#CCU: Level Two

[captainsophiestark]

The Best Night Ever

Tristan Flynn x Reader

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Fandom: Crescent City

Summary: After Ruhn and Dec discovered Flynn was hiding a secret human girlfriend, the obvious next step was introducing her to the rest of the friend group as soon as possible

Word Count: 2,479

Category: Fluff, Humor

A/N: Requested by anon! Functionally a sequel to Presentation Problems and Nosy Best Friends, but it can also be read independently! Also this is just vaguely set in Crescent City, it doesn't fit very well at any specific point in the timeline lol

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"How's this?"

I stepped out of the bathroom, turning in a little circle so my boyfriend, Tristan Flynn, could give me feedback on the outfit I'd chosen. After a bit of leadup and delay thanks to my grad school course load, I was finally meeting his extended friend group tonight. To say I was nervous might've been an understatement.

Tristan's eyes raked up and down my body, a hungry light to them that I knew well.

"You look amazing."

I huffed and put my hands on my hips, fixing him with a look, but he wasn't fazed.

"Of course you think that. You're biased as Hel."

He shrugged. "I can't help it if I have good taste."

I snorted and rolled my eyes, but I'd been dating Flynn long enough to know he probably hadn't missed my heart speeding up a bit in my chest. I did my best to ignore it as I headed back into the bathroom to finish my makeup.

"You have nothing to worry about, sweetheart," called Flynn, his voice getting closer as he came to stand behind me at the bathroom counter. He wrapped his arms around my waist and leaned his head on my shoulder. "They're gonna love you."

"...I hope you're right."

He kissed my cheek, pulling me even tighter against his chest. Some of the tension relaxed out of my shoulders.

"Don't worry. I am."

****************

Just about an hour later, I walked hand-in-hand with Flynn up to a fairly normal looking house near the Old Square. Definitely not a place I expected a fae prince to live, but then again, Tristan and his friends didn't seem anything like what I expected from fae nobility.

"So this is home sweet home, huh?" I asked as we walked up the drive together. Flynn grinned.

"Yup. Bryce likes to call it the frat house."

I laughed, but realized what she meant the minute we stepped through the door. From the vaguely sticky floor to the gaming setup and the pong table painted with a giant fae dude eating an angel whole this place would've fit right in with frat row on CCU's campus.

I snorted. "Holy shit, 'frat house' is right."

Flynn grinned at me, having the dignity to look at least a little embarrassed. Before he could defend himself, however, we were joined by a group who I assumed were Tristan's friends, all coming from the kitchen with bright smiles on their faces and warm greetings on their lips. I squeezed my boyfriend's hand a little tighter and pasted a smile on my own face, but when a female with beautiful red hair, who I assumed must be Bryce, immediately wrapped me in a tight hug, the smile got a little more real.

"I'm Bryce," she said, confirming my suspicions with a smile when she pulled back. "It's so nice to finally meet you. I thought Flynn was making you up."

I laughed despite my boyfriend's indignant "Hey!".

"It's really nice to meet you too."

She gave me another smile, another level of tension easing as she did, before turning to the tall angel behind her.

"This is Hunt, my mate." The guy in question gave me a nod and a small smile of his own, which I returned. Bryce gestured to the two fae males to her side, who I recognized. They'd trailed Tristan to my apartment, curious about where their friend kept disappearing to, and were a big part of the reason we were having this dinner in the first place. "I guess you already know these two."

"Sup," said the Crown Prince of the Valbaran Fae with a chin nod in my direction. I had to work not to laugh, especially as Bryce elbowed him in the ribs and he shot her a glare. Still, he cleared his throat and turned back to me. "Uh, sorry for... how we first met. It was probably a lot, but honestly, we were just shocked Flynn had a steady girlfriend."

"Hey!"

Tristan's shout went ignored again as I laughed and the other fae male—Marc—nodded emphatically to back up his friend's story. I just grinned.

"It's okay. Tris basically told me the same thing, that your reaction was down to shock that he had a relationship and not, you know. That I'm human."

"No way," Ruhn assured me.

"Maybe shock that he actually got you to agree to go out with him," agreed Dec. I laughed as Tristan cleared his throat and draped his arm across my shoulders.

"Alright, I think that's enough of that shit," he said. "Where's the Pup?"

"Running late, but on his way," answered Dec. I raised an eyebrow as he turned to me. "You want a drink or anything while we wait?"

"Sure, I'll just take a beer or something. Thank you."

"No problem."

The rest of us settled into the living room as Dec went to get himself, me, and Tristan a drink. I ended up perched in Tris' lap, largely because I didn't really want to sit on the frat furniture in this place. Bryce clocked what I was doing, and her nod and wink told me she totally got it.

"So who's 'Pup'?" I asked, twisting around a little to look at Tristan but addressing the question to the group.

"He's one of the other members of our motley crew," answered Bryce. "He actually went to CCU for a while."

"Oh, really? What did he study?"

"History."

"Hm. I wonder if we overlapped? Maybe I've seen him around."

As if on cue, I heard the front door open. I turned with the rest of our group to see none other than CCU's most recent star sunball player coming through the door, a six pack in his hand.

"Sorry I'm late," he said. He came to a stop in front of our group and fixed me with a smile when he noticed me. "Hey, nice to meet you. I'm Ithan."

"Hey," I said, returning the smile right as Dec returned, handing me my drink. "It's nice to meet you too."

Then, I turned to Flynn, not bothering to hide the outrage on my face.

"How could you not tell me you're friends with Ithan Holstrom, CCU's best player in the past decade."

Flynn groaned and threw his head back, smacking his hand against his face. I could hear the rest of his friends laughing at his pain, but I ignored them.

"Are you fucking with me right now?" asked my boyfriend as he finally picked his head up and looked at me again. "You're not actually a fan of his, are you?"

"Of course I am! My friend goes to the school he almost single-handedly stomped into the ground in the championship a couple years ago, and I still use that game to win arguments with her. Like, at least once a month." I turned to look over my shoulder at Ithan, who looked half amused and half embarrassed at the attention. Everyone else looked absolutely delighted by the interaction they were witnessing. "Thanks for that, by the way."

Ithan gave me a nod and a thumbs up, and Flynn practically growled.

"I knew this was a bad idea," he said as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me tighter to him, until my back was pressed against his chest. He buried his face in my hair as he grumbled, "Just please tell me you don't have his jersey."

"Well..."

"Fucking Urd."

"I'm kidding!" I laughed. "I don't have his jersey. Sorry Holstrom, but I always liked the goalies best."

Ithan grinned. "No hard feelings. I could probably set up a meet and greet for you with the goalie from that championship game, if you wanted it."

"You're all terrible people and friends," groaned Flynn, scowling at us all. We just laughed, but I rested a comforting hand on his thigh all the same.

The rest of the night passed quickly, and way more easily than I'd thought it might. Tristan's friends were funny and absolutely wonderful, and they made me feel welcome every second of the night. I don't think any of them even realized how much it meant to me when, after dinner, we had a few impromptu games of pong and none of them were anything but excited about how good I was, without a glancing comment or hint of mention about "for a human". Instead, I'd gotten impressed whistled from Bryce and Hunt, cheers from Ithan, and ridiculous, overcomplicated handshakes from Ruhn and Dec. Tristan beamed at every interaction, smiling and supporting me every second of the night, and I got a warm glow in my chest every time I looked at him.

I never would've imagined falling in love with a Vanir, but I'd realized about a month ago that that's what was happening with Flynn. To also be falling in love with his friends, his community, and the energy of being around them despite the fact that the group was full of mostly male, powerful Vanir? I'd basically won the lottery.

Apparently I'd still missed meeting one member of the core friend group tonight, a mer named Tharion who worked in intelligence for the Ocean Queen, but everyone assured me I'd love him, too, even though he could be ridiculous sometimes.

"I mean, if you can put up with Flynn, I think you'll be able to put up with Tharion just fine," said Dec. Tristan scoffed.

"Thanks, buddy."

When the night finally ended, way later than I had ever been expecting it to, it was with hugs and plans being made to get together again as soon as possible, especially so I could meet Tharion. Tristan was leaving with me, both to walk me home safely and because he'd been spending more and more time at my place lately. Hunt and Bryce left with us, taking off into the skies as Tris' frat brothers waved us all off from the doorway.

I smiled as I waved back at them, Flynn and I heading down the street hand in hand. A peaceful, happy feeling had settled in my chest as the night came to a close and Tristan and I stepped into the cool night air, and it wrapped me up like a blanket as we walked together in comfortable silence.

"So... what did you think?" asked Tris after a few blocks. I smiled.

"I think I love your friends. I wasn't expecting them to be so... cool. But they were, and I'm really happy I got to know them. Thank you for sharing them with me."

"Seriously? Thank you for putting up with them."

I huffed a laugh as we finally made it to my building, pausing to search for my keys. I found them after a moment, but Flynn stopped me before I could open the door with a gentle hand on mine. When I met his eyes, I found his face in the rare expression of open vulnerability that I loved so much.

"I mean it, you know. I- thank you for coming tonight. I know how nervous you were about it."

I gave him a little half-smile. "Of course, Tris. Anything for you. I... I love you."

My heart leapt into my throat, threatening to choke me out as I registered the soft surprise on Tristan's face. I'd figured out what the feeling in my chest meant whenever I looked at him a while ago, but I hadn't actually said it yet. If he didn't feel the same way, or if this somehow scared him off-

Tristan closed the distance between us in a heartbeat, moving faster than I could really register. He wrapped me in his arms and pulled me close, his breath ticking my ear as he spoke.

"I love you too," he said, voice breathy and soft, like he couldn't quite believe this moment was real. I knew how he felt. "So much. I don't... I don't think I've ever felt this way about someone before."

I giggled—actually giggled—the bright, happy sound bubbling out of me involuntarily. I wrapped my arms around Tristan's neck, leaning back just enough so I could look him in the eye. The soft intensity in his look almost destroyed me on the spot, and I beamed at him before leaning back in to kiss him, hard.

We stayed like that for a long, long time, locked together, lost in each other, making out on he front step of my apartment building. Tristan's hands roamed my body and I tangled mine in his hair, the door key still clutched in one hand, neither of us caring who might see us. We were both breathless and grinning like fools when a car horn at the other end of the block finally snapped us out of it.

"This... might've been the best night ever," I said, grinning at my wonderful boyfriend, who grinned right back.

"Damn right it is."

I let out a breathy laugh, finally returning my attention to the apartment keys and the door in front of me. Tristan's hands found my hips as he hovered over my shoulder, and I knew the best night ever wasn't quite over for either of us.

"You know, I just realized something," mused Tris as I wrestled with the door.

"What's that?"

"You told me you loved my friends before you said you loved me."

I huffed a laugh and fought an eyeroll as I finally got the stubborn lock to work, throwing the door open for both of us.

"Trust me," I said, fixing him with a look as we stepped inside. "I love you in a very different way."

"Really?" he asked, that spark of mischief I loved so much creeping into his eyes and his voice.

"Yes, really."

"I don't know, sweetheart. I think I'm feeling a little insecure about it."

His voice and posture told me he felt anything but insecure, but I just put a hand on my hip, playing along with the male I loved.

"Oh yeah? Anything I can do to make you feel better about it?"

He let that cocky grin that I knew so well slowly spread across his face, fixing me with a look that definitely meant trouble.

"I can think of a few things."

With that, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, just laughing at the noise of surprise I made. I regularly forgot about his super fae strength, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't make my heart race.

Tristan took the stairs two at a time, and I couldn't help joining him with a laugh of my own. I was ridiculously, deliriously happy with him, and had been basically since the first day I'd met him. I don't know if it was fate or Urd or some other cosmic force that threw us together, or even just plain, stupid luck. Whatever the case, I would never take it for granted for a single second. I planned to enjoy every moment with this wonderful idiot love of my life, and even better, I knew he felt exactly the same.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989

[cloud-shroom]

Cloudie Connected Universe (CCU / Cloudieverse)

Okay! Listen up! It's time for the fun stuff now. So, I have this multiverse in my minecraft content called as the title says; Cloudieverse (The Cloudie Connected Universe) (As inspired by MCU.) 【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ 】 Now, I wanted to introduce to you the key duo / trio names between the said multiverse. 1. SoulboundDuo. | SoulboundDuo is a Duo name between the variants Juno Rosen and Epsilon, they are inspired by ARG!Sunshipduo and follow the same concept finding each other in every universe / Killing each other in every universe. | 2. HoneyfangDuo. | The name is inspired by Sunshipduo. However, this is my duo and ship name with me and my Partner. | | 3. Sunset Trio. | Sunset Trio is the Trio name between me and two of my friends on a MC SMP but can apply to our other character's and or Variants. | 4. Godly Trio. | Similar to SoulboundDuo except it involves three people. Any Juno and Eps variants and 1 soul whose spirit is split across the multiverse, Mystery. They are called Godly Trio due to the fact each of them are like 'gods'. They traverse when freely and do whatever they please when they feel like it. This trio mainly contains The Original Juno and Epsilon in the CCU and as for Mystery, it is just his brother, Avow. (Who is actually Mystery reincarnated into another body.)

| 5. ObsidianDuo. | This duo is inspired by Emerald Duo and made for me and another friend of mine. Not much is to say about these two. | 【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ 】 Character's involved: SBD- O!Eps and O!Juno (Odyssey SMP) 【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦✦ 】 HFD- Any Juno and Rose variants. (Mainly directed as CV!Honeyfangduo. [Cloudieverse] CV!Juno and CV!Ambrose.)

【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦✦ 】

SST- Any variants or character's of Juno, Buddy, and Syn. (Trio name Originated from GOOPSMP) 【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦✦ 】

GT - Mainly consist of O!Soulbounduo and TS! (TimelessSMP) Mystery [who, again, is reformed in another body and is 'known' as Mystery's brother.] (Will explain this complicated process on a different level.) 【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦✦ 】 OBD- Any Juno and Marlo variants. (Usually follows the Son (Juno) and father (Marlo) trope unless stated otherwise.) 【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦✦ 】 How are Mystery and Avow the same person? Mystery is a moth hybrid who was first played in my first ever SMP titled 'TimelessSMP'. In this universe, he was originally a god of chaos and tricks. Similar to Loki and any other deity / Entity. One day, a convergence between TimelessSMP and ReverenceSMP (My 3rd SMP) had occurred and Mystery was caught in the middle of it, his spirit fell through the floor which in turn split his soul. and so now, any SMP he is part of, his soul becomes split and it takes a toll on his original body which is in a coma. The gods of Timeless are keeping him alive but decided to ease the pain by forming him a new body with a new personality so it has no affect on the timeline. He would be known as Avow and also be known as a spider hybrid. 【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦✦ 】 I think that's it. If you have any questions of these group names and of the CCU itself, don't be afraid to comment or go into my Ask box!

【✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦✦ 】

[naturecoaster]

Citrus Counties Utilities offers Rebates for Water Sense Smart Irrigation Systems

As the heat of summer intensifies, so does the importance of efficient water management, particularly in maintaining lawns and landscapes. July marks Smart Irrigation Month, a time dedicated to promoting the benefits of smart irrigation practices and technologies that help conserve water while maintaining healthy landscapes.  According to the EPA, landscape irrigation in the U.S. is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day.  Here in Citrus County, landscape watering consumes about half of all water supplied to Citrus County Utilities’ residential customers and can account for 80 percent of water provided to homes with an automatic irrigation system.   Citrus County Utilities offers a $100 account credit for upgrading to a Water Sense labeled irrigation controller and $50 for installing a rain sensor Are you a smart irrigator? Ask yourself a couple of questions.  First, does your sprinkler system irrigate within a day of substantial rainfall?  Smart irrigators would say no.  Here is why.  After a lawn receives ample rain, say one-half to three-quarters of an inch, there is no additional benefit from applying more water.  Adding a rain sensor will stop unneeded irrigation.  Rebates are available to Citrus County Utilities (CCU) customers. The second question to ask yourself is, does your irrigation system run the same number of minutes in winter and summer?  Being a smart irrigator means total irrigation runtimes are reduced by 50% in winter or irrigating no more than once every 14 days in winter. Turfgrass needs less water in winter due to cold temperatures, dormancy, and less evaporation.  Many smart irrigators turn the irrigation system to the ‘off’ position in December and turn it back ‘on’ after two weeks of no rainfall or spring arrives.   One of the key innovations driving smarter irrigation is the WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller. These controllers represent a significant leap forward in water management technology by automatically adjusting watering schedules according to environmental conditions such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, and soil moisture levels.   By incorporating weather data into their programming, these controllers offer homeowners and landscapers a smarter way to irrigate. For more than ten years, CCU has leveraged Water Sense labeled technology to reduce residential water consumption through rebate incentives that have saved more than 166 million gallons of water and $465,000 on water bills. CCU offers a $100 account credit for upgrading to a Water Sense labeled irrigation controller and $50 for installing a rain sensor.  By investing in smart irrigation technologies, you can be sure to save water, money and time in caring for your landscape.  To learn more about WS controllers, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.   For more information on the Water Savers Rebate Program, visit the County’s website www.citrusbocc.com - quick link:  https://bit.ly/3WbQP2R Read the full article

[esgjuly]

How Do Businesses Aim for Net Zero?

Being one of Agile Advisors' top Net Zero Consultant, A corporation that strives for net zero emissions is making an effort to make sure that it does not release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than it takes out. A company must aim for net zero emissions, meaning that none of its operations, supply chain, goods, or services should negatively affect greenhouse gas emissions [1]. This can be achieved by lowering their emissions through increased productivity, product innovation, investments in the production and purchase of renewable energy, or using offsetting techniques to balance off the emissions they produce. Buying carbon credits or utilizing carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) are two examples of offset strategies.

In terms of Agile Advisors, we are a Net Zero, the net-zero initiative aims to prevent climate change's effects and maintain a habitable planet. To achieve this, the rise in global temperature must be kept below 1.5°Cover pre-industrial levels. To limit global warming to 1.5°C, reducing emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050 [2]. Beyond the environmental benefits, businesses can benefit from joining the net zero movement. Many companies utilize their green energy initiatives as a marketing tool to draw in environmentally conscientious clients [3]. Investor interest is expected to rise with the growing popularity of the net zero project and a reputation for environmental sustainability.

In our capacity as Agile Advisors with Net Zero Carbon, in addition to saving money on energy and water, waste reduction can help prevent future carbon and waste taxes [4]. Sky is a media and entertainment corporation based in Europe. With 23 million subscribers, Sky operates in six countries and offers apps, sports, entertainment, news, art, and original content [5]. In 2006[6], it became the first media company to achieve carbon neutrality. Sky has said in the open that it wants to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 through significant changes to several firm operations, including suppliers and products [7]. Currently, Sky's internal operations are entirely run on renewable energy.

To assist you as an Agile Advisor Net Zero Consultancy, every engineer's car is electric, and no single-use plastic is in the product packaging. It is also a member of "Albert," the sustainability consortium for the television industry [8]. Sky was one of the official sponsors of the global climate change meeting COP26 in 2021[9]. Sky has also engaged in global reduction or removal efforts to compensate. These include water infrastructure projects in Kenya, reforestation in Mexico, and renewable energy initiatives in China and India. Additionally, Sky funds a 200,000-native-tree reforestation effort in Scotland that will benefit the local people, environment, and biodiversity.

In our opinion as Net Zero, Sky has declared additional modifications it plans to implement by 2030 to attain net zero throughout its value chain. Sky now uses electric vehicles for its engineers, but by 2030, it wants all of its fleet to have net zero emissions. Sky wants to reduce the energy content of its tech products, create the world's most sustainable film and TV studios, and help all of the businesses that partner with it reach their own net zero carbon production targets. In addition, Sky wants to educate and empower its millions of users to lessen their carbon footprint. The Science-Based Targets Initiative confirmed these measurements.

[angelairambulanceinpatna]

Book Angel Air Ambulance Service in Delhi for a Smooth Traveling Experience

Maintaining the safety of the patients during the process of medical transportation is essential and only an expert medical evacuation company with a skilled team can deliver the best service. Angel Air Ambulance is known for offering life-saving Air Ambulance Services in Delhi that come equipped with best-in-line medical supplies effective for maintaining the highest level of comfort for the patients all along the journey. Our air ambulances are staffed with trained personnel to offer a speedy journey!

Our team of medical experts including doctors, nurses, paramedics, caregivers, respiratory therapists, and medical technicians is adept at handling medical emergencies, including heart attacks, strokes, trauma, and other life-threatening conditions with appropriateness. We have to date delivered Air Ambulance from Delhi to Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Vellore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and other cities with a hundred percent safety and a clear success rate.

Angel Air Ambulance Service in Patna Operates with Hundred Percent Success Ratio

We at Angel Air Ambulance Service in Patna have a certified aviation crew headed by two seasoned pilots who are skilled at handling in-flight operations effectively and make sure the journey is non-turbulent and comfortable from beginning to end. The medical team that accompanies patients all along the journey has training in offering onboard medications and medical attention to the patients throughout the process of evacuation.

At Air Ambulance in Patna, we utilize state-of-the-art medical jets that are outfitted with ICU, CCU, and life support facilities that are considered beneficial and in the best interest of the patients. We never tend to make your journey troublesome at any point and deliver a smooth shifting experience.

[knmedical]

Breathing Life into Medicine: The Crucial Role of the Oxygen Mask

　　In the realm of medicine, few devices are as emblematic of hope and healing as the oxygen mask. This simple yet vital tool plays a central role in delivering life-sustaining oxygen to patients, whether in emergency situations, during surgery, or as part of routine medical care.

　　1. The Essential Role of the Oxygen Mask:

　　Oxygen masks are medical devices designed to supply supplemental oxygen to patients who require additional oxygen intake to maintain adequate blood oxygen levels. They are essential in numerous healthcare settings and situations.

　　2. Emergency Medicine:

　　In emergency medicine, oxygen masks are often the first line of treatment for patients experiencing respiratory distress. Whether due to trauma, heart failure, or respiratory diseases like asthma, the rapid administration of oxygen can be life-saving.

　　3. Surgical Environments:

　　Oxygen masks play a critical role in surgical settings, where patients undergoing anesthesia may experience temporary suppression of their natural breathing. Anesthesia masks, a specialized type of oxygen mask, are used to deliver a precise mixture of oxygen and anesthetic gases to keep patients sedated and oxygenated during surgery.

　　4. Critical Care Units:

　　In intensive care units (ICUs) and critical care units (CCUs), oxygen masks are standard equipment for patients with severe respiratory conditions, such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

　　5. Routine Medical Care:

　　Oxygen masks are also used in less acute medical situations. Patients with chronic respiratory conditions may require oxygen therapy at home, and oxygen masks are used to deliver the prescribed oxygen levels.

　　6. Types of Oxygen Masks:

　　There are several types of oxygen masks tailored to different clinical needs:

　　Simple Face Mask: This mask covers the nose and mouth, providing a higher concentration of oxygen. It is suitable for patients with mild to moderate respiratory distress.

　　Venturi Mask: Venturi masks have adjustable air entrainment valves, allowing precise control of the oxygen concentration delivered. They are used when specific oxygen concentrations are required.

　　Nasal Cannula: While not technically a mask, the nasal cannula is a common oxygen delivery device. It consists of two small tubes that are placed in the nostrils, providing a lower flow of oxygen suitable for patients with minor oxygen requirements.

　　Non-Rebreather Mask: This mask has a one-way valve and reservoir bag, ensuring that the patient breathes pure oxygen and prevents the rebreathing of exhaled air. It is used for patients requiring high concentrations of oxygen.

　　7. Importance of Proper Usage:

　　Proper usage of oxygen masks is paramount to their effectiveness and patient safety. Healthcare professionals must ensure the following:

　　Correct Fit: The mask should fit snugly but comfortably over the nose and mouth to prevent air leakage.

　　Proper Oxygen Flow: The prescribed oxygen flow rate must be accurately set to meet the patient's oxygen requirements.

　　Hygiene and Sterilization: Masks must be cleaned and sterilized according to healthcare guidelines to prevent infection.

　　Monitoring: Patients using oxygen masks should be closely monitored for any signs of respiratory distress, oxygen saturation levels, and overall comfort.

　　8. Oxygen Therapy Safety:

　　While oxygen therapy is highly beneficial, it is not without risks. Oxygen is a fire hazard, and care must be taken to prevent oxygen leaks and keep it away from open flames or flammable materials.

　　9. Patient Comfort and Communication:

　　For many patients, wearing an oxygen mask can be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable experience. Healthcare providers should prioritize patient comfort and provide clear communication to alleviate anxiety and encourage compliance with therapy.

　　10. The Role of Technology:

　　Advancements in technology have led to innovations in oxygen delivery systems. Portable oxygen concentrators, for example, allow patients to receive oxygen therapy while maintaining mobility, improving their quality of life.

　　11. Pandemic Preparedness:

　　The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of oxygen therapy and the availability of oxygen masks in healthcare facilities. Adequate oxygen supply and the use of masks were essential in treating severe respiratory complications associated with the virus.

　　12. Lifesaving Potential:

　　The oxygen mask symbolizes the bridge between life and potential recovery. In emergencies or critical medical situations, it can mean the difference between life and death, offering hope and stability to patients and their families.

　　In conclusion, the oxygen mask is a symbol of hope and healing in the world of medicine. Its role in delivering life-sustaining oxygen cannot be overstated, whether in emergencies, during surgery, or in routine medical care. The meticulous selection of the right type of oxygen mask manufacturers, proper usage, and vigilant monitoring are all vital aspects of ensuring its effectiveness and patient safety. As healthcare continues to advance, the oxygen mask remains a cornerstone of respiratory care, embodying the unwavering commitment of healthcare professionals to preserving and improving lives.

[rewirelessify]

Integrating a Whole Home Audio System with Home Theatre Setup

Integrating a whole home audio system with home theatre setup is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners, especially those who are looking for a complete audio and video experience in their homes.  The integration of these systems allows you to distribute audio throughout your entire house, control everything from one central location, and enjoy high-quality audio and video in every room of your home. A whole home audio system can integrate with your existing home theatre system by connecting the two systems through a receiver or amplifier.  The receiver or amplifier will act as a hub for all the audio sources and distribute the audio signals to the appropriate speakers in your home theatre and other rooms. You can then control the whole system using a central controller or through your smartphone or tablet. In this article, we will explore the benefits of integrating a home audio system with a home theatre setup and provide some tips to help you successfully integrate these systems. Whether you are a home theatre enthusiast or just looking for a convenient and cost-effective way to enhance your home audio experience, this article will provide you with the information you need to get started.

Understanding Whole Home Audio Systems

Before we get into the specifics of how to install a whole-house audio system in your home theatre, let's first define exactly what we mean when we say "whole-home audio system."  A whole-house audio system is one that transmits sound to each and every room in a house, allowing residents to listen to music in any part of the house at any time. Components of a whole home audio system  The typical components of a whole-home audio system include a centralized control unit, amplifiers, and speakers located in each room of the home. The central control unit, or CCU, functions as the "brain" of the system. You are given the option to select the audio source, adjust the level, and select the speakers that you want to utilize.

Components of Home Theater Setup

Should we have a chat about the steps involved in putting together a home theatre system? A home theatre setup is a system that is meant to make the experience of viewing movies at home more comparable to going to a movie theater.  Different components of a home theatre setup This setup often consists of a big television or projector, surround sound speakers, an audio/video receiver, and a media player such as a DVD or Blu-ray player. In certain cases, the configuration may also contain a game console.  When it comes to producing an audio and visual experience that is really immersive in a home theatre, it is vital to ensure that every component of the setup is operating properly. This may be accomplished by testing each individual component.

Integrating a Whole Home Audio System with Home Theater Setup

Integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Here are some steps I took to integrate these systems successfully: Connecting Your Whole Home Audio System with Your Home Theater Setup  The first step in integrating your whole home audio system with your home theatre setup is to connect the two systems. I connected the audio output from my home theatre receiver to the audio input of my whole home audio system's central control unit. This allowed me to play the audio from my home theatre setup through my whole home audio system's speakers. Selecting the Right Audio Sources for Home Theater Setup  When integrating a home audio system with your home theatre setup, it's essential to choose the right audio sources. You should select sources that are compatible with both your home theatre setup and your whole home audio system. Some popular audio sources that work well with both systems include streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as internet radio. Programming and Controlling   Once you have connected your whole home audio system to your home theatre setup and selected the appropriate audio sources, you can start programming and controlling your whole home audio system. You should be able to control your whole home audio system from your home theatre setup's remote control or a mobile app. This will allow you to adjust the volume, select speakers, and choose audio sources from the comfort of your home theatre setup.

Benefits of Integrating a Whole Home Audio System with Home Theater Setup

Integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup offers numerous benefits, including: Improved Audio Experience  Integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup can significantly enhance your audio experience. You will be able to enjoy high-quality sound throughout your entire house, which is particularly useful when hosting parties or events. Additionally, you can customize the audio to suit your needs, such as adjusting the volume in each room. Convenience and Flexibility  Integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup provides you with greater convenience and flexibility. You will be able to control your entire home audio system from your home theatre setup, which means you don't have to move from one room to another to adjust the volume or change the audio source. You can also program your whole home audio system to play specific music or playlists in different rooms, creating a customized experience for you and your guests. Cost-Effective Solution  Integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup can also be a cost-effective solution. Instead of investing in separate audio systems for each room of your house, you can use your whole home audio system to distribute audio throughout your entire house. This can save you money in the long run, as you don't have to buy multiple audio systems. Increased Property Value  A whole home audio system integrated with a home theatre setup can also increase the value of your property. Many homebuyers are looking for homes with advanced audio and entertainment systems, and integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Tips for Integrating a Whole Home Audio System with Home Theater Setup

Integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup can be challenging, but with the right approach, it can be done successfully. Here are some tips to help you integrate your systems: - Plan Ahead Before you start integrating your systems, it's important to plan ahead. Consider the number of rooms you want to install speakers in and where you want the central control unit to be located. This will help you determine the right equipment to buy and where to install it. - Use High-Quality Equipment When integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup, it's important to use high-quality equipment. This will ensure that you get the best audio and video experience possible. Invest in good-quality speakers, amplifiers, and media players for both systems. - Choose the Right Wiring Choosing the right wiring is essential when integrating your systems. Use high-quality speaker wire and HDMI cables to ensure that you get the best audio and video quality. It's also important to ensure that the wiring is installed correctly and neatly to avoid any issues with sound or video quality. - Consider Hiring a Professional Integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup can be a challenging task, and if you're not confident in your abilities, it's best to consider hiring a professional. A professional installer can ensure that your systems are integrated correctly and functioning optimally.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) About Integrating a Whole Home Audio System with a Home Theater Setup :

Here are some FAQs about integrating a whole home audio system with a home theatre setup: What equipment do I need to integrate a whole home audio system with my home theatre setup?  You will need a receiver or amplifier, speakers, wiring, and a central controller or mobile device to control the system. Can I use different brands for my home theatre system and whole home audio system?  Yes, you can mix and match brands as long as the equipment is compatible and the wiring is done correctly. Do I need to hire a professional to integrate my home theatre and whole home audio system?  It is recommended to hire a professional installer to ensure that everything is integrated correctly and to avoid any potential issues or complications. Can I control the whole home audio system from my smartphone or tablet?  Yes, most whole home audio systems come with a mobile app that allows you to control the system from your smartphone or tablet. How many rooms can I distribute audio to with a whole home audio system?  The number of rooms depends on the size of your home and the capabilities of the system, but most systems can distribute audio to multiple rooms. Will integrating a whole home audio system with my home theatre setup improve the overall audio quality?  Yes, integrating a whole home audio system with your home theatre setup can enhance the overall audio quality and provide a more immersive experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding a whole-home audio system to my home theatre setup has been a game-changer for my audio and video experience at home.  Now, I can watch and listen to high-quality videos and audio in every room of my house and control everything from one central place. It has also been a cost-effective solution since I don't have to buy separate audio systems for each room. I would highly recommend planning ahead and buying high-quality equipment and wiring to make sure the best audio and video quality. If you're not sure about your skills, you might want to hire a professional installer to make sure that everything fits together right. Overall, adding a whole home audio system to my home theatre setup has made my home entertainment more convenient, flexible, and fun. I hope you all liked this article. For more articles, please visit: Rewirelessify Read the full article

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[cherrybombusa]

GROUP ONE  - THE LIBRARY. SUCCESS.

PLAYERS:

THE ARTIST - Sloane Salt. THE ROMANTIC - Mac Walsh.  THE  FILMMAKER - Zev King.  THE MANNEQUIN - Lilli Montgomery.  THE BITCH - Zahra Jackson. THE WRITER - Noah Russell. 

PERKS EARNED: 

WALK IN MY SHOES: After Jamie Dyer spilled his secret to save his friends, he’s been rewarded with the ability to put other people in his shoes! If something happens to Jamie he doesn’t like, he has the ability to switch places with any character as if it happened to them instead. 

MEMORABLE MOMENTS: 

-MAC GOT TAKEN BY THE KILLERS.  -LILLI GOT GRABBED TWICE AND TAKEN.  -SLOANE ATTACKED A MAN ON LSD AND SAVED ZEV. -JAMIE SPILLED HIS SECRET TO CLARISSA - AND THE REST OF CHERRY. 

THE NARRATOR: It might not have been a quiet night, maybe not even uneventful, but the Gang found themselves grateful, at least, that the Candy Girl hadn’t shown her face. It was nearing midnight now, and with only Paulie Virginia checking on the kids before they fell asleep on the sand, and Lucas Bright left straggling on the beach with the Gang, they were sure to turn-in soon. 

They were gathered around the bonfire, talking and laughing - almost even letting their guards down - but the screech of three white vans pulling up to the shore interrupted every little conversation taking place around the bonfire. They didn’t want to think anything of it at first… College kids in this town were wild, and they were all piling back into town this week, after all. But when a group of masked, hooded figures with baseball bats, and kitchen knives galore began making their way out of the vehicles, and onto the beach - what were they supposed to do but worry?

OFFICER PAULIE: “Hey! Stop right there!”

THE NARRATOR: It was almost instinctual for the rookie to go right into barking cop voice, even with no back up  - stupid, of course - but another ‘Candy Girl’ stunt was the last thing he was going to let happen on his watch. The man reaches for the taser in his belt, just like he was trained to do, but just as he gets it free, the blur of a body rushing forward - Lucas Bright - distracts him for a split enough second to fumble. 

Paulie almost yells for Lucas to stop, but before he can get the words off of his tongue, the Bright kid nearly runs headfirst into one of the masked figures' fists. It’s shocking how hard he falls - makes Paulie wonder if he’s okay - but before he can wonder too much, he realizes too late that one of the hooded figures has gotten the jump on him. He’s half expecting the figure to reach for his taser - the oh shit moment of the century - but when Paulie feels a baseball bat connect with his ribcage… He almost wishes he had been tased. Might have hurt less.

CANDY GIRL: “Hello, my little freaks and geeks! Did you miss me and my little friends? Because I think tonight is about to get a little more fun.”

THE NARRATOR:  ...Uh oh. Maybe I spoke too soon about the Candy Girl not showing her face. 

It doesn’t take long to get the gang tied up - not with the threat of knives, and Paulie’s discarded taser at the hooded groups disposal - and the ringleader of this little group, the one bouncing around telling everyone what to do, seems absolutely giddy with her capture. What else are you supposed to expect from faceless psychos, though, right?

CANDY GIRL: “Here’s the game tonight, losers! We’re gonna split you up and see if you can pass our little trials. Those who do? They get to go home tonight! Those who don’t…. Well, you might end up closer to Lux than you thought you were before.”

THE NARRATOR: Candy turns toward one of the other masked figures - one that seems like her Helper - flicking her chin toward the Gang. It’s a cue, and that much becomes clear when one-by-one, each of them has a hood slipped over their face, obstructing their view nearly completely.

CANDY GIRL: “But first, we’re going on a little trip!”

THE NARRATOR: It’s hard for the Gang to know just how they’ve been split up, but as they’re pushed forward toward the parking lot - the sound of Paulie’s and Lucas’s far-off groaning in their ears - they know one thing. They’re completely fucked, and there’s nothing they can do about it with their hands tied behind their backs… Especially not when they’re about to be shoved into the back of those fucking vans.

Nobody’s really sure how long they’ve been driving - they’re all too terrified to try and keep count - but by the time the van finally slows to a stop, they’re all dragged right back out onto solid ground, and into… some old building. Just where, is the question.

MAKE A CHOICE: YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE CANDY GIRL TO CCU FOR A NIGHT OF FUN. DON’T DIE!

THE NARRATOR: Maybe it’s the heavy doors that give away their final destination, or maybe it’s the musty smell of old textbooks, but those who had ever stepped foot into the CCU library know right where they are at that moment. It’s a comforting place for some - one that induces only stress, or indifference to others - but it’s hard to imagine that it won’t be a place that brings anxiety after tonight; just as tainted as the boardwalk, or even walking along Lux’s and Harvey’s block might be. Now is no time to think about how they might feel in the future, though -- if they even make it that far. No, they’re going to have to make it through tonight first.

The gang is led into the room like lambs to slaughter - Jamie carried not-so-nicely over one of the maniacs shoulders - but once they’re situated, the hoods that cover the gang’s faces come off; they even cut the ropes off from around their wrists, but the knives, and baseball bats manage to keep everyone in their place. The library is dimly lit, with only it’s balcony lights shining down on the grandiose room; the bank of computers on the second floor is like a beacon, beckoning them forward. It almost seems normal for a moment, like they were just there studying after-hours, but the two figures heading the circle - Candy and her supposed assistant - shock them back into reality with a clap of their hands.

CANDY GIRL: “Like I said, we’re gonna play a little game tonight, boys and girls! But, you’re all oh-so-familiar with games, aren’t you? Especially after our special little stunt at the boardwalk.”

THE NARRATOR: Her voice could almost be considered familiar, but nobody in the room really knows where to place the memory of it. Did she actually sound like that recording on the beach? Was she someone they knew? The gang just looks at each other from any angle that they can; making eye contact at whatever cost, as if it might help them all jog their memory to know they’re on the same page. They don’t get another chance to listen, though, as the other figure - Candy's helper - begins speaking.

CANDY'S LITTLE HELPER:  “She’s written some riddles!”

THE NARRATOR:  They pull a sheet of paper from their pocket.

CANDY GIRL: “And you’re going to solve them! Don’t worry about the doors -”

THE NARRATOR:  The movement is clearly rehearsed as a number of their captors - five, if you’re counting - head toward the door. Three of them leave, but the other two begin looping chains through the antique handles, locking them into the room with no real escape but up… And we know just how well this group does with climbing.

NOAH RUSSELL: Of course. They couldn't have one fucking night could they? Although what more could he have expected from the masked figure who thought a funeral was the time and place to play spin the bottle. The library of all places had a chilling feel to it in comparison to the beach. Almost theatrical like every horror book he'd ever read, and he sure as hell had read a lot of them. "I'm getting real sick of these damn riddles." He started as he thought about taking a step towards the door before thinking better of it. These people had knives, bats, and while on their own that didn't have to overly intimidating, this was the same person who only too recently before had blown up an entire carousel. "Anyone opposed to taking out the windows?"

SLOANE SALT: On some level Sloane knew that this was... a bad situation. There were scary people with what looked like weapons. Extremely tall people, some as tall as the ceiling, maybe and swaying.  The hooded girl's voice sounded kind of familiar, but considering the state she was in, she could hardly pin point who it was. She hadn't said much of a word on the way to the library mostly because she didn't really want anyone to know that she was feeling weird and now she was sitting on her ass, staring at her newly freed hands. "When did I paint these...?" She muttered to herself, turning her head entirely too slowly to look over at Noah as he spoke. As she took in his words, her expression quickly shifted to offence, her eyes widening and her mouth opening in fear. Those poor windows, they hadn't done anything to anyone. "No, don't hurt them!"

CANDY'S LITTLE HELPER: “--Um, excuse me? You’re totally throwing us off our rhythm!”

THE NARRATOR: Candy’s little Helper interrupts the conversations with an annoyed tone, as if they’re the ones inconveniencing her night. It’s strange, how nonchalant it is, but Candy just just shushes her. You can't even see her face, but you can almost just tell she's rolling her eyes beneath the mask.

CANDY GIRL: “Will literally just say your line?

CANDY'S LITTLE HELPER: "Fine! You need three keys, and three keys, exactly!"

CANDY GIRL: "Or you'll spend the night -"

THE NARRATOR: Maybe it’s the fear of the moment that kept all of their eyes focused on the two masked figures interacting with them - tunnel vision, of sorts - but it only makes the loud squish of blade entering flesh even louder than it should have been. The group of them flinching before Candy even has a chance to start shrieking through the pain of the blade in their side.

It was almost unbelievable that it had happened at first - did it even make sense that the Candy Girl’s henchmen were even turning on her?  - but the blood splashing against the tile had to have been proof enough that it wasn’t just some fucked up group hallucination… One that didn’t seem so expected by either Candy Girl, or the other henchmen.

CANDY'S LITTLE HELPER: “What the fuck is wrong with you!”

THE NARRATOR: Fair question. And the attacker should have heard it - as loud as the second-not-so-in-charge-figure shrieked - but the knife-wielder didn’t even flinch as he dragged Candy toward the bookshelves; blood pouring from the wound in her side.

The other mask - Candy’s little helper - almost considers running for it, throws the note from her hands in anticipation of getting the fuck out of there…  but she hardly gets a chance when her own attacker - the other one of the maniacs who had chained the door - comes from behind her and squeezes their hulking arms around her fame. They have their own knife; one that plunges directly into her abdomen, but the Gang doesn’t have much time to watch as the attacker laughs and drags her toward his own row of bookshelves.

What. The. Fuck.

There’s only a moment of hesitation - it had all happened so quickly - but the gang wastes no more time before fleeing to opposite sides of the library, Mac helping Jamie as best as he can in the struggle. The sound of the woman’s dying screams echo across the space, shaking all of them to their core… but they all know one thing: they need to get their hands on that riddle.

If they’re locked in, then it might be their only way of getting out.

MAKE A CHOICE:  MAC, JAMIE, LILLI, AND NOAH ARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LIBRARY, HIDING BEHIND THE LIBRARIAN’S DESK. ZEV, SLOANE, AND ZAHRA ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, MAKING THEIR WAY UP THE STAIRS TO THE SECOND LEVEL.

MAC: Tonight is the first time in his life that Mac thinks he shouldn't have went along with one of Libby's ideas. How stupid of them was it to all gather in one spot in the middle of the night? They might as well have asked Sloane to paint perfect targets on their collective backs. He'd already been freaking out enough as it was, but the sound of that blade? The blood? If he made it out of here alive they were sure to be added to his ever growing list of nightmare material. A sudden rush of adrenaline as everyone begins to flee has him nearly carrying Jamie across the room, ducking under the desk, eyes searching to see if the rest of his friends had made it over unscathed. "What the fuck are we supposed to do now?"

NOAH: Even though he knew about the kind of antics the Candy Girl could have possibly gotten up to, there was a difference between knowing and seeing them first hand. Of course it wasn't the first time he'd seen blood drawn, but the blood from cut lips and faces after a brutal run in from home failed in comparison to what he'd just seen. Candy Girl was supposed to be their captor wasn't she? The one who'd been tormenting them since night one? The one who kept Lux fresh and at the forefront of their minds, unable to move on. Watching her fall to her knees, the screeches of pain that rang out behind them as they'd ducked for cover. It didn't make sense. Any trace of alcohol that had once been intruding his symptom felt faint in comparison as he hid beside the desk. "I don't know but we can't stay here. We're gonna be sitting ducks. We need to find those fuckin' keys, but looking in a library is going to be like trying to find a needle in a haystack." He added in a harsh whisper as he attempted to catch his breath.

THE NARRATOR: Split up and helpless. Fuck. Looks like they need that riddle if they're going to make it out of here alive.

MAKE A CHOICE:  SOMEBODY DOWNSTAIRS MUST RETRIEVE THE RIDDLE: WHO WILL IT BE?

MAC: Mac's eyes dart around the room, searching for the slip of paper he'd seen one of their captors pull out at the mention of riddles. He wasn't even sure if it would help them at this point, considering he was almost positive getting stabbed wasn't part of the plan, but it was their best option. Right? When his eyes finally land on the piece of paper his adrenaline once again kicks in, causing him to lunge across the room in an attempt to retrieve it.

MAKE A CHOICE: SUCCESS!

THE NARRATOR: Every step sounds like a symphony in their own ears, each and every movement too-loud, even masked by the sound of Candy and her Helper's screams, but somehow Mac manages to make his way back around the librarian's desk and toward where the riddle was thrown. He gets his hands on the blood soaked paper; the breath leaving his lungs as the sound of screaming begins to die - no pun intended - out. It’s not completely obvious what he should do next, but he makes eye contact with his friends behind the librarian's desk; with the few on the second level. 

They’re never going to make it out of this without each other, so they better think fast. 

They hear the sound of the killers beginning to stir from somewhere within the maze of bookshelves, and just like that a plan forms in their freaky little hive mind. Someone needs to distract the killers while everyone else gets upstairs. But who will it be?

MAKE A CHOICE: SOMEBODY MUST DISTRACT THE KILLERS WHILE THEIR FRIENDS GET UPSTAIRS. SHOULD THEY THROW SOMETHING ACROSS THE ROOM ,  SNEAK ACROSS THE ROOM AND KNOCK SOMETHING OVER, OR SHOULD SOMEONE UPSTAIRS THROW SOMETHING OFF OF THE BALCONY?

ZAHRA:  Zahra peered down at the half left on the floor below. Things had gone wrong so quickly and in so many ways and compartmentalising was the only way any of them were getting out of this in one piece, so she did her best to ignore the fading screams. Instead she turned her focus to her surroundings. There had to be something she could throw down to distract the psychos - there! Her eye caught on a computer plugged in near the edge of the balcony. Wordlessly, she hurried over to it and yanked out the plug. Then, with as much of a heave as she could muster, she threw it over the edge.

MAKE A CHOICE: FAILURE!

THE NARRATOR: It was a long shot, but as Zahra tosses the computer off the railing, only one of the killers turns their head to investigate. The other? Well, their gaze lands directly on Mac. 

It’s hardly a split second before they cross the room toward them, and as hard as Mac tries to fight, but it’s no use - the threat of the knife, and the feeling of it’s handle knocking against the side of his face is enough to give the killer the upper hand… At least they have time to throw the riddle in the general direction of their friend before they’re dragged away toward the maze of bookshelves. 

It’s enough to the rest of the gang all in place, but they know they have to get upstairs -  they have to get the hell out of there, and save Mac.. if there’s even time. They all book it as fast as they can, everyone helping Jamie along the way, and somehow they manage to make it up the stairs before they’re spotted - one of them even manages to grab the riddle, even if they were silently hoping it wasn’t Mac's last gift to them all. 

At least it might actually save them. 

Their hearts are pounding loud enough in their chests that they might swear they could all count each other’s heartbeats. Now is no time to check up on each other, though - not as they lay the first riddle out in front of them

.

If you want the first key, you’ll have to find Me,

I’m the keeper of the scrolls, you see.

Melvil named the system, and I check it twice,

Are you feeling naughty? Then here’s some advice: 

I’ll name a book, or maybe name three -

You’ll choose the one that speaks to the dream 

Of losing it all, or leaving behind 

That sweet, sane, little part of your mind. 

Maybe they fight it, or maybe they end it, 

Maybe the pick is the one your friend mentioned. 

Will your gang make it out? Maybe -  who knows.

But I wouldn’t count on it, unless you all know who glows.

HOODED MANIAC: THE KILLER IS HERE.

THE NARRATOR: The killer hardly sneaks up on the, but the Gang is surprised anyway - each of them gasping as Lilli is snatched up by his grasp. She screams - she's caught - but the rest of them have a choice to make.

MAKE A CHOICE: LILLI HAS BEEN GRABBED. DO YOU TRY TO SAVE THEM OR LET THEM GO?

ZAHRA: Yeah, things with Lilli had always been a little contentious but there was no way Zahra was letting her be dragged away. They'd already lost Mac and that was fucking enough. She lunged forward and grabbed Lilli as she was snatched up.

MAKE A CHOICE: SUCCESS!

THE NARRATOR: It’s a great effort, and though they don’t manage much real damage, Zahra's still successful in getting her ""friend"" the hell away from that monster. The whole group is terrified, but they’re quick on their feet as they move somewhere else that could be deemed even semi safe within the madness to solve the next riddle.... Watch out though. I think the killer saw where you were going.

MAKE A CHOICE: LILLI RUNS FOR THE KEY.

THE NARRATOR: Lilli runs as fast as she can - the gang all sneaking close behind - and with the correct location, it’s not hard to find the key taped to a shelf in the history section, along with the next part of the riddle. It should be easy to get back to their friends, but before they can even turn around, she feels hands grasping around her limbs and yanking them back through the bookshelves yet again- dragging her away toward the maze of a room to… She didn’t even want to think about it. She just knew they had to fight - but she can’t do it alone.

MAKE A CHOICE:  DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO SAVE THEIR FRIEND, OR LET THEM DROP THE KEY?

THE NARRATOR: The gang can hear Lilli trying to fight her attacker - her screaming echoing through the space  - and though the guilt eats them alive, they know there’s nothing they can do about it. They just have to hope that the fact that the screaming gets further and further away and doesn’t just abruptly end - just like it did when those two masked maniacs got stabbed earlier - is a good sign. 

The remaining members make quick work of grabbing the key and the riddle, and try to find another safe spot in the library.

If you want to get out, don’t Twist and Shout, 

It’s not the Candy Man locking you out. 

If you feel Clueless, then here’s your clue - 

You can find Me behind door number two. 

How to know you’re close? Just think of the times, 

The 90’s are ending, but gossip still thrives! 

Once you’re through, don’t look any further - 

Your key can be found in the one with no murder.

ZEV: Zev scopes out the Librarian's desk and makes a move for it, trying to keep down and quiet as he dashes, heart pounding in his chest.

THE NARRATOR: Zev sprints with everyone else not far behind him. The key is there, taped beneath Glenda Logan's desk along with the last part of their riddle, but at the very last moment - before the Gang can warn him - one of the killers comes and hits him over the back of the head with his knife. He's got a hold on Zev, and as hard as he's fighting, he's not going to be able to make it out alone.

MAKE A CHOICE: DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO SAVE THEIR FRIEND, OR LET THEM DROP THE KEY? 

SLOANE SALT: All of the running around and masked killers has mostly been Sloane moving in accordance with everyone else, eyes bugged out of her face as she tries not to trip over her platform boots. When Zev gets snatched, it's as if enlightenment comes over her and she suddenly becomes aware that one of her favourite people, someone basically a little brother to her is in danger. "Let go of him!" She screeches as she reaches for him, using all of her body weight to try and pull him away.

MAKE A CHOICE: SUCESS!

THE NARRATOR: Maybe it's the LSD, or just sheer willpower, but everyone swears they actually see the Killer flinch as Sloane screams like a banshee toward him. They groan in pain as their shoulder is pulled nearly out of place, and in fear they run as far as they can in the other direction.

 The whole group is terrified, if not confident, but they’re quick on their feet as they move somewhere else that could be deemed even semi safe within the madness to solve the next riddle.

Here’s your third key - you’re almost there! 

Unless you can’t take a bit of a scare. 

Your clues can be found with Clarissa Teller - 

But she’ll only tell you if you can impress her. 

Somebody’s secret must be told.

 It’s only then that I’ll give her the gold. 

So, hurry along! But only choose one.

Oh, wow, oh boy!

Now this will be fun.

MAKE A CHOICE: SOMEBODY MUST TELL CLARISSA THEIR SECRET ON THE COMPUTER UPSTAIRS. WHEN THEY DO, THE LOCATION OF THE THIRD KEY TO BE RELEASED.

NOAH: The panic that had gripped his chest as the evening grew, only intensified as they read their final clue. Mac had been taken, Lilli had been taken, he'd watched helplessly as Zahra saved Zev, and perhaps the bit that was the most impossible to forget, he'd seen the Candy Girl murdered before his very eyes. And while he didn't see the life fleeing from her eyes he could picture it a little too well. "Zev you okay?" He asked, in an attempted moment of calm and partially to distract from the racing of his own heart. Waiting the moment for some sort of nod before turning to the rest of the group. "What the hell is she talking about? What doesn't Clarissa know already?" He asked, his voice soft with profound fear as he glanced around the room. The first two clues while challenging in their own right, they seemed to fall into place, but he dreaded what could possibly be meant by the third.

SLOANE SALT: Sloane was definitely riding on more than one high at the moment, one of the unidentified form, from that pill she'd taken and one from saving Zev. She was breathing heavily, leaning on the table in the study room as she looked around at everyone who was still with them. They needed to get through this, that was the only thing that mattered, even if even the furniture was kind of freaking her out. Throwing her arms around Zev, she turned her head when she heard Noah's voice. Her mouth twisted as she fought off the urge to say something, a sly smile forming on her lips. "Come on, she doesn't know lots of secrets." Her eyes widened as she emphasised the 'lots'. In the state she was in, she was tempted to just start blurting out everything she knew, but then her head turned to Jamie and she suddenly felt guilty. "What do we do?"

JAMIE: Jamie had been watching the crew from the jump, lingering behind the rest not only due to his leg but his own dwindling motivation to be part of some messed up game when two of his favourite cohorts had gone missing with no promise of survival. This was what Cherry was now, a mecca of lost, frantic young adults enslaved to the whims of someone other than themselves.  As terrible as they were, Jamie didn't believe any of them deserved to be forced to admit to something they weren't ready for. That was why he'd agreed to hide the note, wasn't it?

When Sloane's desperate eyes met his, he'd already made up his mind.

"I'll do it," he said, with little fanfare. "Can someone help me up the stairs?"

By the time he was seated at the computer, his heroic resolve had diminished. Words that normally came easy for him sat bated behind still fingers as he thought of exactly what to write when he'd never allowed the thoughts to come to real fruition.

𝐝𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞:  Dear Clarissa, the day has finally come where I have to acknowledge your existence but rest assured that it's not by my own volition. I have a secret to tell you that I'm sure won't come as too big of a surprise. 

Last semester, I snuck in and did the SATs for Cherry High graduates who had the means to pay. My family is in debt, thanks to my father and his frivolous new wife, and I thought I'd be able to pay it off. I couldn't, but that's not the point. The point is that I enjoyed every minute of it. The studying, the acceptance, the shining accolades.

I mean, I wouldn't have to talk to you if I just went to college, would I?

THE NARRATOR: It probably feels like a punch in the gut to be selling their own secret to the local paper, but as they press send on the keyboard - as Clarissa starts typing - the power goes out, and the room goes dark. It’s terrifying at first, enough to make the Gang clutch at each other, like it might be their last moment… But when the sound of chains dropping from the door handles echoes through the room - followed by the scurry of sprinting out of the library - they almost think to breathe a sigh of relief. Could that really be it? Could it be over? 

They don’t move for nearly an hour - or maybe it just feels like an hour - but when they finally decide the coast is clear, the group of them  - or what’s left of them - sprint down the stairs, and the hell out of CCU as quickly as they can. Maybe it’s a betrayal to not even look for their friends… or maybe their bodies. But how are they supposed to stomach the thought of it? How are they expected to stick around with those… killers still on the loose? 

Are their friends still alive? Is the Candy Girl alive? Who knows. They just know they need to get the police down here to help their friends as soon as they can... even if it means leaving people behind for now.

MAKE A CHOICE: YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YOUR PLOT EVENT. YOUR FRIEND'S FATES ARE UNKNOWN.

[thecollegefootballguy]

The Real 2020 Season: Championship Week (+Army/Navy)

Welcome back to The Real 2020 Season! We’re imagining how things would have gone in the 2020 football season if COVID hadn’t ruined everything. We’ve reached the end of the regular season and are now into the conference championship games!

Here is a list of the regular season weeks: Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 13

-

The Rankings

Week 14 College Football Playoff Rankings

1. Alabama 12-0 (8-0) 2. Ohio State 11-1 (9-0) 3. Florida 11-1 (7-1) 4. Texas A&M 11-1 (7-1) 5. Clemson 11-1 (8-0) 6. Notre Dame 11-1 7. Iowa State 10-2 (8-1) 8. Oklahoma 10-2 (7-2) 9. Georgia 10-2 (6-2) 10. Cincinnati 12-0 (8-0) 11. Indiana 11-1 (8-1) 12. Oregon 10-2 (7-2) 13. Texas 9-3 (6-3) 14. USC 9-3 (7-2) 15. Auburn 9-3 (5-3) 16. Oklahoma State 9-3 (6-3) 17. Stanford 9-3 (7-2) 18. Iowa 9-3 (6-3) 19. Arizona State 9-3 (6-3) 20. Northwestern 9-3 (6-3) 21. North Carolina 9-3 (7-1) 22. Coastal Carolina 12-0 (8-0) 23. Wisconsin 8-4 (6-3) 24. Miami FL 9-3 (5-3) 25. Liberty 11-1

-

The Narrative

All plots converge on this one week as we decide which teams will make up the final Playoff field. #1 Alabama and #3 Florida will be deciding the first seed. #2 Ohio State should by all means secure their spot with a win over #20 Northwestern. With four SEC teams in the top four, it’s increasingly likely that two teams from that league will make the field. The victims of that move would be #5 Clemson and #6 Notre Dame, who only have one loss just like #3 UF and #4 Texas A&M, but they don’t have quite the same resumes.

-

The Games

Championship week means only ten games get played, but I’m also lumping in Army-Navy the next week because I don’t want to make a separate post.

Winning teams are highlighted in bold.

American Athletic Conference Championship: Tulsa at #10 Cincinnati

ACC Championship: #5 Clemson vs #21 North Carolina

Big 12 Championship: #7 Iowa State vs #8 Oklahoma

Big Ten Championship: #20 Northwestern vs #2 Ohio State

Conference-USA Championship: UAB at Marshall

MAC Championship: Ball State vs Buffalo

Mountain West Championship: San Jose State at Boise State

PAC-12 Championship: #12 Oregon vs #14 USC

SEC Championship: #1 Alabama vs #3 Florida

Sun Belt Championship: Louisiana at #22 Coastal Carolina

Army-Navy Game: Army vs Navy

And there we have it. Nothing too surprising. The only legitimate upset was San Jose State’s win in Boise. #7 Iowa State losing to #8 Oklahoma was practically expected so I wouldn’t call that an upset. Buffalo was favored over Ball State, and Marshall was favored over UAB, but those games aren’t big upsets by any means.

Obviously the SEC Championship Game informs the rest of the Playoff picture. #1 Alabama winning benefits the field, as the Crimson Tide would have easily snatched up an at-large spot otherwise. Perhaps 2-loss Florida is eliminated as well. We’ll have to see how the Committee handles things.

-

The Big Picture

There was a mixture of old and new blood coming into the Championship Games. Mostly a lot of chalk at the P5 level but the G5 leagues gave us some interesting champions.

#10 Cincinnati outlasted Tulsa to win their first outright AAC Championship. The Bearcats claimed their first conference title since finishing in a tie for first in 2014.

#5 Clemson thrashed #21 North Carolina to claim their sixth consecutive ACC Championship and seventh total under head coach Dabo Swinney.

Similarly, #8 Oklahoma’s win over #7 Iowa State gave the Sooners their sixth consecutive Big 12 Championship. Sorry ISU, bummer that the Big 12 makes you play the Championship Game despite having a round robin schedule. Better luck next year.

#2 Ohio State’s victory gave the Buckeyes their fourth straight Big Ten title.

UAB claimed their second Conference-USA title in the past three years with their upset over Marshall in West Virginia. The Blazers remain one of the sweetest stories in college football.

Ball State’s unheralded run through the MAC gave the Cardinals their first league title since 1996.

San Jose State’s first ever win over Boise State in the MWC Championship Game gave the Spartans their first ever conference title since joining the Mountain West. SJSU hadn’t won a league title since tying for first in the Big West in 1991.

#12 Oregon’s win the PAC-12 Championship Game gave the Ducks back to back conference titles.

#1 Alabama claimed their second SEC title in three years with their win over #3 Florida. The Tide now have 7 conference championships in the Nick Saban era.

Coastal Carolina won their first Sun Belt title since moving up from the FCS. CCU claimed their first league championship since winning the Big South in 2014. Congratulations to the Chanticleers!

-

The Standings

-

The New Rankings

Final College Football Playoff Rankings

1. Alabama 13-0 (8-0) 2. Ohio State 12-1 (9-0) 3. Clemson 12-1 (8-0) 4. Notre Dame 11-1 5. Texas A&M 11-1 (7-1) 6. Oklahoma 11-2 (7-2) 7. Florida 11-2 (7-1 8. Cincinnati 13-0 (8-0) 9. Iowa State 10-3 (8-1) 10. Oregon 11-2 (7-2) 11. Georgia 10-2 (6-2) 12. Indiana 11-1 (8-1) 13. Coastal Carolina 13-0 (8-0) 14. USC 9-4 (7-2) 15. Texas 9-3 (6-3) 16. Stanford 9-3 (7-2) 17. Auburn 9-3 (5-3) 18. Oklahoma State 9-3 (6-3) 19. North Carolina 9-4 (7-1) 20. Iowa 9-3 (6-3) 21. Arizona State 9-3 (6-3) 22. Northwestern 9-4 (6-3) 23. Miami FL 9-3 (5-3) 24. Wisconsin 8-4 (6-3) 25. UCF 9-3 (5-3)

I’m certain that Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson make the field as 13-0 or 12-1 Power 5 conference champions. As for the 11-1 Notre Dame and Texas A&M teams, I *think* the Committee gives the Fighting Irish preference for having a better resume despite the Aggies’ own tough schedule. Apologies to everybody who wanted a new or different Playoff field, it’s not fun always seeing the same teams in the final four, but if the real season had been played the Alabama’s and Ohio State’s and Clemson’s of the world would stay the best teams in the nation.

Next time, we explore the bowl season and the Playoff!

[mosylufanfic]

You’ve Got Mail

This is for the second day of Killervibe week, the Meet Cute theme! Based on something that happened to a Facebook connection of mine, although as far as I know it didn’t turn out this cute.

You’ve Got Mail

The first note was stuck to Caitlin’s door with a piece of scotch tape. She frowned and unfolded it, wondering if the new neighbor already had a problem with her erratic hours. 

Hi! (read the computer-printed note)

I just moved into 202 and wanted to introduce myself to all my neighbors. I'm Cisco Ramon and I'm starting my Masters' in electrical engineering at the university. Normally I'd knock and say hi but this whole quarantine thing kinda keeps me from doing that. :( 

I speak English and Spanish and a little bit of Klingon. I cook sometimes but mostly get too much takeout so any good restaurant recommendations are welcome! I like tinkering and video games and SF/F books and movies and shows, like you couldn't tell from the Klingon. I have a cat named Buttercup who is a giant butt and I love him. If you see him outside, I’d really appreciate it if you called or texted because he's not an outdoor kitty. 

He'd added a picture of the cat, staring menacingly at the camera as if promising that anyone who tried to pet him would lose a finger. Caitlin smiled in spite of herself. 

Hope you have a great day! Cisco Ramon, Apt 202

He'd also added his phone number.

Caitlin read it through a couple of times before looking across the courtyard and up a floor at 202. It being 11:30 at night, the door was shut tight. There was a muted bluish flicker in one of the windows, like he was watching TV. It would be rude to knock on his door at this time of night. 

Also, they were all practicing social distancing right now.

Caitlin was a champ at social distancing. She could social-distance on Olympic levels.

She went into her apartment, shutting the door behind her.

***

On her way to the hospital the next morning, she left a plastic container full of cookies on the mat of 202. There was a note carefully taped to the top. 

Thank you for your nice note. Here are some cookies to welcome you to the building. They're chocolate chip. If you can't eat them, it's okay to throw them away. I've been baking a lot in quarantine.

She was halfway to the hospital when she realized she hadn't put her name or apartment number on the note. So for all Cisco Ramon knew, some anonymous benefactor had dropped cookies on his doorstep.

She sighed. She really was bad at this, just like Jay had said.

***

There was another note on her door when she got back home, this one hand-written in a sprawling, jagged scrawl.

Hello Cookie Queen!

I hope I'm not creeping you out or anything. I saw you through the window, leaving the cookies this morning, but I didn't want to freak you out by opening up the door right away.

They were delicious. I will happily eat any baked goods that you want to get rid of. That's not a beg, by the way. I can make my own cookies, once I find a good grocery store. (Any recommendations?) Just if you're the kind of person who likes to make entire batches and then has to eat them for the next three weeks, I can help with that. I don't have any allergies or anything.

Anyway I think I've weirded you out enough for one note. 

Cisco

***

Hi Cisco

My name is Caitlin Snow and you already know my apartment number. The grocery store I like is the Safeway at the corner of Livingston and Bellmore because they are very firm about masks and disinfecting right now, much better than the Kroger. Also closer. There's a Taco Galaxy across the street from them that delivers until midnight and I like their chicken taco salad.

She stared at the note for a few minutes, then wondered if he would think she was saying a Mexican place because he was clearly Latino. She crossed out and substituted The Golden Wok on Bellmore delivers, and they do a good sweet and sour chicken.

I am a first-year resident so my hours are kind of strange but please let me know if I can ever help out with anything. 

Caitlin, Apt 106

She chewed her lip for a moment, then added to the last paragraph before the sign-off, I wasn't weirded out.

Then she wrote it out in pen on a clean sheet of paper and found another plastic container to fill with butterscotch oatmeal cookies.

***

Hi Caitlin!

Nice to have a name and stop calling you Cookie Queen. Unless you want me to continue calling you Cookie Queen, that's okay too. Thank you for the second batch! Just as delish.

I took your tip about the grocery store and stocked up. Also got green pepper beef at the Golden Wok. Nom, nom, nom! Any ruling on the Taco Galaxy across from Safeway?

I'm major impressed with the residency thing btw. Are you doing okay? Is your ICU totally packed? I have a sewing machine because I do cosplay but obvi no cons right now, so I've been making masks and stuff too. Do you need any?

Cisco

***

Cisco,

We're doing okay right now. I'm not treating many COVID cases personally because I'm in my first year, but everybody is doing more than they would have normally. If you have extra cloth masks, I know some shelters and the local food bank are distributing them.

I like the chicken taco salad at Taco Galaxy. 

She paused, studying the note. She wanted to continue this conversation. She liked him - his warmth and his humor. Maybe she should start texting him. She had his phone number, after all. Or would that be weird?

She wrote down, Where did you move from?

Caitlin

***

They traded notes back and forth, at least once a day but more often twice. Their correspondence ranged from the mundane - he'd moved from Coast City, she had come here from Gotham - to the personal - neither of them had very good relationships with their families - to the downright philosophical.

I dunno, he wrote one rainy day, I feel like the people who say this is God's punishment or whatever are totally getting God wrong. Like I don't believe in God anymore but if I still did, I don't think I'd believe in that kind of God. 

A virus is a virus, she wrote back. There's debate about whether a virus really counts as alive or not, but it's just doing what all life does. The pandemic is definitely down to human hubris and selfishness and shortsightedness. No need for divine punishment. And I don't believe in that kind of God either.

At work, she would mentally compose parts of her next letter during her rare free moments, and every time something funny or strange or horrible happened at the hospital, she found herself telling him about it. No names, of course, because of HIPAA, but writing them down helped her work them out.

The day he mentioned his most recent ex, she caught her breath, a strange flutter in her stomach.

She did a number on me, I'm telling you. It's weird because I do think she liked me, maybe as much as I liked her. It's just she was in some bad stuff with her brother, and she wasn't really interested in getting out. When I realized that she was using me to help him out, I was done. Probably way after I should've been, but that was the last straw. I'm not saying that breakup was why I picked CCU for grad school and moved here two months early but I'm not NOT saying that.

She lay on her couch reading the note over again. His tone was cheerful, as it usually was, but she could almost feel the regret and self-recrimination behind it. 

Also, did this mean he was single? He hadn't wrapped it up with any other mention of someone else he was dating now. 

I know what that's like, she wrote back. My most recent ex was - 

She lifted her pen and stared at the paper. How to describe Jay?

My breakup with my ex was pretty bad too. You just start to doubt everything that you ever thought or felt. Like, is this real or is this another time bomb he put in your head?

God RIGHT he wrote back. The good exes leave nice little presents for you in your head. You think of them because you see a movie they liked or something they used to wear and it just makes you smile. But the bad ones leave freaking land mines and time bombs.

***

More than once, she arrived home to find a bag of takeout or a tupperware full of some recipe he'd tried out. His tastes were a little more adventurous than hers, but she willingly ate whatever he left. Knowing somebody was thinking about her was as nourishing as the meal. 

And some of it was really good. 

She kept baking, leaving cookies and bread and other treats at his doorstep. Sometimes she experimented, too. 

One day as the first leaves were turning, she left a jar with a note taped to the top. I decided to try something. Let me know if Buttercup likes these.

She got a reply within hours. 

Buttercup would like to formally request to move into your apartment now, because I'm a terrible kitty papa and never thought of making him treats. Also I'm very cruel because I won't let him eat the entire jar no matter how much he yells. You are a genius.

She laughed and wrote back, Obviously you're an excellent kitty papa because you love Buttercup very much. It was a pretty simple recipe. I'll attach it for you so you can make your own. I'm glad he likes them.

She didn't see a reply on her door that night. This wasn't unprecedented, though it was unusual, and she found herself cycling through a few anxious loops of what-if - what if he was sick? what if he had nothing more to say to her? what if it had been just too weird for her to make treats for his cat? what if he was talking to someone else now?

But the next day when she went out to get her mail, she found a note tucked into her screen door. She grabbed it and opened it up. 

Hey I realize this is kind of a weird question since we've been passing notes all this time, but would you be okay with texting? Or FaceTiming or WhatsApp or something? I don't know if you kept my number but here it is again anyway. 

She read the short note through a couple of times, trying to identify the feeling bubbling up in her stomach. 

She did like writing the letters. There was something so calming and old-fashioned about sitting down with paper and pen and writing everything out that was on her mind. And getting a letter back felt like a present. 

But on the other hand, this felt like a step toward something . . . new. Something more. Closer. 

She looked up at 202. A curtain twitched, and she caught her breath. Cisco leaned against the glass, spotted her, and lifted his hand in a wave. 

She waved back. 

She'd seen him a couple of times, leaving something at her door or going to grab his mail. She liked his face and his smile, what she'd seen of them. 

He saw the note in her hand. That much was obvious. Even from here, he looked a little nervous. Or maybe that was her, projecting. 

She pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped in his number. He looked away from the window, reached out to grab something, and lifted his phone to his ear.

"Hi," she said shyly. "It's Caitlin."

His smile spread over his face, big enough to bathe her in warmth from one floor and a whole courtyard away. "Hi, Caitlin," he said. "Cisco here."

She smiled back. "So. How's your day going?"

It would be a long time before they actually got to meet in person, without a mask. But she was looking forward to it.

FINIS

[mikenewtonhateblog]

Hey yeah if you aren’t wearing a mask because you think being young and healthy will save you take it from someone who didn’t have asthma for the first 16 years of her life and within 48 hours of my first attack starting I was in the ICU on death’s door.

I have a very rare form of asthma where basically my lungs will stop working automatically and I have to conciously make myself breathe, and as I’m doing that it feels like my lungs are being squeezed so I have to breathe deeply, which then develops into I feel like I’m starving for oxygen. The doctors had to gown up and test me for MERSA, SARS, and a whole list of other things. My oxygen levels showed normal the whole time because I was breathing so hard, I had to have them tested via an artery in my wrist. I stopped breathing twice in the ER waiting room. Breathing treatments were the only thing that would work until my lungs became so dependant it only worked for 5-10 minutes. The hospital didn’t know if they should put me in the ICU or drive me to childrens but ultimately went with ICU as they feared I’d die in the ambulance. I had so much albuterol in my system my heartrate was EXTREMELY high (can’t give a number as its fuzzy now). They were afraid intibating me would kill me because my lungs were essentially collapsing for no reason. It took 20+ tries to get an IV in me or draw blood because my veins kept blowing. At one point I was just screaming in the ICU because I had been in hospital for 24hours with no sleep and minimal help from the ER nurses who blew me off and the doctor who gave me cough meds and ignored me until it was too late and I had to be admitted.

After 48 hours of hell my back was in extreme pain, every inch of me hurt, and I felt like I was being suffocated/drowning. They put me on an oral steroid and had to knock me out because some idiot gave me an anti anxiety med that sent me into a worse panic attack. After being knocked out I don’t remember anything but I was in the ICU for two more days where I went in and out of conciousness. I was then moved up to the CCU for three more days. I had to relearn how to walk because the time I spend unconcious had made me so weak I could barely move. Finally they moved me to the childrens unit for two more days where I was watched and given more oral steroids and breathing treatments every four hours. I left the hospital in a wheelchair and had to build up learning to walk again for two weeks. I was on oral steroids for a month that gave me every horrific side effect possible.

This was in 2011. I’ve only had mild attacks since, one hospitalized me for the night, the rest I have controlled. I’m on an inhaled steriod for life now and CANNOT use rescue inhalers as they trigger my lungs dependance on them and the downward spiral begins. Doctors don’t listen to me and probably never will.

I can imagine what corona would do to me. It’d be similar to above but the ending would be different: I’d die. Before that attack in 2011, I had no symptoms of asthma, I never had breathing issues and was active, I survived swine flu just fine. Now? I can’t hold my breath for longer than 30 seconds, I need a air purifier in my room, stairs make me winded, somedays I’m out of breath for no reason. Do NOT take this virus lightly, you are not invincible, life is unforgiving and uncertain so wear your FUCKING MASKS and STAY INSIDE.

[sincerelyreidburke]

I've sent a couple of anon asks (one was sad face about Quinnster so maybe you're holding on to it) but I want to say again how valuable your continuation of the CP! extended universe has been during these crazy times. THANK YOU! But anyway, Ben totally marries some gorgeous woman/man/non-binary human being right and the world is blinded by their couple beauty? But ALSO anyway I want more DRAG BEN!? How, when, who finds out?!!

Hi, anon!! Thank you for your kindness!🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍 I’m pretty sure I’ve now answered that sad Quinn ask (if I’m thinking of the right one)— it’s right here. :D

Regarding your question about Rhodey’s far-future relationship experiences, it’s... a little complicated, and I can elaborate on that if it’s wanted, but rest assured he ends up very, very happy.🤍

And Drag Rhodey! Let’s get on that train. This is part 2 of a duo of asks about this concept, so let’s hop under the cut and keep talking about it. (Here’s part 1!)

(Ask/send me anything about the crickets!)

- So we’re here now for Drag Rhodey Facts. This will be a broad conceptual post. If you wish for me to elaborate further on any point I make in this post or made in the other Drag Rhodey ask, you know where to find me.

- We’ve established that his stage name is Isla Rhodelia. I do not accept constructive criticism at this time. Yes, I hate him, and yes, he’s a meme, and yes, he’s a fucking Rhode Island headass. We know all of this. I feel like he doesn’t come up with this name himself; it’s maybe Quinn who suggests it, as a half joke, but Rhodey latches onto it immediately. Thus: he is Isla.

- His style, once they nail it down through some trial and error, is sort of grungy. He has a couple of wigs, and most of them are dyed hair colors (I think his favorite one is, like, indigo). His eye makeup is always pretty bright, almost on the neon side?

- And his outfits are, like.... leather jackets, and tight pants, and sparkly things, but in mostly dark colors. It’s like he’s the lead singer of an alt band that sings about teenage rebellion. So in other words, Paramore.

- Quinn gets so much joy out of putting together his outfits. He’ll just sit in his bed in his room sewing sequins onto a bra top, and he has the time of his life. He also lives for choreographing his routines. Because you bet your ass he does that. He low-key rules with an iron fist because he takes it upon himself to be sure Rhodey has his shit together (at least in drag terms, otherwise he’s a lost cause) at all times.

- Rhodey picks the music, and Quinn puts together choreography. He does it out during idle time with Nando sometimes, just to brainstorm, and the sight of Quinn going through the dancing is just far too much for poor Nando. He’s too gay to function.

- Also,

Quinn at a kegster: Ben have you been practicing your routine for Saturday—

Rhodey, jumping over a table: Q!!!!!!! Keep your voice down, bro!!!!!! I’m undercover!!!!!!!

- Why is Rhodey undercover? Ha, okay, this is where we spill a little angst in our fun drag life imaginings. Rhodey starts this his sophomore year, and Whiskey is captain. I have this feeling that Whiskey still hasn’t fully accepted himself even by the time he’s a senior, and therefore Whiskey feels... kind of weird around Rhodey. The same way he felt weird around Bitty. Because Rhodey is unapologetic and unhesitating in terms of being himself, and Whiskey... isn’t there yet. He’s not sure if he’ll ever get there.

- So on a basic level, Rhodey is kind of scared of Whiskey’s standoffishness. Which isn’t like him, because he doesn’t get scared of people super often. He’s basically just terrified of the thought of Whiskey (and his other non-queer teammates) finding out that he’s doing this, because he feels like it’s going to get him in trouble on the team somehow.

- And yes, I know that this is Samwell Hockey, and that they have each other’s backs, and that the team as I write it in the CCU is well acquainted with having queer members and supporting that, but doing drag is significantly more outlandish than just having a same-sex partner or even participating in pride events. And it’s still college hockey. It’s still hockey.

- And Rhodey, as an NCAA athlete, does not like the thought of somebody finding out who could out him as Ben Shaley, Samwell University goalie, doing drag on the weekends. He knows the implications, off ice and on it, that would come with that being public knowledge.

- Therefore....... undercover.

- This creates the most hilarious thought of the crickets plus Quinn all crammed into Quinn’s room pregaming and getting ready to go out clubbing. Quinn does Rhodey’s makeup. Let me take you all on the journey that is that experience.

Quinn: (Minding his business and doing Rhodey’s mascara. He has Rhodey in a chair and he’s sort of bent over him. Because he’s doing his makeup, this requires him getting kind of close to Rhodey’s face.)

Rhodey: (Because he is an asshole.) Q, there’s so much tension between us right now.

Quinn: (Snorts.)

Nando: No, there is not.

Rhodey: Careful, Nan. I’m gonna steal your man. ;)))))

Quinn: Fucking sit still, Benjamin!

Rhodey: (Completely freezes because he fears for his life.)

Quinn: I will stab you with this mascara brush.

- And then like this.

Quinn: (Putting eyeliner on Nando because he has a hunch it’ll look very pretty and wants to test it out. He’s sitting in Nando’s lap to do it, and he has his legs around his waist.)

Rhodey: (From the other side of the room. Mid-getting dressed.) If you two start making out right now, I refuse to go out with y’all tonight.

Quinn: (Gives Rhodey a death glare, and then turns back to Nando all soft.) Ben, quit shit-talking and finish tucking.

Rhodey: (Pikachu gasp.)

Touille: (Falls off his chair laughing.)

- I cannot get the image out of my head of this slow-mo shot of all four of them walking in the parking lot to get to the club. Because it’s important to me that you know this, here’s what they wear.

Rhodey: is in drag.

Touille: Band shirts with blazers over them, and jeans, and sunglasses. He looks like some kind of grungy bouncer and definitely gets mistaken for Rhodey’s date.

Quinn: A mesh shirt he stole from the Chicago wardrobe closet when he did gender-bent Cell Block Tango and sent Nando into gay panic and some kind of tight pants, with sneakers, and Nando just..... can’t handle it at all.

Nando: Crop tops because, once he gradually gets out of his awful body image rut, Nando is a crop top king. (Quinn lives for it. Boyfriend tummy = free real estate.) And also, like, those pants that cuff at the bottom. I have no idea what the technical term for that is.

- Whatever. Anyway. Those are clubbing outfits. Rhodey kicks ass onstage and also he lives for it??? Quinn gives him a little pep talk because he’s kind of nervous before his first show (imagine that, Ben Shaley nervous), and it’s unbelievably wholesome.

- Touille regularly tells him he looks pretty and it goes straight to his gay head.

- I’m going on and on now, so I’ll cap it here, but, I will talk about this as much as you guys want me to.

Thank you for the ask! :D

[mcatmemoranda]

I always hear "PCU," but don't know what it stands for. I know ICU = Intensive Care Unit; CCU = Critical Care Unit; SICU = Surgical Intensive Care Unit; MICU = Medical Intensive Care Unit. I guess "PCU" stands for Progressive Care Unit.

A Progressive Care Unit (PCU) is a hospital unit that specializes in treating medical and surgical patients whose needs are not serious enough for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but too complex for the regular hospital floor.

According to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, PCU patients are treated for a variety of cardiac and pulmonary problems. These include patients with new pacemakers and defibrillators, myocardial infractions, stroke, and patients who have recently begun potent drug regimens that require monitoring.

PCU patients require more nursing care than is available on general nursing units. For this reason, PCU personnel work in close-knit environments with more support staff than general care units. Additional PCU nursing staff include nursing assistants, patient care technicians and unit clerks.

From: https://pocketsense.com/what-is-post-acute-care-12231357.html

There are multiple levels of care in an acute care hospital. Critical care, intermediate, acute (medical/surgical) and observation are a few of the many levels of care in an acute hospital.

ICU is critical care and PCU, or progressive care, is considered an intermediate level of care based on The Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services definitions.

Telemetry is a technology, not a level of care. Telemetry could include any level of patient for a variety of reasons — it does not classify a patient at a higher level of care just because a provider ordered it.

Telemetry services are typically built within the room-and-board charge. Many private insurances do not allow cardiac monitoring to be billed separately as the technology is seen as a fixed asset of the facility, used multiple times by multiple patients.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) coupled with your state department of health determine and enforce levels of care. Most professionals might refer to CMS as “Medicare” and use these two terms interchangeably.

Even if your patient doesn’t have Medicare or Medicaid as a payer, if your hospital takes any federal funding (Medicare and/or Medicaid dollars) then they must follow CMS rules. CMS is a regulatory body.

From this site: https://www.nurse.com/blog/2018/10/24/whats-the-difference-between-progressive-care-and-intensive-care-units/

[gettingdiceystats]

Character Class Update: Level 2

Soon after the group’s completion of Act 1, they were awarded their first level-up! But what does this mean? Let’s break it down. 

LORROS

For our resident Barbarian, we have two updates to his features with “Reckless Attack” and “Danger Sense”. Both have merits in combat with one allowing him to gain advantage on strength-based weapons and the other allowing him advantage on DEX saves provided that he isn’t blinded, deafened or incapacitated. Next level, he’ll choose his Primal Path where Lorros will gain certain features during his Rage that can buff him or his allies.

SIGG

For our Fighter, we have the coveted “Action Surge” which is a staple to the versatile martial class. It allows him to take an additional Action for free once per rest. Pretty good, right? Well, you may not have known that Action Surge allows you to add your “Extra Attack” feature to the Action, as well. So at level 5, Sigg will be able to attack up to FOUR times on his turn if he were to Action Surge. And like our Barbarian, Sigg will be choosing his Martial Archetype next level which will only further his prowess on the field.

GILL

While our Bard doesn’t get more attacks or advantage on his rolls, he will be getting more spell slots. At level 2, Gill will have 3 level one spells slots to cast each long rest. And at each level, Gill can replace any spell he knows with another so long as he has the spell slot to cast it. But aside from that, he’ll receive two new features: “Jack of All Trades” and “Song of Rest”. JoAT allows Gill to add half his proficiency bonus (rounded down) to any and all ability check he doesn’t have proficiency with. And SoR allows him to give his resting allies an addition d6 during their short rest if they were to expend 1 or more hit dice. Gill will also be choosing his Bardic College next level which will provide bonuses to his Bardic Inspiration and flexibility as a caster and ally on the field.

MIRAQEN

While some of the others had to wait for their class archetypes, our Druid will be picking hers at this level. With Miraqen’s affinity for spellcasting, it wasn’t a surprise for her to choose the Circle of the Land. She gains an additional cantrip and “Natural Recovery”, a feature that allows her to regain spell slots on a short rest that have a combined value of equal half (or less) her Druid level. And more spell slots because why not (which can be prepared during a long rest, provided she has time to do so). However, she does receive one more feature which is “Wildshape” which allows her to take the form of Beasts she’s seen with a CR equal to or less than the one provided on her WS table. 

BARON

Similar to Miraqen, our Wizard chooses his School of Magic at level 2. For him, it will be the School of Necromancy which allows him to spend half the number of time and gold to copy a spell from a scroll or other medium to his own spellbook with “Necromancy Savant”. However, he also gains the feature, “Grim Harvest” which Baron can use once per turn allowing him to reap life from a creature he’s killed gaining 2 times spell level of hitpoints (3 times, if the spell came from the School of Necromancy). Aside from that, he gains one additional spell slot per long rest and he is able to re-prepare spells in his spellbook each long rest, provided he has ample time to do so.

And that’s it for level two! Let me know what you think and if I missed anything!

[theblackandwhitespacecadet]

About my GoFund Me Campaign

Update: 22/09/2019

I am a proud Mummy to beautiful Miss Shyloh-Marie & Future Wife to Craig Daniel Van Oosten, A Rare chronic Illness Warrioress...

Excluding Certain area's of my childhood I feel a need to share with my friends what I could never say. Now 35+ year's on, the monster remains, hauntingly near me. I have battled, struggled & lost because of Eating Issues for the majority of my life. But more recently due to factors beyond my control, the choice to eat has no longer become of my volition. My entire GI system is progressively becoming paralysed. The consequences of this are not clear enough to be treated as they are a direct complication of both severe Anorexia leading me through both Cachexia & at times Sarcopenia & a rare condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Some no'one have guessed Would have anything to do with either conditions. But why? is this, it's because People perceive what that Will, Little is actually Told of the true insurgient truth's, People Don't take the illness Seriously due To how common or fashionable these illness's had become, apparently.... (that's not saying they don't care), they do, their feelings have been tuned out & their frequency has been muffled by their own pain in life. Eating Disorder's have dated back to when whale bones were used as corsage & before bra's were invented & "Eating" & "Disorder" are a poor use of words as the causes have very little to do with actual "Disordered" Eating & everything to do with accepting who we are which is a symptom of a very deep underlying problems with emotional health that have nothing do with eating at all. But what for me came first, the chicken or the egg???? I’ve spent time donateing my body as a guinea pig so to speak for invaluable research to discover a strong correlation with both GI disorders & Anorexia Nervosa, more research is on the way!

I recently was diagnosed with an umbrella of rare & debilitating illnesses Firstly Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, the types have recently been recategorised to help medical teams distinguish between the symptoms loft better as research is being done wherever it can be afforded. However, unfortunately many beautiful people have lost their fight whilst they have tried to seek appropriate treatment & management for this insidious condition.

I have the rare form of two kinds that crossover, an even rarer occurrence of when Vascular type is seen alongside the most common form of classical. Because collagen makes up at least 85% of our bodies in each systemic function of the body all organs, vessels & connective tissue are in effect "Falling apart" these two words have been said to me by many Dr's & yet at the same time they've said do everything you want to do. Do it now before you age more & subsequently lose more ability. Back when I was born so very little was known of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, my parents cannot be blamed for not knowing about these conditions. Regardless, they just couldn’t have understood my behavioural reactions to the troubles I kept silent, but that has literally torn our family apart on so many levels, we are estranged & this crushes me in ways my existence could never have been imagined.

I have Dysautonomia which causes Gastroparesis & more recently Intestinal Dysmotility & paralysis, where I'm certain my years of anorexic behaviour, due to dreadful emotional trauma had a huge impact on the manifestations of my health.

haven't helped at all & strange in contrast now is the fact that now I want to live, eat & grow my stomach has given up on me & to do so isn't beneficial.

I can however feel hunger, so it's a form of torture. I've also been in CCU for many smaller scale MI's that have lead to being diagnosed with LongQTsyndrome (Brugada) which is frightening, because it is the same type of sudden Arrythmic death syndrome that sports people have been found to suddenly drop on fields from. Lately other conditions that are linked have been exacerbated by Each other genetically. Once the systems of the body are damaged From Starvation & trauma, they then start affecting the genes. Nervous system Starvation leads To Myeln sheath or epithelial Cells To be destroyed because the Complex fatty acids that protect the Nerves are eaten away Once the mitochondria has digested all available sources of fats in the body this then destroys Brain tissue which is fatty acids From Omega 3 amongst other's. As a result of Being starved/neglected as an infant, I developed Anorexia. As a consequence of Anorexia I now have autoimmune disorders, (Lupus) these flare Inflammatory responses to sugars & proteins making it even more difficult to stay reasonably healthy. Collagen cannot be replaced, restored by re-feeding, as I found out the hard way. Anyone That eats can become unwell, These conditions are extremely rare, estimated around 1/500,000 people will be born without the gene to make their own collagen.

Every living thing must consume to survive Life whether they are young, old, thin, gay, or ethnic background.

Ahhh, so that's done for now...

Regardless of what my physical vehicle in this life causes me though, I feel I'm growing stronger in my soul... I don't hold grudges or allow negativity to stop me chasing my dreams, I love theatre (I miss it) & have many similar media skills, a patent called ZeraphicGraphics© Aspirations to touch as many lives with humanity & unconditional love as possible & travel to spend time with the most inspiring people in the world! I love being where the thrill of art in many forms helps people live. My one dream mentor (of almost 20 years) still inspires me today, even more in recent times when with amazement she was cast in a wonderful show on pay TV.

I chose to not allow my illness to be the main focus though, It's hard with a feeding tube not to feel that this is what people see... I feel often that I'm invisable behind the stripes of these conditions. So escape is rather important in the form of Arts!

Update 5/04/2018

Almost a year ago, after being fed by tubes directly into my intestine (after some proper nutrition) I found out I was expecting my miracle baby, Shyloh-Marie... So many turns, twists & tribulations! But we are all alive, grateful & looking forward. Still being a warrior, being a pin cushion like a pro & trying to make things more visible for those like me in the world... We are currently struggling with bubs sleep pattern, but other than that she is more joy than life itself! I have been able to see my now “friend in the theatre” Pamela Rabe at least twice more since our first meeting in Melbourne & I’ve finally found one of the most important people to me from my Carramar year’s... I cannot believe it’s been over 25 years ago that I was a teen, I am very privileged to be able to say this. Maybe, I will write that book! Maybe it will be a best seller lol....

Sarah-Marie Seraphic-McFarlane (Van Oosten)

My darling fiancé is my rock, we are twin flames, we met in a children’s home for adolescents, we have found each other again as we always had hoped might be possible & if possible, we hoped to have healed in the time apart. In these times precious relationships for Craig, were formed & he had a beautiful son as well to a former partner in our time apart. To such pride he was a wonderful dad but sadly, his sweet first born son passed away from a rare condition known as Menkes Disease. Since we have formed our own little family & are wanting to be married next April, we have a fundraiser to help us, as medical cost are exorbitant with my being on peptide pump feeds for nutrition, medication & treatments for a blood disorder yet to be diagnosed officially.