Hi friends,
I've been living in Philly for 2 years now and every parking ticket I've ever gotten was incorrect/unwarranted, PPA was either just wrong or their technology doesn't work and I know I'm not the only one. It seems that more and more people are getting ticketed when they have paid their meter because when they come to scan the plates, the paid meter just doesn't show up. A few weeks ago, I walked to my car which still had 30mins left on the meter and a PPA person was scanning it. I said "This one is mine and I still have 30mins" and he replied, "my machine says you never put any time on the meter and I was about to write you up, you just avoided a ticket". I checked multiple times and according to the app, I still had 30mins. Lots of my friends are having these same situations.
I'd really like to send a complaint to whichever body has authority over PPA, but it seems they are self-governing. I really want the city to do something because PPA is doing this to tons of people. It doesn't really matter to me if they are just bad at their jobs or if their technology doesn't work. It needs to be fixed regardless and they are ineffective at their jobs and harming people's lives. Parking tickets are expensive and incredibly frustrating and even if you contest them, they continue to send you threatening mail about fines doubling and court dates and other scary-sounding things. It seems that they never actually look at your case or delete the ticket. I'm lucky enough to be able to handle just paying a few to make them go away, but many people can't and this is a really sucky thing to do to people.

There’s nothing sexier than tasting another man’s candy. Seeing the look in her eyes when she knows she’s being given away. Freely. I want to see your girlfriend timidly agree and then end the evening begging.
I would love to feel your pretty girlfriend let down her guard for me, to feel her growing needy, and then to take advantage of that need. I would, of course, give you all the details — screenshots of sexting, pics, videos, and anything else that comes of it. I want to own her mind, I want to own her body - and I want you to lead her to me. Because you know she needs it. And because you know you can’t stop thinking about it.
She’s young, in shape, and inexperienced, 18-25. I’m mid-40s, fit, professional, former military, and ready to give her what she’s been missing.

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I’m not sure if I have a uti or not. As for symptoms I’m only experiencing lower back pain that’s been lasting for a week or so, and some abdominal pain that goes and comes.
I’m trying to post the uti test I took but it deletes my post immediately.
I did the typical uti test with the strip that has two squares. The bottom was beige which I understand is negative and the top showed light purple that I guess means 125 ca cells/uL?
Whoever can help I’ll send you the photo of the result though dm and chart that I’m having hard time figuring out. Thanks!

Open to TF or F
Trying out here again but looking for anyone free now to around 5pm in Katipunan or Estancia or nearby area and open to a bit of naughty fun. Hoping to meet someone who's needing a bit of release too. I can caress boobs and would like to try to suck someone or if you want some hands all over your body ;) . Just wanted to make someone moan or squirm as well if you would let me 🥰 we dont have to do it all the way, no penetration sex. You dont have to reciprocate too, i can just eat you out
we can exchange pics as well if you want before we meet
We can do it in my car and my car is tinted. If you are more comfortable though if you have a place of ur own then thats also fine
About me: - medium built slim chinito - fair skinned - 5'7 - clean and low count - has a tinted car
About you: - slim petite built or thicc in the right places - clean - dont really have that much preference :)

I found this steam deck for sale on facebook marketplace for $1000 AUD ($700 USD) it is a few months old, comes with protective case, screen protector, ps5 controller, 1tb ssd installed instead of the 64gb one and also comes with a 1tb sd card
pictures of it: https://imgur.com/a/ZjQEh00

Ok, this is probably a longshot, and also if it's something not allowed here I apologize in advance-
I'm hoping to meet someone else who is also on a weight loss journey to help motivate each other by sharing photos along the lines of the naked progress sub. We could also chat about diet/exercise/nudism/insecurities/etc. because it would be nice to be friendly with each other- but the main goal would be that having to share or post a nude body photo regularly will help us both to stay motivated to reach our health and fitness goals.
This isn't about body shaming by any means. We should all feel good about our bodies. But for me, right now I am looking to take better care of mine than I did for a long time. I imagine there are probably others out there in similar situations.
I realize that I could just post on the naked progress sub, but I thought that having a more one on one relationship would force better motivation. You're counting on me, and I'm counting on you, ya know?
For context, and a little about me- I am a 43.M single dad. Was in great shape and loved running/fitness before I got married, but really stopped.taking care of myself over the course of a 10 year (bad) marriage. I've always been interested in social nudity for as long as I can remember, but when I was young and fit I was too embarrassed to admit it and then a few years ago when my marriage ended I felt too out of shape to try. Well, now I am at a place where I have begun running again (treadmill running is my main form of exercise) and even though my body doesn't look like it used to, I am feeling better about it. The other day I took the first nude photo of myself that I have ever taken and I loved it- it felt so liberating to take it and to see my body that way. I appreciated looking at myself more than I thought I would. One of my goals is to run in a naked 5k event.
If I'm being honest, I would prefer to find a woman who is interested in this. Gender shouldn't matter, but I think that it would keep me more motivated if I knew there was a woman I had to be vulnerable and show my insecurities.to. But to be absolutely crystal clear- I expect nothing sexual or romantic out of this. And maybe I'm wrong, so I would be open to a guy if this idea resonates with him, too. Or maybe a small group of folks?
Thanks for reading, if you made it this far! Definitely open to ideas if anyone has- even if you aren't interested in doing it.

My dad had a G tube inserted on Monday because he has dysphagia which no one can figure out the cause of (he’s seen many specialists so far). He cannot even suck on ice chips without choking. His eating before the tube was scary I was so worried he was going to choke to death.
It’s now Saturday. Every single meal (bolus feeding) he has had through the tube has caused him to vomit. It is also coming out the other end for almost 48 hours too. Is this normal and how long does it take for the body to get used to a G tube?
He is currently in a skilled nursing facility being monitored around the clock by nurses. A doctor saw him yesterday and prescribed anti-nausea medication which is crushed up and given through the tube, which he also vomits. The doctors and nurses all say he is fine and his vitals are normal and his body will just need to get used to the way he is being fed now. I am trying to believe them but it hurts me to see how miserable he is.
Also he is not allowed to drink any water but with that much vomiting and diarrhea (literally several times a day) it makes me think he needs to replace his fluids. But the doctor has not prescribed an IV and the nurses aren’t worried about it. The only fluids he is getting right now are during flushing and with crushed medication. The nurse said if she gave him more fluids through the tube he will bloat and become even more uncomfortable. This gives me red flags but I also don’t have a medical degree so what do I know.
Thanks for any insight or your experience that you can give me!

The complete lore of Sleep Token (as I see it). Bear in mind this is after a sudden urge to understand the lore and create a timeline of events. I know many of y'all have been doing this longer, this is just my interpretation of the timeline assuming every song is in sequence (I'll mention exceptions).
As I've said before in another post, I see the story of Sleep Token as the redemption story of Vessel (the character) who is being punished by some unknown force through a deity named Sleep. Sleep is unaware of this and just sees Vessel as "another vessel" to feast on and ruin, but because Vessel is stronger and wants to improve he breaks free by the end of TMBTE with a new outlook on life. So I'll be interpreting the story with that in mind. Here's the story:
I. ONE

• "Thread the Needle" - (Sleep -> Vessel) Sleep seduces Vessel for the first time, and already starts to take control of Vessel's mind by making time dilate. They offer Vessel someone to confide in, and to erase his past mistakes with. "Bury me inside this labyrinth bed" just signifies Vessel going to sleep.
  
• "Fields of Elation" - (Vessel) Vessel's perspective as he succumbs to Sleep for the first time. He's "losing faith in their time apart" and thinks "nobody else can pull him out" of his past mistakes. This in my opinion makes Vessel much more complex than I imagined. Yes, Sleep is a malicious force that devours souls and feasts on vulnerable people by manipulating them, but Vessel also only values Sleep because they make him feel better about his past. They both do not value one another and are only with each other to serve themselves. The foundation of a toxic relationship.
  
• "When the Bough Breaks" - (Sleep -> Vessel) Sleep begins to gaslight Vessel. They tell him he's powerless without them and makes him feel bad about himself saying he "doesn't love, just hates to be alone" so he'll be scared and never leave. Sleep also does not believe Vessel is devoted to them and repeats the line "don't lie to me" probably in response to what Vessel says in "Fields of Elation" about Sleep being the only one to pull him out and how devoted he is to them. They also expand on how great they would be together.
  

II. TWO

• "Calcutta" - (Vessel -> Sleep) This EP came a year after the last one so this song just serves as an update to everyone getting everyone up to speed on Vessel and Sleep's relationship without adding any new significant events. Vessel just gushes over Sleep and tells them how they make him feel whole.
  
• "Nazareth" - Probably the darkest song in their entire catalog. As Sleep was skeptical of Vessel's devotion to them before, Vessel aims to prove his devotion by torturing and inflicting pain to his past lover (whom he probably already treated wrong considering his "past mistakes" that he seeks to overcome the guilt of with Sleep, this is a huge leap but let's call her Eden). The constant use of "load the gun", "I'll show you what you look like from the inside", and "See if she can guess what a hollow point does to a naked body" show that Vessel intends to shoot her, and I believe he does. Sleep now believes Vessel.
  
• "Jericho" - (Sleep) This song is basically Sleep just boasting after finally acquiring Vessel as a... well, vessel. They talk about how they "dine on old encounters" before telling Vessel he is completely under their thumb and tells him to "say their name again". This song also seems to be frantically skipping between Vessel and Sleep. "My hands are not worthy" is Vessel reflecting what he's done while Sleep boasts about their victory and control over Vessel.
  

III. JAWS - (Vessel -> Sleep) Now that Vessel and Sleep are entangled, Vessel asks Sleep to show him love by eating him. Now it is unclear whether this is what Vessel truly likes or if Sleep makes him believe that, but either way this is what Sleep wanted so they're okay with it. There's many more times Vessel asks Sleep to "take a bite" of him and many more references to vorarephilia (even a song called "Vore") so maybe Vessel just wants that.
IV. "The Way that You Were" - (Vessel -> Eden) This songs seems to be about Vessel reminiscing about Eden perhaps talking to her in a dream (considering they're probably not on speaking terms after he literally shot her). Eden is a very troubled soul, with repeated patterns of self harm, and Vessel has an imaginary conversation with her talking about it. Vessel shows no remorse for how he treated her and does not comfort her in any way, showing he has a long way to go for his redemption (in "Are You Really Okay?"). He just says all these things in a very stoic fashion.
V. SUNDOWNING

• "The Night Does Not Belong To God" - (Vessel) Again like "Calcutta" this song serves as a way to get us up to speed on Vessel and Sleep's relationship. Sleep comes to Vessel when he um, falls asleep and talks to him then. Vessel sees this as pure bliss as he repeats "the night comes down like heaven". Vessel also knows Sleep "will not be his" which acts as foreshadowing for the rest of the album as he slowly realises Sleep does not care about his well being and is with him only for their own selfish interest.
  
• "The Offering" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel offers himself up to Sleep and is fully devoted to them. More references to vorarephilia with "take a bite."
  
• "Levitate" - (Vessel -> Sleep) As Vessel thinks about why Sleep is so distant with him he tries to empathise with Sleep and considers that maybe Sleep themselves are hurt, but of course they aren't. Vessel offers Sleep comfort and reassurance that he can "lift them up" but secretly knows they will "levitate where he can't reach them". He knows Sleep is unattainable and only comes to him when they want something from him.
  
• "Dark Signs" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel reflect on his childhood briefly before admitting that he saw red flags when he and Sleep met. He "misses the man he was" and "hates who he's become" under the influence of Sleep. He does so "every time he wakes up" further suggesting this. Even though he wasn't a great man before he met Sleep, he is noticeably worse now.
  
• "Higher" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel realises his relationship with Sleep is worse for him in the end. They are "killing him slow", and he is "granting them more than the debt that he owes" meaning he is giving Sleep much more than he owes them, but he is still committed and believes every battle they have will take them "higher".
  
• "Take Aim" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel realises Sleep does not have his best interests in mind and "led him on when the moment was perfect", but he's not ready to give up on the relationship, he's still bargaining.
  
• "Give" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel implores Sleep to be open with him and tell him they comfort him and he wants to do the same.
  
• "Gods" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel is driven to the brink and in a fit of rage reflects on what he is and what (perhaps) Sleep has made him. He questions Sleep and asks if they like the way their relationship feels.
  
• "Sugar" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Despite all the doubts he had, Vessel relapses hard into his infatuation with Sleep. He knows Sleep is toxic but romanticizes his situation, and he sees himself putting his feelings away and clinging onto the relationship as "not giving up".
  
• "Say That You Will" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel desperately tries to have a conversation with Sleep and says he knows they're "planning to leave in the end" but wants them to tell him pretty lies and is willing to compromise even at the expense of his own well being.
  
• "Drag Me Under" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel falls deeper into the toxic relationship believing they are meant to be, and implores Sleep to drag him further into the relationship.
  
• "Blood Sport" - (Vessel) This song summarises the revelations Vessel has had throughout the course of the album. He wants Sleep to open up to him, he knows his love is unrequited, but he's willing to stay at his own expense. This is also the first time the relationship between Sleep and Vessel is given a chemical connotation, suggesting that it's a much deeper connection. Vessel breaks down crying at the end of the song, feeling helpless.
  

VI. THIS PLACE WILL BECOME YOUR TOMB

• "Atlantic" - (Vessel) Vessel wakes up in a hospital after a failed suicide attempt, perhaps to sever his connection with Sleep, and is talked through the damage. He begs to not be woken up and slowly falls back into Sleep's grasp throughout the course of this album.
  
• "Hypnosis" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel implores Sleep to once again lift him out, and offers himself to them despite knowing how much it affected him. "The Offering" was the same but he did not know, this song is sadder because he is helpless even after knowing and offers himself up to Sleep the exact same way.
  
• "Mine" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel believes the relationship is destined to be and that no matter how much he tries to distance himself with Sleep, they'll surely cross paths again. He lies to himself more to make himself feel okay instead of facing the truth.
  
• "Like That" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel is once again reminded of how toxic the relationship is and asks how Sleep is okay with doing this to him asking if they "like that". He knows he is one of many previous victims. He is aware of his inability to let go no matter you how badly Sleep treats him.
  
• "The Love You Want" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel tries to have a conversation with Sleep, believing they saw something in him the time they met, and tells them he's still the same person but he knows he'll never be who they want.
  
• "Fall For Me" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Continuing from the previous song, Vessel desperately implores Sleep to "fall for him" again, because that's what he has convinced himself to believe that was.
  
• "Alkaline" - (Vessel) Vessel is infatuated again and can't explain it, even though he knows Sleep is changing him. He refuses to do anything about it, because he enjoys the ride. More chemical references.
  
• "Distraction" - (Vessel) Vessel realises he's past the point of no return and it's "too late for him" he's fallen in too deep into him relationship with Sleep.
  
• "Descending" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel is actually very stern with Sleep and says things for what they are for the the first time.
  
• "Telomeres" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel seemed really convinced on the previous track but now he's back to romanticizing his relationship and acknowledges that Sleep provided him comfort. This part of the album is very confusing as Vessel changes his mind about the relationship with every song. The way I see it is him trying to make sense of the relationship. He feels conflicted.
  
• "High Water" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel chooses to ignore his own doubts about the relationship again, even though he knows it's not the best for him.
  
• "Missing Limbs" - (Vessel -> Eden) Vessel has another imaginary conversation, probably a dream talking to Eden saying he still loves her and his relationship with Sleep is losing its allure.
  

VII. TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN

• "Chokehold" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Again, this serves as an update for us setting the scene, Vessel is still firmly in Sleep's grasp.
  
• "The Summoning" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel talks about how his relationship with Sleep is and he presents it in a very romantic way like they were destined to be together. Even though throughout the course of the album he finds the strength to move on from Sleep.
  
• "Granite" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel says things for what they are again and seems very empowered. Like he's finally seeing the relationship from the perspective of an outsider and for what it is.
  
• "Aqua Regia" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel talks more about his relationship with Sleep but wants to move on ("and I am done dancing to alarming bells").
  
• "Vore" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel feels his vorarephilic urges again and wishes to be "swallowed whole" by Sleep, but he acknowledges that he is suffering and asks Sleep if they are "in pain like he is".
  
• "Ascensionism" - (Vessel -> Sleep) Much like "Granite", Vessel is very empowered here. He no longer feels helpless and asks Sleep to "watch him ascend". He fully acknowledges that Sleep "makes him wish he could disappear". It's taken him so long to fully admit that.
  
• "Are You Really Okay?" (Vessel -> Eden) Vessel fully confronts Eden about her self harm and begs her to not hurt herself again. He feels empathy for others and slowly transforms into a better person.
  
• "The Apparition" (Vessel -> Sleep) Vessel asks Sleep why they are never real and why they leave every time he awakes, but he also wants to nihilistically "make trouble in the dream world" because "this could be the last time" suggesting that he wants to move on.
  
• "DYWTYLM" (Vessel -> himself) Throughout his life and throughout the course of his relationship with Sleep, Vessel has dealt with an immense amount of self hatred and can't even smile at himself in the mirror. This song is really sad but it also shows Vessel's willingness to heal from his trauma and become a better person and learn to love himself instead of just escaping and running away from his problems like he used to.
  
• "Rain" (Vessel) Vessel acknowledges how much he has changed, perhaps with Sleep or just from the time he was born when he was a good person and he asks an unknown force to cleanse him of his sins. This force isn't Sleep at this point because Vessel is pretty clear about moving on.
  
• "Take Me Back to Eden" (Vessel -> Sleep) This is the final time Vessel addresses Sleep and it's a huge tribute to Sleep, without whom he would not have improved, but he also acknowledges the toxicity of the relationship but in a mature way. He looks back at the journey he has had and has a mature outlook on it, he was treated badly by Sleep, but he was also bad, and he's ready to move on.
  
• "Euclid" (Vessel) In the aftermath of it all, Vessel is ready to shed his former self and become someone new. He calls back to "The Night Does Not Belong To God" just as a tribute to acknowledge how far he has come and what a journey it has been.
  

If you've read this far, thank you so much haha! This is my interpretation of just the lyrics of the songs and the story that they tell. I understand that there's much more lore to be found in Sleep Token. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Worship.

please bear with me as I try to explain, so give you a better understanding of my question at the end.
I been looking for a car for a while. Something mid luxurious and within my budget. I moved and sold car and decided my next new car should be an SUV. I have also owned sedans and wanted to switch to SUV. Bigger, mover truck space and other things.
After tones of research, I ended up on Volkswagen SEL R Line. Everything else is too much money. Anyway, I quickly found out it is almost impossible to find a dealership that Carrie’s that model, let alone the interior color I wanted. I Put a deposit Down but it’s been like 2 months and they say the order is still showing up as in queue.
So I started looking into Acura. I really liked the MDX A-Spec tech but it’s too much money. I also like that TLX A-spec tech ( I know it’s not an suv but I have to open my options at this point) but it’s too much money too.
I ended up at the Integra A-spec tech. Great car, love it for many of the same reasons other ppl love it too but there is something about the inside of it that just makes it feel a little small and am not sure why. I fit in it ok but I just don’t know what it is.
I tested drive it and all. after a lot of back and forth with the dealership gave me a good deal on the Integra about 1500 off when all was set and done.
Now, they also give me the same off on the TLX but on the base trim. The TLX looks nice too and feels little bigger inside. It’s not as fully loaded as the Integra but I thought after like 2 yrs or so if I got it I could trade it for something better maybe get an SUV I wanted.
My question is would it be better to take the 2023 Integra A-spec tech or the TLX base trim which is more money than the integra value could be more if kept in good condition. I most likely will be trading whatever car I got for something better.
Thank you all in advance.

Hi everyone , I’ve been pressing flowers now for almost 3 years and have not seemed to crack how to maintain the color. Most of the frames with flowers off made maintain the color pretty well for a year or two but then fade, some completely. I know people out there do color enhancement stuff but there are so many pressors who claim to do it all “ naturally” yet I wonder how they are able to maintain the color or do they just caveat their sales by saying it’ll fade over time ? I’ve told people to keep any frames out of direct sunlight and not in humid places so I’m not sure what else to try. Thank you!

Soooo. I'm a lady truck driver. I drink lots of vodka when I'm not driving. It's keeping me just a llliiitttle above FA. If it wasn't for my job I'd be way back in CA territory like I was years ago. (detox,)
today I drank two pints of blue smirnoff, I do it about every three days. Never drive drunk. If I have an opportunity to drink and next day off, I'm doing it. It's my happy place... I feel like when I drink I'm myself.
But then, I get rude and say dumb shit on FB. There are people in my family who cut me off. But really I don't care. I'm fine with it. (I'm not fine with it)
I deleted fb off my phone cause I can't use it responsibly. And when I'm sober I don't use it at all.
When I wake up in the morning dealing with the hatred of myself, I will read Twitter for hours, drink lots of milk, have a sugar free monster, shit a lot, and wait till the dread dissipates, and wonder, oh shit, what did I do on social media.. Spent some money on tik tok, and then delete all emails about how much money I spent drunk.
Then I watch a lot of tru crime so I don't feel so bad about myself. (at least I'm not as bad as Dahmer)
I don't know why I do the things I do but I feel very isolated, like nobody knows what I'm going through. Love you all.

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“Dad, can you tell me the story?” The son asked, pulling his covers.
“I will try. Promise you’ll sleep afterwards.” The father replied, grabbing a chair.
“Promise.” He said.
The father leaned in close, a half whisper, soft and comforting, like a campfire in a long night.
“There was once a mountain, the tallest and wildest in all the lands. So vast and so steep no man nor animal could climb it or claim it. They sat for so long, so alone they did not know what the ground was like. They grew used to the lack of air, the height, the wind and the cold. Other days, the rain and the heat. They forgot to be scared of the ground.
Until one day. An animal did climb upon that mountain, the bravest of all the animals on the ground. The strongest, the fastest, the ones the animals feared. Once it saw what lived on its peak it became the smallest. The scaredest, littlest thing on a great giant mountain, not made for things like them.
They fought, The Men of The Mountain were primitive but matched only in their ferocity. Many battles took place but soon the animals were forced to stop.
They not used to the mountain, the air, the height, the wind and the cold. The rain and the heat. But, once the battles were over, when the last of the animals were caged, the Men of The Mountain did the thing they always did. ‘Why?’ They asked. ‘Why?’
‘Why come to our mountain, for it is so steep and so cold? Why fight us?’
The animals answered, ‘We climbed because we had to. Because we lost, and because she made us.’ They then told the story of revolt, of trying and failing. For hundreds of years. A story of tyranny and a tragedy. How the ruler made the animals go all throughout the lands to find others to conquer.
The Men of The Mountain wept for them. For some came from a place higher than the mountain, after losing, forced to go down. Then the Men of The Mountain climbed down, to the ground they long forgot. To see things they could have never imagined or hoped.
And with the animals they fought together. Fought the ruler to free the animals they once killed. To free all the other animals throughout the land. Now the Men of The Mountain are the most feared, not the biggest or strongest. Yet, they’re presence is met with fear or anger buried, and sometimes even love.
Some other animals chose to climb that mountain, they talked of wonderful things. After they avoided the deadly. The way the sun set on the clouds in the most peculiar way. The smells. The animals also built for that mountain the same as the men, their danger and beauty.
The Men of The Mountain are still feared. Many will never dare come near it, but to those who do, it seems as though the mountain has tempered their bodies, but not their hearts. For they have saved our people too.”
“Thanks,” The son spoke, his voice growing soft and weary in sleep. “Love you, Dad.”
“Sweet dreams, I love you more.”

Captain knocks on the door to Human Dave's quarters, and an assenting yell to enter is heard.
Human Dave is seated on the floor, holding a glass bottle that contains a clear liquid, looking very relaxed.
Alien Captain: "Human Dave, are you alright?"
HD: "Captain! Never better!"
Human Dave starts giggling uncontrollably while looking at Captain.
AC: "Human Dave, are you quite certain? You are acting atypical of your normal behaviour, especially as I have noticed you are sitting atop your datapad."
HD: "I am?"
Human Dave looks down and also notices that he is sitting on a datapad; the screen having cracked from his weight.
HD: "Ah, crap. I'll have to fix that later."
AC: "Human Dave, what is that bottle?"
HD: "Oh, this? It's a little present from my dad. He finally managed to make some quality booze and had it shipped to me by courier."
AC: "Booze?"
HD: "Right. Uhh... what's the word again? Oh! Right! Alcohol!"
AC: "Alcohol? Is that not an extremely dangerous substance used to keep surfaces and skin sterile in preparation for surgery? Why are you ingesting it?"
Human Dave takes another swig from the bottle.
HD, slurring: "Coz' this one tastes good. Alcohol is something that humans consume regularly for rec... rec... it's used to loosen us up and help us relax, Captain."
AC: "Human Dave, you appear to be intoxicated."
HD: "I am, Captain! I'm intoxi... in... I'm drunk, Captain!"
AC, unnerved: "...maybe I should go and get Doctor. Perhaps she has something that can remedy this situation."
HD, loudly: "Nooo. I'm fine, Captain. It'll wear off after I sleep."
AC: "..."
HD, trailing off: "Might regret gettin' so drunk when I wakes up, but I'll be fine."
Human Dave slowly leans to the side and slumps onto the ground.
The contents of the bottle spill slightly, but the bottle appeared to be mostly empty when Human Dave fell.
A snort sounds out loudly, startling Captain for a moment, which is followed by loud snoring.
AC: "..."
AC: "Maybe I will get Doctor, just in case."
...
AC: "What is your professional opinion, Doctor?"
Doctor and Captain stand in Human Dave's quarters.
Doctor is keeping a close eye on Human Dave while using a medical grade scanner to ascertain his current condition.
Alien Doctor: "Human Dave will be fine, Captain. Humans are capable of metabolising ethanol in this form, but excess is not recommended."
Human Dave snorts loudly again but continues to sleep.
AC: "How will we know how much is considered an excessive amount?"
AD: "That depends on the individual human, Captain. I am willing to bet that Human Dave knows his limits and will not imbibe in excess of his body's limits."
AC: "Is ethanol not extremely harmful to sentient beings?"
AD: "It is, however, humans have made many forms that are capable of being ingested by many species in the galaxy. I daresay that this one that Human Dave has consumed is too strong for our biology, but he may have access to weaker forms that are compatible with our bodies."
AC: "You sound as though you want to ingest such a deadly substance."
AD: "... I will admit that my scientific curiosity is considering the idea, as I am somewhat curious as to how our physiology will react to intoxication in this form."
AC: "... how intoxication is somehow a curiosity to you, Doctor, I will never understand."
AD: "However, that is a discussion to take place after Human Dave has awakened from his alcohol-induced slumber."
...
HD: "... oh, God, my head!"
AD: "Human Dave, how are you feeling?"
Human Dave runs a hand over his face, and it settles over his eyes.
HD, covering his eyes: "... like I just went seven rounds with a Keltiss War-kin."
AD: "Ah. Interesting. Human Dave, drink this."
Doctor hands Human Dave a water pouch, and he takes it gratefully.
HD, between sips of water: "Thank you very much, Doctor. Have you been studying up on human biology and physiology again?"
AD: "I have had a somewhat interesting refresher, especially in regards to intoxication in your species, Human Dave."
HD: "Ah. Did I do anything too embarrassing?"
AD: "Aside from making Captain panic slightly, no. Which is a pity. I have heard that humans make wonderful fools of themselves when intoxicated."
HD: "Well, at least I didn't try to take the engine apart."
AD: "..."
HD: "I didn't try to take the engine apart, did I?"
AD: "Sadly, no. It would have been an amusing sight."
Human Dave continues to sip at his water pouch, still covering his eyes.
HD: "Did you need something else from me, Doctor? You seem curious about something."
AD: "I was curious about something, Human Dave."
HD: "What is it?"
AD: "Do you have a recommendation for alcohol that is compatible with the Cradelian physiology?"
HD: "... what?"
AD: "I find myself curious as to the sensation of intoxication, and would like to experience it myself, for scientific purposes."
HD, quietly, to himself: "'For scientific purposes', she says."
AD: "Yes. Cradelians do not imbibe ethanol in this form, nor do we normally experience intoxication in social settings. The only time a Cradelian would experience intoxication is when undergoing surgery from anaesthesia, as it has something of a narcotic effect on our physiology."
HD: "I'll tell you what: let me get over this hangover, and I'll see what I can do."
AD: "Excellent. I look forward to the experience."
...
AC: "Remind me again how it came to this, Human Dave."
Human Dave and Captain are carrying a thoroughly intoxicated Doctor back to the ship; one on either side of her, with her arms draped over their shoulders; her feet barely dragging along the ground.
HD: "Doctor wanted to try being drunk. So I took her to a human bar and tried out a few drinks.
AC: "..."
HD: "We found one that was weak enough not to cause any significant damage to her physiology, and she had a blast."
AC: "What is a 'blast', Human Dave?"
HD: "I meant that she enjoyed herself, Captain. She only managed two before she passed out, though. A Mojito and a vodka soda, if I remember correctly. I'm pretty sure she liked the Mojito more because of its fruity flavour."
AC: "Doctor is partial to fruits, so that is understandable."
HD: "How come you didn't try anything, Captain?"
AC: "And run the risk of poisoning myself as a result? No, thank you, Human Dave."
HD: "Then I'll just have to introduce you to some zero-alcohol drinks, Captain. They are basically the same as alcoholic drinks, only no alcohol content in them."
AC: "... that seems an acceptable alternative, Human Dave. And Doctor did seem to enjoy herself before she passed out."
HD: "A bit of sleep, and maybe a once-over with the medical scanner, and she'll be fine."
AC: "... that you even have to mention the medical scanner, even in passing, does not fill me with a sense of confidence, Human Dave."

My grandmother, Ida, loves to talk. She'll tell stories for days, but she only told me this story once, and never spoke about it again.
There’s an abandoned steel skeleton on the other side of the cemetery where Ida grew up. It used to be a cell tower, or maybe it was for power lines; there’s no way to tell now. The blackberry plants are still there, though. They twist around the places where the metal still disappears into the dirt, the beams sunk deep into the ground despite the way the whole structure has fallen sideways into the grass. The graves are in almost the same state of disrepair, with most of the names scrubbed away by the rain and the wind. But there’s one heads tone that still gleams like it did on the day it was made, the marble cast with shifting shadows from the sugar-maple tree that looms over it. Charlotte Telor is etched into it, along with beloved.
Charlotte’s mother, Ida, is eighty-three now. She can barely walk from all the cancers that have left her body weak, and she hobbles along with one hand on her husband's shoulder and one hand on mine. She kneels in front of Sharon’s tomb and prays over it, then puts down new flowers to replace the old ones. She comes here so often that the previous flowers still look almost fresh. When Ina gets up, she has a stinging nettle rash on her right knee and an oak gall stuck to her sweater.
They’d pick the blackberries, Charlotte and Ida, back when the tower was still standing proud over the cemetery. Charlotte loved to gather up a handful of berries and put one at the foot of every grave, with a pause between each to eat one herself, of course. She thought that each patch of dirt contained an angel, and she could gain their favor by feeding them. She picked up bits of tombstones and tried to fit the puzzle pieces back together, even when the graves looked like nothing more than a bare patch of dirt.
Ida goes to church every Sunday and puts her whole heart into it, singing as loud as her throat can manage, even when it hurts her. She bakes bread once a month to share at the community dinners, donates candles for Christmas service, and is generally a pillar of the Spartanburg community.
“They all came over when Charlotte died,” Ida told me. “All of my friends, every single one of them.” She didn’t spend a moment alone, and she didn’t have to cook for herself for a month. There was a collection sent around, the following Sunday, to pay for Charlotte's medical bills.
It started when Charlotte started walking around hunched over, her arms wrapped tight around her stomach. When she started vomiting and didn’t stop, Ida took her to the emergency room in their old car, rattling over the potholes at seventy miles an hour. They were sent away at the emergency room, though, because Charlotte wasn’t crying and it was busy. Another day passed. Charlotte grew more and more sick. They went back to the emergency room, and finally talked to a doctor.
The doctor looked her over, pressed on her belly, and then went silent. He picked her up and took her into the next room without a single word, except to brush off the secretary.
“They need to sign in,” the secretary said.
“No time,” the doctor answered, his voice still deathly quiet.
Ida doesn’t remember what happened after that. It’s lost to her in a haze of grief and people running. All she knows is that her baby died from a burst appendix because she was sent away the first time they went to the doctor. Charlotte was two years old. She was buried in the same cemetery that she used to hunt for blackberries in.
“She didn’t cry,” Ida said. “The whole time, she didn’t cry. The doctors told me that she must have had such a massive tolerance for pain.”
But my grandmother tells me something different.
"I saw them take her," Ida says. "The demons. They crawled out of the graves and killed Charlotte's blackberry angels."
According to Ida, she didn't cry because the demons had stuffed their claim into her mouth, gagged her on their rotting flesh and planted their poison in her.
“The God that I know is a loving God,” Ina said. "I don't know how he could let that happen. It just slipped by his notice, I guess."
She is eighty-three years old and losing a child is still the worst thing that has ever happened to her. Her confession to me, in an ashamed whisper, is that she can only keep going because she knows that she will see Charlotte again, one way or another. She's been catching glimpses of the demons out of the corners of her eyes for decades.

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