Huddle house menu
Waffle House
2010.09.09 21:51 Panguin Waffle House
2012.07.29 21:35 Vegas Trees
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2016.05.26 19:44 MuegillaGuerilla House of the Dying Sun
House of the Dying Sun is a tactical space shooter that puts you in the cockpit of the universe's most terrifying starfighter. Hunt the enemies of the Empire and bring ruin to their people.
2023.04.01 16:12 patrickmac110 [HELP] Parsing conversation from ui text array
I'm trying to parse through Auto Input's UI query on Slack to get a conversation out of it. Here's the result of %aitext() what I get when I do and then my best attempt at trying to get a conversation out of it...
Back,Workspace menu, Redacted Family +,Redacted Family +. ,Sort channels by,,Threads,Drafts & Sent,Team,Expanded,artificially-intelligent-design,tres-amigos,Pat and Elisa,Expanded,babe,budget,chores-and-housework,medical,schedule,shopping-list,No Girls Allowed,Expanded,accountability,Jump to…,New message,Selected. Home,,Home,Direct messages,,DMs,Mentions,,Mentions,Search,,Search,You,,You,Back,,Private channel babe. 2 members, 2 pins. View details.,,babe,2 members, 2 pins,Open channel canvas,Start or join a huddle,Attachments and shortcuts,,Record audio clip,,%aitext53,Message babe,View user profile,patrickmac110,4:32 PM,Yes I got all 4,I'm just leaving the Luau, let me get home,View user profile,Elisa,4:32 PM,Kk,View user profile,Elisa,5:08 PM,No! I wanna ride it with you,View user profile,patrickmac110,5:29 PM,Okay,View user profile,Elisa,8:08 PM,Did you not go to group?,View user profile,patrickmac110,8:09 PM,I thought the guys weren't meeting...,View user profile,Elisa,8:09 PM,Oh. Maybe not,Sigh. I'm hungry. And I just want to grab some food,But there's plenty at home,View user profile,patrickmac110,8:11 PM,Yeah Devin proposed the bonfire, Rick responded with a gif, the Danfords called out, I proposed Fun Spot, and then turned out that Mike had to work late so that seemed like the end of the discussion,Yeah,View user profile,Elisa,8:11 PM,Gotcha. No worries. I just missed that
submitted by patrickmac110 to tasker [link] [comments]
Back,Workspace menu, Redacted Family +,Redacted Family +. ,Sort channels by,,Threads,Drafts & Sent,Team,Expanded,artificially-intelligent-design,tres-amigos,Pat and Elisa,Expanded,babe,budget,chores-and-housework,medical,schedule,shopping-list,No Girls Allowed,Expanded,accountability,Jump to…,New message,Selected. Home,,Home,Direct messages,,DMs,Mentions,,Mentions,Search,,Search,You,,You,Back,,Private channel babe. 2 members, 2 pins. View details.,,babe,2 members, 2 pins,Open channel canvas,Start or join a huddle,Attachments and shortcuts,,Record audio clip,,%aitext53,Message babe,View user profile,patrickmac110,4:32 PM,Yes I got all 4,I'm just leaving the Luau, let me get home,View user profile,Elisa,4:32 PM,Kk,View user profile,Elisa,5:08 PM,No! I wanna ride it with you,View user profile,patrickmac110,5:29 PM,Okay,View user profile,Elisa,8:08 PM,Did you not go to group?,View user profile,patrickmac110,8:09 PM,I thought the guys weren't meeting...,View user profile,Elisa,8:09 PM,Oh. Maybe not,Sigh. I'm hungry. And I just want to grab some food,But there's plenty at home,View user profile,patrickmac110,8:11 PM,Yeah Devin proposed the bonfire, Rick responded with a gif, the Danfords called out, I proposed Fun Spot, and then turned out that Mike had to work late so that seemed like the end of the discussion,Yeah,View user profile,Elisa,8:11 PM,Gotcha. No worries. I just missed that
Task: ReplyBot A1: [X] AutoInput Global Action [ Configuration: Action: Back Timeout (Seconds): 20 Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A2: Close System Dialogs A3: [X] AutoInput Global Action [ Configuration: Action: Back Timeout (Seconds): 30 Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A4: [X] Take Screenshot [ File: Tasketemp screenshot/temp.png ] A5: AutoInput UI Query [ Configuration: Only Visible: true Timeout (Seconds): 60 Structure Output (JSON, etc): On Continue Task After Error:On ] A6: [X] Variable Set [ Name: %par2 To: true Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A7: Variable Clear [ Name: %conversation ] A8: [X] Flash [ Text: %aitext() Long: On Tasker Layout: On Continue Task Immediately: On Dismiss On Click: On ] A9: Variable Set [ Name: %num To: 1 Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A10: Variable Set [ Name: %num To: %num+1 Recurse Variables: On Do Maths: On Max Rounding Digits: 3 Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A11: Simple Match/Regex [ Type: Regex Text: %currentmsg Regex: (?[View user profile,(.*),(.*)]) Continue Task After Error:On ] A12: If [ %mt_match_found ~ true ] A13: For [ Variable: %currentmsg Items: %mt_match() Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A14: Flash [ Text: %num Long: On Tasker Layout: On Continue Task Immediately: On Dismiss On Click: On ] A15: Variable Set [ Name: %sender To: %msg(2) Recurse Variables: On Do Maths: On Max Rounding Digits: 3 Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A16: Variable Set [ Name: %content To: %msg(3) Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A17: Variable Set [ Name: %conversation To: %sender: %content Append: On Structure Output (JSON, etc): On ] A18: End For A19: End If A20: Set Clipboard [ Text: %conversation ] A21: [X] Set Clipboard [ Text: %aitext() ] A22: Stop [ ]
2023.04.01 15:58 Miscellaneous-Nado [F4M] Breakfast in Bed (Yandere) (Kidnapping) (Drugged) (Force Feeding)
Okay, wholesome doesn't work. Another Yandere post it is then.
Word Processor file available upon request. Any SFX included are just suggestions for reference. If you want to use the script, then you can change whatever you want, and post it wherever you want. Monetization OK. Please just let me see the finished product. Credit me by putting「Script by The Mousou Koujou https://www.youtube.com/@TheMousouKoujou 」in your description, and if possible, placing this image at some point in the video, like an outro: Business Card
START
[Excited] Good morning honey~. It's time to wake up~
It's a nice, beautiful Sunday~, so I thought I'd bring you breakfast in bed. Is that okay? I have all of your favorites. Eggs sunny side up~. Bacon~ Pancakes~ and some white grape juice. Extra sweet. I would stake my pride as a chef on how delicious this is. Besides, I know you love this stuff, so please, eat up.
(Pause)
[Dejected] You…don't look excited. Are you...not hungry?
Still?
You've been acting like that for quite some time, you know. I can't tell if you're feeling unwell, or just messing with me. Although I'm leaning toward the latter.
You really don't want anything, huh. [Worried] Is it…my fault? Do you not like my cooking anymore? Even though you said you always looked forward to it at my restaurant? What changed? O-or maybe I'm the one who changed. I did start shopping at a different Supermarket. I guess there might be a subtle nuance in the flavor.
[Excited] But I'm surprised you could pick up on something like that. Your palate must be very sophisticated! (giggle)
[Dejected] But…your face is telling me I'm wrong. I wonder what it could be then.
(Sigh) Oh well. Asking you like this won't really get us anywhere. The important thing is that you eat anyway. You have to keep your strength up. Brace yourself. This'll sting a bit.
(She rips off the tape covering his mouth https://youtu.be/Gp9s_eGQqT8 )
Now that that's out of the way. Open your mouth. Come on. Open up. Please~~
(Pause)
Honey…I already told you. Y-you need to eat. You've been on this weird diet of yours for long enough. It can't be healthy. And you know that your health and comfort are my top priorities.
(Pause)
[A little sad] Of course I mean that! Why would you think otherwise? The first thing you said all day, and it's a little hurtful. I love you more than anything, so of course I want to keep you healthy. Have I really not made that clear? What…what can I do to prove it to you? Should I cook you something else? Do you want me to bake you some desserts this time? Or are you just tired of my cooking, and want some takeout?
[Nervous] B-because I don't mind. R-really, I don't. Everyone needs a ch-change of pace. You won't, uh, hurt my feelings if you say you want someone else's cooking, e-every once in a while. So will that…make you happy?
(Pause)
I'm…"missing the point?" Please, just explain what's wrong so I can try to fix it. That's what I do now, I fix things for the both of us, so please just trust me.
(Pause)
You...want to go?
(Giggle)
Go where, exactly? Can you be a little more specific? The bathroom? The kitchen?
Oh, do you wanna see the view from the porch? It is very scenic. I love to sit out there and just think. Mainly I think about the future, after you give up on these little games of yours, and just let me take great care of you. I'm sure we'll get there one day, and I'm really looking forward to it. But until then…
Ah, sorry, I got distracted. So, where do you want to go?
(Pause)
Home?
(Laughing)
Wha- (giggle) what kind of joke is that, dear? (Giggle)
[Happy] Or is your silly diet finally messing with your memory now too? I really have to work on that. This is your home, Sweetie. I told you that when I brought you here, but I'll tell you as many times as I need to. This is your home. This is our home. A place for the 2 of us to be happy and free, together. Maybe you're not completely sold on the idea, but I still think it sounds lovely.
(Pause)
You don't…feel free, huh. Yeah…yeah I get that. I guess that's partially my fault. I just haven't been able to do enough for you.
[Reassuring] B-but I swear, the restraints are only temporary. As soon as you truly adjust to our new living situation, I'll gladly remove all of them.
[Worried] But for now, it's just…well it's not safe for us to do that. N-not yet, anyway. You're still unwell. You remember, don't you? When I first brought you here, you started thrashing around, trying to hurt me and yourself.
[Sad] That was so scary…
So I can't let you do that to yourself again. I just don't know what I would do if you got hurt because of me.
(Pause)
Yes, yes I do understand what I'm doing.
[Happy] I'm making a safe and healthy environment for the two of us. From the beginning, I knew it would be a lot of work. There are new challenges every day. I…still make mistakes. But that's what being a couple is all about. Making sacrifices together for a brighter future, together with the one you love.
(Pause)
What do you mean?
I've made plenty of sacrifices for you. Not to mention risks…
Getting you here wasn't easy. We're lucky we got a taxi driver that didn't care about the state you were in. Plus, there are still times when I have to throw people off your trail. if I didn't spend so much time preparing this, I would have been busted a while ago.
Anyway, please don't question my commitment to this relationship.
(Pause)
(Scoff) Now you're just being dramatic. Don't say you want out of this relationship. I know for a fact that you're lying. You can't trick me now. Not after all those sweet things you did, and said. There's no way you didn't want this to happen.
You came to my restaurant so often, that I started looking forward to your visits. They were the highlight of my week. You were so adventurous, always trying a different item on the menu. And no matter what you ordered, when you finished eating, you would look so full, and satisfied. Your joy was written all over your face whenever you came by to thank me personally. One day I simply realized, or rather, remembered: that the entire reason I became a chef, was to see someone make a face like that, all because of my cooking.
So you see, you made my dream come true. And I wanted to repay you for that kindness,
But I know we could both agree that once a week wasn't enough. So I decided I would become your part-time personal, live-in chef, …and your full-time girlfriend! (giggle)
I'm sure you're tired of hearing that silly joke, but you keep acting like you had nothing to do with this decision, so I have to remind you every~ time.
[Happy] Not that I mind. It's such an adorable love story. One that I hope never ends. And that's why~
[Serious] I need you to eat the food that I prepare for you. I'll get it into your stomach one way or another. This is your last chance to actually enjoy your meal.
(Pause)
No, I won't tell you what that means, but you'll find out if you keep behaving this way. Is that really what you want? Please, just make it easy for yourself, and eat.
(Pause)
(Sigh) I didn't know you could be so stubborn. I would admire it if it wasn't so detrimental. Just remember: I warned you. I'll be off to the kitchen, and when I get back, you'll wish you listened.
(Footstep sfx that fade out as she walks out of the room.)
(Long pause)
(Blender noises for 10 seconds)
(Long Pause)
(Footstep sfx that fades in as she returns)
You know I…thought this would be a punishment, but this special breakfast smoothie I made for you…
[Genuine surprised] Actually looks kind of appetizing. Not that I would drink it, but still. It's full of all the things I brought over before, minus the grape juice. Instead, I substituted about half a cup…of my love for you. (Giggle)
S-sorry, I just (giggle) couldn't resist.
Anyway, You can still make this easy for yourself, so please, don't resist. Drink it down, as quick as you can. Just get it over with, y'know? Open up.
(Pause)
D-dear, please. I don't wanna do this either. So take the bottle and…
(Pause)
Just…
[Annoyed] …Drink it already!
I'll shove it down your throat if I have to!
(she pushes him down https://youtu.be/1wn0OXTQ-Jo )
Stop! Struggling! Just! Drink the! Damn! Smoothie already!
(Several deep gulping sounds)
(Speaker heavy breathing/gasping for several seconds as they catch their breath.)
You…put up…quite a…struggle…for someone…so…malnourished.
(2 deep breaths)
But now it's over. It wasn't so bad, right? Better than starving, don't you think?
Oh, you're…dribbling a bit. Let me wipe that clean.
(Fabric sounds as she wipes his mouth)
[Happy] There~ All better. Can't have your pretty face getting all messy. (Giggle)
[Dejected] You…still look upset.
I wish you would at least tell me why you were so against eating my cooking. If you did, then I could just fix it, and we could move on. So please, be honest with me.
(Pause)
"Worried?" Worried about what?
(Pause)
Oh…
Okay, um…
Y-yeah, that makes sense, actually. I drugged your food once to bring you here, and you're scared I'll do it again. That's only natural. Um, I'm sorry for that. I really am. I was just so desperate to run away with you, but I know how you can be a little shy. I thought if I asked you to leave with me, you might say no, even though I knew we both wanted it. So I just thought…it would be easier if I took the choice out of your hands. I mean, if you didn't seize the opportunity, I'm sure you would have spent your life regretting it. But now, you don't have to worry about that. You don't really have to worry about anything, actually. That's what I'm here for. I think we've been here long enough for you to acknowledge how well I've been caring for you. Bathing you, pampering you, (giggle) and of course feeding you.
[under her breath] Although you tried to resist all of that…
The point is!
I'm your girlfriend now. And I promise, I will never neglect you and your health. Really, the only one doing that is you.
If you won't take care of yourself, then I'll just have to do it for you. If you don't want that, then you have to find a way to prove it to me. Otherwise, the restraints will stay where they are, as will you. So what do you say?
(Pause)
Dear?
H-honey?
[Serious, angry]
You ungrateful little…!
How dare you say that to me, after all the effort I put into this for you!
God, you really are too stubborn for your own good. But I'll figure it out. You see, I have a lot more of my…(giggle) special seasonings. The kind that put you to sleep? Those were just the tip of the iceberg.
I have some that will make you feel like you're burning from the inside out~,
or like your stomach is twisting into a knot~,
or make your mind blank and pliable so I can make you see things my way.
All 100% organic, and without any major lasting side effects, they'll do the job.
Don't worry, I won't use any of the really dangerous stuff around you. I don't want to hurt you too~ badly.
No, I'll make sure to save that for~…oh that's right. (Short, Evil laugh) The people who come to my restaurant, looking for you. I guess the police are just doing their jobs, so I can't hold it against them.
[Annoyed] But your clingy ex girlfriend just can't take a hint. Well I guess we're the only ones who know that you're dating me now, so she probably thinks you two are still together. But that doesn't mean she needs to keep pestering me at the shop. I think it's obvious that you're not going to suddenly contact her or anything, but she still keeps coming around. Sometimes, she tells me things about your life together.
(Scoff) It seems she had just enough self awareness to know she was a terrible cook herself. She even considered that her lack of skill might have scared you away. (Laughing)
But most of the time, she came to ask me about you, instead. About what you were like when you visited. Why the hell does she need to ask me? She was dating you first, right? Was she really so vapid that she didn't learn anything about you in your time together? I think that would be pretty pathetic, and it would mean I made the right choice bringing you here, where you can be properly appreciated, by me of course. (Giggle)
[Mischievous, whispered in his ear] So yeah, the next time she comes around~, i'll have to give her some…extra service, on the house of course, and put her out of her self-absorbed misery.
[Switch ears] But that doesn't mean it'll be quick, or painless. How much she suffers is completely up to me. At least, it should be. But who knows. I can't say she puts me in a good mood. It would be a shame if I…accidentally went overboard.
(Pause)
You can complain all you want, but that's not what will make me change my mind. You know what you have to do.
(Pause)
[Happy] Awww, really~?
You'll eat all~ my food from now on? No matter what?
You promise~?
(Pause)
[Serious] Say it. Say 'you promise'.
(Pause)
[Happy] That's great, honey~
[Serious Whispering in ear] I'll be holding you to that. Don't forget now, it's not just you that will have to pay the price. If you just give me a chance, you'll see that you're lucky to be here with me. Maybe you don't see it now, but I have plenty of time to change your mind.
So, now that you won't give me a hard time anymore, what would you like for dinner? It's a good day, so I'll cook whatever~ you want. Unless you really need take-out, then I'll order that instead. Just let me know. You know that all I really want to do is make you happy, right?
So tell me what you want for dinner.
(Pause)
Hmm?
Oh, That's right, I didn't ask about lunch. But that's because…you won't be needing it.
(Pause)
Because you're gonna sleep through your lunch time, like a baby.
Yeah, I guess you were right to be worried about me putting something else in your food. But in my defense, I only added it after you forced me to make that smoothie. That's only fair, right? A baby throwing a tantrum has to be put back to bed. Hopefully, you're less cranky when you wake up again in the evening. And when you do, I'll have some of your favorite foods laid out. So look forward to it.
I know it's early in the morning but…good night dear~
(Giggle)
END
submitted by Miscellaneous-Nado to ASMRScriptHaven [link] [comments]
Word Processor file available upon request. Any SFX included are just suggestions for reference. If you want to use the script, then you can change whatever you want, and post it wherever you want. Monetization OK. Please just let me see the finished product. Credit me by putting「Script by The Mousou Koujou https://www.youtube.com/@TheMousouKoujou 」in your description, and if possible, placing this image at some point in the video, like an outro: Business Card
START
[Excited] Good morning honey~. It's time to wake up~
It's a nice, beautiful Sunday~, so I thought I'd bring you breakfast in bed. Is that okay? I have all of your favorites. Eggs sunny side up~. Bacon~ Pancakes~ and some white grape juice. Extra sweet. I would stake my pride as a chef on how delicious this is. Besides, I know you love this stuff, so please, eat up.
(Pause)
[Dejected] You…don't look excited. Are you...not hungry?
Still?
You've been acting like that for quite some time, you know. I can't tell if you're feeling unwell, or just messing with me. Although I'm leaning toward the latter.
You really don't want anything, huh. [Worried] Is it…my fault? Do you not like my cooking anymore? Even though you said you always looked forward to it at my restaurant? What changed? O-or maybe I'm the one who changed. I did start shopping at a different Supermarket. I guess there might be a subtle nuance in the flavor.
[Excited] But I'm surprised you could pick up on something like that. Your palate must be very sophisticated! (giggle)
[Dejected] But…your face is telling me I'm wrong. I wonder what it could be then.
(Sigh) Oh well. Asking you like this won't really get us anywhere. The important thing is that you eat anyway. You have to keep your strength up. Brace yourself. This'll sting a bit.
(She rips off the tape covering his mouth https://youtu.be/Gp9s_eGQqT8 )
Now that that's out of the way. Open your mouth. Come on. Open up. Please~~
(Pause)
Honey…I already told you. Y-you need to eat. You've been on this weird diet of yours for long enough. It can't be healthy. And you know that your health and comfort are my top priorities.
(Pause)
[A little sad] Of course I mean that! Why would you think otherwise? The first thing you said all day, and it's a little hurtful. I love you more than anything, so of course I want to keep you healthy. Have I really not made that clear? What…what can I do to prove it to you? Should I cook you something else? Do you want me to bake you some desserts this time? Or are you just tired of my cooking, and want some takeout?
[Nervous] B-because I don't mind. R-really, I don't. Everyone needs a ch-change of pace. You won't, uh, hurt my feelings if you say you want someone else's cooking, e-every once in a while. So will that…make you happy?
(Pause)
I'm…"missing the point?" Please, just explain what's wrong so I can try to fix it. That's what I do now, I fix things for the both of us, so please just trust me.
(Pause)
You...want to go?
(Giggle)
Go where, exactly? Can you be a little more specific? The bathroom? The kitchen?
Oh, do you wanna see the view from the porch? It is very scenic. I love to sit out there and just think. Mainly I think about the future, after you give up on these little games of yours, and just let me take great care of you. I'm sure we'll get there one day, and I'm really looking forward to it. But until then…
Ah, sorry, I got distracted. So, where do you want to go?
(Pause)
Home?
(Laughing)
Wha- (giggle) what kind of joke is that, dear? (Giggle)
[Happy] Or is your silly diet finally messing with your memory now too? I really have to work on that. This is your home, Sweetie. I told you that when I brought you here, but I'll tell you as many times as I need to. This is your home. This is our home. A place for the 2 of us to be happy and free, together. Maybe you're not completely sold on the idea, but I still think it sounds lovely.
(Pause)
You don't…feel free, huh. Yeah…yeah I get that. I guess that's partially my fault. I just haven't been able to do enough for you.
[Reassuring] B-but I swear, the restraints are only temporary. As soon as you truly adjust to our new living situation, I'll gladly remove all of them.
[Worried] But for now, it's just…well it's not safe for us to do that. N-not yet, anyway. You're still unwell. You remember, don't you? When I first brought you here, you started thrashing around, trying to hurt me and yourself.
[Sad] That was so scary…
So I can't let you do that to yourself again. I just don't know what I would do if you got hurt because of me.
(Pause)
Yes, yes I do understand what I'm doing.
[Happy] I'm making a safe and healthy environment for the two of us. From the beginning, I knew it would be a lot of work. There are new challenges every day. I…still make mistakes. But that's what being a couple is all about. Making sacrifices together for a brighter future, together with the one you love.
(Pause)
What do you mean?
I've made plenty of sacrifices for you. Not to mention risks…
Getting you here wasn't easy. We're lucky we got a taxi driver that didn't care about the state you were in. Plus, there are still times when I have to throw people off your trail. if I didn't spend so much time preparing this, I would have been busted a while ago.
Anyway, please don't question my commitment to this relationship.
(Pause)
(Scoff) Now you're just being dramatic. Don't say you want out of this relationship. I know for a fact that you're lying. You can't trick me now. Not after all those sweet things you did, and said. There's no way you didn't want this to happen.
You came to my restaurant so often, that I started looking forward to your visits. They were the highlight of my week. You were so adventurous, always trying a different item on the menu. And no matter what you ordered, when you finished eating, you would look so full, and satisfied. Your joy was written all over your face whenever you came by to thank me personally. One day I simply realized, or rather, remembered: that the entire reason I became a chef, was to see someone make a face like that, all because of my cooking.
So you see, you made my dream come true. And I wanted to repay you for that kindness,
But I know we could both agree that once a week wasn't enough. So I decided I would become your part-time personal, live-in chef, …and your full-time girlfriend! (giggle)
I'm sure you're tired of hearing that silly joke, but you keep acting like you had nothing to do with this decision, so I have to remind you every~ time.
[Happy] Not that I mind. It's such an adorable love story. One that I hope never ends. And that's why~
[Serious] I need you to eat the food that I prepare for you. I'll get it into your stomach one way or another. This is your last chance to actually enjoy your meal.
(Pause)
No, I won't tell you what that means, but you'll find out if you keep behaving this way. Is that really what you want? Please, just make it easy for yourself, and eat.
(Pause)
(Sigh) I didn't know you could be so stubborn. I would admire it if it wasn't so detrimental. Just remember: I warned you. I'll be off to the kitchen, and when I get back, you'll wish you listened.
(Footstep sfx that fade out as she walks out of the room.)
(Long pause)
(Blender noises for 10 seconds)
(Long Pause)
(Footstep sfx that fades in as she returns)
You know I…thought this would be a punishment, but this special breakfast smoothie I made for you…
[Genuine surprised] Actually looks kind of appetizing. Not that I would drink it, but still. It's full of all the things I brought over before, minus the grape juice. Instead, I substituted about half a cup…of my love for you. (Giggle)
S-sorry, I just (giggle) couldn't resist.
Anyway, You can still make this easy for yourself, so please, don't resist. Drink it down, as quick as you can. Just get it over with, y'know? Open up.
(Pause)
D-dear, please. I don't wanna do this either. So take the bottle and…
(Pause)
Just…
[Annoyed] …Drink it already!
I'll shove it down your throat if I have to!
(she pushes him down https://youtu.be/1wn0OXTQ-Jo )
Stop! Struggling! Just! Drink the! Damn! Smoothie already!
(Several deep gulping sounds)
(Speaker heavy breathing/gasping for several seconds as they catch their breath.)
You…put up…quite a…struggle…for someone…so…malnourished.
(2 deep breaths)
But now it's over. It wasn't so bad, right? Better than starving, don't you think?
Oh, you're…dribbling a bit. Let me wipe that clean.
(Fabric sounds as she wipes his mouth)
[Happy] There~ All better. Can't have your pretty face getting all messy. (Giggle)
[Dejected] You…still look upset.
I wish you would at least tell me why you were so against eating my cooking. If you did, then I could just fix it, and we could move on. So please, be honest with me.
(Pause)
"Worried?" Worried about what?
(Pause)
Oh…
Okay, um…
Y-yeah, that makes sense, actually. I drugged your food once to bring you here, and you're scared I'll do it again. That's only natural. Um, I'm sorry for that. I really am. I was just so desperate to run away with you, but I know how you can be a little shy. I thought if I asked you to leave with me, you might say no, even though I knew we both wanted it. So I just thought…it would be easier if I took the choice out of your hands. I mean, if you didn't seize the opportunity, I'm sure you would have spent your life regretting it. But now, you don't have to worry about that. You don't really have to worry about anything, actually. That's what I'm here for. I think we've been here long enough for you to acknowledge how well I've been caring for you. Bathing you, pampering you, (giggle) and of course feeding you.
[under her breath] Although you tried to resist all of that…
The point is!
I'm your girlfriend now. And I promise, I will never neglect you and your health. Really, the only one doing that is you.
If you won't take care of yourself, then I'll just have to do it for you. If you don't want that, then you have to find a way to prove it to me. Otherwise, the restraints will stay where they are, as will you. So what do you say?
(Pause)
Dear?
H-honey?
[Serious, angry]
You ungrateful little…!
How dare you say that to me, after all the effort I put into this for you!
God, you really are too stubborn for your own good. But I'll figure it out. You see, I have a lot more of my…(giggle) special seasonings. The kind that put you to sleep? Those were just the tip of the iceberg.
I have some that will make you feel like you're burning from the inside out~,
or like your stomach is twisting into a knot~,
or make your mind blank and pliable so I can make you see things my way.
All 100% organic, and without any major lasting side effects, they'll do the job.
Don't worry, I won't use any of the really dangerous stuff around you. I don't want to hurt you too~ badly.
No, I'll make sure to save that for~…oh that's right. (Short, Evil laugh) The people who come to my restaurant, looking for you. I guess the police are just doing their jobs, so I can't hold it against them.
[Annoyed] But your clingy ex girlfriend just can't take a hint. Well I guess we're the only ones who know that you're dating me now, so she probably thinks you two are still together. But that doesn't mean she needs to keep pestering me at the shop. I think it's obvious that you're not going to suddenly contact her or anything, but she still keeps coming around. Sometimes, she tells me things about your life together.
(Scoff) It seems she had just enough self awareness to know she was a terrible cook herself. She even considered that her lack of skill might have scared you away. (Laughing)
But most of the time, she came to ask me about you, instead. About what you were like when you visited. Why the hell does she need to ask me? She was dating you first, right? Was she really so vapid that she didn't learn anything about you in your time together? I think that would be pretty pathetic, and it would mean I made the right choice bringing you here, where you can be properly appreciated, by me of course. (Giggle)
[Mischievous, whispered in his ear] So yeah, the next time she comes around~, i'll have to give her some…extra service, on the house of course, and put her out of her self-absorbed misery.
[Switch ears] But that doesn't mean it'll be quick, or painless. How much she suffers is completely up to me. At least, it should be. But who knows. I can't say she puts me in a good mood. It would be a shame if I…accidentally went overboard.
(Pause)
You can complain all you want, but that's not what will make me change my mind. You know what you have to do.
(Pause)
[Happy] Awww, really~?
You'll eat all~ my food from now on? No matter what?
You promise~?
(Pause)
[Serious] Say it. Say 'you promise'.
(Pause)
[Happy] That's great, honey~
[Serious Whispering in ear] I'll be holding you to that. Don't forget now, it's not just you that will have to pay the price. If you just give me a chance, you'll see that you're lucky to be here with me. Maybe you don't see it now, but I have plenty of time to change your mind.
So, now that you won't give me a hard time anymore, what would you like for dinner? It's a good day, so I'll cook whatever~ you want. Unless you really need take-out, then I'll order that instead. Just let me know. You know that all I really want to do is make you happy, right?
So tell me what you want for dinner.
(Pause)
Hmm?
Oh, That's right, I didn't ask about lunch. But that's because…you won't be needing it.
(Pause)
Because you're gonna sleep through your lunch time, like a baby.
Yeah, I guess you were right to be worried about me putting something else in your food. But in my defense, I only added it after you forced me to make that smoothie. That's only fair, right? A baby throwing a tantrum has to be put back to bed. Hopefully, you're less cranky when you wake up again in the evening. And when you do, I'll have some of your favorite foods laid out. So look forward to it.
I know it's early in the morning but…good night dear~
(Giggle)
END
2023.04.01 15:17 YaaliAnnar NoP: Lost and Found (37)
First Previous
Memory Transcription Subject: Tresn, arxur farmer
Date [Standardized Human Reckoning]: 2136–09-28
The day I learned about humans was a calm one. The sun had slid close to the horizon and with a basket of herbs and spices, I made my way back to the farmhouse where Taksak and I lived. When I arrived my mentor was waiting for me to prepare our dinner. He asked me for three portions instead of the usual two with the third one being unseasoned.
As I was going about my business, I heard a sound that caught my attention. It was the telltale noise of an airship landing in front of Taksak's farm. I hurried to the farmhouse's kitchen window to see what was going on and the reason for the third portion became clear. I saw a betterment officer stepping out of her vehicle. Her visit was out of schedule, so that means she is bringing some intel. Taksak seemed unfazed by her arrival but I was pretty sure that he was also in the dark with me.
My heart was pounding with anticipation as I returned to prepare the three portions of meals for the day. Our ancestors, blessed they are, had always emphasized the importance of plants in our lives. Some plants had medicinal properties that could cure sickness, while others could be used as seasonings to enhance the taste of our food. They taught us that there was more to food than just meat and that the plant world held great value as well.
My mind was filled with me thinking about what sort of news she was bringing today.
I finished preparing the meals and arranged the dishes on a tray. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves before making my way to the dinner table where the officer had been sitting with her brother. I placed the first dish in front of my mentor first, the second dish graced the betterment officer, and last, I placed mine before I sat.
Taksak and I used a small dagger as befitting of the civilized way of our ancestors, while his sister grabbed the pieces of raw meat with her claw. We ate in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts as we savored them. The Betterment Officer, who had been quiet for most of the meal, eyed the sauce we had been dipping our meat in. Curiosity getting the better of her, she ended up trying it as well, and her face lit up with pleasure as she put the meat into her maw. As she finished her meal, she dipped her piece of meat in every bite, I suppose she approved of it.
After we finished our meal, the woman fished into her satchel and took out a data chip.
"You didn't get this from me," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you get caught with this, I will deny any involvement."
I tried not to think about what would happen if we were caught with them. Death would be the best-case scenario.
Without another word, the taciturn arxur gathered her things and left us alone in our living room.
"Tresn, bring me the reader," Taksak instructed me, his voice low and urgent.
I didn't hesitate for a moment. I ran into our bedroom and retrieved the reader that Taksak had asked for. The old device was a modified pad with its connectivity disabled. Taksak had the physical module removed, ensuring that whatever we open in that device, stays in our farmhouse. After I handed it to him, Taksak inserted the data chip into the reader and we were presented with a document on the screen.
The front page was printed in large letters saying that this document is classified. The preface of the document described that the original copy was written in ventongue, which was then translated into our speech. I recalled that when Taksak's sister last came here, she brought news about uncontacted species. Everything about the new species made more sense then. They had just attacked Gojid's core world, weakening the prey. With their Cradle left defenseless, our people swooped down.
Taksak and I huddled over the secret documents, poring over the details of the new species and their way of life. According to the text, the Federation had not tainted them with the prey's way of life, allowing them to evolve in their way. They had been able to maintain their carnivorous diet and maintain a society that was not based on violence and cruelty. Taksak seemed lost in thought. His eyes scanned the text as he absorbed the information. I could feel the wheels turning in his mind as he considered the implications of what we were reading.
The document ended with a section filled with pictures revealing these elusive creatures. Their soft features and their lack of natural weapons made them appear almost prey-like. It was as if a mad biologist had modified a prey species to have binocular vision. As we swiped through the pictures, we saw glimpses of their society and their way of life.
Seeing these species, My feelings of jealousy and longing intensified. These creatures lived in dense, vibrant settlements full of life and energy. I could almost feel the excitement of their festivals and rites, imagining myself lost in the sea of people. Despite their dense settlement, they had managed to preserve vast tracts of wilderness, filled with four-legged predators that roamed free in their natural habitats.
One obscene image, in particular, caught our attention. It showed a human feeding a predator with striped fur markings. These creatures had so much meat that they could afford to feed it to their animals. Not only that, but this new species also brought some of the predators into their civilized places, treating them almost like members of their own families. One image showed a small orange predator with pointy ears being held by a human, as though it was their child.
And then, we saw it. A photo of four-legged animals with side-facing eyes grazing on a lush green field. Cattle, I realized with a jolt. Non-sapient cattle, to be precise.
"Sir...look!" I exclaimed, nudging my mentor. "They have non-sapient cattle!"
But when I turned to face him, my excitement turned into concern. A pang of deep sadness etched his face and tears were streaming down his cheeks. For a moment, I didn't know what to do or say. I had never seen my mentor like this before.
"This...might be what we could have been," he said at last, his voice trembling with emotion. "If we had not been contacted from the sky… If we had been left to develop our way of life, perhaps we could have been like this."
The older arxur placed the reader away on the side table. He sobbed, as though a lifetime of sorrow had come crashing down upon him, and he could no longer keep his emotions in check. I could feel my own emotions flaring up in response to his grief. I reached out to offer some form of comfort. But before I could say anything, Taksak pulled me into a tight embrace and we wept, feeling the pain that we shared, a pain that was rooted in all that we had lost as a people.
Outside, our cattle slept in peace under the shade of their pen without a care in the world.
Memory Transcription Subject: Johan, human exchange program participant
Date [Standardized Human Reckoning]: 2136–10-02
We spent a few days exploring the island of Bali, and the news of the Gojids' threat faded into the background of our minds. However, our peaceful respite was short-lived because the arxurs swooped in after the Gojids' defenses were destroyed by the humans. In terror, we felt like we were leading lambs to the slaughter.
Damn if we do and damn if we don't.
The bad news didn't stop there. We also received an update from the Federation's Special Session on humans. It was revealed that almost forty species said outright that they wanted to exterminate humans.
We received letters from both UNOFA and the Office of The President of Nusantara ordering us to stay in Bali until further notice. We were trapped on the island, and the beauty of the island didn't feel enjoyable anymore. A couple of days later, the UNSC Space Force began bringing back thousands of Gojids that they had managed to save from the opportunistic invasion. Some of the rescued Gojids were still in various space stations, waiting for resettlement.
President Fatimah Lim offered Nusantara as a sanctuary for the gojid refugee. Her offer was met with mixed reactions from the public. Some applauded her compassion and generosity, while others criticized her for using the refugees as a political tool to win votes in the upcoming election.
Regardless of the motive behind the offer, the logistics of providing adequate shelter, food, and medical care for the refugees were not that challenging. Kalimantan has some open areas where the damage from the palm plantation was in the process of being rolled back and we were in process of making a new farming village near the capital. The place has a lot of greenery but not outright jungles like the rest of the Island.
Which is why we were being shipped to Kalimantan. Despite the venlil's protest, they believed that Vani could act as the healthcare provider for the refugee and provide some "familiar face" for the poor gojids.
My van has taken me to many different places over the years. I had driven it as far as Kuala Lumpur thanks to the bridges. However, our destination this time was a bit different. We were headed to an island to the north of Java where bridges don't make sense. For the first time in my life, I had to ride a ferry. I was dreading of leaving my van, but then I learned that the ship was big enough to accommodate my mobile house.
When we came near the port of Buleleng, my van informed me that the area was commandeered by the armed forces, and I sighed as my steering wheel folded out while the system asked me to drive. With my manual guidance, we arrived at the port where several armed force members already stood waiting. They noticed my van's license plate and my vehicle told me that its driving sub-system had been subsumed by the armed forces. I let them lead my vehicle to a garage on the ferry. The giant vehicle itself looked more like an aircraft with clipped wings than a boat.
To my surprise, I met the familiar faces of Lieutenant Ayu again when I got off my Van into the passenger deck. From the lavish deck, all we could look at was the monotonous water passing us at high speed. Seated on one of the comfortable couches, Vani asked why the vessel only flew a few meters above the water's surface. I admit I wasn't sure of the answer, so we did some research together. We discovered that the ferry utilized a phenomenon known as Ground Effect.
The Capital was situated beside a large river, making it easy for us to reach it by ferry. However, the journey to Kalimantan was a long one, and the ride would take overnight. The government had made arrangements for us to retire to a cabin while we rode the ship to its destination. I was surprised to find that it looked nothing like a ship cabin and more like a luxurious hotel suit. The spacious room was furnished with a comfortable bed, a cozy seating area, and a large window looking out onto the sea. I was about to remove my shirt and get ready for my venlil when the cabin's door chimed. Opening my door, a private stood in the corridor, bringing a batik suit for me to wear for the meeting with the president. The government also tailored Vani with a bespoke batik apron.
I realized that there will be a lot of photo ops, and being a politician, the president wanted everyone to look uniformed and at their best.
In the morning, we found ourselves back in my van on the shore of Balikpapan with a couple of the government's armored vehicles before and after us. They had yet to relinquish their control over my vehicle so we had no choice but to wait and follow their lead. I had been briefed earlier that we were going to meet the president at the Capital spaceport, but I still didn't know the specifics of what the meeting would entail. The drive to the spaceport was a short one and we arrived in less than an hour.
I was deposited in the middle of the spaceport. Launchpads were arrayed in grid position, with ample distance between them. Not far from us, three mobile platforms had also been parked, I presume to transport the refugees.
The president and her retinue were already there to greet us. Her attire was simple yet somehow exuded an air of extravagance. Her entire attire from the head wrap to her pants was colored deep red. A batik stole hung around her kebaya and a large eight-spoked sun pendant hung from her neck, glittering in the bright sunlight. Here we also saw other familiar faces standing beside the president such as Zara Karun, the UN Representative for Nusantara. The other people in the group were members of the president's cabinet relevant to the event, all dressed in matching batik suits similar to mine.
"Greetings Johan and Vani." she greeted us in Bahasa.
"I hope the ride here was sufficient?" President Fatimah sounded like a canteen auntie back in school that would give a bit more portion to the student. This contrasted with her business-like tone whenever she appeared in the media, and I couldn't tell which one is her actual demeanor.
"It was more than sufficient, madam president. Thank you for entrusting us here." Vani answered. "I have to warn you that I know about gojid anatomy as much as your doctors do."
"It's alright Vani. You're here to give them a familiar face."
The shuttle that carried the refugees had just landed. The door opened and a bunch of giant hedgehogs tumbled down onto the launch platform. These poor people look confused and shaken. One alien in particular, however, climbed down the platform stairs ahead of their people and ran toward us, one human armed force member hurried to shadow him. The Gojid stopped at a speaking distance and they looked at us in a very human way. They even stared at Vani for what felt a bit too long before the venlil replied with a nod.
"Greetings Humans. My name is Bolad. Thank you for hosting us here." subtitles appeared when they spoke with their tongue. Their pitch there was similar to Vani but I can't tell if that was feminine or masculine for a Gojid.
"Are they a man or woman?" I whispered to Vani.
I was hoping that the venlil could tell me, but then he just asked for everyone to hear. "Are you a man or a woman?"
I guess I assumed too much of him. If Vani has difficulty distinguishing human gender, of course, there's no reason to think that he can tell other species apart.
"I am a man. Also, as you can tell already, I am like you." He put his paw on Vani's shoulder.
"You're gay?" I blabbered without even thinking properly.
The Gojid looked at me, his face twitching before he started speaking.
"Human, I know your people are not cruel. So I will assume that there is something lost in translation here and you did not mean to ask if I am happy. My homeworld is being desecrated by ferocious predators and my family is probably dead. Happiness is a distant concept at this moment."
"He was asking if you are attracted to people of the same gender." Vani stepped in to clarify.
"That is an odd euphemism. Do you call those who are attracted to different genders 'sad'?"
The president coughed. "In any case, we are honored to host you in our land for as long as you need." She looked toward the shuttle, where the gojids are huddling around in the launchpad.
"Perhaps," the president continued "We should visit your people."
Bolad led us toward the rest of the refugees, some of which had climbed down the launchpad toward the tarmac. When we got close enough to converse with them, one of them spoke.
"What have you negotiated with them?" The gojid held a small child with them. "How much of us did you promise to them in return for our safety?"
Bolad replied with an even tone. "I have not negotiated anything with the humans," he said in a firm tone "They have agreed to protect us."
The Gojid turned their head from side to side, a gesture I never saw Vani ever do before. "And you believe them?"
"It is getting tiring to keep reminding you that humans do not eat people. Look at this venlil. He is still intact after weeks of being here."
"Yeah, but he's diseased like you." the other gojid replied, and even with only subtitles translating their speech, I can hear the venom in their intonation. "I bet they think you're honorary predators."
It dawned on me that on our first encounter, Bolad meant that both he and Vani were diagnosed with the P-word Disease. I wondered if verbal abuse like this was what he had to deal with back in his homeworld.
"I'm as much a predator as you. The amount of murder I had made is zero." I said, trying to temper my voice as I held my anger. "If we want to eat you, why do we even bother bringing you down here?" My voice got a bit shakier, but before I said something that could jeopardize the president's political career, she patted my shoulder.
I looked back and the president shook her head slightly. "Let me speak to them."
"Sorry Ma'am."
"If you want, we can arrange for you to be transferred to Venlil Prime." She added. "However, that will take time and for the time being, why don't we visit the camp we have made for you? You must be tired and hungry. Hopefully, a rest can calm you down."
The Gojids murmured amongst themselves as we guided them toward their transportation. Their voices were low and tense and despite the language barrier, I could feel their fear and suspicion.
As I suspected, the mobile platform was meant to transfer them. We didn't have the measurement of a Gojid, so instead of using buses, several moving platforms had been provided to transport the spiky aliens. It was the same platform we use to transport cargo, but now, instead of having a big metal box on top of it, the platform has a clear wall installed around it and plush carpet on the floor. One by one the gojid climbed on the platform, including Bolad and Vani. Zara Karun advised that the humans shouldn't come with the refugees.
Alone in my van, I question whether we would need to transfer the refugees to Venlil. Although it made sense to send them away due to the looming invasion threat, I have a feeling that it might put the venlils in danger, especially if the Federation member responsible for the attack found them guilty by association.
I hope Vani's homeworld was not also under a similar threat.
Afterwords: If the gojid refugee is non-canonical, so be it. I want to write about the hedgehogs.
submitted by YaaliAnnar to NatureofPredators [link] [comments]
Date [Standardized Human Reckoning]: 2136–09-28
The day I learned about humans was a calm one. The sun had slid close to the horizon and with a basket of herbs and spices, I made my way back to the farmhouse where Taksak and I lived. When I arrived my mentor was waiting for me to prepare our dinner. He asked me for three portions instead of the usual two with the third one being unseasoned.
As I was going about my business, I heard a sound that caught my attention. It was the telltale noise of an airship landing in front of Taksak's farm. I hurried to the farmhouse's kitchen window to see what was going on and the reason for the third portion became clear. I saw a betterment officer stepping out of her vehicle. Her visit was out of schedule, so that means she is bringing some intel. Taksak seemed unfazed by her arrival but I was pretty sure that he was also in the dark with me.
My heart was pounding with anticipation as I returned to prepare the three portions of meals for the day. Our ancestors, blessed they are, had always emphasized the importance of plants in our lives. Some plants had medicinal properties that could cure sickness, while others could be used as seasonings to enhance the taste of our food. They taught us that there was more to food than just meat and that the plant world held great value as well.
My mind was filled with me thinking about what sort of news she was bringing today.
I finished preparing the meals and arranged the dishes on a tray. I took a deep breath to steady my nerves before making my way to the dinner table where the officer had been sitting with her brother. I placed the first dish in front of my mentor first, the second dish graced the betterment officer, and last, I placed mine before I sat.
Taksak and I used a small dagger as befitting of the civilized way of our ancestors, while his sister grabbed the pieces of raw meat with her claw. We ate in silence, each of us lost in our thoughts as we savored them. The Betterment Officer, who had been quiet for most of the meal, eyed the sauce we had been dipping our meat in. Curiosity getting the better of her, she ended up trying it as well, and her face lit up with pleasure as she put the meat into her maw. As she finished her meal, she dipped her piece of meat in every bite, I suppose she approved of it.
After we finished our meal, the woman fished into her satchel and took out a data chip.
"You didn't get this from me," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you get caught with this, I will deny any involvement."
I tried not to think about what would happen if we were caught with them. Death would be the best-case scenario.
Without another word, the taciturn arxur gathered her things and left us alone in our living room.
"Tresn, bring me the reader," Taksak instructed me, his voice low and urgent.
I didn't hesitate for a moment. I ran into our bedroom and retrieved the reader that Taksak had asked for. The old device was a modified pad with its connectivity disabled. Taksak had the physical module removed, ensuring that whatever we open in that device, stays in our farmhouse. After I handed it to him, Taksak inserted the data chip into the reader and we were presented with a document on the screen.
The front page was printed in large letters saying that this document is classified. The preface of the document described that the original copy was written in ventongue, which was then translated into our speech. I recalled that when Taksak's sister last came here, she brought news about uncontacted species. Everything about the new species made more sense then. They had just attacked Gojid's core world, weakening the prey. With their Cradle left defenseless, our people swooped down.
Taksak and I huddled over the secret documents, poring over the details of the new species and their way of life. According to the text, the Federation had not tainted them with the prey's way of life, allowing them to evolve in their way. They had been able to maintain their carnivorous diet and maintain a society that was not based on violence and cruelty. Taksak seemed lost in thought. His eyes scanned the text as he absorbed the information. I could feel the wheels turning in his mind as he considered the implications of what we were reading.
The document ended with a section filled with pictures revealing these elusive creatures. Their soft features and their lack of natural weapons made them appear almost prey-like. It was as if a mad biologist had modified a prey species to have binocular vision. As we swiped through the pictures, we saw glimpses of their society and their way of life.
Seeing these species, My feelings of jealousy and longing intensified. These creatures lived in dense, vibrant settlements full of life and energy. I could almost feel the excitement of their festivals and rites, imagining myself lost in the sea of people. Despite their dense settlement, they had managed to preserve vast tracts of wilderness, filled with four-legged predators that roamed free in their natural habitats.
One obscene image, in particular, caught our attention. It showed a human feeding a predator with striped fur markings. These creatures had so much meat that they could afford to feed it to their animals. Not only that, but this new species also brought some of the predators into their civilized places, treating them almost like members of their own families. One image showed a small orange predator with pointy ears being held by a human, as though it was their child.
And then, we saw it. A photo of four-legged animals with side-facing eyes grazing on a lush green field. Cattle, I realized with a jolt. Non-sapient cattle, to be precise.
"Sir...look!" I exclaimed, nudging my mentor. "They have non-sapient cattle!"
But when I turned to face him, my excitement turned into concern. A pang of deep sadness etched his face and tears were streaming down his cheeks. For a moment, I didn't know what to do or say. I had never seen my mentor like this before.
"This...might be what we could have been," he said at last, his voice trembling with emotion. "If we had not been contacted from the sky… If we had been left to develop our way of life, perhaps we could have been like this."
The older arxur placed the reader away on the side table. He sobbed, as though a lifetime of sorrow had come crashing down upon him, and he could no longer keep his emotions in check. I could feel my own emotions flaring up in response to his grief. I reached out to offer some form of comfort. But before I could say anything, Taksak pulled me into a tight embrace and we wept, feeling the pain that we shared, a pain that was rooted in all that we had lost as a people.
Outside, our cattle slept in peace under the shade of their pen without a care in the world.
Date [Standardized Human Reckoning]: 2136–10-02
We spent a few days exploring the island of Bali, and the news of the Gojids' threat faded into the background of our minds. However, our peaceful respite was short-lived because the arxurs swooped in after the Gojids' defenses were destroyed by the humans. In terror, we felt like we were leading lambs to the slaughter.
Damn if we do and damn if we don't.
The bad news didn't stop there. We also received an update from the Federation's Special Session on humans. It was revealed that almost forty species said outright that they wanted to exterminate humans.
We received letters from both UNOFA and the Office of The President of Nusantara ordering us to stay in Bali until further notice. We were trapped on the island, and the beauty of the island didn't feel enjoyable anymore. A couple of days later, the UNSC Space Force began bringing back thousands of Gojids that they had managed to save from the opportunistic invasion. Some of the rescued Gojids were still in various space stations, waiting for resettlement.
President Fatimah Lim offered Nusantara as a sanctuary for the gojid refugee. Her offer was met with mixed reactions from the public. Some applauded her compassion and generosity, while others criticized her for using the refugees as a political tool to win votes in the upcoming election.
Regardless of the motive behind the offer, the logistics of providing adequate shelter, food, and medical care for the refugees were not that challenging. Kalimantan has some open areas where the damage from the palm plantation was in the process of being rolled back and we were in process of making a new farming village near the capital. The place has a lot of greenery but not outright jungles like the rest of the Island.
Which is why we were being shipped to Kalimantan. Despite the venlil's protest, they believed that Vani could act as the healthcare provider for the refugee and provide some "familiar face" for the poor gojids.
My van has taken me to many different places over the years. I had driven it as far as Kuala Lumpur thanks to the bridges. However, our destination this time was a bit different. We were headed to an island to the north of Java where bridges don't make sense. For the first time in my life, I had to ride a ferry. I was dreading of leaving my van, but then I learned that the ship was big enough to accommodate my mobile house.
When we came near the port of Buleleng, my van informed me that the area was commandeered by the armed forces, and I sighed as my steering wheel folded out while the system asked me to drive. With my manual guidance, we arrived at the port where several armed force members already stood waiting. They noticed my van's license plate and my vehicle told me that its driving sub-system had been subsumed by the armed forces. I let them lead my vehicle to a garage on the ferry. The giant vehicle itself looked more like an aircraft with clipped wings than a boat.
To my surprise, I met the familiar faces of Lieutenant Ayu again when I got off my Van into the passenger deck. From the lavish deck, all we could look at was the monotonous water passing us at high speed. Seated on one of the comfortable couches, Vani asked why the vessel only flew a few meters above the water's surface. I admit I wasn't sure of the answer, so we did some research together. We discovered that the ferry utilized a phenomenon known as Ground Effect.
The Capital was situated beside a large river, making it easy for us to reach it by ferry. However, the journey to Kalimantan was a long one, and the ride would take overnight. The government had made arrangements for us to retire to a cabin while we rode the ship to its destination. I was surprised to find that it looked nothing like a ship cabin and more like a luxurious hotel suit. The spacious room was furnished with a comfortable bed, a cozy seating area, and a large window looking out onto the sea. I was about to remove my shirt and get ready for my venlil when the cabin's door chimed. Opening my door, a private stood in the corridor, bringing a batik suit for me to wear for the meeting with the president. The government also tailored Vani with a bespoke batik apron.
I realized that there will be a lot of photo ops, and being a politician, the president wanted everyone to look uniformed and at their best.
In the morning, we found ourselves back in my van on the shore of Balikpapan with a couple of the government's armored vehicles before and after us. They had yet to relinquish their control over my vehicle so we had no choice but to wait and follow their lead. I had been briefed earlier that we were going to meet the president at the Capital spaceport, but I still didn't know the specifics of what the meeting would entail. The drive to the spaceport was a short one and we arrived in less than an hour.
I was deposited in the middle of the spaceport. Launchpads were arrayed in grid position, with ample distance between them. Not far from us, three mobile platforms had also been parked, I presume to transport the refugees.
The president and her retinue were already there to greet us. Her attire was simple yet somehow exuded an air of extravagance. Her entire attire from the head wrap to her pants was colored deep red. A batik stole hung around her kebaya and a large eight-spoked sun pendant hung from her neck, glittering in the bright sunlight. Here we also saw other familiar faces standing beside the president such as Zara Karun, the UN Representative for Nusantara. The other people in the group were members of the president's cabinet relevant to the event, all dressed in matching batik suits similar to mine.
"Greetings Johan and Vani." she greeted us in Bahasa.
"I hope the ride here was sufficient?" President Fatimah sounded like a canteen auntie back in school that would give a bit more portion to the student. This contrasted with her business-like tone whenever she appeared in the media, and I couldn't tell which one is her actual demeanor.
"It was more than sufficient, madam president. Thank you for entrusting us here." Vani answered. "I have to warn you that I know about gojid anatomy as much as your doctors do."
"It's alright Vani. You're here to give them a familiar face."
The shuttle that carried the refugees had just landed. The door opened and a bunch of giant hedgehogs tumbled down onto the launch platform. These poor people look confused and shaken. One alien in particular, however, climbed down the platform stairs ahead of their people and ran toward us, one human armed force member hurried to shadow him. The Gojid stopped at a speaking distance and they looked at us in a very human way. They even stared at Vani for what felt a bit too long before the venlil replied with a nod.
"Greetings Humans. My name is Bolad. Thank you for hosting us here." subtitles appeared when they spoke with their tongue. Their pitch there was similar to Vani but I can't tell if that was feminine or masculine for a Gojid.
"Are they a man or woman?" I whispered to Vani.
I was hoping that the venlil could tell me, but then he just asked for everyone to hear. "Are you a man or a woman?"
I guess I assumed too much of him. If Vani has difficulty distinguishing human gender, of course, there's no reason to think that he can tell other species apart.
"I am a man. Also, as you can tell already, I am like you." He put his paw on Vani's shoulder.
"You're gay?" I blabbered without even thinking properly.
The Gojid looked at me, his face twitching before he started speaking.
"Human, I know your people are not cruel. So I will assume that there is something lost in translation here and you did not mean to ask if I am happy. My homeworld is being desecrated by ferocious predators and my family is probably dead. Happiness is a distant concept at this moment."
"He was asking if you are attracted to people of the same gender." Vani stepped in to clarify.
"That is an odd euphemism. Do you call those who are attracted to different genders 'sad'?"
The president coughed. "In any case, we are honored to host you in our land for as long as you need." She looked toward the shuttle, where the gojids are huddling around in the launchpad.
"Perhaps," the president continued "We should visit your people."
Bolad led us toward the rest of the refugees, some of which had climbed down the launchpad toward the tarmac. When we got close enough to converse with them, one of them spoke.
"What have you negotiated with them?" The gojid held a small child with them. "How much of us did you promise to them in return for our safety?"
Bolad replied with an even tone. "I have not negotiated anything with the humans," he said in a firm tone "They have agreed to protect us."
The Gojid turned their head from side to side, a gesture I never saw Vani ever do before. "And you believe them?"
"It is getting tiring to keep reminding you that humans do not eat people. Look at this venlil. He is still intact after weeks of being here."
"Yeah, but he's diseased like you." the other gojid replied, and even with only subtitles translating their speech, I can hear the venom in their intonation. "I bet they think you're honorary predators."
It dawned on me that on our first encounter, Bolad meant that both he and Vani were diagnosed with the P-word Disease. I wondered if verbal abuse like this was what he had to deal with back in his homeworld.
"I'm as much a predator as you. The amount of murder I had made is zero." I said, trying to temper my voice as I held my anger. "If we want to eat you, why do we even bother bringing you down here?" My voice got a bit shakier, but before I said something that could jeopardize the president's political career, she patted my shoulder.
I looked back and the president shook her head slightly. "Let me speak to them."
"Sorry Ma'am."
"If you want, we can arrange for you to be transferred to Venlil Prime." She added. "However, that will take time and for the time being, why don't we visit the camp we have made for you? You must be tired and hungry. Hopefully, a rest can calm you down."
The Gojids murmured amongst themselves as we guided them toward their transportation. Their voices were low and tense and despite the language barrier, I could feel their fear and suspicion.
As I suspected, the mobile platform was meant to transfer them. We didn't have the measurement of a Gojid, so instead of using buses, several moving platforms had been provided to transport the spiky aliens. It was the same platform we use to transport cargo, but now, instead of having a big metal box on top of it, the platform has a clear wall installed around it and plush carpet on the floor. One by one the gojid climbed on the platform, including Bolad and Vani. Zara Karun advised that the humans shouldn't come with the refugees.
Alone in my van, I question whether we would need to transfer the refugees to Venlil. Although it made sense to send them away due to the looming invasion threat, I have a feeling that it might put the venlils in danger, especially if the Federation member responsible for the attack found them guilty by association.
I hope Vani's homeworld was not also under a similar threat.
2023.04.01 13:31 FlakyGap9012 Scores Menu
Scores Menu is a cafe that caters to the most acceptable bbq food, including appetizers, chicken, salads, and desserts. They also have a different menu for children, drinks, and alcohol. You can have a proper meal here at about $30.00.
submitted by FlakyGap9012 to u/FlakyGap9012 [link] [comments]
Menu Scoresalso offer delicious ribs with combos such as quarter chicken leg and ribs combo and quarter Portuguese chicken leg and ribs combos. You can even have grilled food items like greek brochette and fiesta brochette.Score Menu also has a chipotle burger and club sandwich if you are cutting for burgers and sandwiches. They also include food items in poutine, like chicken and chili. Health-conscious individuals can also have salubrious salads such as house chicken salad and place salad dinner.
2023.04.01 12:52 tikka_masala1 Experience the Authentic Flavors of India at Tikka Masala, the Best Indian Restaurant in Bethesda
Indian cuisine is known for its bold and diverse flavors, colorful ingredients, and unique spices. As such, it is no surprise that it has become increasingly popular all around the world. Finding a good Indian restaurant can be challenging, especially in a city like Bethesda, where there are so many options. Fortunately, Tikka Masala Indian Restaurant has made a name for itself as the best Indian restaurant in Bethesda, and for good reason.
Tikka Masala's menu boasts a wide variety of Indian dishes, ranging from classic favorites like chicken tikka masala and biryani to more unique options like goat vindaloo and paneer makhani. Each dish is carefully prepared using only the freshest ingredients and authentic cooking techniques, ensuring that the flavors are bold and true to their Indian roots.
The food quality and authenticity are top-notch, making Tikka Masala a go-to spot for anyone craving authentic Indian cuisine. The restaurant has received numerous positive reviews from satisfied customers who praise the restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity.
In addition to their commitment to quality and authenticity, Tikka Masala also offers in-house catering and event services, making it the perfect venue for a special occasion or event. The restaurant's attentive staff and personalized service make planning an event stress-free and enjoyable.
submitted by tikka_masala1 to restaurant [link] [comments]
Tikka Masala Indian Restaurant
Located in the heart of Bethesda, Tikka Masala Indian Restaurant offers an inviting and welcoming atmosphere that is perfect for enjoying a meal with friends, family, or colleagues. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with Indian-inspired artwork and furnishings, creating an immersive dining experience that transports guests straight to India.Tikka Masala's menu boasts a wide variety of Indian dishes, ranging from classic favorites like chicken tikka masala and biryani to more unique options like goat vindaloo and paneer makhani. Each dish is carefully prepared using only the freshest ingredients and authentic cooking techniques, ensuring that the flavors are bold and true to their Indian roots.
The food quality and authenticity are top-notch, making Tikka Masala a go-to spot for anyone craving authentic Indian cuisine. The restaurant has received numerous positive reviews from satisfied customers who praise the restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity.
What sets Tikka Masala apart
What sets Tikka Masala apart from other Indian restaurants is their use of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. They take special care to ensure that every dish is made from scratch, using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients available. They also offer a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as dishes that cater to specific dietary needs or preferences.In addition to their commitment to quality and authenticity, Tikka Masala also offers in-house catering and event services, making it the perfect venue for a special occasion or event. The restaurant's attentive staff and personalized service make planning an event stress-free and enjoyable.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Tikka Masala Indian Restaurant is the best Indian restaurant in Bethesda for anyone looking to experience authentic Indian cuisine. From their carefully prepared dishes to their inviting atmosphere and attentive staff, Tikka Masala is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal with friends and family. If you are in the Bethesda area and looking for an exceptional dining experience, be sure to visit Tikka Masala and indulge in the flavors of India.2023.04.01 12:41 chillinnDronn Feeling really SICK these days and it sucks.
What's wrong with me? I simply cannot understand. Non vaxxed 22M here.
In my house we caught COVID at the end of December 2021. My parents and my sister had symptoms in the initial infection (fever, chills, bronchitis, bad digestion, headaches, fatigue...), today they only have tinnitus, bad digestion and loss of smell and taste, in my case it was the other way around.
I had a fever of 36.9 which is nothing and no symptoms beyond the loss of smell, taste, horrible digestion and some fatigue that I attributed to not being able to breathe freely through my nose (it is difficult for me to keep breathing through my mouth) but no bodily discomfort.
The week I was in quarantine they were fucked up recovering and I, on the other hand, spent it smoking joints because of the anxiety I felt when I couldn't go out. Those symptoms I have described except for the fever have been maintained to this day allowing me to lead an almost normal life but these last months have been an absolute decline because I can not expose myself to daily activities without literally feeling DESTROYED for days, it is worse than being hungover.
After a year and 3 months of the initial infection I present the following symptoms:
Brain fog (lots of cognitive problems lately), low body temperature (35.9° currently), sinusitis, recurrent nosebleeds, biofilms, very thick phlegm, yellow and red mucus, ear and throat infections, sick lungs, headaches and face pains, very noticeable tinnitus (even in normal conversations I hear it), my hair - which has always been robust as a rock - has lost a lot of strength these past few weeks, dizziness, vertigo, constant weakness, swollen glands in the groins and neck but now comes the worst, what is preventing me from doing everything.
EXTREME SENSITIVITY THAT LASTS FOR HOURS AND EVEN DAYS AFTER CONSUMING ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATER OR NORMAL FOOD.
Junk food, snacks, a simple coffee or Coke, cigarettes, beer (not even a can), puffs on a joint (I don't feel able to smoke a whole joint anymore and I used to smoke about 5 a day on average). I get circulation problems, arrhythmias, tachycardia, chest discomfort in general, mild pain, numbness and coldness in the extremities (in particular left arm), very pronounced fatigue, shortness of breath, general feeling of malaise, anxiety and depression (I have never been one to think of myself as a depressive although I have had episodes of anxiety before and not by COVID). Pulse at rest elevated, between 90-110.
Honestly, yesterday I went to a friend's house and it was horrible, only 4 puffs and a half liter bottle of coke that came in the whooper menu that we ordered that I didn't even finish have left me in this state that I tell you until this very moment plus stomach discomfort (normally I usually eat a triple, this one only had one meat and it has destroyed me), I don't feel like I'm dying but something inside me is not right, it has cost me horrors to write this comment in English and I feel that I have forgotten important things that if I remember I will update.
For those who say I should go to the doctor, I have an appointment with the ENT and my doctor in a few weeks but everything is going very slow, I just feel trapped, I have been losing a lot of vitality in recent months I simply cannot function efficiently when I'm out of bed.
I saw a possible treatment for Long-COVID but it goes through a private clinic and I can not afford it at the moment, I can not expose myself to a working day because I feel I will get something. What should I do? I feel that going to the emergency room is not going to help me at all.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention that I went to the ER recently to see if they could run tests and was told that it was collapsed, by the time I was asked to wait I went home as I was not feeling that bad at the time. When I got home I started to check my tests from months ago and noticed this (the doctor didn't tell me anything about):
This was specifically 6 months ago and actually I feel so much worse, my immune system seems to be very compromised.
Thanks for reading y'all.
submitted by chillinnDronn to covidlonghaulers [link] [comments]
In my house we caught COVID at the end of December 2021. My parents and my sister had symptoms in the initial infection (fever, chills, bronchitis, bad digestion, headaches, fatigue...), today they only have tinnitus, bad digestion and loss of smell and taste, in my case it was the other way around.
I had a fever of 36.9 which is nothing and no symptoms beyond the loss of smell, taste, horrible digestion and some fatigue that I attributed to not being able to breathe freely through my nose (it is difficult for me to keep breathing through my mouth) but no bodily discomfort.
The week I was in quarantine they were fucked up recovering and I, on the other hand, spent it smoking joints because of the anxiety I felt when I couldn't go out. Those symptoms I have described except for the fever have been maintained to this day allowing me to lead an almost normal life but these last months have been an absolute decline because I can not expose myself to daily activities without literally feeling DESTROYED for days, it is worse than being hungover.
After a year and 3 months of the initial infection I present the following symptoms:
Brain fog (lots of cognitive problems lately), low body temperature (35.9° currently), sinusitis, recurrent nosebleeds, biofilms, very thick phlegm, yellow and red mucus, ear and throat infections, sick lungs, headaches and face pains, very noticeable tinnitus (even in normal conversations I hear it), my hair - which has always been robust as a rock - has lost a lot of strength these past few weeks, dizziness, vertigo, constant weakness, swollen glands in the groins and neck but now comes the worst, what is preventing me from doing everything.
EXTREME SENSITIVITY THAT LASTS FOR HOURS AND EVEN DAYS AFTER CONSUMING ANYTHING OTHER THAN WATER OR NORMAL FOOD.
Junk food, snacks, a simple coffee or Coke, cigarettes, beer (not even a can), puffs on a joint (I don't feel able to smoke a whole joint anymore and I used to smoke about 5 a day on average). I get circulation problems, arrhythmias, tachycardia, chest discomfort in general, mild pain, numbness and coldness in the extremities (in particular left arm), very pronounced fatigue, shortness of breath, general feeling of malaise, anxiety and depression (I have never been one to think of myself as a depressive although I have had episodes of anxiety before and not by COVID). Pulse at rest elevated, between 90-110.
Honestly, yesterday I went to a friend's house and it was horrible, only 4 puffs and a half liter bottle of coke that came in the whooper menu that we ordered that I didn't even finish have left me in this state that I tell you until this very moment plus stomach discomfort (normally I usually eat a triple, this one only had one meat and it has destroyed me), I don't feel like I'm dying but something inside me is not right, it has cost me horrors to write this comment in English and I feel that I have forgotten important things that if I remember I will update.
For those who say I should go to the doctor, I have an appointment with the ENT and my doctor in a few weeks but everything is going very slow, I just feel trapped, I have been losing a lot of vitality in recent months I simply cannot function efficiently when I'm out of bed.
I saw a possible treatment for Long-COVID but it goes through a private clinic and I can not afford it at the moment, I can not expose myself to a working day because I feel I will get something. What should I do? I feel that going to the emergency room is not going to help me at all.
UPDATE: I forgot to mention that I went to the ER recently to see if they could run tests and was told that it was collapsed, by the time I was asked to wait I went home as I was not feeling that bad at the time. When I got home I started to check my tests from months ago and noticed this (the doctor didn't tell me anything about):
- LYMPHOCYTES # 1.6 10E3/UL (1.3 - 3.5)
- LYMPHOCYTES % 20.5% (16 - 45)
- MONOCYTES # 0.6 10E3/UL (0.2 - 1)
- MONOCYTES % 7.1 % (2 - 12)
- EOSINOPHILS # 0.1 10E3/UL (0 - 0.5)
- EOSINOPHILS % 1.0 % (0 - 5)
- BASOPHILS # 0.0 10E3/UL (0 - 0.2)
- BASOPHILS % 0.5 % (0 - 2)
- PT *13.6 sec (10.5 - 13.5)
- I.N.R. 1.14 (0.8 - 1.2)
- Fibrinogen 394 mg/dL (150 - 450)
- APTT 28.8 sec (27 - 38)
- CONTROL A.P.T.T. 29.1 (27 - 38)
- A.P.T.T. RATIO 0.96 (0.8 - 1.3)
This was specifically 6 months ago and actually I feel so much worse, my immune system seems to be very compromised.
Thanks for reading y'all.
2023.04.01 12:00 Previous_Practice155 A spring escape to Pittsburgh offers a rich dining-and-drinking scene. Which hipster-favorite beer hall did we visit with an eclectic lager-forward list of drafts and sharable food menu that encourages laid-back community drinking?
A spring escape to Pittsburgh offers a rich dining-and-drinking scene. Which hipster-favorite beer hall did we visit with an eclectic lager-forward list of drafts and sharable food menu that encourages laid-back community drinking?
The correct answer is https://www.letsaskfor.com/a-spring-escape-to-pittsburgh-offers-a-rich-dining-and-drinking-scene/
submitted by Previous_Practice155 to dailytriviaanswers [link] [comments]
- Grist House Craft Brewery
- Lorelei
- The Church Brew Works
- The Eagle
The correct answer is https://www.letsaskfor.com/a-spring-escape-to-pittsburgh-offers-a-rich-dining-and-drinking-scene/
2023.04.01 10:58 heyuiuitsme i was hungry when i wrote this
So, at the end, you know. When my house was flooded with sewage and i was sickened with an infection from it, well, i tried to straighten my life out, i had money, that wasn’t the issue
It was time. I needed more time off and the manager at work was being a real fucking cunt about it. The manager-manager was out with covid, so i couldn’t go over her head, or i fucking would have. I had all these pto days that had to be used by the end of the year or i’d lose them and she wouldn’t let me use my time without a dr’s note
And, i needed to go to the doctor, like no fucking joke. But, i had to keep going back when it wasn’t wholly necessary to get the notes, just so i could try to save my stuff from getting ruined with sewage.
I was just so mad at her, i quit on a holiday without notice. That’s how mad i was. Like, i’d been really clear with mgmt that i wasn’t real happy, you know. With compensation. Over and over all the fucking time.
Heather’s on her own at work is as bad as any union ever was. You know, idk, i advocate for myself in terms of money, or hours i need to scheduled, all kinds of shit. You know, i negotiate that shit.
If they’ll have it and if they want … well, have fun getting along without me and if you’ve been a dick to me the whole damn time i’ve been here, i’m going to stick to ya when i leave. That’s according to my work history
But, if you’re fair, i’m fair. You know. That’s how it is.
So, anyway, i was outside smoking and they were going over to wendy’s. I mean, you know. Still the best price for what you get. Five dollars. Idk, it’s still a real good deal. Idk, i usually get a #1, Dave’s Classic Single. Just the way it comes. It’s good. It’s a good burger.
And, wendy’s chicken sandwiches were my fisrt great love. Idk, i cheat on that spicy chicken sandwich with the asagio one. They’re both real good. I didn’t mean for this to be a wendy’s commercial. But, we were outside talking about it.
Dave Thomas is a popular topic of conservation in East Tennessee. Probably cause he’s an essay topic in 8th grade tennessee history. An oral report that we had to give about a famous person from the area that does a lot of good deads. Dolly is also a popular subject in these reports.
Like, one report every six weeks about different essay topics and you had to read your report in front of the whole class. In Tennessee History. Oral Reports. Essays. We did it in the 7th grade, too. But, you don’t have to read them aloud in front of the whole class, but you can for extra credit if you want to.
That’s how teachers used to do it, like everyone has to do an essay and then read them to the class. Idk, if they still do that or not. That’s how most of our class time in the 80’s was spent. Listening to other kids give reports.
I wonder if when my kids eat at wendy’s if they think, “ahhhh, mom’s cooking”
I swore off fast food like, the day before yesterday. Too much sodium. But, i really super love wendy’s food. And, arby’s. Idgaf what late night comedians say, arby’s is fucking great. These got these wraps you can can take to work and have for lunch. It’s like, you know, if someone gave a shit and packed your lunch. Those Arby’s wraps are great, and super convenient and easy to pack for lunch.
If you work 2nd or 3rds. You know. That’s how people do. They stop and get something that will hold over in the fridge. Wraps are great, all the fast food restaurants should recognize that market. I mean, when i was working up there, that’s how i packed my lunch like, most days.
Wendy’s salads or arby’s wraps. How 2nd shift packs lunch. Idk, maybe that’s just me. Subway, too. But, i can’t eat subway in my car. I probably could if i didn’t ask them to put so much stuff on it. But, i get leaky subs at subway.
Also, i need to stop spending so much on that, you know. So, i got these .. real food from the grocery store. Ugggghhhhhhhhh. I hate that.
It’s fine. It tastes fine and it’s better for you, it’s just not as fucking yummy Arby’s curly fries. Beef and cheddar add lettuce and tomato. Both sauces, horsey and arby’s sauce. That sauce on those fries. Omg. i shouldn’t be having any little cups of cheese, that’s high in sodium.
It’s about moderation, lol. In shit you should not be eating any fucking way, but i love it. But, now it’s a special treat. It’s 1:31am. Past time time either of those things are even fucking open. I wonder if Hardee’s is open.
They got great burgers, too. But, for real. It’s thoe biscuits at hardee’s. They have the best breakfast. When my sister was pregnant, i would take her to the doctor down that way. We’d stop at hardee’s on the way and grab some biscuits.
They’re all fucking good. Chicken, yes. Sausage, that one. Sometimes they got that country fried steak biscuit at hardee’s. I just about live for that. Omg, when that comes back. Way better than mcrib.
I think it’s seasonal. Or, something like mcrib. They don’t always have that country fried steak. Or, maybe they do. Idk, seems like there’s seasonal biscuits there. Cause sometimes they have that pork chop biscuit. Omg, good as hell. All those biscuits are always fucking good.
Expensive. Little bit.
I like to stick to the restaurants that have real sweet tea. Those are my favorites. Where the tea is good. And, pepsi-co subsidiaries, your tea sucks. And, so does yours burger king.
Arby’s does have good tea. It’s better than mcdonald’s tea. And, wendy’s. Both those teas weak and mcdonald’s uses too much sugar or something. Idk, i think they’re using some kinda liquid sugar. I don’t like mcdonald’s tea no more. That lemonade is really good though, it has pulp in it.
I’m starving. And, i don’t want my save money meal. I said i wasn’t going to doordash anymore. After i got the … suspicious food. It didn’t make me sick or nothing. And, they gave me my money back. But, you know. Left a bad taste in my mouth
Mostly cause i still can’t figure out where they hell it came from. I been showing it’s picture around. You know. In the neighborhood, hey, you know where this food came from. Nobody that live down here knew where it was from.
Then, I accidentally ordered a meal kit service in a scrolling accident. That comes monday, and i have to eat it cause, you know. I mean, i’m trying to save money. Ok. and, overall it was cheaper than going to the grocery store. But, that’s just an introductory rate. You know.
Tricky website, though. Scammy kind of, i mean, i was trying to see the menu cards before i ordered and accidentally ordered, then there’s no way to cancel until the trial period is over. I set an event in my phone to remind me to cancel it.
For serious, i thought it was the other one that i did want to order. Like, one of those, you don’t even have to cook the food. It’s just like, fresh food tv dinners you just put in the toaster over.
And, i was like, holy shit that’s perfect, but then, idk, i couldn’t remember the name, and also, it’s not exactly that, but that’s what i want, but i mean, this is a diet for me. Ok. like, this is the diet.
The companies that do do the exact thing i want only make healthy food. And, i mean, what the fuck, isn’t that fatty descrimination. I don’t want no keto or vegan or none of that kinda shit. Just like, you know. Like, frozen dinners that have never been frozen and made of fresh food that i can put in a toaster oven.
I mean, why can’t someone make that. I got some at the grocery store, not a lot of variety. Both of the ones that i’ve tried so far, good. Could use some seasonings. I mean, really. But, fine. Not as yummy as pizza.
So, i need a step plan to, you know. It a diet step plan where i will eat ever so slightly healthier, and maybe slightly less take out and fast food. It’s my new year’s resolution.
But, really i’m just looking for food that doesn’t suck for as cheap as humanly possible. Wendy’s is at the very top of that list. I still get those $5 biggie bags, too. Idk, comes with nuggets and a burger and fries and a soda. Maybe the 5th thing is a cookie. Idk. used to be a cookie and they wouldn’t let you trade your nuggets for a cookie instead. No, you can’t trade out any of the items. That’s how that works. At wendy’s. They won’t let you trade items in the biggie bag.
There’s an extra charge to put lettuce and tomato on your burger, but they will do that.
That’s the part of being a mom that no one tells ya, like, having to explain fast food restaurant policies to toddlers. That’s the best. It’s like customer service, but if you had to live with the karens. Those four for fours. That’s how my kids graduated from happy meals. Like, idk, i’d ask them that or a happy meal and they’d be like, four for four.
Rather have the nuggets than a toy.
They’ll let you alter the topping on the burger. It comes with mustard, ketchup, onion, pickle, bacon, and cheese. You can take anything away from that or you can add lettuce and/or tomato
Those are wendy’s rules. I can’t help it. Omg, it has mayo on it. Sorry, it’s mayo and ketchup, not mustard and ketchup. Yeah, i’m the car with the particular ass burger order. That’s probably all of them, idk about everyone else, but i’m always adding shit that don’t come on it or taking stuff off.
submitted by heyuiuitsme to LackOfModeration [link] [comments]
It was time. I needed more time off and the manager at work was being a real fucking cunt about it. The manager-manager was out with covid, so i couldn’t go over her head, or i fucking would have. I had all these pto days that had to be used by the end of the year or i’d lose them and she wouldn’t let me use my time without a dr’s note
And, i needed to go to the doctor, like no fucking joke. But, i had to keep going back when it wasn’t wholly necessary to get the notes, just so i could try to save my stuff from getting ruined with sewage.
I was just so mad at her, i quit on a holiday without notice. That’s how mad i was. Like, i’d been really clear with mgmt that i wasn’t real happy, you know. With compensation. Over and over all the fucking time.
Heather’s on her own at work is as bad as any union ever was. You know, idk, i advocate for myself in terms of money, or hours i need to scheduled, all kinds of shit. You know, i negotiate that shit.
If they’ll have it and if they want … well, have fun getting along without me and if you’ve been a dick to me the whole damn time i’ve been here, i’m going to stick to ya when i leave. That’s according to my work history
But, if you’re fair, i’m fair. You know. That’s how it is.
So, anyway, i was outside smoking and they were going over to wendy’s. I mean, you know. Still the best price for what you get. Five dollars. Idk, it’s still a real good deal. Idk, i usually get a #1, Dave’s Classic Single. Just the way it comes. It’s good. It’s a good burger.
And, wendy’s chicken sandwiches were my fisrt great love. Idk, i cheat on that spicy chicken sandwich with the asagio one. They’re both real good. I didn’t mean for this to be a wendy’s commercial. But, we were outside talking about it.
Dave Thomas is a popular topic of conservation in East Tennessee. Probably cause he’s an essay topic in 8th grade tennessee history. An oral report that we had to give about a famous person from the area that does a lot of good deads. Dolly is also a popular subject in these reports.
Like, one report every six weeks about different essay topics and you had to read your report in front of the whole class. In Tennessee History. Oral Reports. Essays. We did it in the 7th grade, too. But, you don’t have to read them aloud in front of the whole class, but you can for extra credit if you want to.
That’s how teachers used to do it, like everyone has to do an essay and then read them to the class. Idk, if they still do that or not. That’s how most of our class time in the 80’s was spent. Listening to other kids give reports.
I wonder if when my kids eat at wendy’s if they think, “ahhhh, mom’s cooking”
I swore off fast food like, the day before yesterday. Too much sodium. But, i really super love wendy’s food. And, arby’s. Idgaf what late night comedians say, arby’s is fucking great. These got these wraps you can can take to work and have for lunch. It’s like, you know, if someone gave a shit and packed your lunch. Those Arby’s wraps are great, and super convenient and easy to pack for lunch.
If you work 2nd or 3rds. You know. That’s how people do. They stop and get something that will hold over in the fridge. Wraps are great, all the fast food restaurants should recognize that market. I mean, when i was working up there, that’s how i packed my lunch like, most days.
Wendy’s salads or arby’s wraps. How 2nd shift packs lunch. Idk, maybe that’s just me. Subway, too. But, i can’t eat subway in my car. I probably could if i didn’t ask them to put so much stuff on it. But, i get leaky subs at subway.
Also, i need to stop spending so much on that, you know. So, i got these .. real food from the grocery store. Ugggghhhhhhhhh. I hate that.
It’s fine. It tastes fine and it’s better for you, it’s just not as fucking yummy Arby’s curly fries. Beef and cheddar add lettuce and tomato. Both sauces, horsey and arby’s sauce. That sauce on those fries. Omg. i shouldn’t be having any little cups of cheese, that’s high in sodium.
It’s about moderation, lol. In shit you should not be eating any fucking way, but i love it. But, now it’s a special treat. It’s 1:31am. Past time time either of those things are even fucking open. I wonder if Hardee’s is open.
They got great burgers, too. But, for real. It’s thoe biscuits at hardee’s. They have the best breakfast. When my sister was pregnant, i would take her to the doctor down that way. We’d stop at hardee’s on the way and grab some biscuits.
They’re all fucking good. Chicken, yes. Sausage, that one. Sometimes they got that country fried steak biscuit at hardee’s. I just about live for that. Omg, when that comes back. Way better than mcrib.
I think it’s seasonal. Or, something like mcrib. They don’t always have that country fried steak. Or, maybe they do. Idk, seems like there’s seasonal biscuits there. Cause sometimes they have that pork chop biscuit. Omg, good as hell. All those biscuits are always fucking good.
Expensive. Little bit.
I like to stick to the restaurants that have real sweet tea. Those are my favorites. Where the tea is good. And, pepsi-co subsidiaries, your tea sucks. And, so does yours burger king.
Arby’s does have good tea. It’s better than mcdonald’s tea. And, wendy’s. Both those teas weak and mcdonald’s uses too much sugar or something. Idk, i think they’re using some kinda liquid sugar. I don’t like mcdonald’s tea no more. That lemonade is really good though, it has pulp in it.
I’m starving. And, i don’t want my save money meal. I said i wasn’t going to doordash anymore. After i got the … suspicious food. It didn’t make me sick or nothing. And, they gave me my money back. But, you know. Left a bad taste in my mouth
Mostly cause i still can’t figure out where they hell it came from. I been showing it’s picture around. You know. In the neighborhood, hey, you know where this food came from. Nobody that live down here knew where it was from.
Then, I accidentally ordered a meal kit service in a scrolling accident. That comes monday, and i have to eat it cause, you know. I mean, i’m trying to save money. Ok. and, overall it was cheaper than going to the grocery store. But, that’s just an introductory rate. You know.
Tricky website, though. Scammy kind of, i mean, i was trying to see the menu cards before i ordered and accidentally ordered, then there’s no way to cancel until the trial period is over. I set an event in my phone to remind me to cancel it.
For serious, i thought it was the other one that i did want to order. Like, one of those, you don’t even have to cook the food. It’s just like, fresh food tv dinners you just put in the toaster over.
And, i was like, holy shit that’s perfect, but then, idk, i couldn’t remember the name, and also, it’s not exactly that, but that’s what i want, but i mean, this is a diet for me. Ok. like, this is the diet.
The companies that do do the exact thing i want only make healthy food. And, i mean, what the fuck, isn’t that fatty descrimination. I don’t want no keto or vegan or none of that kinda shit. Just like, you know. Like, frozen dinners that have never been frozen and made of fresh food that i can put in a toaster oven.
I mean, why can’t someone make that. I got some at the grocery store, not a lot of variety. Both of the ones that i’ve tried so far, good. Could use some seasonings. I mean, really. But, fine. Not as yummy as pizza.
So, i need a step plan to, you know. It a diet step plan where i will eat ever so slightly healthier, and maybe slightly less take out and fast food. It’s my new year’s resolution.
But, really i’m just looking for food that doesn’t suck for as cheap as humanly possible. Wendy’s is at the very top of that list. I still get those $5 biggie bags, too. Idk, comes with nuggets and a burger and fries and a soda. Maybe the 5th thing is a cookie. Idk. used to be a cookie and they wouldn’t let you trade your nuggets for a cookie instead. No, you can’t trade out any of the items. That’s how that works. At wendy’s. They won’t let you trade items in the biggie bag.
There’s an extra charge to put lettuce and tomato on your burger, but they will do that.
That’s the part of being a mom that no one tells ya, like, having to explain fast food restaurant policies to toddlers. That’s the best. It’s like customer service, but if you had to live with the karens. Those four for fours. That’s how my kids graduated from happy meals. Like, idk, i’d ask them that or a happy meal and they’d be like, four for four.
Rather have the nuggets than a toy.
They’ll let you alter the topping on the burger. It comes with mustard, ketchup, onion, pickle, bacon, and cheese. You can take anything away from that or you can add lettuce and/or tomato
Those are wendy’s rules. I can’t help it. Omg, it has mayo on it. Sorry, it’s mayo and ketchup, not mustard and ketchup. Yeah, i’m the car with the particular ass burger order. That’s probably all of them, idk about everyone else, but i’m always adding shit that don’t come on it or taking stuff off.
2023.04.01 10:51 RyRyLloyd It’s all fine. It’s all good.
Date: 30th of March, 2023, 24 hours before Supercard of Honour Time: 14:30 Location: u/KaneCarnage’s residence.
Survivor’s iconic hit, Burning Heart, beams as a montage of RyRyLloyd and KaneCarnage working out in Kane’s backyard, the sun beaming down across the abode. Kane is kitted out in his training gear, whereas RyRy is wearing his running shorts and trainers combo. The vignette covers the duo pushing each other to their limits in a series of gruelling, burdensome exercises, ranging from jump rope and burpees, to squat jumps and even long-distance running along the mile-long yard fronting Kane’s household. The music begins to dwindle as the two finally reach their end destination, as they complete their daily activity, returning to the front of Kane’s shack, where Kane’s lovely wife is waiting with a couple of bottles of water in hand.
“Good exercise, man. I haven’t been pushed like that since God knows when.”
RyRy admits as he respectfully slaps Kane’s back.
“After that, Supercard of Honour will feel like a piece of piss. Fatal 4 Way? There ain’t no way any of the other three match my stamina. I feel like I could go for an hour-long Ironman at this rate.”
RyRy continues to arrogantly assert. His eyes widening as the mere sight of Kane’s wife moves into his eye-sight for the very first time in person.
“Well, do my eyes deceive me or is this the famous Mrs. Carnage?”
RyRy smirks as he once again taps on his new partner, Kane.
“You can’t be springing these sort of surprises on me, Kane-o.”
RyRy continues to joke as he retrieves the bottle of water, downing a quarter in one fell swoop.
“Yeah, well, we’re all full of surprises here, aren’t we, honey? RyRy, this is my wife. Babe, this is RyRy.”
Without hesitation, RyRy fixes his eyes on Kane’s wife, staring intently as he shakes her hand.
“It’s lovely to meet you… we’ve got so much to talk about. To think you’ve got all this land out here and you haven’t for a second thought of building a ring? Old Kane here too family-orientated to think of his career, huh?”
RyRy grins as he returns his gaze back onto Kane. His eyes narrowed, realising that his one biggest regret was, in fact, putting his entire focus on his career for this long. Long-lost friends and foes building their own families, living the good life. Jealousy surging within as Kane thanks his wife with a kiss on the cheek as he fetches his own bottle. Kane and his wife make their way towards the house, Kane turning on his feet to acknowledge RyRy.
“Oh, RyRy. You coming in? You’re always welcome, mate. Steak’s on the menu!”
RyRy ponders for a moment, his teeth clenched.
“No, I’m good, man. I’ll be making my way. I’ve got a big match tomorrow. I’ll, uh, see you in LA, yeah?”
Kane nods in response, as RyRy sticks his thumb up, departing as his lonely self, with nothing but resentment rooted within.
submitted by RyRyLloyd to LoserleavesReddit [link] [comments]
Survivor’s iconic hit, Burning Heart, beams as a montage of RyRyLloyd and KaneCarnage working out in Kane’s backyard, the sun beaming down across the abode. Kane is kitted out in his training gear, whereas RyRy is wearing his running shorts and trainers combo. The vignette covers the duo pushing each other to their limits in a series of gruelling, burdensome exercises, ranging from jump rope and burpees, to squat jumps and even long-distance running along the mile-long yard fronting Kane’s household. The music begins to dwindle as the two finally reach their end destination, as they complete their daily activity, returning to the front of Kane’s shack, where Kane’s lovely wife is waiting with a couple of bottles of water in hand.
“Good exercise, man. I haven’t been pushed like that since God knows when.”
RyRy admits as he respectfully slaps Kane’s back.
“After that, Supercard of Honour will feel like a piece of piss. Fatal 4 Way? There ain’t no way any of the other three match my stamina. I feel like I could go for an hour-long Ironman at this rate.”
RyRy continues to arrogantly assert. His eyes widening as the mere sight of Kane’s wife moves into his eye-sight for the very first time in person.
“Well, do my eyes deceive me or is this the famous Mrs. Carnage?”
RyRy smirks as he once again taps on his new partner, Kane.
“You can’t be springing these sort of surprises on me, Kane-o.”
RyRy continues to joke as he retrieves the bottle of water, downing a quarter in one fell swoop.
“Yeah, well, we’re all full of surprises here, aren’t we, honey? RyRy, this is my wife. Babe, this is RyRy.”
Without hesitation, RyRy fixes his eyes on Kane’s wife, staring intently as he shakes her hand.
“It’s lovely to meet you… we’ve got so much to talk about. To think you’ve got all this land out here and you haven’t for a second thought of building a ring? Old Kane here too family-orientated to think of his career, huh?”
RyRy grins as he returns his gaze back onto Kane. His eyes narrowed, realising that his one biggest regret was, in fact, putting his entire focus on his career for this long. Long-lost friends and foes building their own families, living the good life. Jealousy surging within as Kane thanks his wife with a kiss on the cheek as he fetches his own bottle. Kane and his wife make their way towards the house, Kane turning on his feet to acknowledge RyRy.
“Oh, RyRy. You coming in? You’re always welcome, mate. Steak’s on the menu!”
RyRy ponders for a moment, his teeth clenched.
“No, I’m good, man. I’ll be making my way. I’ve got a big match tomorrow. I’ll, uh, see you in LA, yeah?”
Kane nods in response, as RyRy sticks his thumb up, departing as his lonely self, with nothing but resentment rooted within.
2023.04.01 10:24 Ebb-Ill Made a new load order any advice and 2nd pair of eyes would be appreciated thanks in advance
Xbox one series S: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
Mods: 150 / total space used: 4.94 / free space: 65.23
Master Files:
-USSEP -USCCCP -USMP SE -Lux - Master File -Lux - Resources -Lux Via v1.6 - Master File -Lux Orbis - Master File
Foundations:
-Cutting Room Floor -usmp cutting room floor patch -Even Better Quest Objectives -EBQO Cutting Room Floor Patch -cheat room -quest debugger -Guard Dialogue Overhaul -usmp gdo patch -World Encounters
Overhaul Menu/UI/Font Changes:
-sovngarde a nordic font bold -oculus main menu and loading screen replacer -Dialogue Interface Reshaped -skyhud dissonance preset
Quest Alterations:
-JaySerpa's Quest Expansion Bundle -Better Thieving Updated -darker brotherhood V2 -Jiub's Opus & Arvak's Skull Quest Markers -Stones of Barenziah Quest Markers -gildergreen regrown
Craftables:
-Ars Metallica -Mystic Condenser updated -bandolier bags and pouches -cloaks face masks and all sorts 2 -free crafting -wearable lanterns
Game Mechanics/race editions:
-talkative dragons -better horses -unread books glow sse -Wear Multiple Rings -Recover Cities- Quick -Hearthfire Multiple Adoptions -Improved Adoptions- Multiple adoptions -Add-On
Level Progression:
-50 pct more perk points
Perk Overhaul:
-ordinator -Guild leader perks
Magic addition and Overhauls:
-Odin -ordinator compatibility patch
Item and Loot Leveled List:
-DLC integration
Enemy NPC Leveled List:
-a side order of dragons
Audio:
-chapter II -audio sfx overhaul
WeatheAtmosphere
-DAWN dramatic atmosphere, weathers, & nature
Grass / Landscape Mods:
-enhanced landscapes -skyrim grass performance
Landscape/Grass Fixes:
-Landscape Fixes For Grass Mods -Landscape Seam Fixes
Skin Mesh & Textures/Skeletons:
-realistic ragdolls and force, impacts and no death animation bundle -RS Children optimized -Argonian hatchlings -Khajiit caravan kittens -sivaas raan creatures and wildlife -bellyache’s tougher dragons -Shadowmere replace
Idles and Animations:
-360 Walk and Run Stand alone -Headtracking - Fully Scripted -Sustained magic
General Mesh/Textures:
-Magical Forces and FX bundle full -cc camping embers xd patch -Tamriel reloaded hd aio -detailed terrain lod lite tamriel reloaded -skyrad's skyrim aio - smim -lockpicking interface redone -divergence complete aio 1k 512 -towns guards armor retexture 1k -elaborately opulent textiles -royal armory reforged -black and gold ebony weapons -black and gold ebony armor -elsopa quivers redone -belt fastened quivers -awesome artifacts anniversary edition -Awesome artifacts ordinator patch -enhanced night sky
NPC AI:
-Undead Beloved -Serana Dialogue Edit -Serana Dialogue Add-On -Serana dialogue add on SDE patch -Run For Your Lives -Crime Overhaul
NPC/PC Immersion:
-Rich Merchants of Skyrim -Realistic Conversations -Immersive Patrols lite -double beds are for two people -more tavern idles
NPC/PC Facial Modifications:
-lein's skyrim npc overhaul -divine skins and bodies for men and women
Interior Lighting/Decorating:
-distinct interiors aio optimized
Light Multiple Exterior Edits:
-elsopa hd hand painted road signs 1k -hd unique handmade signs -bridges of Skyrim -Carriage stops of Skyrim -CSOS survival patch -Divine forest
Single Area Edits:
-fort dawnguard brighter and cleaner -heartwood castle guard version -valsteinn castle expanded se follower version
Multiple Area Edits:
-clefj's house collection -spaghetti's cities - main cities aio -Spaghetti's towns - riverwood -spaghetti's main cities - trees in cities -the great cities, towns and villages bundle -mystical scholarship the magical college bundle 1k -magical college of winterhold anniversary patch -college curriculum -menhir standing stones of skyrim -Lux Orbis v3.0 -lux orbis USSEP patch -lux orbis Cutting Room Floor patch -the great cities, towns and villages bundle lux orbis patch -Lux orbis mystical scholarship / mystical college of winterhold patch -lux orbis embers xd patch -Lux Via plugin -lux via Cutting Room Floor Patch
Unique Item Locations:
Combat Mods:
-violens -archery tweaks aligned crossbow and ordonator bundle -archery skill set -Blade and Blunt -blade and blunt Timed Block -Mortal Movement blade and blunt
Unique Follower Mods:
-My Home Is Your Home -odahviing serving you at last
Quest Mods:
-Civil War Quest Immersion Bundle -Faction: Pit Fighter -faction pit fighter Travels Add-On
Map Mods:
Bottom LO:
-Lux (v6.3) -Lux USSEP patch -lux anniversary cc patch bundle -lux Cutting Room Floor patch -magical college of winterhold lux patch -lux the great cities, towns and village bundle patch -lux embers xd patch -AFT AE -jayserpa’s quest expansion bundle aft ae patch -Relationship Dialogue Overhaul -rdo crf + ussep patch -usmp rdo patch -rdo aft patch -Serana dialogue add on rdo Patch -Dawn waters w/ natural waterfalls -Sacrosanct -Growl -Alternate Start -Even Better Quest Objectives alternate start patch
A few tips if you plan to make edits to this load order. Hope they help make sense abit on how things work if I’m wrong on anything I’m still learning and far from an expert and happy to receive any advice
readmodsand place them in load order according pay attention for compatibility issues with other mods. Basically if it is a similar category for example weather mods they will have issues with other unless they have patches
Keepaneyeout for patches between certain mods place the patch after the 2nd mod is downloaded
Texture/mesh mods overwrite each other and can be stackable most cases (not always read descriptions and compatibility) place te texture you want to keep below it will overwrite the particular item in that bundle if your doing a single/multiple textures
submitted by Ebb-Ill to SkyrimModsXbox [link] [comments]
Mods: 150 / total space used: 4.94 / free space: 65.23
Master Files:
-USSEP -USCCCP -USMP SE -Lux - Master File -Lux - Resources -Lux Via v1.6 - Master File -Lux Orbis - Master File
Foundations:
-Cutting Room Floor -usmp cutting room floor patch -Even Better Quest Objectives -EBQO Cutting Room Floor Patch -cheat room -quest debugger -Guard Dialogue Overhaul -usmp gdo patch -World Encounters
Overhaul Menu/UI/Font Changes:
-sovngarde a nordic font bold -oculus main menu and loading screen replacer -Dialogue Interface Reshaped -skyhud dissonance preset
Quest Alterations:
-JaySerpa's Quest Expansion Bundle -Better Thieving Updated -darker brotherhood V2 -Jiub's Opus & Arvak's Skull Quest Markers -Stones of Barenziah Quest Markers -gildergreen regrown
Craftables:
-Ars Metallica -Mystic Condenser updated -bandolier bags and pouches -cloaks face masks and all sorts 2 -free crafting -wearable lanterns
Game Mechanics/race editions:
-talkative dragons -better horses -unread books glow sse -Wear Multiple Rings -Recover Cities- Quick -Hearthfire Multiple Adoptions -Improved Adoptions- Multiple adoptions -Add-On
Level Progression:
-50 pct more perk points
Perk Overhaul:
-ordinator -Guild leader perks
Magic addition and Overhauls:
-Odin -ordinator compatibility patch
Item and Loot Leveled List:
-DLC integration
Enemy NPC Leveled List:
-a side order of dragons
Audio:
-chapter II -audio sfx overhaul
WeatheAtmosphere
-DAWN dramatic atmosphere, weathers, & nature
Grass / Landscape Mods:
-enhanced landscapes -skyrim grass performance
Landscape/Grass Fixes:
-Landscape Fixes For Grass Mods -Landscape Seam Fixes
Skin Mesh & Textures/Skeletons:
-realistic ragdolls and force, impacts and no death animation bundle -RS Children optimized -Argonian hatchlings -Khajiit caravan kittens -sivaas raan creatures and wildlife -bellyache’s tougher dragons -Shadowmere replace
Idles and Animations:
-360 Walk and Run Stand alone -Headtracking - Fully Scripted -Sustained magic
General Mesh/Textures:
-Magical Forces and FX bundle full -cc camping embers xd patch -Tamriel reloaded hd aio -detailed terrain lod lite tamriel reloaded -skyrad's skyrim aio - smim -lockpicking interface redone -divergence complete aio 1k 512 -towns guards armor retexture 1k -elaborately opulent textiles -royal armory reforged -black and gold ebony weapons -black and gold ebony armor -elsopa quivers redone -belt fastened quivers -awesome artifacts anniversary edition -Awesome artifacts ordinator patch -enhanced night sky
NPC AI:
-Undead Beloved -Serana Dialogue Edit -Serana Dialogue Add-On -Serana dialogue add on SDE patch -Run For Your Lives -Crime Overhaul
NPC/PC Immersion:
-Rich Merchants of Skyrim -Realistic Conversations -Immersive Patrols lite -double beds are for two people -more tavern idles
NPC/PC Facial Modifications:
-lein's skyrim npc overhaul -divine skins and bodies for men and women
Interior Lighting/Decorating:
-distinct interiors aio optimized
Light Multiple Exterior Edits:
-elsopa hd hand painted road signs 1k -hd unique handmade signs -bridges of Skyrim -Carriage stops of Skyrim -CSOS survival patch -Divine forest
Single Area Edits:
-fort dawnguard brighter and cleaner -heartwood castle guard version -valsteinn castle expanded se follower version
Multiple Area Edits:
-clefj's house collection -spaghetti's cities - main cities aio -Spaghetti's towns - riverwood -spaghetti's main cities - trees in cities -the great cities, towns and villages bundle -mystical scholarship the magical college bundle 1k -magical college of winterhold anniversary patch -college curriculum -menhir standing stones of skyrim -Lux Orbis v3.0 -lux orbis USSEP patch -lux orbis Cutting Room Floor patch -the great cities, towns and villages bundle lux orbis patch -Lux orbis mystical scholarship / mystical college of winterhold patch -lux orbis embers xd patch -Lux Via plugin -lux via Cutting Room Floor Patch
Unique Item Locations:
Combat Mods:
-violens -archery tweaks aligned crossbow and ordonator bundle -archery skill set -Blade and Blunt -blade and blunt Timed Block -Mortal Movement blade and blunt
Unique Follower Mods:
-My Home Is Your Home -odahviing serving you at last
Quest Mods:
-Civil War Quest Immersion Bundle -Faction: Pit Fighter -faction pit fighter Travels Add-On
Map Mods:
Bottom LO:
-Lux (v6.3) -Lux USSEP patch -lux anniversary cc patch bundle -lux Cutting Room Floor patch -magical college of winterhold lux patch -lux the great cities, towns and village bundle patch -lux embers xd patch -AFT AE -jayserpa’s quest expansion bundle aft ae patch -Relationship Dialogue Overhaul -rdo crf + ussep patch -usmp rdo patch -rdo aft patch -Serana dialogue add on rdo Patch -Dawn waters w/ natural waterfalls -Sacrosanct -Growl -Alternate Start -Even Better Quest Objectives alternate start patch
A few tips if you plan to make edits to this load order. Hope they help make sense abit on how things work if I’m wrong on anything I’m still learning and far from an expert and happy to receive any advice
readmodsand place them in load order according pay attention for compatibility issues with other mods. Basically if it is a similar category for example weather mods they will have issues with other unless they have patches
Keepaneyeout for patches between certain mods place the patch after the 2nd mod is downloaded
Texture/mesh mods overwrite each other and can be stackable most cases (not always read descriptions and compatibility) place te texture you want to keep below it will overwrite the particular item in that bundle if your doing a single/multiple textures
2023.04.01 08:38 MussleGeeYem My 11 Year Long Samsung Galaxy And 12 Year Long iPhone Ownership Experience Story: Here Are Things The Galaxy Does Better Than My iPhone
Introduction
I have been using Samsung Galaxy devices for 11 years, with my first Android/Samsung Galaxy device being the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (got the Galaxy Nexus in January of 2012) and with me currently daily driving the S22 Ultra (since May 2022).I have been using iPhones for more than 12 years, with my first iPhone being the iPhone 4 (got the iPhone 4 in December of 2010) and with me currently daily driving the iPhone 14 Pro Max (since September 2022) and the iPhone SE (2020) as a secondary iPhone for iOS development (since March 2022).
Here is my daily driver history:
Android:
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus (bought in January 2012, traded the phone in October 2013)
- Samsung Galaxy Note3 (bought in October 2013, traded the phone in October 2014)
- Samsung Galaxy Note4 (bought in October 2014, traded the phone in September 2015)
- Samsung Galaxy Note5 (bought in September 2015, sold to my cousin's son (16M) in August 2016)
- Samsung Galaxy Note7 (bought in August 2016, recalled in October 2016)
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (bought in October 2016, sold to my cousin's husband (40M) in April 2017 after he broke his iPhone 6 Plus)
- Samsung Galaxy S8+ (bought in April 2017, sold to my cousin's son in Vietnam (29M) in April 2018)
- Samsung Galaxy S9+ (bought in April 2018, sold to my cousin's husband (40M) in March 2019, with him giving me his S7 Edge)
- Samsung Galaxy S10+ (bought in March 2019, gave to my sister (21F) in March 2020 via mail, making the A50 as her secondary phone)
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (bought in March 2020, traded the phone in February 2021)
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (bought in February 2021, gave to my sister (21F) in May 2022 via mail due to her cracking her S10+ with the front suffering some cracks, got the S10+ back)
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (bought in May 2022, still using it now)
- iPhone 4 (bought in December 2010, sold to Vietnam's used market in October 2011)
- iPhone 4S (bought in October 2011, traded the phone in September 2012)
- iPhone 5 (bought in September 2012 right after moving to the US, sold to my cousin (53F) in September 2013)
- iPhone 5S (bought in September 2013, sold to my cousin (39F) in September 2014)
- iPhone 6 (bought in September 2014, sold the phone on eBay in September 2015)
- iPhone 6S (bought in September 2015, sold to my cousin's daughter (17F) in October 2016)
- iPhone 7 Plus (bought in September 2016, sold the phone on eBay in November 2017)
- iPhone X (bought in November 2018, sold to my cousin's husband (55M) in September 2018)
- iPhone XS Max (bought in September 2018, sold to my cousin's husband (55M) in October 2019 with him giving me his iPhone X to help use that towards my iPhone 11 Pro Max)
- iPhone 11 Pro Max (bought in October 2019, sold to my cousin (53F) in November 2020 with her giving me her iPhone 7 Plus to use as a spare device)
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (bought in November 2020, device started breaking down, so I traded the phone in December 2021, initially planned to keep it for longer)
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (bought in December 2021, sold to my cousin (53F) in September 2022 after complaints that her iPhone 11 Pro Max is breaking down, with her giving me her iPhone 11 Pro Max)
- iPhone 14 Pro Max (bought in September 2022, still using it now)
- iPhone 5 (September 2015-November 2017): my cousin's husband (55M) upgraded from an iPhone 6 to a Galaxy S6 Edge+ and decided to give his iPhone 6 to my cousin (53F) due to him preferring Android over iOS (he kept the S6 Edge+ until May 2020 when he bought the S20+ and then he gave his S6 Edge+ to me in May 2020 via mail, but between 2017-2020, this acted as his 2nd phone as he was daily driving the iPhone X/XS Max mentioned above)
- iPhone 6S (November 2017-November 2020): my cousin's daughter (17F) upgraded from the 6S to the 7 Plus, along with both her parents (55M, 53F) not only due to the family switching from T-mobile to Verizon but also due to her cracking my old iPhone 6S, which caused her parents not only to replace the screen but also the battery)
- iPhone 7 Plus (November 2020-March 2022): my cousin (53F) received my iPhone 11 Pro Max, but since the iPhone 6S fell off my bike mount a month before, it cracked, and since the battery is so horrendous on the 6S, my cousin (53F) decided to give me her iPhone 7 Plus and I decided to take the 6S to the Apple Store in Cambridge MA to recycle it
- iPhone SE (2020) (since March 2022): Even though my cousin, and later I took very good care of the iPhone 7 Plus, the phone started breaking down on several fronts: the silent switch, charging port pins, and even battery started to die hard, and plus, since the phone is getting unsupported, I started deciding on the iPhone SE. After finding out the iPhone SE 3 was $429 and finding out I could get a prepaid iPhone SE 2 on AT&T for $150 ($50 plan+$15 activation fee but I cancelled auto pay immediately after buying the phone), I got the brand-new SE 2 instead. Nowadays, the battery started to fall apart (even though the battery is currently at 93% capacity) and even though this phone is not in a beta, there are a lot of bugs even on 16.3.1 (I am thinking of updating to 16.4 tonight)
Things my Samsung Galaxy does better than my iPhone
There are many things that Samsung Galaxy phones and other Android phones do better than iPhones, including the fact that on Android:- notifications are not cluttered in the lock-screen unlike on iOS
- Android is more customisable than iOS and Android is an open-source mobile operating system
- Many new features such as reverse wireless charging, in screen fingerprints, foldable phones, 5G, triple camera setup, phablet size phones,
- there is a real back button on Android
- No need to use iTunes; you could just transfer music and photos/videos between your computer and phone without the hassle of iTunes
- Some Samsung Galaxy phones (S1-S20 excluding the S6/Note5) have microSD and older Samsung Galaxy phones have removable batteries
- Some Samsung Galaxy phones in certain markets have dual sim support, but since e-SIM was introduced, first with the Pixel 2, and later with the iPhone XS, dual sim is less of an advantage
- There are a lot of options, including the M/J series for budget conscious buyers, the A series for the average folk in many countries, the S/Note series for power-users, business users for extra productivity (mostly the Note series) and phone enthusiasts (like me), and the Z series for certain business users for extra productivity and for Flexers
- On my Samsung Galaxy devices, I could share the Wi-Fi password to other phones using the QR code; on iPhones, I could only share the Wi-Fi connection with other iPhones
- Samsung Galaxy devices support split screen view and pop up view, but these two features are restricted to the iPad, and iPhones only support picture in picture video
- iPhone batteries start to massively degrade after a new iPhone and iOS version comes out
My iPhone 12 Pro Max (I got rid of it in December of 2021 after it accidentally fell out from my nightstand drawer and the back cracked a month before) started seeing its battery fail sometime in September 2021, when the 13 Pro Max came out. Say I leave the house at 10:00 and were to return home at 19:00. By 17:00, with medium usage + hotspot, the iPhone's battery would have depleted to around 20 percent. Plus, my iPhones typically consume more battery if devices are connected to hotspot than my Samsung Galaxies are.
Also, I did receive the Galaxy S7 Edge (2019), Samsung Galaxy S9+ (earlier this month as my cousin's husband upgraded to the S23+), and the Samsung Galaxy S10+ (last year), and given that I would sell these phones on the second hand market, I would test the phones for a week or two to see the phone's condition before assessing it and selling it on the second hand market. What I found is that even though the S10+ cracked and therefore, I donated it rather than sold it, all three phones seem to have solid battery, considering their ages. The S7 Edge with its 3600 mAh battery under heavy use after 3 years would go about for 6-8 hours before needing a recharge, and my S9+ would go about for around 5-6 hours as well before hitting down to 20% of battery (that is after 5 years and given the fact my cousin's husband is a power user), and even though the S10 cracked, it would go for 8-10 hours under heavy usage before draining to around 20%. I also got back my Note5 from 2015 once my cousin's son upgraded to my cousin (50M)'s S8 Active in 2019 once my cousin upgraded to the Note10+, and even on that phone, the battery is still very good considering its age and its 3000 mAh size, doing around 4-6 hours going down from 100-20.
- My Samsung devices have proven more reliable as a whole than many of my iPhones
Fun fact, my cousin (28M) switched from the iPhone 7 Plus to the Samsung Galaxy S10+ in March of 2019 and is now currently using a Galaxy S23 Ultra. From his 4-year long experience using just the Galaxy S10+ (he bought the ceramic colour with 512GB of storage and currently his father is using the S10+), even though he is a power user with him customising the phone with themes, being a heavy user, and having cracked his S10+ last year, the phone was still extremely reliable, working fully as intended, apart from the battery, which has been shortened to 6 hours of heavy usage before dying.
My iPhones however, were not so bright. Even though pre-2015 iPhones are mostly reliable during my time using it, since the 6S, there have been some phones which have showed issues here and there, sometimes within the first year of ownership. As for the iPhone 6S, it is basically only the battery, which has been extremely bad after a year and the fact it would sometimes shut off at 30% during cold weather.
Starting with the iPhone 7 Plus however, and there started to be a lot of problems. Even though my iPhone 7 Plus didn't show any problems during my ownership, even though my cousin took good care of the 7 Plus, when I got her 7 Plus in November of 2020 (she got the phone brand new at Verizon in November 2017), the silent switch started to wear down and get stuck, meaning it is hard to turn on silent switch, the charging port pins started to wear, making it very hard to charge the phone or connect the phone to the computer, and the battery started to struggle real hard.
Starting with the iPhone XS Max and there started to be real struggles. Even though I didn't see any problems with either the iPhone XS Max and 11 Pro Max during my ownership and took good care of these two phones, when these two phones got passed to their second owners, problems started to arise. For the XS Max, in May of 2020, it got bricked, and it wouldn't turn on even if he plugged it in the charging cable or through iTunes, and my cousin's husband had to bring it to service, and that got him to purchase an S20+ given he prefers Android over iOS, and after fixing the XS Max, he gave it to his daughter (17F), who is his only child. For the 11 Pro Max however, the phone's battery drained fast and my cousin always had to rely on the charger, and plus, there are issues of connecting Bluetooth devices as well as with calls and volume whilst connected to Bluetooth devices, and my cousin always complained about these issues and even though I did attempt to fix, the issues didn't get resolved (I am tech savvy by the way, so I could get through a lot of issues, such as reset my bricked iPad using iTunes, etc.).
And now onto my iPad Pro 9.7. I bought the iPad in June of 2016, and even though I used it mostly for watching YouTube videos, Udemy and edX courses, the iPad started having a bricking issue in November of 2017. What happened was that I was charging and overnight, the iPad just shut itself off and never powered on again. I tried connecting it to iTunes and even though iTunes could recognise the device, whenever I reset it, errors keep on popping up and it is impossible to reset. I tried bringing it to the Apple Store, but they couldn't reset it either and they suggested that I replace the iPad Pro 9.7 with an iPad Mini 4 for $300. Then, I started taking matters into my own hands and finally resetted the iPad Pro successfully after multiple attempts in January of 2018. Four months later (in May 2018), the iPad bricked again, and I had to do the same process, and it took until August of 2018 after at least 5-10 tries for it to work again. And then in August 2020, whilst charging overnight, the iPad turned off and I thought it was toast. Turned out it was, as after countless times diagnosing the issues on iTunes, the iPad would keep on bricking after multiple reset attempts and after more than 2 years. Then, there was a miracle. In November of 2022, I finally got my iPad working again and I felt like I was very lucky, because I thought that the iPad was bricked forever and wouldn't go back on, ever.
Then, finally, it is my iPhone 12 Pro Max. I bought the phone on 20 November 2020, and by mid-September 2021, things started to go south for this phone. The top speaker started to fail and even though I cleaned it, the speaker was so muffled that I could barely hear anything from the top speaker. I brought it to the Apple Store and they said it is a digitiser issue and they couldn't even clean it for me, and around that same time, the touchscreen started to act up. With a lot of ghost touches, it started to become very hard to use the iPhone (and keep in mind, I have never replaced the screen since I never cracked the front screen). In October 2021, the phone started to have lose cellular signal when I enter the MBTA train and still didn't recognise cellular signal for minutes after I exited the MBTA and was at least a mile from that station on my bike, but luckily, resetting network settings did fix the issue with the cellular signal however. By the time the phone accidentally fell to the ground and the back did suffer some cracks in November, I started to give up on the iPhone 12 Pro Max and in December, I upgraded to the 13 Pro Max.
Even though my Galaxy Buds and my cousin (28M)'s Galaxy Buds did not show any issues (he bought the Galaxy Buds in March 2019 and after heavy usage, it still held up very well and he even gave it to his father), all 4 of my AirPods, even the AirPods Pro 2, have shown issues here and there. My first AirPods (January 2017-July 2018) basically stopped working, and hence, I bought another pair of AirPods in July 2018 and used it until February 2022, when I dropped it in the toilet. Even though I was using the 2nd pair of AirPods half the time (July 2018-January 2020, December 2020-April 2021, November 2021-February 2022), by late 2021, the AirPods started showing major problems. First off, the battery drains so fast even indoors that it only lasted about an hour. Then, once I am outside, the right side would disconnect after only 5 minutes of usage and the left side would keep soldering on. Once it fell to the toilet, it was game over (however, I still kept the AirPods, it is just in the nightstand sitting there, and I did clean it as well). I bought the AirPods 2 in February 2022, and after 2 months, at least once every week or two, the right side would discharge, even in the case (the case is clean by the way), until it went out of battery. I tried resetting the case and putting the case to charge again, but to no avail, and it took several reset attempts for it to return to normal. The same exact scenario happened to the AirPods Pro 2, which I got in October as my cousin wanted to gift me the AirPods Pro 2, in exchange for my AirPods 2. Except that sometimes, my iPhone 14 Pro Max couldn't even connect to the AirPods Pro 2 or even recognise it.
- Hotspot doesn't always work on my iPhones, but always does on my Galaxy
For my iPhone 14 Pro Max and previous iPhones (iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro Max, etc), personal hotspot is very buggy. My Samsung connects just fine to the iPhone hotspot, but my iPhones don't. To preserve the battery, after several minutes, the iPhone SE would get disconnected from the iPhone 14 Pro Max hotspot (which is acceptable), but it gets worse. Even if I am currently streaming Apple Music on my iPhone SE with the screen on as well, the iPhone would disconnect from the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and it is very hard to connect it to hotspot. Sometimes, the iPhone SE would say 'Unable to join network' and others, it said 'Personal Hotspot Failure', which would force me to restart both the iPhone SE and 14 Pro Max. Now the Remote Hotspot Failure started happening since I got the 11 Pro Max in 2019, and at the time, my 16:9 phone was the iPhone 6S, and even then, there were hotspot failure problems. I restarted the 11 Pro Max, but the hotspot failure would return after a week or two. Even after resetting network settings in 2021 right before my 13 Pro Max because my iPhone 12 Pro Max would lose cellular connectivity even after I exited the MBTA tunnel and I am outside a mile from the MBTA station, once I got my 13 Pro Max, the remote hotspot failure still appears. My Samsung Galaxy over the years connects to the iPhone hotspot without any issues, and would stay connected even if I am not using the phone until I basically turn off hotspot on my iPhone.
Now due to the fact connecting my iPhone SE to the iPhone hotspot is so bad, I would typically use the Samsung hotspot as a backup (keep in mind my iPhone plan gives unlimited hotspot whilst Metro only gives 5 GB). Both iPhones connect to the Samsung hotspot flawlessly, without any issues.
- On my Samsung Galaxy phones, I can disable Wi-Fi using the Quick Settings (swipe down) menu, but for iPhones, it is less consistent
- Connecting to Bluetooth devices is better on my Samsung Galaxy phones than my iPhones
- Apple Pay sometimes doesn't work on my iPhone
Yesterday, I was at the MBTA station, and I was attempting to pay for the Monthly pass. Ironically, even though the reader did work, the iPhone 14 Pro Max kept on saying 'Hold near Reader', and even though I held it near the mobile payment reader for 10-15 seconds, it still didn't do anything. Fed up, after the second time, I repaid the MBTA ticket and used my S22 Ultra and the payment did go through. However, at the restaurant around 1 hour later, even though I didn't restart the iPhone, Apple Pay finally worked again as I was able to pay my meal using Apple Pay.
- Automatic updates are better on my Galaxies than my iPhones
- Wi-Fi is far better on my Samsung Galaxy/Android phones than my iPhones, iPads, or Macs
Fun fact: the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first phone to offer Wi-Fi 6E and not even the iPhone 14 Pro Max supports this feature
Then in July 2022, during a flight from Dallas back to Boston, my iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone SE 2 would fail to connect to JetBlue's Wi-Fi network several times and if connected, the Wi-Fi was painfully slow and near unusable whilst my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra connected to JetBlue's Wi-Fi network just fine and worked as expected, with websites loading reasonably quick, just like at my university with the S21 Ultra.
- USB C lasts longer than lightning connector
TL;DR: Even though there are many benefits to owning an iPhone over an Android device, based on my user experience, after over 11 years of using various Samsung Galaxy phones, two Samsung Galaxy Tabs, and one Galaxy Bud and after over 12 years of using various iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and AirPods, I could safely assure that there are a lot of benefits to using Samsung and Android products over iPhones, namely due to the fact that notifications, customisation, features, options, Wi-Fi, multitasking, batteries, hotspot, Bluetooth, mobile payment, etc., are better on Samsung and Android products than on iPhones, based on my user experience.
2023.04.01 08:31 MussleGeeYem My 11 Year Long Samsung Galaxy Ownership Experience Story: Here Are Things The Galaxy Does Better Than My iPhone
Introduction
I have been using Samsung Galaxy devices for 11 years, with my first Android/Samsung Galaxy device being the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (got the Galaxy Nexus in January of 2012) and with me currently daily driving the S22 Ultra (since May 2022).I have been using iPhones for more than 12 years, with my first iPhone being the iPhone 4 (got the iPhone 4 in December of 2010) and with me currently daily driving the iPhone 14 Pro Max (since September 2022) and the iPhone SE (2020) as a secondary iPhone for iOS development (since March 2022).
Here is my daily driver history:
Android:
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus (bought in January 2012, traded the phone in October 2013)
- Samsung Galaxy Note3 (bought in October 2013, traded the phone in October 2014)
- Samsung Galaxy Note4 (bought in October 2014, traded the phone in September 2015)
- Samsung Galaxy Note5 (bought in September 2015, sold to my cousin's son (16M) in August 2016)
- Samsung Galaxy Note7 (bought in August 2016, recalled in October 2016)
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (bought in October 2016, sold to my cousin's husband (40M) in April 2017 after he broke his iPhone 6 Plus)
- Samsung Galaxy S8+ (bought in April 2017, sold to my cousin's son in Vietnam (29M) in April 2018)
- Samsung Galaxy S9+ (bought in April 2018, sold to my cousin's husband (40M) in March 2019, with him giving me his S7 Edge)
- Samsung Galaxy S10+ (bought in March 2019, gave to my sister (21F) in March 2020 via mail, making the A50 as her secondary phone)
- Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (bought in March 2020, traded the phone in February 2021)
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra (bought in February 2021, gave to my sister (21F) in May 2022 via mail due to her cracking her S10+ with the front suffering some cracks, got the S10+ back)
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (bought in May 2022, still using it now)
- iPhone 4 (bought in December 2010, sold to Vietnam's used market in October 2011)
- iPhone 4S (bought in October 2011, traded the phone in September 2012)
- iPhone 5 (bought in September 2012 right after moving to the US, sold to my cousin (53F) in September 2013)
- iPhone 5S (bought in September 2013, sold to my cousin (39F) in September 2014)
- iPhone 6 (bought in September 2014, sold the phone on eBay in September 2015)
- iPhone 6S (bought in September 2015, sold to my cousin's daughter (17F) in October 2016)
- iPhone 7 Plus (bought in September 2016, sold the phone on eBay in November 2017)
- iPhone X (bought in November 2018, sold to my cousin's husband (55M) in September 2018)
- iPhone XS Max (bought in September 2018, sold to my cousin's husband (55M) in October 2019 with him giving me his iPhone X to help use that towards my iPhone 11 Pro Max)
- iPhone 11 Pro Max (bought in October 2019, sold to my cousin (53F) in November 2020 with her giving me her iPhone 7 Plus to use as a spare device)
- iPhone 12 Pro Max (bought in November 2020, device started breaking down, so I traded the phone in December 2021, initially planned to keep it for longer)
- iPhone 13 Pro Max (bought in December 2021, sold to my cousin (53F) in September 2022 after complaints that her iPhone 11 Pro Max is breaking down, with her giving me her iPhone 11 Pro Max)
- iPhone 14 Pro Max (bought in September 2022, still using it now)
- iPhone 5 (September 2015-November 2017): my cousin's husband (55M) upgraded from an iPhone 6 to a Galaxy S6 Edge+ and decided to give his iPhone 6 to my cousin (53F) due to him preferring Android over iOS (he kept the S6 Edge+ until May 2020 when he bought the S20+ and then he gave his S6 Edge+ to me in May 2020 via mail, but between 2017-2020, this acted as his 2nd phone as he was daily driving the iPhone X/XS Max mentioned above)
- iPhone 6S (November 2017-November 2020): my cousin's daughter (17F) upgraded from the 6S to the 7 Plus, along with both her parents (55M, 53F) not only due to the family switching from T-mobile to Verizon but also due to her cracking my old iPhone 6S, which caused her parents not only to replace the screen but also the battery)
- iPhone 7 Plus (November 2020-March 2022): my cousin (53F) received my iPhone 11 Pro Max, but since the iPhone 6S fell off my bike mount a month before, it cracked, and since the battery is so horrendous on the 6S, my cousin (53F) decided to give me her iPhone 7 Plus and I decided to take the 6S to the Apple Store in Cambridge MA to recycle it
- iPhone SE (2020) (since March 2022): Even though my cousin, and later I took very good care of the iPhone 7 Plus, the phone started breaking down on several fronts: the silent switch, charging port pins, and even battery started to die hard, and plus, since the phone is getting unsupported, I started deciding on the iPhone SE. After finding out the iPhone SE 3 was $429 and finding out I could get a prepaid iPhone SE 2 on AT&T for $150 ($50 plan+$15 activation fee but I cancelled auto pay immediately after buying the phone), I got the brand-new SE 2 instead. Nowadays, the battery started to fall apart (even though the battery is currently at 93% capacity) and even though this phone is not in a beta, there are a lot of bugs even on 16.3.1 (I am thinking of updating to 16.4 tonight)
Things my Samsung Galaxy does better than my iPhone
There are many things that Samsung Galaxy phones and other Android phones do better than iPhones, including the fact that on Android:- notifications are not cluttered in the lock-screen unlike on iOS
- Android is more customisable than iOS and Android is an open-source mobile operating system
- Many new features such as reverse wireless charging, in screen fingerprints, foldable phones, 5G, triple camera setup, phablet size phones,
- there is a real back button on Android
- No need to use iTunes; you could just transfer music and photos/videos between your computer and phone without the hassle of iTunes
- Some Samsung Galaxy phones (S1-S20 excluding the S6/Note5) have microSD and older Samsung Galaxy phones have removable batteries
- Some Samsung Galaxy phones in certain markets have dual sim support, but since e-SIM was introduced, first with the Pixel 2, and later with the iPhone XS, dual sim is less of an advantage
- There are a lot of options, including the M/J series for budget conscious buyers, the A series for the average folk in many countries, the S/Note series for power-users, business users for extra productivity (mostly the Note series) and phone enthusiasts (like me), and the Z series for certain business users for extra productivity and for Flexers
- On my Samsung Galaxy devices, I could share the Wi-Fi password to other phones using the QR code; on iPhones, I could only share the Wi-Fi connection with other iPhones
- Samsung Galaxy devices support split screen view and pop up view, but these two features are restricted to the iPad, and iPhones only support picture in picture video
However, there are many lesser-known things that my Samsung Galaxy phones do better than my iPhones (based on my experience over the past 11 years), and some might be controversial:
- iPhone batteries start to massively degrade after a new iPhone and iOS version comes out
My iPhone 12 Pro Max (I got rid of it in December of 2021 after it accidentally fell out from my nightstand drawer and the back cracked a month before) started seeing its battery fail sometime in September 2021, when the 13 Pro Max came out. Say I leave the house at 10:00 and were to return home at 19:00. By 17:00, with medium usage + hotspot, the iPhone's battery would have depleted to around 20 percent. Plus, my iPhones typically consume more battery if devices are connected to hotspot than my Samsung Galaxies are.
Also, I did receive the Galaxy S7 Edge (2019), Samsung Galaxy S9+ (earlier this month as my cousin's husband upgraded to the S23+), and the Samsung Galaxy S10+ (last year), and given that I would sell these phones on the second hand market, I would test the phones for a week or two to see the phone's condition before assessing it and selling it on the second hand market. What I found is that even though the S10+ cracked and therefore, I donated it rather than sold it, all three phones seem to have solid battery, considering their ages. The S7 Edge with its 3600 mAh battery under heavy use after 3 years would go about for 6-8 hours before needing a recharge, and my S9+ would go about for around 5-6 hours as well before hitting down to 20% of battery (that is after 5 years and given the fact my cousin's husband is a power user), and even though the S10 cracked, it would go for 8-10 hours under heavy usage before draining to around 20%. I also got back my Note5 from 2015 once my cousin's son upgraded to my cousin (50M)'s S8 Active in 2019 once my cousin upgraded to the Note10+, and even on that phone, the battery is still very good considering its age and its 3000 mAh size, doing around 4-6 hours going down from 100-20.
- My Samsung devices have proven more reliable as a whole than many of my iPhones
Fun fact, my cousin (28M) switched from the iPhone 7 Plus to the Samsung Galaxy S10+ in March of 2019 and is now currently using a Galaxy S23 Ultra. From his 4-year long experience using just the Galaxy S10+ (he bought the ceramic colour with 512GB of storage and currently his father is using the S10+), even though he is a power user with him customising the phone with themes, being a heavy user, and having cracked his S10+ last year, the phone was still extremely reliable, working fully as intended, apart from the battery, which has been shortened to 6 hours of heavy usage before dying.
My iPhones however, were not so bright. Even though pre-2015 iPhones are mostly reliable during my time using it, since the 6S, there have been some phones which have showed issues here and there, sometimes within the first year of ownership. As for the iPhone 6S, it is basically only the battery, which has been extremely bad after a year and the fact it would sometimes shut off at 30% during cold weather.
Starting with the iPhone 7 Plus however, and there started to be a lot of problems. Even though my iPhone 7 Plus didn't show any problems during my ownership, even though my cousin took good care of the 7 Plus, when I got her 7 Plus in November of 2020 (she got the phone brand new at Verizon in November 2017), the silent switch started to wear down and get stuck, meaning it is hard to turn on silent switch, the charging port pins started to wear, making it very hard to charge the phone or connect the phone to the computer, and the battery started to struggle real hard.
Starting with the iPhone XS Max and there started to be real struggles. Even though I didn't see any problems with either the iPhone XS Max and 11 Pro Max during my ownership and took good care of these two phones, when these two phones got passed to their second owners, problems started to arise. For the XS Max, in May of 2020, it got bricked, and it wouldn't turn on even if he plugged it in the charging cable or through iTunes, and my cousin's husband had to bring it to service, and that got him to purchase an S20+ given he prefers Android over iOS, and after fixing the XS Max, he gave it to his daughter (17F), who is his only child. For the 11 Pro Max however, the phone's battery drained fast and my cousin always had to rely on the charger, and plus, there are issues of connecting Bluetooth devices as well as with calls and volume whilst connected to Bluetooth devices, and my cousin always complained about these issues and even though I did attempt to fix, the issues didn't get resolved (I am tech savvy by the way, so I could get through a lot of issues, such as reset my bricked iPad using iTunes, etc.).
And now onto my iPad Pro 9.7. I bought the iPad in June of 2016, and even though I used it mostly for watching YouTube videos, Udemy and edX courses, the iPad started having a bricking issue in November of 2017. What happened was that I was charging and overnight, the iPad just shut itself off and never powered on again. I tried connecting it to iTunes and even though iTunes could recognise the device, whenever I reset it, errors keep on popping up and it is impossible to reset. I tried bringing it to the Apple Store, but they couldn't reset it either and they suggested that I replace the iPad Pro 9.7 with an iPad Mini 4 for $300. Then, I started taking matters into my own hands and finally resetted the iPad Pro successfully after multiple attempts in January of 2018. Four months later (in May 2018), the iPad bricked again, and I had to do the same process, and it took until August of 2018 after at least 5-10 tries for it to work again. And then in August 2020, whilst charging overnight, the iPad turned off and I thought it was toast. Turned out it was, as after countless times diagnosing the issues on iTunes, the iPad would keep on bricking after multiple reset attempts and after more than 2 years. Then, there was a miracle. In November of 2022, I finally got my iPad working again and I felt like I was very lucky, because I thought that the iPad was bricked forever and wouldn't go back on, ever.
Then, finally, it is my iPhone 12 Pro Max. I bought the phone on 20 November 2020, and by mid-September 2021, things started to go south for this phone. The top speaker started to fail and even though I cleaned it, the speaker was so muffled that I could barely hear anything from the top speaker. I brought it to the Apple Store and they said it is a digitiser issue and they couldn't even clean it for me, and around that same time, the touchscreen started to act up. With a lot of ghost touches, it started to become very hard to use the iPhone (and keep in mind, I have never replaced the screen since I never cracked the front screen). In October 2021, the phone started to have lose cellular signal when I enter the MBTA train and still didn't recognise cellular signal for minutes after I exited the MBTA and was at least a mile from that station on my bike, but luckily, resetting network settings did fix the issue with the cellular signal however. By the time the phone accidentally fell to the ground and the back did suffer some cracks in November, I started to give up on the iPhone 12 Pro Max and in December, I upgraded to the 13 Pro Max.
Even though my Galaxy Buds and my cousin (28M)'s Galaxy Buds did not show any issues (he bought the Galaxy Buds in March 2019 and after heavy usage, it still held up very well and he even gave it to his father), all 4 of my AirPods, even the AirPods Pro 2, have shown issues here and there. My first AirPods (January 2017-July 2018) basically stopped working, and hence, I bought another pair of AirPods in July 2018 and used it until February 2022, when I dropped it in the toilet. Even though I was using the 2nd pair of AirPods half the time (July 2018-January 2020, December 2020-April 2021, November 2021-February 2022), by late 2021, the AirPods started showing major problems. First off, the battery drains so fast even indoors that it only lasted about an hour. Then, once I am outside, the right side would disconnect after only 5 minutes of usage and the left side would keep soldering on. Once it fell to the toilet, it was game over (however, I still kept the AirPods, it is just in the nightstand sitting there, and I did clean it as well). I bought the AirPods 2 in February 2022, and after 2 months, at least once every week or two, the right side would discharge, even in the case (the case is clean by the way), until it went out of battery. I tried resetting the case and putting the case to charge again, but to no avail, and it took several reset attempts for it to return to normal. The same exact scenario happened to the AirPods Pro 2, which I got in October as my cousin wanted to gift me the AirPods Pro 2, in exchange for my AirPods 2. Except that sometimes, my iPhone 14 Pro Max couldn't even connect to the AirPods Pro 2 or even recognise it.
- Hotspot doesn't always work on my iPhones, but always does on my Galaxy
For my iPhone 14 Pro Max and previous iPhones (iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro Max, etc), personal hotspot is very buggy. My Samsung connects just fine to the iPhone hotspot, but my iPhones don't. To preserve the battery, after several minutes, the iPhone SE would get disconnected from the iPhone 14 Pro Max hotspot (which is acceptable), but it gets worse. Even if I am currently streaming Apple Music on my iPhone SE with the screen on as well, the iPhone would disconnect from the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and it is very hard to connect it to hotspot. Sometimes, the iPhone SE would say 'Unable to join network' and others, it said 'Personal Hotspot Failure', which would force me to restart both the iPhone SE and 14 Pro Max. Now the Remote Hotspot Failure started happening since I got the 11 Pro Max in 2019, and at the time, my 16:9 phone was the iPhone 6S, and even then, there were hotspot failure problems. I restarted the 11 Pro Max, but the hotspot failure would return after a week or two. Even after resetting network settings in 2021 right before my 13 Pro Max because my iPhone 12 Pro Max would lose cellular connectivity even after I exited the MBTA tunnel and I am outside a mile from the MBTA station, once I got my 13 Pro Max, the remote hotspot failure still appears. My Samsung Galaxy over the years connects to the iPhone hotspot without any issues, and would stay connected even if I am not using the phone until I basically turn off hotspot on my iPhone.
Now due to the fact connecting my iPhone SE to the iPhone hotspot is so bad, I would typically use the Samsung hotspot as a backup (keep in mind my iPhone plan gives unlimited hotspot whilst Metro only gives 5 GB). Both iPhones connect to the Samsung hotspot flawlessly, without any issues.
- On my Samsung Galaxy phones, I can disable Wi-Fi using the Quick Settings (swipe down) menu, but for iPhones, it is less consistent
- Connecting to Bluetooth devices is better on my Samsung Galaxy phones than my iPhones
- Apple Pay sometimes doesn't work on my iPhone
Yesterday, I was at the MBTA station, and I was attempting to pay for the Monthly pass. Ironically, even though the reader did work, the iPhone 14 Pro Max kept on saying 'Hold near Reader', and even though I held it near the mobile payment reader for 10-15 seconds, it still didn't do anything. Fed up, after the second time, I repaid the MBTA ticket and used my S22 Ultra and the payment did go through. However, at the restaurant around 1 hour later, even though I didn't restart the iPhone, Apple Pay finally worked again as I was able to pay my meal using Apple Pay.
- Automatic updates are better on my Galaxies than my iPhones
- Wi-Fi is far better on my Samsung Galaxy/Android phones than my iPhones, iPads, or Macs
Fun fact: the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first phone to offer Wi-Fi 6E and not even the iPhone 14 Pro Max supports this feature
Then in July 2022, during a flight from Dallas back to Boston, my iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone SE 2 would fail to connect to JetBlue's Wi-Fi network several times and if connected, the Wi-Fi was painfully slow and near unusable whilst my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra connected to JetBlue's Wi-Fi network just fine and worked as expected, with websites loading reasonably quick, just like at my university with the S21 Ultra.
- USB C lasts longer than lightning connector
TL;DR: Even though there are many benefits to owning an iPhone over an Android device, based on my user experience, after over 11 years of using various Samsung Galaxy phones, two Samsung Galaxy Tabs, and one Galaxy Bud and after over 12 years of using various iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and AirPods, I could safely assure that there are a lot of benefits to using Samsung and Android products over iPhones, namely due to the fact that notifications, customisation, features, options, Wi-Fi, multitasking, batteries, hotspot, Bluetooth, mobile payment, etc., are better on Samsung and Android products than on iPhones, based on my user experience.
2023.04.01 08:19 oneisnotprime TIFU by arguing with my wife about frog bagel-eating capabilities
So, this all started last night during dinner when my wife and I were discussing various fun animal facts. Our conversation took an unexpected turn when we stumbled upon the topic of frogs eating human food. I casually mentioned that I wondered if a frog could eat a bagel. My wife, being the lovely and opinionated person she is, immediately dismissed my statement, saying that a frog would never eat a bagel.
Now, I want to make it clear that my initial curiosity was about whether a frog could physically eat a bagel, not whether it would choose to eat one. I tried to clarify this point, but my wife didn't see the distinction. She insisted that it was ridiculous to even consider the idea, as a frog would never willingly consume a bagel in its natural habitat.
As the conversation progressed, so did our passion for our respective arguments. I tried to explain that I understood frogs wouldn't seek out bagels in the wild, but I was merely contemplating the physical possibility. My wife, however, wasn't having any of it. She was convinced that the whole idea was absurd and that frogs would never eat a bagel because it wasn't part of their natural diet.
The argument began to escalate as we both dug in our heels. I searched the internet for any examples of frogs eating unusual things to prove that, given the opportunity, a frog could potentially eat a bagel. Meanwhile, my wife was adamant that the dietary habits of frogs were well-documented, and bagels were not on the menu.
As the evening wore on, we became more and more entrenched in our positions. The argument went from light-hearted banter to a full-blown debate, complete with citations and raised voices. Our once enjoyable evening had devolved into a heated dispute over the potential consumption habits of amphibians.
Finally, after hours of arguing, I couldn't hold back my frustration any longer. In a moment of anger, I insulted my wife, accusing her of being closed-minded and ignorant. This turned out to be the straw that broke the camel's back, and our disagreement transformed into a full-blown screaming match.
As the yelling intensified, my wife finally reached her breaking point. She grabbed her things, told me she couldn't believe how petty and immature I was being, and stormed out of the house. I haven't heard from her since. I sit here, dumbfounded by how a simple discussion about a frog eating a bagel escalated to such a level, ultimately causing my wife to move out.
TLDR: Meaningless argument about frogs eating bagels, wife left. Not sure what happens next.
submitted by oneisnotprime to tifu [link] [comments]
Now, I want to make it clear that my initial curiosity was about whether a frog could physically eat a bagel, not whether it would choose to eat one. I tried to clarify this point, but my wife didn't see the distinction. She insisted that it was ridiculous to even consider the idea, as a frog would never willingly consume a bagel in its natural habitat.
As the conversation progressed, so did our passion for our respective arguments. I tried to explain that I understood frogs wouldn't seek out bagels in the wild, but I was merely contemplating the physical possibility. My wife, however, wasn't having any of it. She was convinced that the whole idea was absurd and that frogs would never eat a bagel because it wasn't part of their natural diet.
The argument began to escalate as we both dug in our heels. I searched the internet for any examples of frogs eating unusual things to prove that, given the opportunity, a frog could potentially eat a bagel. Meanwhile, my wife was adamant that the dietary habits of frogs were well-documented, and bagels were not on the menu.
As the evening wore on, we became more and more entrenched in our positions. The argument went from light-hearted banter to a full-blown debate, complete with citations and raised voices. Our once enjoyable evening had devolved into a heated dispute over the potential consumption habits of amphibians.
Finally, after hours of arguing, I couldn't hold back my frustration any longer. In a moment of anger, I insulted my wife, accusing her of being closed-minded and ignorant. This turned out to be the straw that broke the camel's back, and our disagreement transformed into a full-blown screaming match.
As the yelling intensified, my wife finally reached her breaking point. She grabbed her things, told me she couldn't believe how petty and immature I was being, and stormed out of the house. I haven't heard from her since. I sit here, dumbfounded by how a simple discussion about a frog eating a bagel escalated to such a level, ultimately causing my wife to move out.
TLDR: Meaningless argument about frogs eating bagels, wife left. Not sure what happens next.
2023.04.01 07:49 purple9g9 dog stolen by foster and on the run
 | please keep an eye out for harper, her foster stole her and may be on the run. submitted by purple9g9 to Eugene [link] [comments] |
2023.04.01 05:41 ARumpusOfWildThings I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but - can anyone give advice on how to move states when you don't drive/have a car?
(TW for suicidal ideation, emotional abuse, self harm, etc) also this is long
Hello, I actually posted something similar to this a few weeks ago, but now I'm even more desperate...
As the title suggests, I need advice on how to move states without a car, or knowing how to drive. I've lived in MI for the last 8 years, and have lived with my family (mom, stepfather, siblings) ever since. I moved here to live with them partly for insurance reasons (although I don't really go to any doctors or health professionals often anyway, since I don't really trust anybody except for like two people - more about that later-I don't drive and I don't feel ok about asking anyone to drive me) and partly to escape living with my stepmother, who was emotionally abusive to both my dad and I. I never should have moved in the first place; I see that now - my dad needed me too much. I helped him with his health issues as much as I could, and I was a sort of buffer between him and my stepmother. They both passed away in 2020-'21. I miss my dad with every fiber of my being, think about him every day, and even wish that I was also dead, just so I could be with him (I mean, I might as well be dead...)
Anyway, the only thing I think about every minute of every day even more than my late father is moving back to Kentucky (Louisville in particular), where I was born and raised for 23 years...I know things are kind of a shitshow over there currently, but it's home to me. I have an almost photographic memory of where everything is, all the different places where my dad and I used to go, and I have friends there (I mean, I don't really feel safe around people at all, but I still did have friends there). I've never fit in here in MI, and I never will...when I moved here, I thought my family would be understanding of how after all the sh!t I had to put up with from my stepmother (and also from being neurodivergent and dealing with people), I do not want to be around people AT ALL. It is detrimental to my psyche and overall wellbeing. I can tell them that over and over and over but they just don't listen or take me seriously. Because of them I'm forced to interact with people constantly (the job I have where I'm essentially my mom's employee requires it). I work at an afterschool program that she's in charge of, and it's really triggering for me to watch her interact with the kids in the same authoritarian way she did with me when I was young. Once I f-cked something up at work and started melting down and self-harming, and she literally screamed at me, "STOP IT, ARoWT! STOP IT! I CAN'T HANDLE THAT RIGHT NOW!"
Whether it's justified or not, I don't really feel appreciated for what I do at my house...I do chores (dishes, putting away leftovers, vacuuming, watering plants), I pay the utilities, I take care of my brother's pets that live here while he's at college, and he always seems to come back with more and hasn't really ever offered to reimburse me for what I spend on them...I've lost track of how much at this point), I've done my own laundry the whole time I've lived here (my siblings-both in their 20s- still have mom do it for them), and it feels like my siblings are the ones my parents have actual conversations with, while they really only talk to me about work-related things, or to ask me to do things. For several weeks, my mom had to go take care of a friend of hers who was very sick, and it pretty much fell to me to be The Woman of The House, basically...It was on me to do what she normally did at work (on my own, some nights), and even though I tried my hardest, I still didn't do a good enough job (which my stepdad kind of hinted at)....
I could go on about why I'm so unhappy here, and I feel horrible and ungrateful for doing so as it is (seeing as how my family really has done a lot for me and essentially rescued me from my stepmom) but...honestly...I just don't like it here...at my house, or in MI in general. I keep having these weird, surreal dreams about me wandering around various areas of MI I've been driven thru...I'm all alone, everything is grey and desolate, and I'm just wandering around with no destination and nowhere to go. The weirdest, most distinct dream was one where I was in this abandoned mall, and in this room completely covered in dirty, moldy white tiles. There was water up to about my ankles and facing me was this completely waterlogged pile of various Lamb Chop plushies (I loved Lamb Chop when I was little, and had/still have a stuffed animal of her). Off in the corner was a group of people (mostly women) my age huddled close together, talking about something that they clearly didn't want me to overhear. I distinctly remember considering asking them for help with wringing out/rescuing the Lamb Chop plushies, but then deciding not to, cuz why would they want to help me with that?...and then the dream ended/became inscrutable.
The only two people I wholeheartedly trust and can actually talk to are my aunt and my therapist. They both agree that moving to Kentucky would be a good thing for me...although, my aunt texted me tonight saying that she's been thinking about my situation a lot, and mentioned a plan she's coming up with to help me "gradually" achieve a "safe and supported independence." The "gradually" and "supported" parts scare me a little tbh - if by that she means having to actually live in the same space as another human being, or just living on my own somewhere in MI (the thought of which terrifies me) then...I'm sorry, but just no. I feel so bad for my aunt because she's had to witness/hear me completely breaking down over how miserable I am over here and want to move back to KY several times over the last few years...I don't know how or why she puts up with me. I haven't even ever told my mom, stepdad and siblings about how I want to move back, even though it's been on my mind for years now. They'd probably all hate me for the rest of my life if they knew, or just make me stay here somehow for the entire rest of my misbegotten existence. No offense to anyone reading this who lives in MI and actually likes it, but...I've just never been able to fit in or feel safe here, and I don't know why.
All I want out of life is to just go home. And if I can't I'd really rather not exist anymore.
On a more positive note, I've been saving money for a potential move someday, and even though the health insurance I currently have has an income limit (what I'd really love to do for a living is medical billing and coding, after being properly certified - it plays right to my professional strengths, I'm told it pays well, and I want to become self-reliant and not be dependent for the rest of my life like I currently am), I've been selling things on Mercari as a side hustle of sorts. Over the years, I've amassed a ton of stuffed animals, toys and stuff (trying to pacify my inner child, I guess) in my Depression Cave (aka my room), and I've been listing a bunch of them on Mercari, and I'm quite surprised at how much people seem to be interested in it! So, I have that going for me, I guess...
If you've read thru this entire rambling mess and/or have any advice or words of comfort to give, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm also 31, if that makes a difference. Even though I asked a question in the title, I'm flairing this as a rent/vant.
submitted by ARumpusOfWildThings to CPTSD [link] [comments]
Hello, I actually posted something similar to this a few weeks ago, but now I'm even more desperate...
As the title suggests, I need advice on how to move states without a car, or knowing how to drive. I've lived in MI for the last 8 years, and have lived with my family (mom, stepfather, siblings) ever since. I moved here to live with them partly for insurance reasons (although I don't really go to any doctors or health professionals often anyway, since I don't really trust anybody except for like two people - more about that later-I don't drive and I don't feel ok about asking anyone to drive me) and partly to escape living with my stepmother, who was emotionally abusive to both my dad and I. I never should have moved in the first place; I see that now - my dad needed me too much. I helped him with his health issues as much as I could, and I was a sort of buffer between him and my stepmother. They both passed away in 2020-'21. I miss my dad with every fiber of my being, think about him every day, and even wish that I was also dead, just so I could be with him (I mean, I might as well be dead...)
Anyway, the only thing I think about every minute of every day even more than my late father is moving back to Kentucky (Louisville in particular), where I was born and raised for 23 years...I know things are kind of a shitshow over there currently, but it's home to me. I have an almost photographic memory of where everything is, all the different places where my dad and I used to go, and I have friends there (I mean, I don't really feel safe around people at all, but I still did have friends there). I've never fit in here in MI, and I never will...when I moved here, I thought my family would be understanding of how after all the sh!t I had to put up with from my stepmother (and also from being neurodivergent and dealing with people), I do not want to be around people AT ALL. It is detrimental to my psyche and overall wellbeing. I can tell them that over and over and over but they just don't listen or take me seriously. Because of them I'm forced to interact with people constantly (the job I have where I'm essentially my mom's employee requires it). I work at an afterschool program that she's in charge of, and it's really triggering for me to watch her interact with the kids in the same authoritarian way she did with me when I was young. Once I f-cked something up at work and started melting down and self-harming, and she literally screamed at me, "STOP IT, ARoWT! STOP IT! I CAN'T HANDLE THAT RIGHT NOW!"
Whether it's justified or not, I don't really feel appreciated for what I do at my house...I do chores (dishes, putting away leftovers, vacuuming, watering plants), I pay the utilities, I take care of my brother's pets that live here while he's at college, and he always seems to come back with more and hasn't really ever offered to reimburse me for what I spend on them...I've lost track of how much at this point), I've done my own laundry the whole time I've lived here (my siblings-both in their 20s- still have mom do it for them), and it feels like my siblings are the ones my parents have actual conversations with, while they really only talk to me about work-related things, or to ask me to do things. For several weeks, my mom had to go take care of a friend of hers who was very sick, and it pretty much fell to me to be The Woman of The House, basically...It was on me to do what she normally did at work (on my own, some nights), and even though I tried my hardest, I still didn't do a good enough job (which my stepdad kind of hinted at)....
I could go on about why I'm so unhappy here, and I feel horrible and ungrateful for doing so as it is (seeing as how my family really has done a lot for me and essentially rescued me from my stepmom) but...honestly...I just don't like it here...at my house, or in MI in general. I keep having these weird, surreal dreams about me wandering around various areas of MI I've been driven thru...I'm all alone, everything is grey and desolate, and I'm just wandering around with no destination and nowhere to go. The weirdest, most distinct dream was one where I was in this abandoned mall, and in this room completely covered in dirty, moldy white tiles. There was water up to about my ankles and facing me was this completely waterlogged pile of various Lamb Chop plushies (I loved Lamb Chop when I was little, and had/still have a stuffed animal of her). Off in the corner was a group of people (mostly women) my age huddled close together, talking about something that they clearly didn't want me to overhear. I distinctly remember considering asking them for help with wringing out/rescuing the Lamb Chop plushies, but then deciding not to, cuz why would they want to help me with that?...and then the dream ended/became inscrutable.
The only two people I wholeheartedly trust and can actually talk to are my aunt and my therapist. They both agree that moving to Kentucky would be a good thing for me...although, my aunt texted me tonight saying that she's been thinking about my situation a lot, and mentioned a plan she's coming up with to help me "gradually" achieve a "safe and supported independence." The "gradually" and "supported" parts scare me a little tbh - if by that she means having to actually live in the same space as another human being, or just living on my own somewhere in MI (the thought of which terrifies me) then...I'm sorry, but just no. I feel so bad for my aunt because she's had to witness/hear me completely breaking down over how miserable I am over here and want to move back to KY several times over the last few years...I don't know how or why she puts up with me. I haven't even ever told my mom, stepdad and siblings about how I want to move back, even though it's been on my mind for years now. They'd probably all hate me for the rest of my life if they knew, or just make me stay here somehow for the entire rest of my misbegotten existence. No offense to anyone reading this who lives in MI and actually likes it, but...I've just never been able to fit in or feel safe here, and I don't know why.
All I want out of life is to just go home. And if I can't I'd really rather not exist anymore.
On a more positive note, I've been saving money for a potential move someday, and even though the health insurance I currently have has an income limit (what I'd really love to do for a living is medical billing and coding, after being properly certified - it plays right to my professional strengths, I'm told it pays well, and I want to become self-reliant and not be dependent for the rest of my life like I currently am), I've been selling things on Mercari as a side hustle of sorts. Over the years, I've amassed a ton of stuffed animals, toys and stuff (trying to pacify my inner child, I guess) in my Depression Cave (aka my room), and I've been listing a bunch of them on Mercari, and I'm quite surprised at how much people seem to be interested in it! So, I have that going for me, I guess...
If you've read thru this entire rambling mess and/or have any advice or words of comfort to give, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm also 31, if that makes a difference. Even though I asked a question in the title, I'm flairing this as a rent/vant.
2023.04.01 04:52 CosmosTraveler45 The Attic Horror.
It was a dark and stormy night, and Emily was alone in her old, creaky house. She tried to focus on the book she was reading, but every sound made her jump. Suddenly, she heard a faint scratching noise coming from the attic.
Emily knew she should ignore it, but her curiosity got the better of her. She cautiously made her way up the stairs, flashlight in hand. As she opened the door to the attic, she saw a figure huddled in the corner.
"Who are you?" Emily asked, her voice shaking.
The figure slowly turned around, revealing a face that was twisted in pain and anger. Emily tried to run, but she couldn't move. The figure started to approach her, its ragged breathing getting closer and closer.
Suddenly, Emily woke up, drenched in sweat. It had all been a nightmare. She let out a sigh of relief and turned over in bed, trying to go back to sleep. But as she closed her eyes, she heard the same scratching noise coming from the attic.
Emily's heart began racing as she heard the scratching noise getting louder and more persistent. She knew she had to face her fear and investigate the attic again, but she couldn't bring herself to move.
Just then, she heard a low growling sound coming from outside her bedroom door. It was followed by heavy footsteps, as if someone or something was walking towards her room.
Emily's fear turned into panic as she realized that she might not be alone in the house. She grabbed her phone and dialed 911, but the line was dead.
Trembling with fear, Emily clutched her pillow and waited for the inevitable. The footsteps stopped outside her door, and a shadow slowly crept under the crack at the bottom.
The door creaked open, and Emily saw a pair of glowing eyes staring back at her. She screamed as the creature pounced on her, and everything went black.
The next morning, the police found Emily's lifeless body in her bed, covered in scratches and bite marks. The attic door was wide open, and there were signs of a struggle throughout the house.
No one knows what happened to Emily that night, but some say that her restless spirit still haunts the old house to this day.
submitted by CosmosTraveler45 to scarystories [link] [comments]
Emily knew she should ignore it, but her curiosity got the better of her. She cautiously made her way up the stairs, flashlight in hand. As she opened the door to the attic, she saw a figure huddled in the corner.
"Who are you?" Emily asked, her voice shaking.
The figure slowly turned around, revealing a face that was twisted in pain and anger. Emily tried to run, but she couldn't move. The figure started to approach her, its ragged breathing getting closer and closer.
Suddenly, Emily woke up, drenched in sweat. It had all been a nightmare. She let out a sigh of relief and turned over in bed, trying to go back to sleep. But as she closed her eyes, she heard the same scratching noise coming from the attic.
Emily's heart began racing as she heard the scratching noise getting louder and more persistent. She knew she had to face her fear and investigate the attic again, but she couldn't bring herself to move.
Just then, she heard a low growling sound coming from outside her bedroom door. It was followed by heavy footsteps, as if someone or something was walking towards her room.
Emily's fear turned into panic as she realized that she might not be alone in the house. She grabbed her phone and dialed 911, but the line was dead.
Trembling with fear, Emily clutched her pillow and waited for the inevitable. The footsteps stopped outside her door, and a shadow slowly crept under the crack at the bottom.
The door creaked open, and Emily saw a pair of glowing eyes staring back at her. She screamed as the creature pounced on her, and everything went black.
The next morning, the police found Emily's lifeless body in her bed, covered in scratches and bite marks. The attic door was wide open, and there were signs of a struggle throughout the house.
No one knows what happened to Emily that night, but some say that her restless spirit still haunts the old house to this day.
2023.04.01 04:21 wtfwafflezor (Selling) 800 Titles Black Adam (MA/HD) $4 Halloween Ends (MA/HD) $4.50
Prices FIRM - CashApp/Venmo/PayPal Friends & Family
Disney/Marvel titles are split codes. Only redeem what you pay for. Thank you.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3
12 Years a Slave (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50
13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (Vudu/HD) $2 (iTunes/4K) $3
1917 (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.50
21 Jump Street (2012) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3
3:10 to Yuma (2007) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
47 Ronin (2013) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $4 (MA/HD) $3.50
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.75
A Clockwork Orange (1972) (MA/4K) $5
A Man Called Otto (2022) (MA/HD) $7.50
A Quiet Place (2018) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
A Quiet Place Part II (2020) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
A Simple Favor (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
A Single Man (2009) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
A Wrinkle in Time (2018) (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $2
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) (MA/HD) $4.50
Action Point (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $1.50
Ad Astra (2019) (MA/HD) $5
Addams Family (1991) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.75
Adrift (2018) (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Alien (1979) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.25
Alien Collection 1-6 (MA/HD) $18 1-4 (MA/SD) $9
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4.25
All Eyez on Me (2017) (Vudu/HD) $2.50 (iTunes/HD) $1.75
All is Lost (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4
All the Way (2016) (Vudu/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
Almost Famous (2000) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Amazing Spider-Man (2012) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.75
Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.75
Ambulance (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.50
American Assassin (2017) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
American Gangster (Extended Edition) (2007) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6.25
American Made (2017) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $4.25
American Psycho (Uncut) (2000) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
American Reunion (Unrated) (2012) (MA/HD) $3 (iTunes/HD) $2.50
American Underdog (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Amsterdam (2022) (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.75
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) (iTunes/HD) $2
Angel Has Fallen (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Angel Heart (1987) (Vudu/4K) $6.25
Angels & Demons (2009) (MA/HD) $5.75
Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75
Anna (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.50
Annie (2014) (MA/HD) $2.25
Antebellum (2020) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Ant-Man (2015) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) (MA/4K) $8.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (GP/HD) $3.25
Antz (1998) (MA/HD) $5.75
Apocalypse Now (3 Versions) (Vudu/4K) $6.75
Apollo 13 (1995) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4
Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Arkansas (2019) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Arnold Schwarzenegger 6-Movie (Vudu/HD) $13.50
Arrival (2016) (Vudu/4K) $6.75 (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $4
Assassination Nation (2018) (MA/HD) $4.75
Assassin's Creed (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2
ATL (2006) (MA/HD) $5
Atomic Blonde (2017) (MA/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) $3 (MA/HD) $2.25
Avengers (2012) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) $6.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Avengers 1-4 (iTunes/4K) $20 (GP/HD) $7.75
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) $6 (GP/HD) $1.75
Avengers: Endgame (2019) (MA/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1
Back to the Future 3-Movie (MA/4K) $13 (MA/HD) $7.50
Backdraft (1991) (MA/4K) $7
Bad Boys for Life (2020) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75
Bad Guys, The (2022) (MA/4K) $8.25 (MA/HD) $4.50
Bad Times at The El Royale (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.75
Bambi II (2006) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.50
Band of Brothers (2001) (iTunes/HD) $7.25 (GP/HD) $3.75
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
BASEketball (1998) (MA/HD) $3.50
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Batman Year One (2011) (MA/4K) $5
Batman, The (2022) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2022) (MA/HD) $8
Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition (2022) (MA/HD) $6
Battleship (2012) (MA/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $1.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Baywatch (2017) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $2 (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Beast (2022) (MA/HD) $6
Beauty and the Beast (1991) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $2.25
Beauty and the Beast (2017) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Belfast (2021) (MA/HD) $5.75
Belly (1998) (Vudu/4K) $5
Best in Show (2000) (MA/HD) $6
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.50
Big Lebowski (1998) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6
Big Short (2015) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Birdman (2014) (MA/HD) $5
Black Adam (2022) (MA/HD) $4
Black Hawk Down (2001) (MA/4K) $7.75
Black Panther (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.75
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.50
Black Phone, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5.50
Black Swan (2010) (MA/HD) $4.50
Black Widow (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Blacklight (2022) (MA/HD) $4.50
Blindspotting (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Blockers (2018) (MA/HD) $3
Blue Crush (2002) (MA/HD) $3.50
Blues Brothers + Unrated (1980) (MA/4K) $7
Bob's Burgers Movie (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $2
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) (Vudu/4K) $7
Bodyguard, The (1992) (MA/HD) $5
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) (MA/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $3.25
Bombshell (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Bond: Casino Royale (2006) (Vudu/HD) $6.50
Bond: Diamonds Are Forever (1971) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Bond: Man with the Golden Gun (1974) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Bond: Quantum of Solace (2008) (Vudu/4K) $7.50 (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Bond: Skyfall (2012) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) $1
Bond: Spectre (2015) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Booksmart (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
Born a Champion (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Boss Baby (2017) (MA/HD) $1.50
Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Bourne Collection 1-5 (MA/4K) $26.25 (iTunes/4K) $19 (MA/HD) $15
Bourne Identity (2002) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $3
Bourne Legacy (2012) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $3
Bourne Supremacy (2004) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $3
Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4
Braveheart (1995) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Breakdown (1997) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Breakfast Club (1985), Weird Science (2008), Sixteen Candles (1984) (MA/HD) $11.50
Breakthrough (2019) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.75
Brian Banks (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Bridesmaids (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.50
Brightburn (2019) (MA/HD) $6.75
Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) (MA/HD) $3.75
Bros (2022) (MA/HD) $6.75
Brothers Grimm (2005) (Vudu/HD) $6
Bullet Train (2022) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.75
Bumblebee (2018) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $2
Call Me by Your Name (2017) (MA/HD) $6
Call of the Wild (2020) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $1.50 (GP/HD) $1.25
Candyman (2020) (MA/HD) $4.50
Captain America: Civil War (2016) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.50
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $7 (GP/HD) $5
Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $2.25
Captain Fantastic (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Captain Marvel (2019) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.75
Card Counter, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5
Cars 1-3 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $16.50 (GP/HD) $9
Casablanca (1943) (MA/4K) $6.50
Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) (Vudu/HD) $13
Cats (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Celebrating Mickey (2018) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Chaos Walking (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Chappaquiddick (2007) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.50
Charlie's Angels (2000) (MA/4K) $7.75
Charlie's Angels (2019) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Chasing Amy (1997) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Chicken Run (2000) (MA/HD) $5.25
Choice, The (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Christopher Robin (2018) (MA/HD) $5.25
Chronicles of Riddick (Unrated Director's Cut) (2004) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Cinderella (1950) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Cinderella 'Camila Cabello' (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Clerks (1994) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Clerks III (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Cloverfield (2008) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.75
Coco (2017) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $5.50 (GP/HD) $2.50
Cold Pursuit (2019) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
Coming to America (1988) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Commuter (2018) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Conan The Barbarian (2011) (Vudu/4K) $5
Concussion (2015) (MA/HD) $2.75
Constantine: The House of Mystery (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50
Contractor (2022) (Vudu/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Courier, The (2020) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Criminal (2016) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Croods (2013) & A New Age (2020) (MA/HD) $7.25
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001) (MA/4K) $7.75
Cruella (2021) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
Da Vinci Code (2006) (MA/HD) $7
Daddy's Home 1-2 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Daddy's Home 2 (2017) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) $2 (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Dallas Buyers Club (2013) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3
Daniel Craig Collection 5-Movie (Vudu/4K) $20
Dark Knight (2008) (MA/HD) $5
Dark Waters (2019) (MA/HD) $5.75
Darkest Hour (2017) (MA/HD) $2.75
Day After Tomorrow (2004) (MA/HD) $6.75
DC League of Super-Pets (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Deadpool (2016) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2
Deadpool 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.25
Death on the Nile (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.50
Death Wish (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Deepwater Horizon (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Detective Knight Collection 1-3 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $15 $5.75 Each
Dictator (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Die Hard (1988) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4
Die Hard 1-5 (MA/HD) $16 $4.75 Each
Dirty Dancing (1987) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4
Dirty Grandpa (2016) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Disaster Artist, The (2017) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Disneynature Born in China (2017) (MA/HD) $5.25
Django Unchained (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Do the Right Thing (1989) (MA/4K) $6
Doctor Strange (2016) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $2.75 (GP/HD) $2
Dog (2022) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Dolittle (2020) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.50
Don't Worry Darling (2022) (MA/HD) $5.50
Doorman (2020) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Doors (1991) (Vudu/4K) $4 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) (MA/HD) $4.25
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (iTunes/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $5
Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Wolf Man (1941), The Invisible Man (1933), The Mummy (1932) (MA/HD) $18.50
Dracula 2000 (2000), II: Ascension (2003) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $10.50
Dracula Untold (2014) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $4
Dragonheart 5-Movie (MA/HD) $15
Dredd (2012) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Drive (2011) (MA/HD) $4.25
Drugstore Cowboy (1989) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Dumb and Dumber To (2014) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Dumbo (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.50
Dune (2021) (MA/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $2.25
Dying of the Light (2014) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $3
Early Man (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.25
Echo Boomers (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Eddie the Eagle (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6
Edward Scissorhands (1990) (MA/HD) $3
Eighth Grade (2018) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Elvis (2022) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.50
Elysium (2013) (MA/HD) $3.25
Empire of Light (2022) (GP/HD) $4
Encanto (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) (GP/4K) $3.50
Enough Said (2013) (MA/HD) $2.75
Equalizer (2014) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Equalizer 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $2.75
Equilibrium (2002) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Escape from L.A (1996) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Eternals (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Evan Almighty (2007) (MA/HD) $3.50
Everest (2015) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3 (iTunes/4K) $4
Evil Dead II (1987) (Vudu/4K) $4.25
Ex Machina (2015) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (Vudu/HD) $4
Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021) (GP/HD) $4.25
F9: The Fast Saga + Director's Cut (2021) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3.50
Fahrenheit 451 (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Fantasia (1940) (MA/HD) $7
Fantasia 2000 (2000) (MA/HD) $7 (GP/HD) $5
Fantastic Beasts Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $8.50
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3
Fantasy Island (2020) (MA/HD) $7
Farewell, The (2019) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Fast & Furious Collection 1-8 (MA/4K) $27.50 1-9 (MA/HD) $10
Fatale (2020) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Father Stu (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75
Fatherhood (2021) (MA/HD) $3.75
Fatman (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.25
Field of Dreams (1989) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6
Fifth Element (1997) (MA/HD) $6.75
Finding Dory (2016) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1.25
Finding Nemo (2003) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3
First Purge (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.50
Five Feet Apart (2019) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Flatliners (2017) (MA/HD) $4.50
Flushed Away (2006) (MA/HD) $6.50
Forbidden Kingdom (2008) (Vudu/HD) $4
Ford v Ferrari (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Forever My Girl (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Forever Purge (2021) (MA/HD) $5.50
Forrest Gump (1994) (Vudu/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Founder, The (2017) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Fox and the Hound (1981) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Fox and the Hound 2, The (2006) (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $3
Foxcatcher (2014) (MA/HD) $4.50
Frankenstein (1931) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Free Guy (2021) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $3.25
French Dispatch (2021) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) (MA/HD) $3.50
From Dusk till Dawn (1996) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Fruitvale Station (2014) (Vudu/HD) $4
Fury (2014) (MA/4K) $6.50
Galaxy Quest (1999) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6
Game Night (2018) (MA/4K) $5
Gamer (2009) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Gangs of New York (2002) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Garfield (2004) (MA/HD) $6.50
Gemini Man (2019) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Get Out (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.75
Ghost in the Shell (1995) (Animated) (Vudu/4K) $4
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) (MA/HD) $3.50
Girl with All the Gifts, The (2016) (Vudu/HD) $5
Gladiator (2000) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Glass (2019) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Glory (1989) (MA/4K) $7.75
Godfather Trilogy (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $14
Gods of Egypt (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (Vudu/HD) $2 (iTunes/4K) $1.50
Godzilla (1998) (MA/4K) $8
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) (MA/4K) $5.75
Good Boys (2019) (MA/HD) $3.25
Good Will Hunting (1997) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Goosebumps 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $6.50
Gotti (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2
Grease (1978), 2 (1982), Live! (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $14
Green Book (2018) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $5
Green Knight (2021) (Vudu/4K) $5
Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50
Green Mile, The (1999) (MA/4K) $6
Greta (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
Grey, The (2012) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Grown Ups 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $5.50
Hacksaw Ridge (2016) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Half Brothers (2020) (MA/HD) $5.75
Halloween (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.25
Halloween Ends (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Halloween Kills (2021) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.50
Happy Feet (2006) (MA/HD) $4
Happytime Murders (2018) (iTunes/4K) $1.75
Hard Candy (2005) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Hardcore Henry (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Hate U Give (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Heat: Director's Definitive Edition (1995) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.25
Heavy Metal (1981) (MA/4K) $6.25
Hell Fest (2018) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Hell or High Water (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Hellboy (2004) (MA/4K) $7.75
Hellboy (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.25
Hercules (2014) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Hidden Figures (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.75
Highlander (1986) (Vudu/4K) $5
Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Hobbs & Shaw (2019) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Hocus Pocus (1993) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Holiday Inn (1942) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Home Alone 1-2 (MA/HD) $7.50
Hope Springs (2012) (MA/HD) $2.50
Hostiles (2017) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Hot Fuzz (2007) (MA/HD) $3.50
Hotel Mumbai (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
House of Gucci (2021) (iTunes/4K) $5
House of the Dragon: Season 1 (2022) (Vudu/4K) $9 (Vudu/HD) $5
House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75
How to Train Your Dragon Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $7.50 $4.75 Each
Hulk, The (2003) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Hunger Games Collection 1-4 (Vudu/HD) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $12
Hunt for Red October (1990) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Hunter Killer (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Hurt Locker (2008) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Hustle, The (2019) (iTunes/4K) $2
Hustlers (2019) (iTunes/4K) $3
I Feel Pretty (2018) (iTunes/HD) $1
I, Frankenstein (2014) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
I, Tonya (2017) (MA/HD) $5.75
Identity Thief (2013) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.75
If I Stay (2014) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
I'm Not There (2007) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Imitation Game, The (2014) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks (2017) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Impossible, The (2013) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
In the Heights (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Incredible Hulk (2008) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5
Incredibles (2004) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.75
Incredibles 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2
Independence Day (1996) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.50
Independence Day: Resurgence (2014) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.50
Indiana Jones 1-4 (Vudu/4K) $25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $20
Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Infinite (2021) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Inglorious Bastards (2009) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $6
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) (MA/HD) $6.50
Inside Out (2015) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.50
Insurgent (2015) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Interstellar (2014) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) $4
Invisible Man (2020) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.75
Invitation, The + Unrated (2022) (MA/HD) $6.50
Iron Man 1-3 (MA/4K) $20 (iTunes/4K) $15 (GP/HD) $7
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) (Vudu/HD) $6.75
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Jackass Forever (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Jacob's Ladder (1990) (Vudu/HD) $3
Jason Bourne (2016) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (MA/HD) $3
Jaws (1975) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Jaws (1975) Jaws 2 (1978) Jaws 3 (1983) Jaws: The Revenge (1987) (MA/HD) $15
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Jesus Music, The (2021) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Jexi (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Jigsaw (2017) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2
John Wick Collection 1-3 (Vudu/4K) $16 (iTunes/4K) $14 (Vudu/HD) $7
Judy (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Juice (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.50
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $2 (MA/SD) $1
Jungle Book (1967) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $4
Jungle Cruise (2021) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $3
Jurassic World Collection 1-5 (MA/4K) $20 (iTunes/4K) $17.50 (MA/HD) $10.50
Jurassic World Collection 1-6 (MA/4K) $24 (MA/HD) $12
Jurassic World: Dominion + Extended Cut (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $4.25
Justice Society: World War II (2021) (MA/4K) $5.50
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016) (MA/HD) $4.50
Kick-Ass (2010) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Kick-Ass 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $5.50 (iTunes/HD) $5
Kid Who Would Be King (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4.75
Kid, The (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Killer Elite (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.75
Killer Joe (Director's Cut) (2012) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Killerman (2019) (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Killing Lincoln (2013) (MA/HD) $5.25
Kin (2018) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
King Kong (2005) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $3.50
King of Staten Island (2020) (MA/HD) $4.75
King's Man (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.25
Knives Out (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Knocked Up (Unrated) (2007) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Kung Fu Panda Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $12.50
L.A. Confidential (1997) (MA/HD) $5.75
Lady and the Tramp (1955) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Last Duel, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $4
Last Night in Soho (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25
Leap! (2017) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Legend of Hercules (2014) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Legion of Super Heroes (2023) (MA/HD) $6.25
Let Him Go (2020) (MA/HD) $4
Life of Pi (2012) (MA/HD) $2.50
Lighthouse (2019) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Lightyear (2022) (MA/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $2.75 (GP/HD) $2
Like a Boss (2020) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Limey, The (1999) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Lincoln Lawyer (2011) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Lion King (1994) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.75
Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (1998) (MA/HD) $6.75 (GP/HD) $5.25
Little (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Little Mermaid (1989) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow (2014) (MA/4K) $5
Lock Up (1989) (Vudu/4K) $5
Logan (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
Logan Lucky (2017) (MA/HD) $1.50 (iTunes/4K) $2.25
London Has Fallen (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.75
Longest Ride (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.50
Looper (2012) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.25
Lord of War (2005) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Lost City, The (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Love Actually (2003) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Love, Simon (2018) (MA/HD) $3
Lovebirds (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Luca (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $3.25
Lucy (2014) (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $2
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022) (MA/HD) $6
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982) (MA/4K) $5
Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) (MA/4K) $5
Mad Max Collection 1-4 (Vudu/4K) $20
Magnificent Seven (2016) (Vudu/4K) $6 (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Maleficent (2014) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $1.25
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1.50
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $1.75
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.50
Many Saints of Newark (2021) (MA/HD) $2.50
Marksman, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5.50
Martian - Extended Cut (2015) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Martian (Theatrical) (2015) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.25
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Matrix: Resurrections (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Mechanic: Resurrection (2016) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
Megan Leavey (2017) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Memory (2022) (MA/HD) $4
Men (2022) (Vudu/HD) $4
Men in Black 3 (2012) (MA/HD) $2.50
Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Menu (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $4
MIB: International (2019) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Midway (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) & Minions (2015) (MA/HD) $8.25
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $5.75
Miss Bala (2019) (MA/HD) $3.75
Mission: Impossible Collection 1-6 (Vudu/4K) $25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $20
Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021) (MA/HD) $4.75
Moana (2016) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2
Money Monster (2016) (MA/HD) $3.25
Monster Hunter (2020) (MA/HD) $4.25
Monsters University (2013) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) (MA/HD) $4.75
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (MA/4K) $7.50
Moonfall (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) (MA/HD) $4.25
Morbius (2022) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.50 (MA/SD) $2.25
Mortal Engines (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.50
Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2014) (MA/HD) $3.50
Mr & Mrs. Smith (2005) (MA/HD) $5.75
Mulan (1998) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3
Mulan (2020) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.25
Mulan 2 (2005) (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
Mummy (1999), Returns (2001), Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), Scorpion King (2002), Mummy (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $18
Mummy, The (1999) (MA/4K) $3.50
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4
My Girl (1991) & 2 (1994) (MA/SD) $7
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $5.50
Natural, The (1984) (MA/4K) $5
New Mutants (2020) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.75
News of the World (2020) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75
Night at the Museum 3-Movie (MA/HD) $14 $6 Each (MA/SD) $9.50
Night House, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3
Night School (Extended) (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.75
Nightmare Alley (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
No Time to Die (2021) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Noah (2014) (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/HD) $1.50
Nobody (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25
Nope (2022) (MA/4K) $8 (MA/HD) $6.25
Nope (2022), Get Out (2017) & Us (2019) (MA/HD) $10
Northman (2022) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $5
Now You See Me 1-2 (Vudu/HD) $4 (iTunes/HD) $6.50
Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $2.50
Oblivion (2013) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (MA/HD) $2.25
Old (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood (2019) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Only God Forgives (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Onward (2020) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.25
Orphan: First Kill (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $7
Other Woman (2014) (MA/HD) $2.25
Our Kind of Traitor (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Out of Sight (1998) (MA/HD) $3.50
Overboard (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6
Overlord (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5 (Vudu/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) (MA/HD) $2 (GP/HD) $1
Pacific Rim Uprising (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.50
Parasite (2019) (MA/HD) $4.75
Passengers (2016) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3
Paterno (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.25 (GP/HD) $2.75
Patriot Games (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Peanuts Movie (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.25
Pearl (2022) (Vudu/HD) $6
Penguins of Madagascar (2014) (MA/HD) $1.75
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) (MA/HD) $2.25
Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Pet Sematary (1989) (iTunes/4K) $4 (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Pet Sematary (2019) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Pete’s Dragon (2016) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.25
Peter Pan (1953) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Peter Pan: Return to Neverland (2002) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.75
Peter Rabbit (2018) & 2 (2021) (MA/HD) $10.25 $5.75 Each
Peter Rabbit (2018) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $5
Peter Rabbit 2 (2021) (MA/HD) $3.75
Philadelphia (1993) (MA/4K) $7.75
Philomena (2013) (Vudu/HD) $2
Pitch Perfect (2012) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Pitch Perfect Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $11.50
Planet of the Apes 1-3 (Newer) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $12
Playing with Fire (2019) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Pocahontas (1995) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $3.25
Poltergeist (1982) (MA/4K) $5
Power Rangers (2017) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.25 (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Predator (1987), 2 (1990), Predators (2009), Predator (2018) $11
Predator (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $2.50
Premium Rush (2012) (MA/HD) $3
Prey for the Devil (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) (MA/HD) $7
Prophecy Collection 1-5 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $14.50
Protege, The (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75
Psycho (1960), Rear Window (1954), The Birds (1963), Vertigo (1958) (MA/4K) $17
Pulp Fiction (1994) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (Vudu/HD) $4.25 (iTunes/HD) $5.25
Punisher, The (2004) (Vudu/4K) $6
Punisher: War Zone (2008) (Vudu/4K) $6
Purge, The (2013) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
Purge: Anarchy (2014) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Purge: Election Year (2016) (MA/4K $5.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
Puss in Boots (2011) (MA/4K) $7
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) (MA/HD) $8
Race (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.50
Raid 2 (2014) (MA/HD) $6
Raid: Redemption + Unrated (2012) (MA/HD) $5.50
Railway Man (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $1.50
Rambo Collection 1-5 (Vudu/HD) $15
Rambo Last Blood (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $2.75
Rambo: First Blood (1982) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) (Vudu/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Ray (2004) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5.25
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
Rear Window (1954) (MA/4K) $4.75
Red (2010) (Vudu/4K) $6.50
Red 2 (2013) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Red Rocket (2021) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Replicas (2019) (Vudu/4K) $5.50
Requiem for a Dream - Director's Cut (2000) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Reservoir Dogs (1992) (Vudu/4K) $5 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) (MA/HD) $2.25
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3.25
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Respect (2021) (iTunes/4K) $4.25
Revenant, The (2015) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.25
Rhythm Section (2020) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Richie Rich (1994) (MA/HD) $5
Riddick - Unrated Director's Cut (2013) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Riddick Collection 1-3 (Unrated) (MA/HD) $14
Ride Along 1-2 (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5 $2.75 Each
Rio (2011) (MA/HD) $5.50
Rise of the Guardians (2012) (MA/HD) $3.25
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2010) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.75
Robin Hood (2010) (MA/4K) $6.50
Robin Hood (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
RoboCop (1987) (Vudu/HD) $7.50
RoboCop (2014) (Vudu/HD) $2
Rocketman (2019) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) $2.50 (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Rogue (2020) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Role Models (Unrated) (2008) (MA/HD) $3.50
Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) (MA/HD) $3.50
Ron's Gone Wrong (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.50
Rough Night (2017) (MA/HD) $4.50
Rumble (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $6
Running Man, The (1987) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Rush (2013) (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Safe House (2012) (MA/HD) $4 (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Sandlot, The (1993) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5
Saturday Night Fever (1977) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Sausage Party (2016) (MA/HD) $4.25
Saving Private Ryan (1998) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Saw (2004) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) (MA/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Scream (1996) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Scream 5 (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Scream Collection 1-3 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $13.50
Secret Headquarters (2022) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6
Secret in Their Eyes (2015) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.25
Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $5
Selma (2015) (Vudu/HD) $3 (iTunes/HD) $2.25
Shallows, The (2016) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD $4.25
Shang-Chi (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.25
Shawshank Redemption (1994) (MA/4K) $5
Sherlock Gnomes (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $2.25
Sicario (2015) (Vudu/4K) $6 (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2
Sing 2 (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75
Singin' in the Rain (1952) (MA/4K) $6.50
Sixteen Candles (1984) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4.25
Skyscraper (2018) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $1.75
Slender Man (2018) (MA/HD) $5.25
Smile (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $6.75
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Smokin' Aces (2007) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Smurfs 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $3.25
Snake Eyes (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Snowman (2017) (MA/HD) $2
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Soul (2020) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Source Code (2011) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Southpaw (2015) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Southside With You (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Space Jam (1996) (MA/4K) $5
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Sparkle (2012) (MA/HD) $3.50 (MA/SD) $2.25
Speed (1994) (MA/4K) $5.25
Spider-Man Collection 1-8 (MA/HD) $26
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4
Spiral (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Spirit Untamed: The Movie (2021) (MA/HD) $4.25
Split (2017) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) (Vudu/HD) $4.75 (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Spontaneous (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Spotlight (2015) (MA/HD) $5 (iTunes/HD) $3
Spy Who Dumped Me (2018) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Stand Up Guys (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Star Trek (2009) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $7
Star Trek 1-3 (Vudu/4K) $18.75 (Vudu/HD) $9.50 (iTunes/4K) $13.50
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Star, The (2017) (MA/HD) $2.50
Step Brothers + Unrated (2008) (MA/HD) $6.75
Strange World (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) (MA/HD) $3.50
Studio 666 (2022) (MA/HD) $6.50
Suicide Squad, The (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Sum of All Fears, The (2002) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75
Super 8 (2011) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) $3.25 (iTunes/4K) $5
Survive the Night (2020) (Vudu/4K) $4 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
SW: A New Hope (1977) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Attack of the Clones (2002) (GP/HD) Ports to MA $6.50
SW: Empire Strikes Back (1980) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Force Awakens (2015) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1.50
SW: Last Jedi (2017) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $4 (GP/HD) $1.25
SW: Phantom Menace (1999) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Return of the Jedi (1983) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) $6.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Revenge of the Sith (2005) (MA/4K) $7.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Rise of Skywalker (2019) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (GP/HD) $2.50
SW: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $4 (GP/HD) $1.50
SW: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.25
Taken (2009), 2 (2012), 3 (2015) (MA/HD) $9
Ten Commandments (1956) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Terminator (1984) (Vudu/HD) $7
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.25
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) (Vudu/4K) $6.75 (Vudu/HD) $3 (iTunes/4K) $2.50
Thing, The (2011) (MA/HD) $6.25
This Means War (2012) (MA/HD) $4
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1.75
Thor: The Dark World (2013) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) (MA/HD) $3.50
Till (2022) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Titans: Season 2 (2020) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Top Gun (1986) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $6
Total Recall (1990) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Toy Story 1-4 (MA/4K) $23 (iTunes/4K) $21 (GP/HD) $11.50
Traffic (2000) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5.75
Training Day (2001) (MA/4K) $7
Transformers 1-5 (Vudu/4K) $29 (Vudu/HD) $22
Trauma Center (2019) (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Trick 'r Treat (2009) (MA/HD) $5
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Turbo (2013) (MA/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/SD) $1.25
Turning Red (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.25 (GP/HD) $3
Umma (2022) (MA/HD) $3.75
Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Unbreakable (2000) (MA/4K) $6 (GP/HD) $3.75
Uncharted (2022) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Uncle Drew (2018) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Uncut Gems (2019) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Under the Skin (2014) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Underwater (2020) (MA/HD) $5.25
Underworld: Awakening (2012) (MA/HD) $1.75
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $2.25
Universal Soldier (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Untouchables, The (1987) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75
Up (2009) (iTunes/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $6.75 (GP/HD) $5
Us (2019) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25
Usual Suspects, The (1995) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Van Helsing (2004) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Venom (2005) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
Venom (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.50
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $3.50
Vertigo (1958) (MA/HD) $5
Vice (2018) 'Christian Bale' (MA/HD) $4.25
Vivo (2021) (MA/HD) $4
W. (2008) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) (MA/HD) $6.75
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
War of the Worlds (1953) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $7
Warcraft (2016) (MA/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.25
Warrior (2011) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/HD) $4
Warriors, The (1979) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Waterworld (1995) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $6
Wayne's World (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
West Side Story (2021) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) (GP/HD) $2.50
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Where'd You Go Bernadette (2019) (MA/HD) $5.50
White House Down (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50
Widows (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $1.50
Willow (1988) (MA/HD) $6.75 (GP/HD) $4.50
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) (MA/4K) $5.50
Wind River (2017) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.25
Wolf Man (1941) (MA/4K) $6.50
Wolf of Wall Street (2013) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Wolverine (Unrated) (2013) (MA/HD) $3.75
Woman King (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $5.75
Wonder (2017) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Wonder Park (2019) (Vudu/HD) $3 (iTunes/4K) $2.25
Wrath of Man (2021) (Vudu/HD) $3
X (2022) (Vudu/HD) $7
X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), The Last Stand (2006) (MA/HD) $14.50
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) (MA/HD) $6.25
X-Men: First Class (2010), Days of Future Past (2004), Apocalypse (2014) (MA/HD) $11
Yesterday (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Youth in Revolt (2009) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Zathura (2005) (MA/HD) $6.75
Zero Dark Thirty (2012) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) (MA/HD) $4.75
Zootopia (2016) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
submitted by wtfwafflezor to DigitalCodeSELL [link] [comments]
Disney/Marvel titles are split codes. Only redeem what you pay for. Thank you.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3
12 Years a Slave (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50
13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (Vudu/HD) $2 (iTunes/4K) $3
1917 (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.50
21 Jump Street (2012) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3
3:10 to Yuma (2007) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
47 Ronin (2013) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $4 (MA/HD) $3.50
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.75
A Clockwork Orange (1972) (MA/4K) $5
A Man Called Otto (2022) (MA/HD) $7.50
A Quiet Place (2018) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
A Quiet Place Part II (2020) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
A Simple Favor (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
A Single Man (2009) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
A Wrinkle in Time (2018) (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $2
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) (MA/HD) $4.50
Action Point (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $1.50
Ad Astra (2019) (MA/HD) $5
Addams Family (1991) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.75
Adrift (2018) (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Alien (1979) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.25
Alien Collection 1-6 (MA/HD) $18 1-4 (MA/SD) $9
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4.25
All Eyez on Me (2017) (Vudu/HD) $2.50 (iTunes/HD) $1.75
All is Lost (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4
All the Way (2016) (Vudu/HD) $5.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
Almost Famous (2000) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Amazing Spider-Man (2012) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.75
Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.75
Ambulance (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.50
American Assassin (2017) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
American Gangster (Extended Edition) (2007) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6.25
American Made (2017) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $4.25
American Psycho (Uncut) (2000) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
American Reunion (Unrated) (2012) (MA/HD) $3 (iTunes/HD) $2.50
American Underdog (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Amsterdam (2022) (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.75
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013) (iTunes/HD) $2
Angel Has Fallen (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Angel Heart (1987) (Vudu/4K) $6.25
Angels & Demons (2009) (MA/HD) $5.75
Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75
Anna (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.50
Annie (2014) (MA/HD) $2.25
Antebellum (2020) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Ant-Man (2015) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) (MA/4K) $8.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (GP/HD) $3.25
Antz (1998) (MA/HD) $5.75
Apocalypse Now (3 Versions) (Vudu/4K) $6.75
Apollo 13 (1995) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4
Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Arkansas (2019) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Arnold Schwarzenegger 6-Movie (Vudu/HD) $13.50
Arrival (2016) (Vudu/4K) $6.75 (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $4
Assassination Nation (2018) (MA/HD) $4.75
Assassin's Creed (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2
ATL (2006) (MA/HD) $5
Atomic Blonde (2017) (MA/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) $3 (MA/HD) $2.25
Avengers (2012) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) $6.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Avengers 1-4 (iTunes/4K) $20 (GP/HD) $7.75
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) $6 (GP/HD) $1.75
Avengers: Endgame (2019) (MA/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1
Back to the Future 3-Movie (MA/4K) $13 (MA/HD) $7.50
Backdraft (1991) (MA/4K) $7
Bad Boys for Life (2020) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75
Bad Guys, The (2022) (MA/4K) $8.25 (MA/HD) $4.50
Bad Times at The El Royale (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.75
Bambi II (2006) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.50
Band of Brothers (2001) (iTunes/HD) $7.25 (GP/HD) $3.75
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
BASEketball (1998) (MA/HD) $3.50
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Batman Year One (2011) (MA/4K) $5
Batman, The (2022) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3
Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham (2022) (MA/HD) $8
Batman: The Long Halloween Deluxe Edition (2022) (MA/HD) $6
Battleship (2012) (MA/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $1.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Baywatch (2017) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $2 (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Beast (2022) (MA/HD) $6
Beauty and the Beast (1991) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $2.25
Beauty and the Beast (2017) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Belfast (2021) (MA/HD) $5.75
Belly (1998) (Vudu/4K) $5
Best in Show (2000) (MA/HD) $6
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.50
Big Lebowski (1998) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6
Big Short (2015) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Birdman (2014) (MA/HD) $5
Black Adam (2022) (MA/HD) $4
Black Hawk Down (2001) (MA/4K) $7.75
Black Panther (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.75
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.50
Black Phone, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5.50
Black Swan (2010) (MA/HD) $4.50
Black Widow (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Blacklight (2022) (MA/HD) $4.50
Blindspotting (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Blockers (2018) (MA/HD) $3
Blue Crush (2002) (MA/HD) $3.50
Blues Brothers + Unrated (1980) (MA/4K) $7
Bob's Burgers Movie (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $2
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) (Vudu/4K) $7
Bodyguard, The (1992) (MA/HD) $5
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) (MA/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $3.25
Bombshell (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Bond: Casino Royale (2006) (Vudu/HD) $6.50
Bond: Diamonds Are Forever (1971) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Bond: Man with the Golden Gun (1974) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Bond: Quantum of Solace (2008) (Vudu/4K) $7.50 (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Bond: Skyfall (2012) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) $1
Bond: Spectre (2015) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Booksmart (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
Born a Champion (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Boss Baby (2017) (MA/HD) $1.50
Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Bourne Collection 1-5 (MA/4K) $26.25 (iTunes/4K) $19 (MA/HD) $15
Bourne Identity (2002) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $3
Bourne Legacy (2012) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $3
Bourne Supremacy (2004) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (MA/HD) $3
Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4
Braveheart (1995) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Breakdown (1997) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Breakfast Club (1985), Weird Science (2008), Sixteen Candles (1984) (MA/HD) $11.50
Breakthrough (2019) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.75
Brian Banks (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Bridesmaids (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.50
Brightburn (2019) (MA/HD) $6.75
Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) (MA/HD) $3.75
Bros (2022) (MA/HD) $6.75
Brothers Grimm (2005) (Vudu/HD) $6
Bullet Train (2022) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.75
Bumblebee (2018) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $2
Call Me by Your Name (2017) (MA/HD) $6
Call of the Wild (2020) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $1.50 (GP/HD) $1.25
Candyman (2020) (MA/HD) $4.50
Captain America: Civil War (2016) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.50
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $7 (GP/HD) $5
Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $2.25
Captain Fantastic (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Captain Marvel (2019) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.75
Card Counter, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5
Cars 1-3 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $16.50 (GP/HD) $9
Casablanca (1943) (MA/4K) $6.50
Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) (Vudu/HD) $13
Cats (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Celebrating Mickey (2018) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Chaos Walking (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Chappaquiddick (2007) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.50
Charlie's Angels (2000) (MA/4K) $7.75
Charlie's Angels (2019) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5.50
Chasing Amy (1997) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Chicken Run (2000) (MA/HD) $5.25
Choice, The (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Christopher Robin (2018) (MA/HD) $5.25
Chronicles of Riddick (Unrated Director's Cut) (2004) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Cinderella (1950) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Cinderella 'Camila Cabello' (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Clerks (1994) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Clerks III (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Cloverfield (2008) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.75
Coco (2017) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $5.50 (GP/HD) $2.50
Cold Pursuit (2019) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
Coming to America (1988) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Commuter (2018) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Conan The Barbarian (2011) (Vudu/4K) $5
Concussion (2015) (MA/HD) $2.75
Constantine: The House of Mystery (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50
Contractor (2022) (Vudu/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Courier, The (2020) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Criminal (2016) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Croods (2013) & A New Age (2020) (MA/HD) $7.25
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001) (MA/4K) $7.75
Cruella (2021) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
Da Vinci Code (2006) (MA/HD) $7
Daddy's Home 1-2 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Daddy's Home 2 (2017) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) $2 (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Dallas Buyers Club (2013) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3
Daniel Craig Collection 5-Movie (Vudu/4K) $20
Dark Knight (2008) (MA/HD) $5
Dark Waters (2019) (MA/HD) $5.75
Darkest Hour (2017) (MA/HD) $2.75
Day After Tomorrow (2004) (MA/HD) $6.75
DC League of Super-Pets (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Deadpool (2016) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2
Deadpool 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.25
Death on the Nile (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.50
Death Wish (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Deepwater Horizon (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Detective Knight Collection 1-3 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $15 $5.75 Each
Dictator (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Die Hard (1988) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4
Die Hard 1-5 (MA/HD) $16 $4.75 Each
Dirty Dancing (1987) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4
Dirty Grandpa (2016) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Disaster Artist, The (2017) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Disneynature Born in China (2017) (MA/HD) $5.25
Django Unchained (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Do the Right Thing (1989) (MA/4K) $6
Doctor Strange (2016) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $2.75 (GP/HD) $2
Dog (2022) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Dolittle (2020) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.50
Don't Worry Darling (2022) (MA/HD) $5.50
Doorman (2020) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Doors (1991) (Vudu/4K) $4 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022) (MA/HD) $4.25
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (iTunes/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $5
Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), The Wolf Man (1941), The Invisible Man (1933), The Mummy (1932) (MA/HD) $18.50
Dracula 2000 (2000), II: Ascension (2003) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $10.50
Dracula Untold (2014) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $4
Dragonheart 5-Movie (MA/HD) $15
Dredd (2012) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Drive (2011) (MA/HD) $4.25
Drugstore Cowboy (1989) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Dumb and Dumber To (2014) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Dumbo (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.50
Dune (2021) (MA/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $2.25
Dying of the Light (2014) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (MA/HD) $3
Early Man (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.25
Echo Boomers (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Eddie the Eagle (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6
Edward Scissorhands (1990) (MA/HD) $3
Eighth Grade (2018) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Elvis (2022) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.50
Elysium (2013) (MA/HD) $3.25
Empire of Light (2022) (GP/HD) $4
Encanto (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) (GP/4K) $3.50
Enough Said (2013) (MA/HD) $2.75
Equalizer (2014) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Equalizer 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $2.75
Equilibrium (2002) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Escape from L.A (1996) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Eternals (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Evan Almighty (2007) (MA/HD) $3.50
Everest (2015) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3 (iTunes/4K) $4
Evil Dead II (1987) (Vudu/4K) $4.25
Ex Machina (2015) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (Vudu/HD) $4
Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021) (GP/HD) $4.25
F9: The Fast Saga + Director's Cut (2021) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3.50
Fahrenheit 451 (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3
Fantasia (1940) (MA/HD) $7
Fantasia 2000 (2000) (MA/HD) $7 (GP/HD) $5
Fantastic Beasts Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $8.50
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $3
Fantasy Island (2020) (MA/HD) $7
Farewell, The (2019) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Fast & Furious Collection 1-8 (MA/4K) $27.50 1-9 (MA/HD) $10
Fatale (2020) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Father Stu (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75
Fatherhood (2021) (MA/HD) $3.75
Fatman (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.25
Field of Dreams (1989) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $6
Fifth Element (1997) (MA/HD) $6.75
Finding Dory (2016) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1.25
Finding Nemo (2003) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3
First Purge (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $4.50
Five Feet Apart (2019) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Flatliners (2017) (MA/HD) $4.50
Flushed Away (2006) (MA/HD) $6.50
Forbidden Kingdom (2008) (Vudu/HD) $4
Ford v Ferrari (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Forever My Girl (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Forever Purge (2021) (MA/HD) $5.50
Forrest Gump (1994) (Vudu/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Founder, The (2017) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Fox and the Hound (1981) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Fox and the Hound 2, The (2006) (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $3
Foxcatcher (2014) (MA/HD) $4.50
Frankenstein (1931) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Free Guy (2021) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $3.25
French Dispatch (2021) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.50
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) (MA/HD) $3.50
From Dusk till Dawn (1996) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Fruitvale Station (2014) (Vudu/HD) $4
Fury (2014) (MA/4K) $6.50
Galaxy Quest (1999) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6
Game Night (2018) (MA/4K) $5
Gamer (2009) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Gangs of New York (2002) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Garfield (2004) (MA/HD) $6.50
Gemini Man (2019) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Get Out (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.75
Ghost in the Shell (1995) (Animated) (Vudu/4K) $4
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) (MA/HD) $3.50
Girl with All the Gifts, The (2016) (Vudu/HD) $5
Gladiator (2000) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Glass (2019) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Glory (1989) (MA/4K) $7.75
Godfather Trilogy (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $14
Gods of Egypt (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (Vudu/HD) $2 (iTunes/4K) $1.50
Godzilla (1998) (MA/4K) $8
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) (MA/4K) $5.75
Good Boys (2019) (MA/HD) $3.25
Good Will Hunting (1997) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Goosebumps 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $6.50
Gotti (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2
Grease (1978), 2 (1982), Live! (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $14
Green Book (2018) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $5
Green Knight (2021) (Vudu/4K) $5
Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022) (MA/HD) $3.50
Green Mile, The (1999) (MA/4K) $6
Greta (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
Grey, The (2012) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.75
Grown Ups 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $5.50
Hacksaw Ridge (2016) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Half Brothers (2020) (MA/HD) $5.75
Halloween (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.25
Halloween Ends (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Halloween Kills (2021) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $4.50
Happy Feet (2006) (MA/HD) $4
Happytime Murders (2018) (iTunes/4K) $1.75
Hard Candy (2005) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Hardcore Henry (2016) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Hate U Give (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Heat: Director's Definitive Edition (1995) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.25
Heavy Metal (1981) (MA/4K) $6.25
Hell Fest (2018) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Hell or High Water (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Hellboy (2004) (MA/4K) $7.75
Hellboy (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.25
Hercules (2014) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Hidden Figures (2016) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.75
Highlander (1986) (Vudu/4K) $5
Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Hobbs & Shaw (2019) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Hocus Pocus (1993) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Holiday Inn (1942) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Home Alone 1-2 (MA/HD) $7.50
Hope Springs (2012) (MA/HD) $2.50
Hostiles (2017) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Hot Fuzz (2007) (MA/HD) $3.50
Hotel Mumbai (2019) (MA/HD) $5.25
House of Gucci (2021) (iTunes/4K) $5
House of the Dragon: Season 1 (2022) (Vudu/4K) $9 (Vudu/HD) $5
House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75
How to Train Your Dragon Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $7.50 $4.75 Each
Hulk, The (2003) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Hunger Games Collection 1-4 (Vudu/HD) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) $12
Hunt for Red October (1990) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Hunter Killer (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Hurt Locker (2008) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Hustle, The (2019) (iTunes/4K) $2
Hustlers (2019) (iTunes/4K) $3
I Feel Pretty (2018) (iTunes/HD) $1
I, Frankenstein (2014) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
I, Tonya (2017) (MA/HD) $5.75
Identity Thief (2013) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $3.75
If I Stay (2014) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
I'm Not There (2007) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Imitation Game, The (2014) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks (2017) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Impossible, The (2013) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
In the Heights (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Incredible Hulk (2008) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5
Incredibles (2004) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.75
Incredibles 2 (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2
Independence Day (1996) (MA/4K) $7.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.50
Independence Day: Resurgence (2014) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.50
Indiana Jones 1-4 (Vudu/4K) $25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $20
Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Infinite (2021) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Inglorious Bastards (2009) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $6
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) (MA/HD) $6.50
Inside Out (2015) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (GP/HD) $1.50
Insurgent (2015) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.25 (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Interstellar (2014) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) $4
Invisible Man (2020) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.75
Invitation, The + Unrated (2022) (MA/HD) $6.50
Iron Man 1-3 (MA/4K) $20 (iTunes/4K) $15 (GP/HD) $7
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) (Vudu/HD) $6.75
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Jackass Forever (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Jacob's Ladder (1990) (Vudu/HD) $3
Jason Bourne (2016) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (MA/HD) $3
Jaws (1975) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Jaws (1975) Jaws 2 (1978) Jaws 3 (1983) Jaws: The Revenge (1987) (MA/HD) $15
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Jesus Music, The (2021) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Jexi (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Jigsaw (2017) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2
John Wick Collection 1-3 (Vudu/4K) $16 (iTunes/4K) $14 (Vudu/HD) $7
Judy (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Juice (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.50
Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle (2017) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $2 (MA/SD) $1
Jungle Book (1967) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $4
Jungle Cruise (2021) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $3
Jurassic World Collection 1-5 (MA/4K) $20 (iTunes/4K) $17.50 (MA/HD) $10.50
Jurassic World Collection 1-6 (MA/4K) $24 (MA/HD) $12
Jurassic World: Dominion + Extended Cut (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $4.25
Justice Society: World War II (2021) (MA/4K) $5.50
Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016) (MA/HD) $4.50
Kick-Ass (2010) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Kick-Ass 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $5.50 (iTunes/HD) $5
Kid Who Would Be King (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $4.75
Kid, The (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Killer Elite (2011) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.75
Killer Joe (Director's Cut) (2012) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Killerman (2019) (Vudu/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Killing Lincoln (2013) (MA/HD) $5.25
Kin (2018) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
King Kong (2005) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $3.50
King of Staten Island (2020) (MA/HD) $4.75
King's Man (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.25
Knives Out (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Knocked Up (Unrated) (2007) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Kung Fu Panda Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $12.50
L.A. Confidential (1997) (MA/HD) $5.75
Lady and the Tramp (1955) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Last Duel, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $4
Last Night in Soho (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25
Leap! (2017) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Legend of Hercules (2014) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Legion of Super Heroes (2023) (MA/HD) $6.25
Let Him Go (2020) (MA/HD) $4
Life of Pi (2012) (MA/HD) $2.50
Lighthouse (2019) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Lightyear (2022) (MA/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $2.75 (GP/HD) $2
Like a Boss (2020) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Limey, The (1999) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Lincoln Lawyer (2011) (Vudu/4K) $4.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Lion King (1994) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $2.75
Lion King 2: Simba's Pride (1998) (MA/HD) $6.75 (GP/HD) $5.25
Little (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Little Mermaid (1989) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.75
Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow (2014) (MA/4K) $5
Lock Up (1989) (Vudu/4K) $5
Logan (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
Logan Lucky (2017) (MA/HD) $1.50 (iTunes/4K) $2.25
London Has Fallen (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.75
Longest Ride (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $1.50
Looper (2012) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.25
Lord of War (2005) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Lost City, The (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Love Actually (2003) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Love, Simon (2018) (MA/HD) $3
Lovebirds (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.50
Luca (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $3.25
Lucy (2014) (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (MA/HD) $2
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022) (MA/HD) $6
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982) (MA/4K) $5
Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome (1985) (MA/4K) $5
Mad Max Collection 1-4 (Vudu/4K) $20
Magnificent Seven (2016) (Vudu/4K) $6 (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Maleficent (2014) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $1.25
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1.50
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $1.75
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.50
Many Saints of Newark (2021) (MA/HD) $2.50
Marksman, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5.50
Martian - Extended Cut (2015) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Martian (Theatrical) (2015) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.25
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Matrix: Resurrections (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Mechanic: Resurrection (2016) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
Megan Leavey (2017) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Memory (2022) (MA/HD) $4
Men (2022) (Vudu/HD) $4
Men in Black 3 (2012) (MA/HD) $2.50
Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Menu (2022) (MA/HD) $5.75 (GP/HD) $4
MIB: International (2019) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $4.75
Midway (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) & Minions (2015) (MA/HD) $8.25
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $5.75
Miss Bala (2019) (MA/HD) $3.75
Mission: Impossible Collection 1-6 (Vudu/4K) $25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $20
Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021) (MA/HD) $4.75
Moana (2016) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2
Money Monster (2016) (MA/HD) $3.25
Monster Hunter (2020) (MA/HD) $4.25
Monsters University (2013) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) (MA/HD) $4.75
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (MA/4K) $7.50
Moonfall (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5
Moonrise Kingdom (2012) (MA/HD) $4.25
Morbius (2022) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.50 (MA/SD) $2.25
Mortal Engines (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.50
Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2014) (MA/HD) $3.50
Mr & Mrs. Smith (2005) (MA/HD) $5.75
Mulan (1998) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (GP/HD) $3
Mulan (2020) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.25
Mulan 2 (2005) (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
Mummy (1999), Returns (2001), Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008), Scorpion King (2002), Mummy (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $18
Mummy, The (1999) (MA/4K) $3.50
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4
My Girl (1991) & 2 (1994) (MA/SD) $7
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $5.50
Natural, The (1984) (MA/4K) $5
New Mutants (2020) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $2.75
News of the World (2020) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3.75
Night at the Museum 3-Movie (MA/HD) $14 $6 Each (MA/SD) $9.50
Night House, The (2021) (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3
Night School (Extended) (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $2.75
Nightmare Alley (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
No Time to Die (2021) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Noah (2014) (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/HD) $1.50
Nobody (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25
Nope (2022) (MA/4K) $8 (MA/HD) $6.25
Nope (2022), Get Out (2017) & Us (2019) (MA/HD) $10
Northman (2022) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $5
Now You See Me 1-2 (Vudu/HD) $4 (iTunes/HD) $6.50
Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $3 (GP/HD) $2.50
Oblivion (2013) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $3.50 (MA/HD) $2.25
Old (2021) (MA/HD) $4.50
Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood (2019) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Only God Forgives (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Onward (2020) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $4 (GP/HD) $2.25
Orphan: First Kill (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $7
Other Woman (2014) (MA/HD) $2.25
Our Kind of Traitor (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Out of Sight (1998) (MA/HD) $3.50
Overboard (2016) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $6
Overlord (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5 (Vudu/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) (MA/HD) $2 (GP/HD) $1
Pacific Rim Uprising (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $4.50
Parasite (2019) (MA/HD) $4.75
Passengers (2016) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3
Paterno (2018) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.25 (GP/HD) $2.75
Patriot Games (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Paw Patrol: The Movie (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5
Peanuts Movie (2015) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.25
Pearl (2022) (Vudu/HD) $6
Penguins of Madagascar (2014) (MA/HD) $1.75
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) (MA/HD) $2.25
Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $1.75
Pet Sematary (1989) (iTunes/4K) $4 (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Pet Sematary (2019) (Vudu/4K) $4.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $2.50
Pete’s Dragon (2016) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.25
Peter Pan (1953) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Peter Pan: Return to Neverland (2002) (MA/HD) $6.25 (GP/HD) $4.75
Peter Rabbit (2018) & 2 (2021) (MA/HD) $10.25 $5.75 Each
Peter Rabbit (2018) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $5
Peter Rabbit 2 (2021) (MA/HD) $3.75
Philadelphia (1993) (MA/4K) $7.75
Philomena (2013) (Vudu/HD) $2
Pitch Perfect (2012) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.75
Pitch Perfect Collection 1-3 (MA/HD) $11.50
Planet of the Apes 1-3 (Newer) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $12
Playing with Fire (2019) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Pocahontas (1995) (MA/HD) $6.50 (GP/HD) $5
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998) (MA/HD) $6 (GP/HD) $3.25
Poltergeist (1982) (MA/4K) $5
Power Rangers (2017) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.25 (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Predator (1987), 2 (1990), Predators (2009), Predator (2018) $11
Predator (2018) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $2.50
Premium Rush (2012) (MA/HD) $3
Prey for the Devil (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) (MA/HD) $7
Prophecy Collection 1-5 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $14.50
Protege, The (2021) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75
Psycho (1960), Rear Window (1954), The Birds (1963), Vertigo (1958) (MA/4K) $17
Pulp Fiction (1994) (Vudu/4K) $5.50 (Vudu/HD) $4.25 (iTunes/HD) $5.25
Punisher, The (2004) (Vudu/4K) $6
Punisher: War Zone (2008) (Vudu/4K) $6
Purge, The (2013) (MA/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
Purge: Anarchy (2014) (MA/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Purge: Election Year (2016) (MA/4K $5.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
Puss in Boots (2011) (MA/4K) $7
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) (MA/HD) $8
Race (2016) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $2.50
Raid 2 (2014) (MA/HD) $6
Raid: Redemption + Unrated (2012) (MA/HD) $5.50
Railway Man (2013) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) $4.50 (GP/HD) $1.50
Rambo Collection 1-5 (Vudu/HD) $15
Rambo Last Blood (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $2.75
Rambo: First Blood (1982) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) (Vudu/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.50
Ray (2004) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5.25
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.75
Rear Window (1954) (MA/4K) $4.75
Red (2010) (Vudu/4K) $6.50
Red 2 (2013) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $1.50
Red Rocket (2021) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Replicas (2019) (Vudu/4K) $5.50
Requiem for a Dream - Director's Cut (2000) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Reservoir Dogs (1992) (Vudu/4K) $5 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
Resident Evil: Retribution (2012) (MA/HD) $2.25
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3.25
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021) (MA/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $4.50
Respect (2021) (iTunes/4K) $4.25
Revenant, The (2015) (MA/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.25
Rhythm Section (2020) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Richie Rich (1994) (MA/HD) $5
Riddick - Unrated Director's Cut (2013) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4
Riddick Collection 1-3 (Unrated) (MA/HD) $14
Ride Along 1-2 (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5 $2.75 Each
Rio (2011) (MA/HD) $5.50
Rise of the Guardians (2012) (MA/HD) $3.25
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2010) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5.75
Robin Hood (2010) (MA/4K) $6.50
Robin Hood (2018) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
RoboCop (1987) (Vudu/HD) $7.50
RoboCop (2014) (Vudu/HD) $2
Rocketman (2019) (Vudu/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) $2.50 (Vudu/HD) $2.25
Rogue (2020) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3.50
Role Models (Unrated) (2008) (MA/HD) $3.50
Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) (MA/HD) $3.50
Ron's Gone Wrong (2021) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.50
Rough Night (2017) (MA/HD) $4.50
Rumble (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $6
Running Man, The (1987) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Rush (2013) (MA/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/HD) $3.25
Safe House (2012) (MA/HD) $4 (iTunes/HD) $2.50
Sandlot, The (1993) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $5
Saturday Night Fever (1977) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Sausage Party (2016) (MA/HD) $4.25
Saving Private Ryan (1998) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Saw (2004) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $3
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010) (MA/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $5.25
Scream (1996) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.75
Scream 5 (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Scream Collection 1-3 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $13.50
Secret Headquarters (2022) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/4K) $6
Secret in Their Eyes (2015) (MA/HD) (iTunes/HD) $2.25
Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) (MA/4K) $6.25 (MA/HD) $5
Selma (2015) (Vudu/HD) $3 (iTunes/HD) $2.25
Shallows, The (2016) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD $4.25
Shang-Chi (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $5 (GP/HD) $3.25
Shawshank Redemption (1994) (MA/4K) $5
Sherlock Gnomes (2018) (Vudu/HD) $2.75 (iTunes/4K) $2.25
Sicario (2015) (Vudu/4K) $6 (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2
Sing 2 (2021) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75
Singin' in the Rain (1952) (MA/4K) $6.50
Sixteen Candles (1984) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $4.25
Skyscraper (2018) (MA/4K) $5.50 (MA/HD) $1.75
Slender Man (2018) (MA/HD) $5.25
Smile (2022) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $6.75
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Smokin' Aces (2007) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Smurfs 2 (2013) (MA/HD) $3.25
Snake Eyes (2021) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Snowman (2017) (MA/HD) $2
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.75
Soul (2020) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $3.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Source Code (2011) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.75
Southpaw (2015) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Southside With You (2016) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Space Jam (1996) (MA/4K) $5
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Sparkle (2012) (MA/HD) $3.50 (MA/SD) $2.25
Speed (1994) (MA/4K) $5.25
Spider-Man Collection 1-8 (MA/HD) $26
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $4
Spiral (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.50
Spirit Untamed: The Movie (2021) (MA/HD) $4.25
Split (2017) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.75
SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) (Vudu/HD) $4.75 (iTunes/HD) $3.50
Spontaneous (2020) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Spotlight (2015) (MA/HD) $5 (iTunes/HD) $3
Spy Who Dumped Me (2018) (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Stand Up Guys (2012) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Star Trek (2009) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $7
Star Trek 1-3 (Vudu/4K) $18.75 (Vudu/HD) $9.50 (iTunes/4K) $13.50
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) (Vudu/HD) $1.75 (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Star, The (2017) (MA/HD) $2.50
Step Brothers + Unrated (2008) (MA/HD) $6.75
Strange World (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) (MA/HD) $3.50
Studio 666 (2022) (MA/HD) $6.50
Suicide Squad, The (2021) (MA/4K) $5
Sum of All Fears, The (2002) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75
Super 8 (2011) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (Vudu/HD) $3.25 (iTunes/4K) $5
Survive the Night (2020) (Vudu/4K) $4 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3
SW: A New Hope (1977) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Attack of the Clones (2002) (GP/HD) Ports to MA $6.50
SW: Empire Strikes Back (1980) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $6.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Force Awakens (2015) (MA/4K) $5.50 (iTunes/4K) $3.75 (GP/HD) $1.50
SW: Last Jedi (2017) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) $4 (GP/HD) $1.25
SW: Phantom Menace (1999) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) $6.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Return of the Jedi (1983) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) $6.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Revenge of the Sith (2005) (MA/4K) $7.50 (GP/HD) $3.50
SW: Rise of Skywalker (2019) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/4K) $5 (GP/HD) $2.50
SW: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) (MA/4K) $6.75 (iTunes/4K) $4 (GP/HD) $1.50
SW: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) (MA/4K) $7.25 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (GP/HD) $3.25
Taken (2009), 2 (2012), 3 (2015) (MA/HD) $9
Ten Commandments (1956) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $5.75
Terminator (1984) (Vudu/HD) $7
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $4.25
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) (Vudu/4K) $6.75 (Vudu/HD) $3 (iTunes/4K) $2.50
Thing, The (2011) (MA/HD) $6.25
This Means War (2012) (MA/HD) $4
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $2.25
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3.50 (GP/HD) $1.75
Thor: The Dark World (2013) (MA/4K) $7 (iTunes/4K) $4.75 (GP/HD) $2.25
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) (MA/HD) $3.50
Till (2022) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Titans: Season 2 (2020) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) (MA/4K) $6.25 (iTunes/HD) $4.50
Top Gun (1986) (Vudu/4K) $5.25 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) (Vudu/4K) $6.50 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $6
Total Recall (1990) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.25
Toy Story 1-4 (MA/4K) $23 (iTunes/4K) $21 (GP/HD) $11.50
Traffic (2000) (iTunes/HD) Ports to MA $5.75
Training Day (2001) (MA/4K) $7
Transformers 1-5 (Vudu/4K) $29 (Vudu/HD) $22
Trauma Center (2019) (iTunes/4K) $3.25
Trick 'r Treat (2009) (MA/HD) $5
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) (Vudu/HD) $2.75
Turbo (2013) (MA/HD) $2.25 (iTunes/SD) $1.25
Turning Red (2022) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $4.25 (GP/HD) $3
Umma (2022) (MA/HD) $3.75
Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
Unbreakable (2000) (MA/4K) $6 (GP/HD) $3.75
Uncharted (2022) (MA/4K) $5.75 (MA/HD) $3.75
Uncle Drew (2018) (Vudu/4K) $6.25 (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $3
Uncut Gems (2019) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Under the Skin (2014) (Vudu/HD) $5.25
Underwater (2020) (MA/HD) $5.25
Underworld: Awakening (2012) (MA/HD) $1.75
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) $2.25
Universal Soldier (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.25
Untouchables, The (1987) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $5.75
Up (2009) (iTunes/4K) $7.50 (MA/HD) $6.75 (GP/HD) $5
Us (2019) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $5.25
Usual Suspects, The (1995) (Vudu/HD) $6.25
Van Helsing (2004) (MA/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $4.75
Venom (2005) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.75
Venom (2018) (MA/4K) $7 (MA/HD) $3.50
Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $3.50
Vertigo (1958) (MA/HD) $5
Vice (2018) 'Christian Bale' (MA/HD) $4.25
Vivo (2021) (MA/HD) $4
W. (2008) (Vudu/HD) $4.25
Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) (MA/HD) $6.75
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $3
War of the Worlds (1953) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $7
Warcraft (2016) (MA/4K) $5 (iTunes/4K) (MA/HD) $2.25
Warrior (2011) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/HD) $4
Warriors, The (1979) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5.75
Waterworld (1995) (MA/4K) $6.75 (MA/HD) $6
Wayne's World (1992) (Vudu/4K) (iTunes/4K) $6.50
West Side Story (2021) (MA/4K) $6 (MA/HD) (GP/HD) $2.50
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) (MA/HD) $5
Where'd You Go Bernadette (2019) (MA/HD) $5.50
White House Down (2013) (MA/HD) $3.50
Widows (2018) (MA/4K) $6.50 (MA/HD) $1.50
Willow (1988) (MA/HD) $6.75 (GP/HD) $4.50
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) (MA/4K) $5.50
Wind River (2017) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $4.25
Wolf Man (1941) (MA/4K) $6.50
Wolf of Wall Street (2013) (Vudu/4K) $6 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.50
Wolverine (Unrated) (2013) (MA/HD) $3.75
Woman King (2022) (MA/4K) $7.25 (MA/HD) $5.75
Wonder (2017) (Vudu/4K) $5.75 (iTunes/4K) (Vudu/HD) $3.25
Wonder Park (2019) (Vudu/HD) $3 (iTunes/4K) $2.25
Wrath of Man (2021) (Vudu/HD) $3
X (2022) (Vudu/HD) $7
X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), The Last Stand (2006) (MA/HD) $14.50
X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) (MA/HD) $6.25
X-Men: First Class (2010), Days of Future Past (2004), Apocalypse (2014) (MA/HD) $11
Yesterday (2019) (MA/HD) $4.50
Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) (Vudu/HD) (iTunes/HD) $5
Youth in Revolt (2009) (Vudu/HD) $4.50
Zathura (2005) (MA/HD) $6.75
Zero Dark Thirty (2012) (MA/4K) $7.75 (MA/HD) $3
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019) (MA/HD) $4.75
Zootopia (2016) (MA/4K) $7.50 (iTunes/4K) $5.25 (MA/HD) $4.75 (GP/HD) $3.50
2023.04.01 04:08 AlexCaruso01 AGAIN!!! It always happens when Vaush ISNT STREAMING!!! He is on house arrest tho. But may also just get away with this.
 | submitted by AlexCaruso01 to VaushV [link] [comments] |
2023.04.01 04:06 SaiyanprincessDee Mom and Stepdad disowned me (only child)
I am the only child. My mom and I used to be extremely close, but things changed when she got married about 7 yrs ago.
They only dated for 4 months b4 they married. I believe her husband is a narc too, considering he's been married 4 times, and none of his kids have a relationship with him, not does he see his grandkids. In the beginning, things were great but odd. He married her in court and hardly wanted me there, and they moved about an hour away to prevent us from seeing each other often. He was jealous of our closeness. The guy that I was with at the time asked to marry me, but her husband and my mom denied him. We later broke up (his parents are racist).
They later moved to my grandmother's old house. (she died a few yrs back). I moved in with them after the breakup because I also just had spinal surgery from a military injury. Shit got crazy. There, he told me, "This is my house now and idc if this was your family's house." it rubbed me the wrong way. I grew up there since I was born, and I was 25 at the time. He was different in front of my mom, but when she went to work, I was treated indifferently. He didn't like me locking my doors to my room, nor did he like my senior chihuahua that was potty trained. She could never roam the house or cross him in the front yard if he was out there on the porch. Only the backyard. He would get upset if I burned candles or incense and said it was witchcraft(my mom and I lit candles all the time). He hated that I dated white guys and would often gossip to his family members on the phone...loud enough for me to hear...about me and how he wanted me put the house bc I was lazy.(recovering from spinal surgery). I had a curfew at 9p, anything after I had to go elsewhere or wait for him to unlock the door. He also hated that I gamed on my spare time. I tried cooking and cleaning but it was never good enough for him.
When I was in nursing school, he claimed I left a burning candle in my room, and he went in there to throw a glass of water on it, ruining the things on my dresser. He didn't call/text or tell me or my mom about it. Instead, he had the candle on the back of his truck bed in the front yard for me to see when I got home from school. He lied on me and my mom believed him. From there, I truly lost respect from him. I eventually heard him and my mom discuss how he was going to make me uncomfortable until I moved out. It had been 1.5 years since I moved in. I started working again and was trying to save for an apartment.
I told my mom of all the incidents each time they arose, but she blew them all off. This was her first marriage, and she truly believed he was Godsent bc they met in church and reminded her of her late father that she was close to. Both former ministers and truck drivers. Let's not forget avid cheaters, too. Bc I didn't grow up in a 2 parent household, it seemed like she tried to force that type of lifestyle on me and to be obedient to him. It's like he groomed her and was trying to do it to me, too. My mom was a totally different woman and mom that I'd never met til she married him. She works 12 hr shifts, comes home, cook him food off a menu she gives him and massages his feet and takes care of him. There's a 15 yr agr gap. He's also retired.
Anywho, since then I've flicked him off and stood up to him. My mom swears he's the victim smh. Im not sure if shes truly happy but I know she's loyal to him. Since I moved out we talked everyday but mostly when he wasn't around and she would VENT allt abt him and how she feel unappreciated and how he withholds affection and manipulate her. I was always there for her and at first I just listened and told her to pray and make it work but now I've told her to leave him and she kinda hates me.
My mom had a stroke 2 yrs ago the day b4 my bday. Her husband was shady and didn't really keep me updated. I had my husband listen to him on speaker phone and caught him being an asshole and extra. He began talking nice when he heard him. My gut told me things were off. I called his daughter for info bc I was concerned abt my mom. She revealed he was a former drug addict and sexual trouble w women...idk. when she got to that point I blanked out bc I was fearing for my mom. When I got to the hospital I made a scene and was kicked out. I told my mom everything while she was recovering as if she didn't know but she didnt look surprised just mad I made a scene. From there, I moved and we didn't talk for 3 months. She made a full recovery.
Recently, I moved back to my home state with my family and she's been trying to be a great grandma but she has a lot of jealous remarks. I'm in grad school, just sold my first home, have a healthy marriage and financially stable. The times she has watched my kid she doesn't listen to me abt his sleep schedule and so forth. She gives him soda. Sugar, etc. She also doesn't respect my boundaries with calling me past 9 pm bc she works nights. She just lies abt everything and never admits it. Her health, how her husband feels about me etc. Then finally I went off on her in a text telling her how I felt. My husband told him her observations and she was in disbelief claiming my husband "wouldn't text or say anything rude about my husband". She had a rude awakening bc my husband is quiet in nature and not disrespectful but is tired of the manipulation and games.
She said we needed to stop communicating and is now done with my both my husband and I. She said she'll have memories of my son and she officially has us blocked. I feel hurt but I don't feel wrong. Not sure what to do bc I don't have any other family or friends. AITA?
To add: my mom always disrespected me by saying things like. "I'll ask (my husband) bc his opinion matters and I can't go through you" or "whatever my son wants". If there is a problem, she bypasses me and ask my husband instead. She bought him a father's day gift but not me on mother's day. I have to ask her 10 billion times to stop doing something or to put my toddler to bed after 9 if she1 watches him but if my husband ask her once.. she does it. She never believes me when I tell her things and just claims I'm dramatic but I think she gets mad when I confront her about her poor behavior as a mother. My entire family is also toxic so after she told me she had nothing to do with me, I've went ghost on social media and changing my number and opted out of online people searches to protect myself. I'm done.
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They only dated for 4 months b4 they married. I believe her husband is a narc too, considering he's been married 4 times, and none of his kids have a relationship with him, not does he see his grandkids. In the beginning, things were great but odd. He married her in court and hardly wanted me there, and they moved about an hour away to prevent us from seeing each other often. He was jealous of our closeness. The guy that I was with at the time asked to marry me, but her husband and my mom denied him. We later broke up (his parents are racist).
They later moved to my grandmother's old house. (she died a few yrs back). I moved in with them after the breakup because I also just had spinal surgery from a military injury. Shit got crazy. There, he told me, "This is my house now and idc if this was your family's house." it rubbed me the wrong way. I grew up there since I was born, and I was 25 at the time. He was different in front of my mom, but when she went to work, I was treated indifferently. He didn't like me locking my doors to my room, nor did he like my senior chihuahua that was potty trained. She could never roam the house or cross him in the front yard if he was out there on the porch. Only the backyard. He would get upset if I burned candles or incense and said it was witchcraft(my mom and I lit candles all the time). He hated that I dated white guys and would often gossip to his family members on the phone...loud enough for me to hear...about me and how he wanted me put the house bc I was lazy.(recovering from spinal surgery). I had a curfew at 9p, anything after I had to go elsewhere or wait for him to unlock the door. He also hated that I gamed on my spare time. I tried cooking and cleaning but it was never good enough for him.
When I was in nursing school, he claimed I left a burning candle in my room, and he went in there to throw a glass of water on it, ruining the things on my dresser. He didn't call/text or tell me or my mom about it. Instead, he had the candle on the back of his truck bed in the front yard for me to see when I got home from school. He lied on me and my mom believed him. From there, I truly lost respect from him. I eventually heard him and my mom discuss how he was going to make me uncomfortable until I moved out. It had been 1.5 years since I moved in. I started working again and was trying to save for an apartment.
I told my mom of all the incidents each time they arose, but she blew them all off. This was her first marriage, and she truly believed he was Godsent bc they met in church and reminded her of her late father that she was close to. Both former ministers and truck drivers. Let's not forget avid cheaters, too. Bc I didn't grow up in a 2 parent household, it seemed like she tried to force that type of lifestyle on me and to be obedient to him. It's like he groomed her and was trying to do it to me, too. My mom was a totally different woman and mom that I'd never met til she married him. She works 12 hr shifts, comes home, cook him food off a menu she gives him and massages his feet and takes care of him. There's a 15 yr agr gap. He's also retired.
Anywho, since then I've flicked him off and stood up to him. My mom swears he's the victim smh. Im not sure if shes truly happy but I know she's loyal to him. Since I moved out we talked everyday but mostly when he wasn't around and she would VENT allt abt him and how she feel unappreciated and how he withholds affection and manipulate her. I was always there for her and at first I just listened and told her to pray and make it work but now I've told her to leave him and she kinda hates me.
My mom had a stroke 2 yrs ago the day b4 my bday. Her husband was shady and didn't really keep me updated. I had my husband listen to him on speaker phone and caught him being an asshole and extra. He began talking nice when he heard him. My gut told me things were off. I called his daughter for info bc I was concerned abt my mom. She revealed he was a former drug addict and sexual trouble w women...idk. when she got to that point I blanked out bc I was fearing for my mom. When I got to the hospital I made a scene and was kicked out. I told my mom everything while she was recovering as if she didn't know but she didnt look surprised just mad I made a scene. From there, I moved and we didn't talk for 3 months. She made a full recovery.
Recently, I moved back to my home state with my family and she's been trying to be a great grandma but she has a lot of jealous remarks. I'm in grad school, just sold my first home, have a healthy marriage and financially stable. The times she has watched my kid she doesn't listen to me abt his sleep schedule and so forth. She gives him soda. Sugar, etc. She also doesn't respect my boundaries with calling me past 9 pm bc she works nights. She just lies abt everything and never admits it. Her health, how her husband feels about me etc. Then finally I went off on her in a text telling her how I felt. My husband told him her observations and she was in disbelief claiming my husband "wouldn't text or say anything rude about my husband". She had a rude awakening bc my husband is quiet in nature and not disrespectful but is tired of the manipulation and games.
She said we needed to stop communicating and is now done with my both my husband and I. She said she'll have memories of my son and she officially has us blocked. I feel hurt but I don't feel wrong. Not sure what to do bc I don't have any other family or friends. AITA?
To add: my mom always disrespected me by saying things like. "I'll ask (my husband) bc his opinion matters and I can't go through you" or "whatever my son wants". If there is a problem, she bypasses me and ask my husband instead. She bought him a father's day gift but not me on mother's day. I have to ask her 10 billion times to stop doing something or to put my toddler to bed after 9 if she1 watches him but if my husband ask her once.. she does it. She never believes me when I tell her things and just claims I'm dramatic but I think she gets mad when I confront her about her poor behavior as a mother. My entire family is also toxic so after she told me she had nothing to do with me, I've went ghost on social media and changing my number and opted out of online people searches to protect myself. I'm done.
2023.04.01 03:25 FragrantAttitude5943 HOUSEofBEANZ 2X FastNights/50%Upkeep/BIPLANES/Kits/MyMini/BoxSorterLite/TCUpgrades/Noob Friendly/ New Server
Here at HOB we're all about having fun and kickin ass. PvP is on the menu the moment you spawn as you rush through to build your shelter for survival against the elements, and your fellow man. Our 2X server allows ample resources to build your shelter and get going on your first kit. Hosting a broad range of addons such as SkinBox, SignArtist, Biplanes, AlphaLoot, and even AutoUpgrades/repairs on the TC. All of this comes together to enhance your experience and create a unique server you can call your home. Noob friendly with active admins ready to help at the drop of a dime. Come join HOUSE of BEANZ cuz it's a helluva time!
submitted by FragrantAttitude5943 to playrustservers [link] [comments]
2023.04.01 01:23 Adventurous-Map-9400 Growing Up Alien Chapter 17
A homeless teenager reaches out to the Shil’vati on first day of the invasion of Earth.
This is a rewrite of my original story ‘Loyalist’.
Credit to u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story.
Pizzaulostin who has been beta reading since the beginning.
and u/BruhMomentGEE
Credit to u/HollowShel for getting me started with this!
This story is based in the SSB universe.
Previous
First
next
as always, comments are welcome.
I regarded my handcuffs with professional disapproval. They had a longer than regular chain for ambulatory movement and inmate processing, by the deep, I could even use them as garrote if needed. They had revealed the limits of their rank with that apology.
“No need to worry. I am sure this will be a formality in less than an hour,” I told them, if there was one thing that was in abundance on the planet Sky it was Interior and undercover commando trainees. I hoped this would probably be their most interesting case all month.
“So, would you care to explain how you are raising a human, that is also considered a military asset?” The agent inquired as she pulled out her slate.
“Of course, Klein surrendered himself and requested medical aid and refugee status. He was willing to answer essential questions regarding human culture that aided in liberating humanity into the Shil’vati Empire. He wouldn’t be safe on Earth anymore, and I mentioned that he was still important in writing my reports. If I had my slate, I could give you the relevant documentation,” I said in a conversational tone, without any of the emotions that weighed the story, and glossing over the specifics.
“No need. I have everything you submitted to the Interior, including his asset designation, the interrogation transcripts, and even his doctor’s contact info. To be honest with you it’s the only reason we haven’t interviewed you yet, even after a dozen calls about a ‘possible trafficked human’ since he arrived. Your information is corroborated with several other departments. The issue now is what the medivac scans found.” The agent pushed a slate towards me with medical notes bolded for emphasis ‘probable severe abuse’.
“The report shows a recent history of blunt force trauma, abrasions, and even muscle tearing, in short. It looks like the human has been systematically tortured for months. You also have recently requested restricted training armor in the human’s size.” The agent explained.
Ah, that was my mistake. I had been treating Klein as another child, just with some unique needs. It looks like there were other considerations, ones that I failed to see.
“I really do need my omni-slate to illustrate this, it’s on my desk right now if one of your assistants could get it?” I asked, hoping they got the suggestion to not leave me with only one interrogator in the room so they wouldn’t be graded too harshly.
They thankfully acquiesced without comment, and with my omni-slate in hand I pulled up the latest video of Klein practicing with me, the speed and brutality was difficult for me to sit through. Then, Klein pulled off his helmet seconds later, laughing in the rain. Unconcerned that, without armor, we could have just killed each other- I was grateful he had, else it might’ve been interpreted quite differently. “The bruising mostly from everyday participation at a Rakiri gym, and some remnants from before I got proper gear for baton practice. He heals extremely fast, and more so, he isn’t happy unless he exercises for at least an hour or two a day.”
I pulled up another video. Klein was sitting at the table bouncing his leg at an ever-increasing pace while trying to focus on a decently complex equation. He finally stood up and started pacing mouthing words as he skipped in time to an unheard rhythm.
“W-what’s he doing?” The agent asked, looking just a tad disturbed by the display of what seemed erratic behavior.
“A sort of dance while playing the song ‘a fine mesh net’ on his headphones. There was a monsoon that Shel weekend, and even I’m not crazy enough to fight in a thunderstorm like that. He does that around the house for an hour, and then finally settles in on a video game,” I explained to the agents, who were looking at me dubiously.
“So, you oversee an adolescent who is an intelligence asset, but also seems poorly fitted for Shil’vati life. Why the baton practice? Wouldn’t that make him even more dangerous, more of an outsider? Are you trying to sabotage his integration? Why not take him shopping, instead, or teach him beauty and self-care routines?” They were antagonizing. Countering every argument to see how I reacted. It seemed they could at least interrogate decently well.
“I hardly call a few quirks ‘poor fitting’. The baton practice is for obvious self-defense. Its intention is to make him dangerous,” I explained, letting the interviewers lead the conversation.
The back and forth went on for a while, but I presented a highlight reel of the last few months. Including a Rakiri gym video when Klein tried to flourish a wall climb and smashed his shoulder on the ledge while face planting into the mud.
The agents would not be arresting me today. They would need medical reports, and would require Klein, Hario, and Compassion Through Deeds to attest while truth scanned that these were sports injuries, and not some conspiracy to commit torture. We were also going to need to see an ICAD agent every two weeks for counseling. I had no idea what ICAD was, but I would investigate them later.
Finally, the agents appeared they were closing up the interview. I tried not to brace myself as they asked the complicated question. “One thing we need to know is, what is Klein to you? If he is just a crucial asset, then why haven’t you contacted a local volunteer family foster? Or was the military asset just a cover to find a male heir?”
I sighed, the truth wasn’t incriminating, but if I didn’t word it right, I would look like the worst sort of military tourist. “I had, originally, taken care of Klein as a key intelligence asset. Within that first week though, I had found that despite the decades of preparation, there wasn’t a process for someone to claim asylum as a child during first contact. He would be in military bureaucratic limbo without an advocate. We both know where he would end up.”
The room cooled by several degrees, which was a pity, I almost got the talkative agent to laugh at Klein’s antics. “Out of duty I investigated ways I could bring him home until I could find resources to place him in a stable situation with all the resources to help a xeno without a community. I found someone who was willing to help in exchange for reports on Klein’s adaptation to Shil’vati lifestyle. That’s Klein’s purpose as a military asset in my home.”
I continued. I was saying more on than I needed to, but if they did a follow up investigation later for some other incident, which was a when, not if, then I wanted this on record. “Klein has become part of this household though, despite, or maybe because, of his oddities. He may not be Shil’vati, but he seems to have integrated well. It’s why, while it was never my intention, when he is an adult, I will offer him full adoption, and title of home guardian.”
I watched the agents exchange looks, then the agent made a few taps on her slate. ‘Upper left, middle center, probably a message app’. I then listened for the telltale taps of a yes as a micro expression of a self-satisfied smile crossed the agent’s face. I decided to stop playing interviewee.
“So, you won the bet on if I would claim the human as my son, how long has that pool been building?” I asked folding my hands together.
The agent answered before she could think. “Two months… Wait!? How did you-”
The agent was cut off by the squawk of the slate’s speaker. “Agents you did well enough with the interview portion, however; you absolutely failed to secure the subject. Could you please illustrate to them why I stressed caution {petal of death’s veil}?”
The code name wasn’t one I had heard in decades, but I wasn’t going to snub an old handler. I kicked on my fast reaction mods to max speed and lunged over the table past the still sitting agents. I pirouetted and twisted the restraints into a loop as I brought them down over the left agent’s head and pulled back carefully, lightly touching the chain of my restraints around the neck of the agent before she could even react.
I kicked off my mods and caught my breath as time returned to normal. Both agents’ eyes went wide with shock as the one not about to be strangled tried to get away to pull out her weapon. “W-who are you!?”
“I’m going to slowly release you and put my hands up, is that everything you needed {hated old friend}?” I directed my question to the slate, using the code High Shil word to show I was playing along.
“More than enough. Agent! Holster your weapon and come back to the safe room. We need to go over security procedures,” the slate responded, and the very brief confrontation was over.
The agents walked out, and Siltan stomped in looking like she could bring about a thunderstorm by pure force of will. “We weren’t the only ones to get visits from the ‘majesty’s’ Interior today. Cee let me know that the Interior is also interrogated Reqellia as well.”
I now understood why these two rookies were here. It was a distraction for me. I grumbled as I picked up my slate and called Reqellia. Her face appeared a second later.
“By the Deep, it’s been a long day,” Reqellia breathed out as I heard a door slam, then she cursed some more.
“Tell me everything. Is Klein ok?” I asked.
“Cee says he’s fine and is waking him up. Klein might be getting a mod himself before she closes him up though because, oh- looks like it’s my day is going to get longer still. ICAD is here, and it’s a Hydrean in a Gearschilde clinic.” Reqellia hung up, and I stared at the phone in confusion.
It was time to find out what ICAD was.
I started to panic as I turned my head, focusing on lettering on a terminal, tried to sigh, and felt what few muscles I could control turn to lead as I sank back on the medical bed. Thank the goddess, it was Shil and Gearschilde lettering on the slate and medical supplies.
“Good afternoon Klein, are you okay? Your heart rate spiked.” I heard Cee, or full name Compassion Through Deeds, speak and turned my head to see her. She wore a dark red lab coat and regarded me with unblinking cybernetic eyes. Most of her orange skin had been replaced with dark steel etched with stylized waves and swirls of silver. Her face still emoted in a pleasant smile, but had that uncanny valley look of unblemished synth skin. I looked down to see a dozen micro surgical tools still inside me.
I should have been screaming at the sight, but all I felt was relief and joy. “Yeah, I just worried for a half second that I had hallucinated the last few months and was actually on a back on Earth on some black-market operating table getting my kidney stolen.”
Cee was aghast. “Does that happen on Earth?”
I would shrug, but again, I couldn’t move, instead I responded. “Rumors of it happening, but I never knew anyone personally.”
Cee reassured me. “Well, good news Klein, you are on Sky, you are in a Gearschilde clinic where stealing vital organs is a legal, moral and religious crime of unrepentant severity. What I have done is remove your appendix, and let the sedatives wear off so we can discuss what you want in its place.”
“In place of my appendix? Why?” I asked, it wasn’t like I really needed the vestigial organ turn internal hand grenade.
“Customary in Gearschilde for surgery is to be about giving a better life than just taking from the body. So, any ideas of what would make your life better?”
I thought about the bruising, the constant having to put healing patches on, and the annoyance of doing so. I thought about the near fatality of almost blowing my appendix, and if something could have fixed the issue before it got out of hand. “What about a healing dispenser? I keep having to put on patches and gel at the end of the day, and if I miss a spot, I will pay for it later.”
Cee gave me a grateful expression. “That’s a perfect first implant. I was worried you were going to ask for something more aggressive. When I was your age, I got my first defensive mod, a retractable forearm knife. Of course, my next surgery was being stitched back together after accidently stabbing myself with it.”
I tried to chuckle, but I didn’t have control of my diaphragm for it. “So, what’s next?”
Cee explained. “Well, the fabricator in the other room is right now creating your implant. It shouldn’t take long; are you ok being immobilized for the next hour or so?”
I thought about it, and honestly, I was still surprised I wasn’t panicking. “No, but I’m going to get really bored just laying here, do the Gearschilde have any good myths or stories?”
I knew I was fishing in an untapped pool that was guaranteed to have something. I wasn’t expecting my doctor to be gleeful at the thought though. “Oh blessed be you child, I am a surgeon priest, half the reason I am in this vocation is to tell stories. I take it you know nothing about Gearschilde mythology, or even our history?”
It was on my list of rabbit holes to get into, but instead I binged the rest of Prince Of The Stars and cried, it was nice. “No, but I would love to hear them.”
“Well if you want to, every Shel we have open services and brunch. But since you are new to Gearschilde mythology we should start with one of my favorites. The story of the Hopestrider.”
The ceiling lights dimmed, and the sterile operating room felt surprisingly cozy as I leaned my head back. Listening to Cee starting up the tale. “Our sect requires us to lead what can best be called ‘child technician classes’. Learning to take care of machines, which includes us by the start of adolescence, if not before. It’s a critical life skill, and teaching it is considered an important part of our religious studies.”
‘Cyberpunk VeggieTales’ Squirrel brain chittered.
No one wants your opinion squirrel brain. I thought back.
Cee paused for dramatic effect. “Then, everything changed.”
“The ground shook, and the mountain kingdoms erupted in fire and molten rock. Radioactive dust from these now volcanoes made the centers of civilization barren and deadly. Only the wasteland colonies in the poisonous mists provided any refuge, and so king and commoner alike huddled in the once disposable outposts of a ruined world. Our story starts a generation after the calamity with an unlucky child.”
I heard a ding, Cee stopped as the ceiling lights came up. “Oh dear, let me stop for a second to get the implant.”
I leaned back and thought about her nightmare world. When Cee returned, I didn’t even bother to open my eyes, too engrossed in the imagery of the story. “What happened to the child?”
I could hear the whirring as she started to work. Her voice I realized had taken a more scripted cadence. She must have automated her voice so she could focus. “In a metalworker’s home, a child was born with broken legs and brittle bones. It was common in those days for such a child to die that way. It was their first born and the parents did everything they could to save them. A surgeon was called. The child lost their legs, but kept their life.”
“The child lived in the workshop. Kept warm by the hearth’s fire, even unable to walk, they were curious. Day in and out, they watched their parents construct machines that helped the community make food, filter the air, and defend the homes from the starving, mutated, monsters that circled the fortress walls. The child felt helpless though. Only able to crawl within the confines of the home or be carried around like cargo about the maze-like town of winding stairs and narrow passageways.
“They spent much of their time learning, sitting near the hearth to keep warm, they did the careful work of filing gears and wheels needed to control what could be automated as each hand replaced was another that could be spent doing something else critical to keep the community alive. Still, the child wanted to do more. They could not deliver what they made, and had to rely on others to help them at every turn in life.”
“Little did the child know that in the hearth a machine spirit lived, getting by eating scrap metal that fell in and sleeping at night on the bed of embers. The machine spirit saw the child’s wish, an invention without form, and turned it into a dream for the child, since new machines would mean new machine spirits to play with.”
That night the child saw themselves flying over the cold gray landscape on a pair of machine legs. Traveling the dangerous paths to other towns, and giving the isolated towns hope and community. The child awoke with joy and crawled over to his workbench littered with scrap metal, now children….”
Cee stopped talking and her voice went back to an unscripted rhythm. “I just realized we can’t do the practical part of this story. In class each kid gets a hope strider stuffy with snaps to attach legs they make. We give them bits of copper. Show them how to bend and hammer it, and how to bond it by wrapping the joint in solder and then applying heat with a soldering iron heated in their own toy ‘hearth’ with a safety cover. Still we get a daily small burn or cut, but that in itself is a valuable lesson in tool safety.”
It sounded adorable in a weird, steampunk way. “Sounds fun, so, new legs?”
Cee got the que, as much as I loved the story, and the talk about kindergarten metal shop, I was still immobilized on the operating table. I heard surgical whirring, and the scripted voice came back. “Yes, the child works all night until they fit the new legs on, and for the first time stand up on their own! The parents are overjoyed as they watch them move about the house and that afternoon, with the help of an iron bar as a cane, they walk around their community by themselves.”
“However, it isn’t long before the legs start to see wear and tear, but the child persists, not wanting to stop and fix the creaking joints, until one day the legs stop working altogether and they fall down in a twisting staircase. Carried back to the workshop, they rest for days to heal before they are able to work again. Constructing a new set from the remains of the old. Now…”
My whole body had that pins and needles feel and I tried to move my fingers, but it was sporadic and jerky. Cee distracted me by explaining my new implant. “So, this implant is very basic. It can only be requested to send diagnostic data. The implant only administers more healing serum at a safe, steady rate if, and only if, it doesn’t detect any in your bloodstream. There is an injection site with a color change circle around it. It uses standard go, caution, stop colors to let you know if it’s functioning. I want to wave your omni-pad over the site and check the diagnostics at least once a day. It should hopefully catch if something like this is happening again.”
I tried to not move as I felt my body twitch. My gut felt like I had been run over, repeatedly. I asked, “why didn’t my medical monitoring implant catch this?”
Cee explained. “That’s only good for basic vitals. Near universal indicators of life and activity such as heart rate and blood pressure. The new implant will be able to scan for elevated protein counts. So, if one of your other internal organs starts to malfunction you can get a more unambiguous message that I hope you won’t ignore before getting medivac’d through the city.”
I chuckled a little at that, and it hurt. “Ow, ok, no movement. I thought it was just a pulled muscle or something.”
Cee looked down at me sternly, and her voice took on a deeper, more authoritative tone. “Child, more than enough Gearschilde have died thinking they can just, push themselves past their organic parts failing, if you have a torn muscle that hurts after you’ve used healing gel, then it’s serious enough you need to come see me, or another xeno-doctor, immediately. That’s why I hope your new implant can fix things before it gets to that point.”
Cee brightened after that and went back to the explanation of my implant. “Now that I scolded you, there is a color changing circle over your implant’s location. It will change color when the healing serum runs low, or and will start to flash in color, and try to ping your omni-pad if it detects a malfunction. The implant uses a standard Shil’ implant autoinjector, and it will reject anything not meant for red blood standard biology, but still be careful, it’s not a perfect filtering system. Today I’m giving you a set of autoinjectors I want you to use throughout the week. It's fortunate that your implant’s primary function will speed up your recovery time.”
Ok, that’s cool to know, but.
‘What happened to Hopestrider?!’ Squirrel brain demanded.
“So, the story, what happens next?” I asked as Cee helped me sit up. My stomach still hurt, but the feeling was in the overworked muscle category rather than a gut punch.
Cee started to explain as I put on what was essentially gym clothes. Soft, baggy pants and shirt with easy pull away tabs if they needed to remove the clothes quickly for checkups and surgical intervention. “Well, we don’t have time to go over the Hope Strider as a story, or even a summary, but if you want to, my husband teaches the child technician class during open services on Shel, you could sit in and listen.
Right now, I will give you a family crafted picture book that tells the core story of Hope Strider growing up, and making their first delivery. After that it’s a loose selection of legends that are attributed to Hope Strider as they grow older and more accomplished, but while I get that book, I need you to speak to someone.”
Cee led me out of the operating room, and into a comfortable looking lounge where a… Hydrean was sitting in an Imperial business uniform reading an omni-pad. My brain pulled everything I knew of Hydreans out. A rabbit hole I had dug into one rainy Shel on the public information repositories.
She, they, single gendered I reminded myself, looked up and smiled at me calmly, mouth closed for politeness. Their skin was grass green with artful patches of bark on her face and neck, the result of cosmetic scarification. They looked human, or Shil’oid, but that was purposefully done. Even the somewhat standard looking ‘desert walker’ Hydreans normally had more, or less, limbs than standard. Biological modification was at the root of all Hydrean technology, ancient as the stone ax to other species.
I thought about how contentious Hydrean/Shil relationships were said to be. Their arid home planet was off limits to all but certified personnel who had been trained how to handle the dangerous mix of flora/fauna that instead of being different groups, was just a single taxonomy that had no distinction between predator and prey. With their complex biology, a Hydrean needed to undergo extensive body modification just to exist off their home world.
Cee left the room with a friendly goodbye and offered assistance “Hello Klein, I am Ka’tel. It’s wonderful to meet you. I am with the Imperial Child Assistance Division, or ICAD. My job is to help interspecies fosters and adoptions. How are you feeling today?”
I caught a glimpse of her teeth as they spoke. Triangular, and made of burnished metal meant to tear off chunks of animal, plant, or even rock, whole and let their stomachs’ mix of acids dissolve it into something the rest their body could use.
‘The agent in charge of your welfare is a plant/animal hybrid with a diet of ‘yes’, your doctor is a wholesome orange 40K mechanicus, and your crush is a were-lion, you are not ok .’ Squirrel brain remarked.
“I’m actually pretty good, despite the surgery, it’s actually a common issue for humans.” I said to Ka’tel, because my life was weird before the aliens, squirrel brain was just being a pessimistic asshole.
“Really? Do you know what caused it?” Ka’tel asked.
“It just, happens? Gets irritated or infected and then you need to get it removed.” I said nonchalantly. Ka’tel made a mark on her omni-pad.
“How did you know? It seems dangerous if it can happen suddenly, and you mentioned it before you passed out.” Ka’tel asked tone friendly and conversational.
“Oh, the side of your stomach hurts. I was hoping it was just a pulled muscle bec- Dammit!” I just remembered what happened before I woke up here.
“The raid game! Ko’tasa would have had to substitute for me and she’s not well balanced for our team mix.” I said with a exasperated sigh.
Ka’tel cocked their head to one side, but the tone in her voice was humorous. “You were willing to ignore a possible life-threatening condition for a game?”
I explained, though I felt idiotic now. “I couldn’t tell. I get sore muscles all the time from gym, and sparing, and even from the auxiliary work, honestly my commandant doesn’t really know where to put me sometimes. Last week I helped with road clearing for the new town to go up a few [miles] away, and the girls could barely keep up with me.”
Ka’tel seemed to be enjoying my rambling. “Sounds like you really get put to work.”
“Not really? The auxiliary is the only work I do, and if I wanted to stop I just, can. It’s not like I need to worry about buying food.” I knew what I was saying seemed strange while living in the Imperium.
It was the first hint that Ka’tel was controlling her expressions when she seemed more attentive and… relieved? “That’s delightful news to hear! Is there anything about your living situation that bothers you?”
I paused and thought about it, and really couldn’t see anything. “Not really?”
“Anything, or anyone, you miss from Earth?” Ka’tel asked, stressing that last bit, dropping a mental bomb on my head and I froze, mouth partly open with a half formed response. When was the last time I even thought about Earth as more than an abstract concept? It hadn’t been [six months] since I left but…
I didn’t feel anything.
The last year I lived on Earth, it was like being a ghost. I saw people, I even talked to people, but it was like a thick plate of glass all around me. Today I felt color, and life, and things, but that last year on Earth?
Like radio static.
I looked at Ka’tel, and their expression was one of controlled neutrality. Why was I not freaking out?
I had a sensation of the room spinning. I asked, “No, I don’t really feel anything about Earth, is that normal?”
“I don’t know Klein, by most sentient standards what you went through was unusual, and from what little I know about humans that isn’t propaganda, it’s unusual for humans as well. What I do know is right now you seem happy and healthy, and that’s my top priority.” Ka’tel said as they stood and offered me a stiff plastic card with their contact details on it.
“We will be chatting every other week to see how you are adjusting. I might ask to visit you at the youth auxiliary depot, the gym or at home. I really am glad to see you are doing just fine, but if you ever need a way out, that card has an emergency signal function, just pull the plastic tab.” Ka’tel told me, and was about to open the door before I spoke up.
“How should I refer to you?” I asked, and once they realized, Ka’tel gave me a genuine, toothed, smile that was both menacing and goofy at the same time.
“Most people don’t learn enough Hydrean biology to ask. Her, that’s how everyone in the office sees me, and it’s more convenient socially.” She said, opening the door to an anxious looking Itaro standing next to a serious Ruhal and Reqellia.
“I need to speak to you Ruhal, and Reqellia, you should join us for this conversation as well.” Ka’tel said as she ushered me out.
Cee led us into a gaming room with a long table on one side, and a set of couches facing the wall to wall display on the other. She handed me an overloaded plate of cookies with bottle of water, and stepped out, closing the door behind us. “Eat those, your stomach has healed, but it’s going to need calories to fuel the recovery.”
Only then did I realize I was salivating at the smell of warm sugar, and flour made of Kasan grain, if I was identifying the green color correctly. I put the plate of cookies on the table, and snarfed them as I sat down.
After swallowing the fourth cookie semi-whole, I looked up to see Itaro’s face fighting a war between impatient, apprehensive, and hopeful. I stopped, realizing what I was doing, and sipped some water to stall for time.
I was about to pull my omni-pad out from my pockets when Itaro suddenly put her hand out to stop me. “Wait! Klein, I need to tell you something…”
She was silent for a long moment, what was she worried about?
“I… Like you, as, I find you…. Attractive, and I may have gotten a little…. overprotective when you got hurt.” Itaro said, her voice stuttering.
‘Oh, that makes things easy.’ Squirrel brain was for once, right.
“I like you too.” I said as I leaned over and kissed her.
submitted by Adventurous-Map-9400 to HFY [link] [comments]
This is a rewrite of my original story ‘Loyalist’.
Credit to u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story.
Pizzaulostin who has been beta reading since the beginning.
and u/BruhMomentGEE
Credit to u/HollowShel for getting me started with this!
This story is based in the SSB universe.
Previous
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as always, comments are welcome.
Chapter 17:
Thanks to the author of Alien-Nation for editing this chapter!Ruhal:
“We are sorry about the restraints. Your dossier has a security lock from the Office of Interior that I can’t even read, and all our supervisor could tell us was ‘interview with caution’,” one of the two agents explained.I regarded my handcuffs with professional disapproval. They had a longer than regular chain for ambulatory movement and inmate processing, by the deep, I could even use them as garrote if needed. They had revealed the limits of their rank with that apology.
“No need to worry. I am sure this will be a formality in less than an hour,” I told them, if there was one thing that was in abundance on the planet Sky it was Interior and undercover commando trainees. I hoped this would probably be their most interesting case all month.
“So, would you care to explain how you are raising a human, that is also considered a military asset?” The agent inquired as she pulled out her slate.
“Of course, Klein surrendered himself and requested medical aid and refugee status. He was willing to answer essential questions regarding human culture that aided in liberating humanity into the Shil’vati Empire. He wouldn’t be safe on Earth anymore, and I mentioned that he was still important in writing my reports. If I had my slate, I could give you the relevant documentation,” I said in a conversational tone, without any of the emotions that weighed the story, and glossing over the specifics.
“No need. I have everything you submitted to the Interior, including his asset designation, the interrogation transcripts, and even his doctor’s contact info. To be honest with you it’s the only reason we haven’t interviewed you yet, even after a dozen calls about a ‘possible trafficked human’ since he arrived. Your information is corroborated with several other departments. The issue now is what the medivac scans found.” The agent pushed a slate towards me with medical notes bolded for emphasis ‘probable severe abuse’.
“The report shows a recent history of blunt force trauma, abrasions, and even muscle tearing, in short. It looks like the human has been systematically tortured for months. You also have recently requested restricted training armor in the human’s size.” The agent explained.
Ah, that was my mistake. I had been treating Klein as another child, just with some unique needs. It looks like there were other considerations, ones that I failed to see.
“I really do need my omni-slate to illustrate this, it’s on my desk right now if one of your assistants could get it?” I asked, hoping they got the suggestion to not leave me with only one interrogator in the room so they wouldn’t be graded too harshly.
They thankfully acquiesced without comment, and with my omni-slate in hand I pulled up the latest video of Klein practicing with me, the speed and brutality was difficult for me to sit through. Then, Klein pulled off his helmet seconds later, laughing in the rain. Unconcerned that, without armor, we could have just killed each other- I was grateful he had, else it might’ve been interpreted quite differently. “The bruising mostly from everyday participation at a Rakiri gym, and some remnants from before I got proper gear for baton practice. He heals extremely fast, and more so, he isn’t happy unless he exercises for at least an hour or two a day.”
I pulled up another video. Klein was sitting at the table bouncing his leg at an ever-increasing pace while trying to focus on a decently complex equation. He finally stood up and started pacing mouthing words as he skipped in time to an unheard rhythm.
“W-what’s he doing?” The agent asked, looking just a tad disturbed by the display of what seemed erratic behavior.
“A sort of dance while playing the song ‘a fine mesh net’ on his headphones. There was a monsoon that Shel weekend, and even I’m not crazy enough to fight in a thunderstorm like that. He does that around the house for an hour, and then finally settles in on a video game,” I explained to the agents, who were looking at me dubiously.
“So, you oversee an adolescent who is an intelligence asset, but also seems poorly fitted for Shil’vati life. Why the baton practice? Wouldn’t that make him even more dangerous, more of an outsider? Are you trying to sabotage his integration? Why not take him shopping, instead, or teach him beauty and self-care routines?” They were antagonizing. Countering every argument to see how I reacted. It seemed they could at least interrogate decently well.
“I hardly call a few quirks ‘poor fitting’. The baton practice is for obvious self-defense. Its intention is to make him dangerous,” I explained, letting the interviewers lead the conversation.
The back and forth went on for a while, but I presented a highlight reel of the last few months. Including a Rakiri gym video when Klein tried to flourish a wall climb and smashed his shoulder on the ledge while face planting into the mud.
The agents would not be arresting me today. They would need medical reports, and would require Klein, Hario, and Compassion Through Deeds to attest while truth scanned that these were sports injuries, and not some conspiracy to commit torture. We were also going to need to see an ICAD agent every two weeks for counseling. I had no idea what ICAD was, but I would investigate them later.
Finally, the agents appeared they were closing up the interview. I tried not to brace myself as they asked the complicated question. “One thing we need to know is, what is Klein to you? If he is just a crucial asset, then why haven’t you contacted a local volunteer family foster? Or was the military asset just a cover to find a male heir?”
I sighed, the truth wasn’t incriminating, but if I didn’t word it right, I would look like the worst sort of military tourist. “I had, originally, taken care of Klein as a key intelligence asset. Within that first week though, I had found that despite the decades of preparation, there wasn’t a process for someone to claim asylum as a child during first contact. He would be in military bureaucratic limbo without an advocate. We both know where he would end up.”
The room cooled by several degrees, which was a pity, I almost got the talkative agent to laugh at Klein’s antics. “Out of duty I investigated ways I could bring him home until I could find resources to place him in a stable situation with all the resources to help a xeno without a community. I found someone who was willing to help in exchange for reports on Klein’s adaptation to Shil’vati lifestyle. That’s Klein’s purpose as a military asset in my home.”
I continued. I was saying more on than I needed to, but if they did a follow up investigation later for some other incident, which was a when, not if, then I wanted this on record. “Klein has become part of this household though, despite, or maybe because, of his oddities. He may not be Shil’vati, but he seems to have integrated well. It’s why, while it was never my intention, when he is an adult, I will offer him full adoption, and title of home guardian.”
I watched the agents exchange looks, then the agent made a few taps on her slate. ‘Upper left, middle center, probably a message app’. I then listened for the telltale taps of a yes as a micro expression of a self-satisfied smile crossed the agent’s face. I decided to stop playing interviewee.
“So, you won the bet on if I would claim the human as my son, how long has that pool been building?” I asked folding my hands together.
The agent answered before she could think. “Two months… Wait!? How did you-”
The agent was cut off by the squawk of the slate’s speaker. “Agents you did well enough with the interview portion, however; you absolutely failed to secure the subject. Could you please illustrate to them why I stressed caution {petal of death’s veil}?”
The code name wasn’t one I had heard in decades, but I wasn’t going to snub an old handler. I kicked on my fast reaction mods to max speed and lunged over the table past the still sitting agents. I pirouetted and twisted the restraints into a loop as I brought them down over the left agent’s head and pulled back carefully, lightly touching the chain of my restraints around the neck of the agent before she could even react.
I kicked off my mods and caught my breath as time returned to normal. Both agents’ eyes went wide with shock as the one not about to be strangled tried to get away to pull out her weapon. “W-who are you!?”
“I’m going to slowly release you and put my hands up, is that everything you needed {hated old friend}?” I directed my question to the slate, using the code High Shil word to show I was playing along.
“More than enough. Agent! Holster your weapon and come back to the safe room. We need to go over security procedures,” the slate responded, and the very brief confrontation was over.
The agents walked out, and Siltan stomped in looking like she could bring about a thunderstorm by pure force of will. “We weren’t the only ones to get visits from the ‘majesty’s’ Interior today. Cee let me know that the Interior is also interrogated Reqellia as well.”
I now understood why these two rookies were here. It was a distraction for me. I grumbled as I picked up my slate and called Reqellia. Her face appeared a second later.
“By the Deep, it’s been a long day,” Reqellia breathed out as I heard a door slam, then she cursed some more.
“Tell me everything. Is Klein ok?” I asked.
“Cee says he’s fine and is waking him up. Klein might be getting a mod himself before she closes him up though because, oh- looks like it’s my day is going to get longer still. ICAD is here, and it’s a Hydrean in a Gearschilde clinic.” Reqellia hung up, and I stared at the phone in confusion.
It was time to find out what ICAD was.
Klein:
I blearily came to, as high powered, piercing white light flooded my half open eyes. I tried to move my arm to shield my face and found I couldn’t. Actually, I couldn't move or even feel anything from the neck down.I started to panic as I turned my head, focusing on lettering on a terminal, tried to sigh, and felt what few muscles I could control turn to lead as I sank back on the medical bed. Thank the goddess, it was Shil and Gearschilde lettering on the slate and medical supplies.
“Good afternoon Klein, are you okay? Your heart rate spiked.” I heard Cee, or full name Compassion Through Deeds, speak and turned my head to see her. She wore a dark red lab coat and regarded me with unblinking cybernetic eyes. Most of her orange skin had been replaced with dark steel etched with stylized waves and swirls of silver. Her face still emoted in a pleasant smile, but had that uncanny valley look of unblemished synth skin. I looked down to see a dozen micro surgical tools still inside me.
I should have been screaming at the sight, but all I felt was relief and joy. “Yeah, I just worried for a half second that I had hallucinated the last few months and was actually on a back on Earth on some black-market operating table getting my kidney stolen.”
Cee was aghast. “Does that happen on Earth?”
I would shrug, but again, I couldn’t move, instead I responded. “Rumors of it happening, but I never knew anyone personally.”
Cee reassured me. “Well, good news Klein, you are on Sky, you are in a Gearschilde clinic where stealing vital organs is a legal, moral and religious crime of unrepentant severity. What I have done is remove your appendix, and let the sedatives wear off so we can discuss what you want in its place.”
“In place of my appendix? Why?” I asked, it wasn’t like I really needed the vestigial organ turn internal hand grenade.
“Customary in Gearschilde for surgery is to be about giving a better life than just taking from the body. So, any ideas of what would make your life better?”
I thought about the bruising, the constant having to put healing patches on, and the annoyance of doing so. I thought about the near fatality of almost blowing my appendix, and if something could have fixed the issue before it got out of hand. “What about a healing dispenser? I keep having to put on patches and gel at the end of the day, and if I miss a spot, I will pay for it later.”
Cee gave me a grateful expression. “That’s a perfect first implant. I was worried you were going to ask for something more aggressive. When I was your age, I got my first defensive mod, a retractable forearm knife. Of course, my next surgery was being stitched back together after accidently stabbing myself with it.”
I tried to chuckle, but I didn’t have control of my diaphragm for it. “So, what’s next?”
Cee explained. “Well, the fabricator in the other room is right now creating your implant. It shouldn’t take long; are you ok being immobilized for the next hour or so?”
I thought about it, and honestly, I was still surprised I wasn’t panicking. “No, but I’m going to get really bored just laying here, do the Gearschilde have any good myths or stories?”
I knew I was fishing in an untapped pool that was guaranteed to have something. I wasn’t expecting my doctor to be gleeful at the thought though. “Oh blessed be you child, I am a surgeon priest, half the reason I am in this vocation is to tell stories. I take it you know nothing about Gearschilde mythology, or even our history?”
It was on my list of rabbit holes to get into, but instead I binged the rest of Prince Of The Stars and cried, it was nice. “No, but I would love to hear them.”
“Well if you want to, every Shel we have open services and brunch. But since you are new to Gearschilde mythology we should start with one of my favorites. The story of the Hopestrider.”
The ceiling lights dimmed, and the sterile operating room felt surprisingly cozy as I leaned my head back. Listening to Cee starting up the tale. “Our sect requires us to lead what can best be called ‘child technician classes’. Learning to take care of machines, which includes us by the start of adolescence, if not before. It’s a critical life skill, and teaching it is considered an important part of our religious studies.”
‘Cyberpunk VeggieTales’ Squirrel brain chittered.
No one wants your opinion squirrel brain. I thought back.
Cee’s story: Hope Strider
“Long ago our world was full of harsh life. The valleys were often filled with poisonous mists and deadly predators that could rip apart even the strongest of our people. The mountain kingdoms were brutal fiefdoms that sent many to their deaths mining precious metals from the dangerous wastes of the valleys. Drilling into the heart of the mountains provided the power necessary to purify water, and later, steam engines turned those fiefdoms into empires. Expanding into the wastes using the lowest class of people as its foundation.”Cee paused for dramatic effect. “Then, everything changed.”
“The ground shook, and the mountain kingdoms erupted in fire and molten rock. Radioactive dust from these now volcanoes made the centers of civilization barren and deadly. Only the wasteland colonies in the poisonous mists provided any refuge, and so king and commoner alike huddled in the once disposable outposts of a ruined world. Our story starts a generation after the calamity with an unlucky child.”
I heard a ding, Cee stopped as the ceiling lights came up. “Oh dear, let me stop for a second to get the implant.”
I leaned back and thought about her nightmare world. When Cee returned, I didn’t even bother to open my eyes, too engrossed in the imagery of the story. “What happened to the child?”
I could hear the whirring as she started to work. Her voice I realized had taken a more scripted cadence. She must have automated her voice so she could focus. “In a metalworker’s home, a child was born with broken legs and brittle bones. It was common in those days for such a child to die that way. It was their first born and the parents did everything they could to save them. A surgeon was called. The child lost their legs, but kept their life.”
“The child lived in the workshop. Kept warm by the hearth’s fire, even unable to walk, they were curious. Day in and out, they watched their parents construct machines that helped the community make food, filter the air, and defend the homes from the starving, mutated, monsters that circled the fortress walls. The child felt helpless though. Only able to crawl within the confines of the home or be carried around like cargo about the maze-like town of winding stairs and narrow passageways.
“They spent much of their time learning, sitting near the hearth to keep warm, they did the careful work of filing gears and wheels needed to control what could be automated as each hand replaced was another that could be spent doing something else critical to keep the community alive. Still, the child wanted to do more. They could not deliver what they made, and had to rely on others to help them at every turn in life.”
“Little did the child know that in the hearth a machine spirit lived, getting by eating scrap metal that fell in and sleeping at night on the bed of embers. The machine spirit saw the child’s wish, an invention without form, and turned it into a dream for the child, since new machines would mean new machine spirits to play with.”
That night the child saw themselves flying over the cold gray landscape on a pair of machine legs. Traveling the dangerous paths to other towns, and giving the isolated towns hope and community. The child awoke with joy and crawled over to his workbench littered with scrap metal, now children….”
Cee stopped talking and her voice went back to an unscripted rhythm. “I just realized we can’t do the practical part of this story. In class each kid gets a hope strider stuffy with snaps to attach legs they make. We give them bits of copper. Show them how to bend and hammer it, and how to bond it by wrapping the joint in solder and then applying heat with a soldering iron heated in their own toy ‘hearth’ with a safety cover. Still we get a daily small burn or cut, but that in itself is a valuable lesson in tool safety.”
It sounded adorable in a weird, steampunk way. “Sounds fun, so, new legs?”
Cee got the que, as much as I loved the story, and the talk about kindergarten metal shop, I was still immobilized on the operating table. I heard surgical whirring, and the scripted voice came back. “Yes, the child works all night until they fit the new legs on, and for the first time stand up on their own! The parents are overjoyed as they watch them move about the house and that afternoon, with the help of an iron bar as a cane, they walk around their community by themselves.”
“However, it isn’t long before the legs start to see wear and tear, but the child persists, not wanting to stop and fix the creaking joints, until one day the legs stop working altogether and they fall down in a twisting staircase. Carried back to the workshop, they rest for days to heal before they are able to work again. Constructing a new set from the remains of the old. Now…”
Klein:
Cee stopped again, but this time she had moved away from me and was putting the now bloody surgical tools into a sanitizing system. “We're done! I am going to start removing the nerve blocks, so you’re going to be sore, but if things get too painful, let me know. Please, try not to move anything but your hands right now, even then I would advise against it.”My whole body had that pins and needles feel and I tried to move my fingers, but it was sporadic and jerky. Cee distracted me by explaining my new implant. “So, this implant is very basic. It can only be requested to send diagnostic data. The implant only administers more healing serum at a safe, steady rate if, and only if, it doesn’t detect any in your bloodstream. There is an injection site with a color change circle around it. It uses standard go, caution, stop colors to let you know if it’s functioning. I want to wave your omni-pad over the site and check the diagnostics at least once a day. It should hopefully catch if something like this is happening again.”
I tried to not move as I felt my body twitch. My gut felt like I had been run over, repeatedly. I asked, “why didn’t my medical monitoring implant catch this?”
Cee explained. “That’s only good for basic vitals. Near universal indicators of life and activity such as heart rate and blood pressure. The new implant will be able to scan for elevated protein counts. So, if one of your other internal organs starts to malfunction you can get a more unambiguous message that I hope you won’t ignore before getting medivac’d through the city.”
I chuckled a little at that, and it hurt. “Ow, ok, no movement. I thought it was just a pulled muscle or something.”
Cee looked down at me sternly, and her voice took on a deeper, more authoritative tone. “Child, more than enough Gearschilde have died thinking they can just, push themselves past their organic parts failing, if you have a torn muscle that hurts after you’ve used healing gel, then it’s serious enough you need to come see me, or another xeno-doctor, immediately. That’s why I hope your new implant can fix things before it gets to that point.”
Cee brightened after that and went back to the explanation of my implant. “Now that I scolded you, there is a color changing circle over your implant’s location. It will change color when the healing serum runs low, or and will start to flash in color, and try to ping your omni-pad if it detects a malfunction. The implant uses a standard Shil’ implant autoinjector, and it will reject anything not meant for red blood standard biology, but still be careful, it’s not a perfect filtering system. Today I’m giving you a set of autoinjectors I want you to use throughout the week. It's fortunate that your implant’s primary function will speed up your recovery time.”
Ok, that’s cool to know, but.
‘What happened to Hopestrider?!’ Squirrel brain demanded.
“So, the story, what happens next?” I asked as Cee helped me sit up. My stomach still hurt, but the feeling was in the overworked muscle category rather than a gut punch.
Cee started to explain as I put on what was essentially gym clothes. Soft, baggy pants and shirt with easy pull away tabs if they needed to remove the clothes quickly for checkups and surgical intervention. “Well, we don’t have time to go over the Hope Strider as a story, or even a summary, but if you want to, my husband teaches the child technician class during open services on Shel, you could sit in and listen.
Right now, I will give you a family crafted picture book that tells the core story of Hope Strider growing up, and making their first delivery. After that it’s a loose selection of legends that are attributed to Hope Strider as they grow older and more accomplished, but while I get that book, I need you to speak to someone.”
Cee led me out of the operating room, and into a comfortable looking lounge where a… Hydrean was sitting in an Imperial business uniform reading an omni-pad. My brain pulled everything I knew of Hydreans out. A rabbit hole I had dug into one rainy Shel on the public information repositories.
She, they, single gendered I reminded myself, looked up and smiled at me calmly, mouth closed for politeness. Their skin was grass green with artful patches of bark on her face and neck, the result of cosmetic scarification. They looked human, or Shil’oid, but that was purposefully done. Even the somewhat standard looking ‘desert walker’ Hydreans normally had more, or less, limbs than standard. Biological modification was at the root of all Hydrean technology, ancient as the stone ax to other species.
I thought about how contentious Hydrean/Shil relationships were said to be. Their arid home planet was off limits to all but certified personnel who had been trained how to handle the dangerous mix of flora/fauna that instead of being different groups, was just a single taxonomy that had no distinction between predator and prey. With their complex biology, a Hydrean needed to undergo extensive body modification just to exist off their home world.
Cee left the room with a friendly goodbye and offered assistance “Hello Klein, I am Ka’tel. It’s wonderful to meet you. I am with the Imperial Child Assistance Division, or ICAD. My job is to help interspecies fosters and adoptions. How are you feeling today?”
I caught a glimpse of her teeth as they spoke. Triangular, and made of burnished metal meant to tear off chunks of animal, plant, or even rock, whole and let their stomachs’ mix of acids dissolve it into something the rest their body could use.
‘The agent in charge of your welfare is a plant/animal hybrid with a diet of ‘yes’, your doctor is a wholesome orange 40K mechanicus, and your crush is a were-lion, you are not ok .’ Squirrel brain remarked.
“I’m actually pretty good, despite the surgery, it’s actually a common issue for humans.” I said to Ka’tel, because my life was weird before the aliens, squirrel brain was just being a pessimistic asshole.
“Really? Do you know what caused it?” Ka’tel asked.
“It just, happens? Gets irritated or infected and then you need to get it removed.” I said nonchalantly. Ka’tel made a mark on her omni-pad.
“How did you know? It seems dangerous if it can happen suddenly, and you mentioned it before you passed out.” Ka’tel asked tone friendly and conversational.
“Oh, the side of your stomach hurts. I was hoping it was just a pulled muscle bec- Dammit!” I just remembered what happened before I woke up here.
“The raid game! Ko’tasa would have had to substitute for me and she’s not well balanced for our team mix.” I said with a exasperated sigh.
Ka’tel cocked their head to one side, but the tone in her voice was humorous. “You were willing to ignore a possible life-threatening condition for a game?”
I explained, though I felt idiotic now. “I couldn’t tell. I get sore muscles all the time from gym, and sparing, and even from the auxiliary work, honestly my commandant doesn’t really know where to put me sometimes. Last week I helped with road clearing for the new town to go up a few [miles] away, and the girls could barely keep up with me.”
Ka’tel seemed to be enjoying my rambling. “Sounds like you really get put to work.”
“Not really? The auxiliary is the only work I do, and if I wanted to stop I just, can. It’s not like I need to worry about buying food.” I knew what I was saying seemed strange while living in the Imperium.
It was the first hint that Ka’tel was controlling her expressions when she seemed more attentive and… relieved? “That’s delightful news to hear! Is there anything about your living situation that bothers you?”
I paused and thought about it, and really couldn’t see anything. “Not really?”
“Anything, or anyone, you miss from Earth?” Ka’tel asked, stressing that last bit, dropping a mental bomb on my head and I froze, mouth partly open with a half formed response. When was the last time I even thought about Earth as more than an abstract concept? It hadn’t been [six months] since I left but…
I didn’t feel anything.
The last year I lived on Earth, it was like being a ghost. I saw people, I even talked to people, but it was like a thick plate of glass all around me. Today I felt color, and life, and things, but that last year on Earth?
Like radio static.
I looked at Ka’tel, and their expression was one of controlled neutrality. Why was I not freaking out?
I had a sensation of the room spinning. I asked, “No, I don’t really feel anything about Earth, is that normal?”
“I don’t know Klein, by most sentient standards what you went through was unusual, and from what little I know about humans that isn’t propaganda, it’s unusual for humans as well. What I do know is right now you seem happy and healthy, and that’s my top priority.” Ka’tel said as they stood and offered me a stiff plastic card with their contact details on it.
“We will be chatting every other week to see how you are adjusting. I might ask to visit you at the youth auxiliary depot, the gym or at home. I really am glad to see you are doing just fine, but if you ever need a way out, that card has an emergency signal function, just pull the plastic tab.” Ka’tel told me, and was about to open the door before I spoke up.
“How should I refer to you?” I asked, and once they realized, Ka’tel gave me a genuine, toothed, smile that was both menacing and goofy at the same time.
“Most people don’t learn enough Hydrean biology to ask. Her, that’s how everyone in the office sees me, and it’s more convenient socially.” She said, opening the door to an anxious looking Itaro standing next to a serious Ruhal and Reqellia.
“I need to speak to you Ruhal, and Reqellia, you should join us for this conversation as well.” Ka’tel said as she ushered me out.
Cee led us into a gaming room with a long table on one side, and a set of couches facing the wall to wall display on the other. She handed me an overloaded plate of cookies with bottle of water, and stepped out, closing the door behind us. “Eat those, your stomach has healed, but it’s going to need calories to fuel the recovery.”
Only then did I realize I was salivating at the smell of warm sugar, and flour made of Kasan grain, if I was identifying the green color correctly. I put the plate of cookies on the table, and snarfed them as I sat down.
After swallowing the fourth cookie semi-whole, I looked up to see Itaro’s face fighting a war between impatient, apprehensive, and hopeful. I stopped, realizing what I was doing, and sipped some water to stall for time.
I was about to pull my omni-pad out from my pockets when Itaro suddenly put her hand out to stop me. “Wait! Klein, I need to tell you something…”
She was silent for a long moment, what was she worried about?
“I… Like you, as, I find you…. Attractive, and I may have gotten a little…. overprotective when you got hurt.” Itaro said, her voice stuttering.
‘Oh, that makes things easy.’ Squirrel brain was for once, right.
“I like you too.” I said as I leaned over and kissed her.
///// Author’s Commentary
Wow! I couldn’t find a good stopping point so I just kept writing and writing and… It turned into something over 5 thousand words. I spent the last day trying to figure out clear up a few parts. This week I have some time off! So there will probably be another chapter sooner rather than later.2023.04.01 01:21 Adventurous-Map-9400 Growing Up Alien Chapter 17
A homeless teenager reaches out to the Shil’vati on first day of the invasion of Earth.
This is a rewrite of my original story ‘Loyalist’.
Credit to u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story.
Pizzaulostin who has been beta reading since the beginning.
and u/BruhMomentGEE
Credit to u/HollowShel for getting me started with this!
This story is based in the SSB universe.
Previous
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as always, comments are welcome.
I regarded my handcuffs with professional disapproval. They had a longer than regular chain for ambulatory movement and inmate processing, by the deep, I could even use them as garrote if needed. They had revealed the limits of their rank with that apology.
“No need to worry. I am sure this will be a formality in less than an hour,” I told them, if there was one thing that was in abundance on the planet Sky it was Interior and undercover commando trainees. I hoped this would probably be their most interesting case all month.
“So, would you care to explain how you are raising a human, that is also considered a military asset?” The agent inquired as she pulled out her slate.
“Of course, Klein surrendered himself and requested medical aid and refugee status. He was willing to answer essential questions regarding human culture that aided in liberating humanity into the Shil’vati Empire. He wouldn’t be safe on Earth anymore, and I mentioned that he was still important in writing my reports. If I had my slate, I could give you the relevant documentation,” I said in a conversational tone, without any of the emotions that weighed the story, and glossing over the specifics.
“No need. I have everything you submitted to the Interior, including his asset designation, the interrogation transcripts, and even his doctor’s contact info. To be honest with you it’s the only reason we haven’t interviewed you yet, even after a dozen calls about a ‘possible trafficked human’ since he arrived. Your information is corroborated with several other departments. The issue now is what the medivac scans found.” The agent pushed a slate towards me with medical notes bolded for emphasis ‘probable severe abuse’.
“The report shows a recent history of blunt force trauma, abrasions, and even muscle tearing, in short. It looks like the human has been systematically tortured for months. You also have recently requested restricted training armor in the human’s size.” The agent explained.
Ah, that was my mistake. I had been treating Klein as another child, just with some unique needs. It looks like there were other considerations, ones that I failed to see.
“I really do need my omni-slate to illustrate this, it’s on my desk right now if one of your assistants could get it?” I asked, hoping they got the suggestion to not leave me with only one interrogator in the room so they wouldn’t be graded too harshly.
They thankfully acquiesced without comment, and with my omni-slate in hand I pulled up the latest video of Klein practicing with me, the speed and brutality was difficult for me to sit through. Then, Klein pulled off his helmet seconds later, laughing in the rain. Unconcerned that, without armor, we could have just killed each other- I was grateful he had, else it might’ve been interpreted quite differently. “The bruising mostly from everyday participation at a Rakiri gym, and some remnants from before I got proper gear for baton practice. He heals extremely fast, and more so, he isn’t happy unless he exercises for at least an hour or two a day.”
I pulled up another video. Klein was sitting at the table bouncing his leg at an ever-increasing pace while trying to focus on a decently complex equation. He finally stood up and started pacing mouthing words as he skipped in time to an unheard rhythm.
“W-what’s he doing?” The agent asked, looking just a tad disturbed by the display of what seemed erratic behavior.
“A sort of dance while playing the song ‘a fine mesh net’ on his headphones. There was a monsoon that Shel weekend, and even I’m not crazy enough to fight in a thunderstorm like that. He does that around the house for an hour, and then finally settles in on a video game,” I explained to the agents, who were looking at me dubiously.
“So, you oversee an adolescent who is an intelligence asset, but also seems poorly fitted for Shil’vati life. Why the baton practice? Wouldn’t that make him even more dangerous, more of an outsider? Are you trying to sabotage his integration? Why not take him shopping, instead, or teach him beauty and self-care routines?” They were antagonizing. Countering every argument to see how I reacted. It seemed they could at least interrogate decently well.
“I hardly call a few quirks ‘poor fitting’. The baton practice is for obvious self-defense. Its intention is to make him dangerous,” I explained, letting the interviewers lead the conversation.
The back and forth went on for a while, but I presented a highlight reel of the last few months. Including a Rakiri gym video when Klein tried to flourish a wall climb and smashed his shoulder on the ledge while face planting into the mud.
The agents would not be arresting me today. They would need medical reports, and would require Klein, Hario, and Compassion Through Deeds to attest while truth scanned that these were sports injuries, and not some conspiracy to commit torture. We were also going to need to see an ICAD agent every two weeks for counseling. I had no idea what ICAD was, but I would investigate them later.
Finally, the agents appeared they were closing up the interview. I tried not to brace myself as they asked the complicated question. “One thing we need to know is, what is Klein to you? If he is just a crucial asset, then why haven’t you contacted a local volunteer family foster? Or was the military asset just a cover to find a male heir?”
I sighed, the truth wasn’t incriminating, but if I didn’t word it right, I would look like the worst sort of military tourist. “I had, originally, taken care of Klein as a key intelligence asset. Within that first week though, I had found that despite the decades of preparation, there wasn’t a process for someone to claim asylum as a child during first contact. He would be in military bureaucratic limbo without an advocate. We both know where he would end up.”
The room cooled by several degrees, which was a pity, I almost got the talkative agent to laugh at Klein’s antics. “Out of duty I investigated ways I could bring him home until I could find resources to place him in a stable situation with all the resources to help a xeno without a community. I found someone who was willing to help in exchange for reports on Klein’s adaptation to Shil’vati lifestyle. That’s Klein’s purpose as a military asset in my home.”
I continued. I was saying more on than I needed to, but if they did a follow up investigation later for some other incident, which was a when, not if, then I wanted this on record. “Klein has become part of this household though, despite, or maybe because, of his oddities. He may not be Shil’vati, but he seems to have integrated well. It’s why, while it was never my intention, when he is an adult, I will offer him full adoption, and title of home guardian.”
I watched the agents exchange looks, then the agent made a few taps on her slate. ‘Upper left, middle center, probably a message app’. I then listened for the telltale taps of a yes as a micro expression of a self-satisfied smile crossed the agent’s face. I decided to stop playing interviewee.
“So, you won the bet on if I would claim the human as my son, how long has that pool been building?” I asked folding my hands together.
The agent answered before she could think. “Two months… Wait!? How did you-”
The agent was cut off by the squawk of the slate’s speaker. “Agents you did well enough with the interview portion, however; you absolutely failed to secure the subject. Could you please illustrate to them why I stressed caution {petal of death’s veil}?”
The code name wasn’t one I had heard in decades, but I wasn’t going to snub an old handler. I kicked on my fast reaction mods to max speed and lunged over the table past the still sitting agents. I pirouetted and twisted the restraints into a loop as I brought them down over the left agent’s head and pulled back carefully, lightly touching the chain of my restraints around the neck of the agent before she could even react.
I kicked off my mods and caught my breath as time returned to normal. Both agents’ eyes went wide with shock as the one not about to be strangled tried to get away to pull out her weapon. “W-who are you!?”
“I’m going to slowly release you and put my hands up, is that everything you needed {hated old friend}?” I directed my question to the slate, using the code High Shil word to show I was playing along.
“More than enough. Agent! Holster your weapon and come back to the safe room. We need to go over security procedures,” the slate responded, and the very brief confrontation was over.
The agents walked out, and Siltan stomped in looking like she could bring about a thunderstorm by pure force of will. “We weren’t the only ones to get visits from the ‘majesty’s’ Interior today. Cee let me know that the Interior is also interrogated Reqellia as well.”
I now understood why these two rookies were here. It was a distraction for me. I grumbled as I picked up my slate and called Reqellia. Her face appeared a second later.
“By the Deep, it’s been a long day,” Reqellia breathed out as I heard a door slam, then she cursed some more.
“Tell me everything. Is Klein ok?” I asked.
“Cee says he’s fine and is waking him up. Klein might be getting a mod himself before she closes him up though because, oh- looks like it’s my day is going to get longer still. ICAD is here, and it’s a Hydrean in a Gearschilde clinic.” Reqellia hung up, and I stared at the phone in confusion.
It was time to find out what ICAD was.
I started to panic as I turned my head, focusing on lettering on a terminal, tried to sigh, and felt what few muscles I could control turn to lead as I sank back on the medical bed. Thank the goddess, it was Shil and Gearschilde lettering on the slate and medical supplies.
“Good afternoon Klein, are you okay? Your heart rate spiked.” I heard Cee, or full name Compassion Through Deeds, speak and turned my head to see her. She wore a dark red lab coat and regarded me with unblinking cybernetic eyes. Most of her orange skin had been replaced with dark steel etched with stylized waves and swirls of silver. Her face still emoted in a pleasant smile, but had that uncanny valley look of unblemished synth skin. I looked down to see a dozen micro surgical tools still inside me.
I should have been screaming at the sight, but all I felt was relief and joy. “Yeah, I just worried for a half second that I had hallucinated the last few months and was actually on a back on Earth on some black-market operating table getting my kidney stolen.”
Cee was aghast. “Does that happen on Earth?”
I would shrug, but again, I couldn’t move, instead I responded. “Rumors of it happening, but I never knew anyone personally.”
Cee reassured me. “Well, good news Klein, you are on Sky, you are in a Gearschilde clinic where stealing vital organs is a legal, moral and religious crime of unrepentant severity. What I have done is remove your appendix, and let the sedatives wear off so we can discuss what you want in its place.”
“In place of my appendix? Why?” I asked, it wasn’t like I really needed the vestigial organ turn internal hand grenade.
“Customary in Gearschilde for surgery is to be about giving a better life than just taking from the body. So, any ideas of what would make your life better?”
I thought about the bruising, the constant having to put healing patches on, and the annoyance of doing so. I thought about the near fatality of almost blowing my appendix, and if something could have fixed the issue before it got out of hand. “What about a healing dispenser? I keep having to put on patches and gel at the end of the day, and if I miss a spot, I will pay for it later.”
Cee gave me a grateful expression. “That’s a perfect first implant. I was worried you were going to ask for something more aggressive. When I was your age, I got my first defensive mod, a retractable forearm knife. Of course, my next surgery was being stitched back together after accidently stabbing myself with it.”
I tried to chuckle, but I didn’t have control of my diaphragm for it. “So, what’s next?”
Cee explained. “Well, the fabricator in the other room is right now creating your implant. It shouldn’t take long; are you ok being immobilized for the next hour or so?”
I thought about it, and honestly, I was still surprised I wasn’t panicking. “No, but I’m going to get really bored just laying here, do the Gearschilde have any good myths or stories?”
I knew I was fishing in an untapped pool that was guaranteed to have something. I wasn’t expecting my doctor to be gleeful at the thought though. “Oh blessed be you child, I am a surgeon priest, half the reason I am in this vocation is to tell stories. I take it you know nothing about Gearschilde mythology, or even our history?”
It was on my list of rabbit holes to get into, but instead I binged the rest of Prince Of The Stars and cried, it was nice. “No, but I would love to hear them.”
“Well if you want to, every Shel we have open services and brunch. But since you are new to Gearschilde mythology we should start with one of my favorites. The story of the Hopestrider.”
The ceiling lights dimmed, and the sterile operating room felt surprisingly cozy as I leaned my head back. Listening to Cee starting up the tale. “Our sect requires us to lead what can best be called ‘child technician classes’. Learning to take care of machines, which includes us by the start of adolescence, if not before. It’s a critical life skill, and teaching it is considered an important part of our religious studies.”
‘Cyberpunk VeggieTales’ Squirrel brain chittered.
No one wants your opinion squirrel brain. I thought back.
Cee paused for dramatic effect. “Then, everything changed.”
“The ground shook, and the mountain kingdoms erupted in fire and molten rock. Radioactive dust from these now volcanoes made the centers of civilization barren and deadly. Only the wasteland colonies in the poisonous mists provided any refuge, and so king and commoner alike huddled in the once disposable outposts of a ruined world. Our story starts a generation after the calamity with an unlucky child.”
I heard a ding, Cee stopped as the ceiling lights came up. “Oh dear, let me stop for a second to get the implant.”
I leaned back and thought about her nightmare world. When Cee returned, I didn’t even bother to open my eyes, too engrossed in the imagery of the story. “What happened to the child?”
I could hear the whirring as she started to work. Her voice I realized had taken a more scripted cadence. She must have automated her voice so she could focus. “In a metalworker’s home, a child was born with broken legs and brittle bones. It was common in those days for such a child to die that way. It was their first born and the parents did everything they could to save them. A surgeon was called. The child lost their legs, but kept their life.”
“The child lived in the workshop. Kept warm by the hearth’s fire, even unable to walk, they were curious. Day in and out, they watched their parents construct machines that helped the community make food, filter the air, and defend the homes from the starving, mutated, monsters that circled the fortress walls. The child felt helpless though. Only able to crawl within the confines of the home or be carried around like cargo about the maze-like town of winding stairs and narrow passageways.
“They spent much of their time learning, sitting near the hearth to keep warm, they did the careful work of filing gears and wheels needed to control what could be automated as each hand replaced was another that could be spent doing something else critical to keep the community alive. Still, the child wanted to do more. They could not deliver what they made, and had to rely on others to help them at every turn in life.”
“Little did the child know that in the hearth a machine spirit lived, getting by eating scrap metal that fell in and sleeping at night on the bed of embers. The machine spirit saw the child’s wish, an invention without form, and turned it into a dream for the child, since new machines would mean new machine spirits to play with.”
That night the child saw themselves flying over the cold gray landscape on a pair of machine legs. Traveling the dangerous paths to other towns, and giving the isolated towns hope and community. The child awoke with joy and crawled over to his workbench littered with scrap metal, now children….”
Cee stopped talking and her voice went back to an unscripted rhythm. “I just realized we can’t do the practical part of this story. In class each kid gets a hope strider stuffy with snaps to attach legs they make. We give them bits of copper. Show them how to bend and hammer it, and how to bond it by wrapping the joint in solder and then applying heat with a soldering iron heated in their own toy ‘hearth’ with a safety cover. Still we get a daily small burn or cut, but that in itself is a valuable lesson in tool safety.”
It sounded adorable in a weird, steampunk way. “Sounds fun, so, new legs?”
Cee got the que, as much as I loved the story, and the talk about kindergarten metal shop, I was still immobilized on the operating table. I heard surgical whirring, and the scripted voice came back. “Yes, the child works all night until they fit the new legs on, and for the first time stand up on their own! The parents are overjoyed as they watch them move about the house and that afternoon, with the help of an iron bar as a cane, they walk around their community by themselves.”
“However, it isn’t long before the legs start to see wear and tear, but the child persists, not wanting to stop and fix the creaking joints, until one day the legs stop working altogether and they fall down in a twisting staircase. Carried back to the workshop, they rest for days to heal before they are able to work again. Constructing a new set from the remains of the old. Now…”
My whole body had that pins and needles feel and I tried to move my fingers, but it was sporadic and jerky. Cee distracted me by explaining my new implant. “So, this implant is very basic. It can only be requested to send diagnostic data. The implant only administers more healing serum at a safe, steady rate if, and only if, it doesn’t detect any in your bloodstream. There is an injection site with a color change circle around it. It uses standard go, caution, stop colors to let you know if it’s functioning. I want to wave your omni-pad over the site and check the diagnostics at least once a day. It should hopefully catch if something like this is happening again.”
I tried to not move as I felt my body twitch. My gut felt like I had been run over, repeatedly. I asked, “why didn’t my medical monitoring implant catch this?”
Cee explained. “That’s only good for basic vitals. Near universal indicators of life and activity such as heart rate and blood pressure. The new implant will be able to scan for elevated protein counts. So, if one of your other internal organs starts to malfunction you can get a more unambiguous message that I hope you won’t ignore before getting medivac’d through the city.”
I chuckled a little at that, and it hurt. “Ow, ok, no movement. I thought it was just a pulled muscle or something.”
Cee looked down at me sternly, and her voice took on a deeper, more authoritative tone. “Child, more than enough Gearschilde have died thinking they can just, push themselves past their organic parts failing, if you have a torn muscle that hurts after you’ve used healing gel, then it’s serious enough you need to come see me, or another xeno-doctor, immediately. That’s why I hope your new implant can fix things before it gets to that point.”
Cee brightened after that and went back to the explanation of my implant. “Now that I scolded you, there is a color changing circle over your implant’s location. It will change color when the healing serum runs low, or and will start to flash in color, and try to ping your omni-pad if it detects a malfunction. The implant uses a standard Shil’ implant autoinjector, and it will reject anything not meant for red blood standard biology, but still be careful, it’s not a perfect filtering system. Today I’m giving you a set of autoinjectors I want you to use throughout the week. It's fortunate that your implant’s primary function will speed up your recovery time.”
Ok, that’s cool to know, but.
‘What happened to Hopestrider?!’ Squirrel brain demanded.
“So, the story, what happens next?” I asked as Cee helped me sit up. My stomach still hurt, but the feeling was in the overworked muscle category rather than a gut punch.
Cee started to explain as I put on what was essentially gym clothes. Soft, baggy pants and shirt with easy pull away tabs if they needed to remove the clothes quickly for checkups and surgical intervention. “Well, we don’t have time to go over the Hope Strider as a story, or even a summary, but if you want to, my husband teaches the child technician class during open services on Shel, you could sit in and listen.
Right now, I will give you a family crafted picture book that tells the core story of Hope Strider growing up, and making their first delivery. After that it’s a loose selection of legends that are attributed to Hope Strider as they grow older and more accomplished, but while I get that book, I need you to speak to someone.”
Cee led me out of the operating room, and into a comfortable looking lounge where a… Hydrean was sitting in an Imperial business uniform reading an omni-pad. My brain pulled everything I knew of Hydreans out. A rabbit hole I had dug into one rainy Shel on the public information repositories.
She, they, single gendered I reminded myself, looked up and smiled at me calmly, mouth closed for politeness. Their skin was grass green with artful patches of bark on her face and neck, the result of cosmetic scarification. They looked human, or Shil’oid, but that was purposefully done. Even the somewhat standard looking ‘desert walker’ Hydreans normally had more, or less, limbs than standard. Biological modification was at the root of all Hydrean technology, ancient as the stone ax to other species.
I thought about how contentious Hydrean/Shil relationships were said to be. Their arid home planet was off limits to all but certified personnel who had been trained how to handle the dangerous mix of flora/fauna that instead of being different groups, was just a single taxonomy that had no distinction between predator and prey. With their complex biology, a Hydrean needed to undergo extensive body modification just to exist off their home world.
Cee left the room with a friendly goodbye and offered assistance “Hello Klein, I am Ka’tel. It’s wonderful to meet you. I am with the Imperial Child Assistance Division, or ICAD. My job is to help interspecies fosters and adoptions. How are you feeling today?”
I caught a glimpse of her teeth as they spoke. Triangular, and made of burnished metal meant to tear off chunks of animal, plant, or even rock, whole and let their stomachs’ mix of acids dissolve it into something the rest their body could use.
‘The agent in charge of your welfare is a plant/animal hybrid with a diet of ‘yes’, your doctor is a wholesome orange 40K mechanicus, and your crush is a were-lion, you are not ok .’ Squirrel brain remarked.
“I’m actually pretty good, despite the surgery, it’s actually a common issue for humans.” I said to Ka’tel, because my life was weird before the aliens, squirrel brain was just being a pessimistic asshole.
“Really? Do you know what caused it?” Ka’tel asked.
“It just, happens? Gets irritated or infected and then you need to get it removed.” I said nonchalantly. Ka’tel made a mark on her omni-pad.
“How did you know? It seems dangerous if it can happen suddenly, and you mentioned it before you passed out.” Ka’tel asked tone friendly and conversational.
“Oh, the side of your stomach hurts. I was hoping it was just a pulled muscle bec- Dammit!” I just remembered what happened before I woke up here.
“The raid game! Ko’tasa would have had to substitute for me and she’s not well balanced for our team mix.” I said with a exasperated sigh.
Ka’tel cocked their head to one side, but the tone in her voice was humorous. “You were willing to ignore a possible life-threatening condition for a game?”
I explained, though I felt idiotic now. “I couldn’t tell. I get sore muscles all the time from gym, and sparing, and even from the auxiliary work, honestly my commandant doesn’t really know where to put me sometimes. Last week I helped with road clearing for the new town to go up a few [miles] away, and the girls could barely keep up with me.”
Ka’tel seemed to be enjoying my rambling. “Sounds like you really get put to work.”
“Not really? The auxiliary is the only work I do, and if I wanted to stop I just, can. It’s not like I need to worry about buying food.” I knew what I was saying seemed strange while living in the Imperium.
It was the first hint that Ka’tel was controlling her expressions when she seemed more attentive and… relieved? “That’s delightful news to hear! Is there anything about your living situation that bothers you?”
I paused and thought about it, and really couldn’t see anything. “Not really?”
“Anything, or anyone, you miss from Earth?” Ka’tel asked, stressing that last bit, dropping a mental bomb on my head and I froze, mouth partly open with a half formed response. When was the last time I even thought about Earth as more than an abstract concept? It hadn’t been [six months] since I left but…
I didn’t feel anything.
The last year I lived on Earth, it was like being a ghost. I saw people, I even talked to people, but it was like a thick plate of glass all around me. Today I felt color, and life, and things, but that last year on Earth?
Like radio static.
I looked at Ka’tel, and their expression was one of controlled neutrality. Why was I not freaking out?
I had a sensation of the room spinning. I asked, “No, I don’t really feel anything about Earth, is that normal?”
“I don’t know Klein, by most sentient standards what you went through was unusual, and from what little I know about humans that isn’t propaganda, it’s unusual for humans as well. What I do know is right now you seem happy and healthy, and that’s my top priority.” Ka’tel said as they stood and offered me a stiff plastic card with their contact details on it.
“We will be chatting every other week to see how you are adjusting. I might ask to visit you at the youth auxiliary depot, the gym or at home. I really am glad to see you are doing just fine, but if you ever need a way out, that card has an emergency signal function, just pull the plastic tab.” Ka’tel told me, and was about to open the door before I spoke up.
“How should I refer to you?” I asked, and once they realized, Ka’tel gave me a genuine, toothed, smile that was both menacing and goofy at the same time.
“Most people don’t learn enough Hydrean biology to ask. Her, that’s how everyone in the office sees me, and it’s more convenient socially.” She said, opening the door to an anxious looking Itaro standing next to a serious Ruhal and Reqellia.
“I need to speak to you Ruhal, and Reqellia, you should join us for this conversation as well.” Ka’tel said as she ushered me out.
Cee led us into a gaming room with a long table on one side, and a set of couches facing the wall to wall display on the other. She handed me an overloaded plate of cookies with bottle of water, and stepped out, closing the door behind us. “Eat those, your stomach has healed, but it’s going to need calories to fuel the recovery.”
Only then did I realize I was salivating at the smell of warm sugar, and flour made of Kasan grain, if I was identifying the green color correctly. I put the plate of cookies on the table, and snarfed them as I sat down.
After swallowing the fourth cookie semi-whole, I looked up to see Itaro’s face fighting a war between impatient, apprehensive, and hopeful. I stopped, realizing what I was doing, and sipped some water to stall for time.
I was about to pull my omni-pad out from my pockets when Itaro suddenly put her hand out to stop me. “Wait! Klein, I need to tell you something…”
She was silent for a long moment, what was she worried about?
“I… Like you, as, I find you…. Attractive, and I may have gotten a little…. overprotective when you got hurt.” Itaro said, her voice stuttering.
‘Oh, that makes things easy.’ Squirrel brain was for once, right.
“I like you too.” I said as I leaned over and kissed her.
submitted by Adventurous-Map-9400 to Sexyspacebabes [link] [comments]
This is a rewrite of my original story ‘Loyalist’.
Credit to u/bluefishcake for writing the original SSB story.
Pizzaulostin who has been beta reading since the beginning.
and u/BruhMomentGEE
Credit to u/HollowShel for getting me started with this!
This story is based in the SSB universe.
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as always, comments are welcome.
Chapter 17:
Thanks to the author of Alien-Nation for editing this chapter!Ruhal:
“We are sorry about the restraints. Your dossier has a security lock from the Office of Interior that I can’t even read, and all our supervisor could tell us was ‘interview with caution’,” one of the two agents explained.I regarded my handcuffs with professional disapproval. They had a longer than regular chain for ambulatory movement and inmate processing, by the deep, I could even use them as garrote if needed. They had revealed the limits of their rank with that apology.
“No need to worry. I am sure this will be a formality in less than an hour,” I told them, if there was one thing that was in abundance on the planet Sky it was Interior and undercover commando trainees. I hoped this would probably be their most interesting case all month.
“So, would you care to explain how you are raising a human, that is also considered a military asset?” The agent inquired as she pulled out her slate.
“Of course, Klein surrendered himself and requested medical aid and refugee status. He was willing to answer essential questions regarding human culture that aided in liberating humanity into the Shil’vati Empire. He wouldn’t be safe on Earth anymore, and I mentioned that he was still important in writing my reports. If I had my slate, I could give you the relevant documentation,” I said in a conversational tone, without any of the emotions that weighed the story, and glossing over the specifics.
“No need. I have everything you submitted to the Interior, including his asset designation, the interrogation transcripts, and even his doctor’s contact info. To be honest with you it’s the only reason we haven’t interviewed you yet, even after a dozen calls about a ‘possible trafficked human’ since he arrived. Your information is corroborated with several other departments. The issue now is what the medivac scans found.” The agent pushed a slate towards me with medical notes bolded for emphasis ‘probable severe abuse’.
“The report shows a recent history of blunt force trauma, abrasions, and even muscle tearing, in short. It looks like the human has been systematically tortured for months. You also have recently requested restricted training armor in the human’s size.” The agent explained.
Ah, that was my mistake. I had been treating Klein as another child, just with some unique needs. It looks like there were other considerations, ones that I failed to see.
“I really do need my omni-slate to illustrate this, it’s on my desk right now if one of your assistants could get it?” I asked, hoping they got the suggestion to not leave me with only one interrogator in the room so they wouldn’t be graded too harshly.
They thankfully acquiesced without comment, and with my omni-slate in hand I pulled up the latest video of Klein practicing with me, the speed and brutality was difficult for me to sit through. Then, Klein pulled off his helmet seconds later, laughing in the rain. Unconcerned that, without armor, we could have just killed each other- I was grateful he had, else it might’ve been interpreted quite differently. “The bruising mostly from everyday participation at a Rakiri gym, and some remnants from before I got proper gear for baton practice. He heals extremely fast, and more so, he isn’t happy unless he exercises for at least an hour or two a day.”
I pulled up another video. Klein was sitting at the table bouncing his leg at an ever-increasing pace while trying to focus on a decently complex equation. He finally stood up and started pacing mouthing words as he skipped in time to an unheard rhythm.
“W-what’s he doing?” The agent asked, looking just a tad disturbed by the display of what seemed erratic behavior.
“A sort of dance while playing the song ‘a fine mesh net’ on his headphones. There was a monsoon that Shel weekend, and even I’m not crazy enough to fight in a thunderstorm like that. He does that around the house for an hour, and then finally settles in on a video game,” I explained to the agents, who were looking at me dubiously.
“So, you oversee an adolescent who is an intelligence asset, but also seems poorly fitted for Shil’vati life. Why the baton practice? Wouldn’t that make him even more dangerous, more of an outsider? Are you trying to sabotage his integration? Why not take him shopping, instead, or teach him beauty and self-care routines?” They were antagonizing. Countering every argument to see how I reacted. It seemed they could at least interrogate decently well.
“I hardly call a few quirks ‘poor fitting’. The baton practice is for obvious self-defense. Its intention is to make him dangerous,” I explained, letting the interviewers lead the conversation.
The back and forth went on for a while, but I presented a highlight reel of the last few months. Including a Rakiri gym video when Klein tried to flourish a wall climb and smashed his shoulder on the ledge while face planting into the mud.
The agents would not be arresting me today. They would need medical reports, and would require Klein, Hario, and Compassion Through Deeds to attest while truth scanned that these were sports injuries, and not some conspiracy to commit torture. We were also going to need to see an ICAD agent every two weeks for counseling. I had no idea what ICAD was, but I would investigate them later.
Finally, the agents appeared they were closing up the interview. I tried not to brace myself as they asked the complicated question. “One thing we need to know is, what is Klein to you? If he is just a crucial asset, then why haven’t you contacted a local volunteer family foster? Or was the military asset just a cover to find a male heir?”
I sighed, the truth wasn’t incriminating, but if I didn’t word it right, I would look like the worst sort of military tourist. “I had, originally, taken care of Klein as a key intelligence asset. Within that first week though, I had found that despite the decades of preparation, there wasn’t a process for someone to claim asylum as a child during first contact. He would be in military bureaucratic limbo without an advocate. We both know where he would end up.”
The room cooled by several degrees, which was a pity, I almost got the talkative agent to laugh at Klein’s antics. “Out of duty I investigated ways I could bring him home until I could find resources to place him in a stable situation with all the resources to help a xeno without a community. I found someone who was willing to help in exchange for reports on Klein’s adaptation to Shil’vati lifestyle. That’s Klein’s purpose as a military asset in my home.”
I continued. I was saying more on than I needed to, but if they did a follow up investigation later for some other incident, which was a when, not if, then I wanted this on record. “Klein has become part of this household though, despite, or maybe because, of his oddities. He may not be Shil’vati, but he seems to have integrated well. It’s why, while it was never my intention, when he is an adult, I will offer him full adoption, and title of home guardian.”
I watched the agents exchange looks, then the agent made a few taps on her slate. ‘Upper left, middle center, probably a message app’. I then listened for the telltale taps of a yes as a micro expression of a self-satisfied smile crossed the agent’s face. I decided to stop playing interviewee.
“So, you won the bet on if I would claim the human as my son, how long has that pool been building?” I asked folding my hands together.
The agent answered before she could think. “Two months… Wait!? How did you-”
The agent was cut off by the squawk of the slate’s speaker. “Agents you did well enough with the interview portion, however; you absolutely failed to secure the subject. Could you please illustrate to them why I stressed caution {petal of death’s veil}?”
The code name wasn’t one I had heard in decades, but I wasn’t going to snub an old handler. I kicked on my fast reaction mods to max speed and lunged over the table past the still sitting agents. I pirouetted and twisted the restraints into a loop as I brought them down over the left agent’s head and pulled back carefully, lightly touching the chain of my restraints around the neck of the agent before she could even react.
I kicked off my mods and caught my breath as time returned to normal. Both agents’ eyes went wide with shock as the one not about to be strangled tried to get away to pull out her weapon. “W-who are you!?”
“I’m going to slowly release you and put my hands up, is that everything you needed {hated old friend}?” I directed my question to the slate, using the code High Shil word to show I was playing along.
“More than enough. Agent! Holster your weapon and come back to the safe room. We need to go over security procedures,” the slate responded, and the very brief confrontation was over.
The agents walked out, and Siltan stomped in looking like she could bring about a thunderstorm by pure force of will. “We weren’t the only ones to get visits from the ‘majesty’s’ Interior today. Cee let me know that the Interior is also interrogated Reqellia as well.”
I now understood why these two rookies were here. It was a distraction for me. I grumbled as I picked up my slate and called Reqellia. Her face appeared a second later.
“By the Deep, it’s been a long day,” Reqellia breathed out as I heard a door slam, then she cursed some more.
“Tell me everything. Is Klein ok?” I asked.
“Cee says he’s fine and is waking him up. Klein might be getting a mod himself before she closes him up though because, oh- looks like it’s my day is going to get longer still. ICAD is here, and it’s a Hydrean in a Gearschilde clinic.” Reqellia hung up, and I stared at the phone in confusion.
It was time to find out what ICAD was.
Klein:
I blearily came to, as high powered, piercing white light flooded my half open eyes. I tried to move my arm to shield my face and found I couldn’t. Actually, I couldn't move or even feel anything from the neck down.I started to panic as I turned my head, focusing on lettering on a terminal, tried to sigh, and felt what few muscles I could control turn to lead as I sank back on the medical bed. Thank the goddess, it was Shil and Gearschilde lettering on the slate and medical supplies.
“Good afternoon Klein, are you okay? Your heart rate spiked.” I heard Cee, or full name Compassion Through Deeds, speak and turned my head to see her. She wore a dark red lab coat and regarded me with unblinking cybernetic eyes. Most of her orange skin had been replaced with dark steel etched with stylized waves and swirls of silver. Her face still emoted in a pleasant smile, but had that uncanny valley look of unblemished synth skin. I looked down to see a dozen micro surgical tools still inside me.
I should have been screaming at the sight, but all I felt was relief and joy. “Yeah, I just worried for a half second that I had hallucinated the last few months and was actually on a back on Earth on some black-market operating table getting my kidney stolen.”
Cee was aghast. “Does that happen on Earth?”
I would shrug, but again, I couldn’t move, instead I responded. “Rumors of it happening, but I never knew anyone personally.”
Cee reassured me. “Well, good news Klein, you are on Sky, you are in a Gearschilde clinic where stealing vital organs is a legal, moral and religious crime of unrepentant severity. What I have done is remove your appendix, and let the sedatives wear off so we can discuss what you want in its place.”
“In place of my appendix? Why?” I asked, it wasn’t like I really needed the vestigial organ turn internal hand grenade.
“Customary in Gearschilde for surgery is to be about giving a better life than just taking from the body. So, any ideas of what would make your life better?”
I thought about the bruising, the constant having to put healing patches on, and the annoyance of doing so. I thought about the near fatality of almost blowing my appendix, and if something could have fixed the issue before it got out of hand. “What about a healing dispenser? I keep having to put on patches and gel at the end of the day, and if I miss a spot, I will pay for it later.”
Cee gave me a grateful expression. “That’s a perfect first implant. I was worried you were going to ask for something more aggressive. When I was your age, I got my first defensive mod, a retractable forearm knife. Of course, my next surgery was being stitched back together after accidently stabbing myself with it.”
I tried to chuckle, but I didn’t have control of my diaphragm for it. “So, what’s next?”
Cee explained. “Well, the fabricator in the other room is right now creating your implant. It shouldn’t take long; are you ok being immobilized for the next hour or so?”
I thought about it, and honestly, I was still surprised I wasn’t panicking. “No, but I’m going to get really bored just laying here, do the Gearschilde have any good myths or stories?”
I knew I was fishing in an untapped pool that was guaranteed to have something. I wasn’t expecting my doctor to be gleeful at the thought though. “Oh blessed be you child, I am a surgeon priest, half the reason I am in this vocation is to tell stories. I take it you know nothing about Gearschilde mythology, or even our history?”
It was on my list of rabbit holes to get into, but instead I binged the rest of Prince Of The Stars and cried, it was nice. “No, but I would love to hear them.”
“Well if you want to, every Shel we have open services and brunch. But since you are new to Gearschilde mythology we should start with one of my favorites. The story of the Hopestrider.”
The ceiling lights dimmed, and the sterile operating room felt surprisingly cozy as I leaned my head back. Listening to Cee starting up the tale. “Our sect requires us to lead what can best be called ‘child technician classes’. Learning to take care of machines, which includes us by the start of adolescence, if not before. It’s a critical life skill, and teaching it is considered an important part of our religious studies.”
‘Cyberpunk VeggieTales’ Squirrel brain chittered.
No one wants your opinion squirrel brain. I thought back.
Cee’s story: Hope Strider
“Long ago our world was full of harsh life. The valleys were often filled with poisonous mists and deadly predators that could rip apart even the strongest of our people. The mountain kingdoms were brutal fiefdoms that sent many to their deaths mining precious metals from the dangerous wastes of the valleys. Drilling into the heart of the mountains provided the power necessary to purify water, and later, steam engines turned those fiefdoms into empires. Expanding into the wastes using the lowest class of people as its foundation.”Cee paused for dramatic effect. “Then, everything changed.”
“The ground shook, and the mountain kingdoms erupted in fire and molten rock. Radioactive dust from these now volcanoes made the centers of civilization barren and deadly. Only the wasteland colonies in the poisonous mists provided any refuge, and so king and commoner alike huddled in the once disposable outposts of a ruined world. Our story starts a generation after the calamity with an unlucky child.”
I heard a ding, Cee stopped as the ceiling lights came up. “Oh dear, let me stop for a second to get the implant.”
I leaned back and thought about her nightmare world. When Cee returned, I didn’t even bother to open my eyes, too engrossed in the imagery of the story. “What happened to the child?”
I could hear the whirring as she started to work. Her voice I realized had taken a more scripted cadence. She must have automated her voice so she could focus. “In a metalworker’s home, a child was born with broken legs and brittle bones. It was common in those days for such a child to die that way. It was their first born and the parents did everything they could to save them. A surgeon was called. The child lost their legs, but kept their life.”
“The child lived in the workshop. Kept warm by the hearth’s fire, even unable to walk, they were curious. Day in and out, they watched their parents construct machines that helped the community make food, filter the air, and defend the homes from the starving, mutated, monsters that circled the fortress walls. The child felt helpless though. Only able to crawl within the confines of the home or be carried around like cargo about the maze-like town of winding stairs and narrow passageways.
“They spent much of their time learning, sitting near the hearth to keep warm, they did the careful work of filing gears and wheels needed to control what could be automated as each hand replaced was another that could be spent doing something else critical to keep the community alive. Still, the child wanted to do more. They could not deliver what they made, and had to rely on others to help them at every turn in life.”
“Little did the child know that in the hearth a machine spirit lived, getting by eating scrap metal that fell in and sleeping at night on the bed of embers. The machine spirit saw the child’s wish, an invention without form, and turned it into a dream for the child, since new machines would mean new machine spirits to play with.”
That night the child saw themselves flying over the cold gray landscape on a pair of machine legs. Traveling the dangerous paths to other towns, and giving the isolated towns hope and community. The child awoke with joy and crawled over to his workbench littered with scrap metal, now children….”
Cee stopped talking and her voice went back to an unscripted rhythm. “I just realized we can’t do the practical part of this story. In class each kid gets a hope strider stuffy with snaps to attach legs they make. We give them bits of copper. Show them how to bend and hammer it, and how to bond it by wrapping the joint in solder and then applying heat with a soldering iron heated in their own toy ‘hearth’ with a safety cover. Still we get a daily small burn or cut, but that in itself is a valuable lesson in tool safety.”
It sounded adorable in a weird, steampunk way. “Sounds fun, so, new legs?”
Cee got the que, as much as I loved the story, and the talk about kindergarten metal shop, I was still immobilized on the operating table. I heard surgical whirring, and the scripted voice came back. “Yes, the child works all night until they fit the new legs on, and for the first time stand up on their own! The parents are overjoyed as they watch them move about the house and that afternoon, with the help of an iron bar as a cane, they walk around their community by themselves.”
“However, it isn’t long before the legs start to see wear and tear, but the child persists, not wanting to stop and fix the creaking joints, until one day the legs stop working altogether and they fall down in a twisting staircase. Carried back to the workshop, they rest for days to heal before they are able to work again. Constructing a new set from the remains of the old. Now…”
Klein:
Cee stopped again, but this time she had moved away from me and was putting the now bloody surgical tools into a sanitizing system. “We're done! I am going to start removing the nerve blocks, so you’re going to be sore, but if things get too painful, let me know. Please, try not to move anything but your hands right now, even then I would advise against it.”My whole body had that pins and needles feel and I tried to move my fingers, but it was sporadic and jerky. Cee distracted me by explaining my new implant. “So, this implant is very basic. It can only be requested to send diagnostic data. The implant only administers more healing serum at a safe, steady rate if, and only if, it doesn’t detect any in your bloodstream. There is an injection site with a color change circle around it. It uses standard go, caution, stop colors to let you know if it’s functioning. I want to wave your omni-pad over the site and check the diagnostics at least once a day. It should hopefully catch if something like this is happening again.”
I tried to not move as I felt my body twitch. My gut felt like I had been run over, repeatedly. I asked, “why didn’t my medical monitoring implant catch this?”
Cee explained. “That’s only good for basic vitals. Near universal indicators of life and activity such as heart rate and blood pressure. The new implant will be able to scan for elevated protein counts. So, if one of your other internal organs starts to malfunction you can get a more unambiguous message that I hope you won’t ignore before getting medivac’d through the city.”
I chuckled a little at that, and it hurt. “Ow, ok, no movement. I thought it was just a pulled muscle or something.”
Cee looked down at me sternly, and her voice took on a deeper, more authoritative tone. “Child, more than enough Gearschilde have died thinking they can just, push themselves past their organic parts failing, if you have a torn muscle that hurts after you’ve used healing gel, then it’s serious enough you need to come see me, or another xeno-doctor, immediately. That’s why I hope your new implant can fix things before it gets to that point.”
Cee brightened after that and went back to the explanation of my implant. “Now that I scolded you, there is a color changing circle over your implant’s location. It will change color when the healing serum runs low, or and will start to flash in color, and try to ping your omni-pad if it detects a malfunction. The implant uses a standard Shil’ implant autoinjector, and it will reject anything not meant for red blood standard biology, but still be careful, it’s not a perfect filtering system. Today I’m giving you a set of autoinjectors I want you to use throughout the week. It's fortunate that your implant’s primary function will speed up your recovery time.”
Ok, that’s cool to know, but.
‘What happened to Hopestrider?!’ Squirrel brain demanded.
“So, the story, what happens next?” I asked as Cee helped me sit up. My stomach still hurt, but the feeling was in the overworked muscle category rather than a gut punch.
Cee started to explain as I put on what was essentially gym clothes. Soft, baggy pants and shirt with easy pull away tabs if they needed to remove the clothes quickly for checkups and surgical intervention. “Well, we don’t have time to go over the Hope Strider as a story, or even a summary, but if you want to, my husband teaches the child technician class during open services on Shel, you could sit in and listen.
Right now, I will give you a family crafted picture book that tells the core story of Hope Strider growing up, and making their first delivery. After that it’s a loose selection of legends that are attributed to Hope Strider as they grow older and more accomplished, but while I get that book, I need you to speak to someone.”
Cee led me out of the operating room, and into a comfortable looking lounge where a… Hydrean was sitting in an Imperial business uniform reading an omni-pad. My brain pulled everything I knew of Hydreans out. A rabbit hole I had dug into one rainy Shel on the public information repositories.
She, they, single gendered I reminded myself, looked up and smiled at me calmly, mouth closed for politeness. Their skin was grass green with artful patches of bark on her face and neck, the result of cosmetic scarification. They looked human, or Shil’oid, but that was purposefully done. Even the somewhat standard looking ‘desert walker’ Hydreans normally had more, or less, limbs than standard. Biological modification was at the root of all Hydrean technology, ancient as the stone ax to other species.
I thought about how contentious Hydrean/Shil relationships were said to be. Their arid home planet was off limits to all but certified personnel who had been trained how to handle the dangerous mix of flora/fauna that instead of being different groups, was just a single taxonomy that had no distinction between predator and prey. With their complex biology, a Hydrean needed to undergo extensive body modification just to exist off their home world.
Cee left the room with a friendly goodbye and offered assistance “Hello Klein, I am Ka’tel. It’s wonderful to meet you. I am with the Imperial Child Assistance Division, or ICAD. My job is to help interspecies fosters and adoptions. How are you feeling today?”
I caught a glimpse of her teeth as they spoke. Triangular, and made of burnished metal meant to tear off chunks of animal, plant, or even rock, whole and let their stomachs’ mix of acids dissolve it into something the rest their body could use.
‘The agent in charge of your welfare is a plant/animal hybrid with a diet of ‘yes’, your doctor is a wholesome orange 40K mechanicus, and your crush is a were-lion, you are not ok .’ Squirrel brain remarked.
“I’m actually pretty good, despite the surgery, it’s actually a common issue for humans.” I said to Ka’tel, because my life was weird before the aliens, squirrel brain was just being a pessimistic asshole.
“Really? Do you know what caused it?” Ka’tel asked.
“It just, happens? Gets irritated or infected and then you need to get it removed.” I said nonchalantly. Ka’tel made a mark on her omni-pad.
“How did you know? It seems dangerous if it can happen suddenly, and you mentioned it before you passed out.” Ka’tel asked tone friendly and conversational.
“Oh, the side of your stomach hurts. I was hoping it was just a pulled muscle bec- Dammit!” I just remembered what happened before I woke up here.
“The raid game! Ko’tasa would have had to substitute for me and she’s not well balanced for our team mix.” I said with a exasperated sigh.
Ka’tel cocked their head to one side, but the tone in her voice was humorous. “You were willing to ignore a possible life-threatening condition for a game?”
I explained, though I felt idiotic now. “I couldn’t tell. I get sore muscles all the time from gym, and sparing, and even from the auxiliary work, honestly my commandant doesn’t really know where to put me sometimes. Last week I helped with road clearing for the new town to go up a few [miles] away, and the girls could barely keep up with me.”
Ka’tel seemed to be enjoying my rambling. “Sounds like you really get put to work.”
“Not really? The auxiliary is the only work I do, and if I wanted to stop I just, can. It’s not like I need to worry about buying food.” I knew what I was saying seemed strange while living in the Imperium.
It was the first hint that Ka’tel was controlling her expressions when she seemed more attentive and… relieved? “That’s delightful news to hear! Is there anything about your living situation that bothers you?”
I paused and thought about it, and really couldn’t see anything. “Not really?”
“Anything, or anyone, you miss from Earth?” Ka’tel asked, stressing that last bit, dropping a mental bomb on my head and I froze, mouth partly open with a half formed response. When was the last time I even thought about Earth as more than an abstract concept? It hadn’t been [six months] since I left but…
I didn’t feel anything.
The last year I lived on Earth, it was like being a ghost. I saw people, I even talked to people, but it was like a thick plate of glass all around me. Today I felt color, and life, and things, but that last year on Earth?
Like radio static.
I looked at Ka’tel, and their expression was one of controlled neutrality. Why was I not freaking out?
I had a sensation of the room spinning. I asked, “No, I don’t really feel anything about Earth, is that normal?”
“I don’t know Klein, by most sentient standards what you went through was unusual, and from what little I know about humans that isn’t propaganda, it’s unusual for humans as well. What I do know is right now you seem happy and healthy, and that’s my top priority.” Ka’tel said as they stood and offered me a stiff plastic card with their contact details on it.
“We will be chatting every other week to see how you are adjusting. I might ask to visit you at the youth auxiliary depot, the gym or at home. I really am glad to see you are doing just fine, but if you ever need a way out, that card has an emergency signal function, just pull the plastic tab.” Ka’tel told me, and was about to open the door before I spoke up.
“How should I refer to you?” I asked, and once they realized, Ka’tel gave me a genuine, toothed, smile that was both menacing and goofy at the same time.
“Most people don’t learn enough Hydrean biology to ask. Her, that’s how everyone in the office sees me, and it’s more convenient socially.” She said, opening the door to an anxious looking Itaro standing next to a serious Ruhal and Reqellia.
“I need to speak to you Ruhal, and Reqellia, you should join us for this conversation as well.” Ka’tel said as she ushered me out.
Cee led us into a gaming room with a long table on one side, and a set of couches facing the wall to wall display on the other. She handed me an overloaded plate of cookies with bottle of water, and stepped out, closing the door behind us. “Eat those, your stomach has healed, but it’s going to need calories to fuel the recovery.”
Only then did I realize I was salivating at the smell of warm sugar, and flour made of Kasan grain, if I was identifying the green color correctly. I put the plate of cookies on the table, and snarfed them as I sat down.
After swallowing the fourth cookie semi-whole, I looked up to see Itaro’s face fighting a war between impatient, apprehensive, and hopeful. I stopped, realizing what I was doing, and sipped some water to stall for time.
I was about to pull my omni-pad out from my pockets when Itaro suddenly put her hand out to stop me. “Wait! Klein, I need to tell you something…”
She was silent for a long moment, what was she worried about?
“I… Like you, as, I find you…. Attractive, and I may have gotten a little…. overprotective when you got hurt.” Itaro said, her voice stuttering.
‘Oh, that makes things easy.’ Squirrel brain was for once, right.
“I like you too.” I said as I leaned over and kissed her.