#Immigration Travel Advice

[lexlawuk]

UK Travel with EU Settlement Status: What You Need to Know

The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) has brought significant changes to the rights of EU citizens and their family members when travelling to and from the UK. This article delves into the latest Border Force guidance issued in 2024 on how individuals with EUSS status or pending applications should be treated at the UK border. We will also explore the complexities surrounding pending applications,…

[uglyandtraveling]

Living in Canada as a Newcomer: Essential Tips for a Smooth Start!

Discover essential tips for newcomers settling in Canada! From surviving winters to finding housing, jobs, and more—here's your ultimate guide.

[language-education-and-exam]

🌍 Planning to study abroad? Here's a quick guide:

What is the process of applying to a university for international students?

The process of applying to a university as an international student can vary depending on the country and the specific university, but here is a general overview of the steps involved:

Research and Choose a University: Start by researching universities in the country where you want to study. Consider factors like the quality of education, program offerings, location, cost of living, and any language requirements

Select a Program: Choose the specific program or course of study you wish to pursue. Ensure it aligns with your academic and career goal goals

Check Admission Requirements: Review the admission requirements for the program and university you're interested in. These can include academic qualifications, language proficiency tests (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL), standardized tests (e.g., SAT, GRE), and letters of recommendation.

Prepare Required Documents:

Gather all the necessary documents, which typically include:

Transcripts and diplomas from previous educational institutions.

Proof of language proficiency (if required).

Standardized test scores (if required).

Letters of recommendation.

Statement of purpose or personal essay.

CV or resume.

Passport copy.

Financial documents to prove you can cover tuition and living expenses.

Complete the Application: Fill out the university's online application form. Pay attention to application deadlines, as they can vary for different programs and universities.

Pay Application Fees: Some universities charge an application fee. Ensure you make the necessary payments to complete your application

Submit Your Documents: Upload or mail your required documents as part of your application. Ensure they are accurate and translated (if necessary) as per the university's requirements

Wait for Admission Decision: Universities will review your application and documents. It can take several weeks to months to receive an admission decision

Acceptance and Visa: If you are accepted, the university will send you an acceptance letter. You will then need to apply for a student visa from the country's embassy or consulate in your home country.

Financial Planning: Ensure you have a plan to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and any other costs while studying abroad. This may involve scholarships, loans, or personal savings.

Housing and Arrival: Arrange for housing in your destination country and plan your arrival.

Orientation and Enrollment: Attend orientation sessions provided by the university. Enroll in classes and get your student ID card.

Health Insurance: Obtain health insurance as required by the university or country.

Enjoy Your Study Abroad Experience: Once you've completed these steps, you're ready to begin your study abroad adventure.

It's essential to check the specific requirements and procedures of the university you are applying to, as they can vary significantly. Additionally, stay organized, meet all deadlines, and seek assistance from the university's international admissions office if you have any questions or concerns. For more information about studying abroad visit us here! Tokyo International Education Institute

[writefantasyworlds]

World Building Advice Series: Step Three

Creating your Lands

After you have your list of inspirations, and you have a purpose for your world, you are ready to create the land.

I’d start with the size you want your world to be. Are there countries your characters will be traveling to or will have mentioned? Or is it a smaller scope focused on one area of a single country, maybe just a city, and the rest matters less to your story. (Think Night City from Cyberpunk. Vs a world like Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia.)

Whether it’s a big or small scope, you can still think of just as many details to fill your world with.

I’ll refer back to my example story I mentioned in previous steps. A steampunk magical world that is somewhat based on New York in the Second Industrial Revolution. It focuses heavily on my main character; who like me is an immigrant to a new country and struggling to adjust to the culture. He also meets a lot of other immigrants from different countries in my story.

This is important to me and my story that we see how different the cultures are from the new country they are adjusting to, and from each other.

To show these differences in the countries compared to the one my story takes place in, I chose to fully world build an entire world map with cultures and concepts for each of the countries in the world. I added the most details to the ones more prominent in my story, but chose a small history, backstory, climate and a bit of culture for each of them.

You can at this stage in your building decide to build more than is relevant if you’d like. This is the fun bit for most that want to get into heavy world building. This is where you can decide religions, animals, magic systems, and all the tiny details that make your world unique. That doesn’t mean each bit will be including into your story though, so don’t be too attached to each concept getting explored by your characters. But, we will talk more about that in another part.

For example during this stage I created twelve countries and chose some of these things for them.

1) Names.

2) People characteristics. (Are they known for being friendly? Reserved? Studious and Hardworking?)

3) History (How did they form? Are they a new country or an established world power?)

4) Unique exports (Mining? Fishing? Clothing and Dyes? Spices?)

5) Unique landscapes and climate.

6) Allies and Enemies (where they stand with the other countries)

Just to name a few!

Mostly this is the ‘free for all’ section of your building. Have fun and let your mind expand as far as you want, and trim down what’s relevant later.

Happy building!

[acesandocs]

Before I post the short story I've been working on, I wanted to introduce some of Ace’s family, since they're going to be featured. I tried to edit it down to the important stuff but if anyone wants to know more just ask.

Solveig Liv Årud/Sylvia Hall, Ace's Mother

Ace's mom Solveig was born in Kapp along with her two brothers, One of her neighbors was a music teacher and taught her to play the Hardanger fiddle. When she was seventeen she became pregnant by one of her neighbor's students but was urged by her neighbor to never tell him or anyone else of the child's parentage. Having had Ace outside of wedlock Solveig faced a lot of social ostracisation. Her sister in law, who was deeply religious judged Solveig for having a child without marrying. A rumor amongst the townspeople was that Ace's father was actually a fossegrim, that Solveig agreed to have a child with in exchange for teaching her to play the fiddle so well. (there is actually a lot to say on how this affected Ace and his view of himself but we don't have time to get into it rn). After a flood made her and her family homeless they emigrated to America in 1920 at the advice of some friends.

Once they arrived in New York Ace became very ill and bedridden causing them to be left behind as the rest of their family continued further up to Minnesota. While Ace was sick Solveig met and later fell in love with a Swedish immigrant named Eric Hall. She married Eric after knowing him for half a year. Solveig had kept Ace close all her life and not really letting her grow up or stand on her own. So he reacted badly to Solveig marrying. Being jealous and being unable to deal with not being her mothers center of attention, making him lash out. After an argument where Solveig slapped Ace for being disrespectful to her stepfather Ace ran away from home. Ace and Solveig have been estranged ever since, both being too stubborn to try to reconcile. After Solveig married Eric she tried very hard to adapt to American culture, Americanizing her name to Sylvia and trying her best to learn English and not speak with an accent. She currently has two children with Eric. Neither them nor Ace know of each other's existence.

Torbjørn Olaug Årud and Lena Årud, Ace's Grandparents

Lena was born in Kapp and Torbjørn was born in the Lofoten area. He traveled down to Toten to live with a family friend after he became orphaned. He later met Lena and they eventually married. They later had 2 sons, the youngest of them dying after moving away as an adult, later they had a daughter they named Solveig. When Solveig became pregnant at seventeen they decided to support her and help her take care of their granddaughter. In the years immediately after Ace was born she and Solveig lived with them before moving into a smaller house on their property. By this time their oldest had married and taken over the main house on the farm and Torbjørn and Lena moved into another small house on the property.

They emigrated to America with the rest of their family in 1920 and went with the rest to Minnesota leaving Solveig and Ace behind. Lena later died in 1922 after becoming sick. Ace does not know this happened.

Info on the art:

Ace is supposed to be a tortoiseshell cat, witch is something that can be seen in her mother and grandmother as well. this is a reference to the fact that tortoiseshells are mostly female. (source)

Her grandfather is supposed to be a Norwegian forest cat.

The implement Solveig is holding is called a Lyster and it is used to fish. Lyster fishing was usually done when it was dark out, using the Lyster to stab the fish. it was banned in the 1860 but was most likely still practiced afterwards. Today it has become completely illegal. The fish in the bucket are trout, a fish that was commonly caught with a Lyster. (source) Here is a painting depicting it.

I apologize for any spelling mistakes or weird wording, i try my best to read though these before i post them but some mistakes often slip through.

[justallihere]

A bit late to this chapter since i've been traveling but it was a TREAT when you dropped it.

Not sure why I found Dain and Cam pummeling each other was attractive to me but I'm rolling with it.

Is there a potential Tessa and Cam pairing I see 👀. I am DYING to know what plans you have for Cam, does he want to be a rider now that he has the freedom??? or is he going to continue assisting in different ways.

After IF, I understood what RY meant that Dain was going to have a redemption arc and I am HERE for your version too (though I was initially hesitant with RY lmao)

As the eldest daughter in an immigrant family, I relate to Mira on a spiritual level, this line 😭. Someone hug Mira PLEASE

I believed in everything they told us. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was making a difference. I thought that I could make my brother’s death mean something by protecting our sister, the only person we both ever loved more than each other, but I couldn’t even fucking do that, Brennan. He told us that having a little sister was the most important thing in the world. There wasn’t a better or bigger job than being a big sister and a big brother.

Xaden really told Brennan, fuck around and find out in regards to his wife and how they make her feel.

I love all the hugs and physical touch that is happening between these two. The slow burn was WORTH IT

Tairn being such a girl dad to Violet, I AM SOBBING. He probably felt so much anger when he couldn't do anything for Vi when she was being tortured.

Brennan telling Vi that she has to finish her education is so older sibling coded. He's trying to pull the older brother giving his younger sibling advice card but Vi is like Im the goddamn queen and your superior officer LMAO.

Vi wanting everyone to love Aretia as much as she does was so gut-wrenching and idk why 😭 (and Mira being extremely uncomfortable in Aretia and Vi being sad about that made ME sad)

My only thought for this line was "whipped"

Xaden only shrugged. “Anything for you.”

Hope you got to enjoy your weekend and relax a bit <3 Thank you for gifting us this chapter, it made my week

The Dain & Cam fight almost involved Sloane and Tessa “watching for technique” 💀

“Staring is rude,” Violet noted mildly as she approached.

Sloane’s face lit up, but she said evenly, “We’re not staring.”

“We’re. . . watching for technique,” Tessa added with a smile.

Liam coughed pointedly.

“Technique,” Sloane agreed unconvincingly.

I’m keeping my Cam plans to myself!! My man isn’t done causing problems yet though

Mira deserves THE WORLD. She is just doing her best to be the best big sister. She needs so many hugs

Xaden was like “I don’t care if we’re friends, I don’t care if she’s your sister, she’s my wife, upset her again and you die” and Brennan took that shit seriously

Tairn!! I felt a lil bad leaving Andarna out of that moment but there’s just something about the Violet & Tairn bond that demanded that needed to be only for them

Brennan: “you should—“

Violet: “no”

Violet finally has a home she’s happy and safe and comfortable in when she’s never had that her whole life and she just wants everyone else to feel the same and get to experience it with her 🥺

Xaden is, in fact, whipped

Thank you!! 🩷🩷

[schrijverr]

I Didn’t Mean to Say I Do, but I Do. I Do. 9

Chapter 9 out of 50

Secret marriage of convenience buddie slow burn AU, where Buck and Eddie have been married for years so Buck could adopt Chris and no one at the 118 knows.

In this chapter, the 118 gets closer through a car accident and a plane crash, while the little family unit Buck has with Chris and Eddie also remains. However, it’s all still on unstable ground, impermanent.

On AO3.

Ships: Buddie (slow burn)

Warnings: internalized misogyny, injury, minor character death mention, addiction mention, referenced sexual assault (vague)

~~~

Chapter 9: Almost a Family

Buck is at the station when he is called again by a number he saved as Abby 911. When she called the first time, it felt nice. Someone checking in on him, giving him some advice, some reassurance, making him feel less like a failure.

However, as he watches the phone ring now, his stomach is filled with nothing but dread.

She got his number from the file. She saw him on the news. She sought him out and called him and is now calling him again. She probably wants something from him.

Maybe if Eddie hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have had the stupid crush – or deep love but who’s counting – and he wouldn’t have thought about what Dr. Wells did. Maybe he wouldn’t have noticed without Eddie pointing it out. Maybe he would be lonely now and flattered by someone liking him enough to seek him out. Maybe then he would have liked to be called again

But he doesn’t. None of that happened. Instead he’s here and the thought of answering that phone makes him a little nauseous. So, he hangs up the call without picking up, then blocks her number, trying not to feel rude about it. Buck isn’t ready to be back in the dating game. Or the sleeping with people game.

Instead, he tries to focus on his friendships, because he does have a lot of good friendships even if he wishes one of them would be a romance. And one day that non-romance will disappear, so he should cling to what he has, make a proper family out of the 118, so he won’t be alone when he gets left behind again.

And the others reach back. It’s not how Buck would’ve wanted it to happen, because it starts with Chimney getting a piece of rebar stuck through his head. It’s harrowing to see one of their own like that and he doesn’t even feel the usual mixture of butterflies and guilt when he crushes Eddie in a hug when he gets home, just needing his friend to be close.

Waiting for Chimney to wake up is the worst. They’re all climbing the walls and Buck is sure Hen is annoying Karen as much with her worrying as he does Eddie. He is glad to get a call so he can let the nervous energy out, even if he hates people being in danger.

When they get there and get the truck open, the relief to be doing something, anything, dissipates immediately. The truck is filled with immigrants, all in need of medical attention due to the conditions.

Buck and Hen work together to bring a kid back. As he does chest compressions all he can think is how this kid is about Chris’s age. How easily it could have been Chris there. He’s pretty sure Hen is thinking of Denny too.

He talks to their patient and his parents in Spanish, encouraging the boy to wake up, to breathe, then assuring the parents that he’s alive, that he’s okay when they finally get him back.

“I didn’t know you spoke Spanish,” Hen comments when the boy is in the ambulance.

“Lived in Texas before this, picked somethings up,” Buck tells her, because it’s close to the truth anyway. Eddie wants Chris to speak Spanish, so Buck has been trying to learn more right alongside the boy – who is more skilled at the language – Helena and Ramon didn’t care much about him learning, but Abuela and Pepa have taken to trying to teach him, refusing to speak English with him from time to time so he can learn.

“Aren’t you from Pennsylvania?” Hen frowns.

“Yeah, but I traveled. Lived in Peru too, was a bartender there,” Buck smiles.

“Okay,” Hen says after a moment, studying him. It’s as if she is still processing that he can do that and he rolls his eyes slightly.

He knows he doesn’t look it, but he can’t help but be slightly annoyed that his frat boy exterior prevents them from thinking he can’t have his intelligent moments. Sulkily, he thinks, if I took Eddie’s last name, they wouldn’t be so surprised. Before his face becomes beet red at the thought of having Eddie’s last name.

Fortunately, Hen is distracted by arresting the driver after spotting him, so she doesn’t notice his flushed look or thinks to ask more about his Spanish speaking skills.

They’re all relieved when Chimney wakes up that evening. When he seems to understand them and is capable of reacting to their input. It can still go horribly, horribly wrong, but there are positive signs. They need positive signs.

However, they find out the hard way that positive signs doesn’t mean the positivity will last. A plane crashes and Bobby almost gets himself killed to rescue a mom.

Buck gets it, he would die a hundred painful deaths if it meant Chris got out of a situation like that alive. But he also would want someone to fight for him, to fight so he wouldn’t have to abandon Chris, not leave him behind like Shannon had.

Still, he selfishly doesn’t want Bobby to die for her either. Doesn’t want someone he cares about to die, not when he can help. Doesn’t want to be abandoned himself either. So, he helps and together they do one of the most hair brained rescues that Bobby would have never signed off on, if Buck had suggested it under any other circumstance.

These big casualty events always make him want to call Eddie to check up on him and Chris, but he can’t yet. They still have work to do, this call isn’t over yet. So, he’s checking people’s vitals with wet shivering hands, ignoring the way his waterlogged uniform clings to him.

He’s not the only who’s out of it, when they’re finally relieved, the atmosphere in the engine is subdued. Bobby seems to be off in another world with how deep in thought he is and Hen is quietly calling her wife.

Buck wants to call Eddie, wants to hear him be okay and talk to Chris for a bit. But it’s late and unlike Karen, Eddie didn’t marry him out of love. He has no right calling Eddie awake and wanting him to wake up Chris, just for him. So, he just sits there and wraps the blanket that Hen shoved into his hands when she saw him shivering a little tighter around himself.

When they get back to the station, his phone rings, Eddie’s contact lighting up the screen. The others are trudging off to the locker rooms so Buck doesn’t waste a moment fumbling with his numb fingers to pick up. “Eddie? Are you okay?”

“Am I okay? What about are you okay?” Eddie replies, sounding stressed. “I saw your unit on the TV at the crash and then I didn’t hear anything from you.”

Oh, Eddie has been worrying about him. The thought makes something warm bloom in his chest, he never considered the feeling around these kind of accidents would be mutual. The worry makes him feel loved and he smiles: “I’m sorry, Eds. Didn’t wanna wake you or Chris.”

“Well, that- that’s nice, but wake me up next time, alright?” Eddie says. “And you didn’t answer my question, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Little wet and a little cold, but fine,” Buck promises. He’s shaken up slightly and he’s exhausted to all hell, but those are details.

“Stay there, I’m picking you up.”

“No, Eddie, you don’t-”

“Buck, you’re in no condition to drive.”

“You don’t know that,” Buck pouts.

“I do know that. You’re a stubborn shit and your definition of ‘fine’ and ‘little’ are off, so you’re gonna stay there and let me pick you up,” Eddie says forcefully.

Even if the context is off, Buck’s inside flutter at Eddie telling him he’ll pick him up. However, he is used to that feeling when around Eddie.

It’s been months since he realized he’s in love with his best friend and he’s learned to live with it. It’s a pleasant background feeling that sometimes pokes through the surface, making him painfully aware of it, but most of the time it’s just there.

Right now, he mostly feels fond affection and the fuzzy feeling of being cared for. Even without the romantic aspects of his feelings, he and Eddie are closer friends than average and he cares deeply about him. So, he lets Eddie care for him in turn too, smiling as he gives. “Alright, I’ll wait.”

They hang up and Buck goes to move to the shower, wanting to get that over with so he can crawl into his bed as soon as possible when he gets home. Maybe he can even nap in the car.

He runs into Hen on his way there, who is already dressed. When she spots him in his still wet clothes, she frowns: “Are you okay, Buck?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” he smiles tiredly. It’s even true after his call with Eddie. “Just called for a ride, my arms feel like they’re going to fall off.”

“I hear you, I’m gonna sleep so hard when I get home,” Hen smiles back. “Want me to wait on your ride with you?”

Again affection blooms in his chest at the offer. The 118 truly is a family sometimes and Buck has been brought into the fold entirely with little moments like these showing how much they care, how much they all care.

Despite that fondness, he finds himself shaking his head: “Nah, I’m gonna shower real quick, ride should be here by then. Besides, you had a long day too. Go home to your wife, Hen.”

“Alright. Goodnight, Buck.”

“Goodnight.”

Buck doesn’t see Bobby when he goes to the shower, nor when he goes to change or leaves. He wanted to check up on him, but he supposes he’s probably gone home for the night. Buck can’t blame him for that, so he leaves the firehouse in the very capable hands of the B-shift.

Eddie’s truck is right there and he throws open the door with little grace, tossing his bag on the backseat, before collapsing in the passenger seat. It’s only when he’s sitting that the exhaustion sets in and he lets out a long groan.

“Still think you could have driven home?” Eddie asks smugly.

Buck sends him a half hearted glare. “Oh shut up.”

“I think the words you’re looking for is ‘you were right, thank you, Eddie, for picking me up instead of letting me do something stupid,’” Eddie retorts with a bad impression of him, as he drives away.

“Oi, I don’t sound like that,” Buck complains.

“You do a little.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes-”

“Ugh, stop it,” Buck cuts him off, before he can go on. Too tired to argue. Instead he asks: “How was Chris’s day? And yours?”

Eddie doesn’t have it in him to play offended at Buck adding his day as an afterthought. He knows from the army how on some hard days, you just want to know your kid is okay. He doesn’t begrudge Buck for that or deny him the comfort.

So, he talks about the failed pancakes then cereal for breakfast, what Chris talked about on the drive to school, then repeats what Chris told him during dinner. Beside him, Buck sinks off into sleep pretty soon. He looks exhausted and Eddie doesn’t want to wake him. If Chris wasn’t waiting at home, he would have taken a detour, but as it is now, he drives home and sits in the drive way for a few minutes.

He was really worried today. He’s not used to being on this side. To being home while someone you care about is out there and in danger. Buck has had dangerous calls, but not like this. Not where Eddie knows about it while Buck is still out there, instead of hearing about it in hindsight.

Eddie wonders if this is what it was like for Buck when he was off fighting, if he worried like this too, if he was relieved any time he answered the phone. It makes him grateful all over again for Buck’s presence. That Buck stayed.

For a second, he doesn’t know what to do with the feelings that overwhelm him. He has never had a friend like this, never had a person like this. Someone that chooses him over and over and always sticks by his side. Today, he thought something might have happened to Buck and he could have lost that. It scares him. It makes him realize just how much he has. How much he can lose.

So, he sits there and watches Buck for a moment, tracking the way his chest rises and falls, how his face is slack, ridding itself of the worry and exhaustion.

Then he shakes his head. He’s acting weird. He didn’t lose Buck and he was just worrying for nothing. There is no reason to be all- all emotional about it. He can just suck it up. It’s just the job, the same job he’s going to have soon. Getting stuck on those kinds of things won’t help.

Still, his hands are gentle when he prods Buck awake and he shoos him inside, grabbing Buck’s bag to carry in, because he doesn’t want Buck to exert himself. Buck rolls his eyes at it, but lets him, going on ahead. When Eddie joins him inside after putting his bag in the proper place and getting the dirty clothes out, he finds him at Chris’s door, peeking in through a crack.

“Just wanted to make sure he’s okay. Irrational, I know,” Buck whispers.

He sounds apologetic, he often does when doing something for himself in regards to Chris. Eddie wants to get it into his thick skull that he can do that as much as Eddie does, that there is a reason Chris calls him papi. However, every time he tries the words get stuck and it feels weird. “I get it, I check on him all the time.”

Buck is quiet, just nodding. He doesn’t seem to be fully there mentally, staring at Chris for a little longer. Eddie is about to suggest going to sleep when Buck says: “Me and Bobby saved this kid and his mom.”

“Yeah?” Eddie asks, prompting him to continue.

“We got the kid out pretty easy, but the mom was stuck. Bobby ordered everyone out, but he was going to stay behind himself to save her. I, uh- I stayed behind too. Against orders. It was stupid, but I couldn’t leave them, I had to try and save her. She had a kid to come home too, I couldn’t let her abandon him. I’d want someone to try and get me back too.”

“You made the right call.”

“Did I? Because right now, all I can think is how I nearly died and left Chris to save someone I don’t know.”

“That’s your job, Buck. It’s who you are. You save strangers despite what will happen to yourself, you always try to help. It’s what you did for me and Chris.”

He can see that Buck doesn’t really know what to do with that honesty. “Oh, uh- well… I mean, Chris wasn’t exactly a stranger. You were. I wanted to help Chris, I just kinda got stuck with you.”

“Oh fuck off,” Eddie replies, a grin on his face. It’s a joke to deflect, he knows that Buck is doing it, but he’s not going to push.

“Shush, there are children nearby.”

“Chris is asleep and you should be too. Come on, let’s get you to bed, big guy, you look dead on your feet.”

Buck does shut up at that and Eddie is confused about why he’s red, there isn’t anything too embarrassing about being tired. But he doesn’t point it out and lets his friend save face, instead following him to the bathroom so they can brush their teeth side by side, before they wish each other goodnight and retreat to their respective bedrooms.

The next day, Buck is up with the others. He is still sore, but he has the next day off, he can sleep later. He wants to spend this morning with Chris and Eddie.

He makes them breakfast and drives Chris to school with Eddie in the passenger seat, so he can drop him off at PT. He would like to stay, but he’s buying decorations and gifts for Chris’s birthday that is coming up.

He is half playing with inviting the 118. Chim is in recovery and things might settle down. He wants to open up more, maybe share this part of him and he feels a bit better about it after last night with Eddie saying he saved them.

However, that idea goes flying out the window when he comes in to work and Bobby isn’t there for his shift. Bobby is always there for his shift.

Finding Bobby the way they do is absolutely heartbreaking. He is in clear need of help, of someone to be there for him.

So they’re there for him. They check up on him after rough calls, reign him in when he snaps and sit with him in the quiet hours – though none of them will ever dare to use the word quiet.

Still, they don’t know anything about him, about why he started drinking and why he stopped. Much like Buck, Bobby has a tight grip on his personal life, but Buck now learns that might be because he doesn’t have a personal life. Just a job.

He can’t imagine what that is like, what not having people to come home to is like. He probably wouldn’t have survived some of the things he saw these past few months if he couldn’t come home and hug Eddie or watch Chris breathe.

However, it also makes him realize that no matter how close they’re all getting and how nice it is in the firehouse, he has no clue what these people are like outside of team drinks.

Of course he has faith that they’re good people and with time, they will probably become proper family. But not now. Not yet. It feels too early for something like inviting them to Chris’s birthday party. He needs to know more about who they are outside of work, before he exposes his son to them. Maybe next year.

And it feels like he makes the right call when things get frosty between Bobby and Hen. He doesn’t know exactly what went down on the call at the wedding, but something must have. Now, the team feels out of balance.

Much like them, he can’t wait for Chimney to get back. He hopes the other’s presence can pull things in balance once more. He can’t have this falling apart on him.

Despite his reservations, he has not felt more at home anywhere but with Eddie and the 118. He knows what he has with Eddie is temporary, so he needs this to be permanent. He needs the 118 to survive.

Buck doesn’t really know how to make a family survive.

He never could make his mom or dad love him, only succeeding in temporarily gaining their attention. He couldn’t get Maddie to stay with him. Couldn’t convince Shannon that him being there would make a difference. Could only convince Eddie to build this life with him because there literally wasn’t another option and he married the man with the promise of an easy divorce, even if that hasn’t happened yet.

For him, family has never been permanent, no matter how hard he tries. It all feels unsteady, so he does what he does with Eddie, pretends that he doesn’t feel the way the ground shakes and hopes that the building is strong enough not to collapse in the aftershocks.

And he is thankful for Hen, who despite her frostiness, is capable of making it work. Of making a family.

Through working with her, he has heard about her wife and her son. He loves hearing about her and Karen. He himself isn’t out at work, but hearing her always makes him happy – albeit a little wistful too – and confident that when he wants to share, it’ll be okay.

Hen made her family. He doesn’t know exactly how they got Denny, but she mentioned once he was a child of her ex. Getting to where she is now, she must have worked for that.

So, it makes sense that she’s the one that gets through to Bobby and gets Bobby to open up to them a little over family dinner that day.

He is incredibly grateful to her for that, but he doesn’t say that. He doesn’t want to mess up the good thing they have going on. Doesn’t want to mess up the work she put in. So, he just gives her a nod and a smile and carries on as if this is normal, as if he never thought anything else would happen. As if people always stay, instead of leave.

However, just because he doesn’t mention anything, doesn’t mean he isn’t desperately clinging to it all in the background.

When Hen asks for help planning Chimney’s welcome back get together, he jumps in feet first, doing anything she asks to make sure it’s all good. Up to her standard. Up to what Chimney deserves.

Sure, they’re getting closer, but Chimney is a glue, a heart and they need him back. He can deal with Hen when she gets snippy due to stress, he’s been there long enough that he back talks to Bobby, and is social and open in a way that allows him to pull Buck into the fold easily without it being awkward or forced.

Meanwhile, he’s also planning Chris’s birthday parties with Eddie, since that is coming up soon.

Both are kind of anxious about it. It’ll be the first birthday where no one has recently left or can’t attend and the first where Chris will have a kid’s party at an earlier date, before family comes. Because, yes, Helena and Ramon are flying in for Chris’s birthday.

Chris is thrilled and excited to see them again, Buck and Eddie less so. It’s the first time they’ll be there after the two of them basically fled the state to get away from them. This party has to impress them. Has to prove they’re capable of raising Chris without them.

Buck is glad Eddie isn’t starting the fire academy yet. He will soon, but he’s still getting his strength back and gamely taking Buck’s house wife jokes in stride.

For now it helps that Eddie is available to pick things up and organize things, while Buck busts out his planning skills. However, Buck is jittery and stressed. This has an added layer now. He’s in love with Eddie and he already knows his in-laws hate him, hell, they hate that they’re his in-laws to begin with.

He still remembers Shannon complaining about her horrid ex-in-laws in the Johnson farm kitchen, how he listened to her sympathetically, glad it wasn’t him. Now it is him and, unlike Shannon, he actually wants a family, a life with Eddie, and that sadly involves in-laws. He’s never going to get their approval, he knows that, but he at least wants to impress them.

It’s stupid and he knows it, but he stresses about it and to forget stressing about it, he lets himself drown in party planning.

And it works.

Chimney’s welcome back party goes well, the cake is done one time and everyone from the A and B shift is there. Athena shows up too. Everyone has a good time. He doesn’t even get weird when they talk about Valentine plans, happy that he has a shift then, so he can’t get in his head about it. Plus, they get to enjoy the party, before the alarm goes.

Chris’s party with friends from school goes well too. Both Buck and Eddie are familiar faces from pick up and they’re somewhat friendly with the parents from the other kids. It is a sweet kind of torture to be seen as an actual married couple by them, neither of them having ever felt like explaining the whole situation, since it’s complicated and personal.

The important part is that Chris enjoys himself and no one gets hurt and the house is in one piece at the end. When everyone is home, Chris is in bed, and he and Eddie are cleaning up the house, Buck relaxes a little bit.

He has survived two out of the three parties he planned. The full moon is this week, so that’ll be over by the time party three rolls around. He’s going to be fine.

~~

A/N:

The horrible balancing act of Buck being a chronic over-sharer, but needing him to keep a secret for the sake of plot lmao

[empireofthestates]

If you are one of the people who will be directly affected by Project 2025 - if you are transgender, a woman, lgbtqia+, an immigrant, or atheist, I strongly encourage you to formulate an escape/survival plan.

IF YOU PLAN TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY:

Join expat groups on Faceb00k. People will often post housing, job offers, or general advice in these groups that may be beneficial when moving. (Expat groups I'm in: Mexico: 1, 2, 3, 4 / Canada: 1, 2, 3 / Sweden: 1, 2 / Germany: 1, 2)

Apply for a U.S. Passport. As it currently stands, you can't travel to many places internationally without one. If you are trying to move before refugee status is available, this document will become necessary. Passports are still backed up right now, and can take months to arrive. If you are able, start applying now!

Brush up on any marketable skills. Look into the country you want to move to and see if you have any skills they are in need of! Lots of countries will often expedite your immigration status if you have skills they need.

Make sure you can take your pets with you. Lots of countries have breed restrictions (for instance, the U.K. has banned pitbulls and other bully breeds). Make sure that wherever you are going, you can take your pets. Look into travel options for dogs (airline, cruise, etc.) If you can't take your pets, make a plan to leave them with someone stateside who will take care of them. Do your best to minimize the risk of them ending up at a shelter.

Buy a house in your desired country. Many countries, such as Portugal, view buying property in their country as a verifiable means of immigration. Many countries also have lower housing prices than the U.S. so it may be more financially feasible than buying stateside.

Move closer to the border. If you plan to move somewhere that shares a land border with the U.S., consider moving closer to that border. My partner and I are currently looking at moving from South Carolina to Washington state so that if the time comes, we are that much closer to the border.

Figure out how you're going to get there. If you are driving, (Canada, Mexico), look into importing your car. Canada has specific regulations about what kinds of cars are allowed to be imported due to their strict environmental protection laws.

Learn the language. Duolingo and YouTube University are both free!

IF YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE COUNTRY, STILL FORMULATE A PLAN:

Create a community. Make friends with people of a similar mindset as you. Collaborate amongst each other to keep each other safe. Create groups in your local area. Meet at the library or a local park. Make connections and allies so when the time comes, you are not alone.

Find out what assets you can liquidate quickly for extra cash. If you have things like gold jewelry, keep those. Gold is often better than cash (especially if inflation keeps going up). However, gaming consoles, collectibles, and antiques may be easily sold/pawned if you need to get cash quickly. Make notes of what valuables you have.

Learn survival skills. Maybe not completely necessary, but rather safe than sorry. Learn how to build a shelter, start a fire, and forage. I did most of my survival training at a YMCA. YouTube and your local library are also great places to look!

Create spaces in your home where you can hide things. Make false bottoms in dresser drawers. Make a false wall in your closet or a hidden crawlspace access.

Stockpile the things you need. If you need certain meds to function, try to find alternative ways to get them. If you have the money to buy extra canned food, put them away in storage. If you smoke, stockpile cigarettes or other tobacco products. Those may also be helpful for trading later.

Protect yourselves. If you have no other choice, find a way to protect yourself if the time comes. Whether that is through allies or weapons, PROTECT YOURSELF. At the end of the day, your life is more important than your politics. Don't be a Batman when N@zis are on the loose.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Do not lose hope! More than anything, people have the "indomitable human spirit." When push comes to shove, humanity fights back. Generations before us have fought to protect themselves before, and we will do it again. Our communities will survive.

[ask-molly-hh]

Dearest Molly, what was your favorite thing to do when you were alive, I heard your from New York. So what place do you recommend to visit for a traveler like myself?

But yeah, the pier by the factories in the Brooklyn. Expecially the stone one. I'd sit there for hours.

Now mod time ⬇️

Hi so, I visit new york a lot cause of family and I know a lot you can do.

If you like history 100% go to the museum of natural history, and bring your student ID for cheaper entry. Its in manhattan. There's a lot to see, it's not interactive but there's litterally so many rooms to see.

Another museum that I liked is the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. Ellis Island is right next to the statue of liberty, you take a ferry there, and it's where everyone went to get into the country and was entered through there. It has a lot of history and is kinda depressing but if you visit the statue of liberty, visit ellis.

Bronx zoo, donations on Wednesday for cheep entry, if you like animals, and are okay with the sun it's nice, pretty big

Coney island - take the train there, and walk the board walk. There's the beach, luna park (amusement park), go on the ferris wheel, and eat at the Nathan's hot dogs. It's fun. It's hot as hell in the summer. Avoid the bathrooms like the plauge.

One world observatory - this is on the world trade center, highest point in new york, it's indoors, I was scared out if my mind but it's one hell of a view

Empire state biulding- this one you can go outdoors- go inside, buy a ticket, and go up. There's something amazing about seeing the city so high in an old biulding. Pinicale of modernist architecture. I almost flew off when I was nine cause of how windy it was.

Central Park - it was snowing last time I went to the park and it was so pretty. But yeah, no matter when, it's a nice park.

Winter time, Rockefeller center, there's a giant Christmas tree and it's so worth the view, and go ice skating, it's a blast.

42 street - manhattan. You've heard the song, you know.

34th street - manhattan. Winter only. to see the Macy's Santa windows

Dumbo - mom told me to add, I don't know what she's talking about???

5th Avenue - Brooklyn. Bunch of shops to go down and see.

Industry city - Brooklyn- this used to be a bunch of factories but one they shut down they all got abandoned. Recently they've been turned into stores and plaza and stuff and it's a blast, expecially at night.

Greenwood cemetery- my mom said to add this. Be respectful to the dead please if you visit. It's very peaceful there.

walk the bridges. There's a few. You know about the Brooklyn bridge and yeah. It's a walk but the bridge is pretty if your into exercise.

And general advice. Keep track of you phone and wallet at all times. And always be aware of your surroundings. Expecially the people. Don't go walking alone, look over your shoulder, make sure your not being followed. As much as I love new york it's a city. And citys, expecially new york with how it is right now, is dangerous. Stay safe - al

[wise-innocence]

Life’s Balancing Act - Honkai Star Rail Verse.

"Good medicine tastes bigger, sweet honey causes harm. Balance begets choice, and choice breeds Freedom." Life is Too Short - Anonymous

Tldr: Defector of the Loufu and Emanator of The Equilibrium, Yanfei has been tasked with observing planets (or people) that verge on upsetting the balance that HooH strives to obtain. Depending on the situation, she acts as a mediator or agitator, believing herself destined to help obtain the perfect balance of the Universe.

When the waters are calm and there is no need for her "guidance", She can often be found bouncing from planet to planet under the guise of being an interstellar legal adviser.

( Headcanons Masterlist at the bottom of this post! )

History:

An unassuming life in the Xianzhou Loufu, Yanfei grew up in the residential areas of the Exalting Sanctum. Her parents, both Xiehzhi immigrating from an unknown planet prior to her birth, came to the Alliance after hearing stories of the flagships being under the protection of the Aeon Lan. Being of a different race entirely, Yanfei and her parents were not burdened with the possibility of becoming mara-struck. Unfortunately, their fate would be sealed in a different horror. This event would be the same time that the Aeon Hooh would cast a glance in her direction, allowing her to draw power from the path of Equilibrium.

The decision to leave the Xianzhou Alliance wasn’t one that bothered her much. Her parents were no more and the people she grew up around were becoming mara-struck at unnerving rates – nothing was tying her to the area. After stealing a Starskiff from the central harbor, Yanfei has been on the move ever since.

Goals/Ideals:

Yanfei generally opts to stay out of most disputes with the reasoning that "HooH has already accounted for it" but will intervene if she deems it threatens universal balance. A pacifist at heart, Yanfei tries to interact with people as normally as possible with the intention of fitting in and laying low.

While some Aeons actively seem choose their emanators to enact their will upon planets, HooH is not one of them. It's stated that they doesn't pay mind to "Vulgar Mortal Drama", including their own pathstriders. Despite vague whisperings of people and places to keep watch of, Yanfei has little involvement with HooH or what they have planned for the universe.

Abilities:

*** None of these will affect interactions unless we have talked about it ooc! While I think these  are fun/important for her own lore, I recognize not everyone will want to go along with it which is absolutely fine!

Prevailing Truth: Xiezhi possess the innate ability to distinguish the truth from lies. This is not a gift blessed upon her by Aeon HooH but a species ability. While she may know when someone wishes to deceive her, she rarely makes a point to call it out; There is simply no point. Equilibrium will handle them in due time.

Persuasive Reasoning: This ability is one that all Arbitrators are gifted by the Aeon HooH, meant to guide those who may be straying back towards Equilibrium. What may come of as extremely convincing advice is more than it may seem... (she's evade IPC questioning a few times with this teehee)

The Arbitrators, much like many of the other Star Rail factions, aren't exactly friendly towards each other - if they even recognize the others at all. They silently fulfill the wishes of the Aeon HooH with little need to communicate within the group. Yanfei has only met one other Arbitrator in her travels across the stars and the experience wasn't exactly memorable. When asked about the others, she won't have very much to say.

"They are mistaken as gods in many worlds"; most Arbitrators brazenly display their abilities in obnoxious ways, ways that Yanfei refuses to take part of. She does not question the tasks that are asked of her and will do whatever it takes to maintain the net sum of equilibrium.

Database Entries/ Headcanons:

[The Xiezhi]

[About Factions]

[Misc Differences]

[Living in the Moment]

[embervoices]

Another very long thread on Bluesky, this one about how to prioritize deportation issues. There is both significant political/legal analysis and useful reality checking here.

If you have concerns for yourself, family, or other members of your communities about being deported from the US, this may help you focus your risk assessment.

It's 40 entries long. Once again, I have taken screen shots of only a couple, and have copied the whole thread over in text below the cut.

Matt Cameron ‪@mattcameron.bsky.social‬ November 19, 2024

1/ HOW TO TRIAGE AN IMMIGRATION EMERGENCY

As someone who has been defending non-citizens in deportation proceedings since 2006, I am here to tell you that we know exactly who Trump's top targets will be, & how we can try to protect them NOW.

NOT LEGAL ADVICE but here's what we know about priorities

2/ 🔴 CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS 🔴

Anyone who is not a naturalized US citizen who has been convicted of anything more serious than driving without a license should consult with a qualified crimmigration lawyer NOW. Like, right now.

3/ The fed definition of "conviction" is broader than any state's. If you entered a plea w/probation or a fine, ICE is allowed to treat it as a conviction EVEN IF THE CASE WAS DISMISSED.

And the smallest stuff that no local DA actually cares about can matter. Even petty shoplifting is deportable.

4/ I have represented far too many people with permanent residence (aka "greencards") in deportation proceedings who thought they were safe from immigration consequences because their cases were "dismissed." (FYI they're most typically detained coming back in through the airport after intl travel.)

5/ If you have been in the US as a permanent resident for the past 5 yrs w/a record and not arrested during that time, talk to an attorney about applying for citizenship. (If you intend to stay here permanently, that is. No worries if you're making plans to gtfo, we get it.)

6/ 🔴 RECENT DEPORTATION ORDERS 🔴 Anyone who has received an order of deportation (incl. from missing court) is at high risk, but especially so w/in 5-10 yrs. This is especially true if you are now on a regular check-in schedule with ICE. Keep checking in--but also check in w/a good lawyer

7/ 🔴 RECENT STUDENT VISA OVERSTAYS 🔴 Yes, Elon Musk got away with it in the '90s--but those were very different times. These cases have been a special priority since 9/11. Anyone who is now out of status after overstaying an F1/J1 visa (esp within the past 5-10 yrs) should consult with a lawyer now.

8/ 🟡 #TPS/#DACA 🟡 Trump already tried to cancel Temporary Protected Status & Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and although courts (mostly) stopped him before they aren't safe now. This won't happen overnight and you should be given a chance to see a judge, but you need a plan NOW.

9/ 🟡 ANY HISTORY OF FRAUD/MISREPRESENTATION If you know that you or the adult who brought you here was less than truthful--or made something up--to gain your current immigration status (including citizenship), you should be sure to talk to a lawyer about that. Might be ok, but you should know

10/ 🟡 OPEN CASE IN IMMIGRATION COURT So long as you aren't arrested for a crime you should expect to be allowed to remain in the US while your deportation proceedings are pending. But you should know that Trump will try to accelerate the timeline for your case. Be sure you have a lawyer & a plan.

11/ 🟡 RECENT ARRIVALS / CHNV PAROLEES🟡 Anyone who entered the US during the Biden administration should expect to be a higher priority than other undocumented people without arrest records, whether or not they are in immigration court right now. This includes #CHNV parolees. Talk to a lawyer.

12/ RE: CATEGORIZATION FYI my assessments here are drawn from dealing w/ICE through 4 administrations (incl. Trump 1.0) as well as what he has explicitly promised to do in his 2024 campaign. He is coming in w/limited resources, and we'll have time to reassess as they get & deploy more

13/ Remember that "mass deportation" does not necessarily mean squads of armed officers/soldiers going door-to-door checking papers. Not saying it couldn't come to that, but we don't have anywhere NEAR the infrastructure for that yet and we'd have some time to see it coming.

14/ For the immediate future, "mass deportation" really just means strict and uncompromising enforcement of existing law through known means by ICE working in cooperation with state/local authorities. They only have ~37K beds w/their current contracts and will need time to build more.

15/ We should take the threats to deploy military/Natl Guard very seriously. But that will take time to ramp up, and the more immediate threat is cooperation with local law enforcement--which is already fully legal under INA 287(g) w/many programs already in place

16/ Imm courts are already packed well beyond capacity & take yrs to issue final orders. Of course they'll subvert & even shred due process but it is our sworn duty as lawyers to put ourselves between the shredder & our clients. "lol RIP due process" ain't it, friends. Fight or get out of the way

17/ As of today 2/3 of the entire federal judiciary was not appointed by Trump. It could all go the way of the 5th Cir in a few yrs, but we still have hundreds of good people on the bench. And sure, their orders are just paper. But they mean something. Make them tell us to our faces that they don't.

18/ Easy to say it's all futile & he'll just do whatever he's going to do. But saying that whenever someone points out that we still have something resembling the rule of law only helps make it that much more true. I'm not naive, but nothing is inevitable. I want to know I did something. Don't you?

19/ Anyway. Back to triage mode. The following are marked 🟢 not because they are entirely "safe" but because they are unquestionably low priority and/or much more effort for a regime which is determined to carry out a massive shock & awe campaign under (and this is important) current circumstances

20/ 🟢 PENDING ASYLUM APPLICATIONS 🟢 Applications pending with the Asylum Office are taking ~9 yrs to process rn. Based on past precedent, we can expect the new regime to cut whatever corners it can to rush those. But FWIW the current asylum corps are dedicated professionals w/a strong union.

21/ Obviously I'm not assuming that the Asylum Office or any other institution can be counted on to hold the line. I'm only saying that USCIS is not ICE and has better guardrails up front, leaving it that much harder to degrade. USCIS is truly the immigration deep state, Schedule F or not

21/ 🟢 PENDING IMMEDIATE RELATIVE VISAS/PROVISIONAL WAIVERS

Marriage interviews will get tougher & everything will have more scrutiny, but otherwise visa petition from a spouse/adult child won't change. (Trump didn't touch 601A waivers & I've never heard that proposed, but it's something to watch)

22/ 🟢 UNDOCUMENTED FOR MORE 4+ YRS W/NO ARREST RECORD

This is the most populated of my categories, but given current & projected resources the average undocumented person should not be living in daily fear. I know that's not what the headlines would suggest, so some context:

23/ The categories in red and yellow above represent millions of people in themselves, and (w/exception of DACA) are much easier to justify both to his base & anyone else who could otherwise be persuaded that mass deportation is bad. They are also, generally speaking, the easiest to target & find.

24/ Pls don't take me to be promising here that mass random sweeps of random undocumented people aren't going to happen. They haven't in 70 yrs--but again, not naive. Just pure logistics here: targeted workplace raids are already hard to plan. Random home raids would be FAR harder, and much messier.

25/ 🟡 WORKPLACE RAIDS: Biden hasn't been doing them, but every President before him did. I fully expect those to come back. I couldn't really think of a priority category for that, but I guess it would be "anyone working in a place with a substantial undocumented workforce." Expect them.

26/ Employment-based raids are great PR because they can claim to be protecting US jobs and punishing employers who rely on undocumented labor. They are also much cleaner & simpler than dragging people out of their homes and pulling them away from their kids. Cold facts here.

27/ The "raids" Trump wants you to be afraid of--fascist "papers please" home invasions--could very well be in our future, but it will take the full infrastructure of camps + military + expedited removal/Alien Enemies Act. (And maybe judicial blessing, but let's assume that will optional by then)

28/ Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can: we can be clear-eyed about these fascist horrors as the expected end point while also recognizing that this will have to be a ramp-up. MASSIVE funding/infrastructure + acclimating the public to other large immigration enforcement actions

29/ Trump has spent most of this year especially laying the groundwork for major actions against "migrant crime." So I would expect him to deliver on that by going hard on anyone with anything resembling a criminal record first so that everyone associates these ops with "crime."

30/ Regular, massive, visible immigration enforcement operations have never been a part of modern American life. Not like this, at least. Having followed his rhetoric pretty closely this campaign, I fully expect that the plan is to numb the public to them by associating "deportation" with "crime"

31/ They could just lie & call everyone a "criminal." But there are already at least 100K people just off the top with deportable criminal records (mostly minor, but still), and any number of stories in there that they can exploit for headlines. The Nazis did this to Jews way ahead of death camps

32/ This is also the path of least resistance bc they already have so many people with record-based deportation orders checking in with ICE. They know where they live, or at least where they have been recently. It's the lowest-hanging enforcement fruit there is

33/ Anyway, all of this is to say that we have time to (1) try to help those with records which could potentially be mitigated for their protection & (2) to rally for/around our undocumented neighbors before it gets BAD. Not a lot of time, but time well beyond January. Let's not waste a day of it.

34/ I am not including (nearly all) naturalized/naturalborn citizens on my triage list because they are so far from anything I can recognize as danger relative to anyone else. That's how triage works! I follow this stuff like most of the rest of Boston follows sports, so watch this space I guess

35/ N.B.: when I say "nearly all" naturalized citizens, I will drop a 🟢 for anyone who knows or suspects they natz'd [naturalized] through anything resembling suspicious/fraudulent means and a very small class of adoptees (esp AAPI). You probably already know who you are, but talk to a lawyer

36/ Finally: the purpose of this triage list is reasonable risk assessment based on everything I know about where we have been and where we expect to go. My office is being flooded with worried people, and I am trying to be realistic along the lines above. You can be too. Please don't spread fear.

37/ Sure, "cruelty is the point"--that's all too true. Far too many of our fellow citizens will delight in the horrors to come. But that's only half of it when it comes to "mass deportation." Fear--and its amplification & multiplication--is also the point. And they can't do that without us.

38/ If you have appreciated this clear-eyed antidote to despair, please join me and Thomas Smith (@seriouspod.bsky.social) for more on Opening Arguments (@openargs.bsky.social).

We've got a great show coming Monday on how you can help stop mass deportation in your community today!

39/ VERY IMPORTANT: we need to quickly normalize the idea that immigrants are people who make mistakes and resist the hard-right labeling of anyone who has ever been arrested as a "criminal." People are far more beautiful and complicated than that

40/ One more very important action item! Along with finding a lawyer you can trust, one thing anyone who was not born a US citizen can do now is FOIA a digitized copy of their complete immigration file. It will take a few months to come in but it is free and easy here:

myaccount.uscis.gov/sign-in

[piece-of-the-pie-if]

J MONTGOMERY────

M0NTJAX! HE/HIM. 17.

M0NTJAS! SHE/HER. 17

@/trashytally──Talisin Jenkins, J's best friend. (she/her, freshly turned 19, androgynous style. Jasmin and Tal cut their hair short together. outgoing and uncaring, very high alcohol tolerance.) @/sicparvismagne──Magne Haugen, J's good friend. (he/him, immigrated from Norway a few years ago, turning 18 very soon, long hair dyed blonde, needs his roots done badly. chronically online, kind of flakey but still a good friend. very bad at advice and alcohol.) @/lildenny──Luke Dennis, a... friend of J's, but more so of Tal's. (he/him, 22, the provider of alcohol and cigarettes/vape pens. J doesn't hang around when Luke's near.) @/hannah.montgomery──Hannah Montgomery, J's mother.

FIVE FACTS━

J hardly ever posts, they've had social media accounts for multiple years and still have less than 10 posts. They update their stories with caption-less pictures of themself just to let their more... online... friends know they're alive.

J is kind of a badass──they have multiple tattoos under the age of 18 and don't care not to flaunt them. (Courtesy of having older friends and a really good fake ID) They rock up to school with a motorcycle and openly smoke on school property.

They have a rather strained relationship with their parents. J's father, Archibald, practically disowned them and while their mother, Hannah, tries to keep in contact she's very controlling. J currently lives in their uncle Peters empty apartment while he's away travelling.

J has a younger sister, Arabella. J will do anything to protect her, for her. J doesn't talk about her much because they don't want her getting involved in their... less than savoury lifestyle. They don't see her much.

It's quite the miracle J shows up to school everyday. You'd think they'd just skip or drop out but no, they have perfect attendance. Attention during said attendance is a different story, however.

+ J's favourite kind of pie is a cherry pie!

[worldswin]

Marrying from Icelandic girl and immigrate to this country ! Know how to find ?

[astillnight]

So just wondering basically whatever you can think would be good advice or insight or tips for someone wanting to move to Melbourne from the UK

Doesn't have to be limited to the likes below;

healthcare, prescriptions (I have a few chronic illnesses; nothing too serious, but I do need different medications etc), Visas, nominations, what sort of yearly wage/income would I need to be comfortable, taxes/insurance, bills, education (I don't have a family; but say I wanted to do a uni course, could ?); rent or buy, is a car needed, should I look into city living or suburb living, is it safe for a single female to move there & live on her own... and yeah just anything else you or anyone else can think of, l've never moved abroad before

I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer all of these as I don't have all the right info or experience you're after, but I'll give you what I can and provide some links to some useful sites 🥰

Healthcare here in general is pretty good-- we have bulk billed doctors services, so for just a check up appointment, you'll be paying around $20AUD. For the bulk billing, you will require an Australian Medicare card.

I get a three monthly prescription for my medication from one appointment. My medicine is significantly reduced in cost with the Medicare card/bulk billing.

Here's some info about UK travelers and Australian visas.

https://uk.embassy.gov.au/lhlh/Visas_and_Migration.html

Income to be comfortable varies wildly. Some people suggest no less than $100,000AUD after tax, some much less, others more-- it's really too variable to suggest one specific tax bracket.

I can say that Australia has very high tax rates, so be prepared for that.

Our universities take in a lot of overseas and immigrant students, so you should be good there!

Here's some more info on student loans for non Australian citizens:

https://www.studyassist.gov.au/loan-eligibility/non-australian-citizens

The city has a decent train line and buses are also available.

Melbourne is also a very walkable city.

I personally don't drive atm and can still get around okay.

I live about 45 minutes by train from the CBD-- if you are planning on working inner city, you may want to move closer so you have less of a commute, but it's dependent on how long you personally are willing to travel.

I personally prefer outer suburbs for the quieter, greener living.

Rent or buy is really a personal choice! I'm looking to buy in the next 10 years as I want my own space, but it's super dependent on what you want!

I would say yes, Melbourne is in general a safe city and you should be okay living here alone. I have single friends who have lived in the inner city alone and found it to be fine.

Here's some more info I found that I hope helps!!

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/enrolling-medicare?context=60092

[cauch3mars]

//   (  rabia soyturk  .  cis - woman  .  she / her  )  .    ⸻  halide  kutlar  ,  a  twenty six  year  old  ,  has  survived  another  day  in  red  creek  where  they  have  lived  for  thirteen years  .  the  hothead  is  known  for  being  passionate  and  irascible  and  is  often  associated  with  flickering  neon  signs  lighting  up  a  dark  room,  last  nights  smudged  eyeliner  and  mascara,  &  smoke  curling  upwards  from  a  lit  cigarette  .  in  a  small  town  where  they  work  as  a piercer at devil's ink  word  travels  fast  .  it’s  hard  to  keep  a  secret  ,  and  it  looks  like  the  boogeyman  knows  that  redacted .

s t a t i s t i c s .

BASICS:

FULL NAME:  halide ayla kutlar.

NICKNAMES:  hali.

GENDER:  cis female.

PRONOUNS:  she/her.

SEXUALITY:  pansexual.

AESTHETICS:  flickering neon signs lighting up a dark room ; last nights smudged eyeliner and  mascara ; smoke curling upwards from a lit cigarette ; an old record player spinning a vinyl ; ripped jeans tossed carelessly on the floor ; chunky silver rings adorning almost every one of her fingers ; vintage childhood photos of her parents pinned to a corkboard ; a stack of worn novels piled on a nightstand ; red lipstick smudged on a napkin ; a slamming door.

AGE:  twenty five.

DATE OF BIRTH:  april 7th, 1997.

ZODIAC SIGN:  aries sun, scorpio moon & capricorn rising.

OCCUPATION:  piercer @ devil's ink.

APPEARANCE:

FACECLAIM:  rabia soyturk.

VOICE CLAIM:  rabia soyturk.

HEIGHT:  5'5".

BUILD:  slim.

HAIR: dark brownish red, mid back length, naturally wavy. often worn down, as ponytails & buns give her headaches usually.

PIERCINGS & TATTOOS:  click for pinterest board.

OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:  scar under right eye from a fight, many scars on her hands from punching things.

STYLE: click for pinterest board.

PERSONALITY:

TRAITS: +passionate, loyal, courageous, determined, resilient & bold. - impulsive, irascible, stubborn, impatient, confrontational, vindictive.

LIKES: fast cars/motorcycles, street art, spicy food, vintage leather jackets, tattoos, boxing, black coffee, horror movies & video games, cigaretts, collecting vinyl records.

DISLIKES:  authority figures, bland food, emotional movies, hypocrisy, fake friends, judgmental attitudes.

FEARS: abandonment, large bodies of water.

PHOBIAS:  thalassophobia : a fear of the ocean or other large bodies of water.

HOBBIES:  motorcycle riding, video games, boxing, collecting vinyl records.

PET PEEVES:  people who listen to their music without headphones in public, slow drivers, unsolicited advice, people who don't understand sarcasm.

FAVORITES:

ICE CREAM FLAVOUR:  blue moon.

TIME OF THE DAY / NIGHT:  midnight.

WEATHER:  crisp fall days.

BREAKFAST FOOD:  breakfast burritos.

DINNER FOOD:  lahmacun.

DESSERT: chocolate gelato.

COLOURS:  heather grey, crimson, burnt sienna.

ITEM:  beat up old record player she inherited from her father.

COFFEE ORDER: black coffee, no sugar or cream.

PERFUME: bath & body works mahogany teakwood cologne.

b i o g r a p h y . cancer tw, death of a parent tw.

halide kutlar was born and raised in the tough streets of detroit, michigan, the eldest of four children in a turkish immigrant family. with parents who spoke little english, halide learned early on how to navigate between two worlds—acting as a translator, advocate, and caretaker for her family. when her father tragically passed away when she was only eight from a two year battle with cancer, the burden on her shoulders grew heavier. her mother, shattered by grief, spiraled into alcoholism, a series of toxic relationships, and deep depression, leaving halide to pick up the pieces.

forced to grow up faster than most, she became the primary caregiver for her three younger siblings, putting her own childhood on hold to ensure their survival. the weight of responsibility shaped halide into a fiercely independent, tough-as-nails individual, always ready to fight for those she loves, even if it means sacrificing her own needs in the process.

when it came to school, it was always clear that halide was sharp. clever and quick-witted, she had a natural intelligence, but her drive wavered, held back by a deep-seated belief that an education wouldn’t change her fate. with her future feeling uncertain and weighed down by responsibilities at home, halide’s efforts in school were half-hearted at best. at fifteen, she dropped out, deciding to pursue her ged instead. though she failed on her first attempt, her stubborn determination pushed her through, and on her second try, she passed.

around this time, her mother had finally sought help for her struggles, getting sober and stepping up again for halide's younger siblings. relieved of the burden she had carried for so long, halide moved in with her cousin in red creek, michigan, eager for a fresh start. despite the change in scenery, her fiery temper stayed with her. halide was never one to back down from a fight, and if she saw something as unjust, she wouldn’t hesitate to speak her mind—or throw a punch. it didn’t matter whether it was a guy or another girl, halide’s sense of right and wrong was unwavering, and she fought for what she believed in, no matter the consequences.

halide quickly dove into the workforce, but her fiery temperament often got her into trouble. it wasn't uncommon for her to clash with coworkers or customers, leading to her being fired from various jobs, whether it was waitressing, receptionist work, or retail. despite her efforts, it took her a while to find her niche. just when she felt like she had hit rock bottom, she landed a job as a receptionist at the local tattoo shop, devil's ink. it was here that halide discovered a newfound fascination with tattoos and piercings. though her drawing skills left much to be desired, she realized that piercing was a skill she could master.

with determination, she quickly became an apprentice to the shop’s current piercer, soaking up knowledge and experience like a sponge. now, she stands as the main and only piercer at devil's ink, turning her passion into a career and helping others express themselves through body art while simultaneously carving out her own identity in a world that had often tried to define her.

as the town of red creek is gripped by a wave of disappearances and murders, even someone as tough and battle-hardened as halide feels the weight of unease creeping in. normally unfazed by chaos or confrontation, she's found herself watching over her shoulder more often than she'd like to admit. the once-quiet town has become a place of fear and suspicion, and halide—always one to protect those she cares about—can’t help but feel the pull to do the same for her community. though she’s used to fighting her own battles, this is different. the sense of dread in the air has unsettled even her, and while she'd never admit it, the thought of losing someone to the killer’s grasp keeps her awake at night. with each passing day, the weight of the past, combined with the growing danger around her, only sharpens her instincts, making halide more determined than ever to survive and protect those around her.

h e a d c a n o n s .

halide has a serious addiction to tattoos. it doesn't help that she works in a tattoo and piercing shop. while she also has a lot of piercings, she thinks she's way more addicted to tattoos.

has a serious love for physical activity. she currently is taking boxing lessons.

halide drinks black coffee religiously, often relying on it to fuel her late-night gaming sessions or when she’s pulling long shifts at the tattoo shop.

she often changes her hair color and style impulsively, using it as a way to express herself.

halide has a soft spot for animals, particularly dogs. she rescued a doberman puppy two years ago and he is her pride and joy.

she has an eclectic taste in music, from punk rock to hip-hop, and she frequently attends live shows in her spare time. vinyl collecting is a passion of hers, with a special focus on local artists.

despite her temper, halide is fiercely loyal to her friends and will go to great lengths to protect them. she’s the first to defend those she cares about, even if it means getting into trouble.

she has an interest in the supernatural and enjoys watching horror movies and reading about urban legends, often discussing them with friends during late-night hangouts.

she occasionally attends anger management sessions, to better understand her emotions and reactions.