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4 Must-Apply Sponsorship Exams for Merchant Navy in 2024

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[inthedayswhenlandswerefew]

Where Will All The Martyrs Go [Chapter 6: I'm The Resident Leader Of The Lost And Found]

A/N: Be sure to vote in the poll pinned to the top of my blog AFTER you finish reading! It will be available for 1 week 🥰

Series summary: In the midst of the zombie apocalypse, both you and Aemond (and your respective travel companions) find yourselves headed for the West Coast. It’s the 2024 version of the Oregon Trail, but with less dysentery and more undead antagonists. Watch out for snakes! 😉🐍

Series warnings: Language, sexual content (18+ readers only), violence, bodily injury, med school Aemond, character deaths, nature, drinking, smoking, drugs, Adventures With Aegon™️, pregnancy and childbirth, the U.S. Navy, road trip vibes, RIP Jace...unless...??

Series title is a lyric from: “Letterbomb” by Green Day.

Chapter title is a lyric from: “St. Jimmy” by Green Day.

Word count: 8.2k (she's a little chonky)

💜 All my writing can be found HERE! 💜

Let me know if you’d like to be added to the taglist 🥰

What happens to the people who turn? You know because you saw it back at Saratoga Springs, an EO from Oklahoma named Greg Flurry—Equipment Operator, he spent his days driving a forklift, everyone called him Snowflake—who returned from weekend liberty with a bite on his left wrist that he said was a gift from some drunk girl who attacked him outside of a 7-Eleven. You had all laughed and taken turns poking at the wound, making him wince: a ring of tiny bruises, not deep at all, the skin only punctured in a few spots, corporeal gemstones of trapped-blood amethysts and sapphires and rubies. Snowflake rubbed it down with a splash of Grey Goose vodka—the same kind your Mama always drank—and didn’t think of it again for the rest of the day.

On Tuesday, he felt fine; but the bite mark, paradoxically, was not healing. On the contrary, it was turning dark and angry, maroon trails along the paths of veins that shuttle blood back to the heart. Snowflake got a shot of antibiotics at the med clinic and was back in the driver’s seat of his forklift before lunch.

On Wednesday, he had a headache and nausea that wouldn’t go away. Snowflake attributed this to particularly questionable chicken fried steak from the chow hall. At night he tossed and turned in his bunk, and when Rio went to check on him, Snowflake was burning up with fever, sweating through his sheets, staring blankly through pupils like pinpricks. You, Rio, and Parker carried him to the med clinic.

On Thursday, in the early hours of the morning, Snowflake began to decompose. But he was still alive. His skin turned grey and sloughed off, his body purged itself: vomit from his throat, diarrhea from his intestines, blood beading out of his pores like sweat. His corneas went cloudy. His lungs flooded with decay-dark mucus. Snowflake sobbed and shrieked as you and Rio sat with him and held his disintegrating hands, as the corpsmen phoned every hospital they could to try to get him transported. All the ambulances were unavailable. All the hospitals were already overwhelmed. They gave the corpsmen peculiar guidance: Palliative care. Prepare to restrain him if he becomes a danger to others. The virus appears to be transmitted via bite wounds.

“Virus?” Rio had said, dropping Snowflake’s hand. “What the fuck kind of virus does this to someone?”

The corpsmen had shaken their heads—We don’t know—and attempted to administer narcotics intravenously. Snowflake received no relief. His blood vessels were collapsing, dissolving, turning to a noxious soup beneath what was left of his skin. Becoming a zombie is not unlike radiation sickness. It rots you from the inside out, and you can feel everything.

As the sun was rising, Snowflake died. And by then you were glad; it was the most merciful outcome. The corpsmen covered him with a sheet and called around for a morgue. They were full too. As you all stood in an exam room trying to understand what had just happened to Snowflake here, what was going on in the world outside Saratoga Springs, the fresh corpse sat up on the table. You had screamed and clutched for Rio; he shoved you behind him. The corpse, still covered with the sheet stained with black and brown and red, followed the noise of your voice and staggered towards you, snarling and groaning, arms outstretched, teeth clicking as they gnashed beneath the sheet. The corpsmen tried to grab him, then shrank away when the ghoul clawed at them, putrefied fingers peeking out from beneath the linen. The zombie lurched closer, and Rio struck out: colossal knuckles to a soft skull, the monster sent hurtling headfirst into a wall. The body plunged to the floor and, enveloped by a puddle of its own bodily fluids, died for the second time.

And Rio had glanced down at where Snowflake had been bitten—now indecipherable on his black, gangrenous wrist that jutted out from beneath the sheet—then turned to you and said: I guess it only takes once.

~~~~~~~~~~

You doze against Aemond’s shoulder as Baela drives the Honda Odessey across Indiana, goldenrods and dogwood trees, green weeds growing tall and wild, red bloodstains on pavement. Visions of the past come to you in spider-thread thin fragments of dreams.

Building dams of sticks and pebbles in the swamp-colored creek that runs along Kentucky State Route 1087. Balancing atop rusted railroad lines that once connected coal mines like ligaments link bones, bare feet, box turtles and milk snakes, autum leaves falling into your hair. Scratching black-ink battleships into the pages of your fifty-cent Walmart notebook as teachers drone on about things that mean nothing to you, things that will not take you away from here, Shakespeare, the Krebs cycle, the Tet Offensive, Spanish words for colors and animals. Mama glancing up at you as she scrubs dishes in a sink nearly overflowing with bubbles, too nonchalant to intend to be cruel: You’re lucky you ain’t too beautiful. Do you know what happens to beautiful women? Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy, Natalie Wood, Anna Nicole Smith? Horrible, horrible things. And then they die.

Once in a while you pass a car or truck or SUV coasting east as you roll west, strangers who wave and give you nods of grim, transient greeting. Good luck. I’m sorry you’ve lost people. I hope you live. At a Speedway outside of Kokomo, Aemond, Aegon, Rio, and Luke draw Uno cards to see who will attempt to siphon gas from the three vehicles you find there with closed fuel caps. Aegon loses with a blue four. The Kia and Toyota are empty; there’s almost a full tank left in the Ford. You refuel the Honda Odessey and scrounge through the convenience store for supplies. Helaena seems to have developed a sort of fixation with pain pills, hoarding Advil and Tylenol. Aegon finds a few more packs of Marlboro Golds. He puffs on them, windows down and breeze blowing, neon green plastic sunglasses shielding his eyes, as Baela skirts around Indianapolis. Even from fifteen miles away, you can see the billowing smoke from the fires, hear the manmade thunder of explosions.

“Bet people are having a great time there,” Aegon murmurs as he takes a drag, embers glowing and blonde hair thrashing in the wind.

Baela follows the course he plotted, swinging just south of Peoria, Illinois to avoid the nuclear power plants between there and Chicago. You cross the Mississippi River and into the southern tip of Iowa over the Fort Madison Bridge, the toll booth occupied only by a carcass that buzzards are pecking apart, a zombie that someone else already put a bullet in…or perhaps the man did it to himself. Maybe he didn’t see a point in sticking around to watch the dead inherit the earth. You cannot agree. Each day you find more reasons to stay alive in this treacherous new world. It’s like when you were back in Soft Shell, Kentucky. You can’t give up, you can’t surrender. The only way out is through.

The black Honda Odessey—a good soldier, having taken you six hundred miles and into the vast flat vacancy of the Midwest—at last runs out of gas as you are approaching Bonaparte, founded in the 1830s as a lumber mill on the banks of the Des Moines River. You unload the minivan and trek into town; you will find somewhere to spend the night and then in the morning head south to Route 2, which you will follow all the way across Iowa to the Nebraska border.

The first house you try is at the edge of town, eggshell-colored vinyl siding and an empty gravel driveway. Rio tries the front door—locked—then tells everyone to back up. He kicks it once, no dice, gets ready to try again. Then the door opens. A woman with wide fearful eyes stands there with two boys cowering behind her, maybe ten and twelve.

“Please don’t break the lock,” the woman says softly. “We need it. Sometimes they try to get in.”

“Oh hey, lady, I’m sorry about that. We didn’t know anyone was home. You okay in there?”

Her voice is so quiet you can barely hear her. “Please leave us alone.”

Aemond climbs the steps of the front porch, taps Rio’s shoulder to tell him to back up, and kneels in the doorway so he isn’t so tall. He asks the woman: “Do you need supplies? Food, medicine?”

“Please leave us alone,” she says again.

“My name is Aemond, and those two are my brothers Aegon and Daeron, and that’s my sister Helaena, my cousin Luke, and then Rhaena and Baela. The big guy is Rio, and the girl over there…” He smiles as he gestures to you. “We like to call her Chips. Everyone is healthy, and everyone is here by choice. We’re going to the West Coast, Oregon and California. Do you want to come with us?”

But the woman shakes her head almost violently. “We’re safe in the house. We have to stay. My husband is a long-haul trucker, but he’s on his way back to us.”

“How do you know he’s still alive?”

“Go away. Please just go away. Before they see you.”

The woman shuts the door and you hear her throw the deadbolt. You leave like she asks you to; but not before Aemond collects an armful of supplies you can spare and places them in a pile on the porch for them to take inside once you’ve vanished.

The sun is sinking into the west as Helaena lights candles in Bonaparte Baptist Church and Rhaena shakes out dusty, mothball-smelling tablecloths to use as blankets. Luke finds gallons of grape juice and bags full of tiny flat bread wafers in the cabinets of the kitchenette, once used for sinless communions. It’s Daeron’s turn to stay awake for first watch. If Jace was still alive, it would be his too; instead, Aemond takes his place and refuses all offers of relief. You lie down on a pew with thin violet cushions and are thinking that you’ll never get comfortable enough to fall asleep when you are abruptly swallowed by omnipotent, black nothingness.

You jolt awake sometime in the middle of the night, a bad dream you don’t remember and don’t want to. Daeron is perched on the altar and using a hunting knife from the cellar back in Distant, Pennsylvania to sharpen the sticks he’s gathered into arrows. Baela is sitting with Aemond, their backs against the wall and voices hushed so as not to wake the others. Aemond is telling her that everything is going to be okay, that he’s still here, that Jace is gone but he’s not going anywhere, and candlelight is flickering across his scarred face, and he’s afraid but he doesn’t show it. He can’t. Too many people need him.

Oh, you realize; and it doesn’t feel awful at all, doomed or apocalyptic, a curse or a plague. It feels better than anything you knew existed. I might fall in love with him after all.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Aemond, take a look at this,” Luke says, offering him the binoculars. You have walked several miles on Iowa State Route 2, an asphalt atoll in an ocean of emerald green flora, buffalograss and prairie roses, ash trees growing over defunct power lines.

Aemond peers through the binoculars. It’s a small farmhouse about a quarter mile off the road, rugged and weatherworn, besieged by a flock of zombies. There is something large and rectangular flapping in the wind like a white flag of surrender. “Hm,” Aemond hums sympathetically. “It’s a shame. Poor guy.”

“What do you see?” you ask, and he gives you the binoculars. The zombies, approximately thirty of them, do not appear to have breached the interior; they shuffle through the yard and up and down the steps of the porch, smack their palms against the wood siding, leave stains of gore on the boarded-up windows. None appear to be aware of you yet. The bedsheet that hangs from the attic window has a message painted on it in something dark and viscous, perhaps motor oil:

One alive inside

I can hunt, fish, and fix things

Please help me

God bless you!!!

“We should be able to get to Cantril before dark, it’s about twelve more miles,” Aegon mutters, pondering his map. “Boner-party. Who names a town something like that?”

Aemond stares at him. “Bonaparte. Like Napoleon.”

“Who?”

You pass Rio the binoculars, then say to Aemond: “We’re going to help him, right?”

“We sure as hell aren’t,” Rio replies as he studies the farmhouse. “You want to risk our lives killing all those bastards? I don’t.”

You turn to Aemond, incredulous, but he concurs with Rio. “It’s too dangerous.”

“What’s going on?” Baela says testily from where she’s sprawled on the pavement sipping a half-full plastic gallon of bruise-colored grape juice. She’s already exhausted, but you have no way of transporting her.

Rio points across the field. “There’s a sign saying someone’s trapped inside that house. Tough fucking luck, ain’t it?”

Baela stares at the farmhouse uneasily, her brow furrowed. Rhaena fans her with a paperback copy of Catching Fire. Daeron has wandered off the road to collect more sticks to sharpen and fill his quiver; Helaena is with him picking wildflowers.

“That was us,” you tell Rio. “We were stranded on that transmission tower and we would have died if we’d been left there. But we weren’t. Someone saved us.”

“Things were different then,” Aemond says, unemotional, uncompromising. “We had the Tahoe. Now we’re on foot, and we’d have to kill each of them individually. And there’s no way to make a fast escape if something goes wrong.”

“So we’re just going to leave him?” Aegon says doubtfully, his large ocean-blue eyes flicking between you and Aemond. He stuffs his map back into his shorts pocket and scratches at the tattoo on his forearm: It’s not over ‘til you’re underground.

Rio groans. “Come on, man, we don’t even know if anyone’s still alive in there! What if he’s dead already? What if he got bit or starved to death or fell down the steps and snapped his neck or something?”

“What if he’s not a good guy?” Aemond adds.

“There’s a Trump 2024 sign in the front yard,” Luke says. He has the binoculars again. Aemond opens his hands, an I told you so sort of gesture. Luke amends: “Not that anyone deserves to get eaten alive or transformed into a walking corpse. But, you know. I figured I’d mention it.”

You are not swayed. Had you stayed in Soft Shell, Kentucky, you might have believed the same things. “People deserve to have the chance to start over.”

Aemond’s eye is on you, narrow and seeking, desperate to understand. “Why are you so fixated on this stranger?”

“He hunts, he fishes. What are we going to do when we get out into Wyoming and Nevada where towns are fifty miles apart and there’s hardly anywhere to scavenge for food? What are we going to eat when the beef jerky and Skittles run out?”

“You said everyone hunts where you’re from.”

“Not literally everyone. I don’t hunt.”

“You can shoot.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know how to track animals. And even if I killed a deer, I wouldn’t know how to dress it.”

Aegon blinks at you. “To what?”

“To remove the skin and organs and everything.”

“Oh. Okay. That makes more sense.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Aemond repeats. Rio is nodding in agreement. Baela’s lips are pressed into a thin, thoughtful, rigid line. Daeron and Helaena have returned to the road to see how the discussion unfolds.

“There are about thirty zombies out there,” you say. “I can take fifteen. I just need you guys to do the rest.”

“Everyone here is my responsibility.” Aemond is severe, but he isn’t angry.

“Then you’re responsible for their humanity as well.”

“I can’t justify risking our lives for this.”

“I’ve killed people, living people, and I didn’t like how that felt. Make no mistake, this is killing too, just by omission instead of with bullets. We’ll all have to carry that weight. The man in that farmhouse hasn’t threatened us. He’s helpless, and he’s trapped, and if we don’t save him, who else is going to do it? What if it was you in there? What if it was me?”

Aemond, frowning, contemplates the house that has become a prison. Rio looks at you, one eyebrow raised. You gaze stoically back. He sighs. “Okay, what the hell, let’s rock,” Rio says.

Baela holds up her Ruger in one hand, slips her hammer out of a belt loop of her shorts with the other. “I’m on board.”

“You shouldn’t be on anything except bedrest,” Aemond tells her.

“I can take fifteen of the zombies myself,” you say again. “I have two M9s, thirty bullets total. I won’t need more than that.”

“I can take ten,” Daeron says.

“Shut up,” Aegon replies, though his tone is gentle. “You can’t even donate blood.”

“I can take ten,” Daeron insists, clutching his compound bow. “At least ten.”

Aegon swings his golf club around. “I can take…like…probably approximately three.”

Rio grabs his face and squeezes his sunburned cheeks as Aegon giggles and slaps at him. “You won’t get the opportunity, Honey Bun. Stay in the kitchen and bake apple pies until Daddy comes home from work.”

“You really think this is the right thing to do?” Aemond asks you. It’s not a challenge, only a question. He’s at war with himself, you can tell. He’s trying very hard to treat you like someone he’s not terrified to lose.

“Yes. Absolutely.”

He pulls his Glock out of its holster. “The gunfire will attract more of them.”

“Then we’ll have to move quickly.”

Aemond turns to Baela, still wilted on the pavement. “You, Rhaena, and Helaena will follow behind us with Luke and finish off any zombies we missed.”

Baela gives him a weak, acquiescent thumbs up, breathing heavily. “Got it.”

“Helaena, you still have your Ruger, right?”

“I won’t need it,” she murmurs, wildflowers tucked into her long blonde hair, watching a ladybug skitter across her knuckles. Aemond is exasperated.

“I’ll make sure she’s okay,” Luke promises. He’s using his binoculars to scout for any threats on the horizon, additional zombies or approaching strangers. Evidently, there are none.

“The grass,” Helaena says. “It makes it hard to see the snakes. Watch your step.”

Aemond replies distractedly: “I think we have bigger worries at the moment, babe.” As Rio pumps his Remington and Luke fumbles nervously with his Marlin .22 to make sure it’s fully loaded, Aemond walks a few yards away from the others and gestures for you to follow him. Aemond’s voice is low, the blue of his eye river-clear and blade-sharp. “I want you to stay near Rio.”

You give him a small, teasing smile. “So you won’t worry about me?”

“So I’ll worry slightly less.” He brushes a piece of buffalograss from your hair, his fingers lingering there longer than they need to. “Rio’s the biggest, he’s the best fighter. And if one of those things catches you by surprise, he’ll be able to crack its skull no problem. So keep close.”

“I’ll try, but sometimes it’s more complicated than that.”

“Please work with me. I’m giving you what you want.”

To be useful, to be merciful. “Thank you, Aemond.”

“Thank me by not letting anything bite you. Not today, not ever.”

“Well, except you of course.”

He laughs, the tension in his face breaking; he skates his thumbprint over your cheek and kisses your forehead, swift like a reflex, unthinking, instinctive.

“Good to go?” Rio asks with a grin, holding his Remington with both hands.

Aegon’s golf club is resting across his shoulders, and you have a sudden vision of Jace doing the same thing with a baseball bat, a vengeful ghost peering out from beneath his curls with cunning dark eyes and a smirk. “Yeah, Chipotle, you’re leading the charge here.”

“No she’s not,” Aemond says, striding to the edge of the road. Across the field is the farmhouse, the white bedsheet S.O.S. still whipping in the wind. “I’m in front. Everyone else is behind me.”

“Oh yeah? Then who’s gonna watch your blind side, huh?” Aegon jogs over and whacks Aemond’s left shoulder with an open palm, beaming up at him. “Don’t worry. You’ll still get to be the hero. I was born talentless.”

“You have talents, Aegon,” you say. “You can sing.”

“Not relevant in a zombie-riddled apocalyptic hellscape, Cow Chip.” He and Aemond start across the field, then you and Rio, then Daeron, darting around in your peripheral vision, nocking sharpened sticks like arrows. Luke, Baela, Rhaena, and Helaena trail at a distance.

You have closed half of the gap between the road and the farmhouse—and Daeron has already felled several zombies—before the beasts begin to turn around and notice you. They do not understand danger; they only understand hunger, and they lurch towards you with teeth gnashing and claws outstretched, strips of decaying flesh hanging like sleeves from their arms. You hate the way they move, like they’re trying to imitate life, like they are receiving some sinister transmission that reverberates inside them, like they are soulless vessels to be used in the darkest ways.

You stop, plant your feet in the earth, and raise one of your Beretta M9s. Your eyes find the sights; your finger settles on the trigger. You are rusty at first: a miss, a bullet in a rotting shoulder instead of a skull. Then you click into a rhythm and the zombies drop as they stumble towards you, infected dark blood spewing, brains pouring out onto the soil. When your clip is empty, you shove the first M9 back into its holster and pull out the other.

Daeron is putting his makeshift arrows through eye sockets, Aemond is firing his Glock, Rio is erasing entire heads with the grotesque power of his Remington. Aegon is swinging his golf club around wildly. His Marlin .22 hangs from its strap across his back, but he’s hopeless with it; his aim quite literally could not be worse. You hear other gunshots too, maybe Luke. A stranger appears from the front door of the farmhouse: red flannel shirt, roomy jeans, tan work boots, long messy russet hair pulled back in a man bun, almost as big as Rio. He is carrying an axe and begins helping to cut down the remaining zombies. Rio realizes you’re no longer with him and turns around to find you.

“I’m good!” you shout, waving him forward. “Go, go!” Rio nods and takes off again towards the farmhouse, blasting his Remington 12 gauge like a cannon.

Your ankle snags on something, a gnarled root, an old piece of farm machinery. You fall hard, hitting the ground and knocking the air out of your lungs. Your M9 is flung from your grasp. You roll onto your back and sit up to see what you’re caught on. It’s the grasping hand of a zombie, an old man, long white hair and dead milky eyes, only a torso, nothing below the ribcage except a tangle of dirt-coated intestines. It is scrambling towards your legs, jaws rattling, teeth covered in the blood of the other people it has eaten.

You shriek and try to kick it away. You reach for the empty M9, rip it out of its holster, and hold it by the barrel so you can use the grip, the heaviest part of a pistol, to bash the zombie’s skull in. But you aren’t Rio; when you strike the zombie’s head, it keeps hissing and scrabbling towards your flesh that sings to it like a siren, irresistible, divine.

I can’t let it bite me, I can’t let it bite me—

There is a boom and the zombie drops face-down to the earth. You are saved; you are free. You turn to see Rhaena standing beside you, clutching her tiny Ruger in trembling hands…but her eyes are closed. Slowly, petrified, they come open, one after the other.

You gape up at her. “Did you aim?!”

Rhaena shrugs guiltily. “I don’t remember how.”

“Jesus Christ. Well thanks, I guess. Glad you missed my pelvis.”

She laughs shakily. “Yeah. Me too.” Rhaena holsters her Ruger and helps you to your feet. By now, everyone else has realized you’re in trouble and are sprinting over, including the new guy.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” you say, holding up your arms and skimming your palms down your bare legs to show them you haven’t been bitten. “No need to despair. Rhaena rescued me.”

Aemond gets to you first. “Can I see?” he asks breathlessly. You give him your hands and with his fingertips, he reads you like Braille: palms, forearms, throat, jaw, gingerly turning your face away from him and then back again. He exhales, relieved. “Good job, Rhaena,” Aemond says, and she smiles. Baela uses her hammer to smash the skull of a zombie that’s still squirming. Aegon yanks a snarling toddler to its feet—Pokémon t-shirt, left leg missing, wearing one of those child leashes—and swings his golf club so hard its whole head pops off and rolls away into the buffalograss with sick wet thumps.

“I thought you couldn’t kill the kids,” you say.

Aegon spits on the corpse’s collapsed, headless body. “It’s different now. These monsters ate Jace. Fuck ‘em all.”

“I can’t thank y’all enough,” the axe-wielding stranger says. “I was sure I was going to die in there like a rat in a trap. There’s a hog farm on the property behind mine, and I think the…you know…all the meat attracts zombies. A pack of them saw me in the yard and followed me to the house, and when they’re in a group like that, they seem…well, I just couldn’t get rid of them. Alone they wander wherever, but a hoard has structure, it has a mission, and they were waiting me out. I didn’t have my guns, I didn’t have my truck…”

“What happened to them?” Rio asks.

“I got robbed, that’s what happened.”

“No!” Baela says. “Really?”

“A week ago, five men I’d never seen before broke in while I was sleeping. They must have drugged my dog, who knows with what—she slept for twenty hours, have you ever heard of something like that?—and locked me in my bedroom. By the time I kicked the door down they were gone, and so were quite a few of my earthly possessions. It was nice of them not to murder us, I guess. I have a couple boxes of ammo left, but that’s all. Mostly 9mm.”

“That’s exactly what I need,” you say.

The stranger gives you a curious, appraising glance. “I’m very glad to be able to assist you, ma’am.” Then he finally gets a good look at Aemond, who is glaring at him. “Lord almighty, what the hell happened to your face?”

“A piece of sheet metal fell on me.”

“He stitched it up himself,” Luke says. “I watched. It was wild.”

The man is impressed. “You’re a doctor?”

“No, no, no,” Aemond amends. “Just an intern.”

“He’s basically a doctor,” Baela says.

“Well, you’ll be useful to have around, I expect.” The stranger offers his hand and Aemond, somewhat unenthusiastically, shakes it. “I’m Cregan Stark.”

“Aemond Targaryen.”

“Targaryen?! That’s a heck of a name, sir.”

“It’s Greek,” Aegon says.

“Where are y’all headed? Not all the way back to Greece, I hope. That’d be a hike. And a swim too, I guess.”

Aemond smiles tightly, polite but guarded. “Not that far away. We’re on our way to the West Coast, California and Oregon.”

“And you’re on foot?! You need horses.”

“We haven’t come across any that are still alive.”

“Do you want to travel with us, Cregan?” Luke asks amiably.

“I reckon I would, for now at least. I got nowhere else to be and no one to care for.” Cregan looks to Aemond. “That alright with you, doc?”

“Sure,” Aemond replies ungenerously.

“My folks got a trailer over towards Cantril, and a truck parked out back too if nobody’s stolen it yet. We can stay the night there if you want and then drive west in the morning.”

“Cantril! That’s on our route!” Aegon exclaims, he of the map and the gel pens.

Aemond narrows his eye at Cregan, suspicious. “If your parents are so close, why aren’t you staying with them? Why didn’t they swing by to check on you and see you were in trouble here?”

“Well, ‘cause they’re dead,” Cregan says, and Aemond is abruptly remorseful. “When all this started, I went over to get them and they were out in the front yard, just bones. All the flesh was chewed right off. But I found their wedding rings in the grass, and Mama’s pearl necklace that her Grammie gave her when she got married, Mama never took it off as long as she lived. It looked like a string of rubies.”

Aemond swallows noisily. “I’m sorry.”

“Ain’t nothing I can do about it now,” Cregan says, staring out over the field and biting his lips so they don’t quiver.

“Did your parents have guns?” Rio asks hopefully.

Cregan chuckles and shakes his head. “No, that’d be swell, wouldn’t it? Daddy got all his guns taken away when I was in high school.”

“Taken away…?” Baela echoes.

“Yeah,” Cregan says casually. “After the methamphetamine conviction.” He whistles, and a dog comes loping out of the front door of the farmhouse. It’s huge and mean-looking, fur the color of ashes or smoke. It goes directly to Cregan and noses his hands; you are reminded of how Aemond searched you fearfully for injuries. “She’s half-German Shepherd, half-grey wolf. Her name’s Ice.”

“Does she bite?” Aemond asks tentatively.

“My little princess?! Hell no! I wish she did, then maybe those robbers wouldn’t have gotten what they wanted. But she knows when those things are around.”

Aegon pats her angular, steel-colored head. Ice puts back her pointy ears and closes her eyes, basking in the attention. “Hey, fuzzball. I’m going to call you Blue Raspberry Icee.”

“You can call her whatever you want to as long as she’s allowed to come with us.”

“She’s welcome if she sniffs out zombies,” Aemond says.

Baela is struck by a thought. “Cregan, what kind of truck did your parents have? I hope it’s big. We’re a lot of people.” She’s resting her hands on her belly. And we’re about to add one more.

“A Chevy Tahoe,” Cregan says. You all begin chattering excitedly, then have to explain why.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Y’all like fishing?” Cregan asks. He’s cooking dinner for everyone with his dead parents’ Coleman butane camping stove, only one burner, each course prepared individually. You are all seated around him on the living room floor, sipping cans of Coke and Sprite—what Cregan calls “pop”—and eating turkey-flavored instant stuffing that came out of a cardboard box. Now Cregan is working on Hungry Jack mashed potatoes, tiny white flakes like snow that puff up in boiling water. Rhaena is staring at the pot with horror. Baela scarfs down her stuffing like she’s been starving to death. Flashlights illuminate the room in dim ocher like a setting sun, the roof vents open to let in cool night air. The trailer smells like cigarette smoke and dust and mildew. Piled haphazardly in corners are old newspapers, mounds of unfolded clothes, empty boxes and plastic bags, VHS tapes—Star Wars, 80s rock concerts, Clint Eastwood movies—and unwashed cups.

Aemond chuckles like it’s preposterous. “No.”

“Garth Brooks?”

“No.”

“NASCAR?”

“Who watches NASCAR?!” Aegon says.

You smile. “Everyone’s got a driver where I’m from.”

Cregan, vindicated, thumps a closed fist against his chest. “I was a Jeff Gordon guy. His car reminded me of a box of Froot Loops or something.”

“My brother Denver covered the inside of the garage with Dale Earnhardt Jr. stuff. I got obsessed with Juan Pablo Montoya for a while, he was cute.”

“So you chase the dark-haired fellas,” Cregan says, grinning, still stirring the potatoes. Everyone else’s wide, perplexed gazes fly between you and Cregan as they eat their Stove Top stuffing from Styrofoam bowls.

You titter nervously. “I don’t usually chase anyone.”

Aegon notices a taxidermied largemouth bass mounted on the wall, approximately fifteen pounds. “What the fuck,” he whispers, dismayed.

“WWE?” Cregan asks you.

“Oh, Rey Mysterio, no question. He was cute too.”

Cregan snorts. “He literally never took off his mask!”

“He was cute underneath it. I could tell, I have a sense for these things.”

“I’ll let you live in delusion.”

“I thought wrestling was real back then. When he’d get beat up and covered in fake blood, I’d start crying because I figured he’d die. Who was your favorite?”

“John Cena.” Cregan waves an open hand back and forth in front of his face. “You can’t see me!” You both burst out laughing. No one else gets it.

“It’s John Cena’s signature move,” you explain.

“Hm,” Aemond says, but he’s watching you and Cregan with deep grooves in his forehead and a solemnness in his lone blue eye, tapping his chin restlessly.

“Now, we might not have any butter…” Cregan picks up one of the containers scattered around him, a plastic jug of Great Value powdered coffee creamer. “But this makes for the best potatoes on the planet.” The others watch, stunned, appalled, as he adds several heaping spoonfuls to the pot.

You smile wistfully. How is it possible to be so nostalgic for a place you once believed was killing you, wringing you dry until all your blood dripped onto the floor and you were left a husk, a ghost, a myth? “My Mama always did that. She put it in mac and cheese too.”

Cregan serves you first, taking your empty stuffing bowl and returning it nearly overflowing with Hungry Jack instant potatoes. “Here’s a taste of home.”

And he’s right; you take a bite—hot enough to burn your tongue, smooth, rich, soupy in texture—and it’s just like being five or ten or fifteen again, when this was your idea of luxury, a good day, lounging on a sagging couch torn to hell by the cats and watching The Simpsons or Malcolm In The Middle with your brothers. Cregan scoops Hungry Jack into all the bowls. Baela digs in enthusiastically. The others, following your lead, take cautious tastes, shrug, and decide it’s tolerable for one night. Cregan grabs a new pot and dumps a box of Rice-A-Roni into it, along with the packet of seasoning, a bottle of water, and a single spoonful of coffee creamer for good measure. As the rice cooks, he distributes one can of barbeque-flavored Vienna sausages to each guest. Rhaena pops hers open and immediately begins retching. Aegon feeds his to Ice.

After dinner, Cregan compiles all the extra blankets and pillows he can find, then supplements with bath towels and bedsheets from the closet in the hallway. The trailer is small, only one bedroom; you all agree Baela should get it. She will share with Rhaena and Luke, as she always does now. She doesn’t like sleeping alone. Cregan offers to take first watch, a gift in return for being rescued from a slow death by deprivation. Aemond agrees, but only because Rio—with a wink and a knowing smirk—volunteers to stay up too. Rio will keep tabs on this almost-stranger; Rio is the only one big enough to knock Cregan around if such an occasion ever arose. Aemond tells them to wake him up halfway through the night so he can take over and let them rest. You say you want to do the second watch too, and this time Aemond doesn’t argue.

Helaena gets the couch and Daeron curls up on the olive green carpet beside her, Aegon claims the tattered old recliner, you arrange your pillow and blanket—thin, scratchy, a weak blue mottled with dark stains you can’t identify—against the wall on the other side of the living room. Rio is teaching Cregan how to play Uno on the small plastic folding table by the kitchen, only spacious enough for two. Ice is stretched out beneath the table with her grey muzzle resting on her paws. At the moment, Aemond is supervising; he’s still trying to decide how much he can trust Cregan.

Aegon wanders over to you then bends down, his hands on his knees. “This place is revolting,” he whispers.

“It’s alright.”

“Where did you grow up? Alcatraz?” You laugh, and Aegon gives you his pink CD player, Ava still written across the top in rhinestones. “Just in case you need to get away for a while. It’s wasted on me. I’m going to be unconscious about two seconds after my head hits the pillow.”

“I’ll take good care of it.”

“If you see any meth lying around, you let me know. I’m always in the market for new ways to shorten my life expectancy.”

“I’ll keep any such discoveries to myself. I enjoy you too much.”

Aegon recoils, lets that sink in, then beams as he saunters back to his creaking recliner.

“Hey, Chips?” Luke says, approaching you shyly. He’s holding his Marlin .22. “I’m really sorry to bother you, but my rifle was shooting way to the left today, and I don’t think my aim’s that awful.”

“No problem.” You take it and remove the remaining bullets so there’s no chance the gun will accidentally fire, then examine the sights. “Can you get me Baela’s hammer?”

“Sure.” Luke dashes off and then returns with it moments later.

“You said it was skewed to the left?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

You take the hammer and tap the rear sight a few times. Luke watches you, fascinated, troubled. When he speaks, his voice is soft and miserable.

“I’m sorry I’m so bad at everything.”

“You know, this is the only possible scenario in which someone like you is worth less than me.” You give him an encouraging smile. “I didn’t go to a fancy school. I work with my hands.”

“But you’re smart, Chips. You could have gone to college if you wanted to.”

How would I have paid for application fees, or to take the SAT? How would I have gotten Mama to fill out the FAFSA? What school would have given me a scholarship with my mediocre grades in standard-level classes? Who would have driven me to school and helped me move in? How would I have bought books, shampoo, tampons, a laptop? Where would I have gone if I had trouble finding a job after graduation? What if the people there saw through me? What if they shrank away from the frayed threads I’m built of? There is no point in saying these things. The gulf between you is too great; it will only confuse Luke and hurt you. “I wouldn’t have known where to start.” You reload the Marlin .22 and pass both the gun and the hammer back to him. “I think it’ll work better now.”

“I bet you wish Jace was here instead of me,” Luke says, and it shocks you. “Everyone does, except maybe Rhaena.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Jace was a good fighter, and he was smart, and brave, and capable, and I’m just this…this weak scared loser who only knows how to write screenplays. And what goddamn use is that? Hollywood doesn’t even exist anymore! Scraps of Tom Cruise are probably stuck in some zombie’s teeth right now!”

“Luke, I’m glad you’re here.”

“I shouldn’t have left Jace,” he whispers, distraught. “I betrayed him. He was always protecting me and I couldn’t even save him once.”

“We did everything we could. And we all left Jace, not just you. It was me and Rio who said it first. You haven’t earned the blame.” If Jace’s ghost comes knocking, it won’t be your door he opens, Luke.

“Okay,” Luke replies softly.

“Baela is very, very grateful to still have you and Rhaena, Luke. She told me.”

Luke stares at you, doubtful, hopeful, wanting to believe. “Really?”

“I swear she did. I think you two are keeping her sane. The world, the baby, Jace…sometimes what’s most valuable to people are simple things, kindness, gentleness, compassion, support. I can kill zombies, sure, but I’ve never been good at knowing the right thing to say. You are.”

“Okay,” Luke says again, but he seems more at peace now; perhaps even the tiniest bit proud. “I guess I should go make sure Baela has everything she needs before I go to sleep.”

“That sounds like a good plan.”

Luke walks a few steps, then turns back towards you, smiling. “I think you know the right thing to say once in a while.”

“Maybe.”

“Definitely,” Luke insists, then disappears down the shadowy hallway and into the bedroom.

Aemond arrives at last with his blanket and pillow, arranges them beside yours, then joins you where you sit cross-legged on the floor. “You didn’t stay with Rio today when we rescued Cregan,” he says; not an accusation, a statement, a surrender of sorts.

“No. I didn’t.”

You must be visibly preoccupied. Aemond asks: “What are you thinking about?”

You decide to tell the truth. “How you were never supposed to meet me.”

“What do you mean?”

You point to him. “Rich boy with a beach house on a cliff.” Then you tap your own heart. “Poor girl who grew up playing with sticks and box turtles.”

“And that’s why you like Cregan so much.”

“It’s nice to have someone around who speaks the same language, sure. It’s nice to not have to explain things or think up lies so I can fit into other people’s idea of what the world is. But I don’t like Cregan more than I like you. Not even close.”

Aemond smiles, a warm glow like fire from under his scarred skin. “I’m glad I met you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Even if it wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“I’m sorry I’m not…” Someone sophisticated, seductive, experienced, bewitching. “I’m sorry I don’t already know how to do everything.”

“I don’t care. I would have liked you however you were when I found you.”

You look up at him skeptically. “Really?”

“Yes. Zero boyfriends or ten or twenty, I would want you the same way I do now.”

It hits you so suddenly you can’t stop the tremor in your voice, the shimmering tears in your eyes. “Aemond, please don’t die.”

“I’ll do my best.” He lifts the CD player from your lap and offers you an earbud. You accept it and slip it into your right ear as he puts the other into his left, then clicks the play button on Aegon’s pink Sony Walkman. What you hear are the opening ukelele plucks of Riptide, and you are spirited back to 2013: middle school, oversized hoodies and ripped jeans, hair you have no idea what to do with, the librarian letting you browse music videos on YouTube during lunch because you never cause any trouble, taking bites of your sandwich—one piece of Wonder Bread folded in half, a glob of Skippy peanut butter—and chewing slowly to make it last longer.

Aemond lies down and you rest your head on his chest as he covers you both with his blanket, circles his arms around you and pulls you in closer; and through the music you hear him mutter: “I wish this disgusting Hoarders trailer had two bedrooms.”

You laugh, burrow deeper into him, let his warmth and the drumming of his heartbeat lull you into darkness, still and serene, a place that exists beyond the world and the fear that it is ending.

When you open your eyes again, Aemond is up and speaking in hushed voices with Cregan and Rio in the kitchen, but he hasn’t tried to rouse you yet. I shouldn’t be awake, why am I awake?

Because someone is shining a flashlight directly into your face. You blink and swat at the blinding yellow-white gleam, your eyes aching, your vision hazy and distorted.

“He must check below the racks,” Helaena says. She is on her hands and knees and peering down at you like a bird of prey, like a goddess on Mount Olympus.

“What…?”

“He’s tall, so he won’t look, but that’s where it is. Below the racks. He must see it. Promise me you’ll make him see it.”

“Who’s tall…?” Aemond, Rio, Cregan?

“Promise me!” she hisses fiercely.

“Okay, Helaena! Okay. I promise.”

She crawls away without another word, climbs onto the couch, clicks off the flashlight, and tumbles back into the abyss of sleep with her back to you.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Chevy Tahoe—2001 instead of 2023, a dull rusty red instead of glossy dark blue—barrels down Route 2 past fields of soybeans ravaged by deer and rabbits, high feral weeds, tree branches entombing power lines and houses and barns, leaves freckled with cicadas and caterpillars, hay bales and archaic churches, life in shades of peridot and malachite and bloodstone and jade. Baela is driving, Ice has her big shaggy head hanging out of an open window, Cregan is examining Aegon’s map…and meanwhile, Aegon and Rio are singing along to the Enrique Iglesias song blasting through the speakers as one of the mixtapes spins in the Tahoe’s CD player, pretending to serenade and propose marriage to each other.

“Bailamos, let the rhythm take you over, bailamos

Te quiero amor mío, bailamos

Gonna live this night forever, bailamos

Te quiero amor mío, te quiero!”

Up ahead there is something in the middle of the road. No, not something; someone, parked across the double yellow lines on a small black motorcycle. As you approach, this person—made blurry by the distance—removes their helmet and seems to wait for you.

“What’s up with that?” Baela asks apprehensively, slowing down from her previously brisk eighty miles per hour.

Aemond frowns at the figure and then scans the fields on either side of the road. “I don’t know. Luke?”

Luke stands up through the sunroof to get a better look with his binoculars. “Oh my God, it’s…it’s…”

“Jace!” Baela screams, and slams on the brakes. She bolts out of the Tahoe before remembering to put it in park; the SUV rolls along sluggishly until Rhaena yanks the gear lever into the proper position. Now everyone is pouring out of the doors and rushing to him. Jace is laughing; he embraces Baela as she crashes into him and sobs into the curve of his neck. Jace is wearing jeans and a leather jacket despite the heat, safety precautions for the motorcycle. If he were to fall off, he’d keep most of his skin.

“I was hoping I’d run into you guys. I didn’t know if I was too far ahead or falling behind.”

Aegon gawks at him, sputtering. “How did…? How are you…?”

“You showed me your map, idiot,” Jace says; but he sounds relieved. “Route 2 all the way across Iowa, that part was pretty easy to remember. I figured if I could get here, I might be able to find you. If not, I’d just surprise you in California.” He grins, huge and teasing, ecstatic tears glittering in his eyes.

“The river,” Luke says, thunderstruck. “We thought you were dead…we left you…Jace, I’m…I’m so sorry we left you…”

“Hey, I get it. The bridge situation was fucked, there was no way you guys could fish me out. The river washed me miles downstream, way too fast for the zombies to keep up. I eventually got dumped on the shore near where some people had set up camp for the night. They were living out of a school bus, about fifteen of them. They heard me coughing and moaning, hunted me down, and dragged me back to the bus. Super nice, right? I told them about the zombies, and we relocated in a hurry. They were headed for a town up near Chicago, Rockville or something, so they took me with them and then one guy gave me his bike and taught me to ride it so I could go west. It’s a Honda Rebel 300. It can get 70 miles to the gallon. I’ve barely had to siphon any gas! And the siphoning hose my new friends gave me is the kind with a pump. No more Uno roulette, bitches!”

“I can’t believe you’re okay,” Baela whispers, tears flooding down her face.

“Don’t cry, I’m here, I’m back, everything’s the way it should be again. Now how’s my baby doing…?”

You, Aemond, and Rio exchange astonished glances. Luke snaps out of his shock and runs to hug Jace and Baela, and Rhaena follows him. Daeron searches the horizon for movement, for danger. Helaena rips the pristine white petals off a bloodroot blossom one by one.

For the first time, Jace notices Cregan. Ice stands beside the flannel-wearing Iowan on the pavement, wagging her long grey tail. She barks at Jace uncertainly. “Who the fuck is that?”

“Oh yeah, that’s Cregan Man Bun Stark,” Aegon says. “And his anti-zombie wolf Blue Raspberry Icee.”

[yurimother]

Star Student X Delinquent Yuri Romance Manga 'I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl' Licensed in English

On Saturday, Kodansha USA announced at its Anime Expo 2023 panel that it has licensed Kashikaze's I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl (Lonely Girl ni Sakaraenai) for English publication. The first volume of the school romance Yuri manga will be released in the spring of 2024.

I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl follows Ayaka Sakurai, a star student gifted in both academics and athletics. However, she gets nervous about exams, so has to settle for a lesser high school than she intended.

When her homeroom teacher recognizes Ayaka's struggle, she offers her a recommendation letter that could get her into any school of her choice, on one condition. She has to convince the delinquent girl, Sora Honda, to come to school. Thus the goody-goody Sakurai is thrust into a web of blackmail that might just lead to romance!

I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl was serialized in Comic Yuri Hime from 2019 until its conclusion in October 2022. Ichijinsha publishes six collected volumes of the manga in Japanese.

The manga received positive reviews from audiences and critics. Erica Friedman awarded the first Japanese volume an 8/10 score on Okazu, and the series won 12th place overall in Yuri Navi's fifth Yuri Manga Sousenkyo in 2021.

Kashikaze is a Japanese Yuri artist. She has contributed to multiple Yuri anthologies, including Canelé: Soeur, Shibuya Gyaru, and Chocolat: Shkaijin Yuri Anthology. She also released a side story doujinshi focusing on the side characters from I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl.

Look forward to the release of the first volume of I Can't Say No to the Lonely Girl in the Spring of 2024.

Source: Kodansha USA Website, Kodansha Comics Twitter

[princess-of-thebes-1995]

Don't Scream

Prologue

Yandere!Norman Nordstrom x Younger Female! Reader.

Movie: Don't Breathe. Stephen Lang and Reader Chan. Setting: America, 2024.

Retired and lonely Veteran of the US Navy, Norman Nordstrom rolled his icy yet beautiful blue eyes in boredom as he scrolled around his new and latest phone his oldest nephew bought him for Christmas.

Norman wasn't sure why he needed the latest model of a mini computer. He liked his old phone just fine. Out of politeness, Norman accepted the weird and modern gadget to not hurt his Nephew's feelings.

Norman hated to admit that he was an old man. Past his prime. He regretted his life so far. He was always partying and hooking up when young. Then he went to join the Navy Branch once he turned eighteen. After Boot Camp, he went to college and other more years of education to be a weapon mechanic.

His past of drinking and womanizing caught up with him. Now, Norman was eating his father's words. To settle down and fall in love.

His pride ruined him.

It's too late.

No one wants a wrinkly old man like him.

Even if he did fall in love, she wouldn't love him back. He had nothing to give. Besides money.

Norman sighed and was curious.

Most beautiful woman in the world.

He typed it up and it revealed you...

Norman's eyes widened in awe. There was a lady no, an outer world beauty with everything effeminate and delicate. Graceful and elegant was what described you. A fragile looking princess. Your skin was glowing with freshness and healthiness. Your lips were plump and fat like a fish and red like the color of blood. Natural. Norman knew you were not wearing makeup. The pictures he scrolled down on Google images had made it known you were followed by paparazzi.

Wearing casual and both fancy clothes as if going to an outing. Best of all, you were followed by those pesky reporters in a beach. Your beautiful and healthy weighted body that was revealed in a bikini gave Norman a weird feeling. Sexual awakening. He never felt this horny all his life

Even as a teenager.

He looked around the Internet to see you were a college student in California and takes selfies and have an Instagram and Facebook.

Your Facebook was private. But, your instagram was public. You posted mostly pictures of your pet cat, a horse and a parrot. Then sometimes pictures of yourself.

Norman liked that. You didn't seem conceited with yourself. He wanted to know more of you.

Norman decided to make an Instagram account. Right after his scheduled eye exam with his doctor.

He looked up to see your name.

Name and Last Name.

He never heard of that name before. Sounds like a foreigner language. Like your effeminate features, your name suited your exquisite and elegant face.

You were destined to have that beautiful name.

But, first, Norman rolled his eyes.

That damned doctor. What does he have to tell him that is so important?

[deepautumncolors]

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Outfit of the Day - working from home and getting an eye exam

Earrings: Old Navy Shirt: Maurices Nail polish: OPI Skirt: Old Navy Flip-flops: JC Penney

[learningsanctum]

April 27th, 2024

Do you remember when OG "it girl" François de La Rochefoucauld went "perfect valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world" and it changed planet Earth's very core for generations to come? Me too.

Lately I have been trying to up my game on the company I work. Currently I have temporary contract but it does have a promise of promotion depending on my performance and, as most people would, I thrive on this promise. Which is why I'm so far away from my comfort zone - that would be law books, hiiiii law! - researching for books such as "How to Become a Successful and Valuable Executive for Companies" in the administration hub.

Although I think I look a little ridiculous reading those books - because they honestly look fake or one of those authors who just throws shitty advices on a book to earn an extra with the publication - I'm honestly giving those a chance. Maybe they can teach me something! I'm all for learning more so if it's learning something you shouldn't be doing! What if the book is just shitty in essence? Then I will have backhand experience to identify a shitty book when I first star reading it and see it's essence is similar to the last "bad" book I read.

I like to think that everything we do is constructive. "For better or for worse" is something I apply but with motivational undertones so i can channel it into something positive!

I'll soon complete three months working at this company and it's a "big girl job" per say. It's an international company that has a gamma of possibilities for growth and literally can take me to unexpected places if I manage a promotion, which, for someone like me who dreams of seeing the world would be a nice bonus not to mention a dream come true.

However, my dreams aren't merely limited to company growth but if I manage it will be something that will make me feel good and what are we on this Earth for if not to appreciate little pleasures in life?

Since I can remember I have this will to work on an office and be part of something bigger than me. This company aligning with my principles, such as it being environmental conscious and caring for it's workers - I work at HR so I have first hand experience - is the most awesome part of going to work everyday.

In my life plan - which I believe haven't changed much since I was a teen - all of it's goals are constructive, long term and take time to complement each other. When I say I intend to do five years of law only to enroll on temporary (eight years) navy service people tend to say I want very different extremes and I simply can't see it this way.

Corporative life is part of my life but I don't necessarily want it to be all my life! I believe new experiences and a change of scenario can always do good. Also that people make decisions based on the options they have at hand at the time they are picking. Sometimes what you want is not on the table thus why you have to come up with a plan to make it an option. That can take years. That's when we start outlining long and short term goals for ourselves.

I, for an example, had a dream of coming out of high school and doing medicine, with a specialization in psychiatrics later on in mind. The human mind always fascinated me! But as all of us know it isn't that easy to get into law and because of a ton of life-changing problems I had in high school I couldn't really focus on passing the exams to get into public universities. So I applied for law which was my second option and am rolling with it since then. It doesn't mean I gave up medicine. Of course it doesn't!

Carefully I analyzed my options and build a plan from there, always taking into consideration the areas which I have more affinity and seeing how and why they could complement each other. That's the conclusion of months of research and pondering: I would finish law so I could apply to the temporary navy service (TNS) as an Official rather than the lower rank, which will give me a bigger monetary return, allowing me to live with easy and simultaneously saving a good amount so when I finish the TNS I can enroll on an international medicine university and sustain myself while living there.

Of course those are the main goals connecting with each other and people often fail to see the process. What I mean is that in the five years it takes me to graduate I will be studying and training to pass on the military exam and while I'm at navy I will be studying Spanish so I can enroll on my dream med university.

Once, upon telling a colleague about my plans, she said, and I quote, "it is okay for you to want to be the Barbie: a thousand and one jobs" but she also added "you just gotta make sure to have your goals set on stone so when difficult comes you can keep yourself on your toes and focused on the goal" and that's the best advice I have gotten so far.

When people tell for you to work in silence they mean it most sincerely because most of those around you won't understand your plans and, even unknowingly, will demotivate you. Sometimes it seems crazy and most of times it really is but its not impossible and it's exclusively on you how far you will go to achieve your dreams by transforming them in plans and following through and through.

"Work in silence" isn't supposed to be bitter or trendy but is simply stating people don't have the same world view as you, so you won't make sense to them most of times and - good news - you don't need to! They aren't bad for not understanding though. They just have a different color pallet of lens to see the world and it's fine.

Don't give up on something because it doesn't makes sense. Make sense out of your nonsense if it's the true call of your heart.

[thesecretofronance]

In honor of 2024 rapidly approaching here’s a list of things that would send 2020 me into a coma

The entirety of Junior year.

Band camp.

The SAT/ACTs.

AP exams

The fact that I do actually have final exams now

The Eras Tour/everything Taylor Swift related that has happened this year

The college application process + waiting for college decisions

The fact that I don’t watch cartoons anymore because I outgrew them, and instead prefer parks & rec and gilmore girls

The fact that my dream school is our local state school’s longtime rival

The fact that we met some of the best people and found a place where we were actually happy in high school

Theater didn’t work out. (And that’s okay!!)

I still don’t have my license lol

I’m going to Europe this summer!

My ideal wardrobe consists of brandy mellville, lululemon, h&m and old navy (this is not a joke)

We stopped trying to force ourselves to be someone we’re not. We’re a basic bitch and that’s okay! We finally found ourselves, and we’ll probably keep finding ourselves over time.

Bonus because it’s funny but true: we’re straight.

[mynextexamss]

NDA Exam 2024: Dates, Application Process, and Important Deadlines

The NDA Exam 2024 is one of the most prestigious entrance exams in India for candidates aspiring to join the Indian Armed Forces. Conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the exam offers a gateway to the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA). This article provides all the essential details about the NDA Exam 2024, including important dates, the application process, and key deadlines.

NDA Exam 2024: Overview

The NDA exam is conducted twice a year, commonly referred to as NDA I and NDA II. Each phase follows a similar schedule, comprising application release, admit card issuance, and the final exam. Clearing the NDA Exam 2024 opens doors to a prestigious career in the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the Indian Armed Forces.

NDA Exam 2024 Application Process

The application process for the NDA Exam 2024 is straightforward. Follow these steps to ensure a hassle-free application:

Visit the Official WebsiteGo to the UPSC's official website: www.upsc.gov.in.

Register for the ExamClick on the “NDA Exam 2024” link under the active examinations section. Complete the registration form with accurate personal details.

Fill the Application FormEnter academic qualifications, communication details, and preferences for Army, Navy, or Air Force.

Upload Required DocumentsAttach scanned copies of a passport-size photograph, signature, and other required documents.

Pay the Application FeeThe fee can be paid online via net banking, credit/debit card, or offline through challan.

Submit the ApplicationAfter verifying all details, submit the application form. Make sure to take a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.

Key Deadlines to Remember

Application Submission: Candidates must complete their application before the specified deadline. Late submissions will not be entertained.

Admit Card Download: Admit cards will be available 2-3 weeks before the exam. Candidates should download and verify their details.

Exam Day Preparation: Ensure all required documents, such as the admit card and ID proof, are ready in advance.

Conclusion

The NDA Exam 2024 is a golden opportunity for young aspirants to serve the nation in the defense forces. Staying updated on important dates and completing the application process correctly is crucial for success. Bookmark this page and regularly check the official UPSC website for updates on the NDA Exam 2024.

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Government Job Opportunities in 2024: Find Your Perfect Sarkari Naukri

As the year 2024 unfolds, countless aspirants across India are gearing up to secure their dream government job, or "Sarkari Naukri." Government jobs have always been a top career choice due to their job security, attractive perks, and the prestige they bring.

This year promises many opportunities across multiple sectors, with options suited for different qualifications and experience levels. Here’s a comprehensive guide on the top government job opportunities in 2024 and how to find the best fit for your skills and aspirations.

The latest updates on Sarkari Result in Hindi include a range of examination results and recruitment notifications. For example, results for the UPPSC Assistant Town Planner, UPSC EPFO Personal Assistant, and the SBI CBO Final have been recently released.

Why Sarkari Naukri? The Perks of Government Jobs

Before diving into the latest opportunities, it’s essential to understand why so many people aim for a government job:

Job Security: Government positions offer unmatched job stability, which is one of the most appealing aspects of Sarkari Naukri.

Work-Life Balance: Many government roles come with fixed working hours, allowing employees a healthy work-life balance.

Financial Security: Government jobs come with competitive salaries, pensions, and medical benefits, ensuring financial stability.

Career Progression and Perks: Promotions, increments, and regular allowances make Sarkari jobs rewarding, both financially and professionally.

Top Sectors for Government Jobs in 2024

The landscape of government employment is vast, spanning across sectors such as banking, railways, defense, education, and public administration. Here are some key areas to consider:

1. Banking Sector

Roles Available: Probationary Officer (PO), Clerk, Specialist Officer (SO), and Grade B Officer roles are common in the banking sector.

Institutions: Reserve Bank of India (RBI), State Bank of India (SBI), and various regional rural banks (RRBs) will be recruiting in large numbers.

Eligibility: Most banking exams require a graduation degree, though some specialist roles might require professional qualifications in fields like IT, Law, or Finance.

2. Railways

Roles Available: Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) offers roles such as Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP), Junior Engineer (JE), Group D positions, and Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC).

Institutions: Indian Railways is one of the largest employers in the world, providing ample opportunities for various skill levels.

Eligibility: Eligibility varies with roles; some require 10th or 12th qualifications, while others necessitate engineering or other specialized degrees.

3. Defense and Paramilitary Forces

Roles Available: Army, Navy, Air Force roles, CAPF Assistant Commandants, SSC Tech, and NDA/CDS exam-based recruitment.

Institutions: Indian Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and paramilitary forces like the CRPF, BSF, and ITBP.

Eligibility: Defense roles have varying age limits and physical requirements, often with a minimum 12th or graduation requirement for officer-level positions.

4. Teaching and Education

Roles Available: Teachers, Professors, and administrative roles in universities and schools.

Institutions: State education boards, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Eligibility: For teaching positions, candidates need a B.Ed., TET or NET qualification, while administrative roles may require additional qualifications.

5. Public Service and Civil Services

Roles Available: IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A and Group B officer positions through the Civil Services Examination.

Institutions: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions (PSCs).

Eligibility: Civil services require a graduation degree, but exams are competitive, requiring dedicated preparation.

Top Upcoming Exams in 2024 for Government Job Aspirants

UPSC Civil Services Examination: For roles like IAS, IPS, IFS, and other Group A and Group B posts.

SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level): Offers opportunities in ministries, departments, and organizations.

IBPS PO & Clerk Exams: For jobs in public sector banks.

RRB NTPC and Group D Exams: Opportunities in the Indian Railways for various posts.

SBI PO and Clerk: The State Bank of India’s recruitment exams for officer and clerk positions.

NDA and CDS Exams: For aspirants looking to join the Indian Armed Forces as officers.

CTET and State TETs: For teaching positions in government schools.

How to Stay Updated on Sarkari Naukri Alerts

With so many job opportunities and exams lined up, it’s crucial to stay updated. Here are a few tips:

Follow Government Job Portals: Websites like Hindi Doc provide timely updates on job notifications, eligibility criteria, exam dates, and results.

Set Up Notifications: Subscribe to email alerts or follow Sarkari Naukri pages on social media for instant updates on vacancies.

Visit Official Sites Regularly: For exams like UPSC, SSC, and RRB, it’s best to frequently check their official websites.

Download Job Apps: Several job alert apps can help you stay on top of notifications and deadlines.

Tips for Successfully Securing a Government Job in 2024

1. Understand the Exam Pattern

Each exam has a unique pattern and syllabus. Before you start preparing, get familiar with the structure, including the number of stages, types of questions, and marking scheme.

2. Set a Preparation Timeline

Government exams often have an extensive syllabus. Break down your study plan into manageable sections, set daily targets, and follow a consistent routine.

3. Practice with Mock Tests

Mock tests and previous year question papers help you understand the exam format, identify weak areas, and improve time management. Many websites, including Hindi Doc, offer links to free and paid mock tests for various exams.

4. Focus on General Awareness

Most Sarkari exams have a general awareness section. Reading newspapers daily, especially for updates on government schemes, policies, and current affairs, can give you an edge.

5. Stay Physically Fit (for Defense Jobs)

For those aiming for defense or paramilitary roles, physical fitness is essential. Regular exercise and following physical training guidelines can improve your chances of clearing the fitness assessments.

Finding the Right Government Job for Your Skills

It’s essential to consider your strengths, interests, and qualifications when choosing the right government job. Here’s how to make the best choice:

Education: Select jobs that align with your educational qualifications. For instance, banking positions generally require a graduation degree, while certain engineering roles may demand a B.Tech or similar degree.

Job Location Preferences: Some positions may require relocation or fieldwork. Evaluate your flexibility regarding location and travel requirements.

Growth Opportunities: Government jobs come with varying degrees of career growth. Positions like IAS and IPS offer structured career progression, while some may have limited promotional avenues.

Exam Difficulty and Preparation Time: Some exams, like UPSC, require extensive preparation, while others may have less challenging entry requirements.

Conclusion: Take the First Step Toward Your Sarkari Naukri Dream

Landing a Sarkari Naukri is both a prestigious and fulfilling career move. With so many diverse opportunities available in 2024, there’s a role suited for nearly every skill set. Hindi Doc makes it easier for you to stay informed on the latest openings, deadlines, and exam results, helping you make timely and well-informed applications.

Explore government job opportunities on Hindi Doc, stay focused, and keep a consistent study routine. With determination and the right guidance, 2024 could be the year you secure the Sarkari Naukri you’ve been dreaming of.

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Railway NTPC 10+2 Level Notification 2024 #trending #viralshort #railway

https://manasadefenceacademy.com/railway-ntpc-102-level-notification-2024/ "Railway NTPC 10+2 Level 2024: Best Training by Manasa Defence Academy" offers comprehensive and result-driven preparation for the Railway NTPC 2024 exams. At Manasa Defence Academy, we provide the best training to students aiming for government jobs, including NDA, Navy, Army, Airforce, Coast Guard, SSC, and Railway NTPC. Our facilities include top-notch physical training by retired Army officers, swimming, gym, yoga, and focused preparation for written exams and SSB interviews. We also focus on English speaking skills, stage speech training, and offer the best hostel and mess. Students can even complete their higher studies while training with us. Join Manasa Defence Academy to excel in your Railway NTPC 2024 exam and secure a bright future in government service!

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Apply for 741 posts in Indian Navy INCET Recruitment 2024. Vacancies include MTS, Chargeman, Fireman & more. Last Date: Aug 2, 2024. Exam on Nov 24.

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NMAT Exam 2024: Top Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores

The NMAT by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) is a popular management entrance exam that provides aspirants with opportunities to enroll in MBA and other management programs in some of the best business schools across India and abroad. This exam is recognized by a wide range of prestigious institutions for their management courses. Let’s explore the top colleges accepting NMAT scores for their MBA or PGDM programs, along with key insights about the programs and the cutoffs.

Top Indian Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)

Location: Mumbai (with campuses in Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Navi Mumbai)

Courses Offered: MBA, MBA-HR, MBA-Pharmaceutical Management, MBA-Analytics & Decision Science.

Cutoff Score: NMIMS Mumbai generally has the highest cutoff, which ranges between 235–250. Other campuses may have slightly lower cutoffs.

Highlights: NMIMS is renowned for its strong faculty, diverse specializations, and excellent placement opportunities. It is often the first choice for NMAT test-takers.

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB)

Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Courses Offered: MBA-Business Management (BM), MBA-Human Resource Management (HRM).

Cutoff Score: The cutoff for XIMB typically ranges between 220–230.

Highlights: XIMB is part of the prestigious Xavier University and is known for its strong emphasis on leadership and ethics. The campus has a great record in terms of placements and industry connections.

K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management

Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Courses Offered: MBA, MBA-HRM, MBA-Financial Services, MBA-Marketing, MBA-Data Science & Analytics.

Cutoff Score: The NMAT cutoff for K. J. Somaiya ranges between 210–220.

Highlights: K. J. Somaiya is known for its well-rounded curriculum, strong corporate connections, and emphasis on experiential learning.

SDA Bocconi Asia Center

Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Courses Offered: International Master in Business (IMB).

Cutoff Score: Cutoff scores for SDA Bocconi Asia Center are typically around 200–220.

Highlights: This institute offers students global exposure with an opportunity to spend a semester in Milan, Italy. It’s recognized for its international outlook and robust industry tie-ups.

ICFAI Business School (IBS)

Location: Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Dehradun, Jaipur, and Kolkata.

Courses Offered: MBA, PGPM.

Cutoff Score: Cutoff for IBS Hyderabad usually hovers around 150–160, with other campuses having slightly lower requirements.

Highlights: IBS campuses are known for their industry-oriented curriculum and strong placement support. IBS Hyderabad is considered the flagship campus with a stellar track record.

Alliance University

Location: Bangalore, Karnataka

Courses Offered: MBA.

Cutoff Score: Alliance University’s cutoff typically ranges around 180–200.

Highlights: This university offers a mix of academic excellence and practical exposure, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and leadership skills.

Amity University

Location: Multiple campuses including Noida, Gurgaon, and Mumbai.

Courses Offered: MBA.

Cutoff Score: Amity University’s cutoff ranges around 150–180.

Highlights: Amity University is known for its widespread network, global collaborations, and comprehensive academic offerings across its campuses.

Top International Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores

SDA Bocconi (Italy):

SDA Bocconi's International Master in Business is highly reputed worldwide. It provides candidates with the opportunity to study at an elite European business school.

Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria:

Location: South Africa.

GIBS is considered one of the top business schools in Africa, offering excellent MBA programs.

Asian Institute of Management (AIM)

Location: Philippines.

AIM offers world-class MBA programs and is recognized for its strong focus on leadership and entrepreneurship.

How to Choose the Right College

Choosing the right college to pursue your MBA or PGDM depends on several factors:

Cutoff Scores: Ensure your NMAT score meets the cutoff for your desired college.

Specializations Offered: Choose a school that excels in the specialization you are interested in, such as finance, marketing, HR, etc.

Placements and Industry Connections: Research the college’s placement statistics and its industry tie-ups to understand career prospects.

Campus Life and Facilities: The learning environment and infrastructure also play a crucial role in your overall educational experience.

In conclusion, the NMAT by GMAC offers a pathway to numerous prestigious business schools in India and internationally. The selection of a college should be aligned with your career goals, NMAT score, and preferred specialization. For more details, visit CareerMantra.

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Scheduling your ASVAB t is an important step toward beginning your military career. Whether you’re planning to enlist in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or any other branch, the ASVAB is a required exam that helps determine your eligibility and job opportunities. Understanding the process of scheduling the test, as well as preparing for the test date, is crucial for setting yourself up for success. With the right information and strategies, you can navigate the scheduling process smoothly and avoid common pitfalls.

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Latest Govt Jobs Notifications 2024

The pursuit of a government job in India continues to be a top priority for millions of job seekers, offering stability, growth opportunities, and an attractive pay scale.

To help you stay informed and ready, here is a roundup of the latest government job notifications across various sectors in 2024.

1. Banking Jobs

Banking jobs are one of the most sought-after government positions, offering a secure career and numerous benefits.

Recently, major banks like SBI, IBPS, and RBI have opened up vacancies for positions such as Probationary Officers, Clerks, and Specialist Officers.

Last Date to Apply: Varies by exam

Eligibility: Graduates in any discipline

Application Process: Online through the official websites of the banks

Selection Process: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview

2. Railway Jobs

The Indian Railways is another massive employer, releasing recruitment notifications regularly. The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) has announced vacancies for Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs), Technicians, Group D, and Junior Engineers.

Last Date to Apply: Check regional RRB websites

Eligibility: 10th pass or diploma/degree holders, depending on the post

Application Process: Online application on respective RRB portals

Selection Process: Written Exam, Skill Test, Physical Efficiency Test (for certain posts)

3. Defense Jobs

Joining the Indian Armed Forces is a matter of great pride. Latest notifications are available for Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force aspirants through various entries like NDA, CDS, AFCAT, and recruitment rallies.

Last Date to Apply: As per official notification

Eligibility: 12th pass or graduates (specific to entry)

Application Process: Online on the respective forces’ websites

Selection Process: Written Exam, Physical Fitness Test, SSB Interview

4. Teaching Jobs

Teaching positions in government schools and colleges are highly regarded. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) have announced teaching and non-teaching vacancies. Additionally, states are releasing TET notifications for recruiting teachers.

Last Date to Apply: Varies by state and institution

Eligibility: B.Ed., TET qualification

Application Process: Online application on official websites

Selection Process: Written Test, Interview

5. Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)

PSUs such as BHEL, ONGC, GAIL, NTPC, and IOCL regularly hire engineers, management graduates, and diploma holders for technical and administrative roles.

Last Date to Apply: Based on individual PSU notification

Eligibility: Engineering degree or diploma, MBA, etc.

Application Process: Online through PSU career portals

Selection Process: GATE score or written exam followed by an interview

6. SSC Jobs

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has ongoing recruitment for various posts like SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, and SSC MTS. These exams provide a gateway to secure jobs in central government ministries and departments.

Last Date to Apply: Check the official SSC calendar

Eligibility: 12th pass for CHSL, Graduate for CGL

Application Process: Online on SSC official website

Selection Process: Tier-based written exams followed by document verification

7. State Government Jobs

State governments frequently release job notifications for various positions, including clerks, police constables, teachers, and more. Stay tuned to your state’s public service commission website for details.

Last Date to Apply: Varies by state

Eligibility: Varies from 10th pass to graduate level

Application Process: Online on respective state PSC portals

Selection Process: Written Exam, Interview, and Physical Test (for certain posts)

8. UPSC Jobs

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the dream destination for those aiming for prestigious positions like IAS, IPS, IRS, and more. UPSC conducts exams such as Civil Services, Engineering Services, Indian Forest Services, and Combined Medical Services every year.

Last Date to Apply: As per UPSC calendar

Eligibility: Graduate in any discipline

Application Process: Online on the UPSC website

Selection Process: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Interview

How to Stay Updated on Government Job Notifications?

Official Websites: Regularly check government portals like SSC, UPSC, and respective state and central recruitment boards.

Job Portals: Websites like Sarkari Rasta provide timely updates on the latest government jobs, exam dates, results, and more.

Employment News: Subscribe to the weekly Employment News or e-editions for the latest government job vacancies.

Telegram Channels: Join Telegram channels dedicated to government job alerts for instant notifications.

Tips for Success

Prepare in Advance: Government exams are highly competitive, so start preparing early with the right study materials.

Stay Updated on Exam Patterns: Understand the syllabus and exam patterns for your chosen exam.

Time Management: Manage your time effectively during preparation and while taking the exams.

Mock Tests: Practice mock tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy.

Conclusion

Government jobs continue to be a rewarding career path for many in India.

Stay vigilant and regularly check for the latest notifications to not miss out on your chance.

Whether you are a fresher or experienced, government positions offer a bright future with long-term security.

Stay tuned to Sarkari Rasta for continuous updates on Latest Govt Jobs Notifica tions and tips to crack your dream job!