well as the director of the porn videos the two were making. Their relationship was productive as long as Sol and Leo did as they were told, which was only twenty percent of the time.
Both Sol and Leo nearly gagged. It was easy to see why they got deranked. Chipp was popular for his nimble body that made him an ideal bdsm partner while Nagoriyuki was a legendary booty clapper who left piles of cum inflated men in his wake. They were the ultimate power couple as far as the media was concerned.
“That doesn’t sound right at all,” said Leo, growling. “How could those two overcome us? We've a few years more experience than them so they shouldn't have caught up so fast.”
“Has our popularity declined because of something we did?” asked Sol.
Being pornstar celebrities meant a lot to the two and they took this very seriously. In the last five years, Sol and Leo had played in dozens of videos in which they and their clients had great times together ranging from cuddling to kissing, vanilla sex to BDSM. These videos posted on social media gained millions of views and quickly became the topic everyone talked about. Two world saviors becoming pornstars and then boyfriends. Who could have known?
“Not exactly,” said Slayer calmly. “You two dandy gentlemen once shone brighter than any star in the sky, but time has changed and you are simply falling behind by doing the same thing. You two got to the top because of your deeds in the previous conflict rather than because you are doing better than others. Without diversification and improvement, stagnation is inevitable.”
“What do you suggest we should do to remedy this?” asked Leo. “Are we just going to let this slip? The Second King must not know defeat.”
“How about we do what the fans have been suggesting all this time?” asked Slayer. By that, he meant a steamy session between the two men themselves. So far, Leo and Sol had been more content with banging each other behind closed doors and then let the rumors circulate. It was a good thing to keep the public guessing. It made both of them appear more desirable than ever.
“That’s private,” said Leo quickly. “Think of something else.”
“No need,” said Sol firmly. “It’s time to make it public.”
“Are you sure about this?” asked Leo, surprised that his boyfriend would agree so readily. Being an outlaw for a very long time, Sol was more flexible when it came to decision-making. Meanwhile, Leo could not shake away the duties of being part of the ruling triumvirate.
“Sure as hell,” said Sol, grinning. His thick ass shifted towards Leo and the king suddenly found his personal space on the sofa narrowed down and was forced to sit awkwardly with his legs crossed. “Come on, Leo. Are you a lion, or are you a scaredy cat?”
Leo slapped Sol’s hineys, causing them to bounce like rubber. The amount of fat Sol distributed in there was remarkable. Each of Leo’s hands was large enough to hold and crush the skull of a man, and yet even with both of them combined Leo hardly get a grip when he attempted to seize Sol’s ass. Despite the overly endowed midsection and thigh, Sol never had any problem walking or sitting or slapping his huge ass on his clients. Then again, this was the man who fucked Justice before, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“Say that again and I will have your tongue on my dinner plate.”
Ever since coming out of the closet, the two had earned admiration from one another through deeds and understanding. Their love
“Alright then, looks like we have come to an agreement,” said Slayer. “Let’s all make it work together.”
The next day, at the square in downtown Manhattan, Sol and Leo presented themselves in front of a huge crowd. Nothing had been released to the audience regarding their intention yet, so that got many people guessing. For the very least, it all but confirmed the rumors about their homosexual relationship and how they essentially considered each other as lovers.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Slayer announced via a loudspeaker to get everyone’s attention. “It is no secret that I have lived for a very long time. Yet, in all my life, I have not come across something so magnificent that I cannot help but bow down and worship. I hereby present to you, the greatest wonders of our age.”
It took only a second for Leo and Sol to strip down to their skin by ripping out whatever clothes they were wearing and tossing them into the crowd. A huge cheer erupted from the audience, followed by massive displays of awes and adoration. People scrambled for tatters of fabric tossed aside by the two greatest heroes. As they looked up, they groveled at the sight - the undisputable display of peak humanity.
“You ready for this?” asked Leo, brandishing his twelve-inch cock before his subjects. It was a spear fit for a king. He had gone easy on most of his clients so far, going only 50% at most. But he would not hold back this time.
“I was going to ask the same thing,” replied Sol. He had made himself for this. His buttcheeks shook and vibrated with every step he made, the fat within rippling with vehemence. “Feel free to tap out any time you want.”
“As if the king would ever back down from a challenge,” Leo laughed. “I shall gladly add your name to my little notebook of those I have bested. It shall be written in larger letters, but not by much.”
“Looks like things are heating up,” Slayer remarked. The show was about to commence and he was in charge of commentary while his lovely assistants filmed the whole thing from multiple different angles. “Who do you think is going to come out on top after this? Sol Badguy the infamous Flame of Corruption or Leo Whitefang your beloved Second King of Illyria. Cast your vote in the ballot and we shall see the result.”
For the first round, Sol went on all fours while Leo stood behind him. After showing off his massive dick one more time and receiving encouragement from the restless crowd, Leo got into position. Normally when doing this with a client, he would give his warning first as well as ask for how deep they were comfortable with. Neither was needed here, so he initiated with a powerful thrust right away. A normal person would have been punctured by this, but Sol’s huge ass absorbed the shock like a sponge.
Leo’s dick came all the way inside, digging deep into Sol’s ass and then finally entering his system. Sol was out of breath for a moment, but he quickly recovered. It was as though an unstoppable force had met an immovable object. Such was the size of Sol’s thick ass that it took the blow without receiving any damage from it. All the fat it contained led to a yieldy texture that could expand and contort with ease, thus accommodating the gigantic foreign object.
“Is that the best you’ve got, old man?” asked Sol, panting.
“Old man?” Leo barked. “You are older than I am.”
“I am not the one acting like an old man,” said Sol.
“You will be acting like one once I am done with you,” Leo warned.
“Promise?” Sol chuckled.
“Looks like we are starting out in doggy style,” Slayer commented. “A good hit by Leo, I must say. My good friend Vlad the Impaler would be so proud if he were seeing this. But Sol is not backing off. Let’s see how long he can take it.”
Bristled by Sol’s taunting, Leo shot his dick forward as hard as he could but found the task more difficult imagined than done. The further it went, the harder it was for the cock to move either in or out, and sideway was completely out of the picture. With each penetration, Leo felt as though he was stabbing a sword into the mud. Still, his pride compelled him to go on. He was a conqueror and nothing could be beyond his rule as long as he put some real effort into it.
The extraordinary amount of fat Sol had allocated in his inflated and bulging buttcheeks was put to good use. Sol grinned as he felt the pace of the cock slow down, thinking that Leo was running out of juice in the first round. His hope was dashed when his boyfriend came back with a series of powerful thrusts that saw Leo go back and forth rapidly like an engine.
“Urrghh!” Sol groaned. The effect of getting fucked was taking its toll and his initial composure was eroding with each penetration Leo made. “I didn’t expect that. My guard was down.”
“I am full of surprises,” Leo declared. “Like all my opponents, you will learn to respect that.”
“Leo seems to have the upper hand with a series of powerful thrusts that even Bedman would have felt through his bed,” said Slayer excitedly. “Very dandy indeed. Boy oh boy, that ass is the thickest I have seen in three centuries, but that isn’t going to be enough to withstand Leo’s fury. How can Sol recover from this?”
The audience marveled at the show. For most of them, sex was a mundane thing borne out of love, desire, and the need for reproduction. What Sol and Leo were doing here, on the other hand, was art in its highest form. From the current angle, the crowd was amazed by just how large Sol’s ass was. Each buttock was about easily the size of a bowling ball, so large that they could take in Leo’s dick in its entirety - no other human could be on the receiving end of that spear without getting split in half.
As the favor turned towards the great king, the crowd cheered. Emboldened by his responsibility as a ruler to not disappoint his people, Leo went even harder, throwing his cock and himself with so much force that the ground beneath them shook and cracked. Sol’s butts wobbled and vibrated like jellies under the constant assault.
“HERE IT IS!” Leo declared loudly. That moment he had been waiting for was upon him. All the build-up was coming to this. Now was the time to release. “READY OR NOT, I AM CUMMING FOR YOU!”
“Oh crap,” Sol cursed. Suddenly, he felt not ready for this. He had underestimated Leo’s prowess and resolve, and now he found himself at the mercy of his opponent. “You gotta be kidding me.”
When the orgasm came, it was with a titanic bang. Both men came at the same time, the only difference was how they managed it. Leo Whitefang held his ground by digging his feet and knees into the concrete floor, leaving a crack upon it in the process. The recoil packed as much strength as that of a howitzer, but the Second King proved resilient against this and did not move an inch during the climax.
Despite using both his hands and knees to do the same thing, Sol failed to get a firm grip and, with his mind already rendered incoherent by his partner’s expertly-delivered thrusts into his ass, the former bounty hunter was the one who lost his position. He was blasted forward and slammed into a lamppost, crushing it with his amplified hineys.
As Sol flew across the air, a trail of cum juice marked his arc - that of Leo. It was the biggest orgasm he had had in years, an experience he always cherished and ever tried to improve upon. Yet, finding worthy opponents these days was hard. Sol Badguy with his body-shifting shenanigan was the first person in a long time against whom Leo could afford to go all out. The people whooped and whistled as they were draped in the holy fluid of their liege.
“An explosive finish,” Slayer remarked. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have our winner: Leo Whitefang. All that fat in Sol Badguy’s buttcheeks couldn’t save him at the end, and it is your beloved king who is the last man standing.”
Sol slammed the ground in frustration. “Damn it, I had it close.”
“Hahahaha, that’s only the fifteenth time I have heard that from those I have bested,” Leo laughed.
“Are you spent, old geezer?” asked Sol. “Because I can go for another round. What do you say?”
“The king is never spent,” said Leo. “And due to popular demand by my loyal subjects who are cheering my name, I gladly accept the challenge.”
“We have a round two, folks,” Slayer commented. “It’s not over yet. Will Sol Badguy even the score, or shall Leo Whitefang prove to be the undisputed champion?”
For this time, the heroic duo settled with a more intimate position. As Leo lay down on his back, his massive dick shot upward like a pillar ready to impale with extreme prejudice anything that dared threatened the king. Sol then took up his position on top of him, his giant ass now bearing down on its rival ready to exact vengeance.
Taking charge of the pace, Sol brought down his gigantic ass and Leo’s impressive cock swiftly disappeared among the mass of fat and meat. In this state, both men’s asses were on full display for the audience to see. While previously Leo had been the one to dictate where the sexual intercourse would lead, the missionary position allowed both men to become active with Sol able to take on a more active role due to gravity.
The sex was back and forth. Sol and Leo embraced one another and their dirty parts collided. Leo’s dick continued its journey inside and out of Sol’s thick ass at a dazzling pace. The friction it created was so intense that had either man been wearing clothes, they would have caught on fire. The ground shuddered and then shattered underneath them.
“We are on even ground now!” Sol boisterously stated. It felt great to be on the offensive again instead of waiting for his opponent to dry out themselves. “Let’s see if you still have it.”
“If I do, you are wearing the Apron of Shame for a week,” said Leo.
“Show me your claws then,” Sol boomed. His voice cracked as a new wave of sensations hit him, reducing his voice to gratuitous moanings.
“Both are going in really hard,” Slayer commented. “With those huge butts in the way, I can’t see a thing from this angle. Those two jiggling melons are getting in the way. Where did he get those in the first place? Jeez, I blame That Man for that one. Regardless, seeing what is happening to the ground right now, I can safely say that things are quite intense in there.”
As the battle went on, Sol and Leo grew hotter and hornier. They shared a passionate kiss in front of the crowd, hands rubbing on each other’s chest and hair. But in the end, it was Sol who came out on top, quite literally and figuratively. The orgasm was just as vehemence as the first one, but instead of Sol being blasted away, it was Leo who got crushed under the weight.
Once again cum juice spewed forth but it was blocked by Sol’s humongous bottoms bearing down on Leo’s dick. The result was a depressing downpour instead of a fountain. Leo’s plan to bless his subjects was thus thwarted.
“Damn, you are good one,” Leo admitted.
“Rare to hear that from you,” said Sol.
“I speak the fact,” said Leo. “No commoner can hope to best the king.”
“So has been said,” Sol replied.
“We are now even,” Leo declared. “I will not walk away with a clear victory. Are you ready for another round?”
Sol gave his boyfriend a devilish grin. “Bring it on! I can do this all day.”
The contest of sexual might continued for hours until both were exhausted. By then, they had garnered much adoration from not only the audience but the porn star community at large. Slayer was pleased that the whole thing was captured from many different angles, for Sol’s thick ass occasionally got in the way of the main action. With this, the career of Sol Badguy and Leo Whitefang could only rise from here.

Hey all
Im a 31 yo gay male weighing 190lbs. I’ve been taking cialis before sex for almost 4 years and it changed my life tbh. It’s great 90% of the time.
The other 10%, when I’m getting penetrated and my prostate is being hit, even with cialis it’s difficult to get an erection. Also, If Im very very nervous it is still hard to get an erection from time to time with cialis. Not usually but sometimes.
So I’m wondering how does viagra stack up? And does taking low dose cialis every day work any different than situational cialis? Like does it work better?
With viagra can you stay harder longer even if you’re very nervous?
Thanks all :)

Thought I mention I too am still kicking and trying my hardest to move on.
I've been in PT now for about 8 sessions 3 weeks now and just had a re-evaluation yesterday to see if I need to continue. If you all recall I'm the guy that's been twitching for about 20yrs but mostly in my calfs. I've had a few times in my life where I've literally lost my marbles from thinking you know what. This time it hit me hard again, right around the time I caught covid in February. Whats different this time is my right quad /hip flexor has some pain/stiffness that wont go away. I've also seen some flattening of what I thought was my quad muscle but PT said its my TFL (hip flexor) muscle. BTW, they don't see a major difference with it nor does my physio. Long story short, I'm continuing through my journey and still in some pain/discomfort. My twitching has calmed except my calfs.... they I can always count on. The hamstring area spot even calmed and it's less tight feeling. PT said I'm only slightly weaker on the right when doing a laying side-leg lift (Right=4+; Left=5). I have a strained glute muscle in and around my periformis muscle. They can induce severe pain in that area (center of your right buttock) when palpating and using pressure points. They think that is causing some inflammation against my sciatic nerve in that region and said it will take a lot of time to heal.
Insurance won't cover any more tests until PT is complete. My next up will be an MRI of my right leg/hip to see what the deal is. I also have a neuromuscular specialist appointment at the end of August (far out but there backed up). I pressed for it with my PCP.
In the meantime, I'm trying to take it easy, walk and do all my PT exercises. I still lift upper-body and really trying to get back on track. For note, I initially lost about 15lbs and got down to 200lbs, I have since gained about 25lbs as I've been eating more and I was drinking a good amount of beer! Trying now to get healthy again.
Oh, and I was expericning some crazy shakiness/tremors... I think its the SNRI (Pristiq) I'm on. I'm hyper sensitive to meds.

Hi everyone. I’ve been NC with my mother for 3 years. She does occasionally send me and my brother text messages (we believe she has undiagnosed bpd). It usually goes along the lines of her reaching out, saying she’s spiritually healed and would like to make contact. My brother and I tell her that’s great but we’re not wanting a relationship with her unless she gets professional help. She then swears at us/uses emotionally abusive language towards us. The last time this happened was 2 months ago. My dad, I’ve never had a relationship with, he was extremely physically abusive growing up. I’m 2 months pregnant and I have no desire to share my pregnancy news or have the baby meet my mother. She’s extremely toxic and my mental health and well-being are extremely important to me.
Did anyone have a similar experience of not telling their parents about their pregnancy? What was hard about becoming a parent and not having your own parents in your life? I am in therapy and have been working through some of this stuff but would like to get the perspective of someone that actually went through something similar if anyone is willing to share their experiences.

My boyfriend and I have been together almost a year now. We moved in together very early on in our relationship and I’m positive he’s the love of my life. We have an incredibly healthy relationship which we both admire and acknowledge often. We push each other to be the best versions of ourselves both in our careers and personal lives and it’s built on a foundation of strong communication skills. In just the year of being together, we both helped each other in many ways. I exercise more because he inspires and pushes me to do that and read books he has shown me that have developed my personal growth. As a financial planner, I have helped him in an area that he wasn’t really good at before meeting me that he was able to save six figures in a matter of months from having me push him to being disciplined in spending habits and learning to invest. These are just a few examples and there are plenty of others in how we have flourished as individuals as a result of being together. We really have never had any major arguments as a result since we talk everything through logically and always look out for each others feelings. I have been through a lot in my life (battled cancer when I was young, broke off an engagement 2 years ago, etc) that when I met him, I knew what we had was special so I avoid ever nagging at him or picking fights because at the end of the day I love him a lot and enjoy having a blissful relationship very much. He tells me on a daily basis that he can’t wait to propose to me and have kids with me in the near future (1-2 years). We talk about life goals and aspirations and how we will get there together. We also have incredible sexual chemistry. We have sex regularly and we get nasty in bed to fully please one another.
Lately, my boyfriend has been too tired to have as much sex as we once did. It has made me craving it more and we bickered a handful of times but last night, we had our very first major argument… Basically, I went away for a work conference for the entire week. While at the conference, I ordered online a door sex swing to spice things up in the bedroom. It’s also worth noting that he had a toxic relationship in his early 20s and he told me early on in dating that the only reason why he stayed with that girlfriend who was incredibly toxic was because the sex was incredible. He had mentioned they had a sex swing that he got for her and I told him that I would love to try that and he said he would enjoy that with me as well. I paid an extra $15 to overnight it so it can get in by the time I got back from the conference. I got back Thursday late afternoon and sure enough the package was there. I told him I got a surprise and he loved it when he opened it up and set it up excitedly right away. He started teasing me on it and saying once he’s done with work, he’s gonna please me tonight from how much he missed having me all week. We ended up going out to dinner and he ordered dessert to go so we can enjoy the dessert in our sexual activities planned for the night. I was getting tingly down there from the excitement. By the time we got home and settled, he said he was too tired and to save the swing and sex in general for tomorrow night. Even though I was upset, I accepted it and said that I’m looking forward to tomorrow. Friday morning we woke up, worked out, and worked from home together with having an easy work day. We got massages after work and went over my parents for dinner. I noticed when he overeats, his sexual desires diminishes so on the way to my parents we joked about not eating a lot of food for the festivities we had planned for the evening when we get back home. Even while eating dinner we joked about it under the radar. I noticed he was eating way too much so I told him to slow down and my parents said why, it’s a Friday let him enjoy this food and he said,”well your daughter wants to go for a run after this which is why we are trying to eat light.” (going running is code for sex). We then watched the basketball game on the couch and I saw him get more and more comfortable to the point he said,”let’s save it for tomorrow, I’m tired again.” My heart shattered. I was so excited to have sex that night that I was literally throbbing down there all day and night. I got upset but didn’t say anything. Just kept watching the game saddened that I striked out again. By the time we drove off, the argument started. He went on to say that he doesn’t like being pressured into having sex and we should have it when we both feel like it. I expressed to him how I don’t feel as desired in the bedroom as I once did and my emotions carried me to say that he seemed to enjoy the sex so much with his toxic ex girlfriend and asked why he can’t just make the extra effort tonight to have sex with me, the non toxic loving girlfriend. He said he doesn’t appreciate me bringing up his past especially because it was nearly a decade ago and he’s 32 and a grown man now. I continued to express how it was upsetting that I haven’t seen him all week and was really looking forward to making love and respected it last night when he said he was tired since it was a weeknight but the fact that it’s Friday and only 10pm and he can’t give it to me makes me feel insecure. He said he is simply tired and went on to say,”I don’t want to be with someone who nags at me for sex and I don’t like the fact that you carry your emotions on your face like the way you just did at your parents while watching the game when I told you it’s not happening tonight.” I got quiet and said,”do you not want to be with me?” he said,”I want to be with you. I just need you to know that I’m willing to walk away from someone who acts the way you’re acting right now.” I apologized and told him I would be more self aware of my facial expressions moving forward and won’t nag at him for sex ever again and will keep it to myself. The rest of the car ride was silence. I teared up a bit because the fact he threatened a breakup like that was heart shattering. When we got home, I got out the car and gave him a kiss and hugged him. When we got in bed, I expressed that I don’t appreciate threatening a breakup especially when we both know we have such a healthy relationship. He said he loves me to death but is “keeping tabs” when I anger him to that degree because we are not married and again, he’s willing to walk away if he sees a quality in me he’s not willing to live with for the rest of his life. I’m writing this in the middle of the night because I can’t fall asleep. I’m pretty hurt. I understand I was in the wrong in that situation but again, him wanting to contemplating jumping ship the minute there’s adversity from a relationship that is peaceful and blissful 99% of the time is very hurtful. How should I go about this tomorrow morning when he awakes? Move on and learn from this?
TL;DR: In an otherwise healthy, supportive relationship, my boyfriend and I hit a roadblock over differing sexual expectations. I bought a sex swing to spice things up after he expressed his exhaustion, referencing a similar experience with an ex. But he’s been too tired for any activity, causing our first major argument. Despite his alarming threat of break-up, I'm left confused and seeking advice on how to move forward.

i want to give a really positive post ! confirmed my tezspire didnt cause pneumonia but a fluke happened and i had a real nasty flare due to allergies last month . however my asthma is improving and my doc said im a poster child for tezspire !! but i must keep up with my treatments . also once im well enough to stop tezspire my doc wants me on a dust allergy treatment ! Which is making me a bit more symptomatic these days !! im really happy im doing much better , and that eases a lot of anxiety for me . but once im well enough to stop tezspire i hope i wont decline again back to severe cause i couldnt even walk for long periods of time - i mean like walk regular speed ! but now that im improving i see a light at the end of the tunnel . my old life back even though i may have allergies for life i wont let it ruin what life has to offer .
Edit : i meant chest infection lol last time i had to get a chest xray so i got that mixed up lol

I used to work at a reputable audit company. Those familiar with me will recognize the company. I'm certain my colleagues will come across this story on Reddit, as I've seen them browse the site during office hours.
It's been approximately two days since the incident, and I can't shake the feeling of being watched. Each passing night, the shadows in my room seem to grow darker and have more substance. I fear I'm losing my sanity.
My fellow coworkers, as you read this, I'm uncertain if I'll still be alive. However, please, heed my warning. You must put an end to this curse before it's too late.
It happened on the night of June 23rd. It was around 11 PM, and anyone passing by the office building would have noticed that only the lights on the third floor were on. My colleague Awais and I were the only ones working late, as we had an upcoming deadline and, thus, had some unfinished tasks. It wouldn't be fair to solely blame us for the delay, as our client had taken their sweet time in providing the necessary data. Such was the life of an auditor.
My fingers glided across the keyboard of my laptop, the sound of typing echoed through the empty floor. Both of us were surviving on caffeine at this point, evident from the scattered paper cups on the table.
In the midst of entering an Excel formula, a faint scraping sound caught my attention. I had paused briefly to double-check my calculations, and that's when I heard it. As soon as I paid attention to it, it abruptly stopped. I looked up from my laptop, surveying the dimly lit office, but found no source for the sound. Awais, sitting to my right, seemed too busy with his work to notice. Shaking my head, I returned to my tasks, convinced that I had simply imagined it. However, as I looked back at the laptop screen, the scraping noise resumed, faint but distinct.
I immediately stood up, and once again, the sound stopped. I scanned the room and heard Awais making a strange noise. I turned toward him, and he burst into laughter.
"Bruh, you should have seen your face," Awais said, struggling to contain his amusement.
"Dude, that scared the hell out of me. Don't pull such pranks when we're up against a deadline."
"Yeah, yeah. You definitely need some sleep. You're losing it right now."
"I'll get some rest once I finish this," I replied, plopping back into my chair and letting out a sigh.
"I hate my job."
"Not much longer, right? This is our last day. Do you think our replacements will be able to complete this?"
"Probably. We gave them a thorough briefing about the work earlier."
I looked at Awais, and he slowly closed his laptop.
"You're leaving, huh?"
"I have a lot on my mind right now. I need to take a step back."
"Sure, I'll probably leave in a few minutes as well. You go ahead."
Awais started gathering his belongings, and in the midst of packing, he asked, "Have you heard from Asjad Bashir? He left the company a week ago, and we haven't heard a word from him."
"Same here. I've tried contacting him multiple times, but his phone was turned off."
"You think it's related to that rumored curse?"
"Nonsense. Do you believe in such things?"
"I don't, but lately, it seems more than just a rumor, doesn't it? They say those who leave the company vanish."
"Asjad not answering our calls would definitely have a logical explanation, rather than some absurd curse. He did say that his phone was causing all sorts of problems before he left"
"Sure, but what about Sarah and Ahmed?"
"They both had plans to move to China, so it's possible that they haven't had a chance to reach out to us yet."
"Junaid, it's been three months, and Ahmed, your work buddy, hasn't even contacted you."
"I understand that his silence is bothering you, but I have faith that he will eventually get in touch with us."
Awais didn't seem satisfied with my response. He stared blankly at the vacant office space.
"Don't worry about anything. You'll be fine. That rumor is just a tactic to keep us in the company," I assured him, giving his shoulder a pat.
"I want to believe that too. Anyway, I'm leaving now. Let's grab lunch sometime and talk shit about this company again," Awais said weakly, letting out a faint laugh.
"Sure thing, buddy."
We shook hands firmly, and Awais picked up his bag, heading towards the elevator. The doors closed, plunging the space into darkness once again, I returned to my desk and resumed my work.
About 20 minutes later, I stretched my arms.
"Man, the newbies are going to have a field day with this assignment."
I closed my laptop, preparing to pack up. I gathered the empty paper cups and tossed them into the nearby bin.
As I stood by the elevator, I took one last glance at the empty office.
"Never thought I'd witness this day, especially not after four years of being here."
With that, I stepped into the elevator. The doors closed, and the descent began, the floor numbers gradually ticking down from three.
Surprisingly, the elevator jolted and came to a sudden stop.
"Well, that was quicker than expected," I muttered.
I looked at the elevator panel, only to find the lower portion of "2" and the upper portion of "1".
"What in the world?"
Realizing that the doors hadn't opened, I pressed the buttons and attempted to force them apart, but to no avail. Of all the times, it had to be today. I decided to call the security guard, Kashif, I picked up my phone, and at that moment, the elevator doors opened.
Before me lay a dark corridor, without a single light. Glancing back at the panel, I noticed that it still displayed the same numbers. I tapped the panel and pressed the buttons, but nothing happened.
Letting out a sigh, I adjusted the strap of my bag and stepped out of the elevator. As soon as I did, the doors closed shut. I turned around, only to see the elevator panel indicating that it was descending to the ground level.
"You've got to be kidding me."
I found myself in an unfamiliar corridor. It didn't match any floor layout I was familiar with. With my phone's flashlight activated, I cautiously proceeded forward, noticing a partially open door a few meters away. In a final desperate attempt, I pushed the elevator button, but it remained fixed on the ground level. Admitting defeat, I slowly approached the door.
Carefully, I pushed the door open, my body on high alert for reasons I couldn't quite understand. Illuminating the room with my phone's light, I discovered empty workstations and chairs. I scanned the area, moving the light from one corner to another. In all my four years at the company, I had never seen this room before. I searched for a light switch, however, there were none, and I realized there were no windows either. Odd.
The only sound that came in the room was the sound of rushing air from the ventilation system. As I approached the first workstation, I noticed the name "Akhtar Ali" taped to the desk, accompanied by a photo of a man in his late thirties, I assumed the man in was Akhtar. Strangely enough, I had never seen or met him in the office before. I directed my flashlight towards the adjacent desk, where the name 'Parveen Nabil' was written—a name I had never heard in the office either.
Something felt off. I hurriedly passed by each table, each taped with a name tag and a picture of the person assigned to it. As I approached the end of the table, a particular name caught my attention. There was no mistaking it. Moving closer, I confirmed that 'Asjad Bashir' was written there, accompanied by a picture taken on his last day of work.
I took a step back from the table, feeling uneasy at what I had just looked at. Did the office maintain some bizarre memorial for all the staff members who had left? It sounded absurd, but that's exactly what was before me.
There were two desks next to Asjad's. I moved towards it, making me shiver at what I saw. The desks had mine and Awais' names taped on. What's more shocking was that the picture of either of us was the ones we took a couple of hours ago, when everyone had left.
"What in the world is going on? This is madness," I muttered.
I knew I had to leave. Something was severely wrong. At the far end of the room, there was another door. I approached it and cautiously opened it. Immediately, a horrendous, rotting smell invaded my nostrils, nearly causing me to throw up. Covering my nose, I took a step forward but tripped over something and stumbled to the floor. In the process, my phone was thrown a few feet away, its light illuminating the room. As I slowly rose, I noticed an arm lying next to my feet. Startled, I stood up, only to be confronted with a horrifying sight.
The floor was covered in dried blood, and several hooks with chains dangled from the ceiling. Lifeless bodies hung from those hooks, each with their mouths impaled on a hook. Limbs were strewn across the floor, as every body had been gruesomely dismembered.
I began to hyperventilate. What in God's name was I witnessing? This was sheer madness. Trembling, I reached for my phone, and as I retrieved it, I recognized the first body—the resemblance was unmistakable, it was Asjad Bashir. The corpse had decomposed slightly, but the face was still recognizable.
Three rooms stood at the end of the room, one of which was illuminated. I hurriedly made my way toward it, peeking through the doors' small window. Inside, a huge, obese man stood, easily seven feet tall and weighing over 500 pounds. His body was covered in scars and stitches, with a prominent red scar across his bald head. Gripping a massive meat cleaver, he was busy dismembering a lifeless figure on a table before him. With each strike, limbs fell off, and blood sprayed in all directions. I couldn't see the face of the body from my position.
"Gotta love it when the little fishy walks right into my hands," he chuckled, his voice hoarse.
Shocked and terrified, I stepped away from the door, realizing I needed to escape this place.
I heard movement in the room and quickly ducked into the next room. Just as I slightly closed the door behind me, the man emerged. Although I couldn't see what he was doing, I heard the sound of chains rattling and the piercing of flesh.
Footsteps echoed again, and it seemed the man was leaving. The footsteps halted, followed by the man sniffing the air, chuckling with delight.
"Oh boy, oh boy, looks like another little fishy was wandering around here. I do love me some good hide and seek."
With that, it sounded like he exited the slaughter room and entered the memorial room. Gathering my courage, I left the room I had hidden in, refraining from using my phone's flashlight to avoid being spotted. I used the light coming from the butcher's room to navigate my way to the butcher's room.
The room was a blood-splattered chaos. In the center stood a large table, with limbs on it from the previous victim. I frantically searched the room for a key, a button, anything that could help me escape.
But there was nothing. Overwhelmed with despair, I collapsed onto the floor.
"I don't want to die. I don't want to die."
All hope seemed lost. That monster was sure to return any minute and kill me. At that moment, I noticed a large finger hanging on a cleaver keychain from one of the walls. I got up and grabbed it.
Then, I heard the door behind me creak open, and I felt a force pulling me upright.
"Well, well, the little fishy has strayed too far from the fishing net."
I turned and saw one of the ugliest faces I had ever seen, grinning at me. I struggled to break free from his grip, but he was too strong.
"Oh, the little fishy is putting up a fight? I do love me some strong fish."
He flashed a toothy grin and threw me onto the table. Placing his enormous hand on my neck, he began to strangle me.
"Now, playtime is over, fishy. Please die for me and create the music of death."
He brought his face closer to mine, a sadistic smile spreading across his lips. I clawed at his hands, but his grip tightened. I gasped for air and that made the man laugh.
"Give me more music fish."
Summoning my last ounce of strength, I clenched the cleaver keychain tightly and drove it into his eye with all my might.
The man howled in agony and stumbled back. Coughing and gasping for air, I scrambled to my feet. With one goal in mind to escape, I sprinted out of the room.
"You piece of shit! I'll skin you alive!" roared the butcher.
I took out my phone and illuminated my path with its light. Hastily finding the door to the memorial room, I entered it. The room was now a mess, with overturned tables. I didn't have much time to assess the full extent of the butcher's rampage. I exited the memorial room, rushed down the corridor, and reached the elevator.
Frantically pressing the buttons, I received no response. "Come on, come on!"
Despite multiple attempts, the elevator remained motionless. I heard a loud explosion behind me, signaling that the man had entered the memorial room. Ready to give up, I remembered the giant finger I had picked up. I decided to use it to press the elevator button, and to my relief, the elevator started moving up.
The elevator doors opened and with that, the memorial room doors as well. The light from the elevator shone in the corridor and I saw him running towards me.
"Get here, you little fish."
He raised his cleaver and hurled it towards me. I used the finger and pressed the ground level. The doors closed, stopping the cleaver from impaling me.
The elevator descended and stopped at the ground level.
The doors opened, revealing the reception area of the office, with the security guard Kashif sitting there. As he saw me, he quickly stood and approached.
"What happened to you? You're a complete mess, and what's with all the blood?" he asked, bewildered.
"There... I... He..." I struggled to form any words.
With that, I bolted out of the front door. I ran and ran, not even bothering to call a taxi. I needed to distance myself from that place and everything I had witnessed.
I reached my house in no time as I didn't live too far from the office, I locked all the doors and hid in my room. I don't know how, but somehow I managed to fall asleep. The next morning, I attempted to call Awais, but received no response. I tried calling the security guard, Kashif, but his phone was powered off. Each number I attempted to call yielded the same result—no connection.
During all this confusion, I noticed a text message notification on my phone. It was from Awais, sent to me just after he left the office last night. The message read:
"Junaid, what the hell is going on in this office? Why the hell are there dead bodies being kept here?"