#addictions worker diploma

[tafsircareercounselor]

Empowering Change: Community Service Diploma in Toronto Overview

Are you passionate about helping others and making a positive impact in your community? Do you have a strong desire to work in the field of community care and outreach? If so, then the Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma program at ABM College's Toronto campus may be the perfect fit for you.

In this article, we'll explore the benefits of studying for your diploma on-campus at ABM College's Toronto campus and how it can prepare you for a rewarding career in community service.

Why Choose an On-campus Program?

While online learning has become increasingly popular, there are still many benefits to studying on-campus. Here are a few reasons why you should consider an on-campus program for your Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma.

Hands-on Learning Experience

by Glenn Carstens-Peters (https://unsplash.com/@glenncarstenspeters)

One of the main advantages of studying on-campus is the hands-on learning experience. In the field of community service, it's essential to have practical skills and experience to effectively support and assist individuals in need.

At ABM College's Toronto campus, you'll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, allowing you to gain hands-on experience in a simulated work environment. This hands-on learning experience will prepare you for the real-world challenges you may face in your future career.

Face-to-face Interaction with Instructors

Studying on-campus also allows for face-to-face interaction with your instructors. This means you can ask questions, receive immediate feedback, and engage in discussions with your peers and instructors.

In the Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma program, you'll have the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals who have worked in the field and can provide valuable insights and guidance.

Networking Opportunities

Studying on-campus also provides networking opportunities with your classmates and instructors. These connections can be beneficial in your future career, as you may be able to collaborate on projects, share job opportunities, and receive recommendations.

What Will You Learn in the Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma Program?

The Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma program at ABM College's Toronto campus is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in the field of community care and outreach.

Here are some of the key topics covered in the program:

Addictions and Mental Health

by Dan Meyers (https://unsplash.com/@dmey503)

The program covers the fundamentals of addictions and mental health, including the different types of addictions, their causes, and the impact they have on individuals and communities. You'll also learn about mental health disorders, their symptoms, and how to support individuals with mental health challenges.

Community Outreach and Support

The program also focuses on community outreach and support, teaching students how to effectively engage with individuals and communities in need. You'll learn about community resources, how to develop and implement outreach programs, and how to provide support to individuals in crisis.

Counselling Techniques

Counselling is a crucial aspect of community service work, and the program covers various counselling techniques and strategies. You'll learn how to conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, and provide counselling to individuals and groups.

Professional Development

In addition to the technical skills, the program also focuses on professional development. You'll learn about ethical and legal considerations in the field, how to maintain professional boundaries, and how to effectively communicate with clients and colleagues.

What Career Opportunities Are Available?

Upon completion of the Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma program, you'll be prepared for a variety of career opportunities in the field of community service. Here are some of the roles you may pursue:

Community Service Worker

As a community service worker, you'll work directly with individuals and communities in need, providing support, resources, and assistance. You may work in a variety of settings, such as community centers, shelters, or outreach programs.

Addictions Counsellor

As an addictions counsellor, you'll work with individuals struggling with addiction, providing counselling, support, and resources to help them overcome their challenges. You may work in a variety of settings, such as rehabilitation centers, hospitals, or community organizations.

Mental Health Support Worker

As a mental health support worker, you'll work with individuals who have mental health challenges, providing support, resources, and assistance to help them manage their conditions. You may work in a variety of settings, such as mental health clinics, hospitals, or community organizations.

Why Choose ABM College's Toronto Campus?

ABM College's Toronto campus offers a supportive and inclusive learning environment, with experienced instructors and state-of-the-art facilities. Here are some of the reasons why you should choose ABM College for your Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma.

Experienced Instructors

At ABM College, you'll learn from experienced professionals who have worked in the field of community service and have a wealth of knowledge to share. They'll provide you with practical insights and guidance to help you succeed in your future career.

Hands-on Learning Experience

As mentioned earlier, ABM College's Toronto campus offers a hands-on learning experience, allowing you to gain practical skills and experience in a simulated work environment. This experience will prepare you for the challenges you may face in your future career.

Career Services

ABM College offers career services to help students prepare for their future careers. This includes resume and cover letter writing, job search assistance, and interview preparation. The college also has partnerships with various organizations, providing students with job placement opportunities.

Conclusion

If you're passionate about making a positive impact in your community and want to pursue a career in community service, then the Addictions and Community Service Worker Diploma program at ABM College's Toronto campus is the perfect choice for you. With experienced instructors, hands-on learning, and a supportive learning environment, you'll be well-prepared for a rewarding career in community care and outreach.

[pragyacareeradvisor]

What Is A Community Support Worker? An Introduction To This Role

Explore the impactful role of a Community Support Worker! This blog breaks down everything you need to know about this rewarding career—salary ranges, job prospects, and why Edison College’s diploma program is the perfect way to start your journey. Make a difference in your community today! https://bit.ly/41tk6cb

[anoonimthepoorchad]

So the good Saint Mykolai Day news are that the infamous politician Illya Kyva is dead. And for those who don't know Ukrainian politics, he was a con-artist, a massive traitor, a right-wing politican for a little bit and lately he ran away to russia and said that all Ukrainians deserve to die, encouraged putin to use nuclear weapons in his social media. But back here in Ukraine he was a local meme mostly, as he wore his gun in the back of his underwear in public, lied about getting his diploma to the point there was a huge scandal about it, chatted with models in parliament and rubbed his pants there and got caught on camera, and was generally a giant Ukrainophobe and a bigot to the point it was ridiculous.

My mom got unfortunate enough to have him work in her department a long time ago, and she remembers how he didn't know a single thing about his job, walked everywhere with his bodyguards and used swear words as his first language. He also tried to get the complete list of all substance addicted people of Ukraine, along with their names, addresses and all of the illegal information he had no right to get. Of course he failed. Hated substance addicted people and constantly used stereotypes about the romani people.

And, my favorite event, he tried to film a local plug making drugs and show it on television, as a "preventive measure", but the footage was confiscated before it could be published. So Ukrainians sadly didn't get a drug Master Chef on national television. He argued with people on the official department social media with swear words and blocked them when he didn't like them, which is unacceptable for a public face on a public social media page.

And he also constantly encouraged the workers to lie about the information, trying to multiply numbers of confiscated substances by tens and making up fanstastic stories about the arrests. Thankfully, the workers were smart enough not to write that and just hoped he would go away soon, what he did eventually, moving up to a position of a politician in the parliament.

I'm sure I missed like a ton of things he did, so if anyone wants to add, feel free to do so. I'm glad he's dead, it's like a holiday present you didn't hope for. Happy Saint Mykolai Day!

[technically-a-kiwi]

Universally pathetic part 2 (🌌true cosmic AU🌌)

Previous part

The chef's quest was almost over

After traveling throughout 100 234 998 universes, he was more than sure Maurice is the being who's always the same in every universe, observing oh so many versions of his brother, the chef didn't bother to read into all of his brother's versions heart, it didn't make much sense he thought... But at least the host couldn't say anything like "yeah but maybe you missed something by simply reading his mind woag " or something to that extent... It was a slower but safer move.

Some of them had a job, some lived alone, some were anthropomorphic fishes...

So far, each and every single Maurice met the chef's expectations, being a pathetic jerk. The chef even made a mental checklist, with the fundamental traits he saw in his brother:

always unsatisfied with what he has

always rude towards others

huge gamble addict

Maurice will NEVER consider becoming a better person

And there it was, the 100 234 999th universe, can’t wait to put the host in his place thought the chef.

Finally reaching the earth, looking for his last task...

"There !" The chef exclaims, spotting the location of his brother's house.

"Hum, looks like this appearance is-a one of the most common of them all... That's-a nice I guess..." He says as he inspects his brother while he's asleep.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

Maurice's alarm went off, waking him up "huuuh... God... Damn it..." He punchs his alarm, shutting it down.

" Hum-um, alarm goes off at-a 5:10, punching it to shut it-a down, so far that's exactly how every other one behaved"

Maurice gets up, dresses up and goes straight to work...

" So far so good, not-a taking a breakfast and forgetting-a to lock the door, exactly as intended " says the chef, writing that down.

As he walked, Maurice sunk into his thoughts... " Stupid schedule... Stupid job... Stupid legs that can't take me further than a meter before hurting... "

Ah-AH ! About time he showed this side of himself, the never grateful grumpy man! The chef's expression shifted into a mischievous grin... The pieces were coming together, he just knew he's right, he just knows his brother universal nature.

The day continued, Maurice finally reached the trash factory, the chef following him close behind.

And so Maurice started his work, sorting recyclable material from garbage bags. " How can people be so dumb... Even if you write down on the packaging it's recyclable they'll still throw it in the garbage... It's as if everyone's blind..." He thought as he sighs out of boredom.

"Hum... Can't really count-a that as-a rude..." Though the chef

One of his co-workers addresses him " Hey Mauricino ! You got some coins by any chance? I need to buy my lunch and lost my wallet!"

" Do I look like an ATM machine to you ?" He says in a frown

" huh..."

" Leave me alone, there are better things to spend my money on, and you're not one of them" he turns back into his work

His co-worker goes away "wow... Rude..." He says flabbergasted

The chef is delighted " Rude towards others, I knew it ! Get-a ready to taste defeat-a Noise" another trait checked on the list. The chef shines bright colors as he imagines the host face when he'll shred his point into pieces.

The day went on... Untill 10pm Maurice was at work... Finally it's over, he gets to the exit and takes his check. 50 bucks... Truly a pathetic salary he thought, but that's the best he could find close to his home that hires people with no diploma...

Maurice went on his way home, the chef still following him close behind.

Suddenly, he passes by a small casino, he hesitates for some time, he just wants to go home... But... Maybe this time... He'll hit the Jackpot... He finally succumbs to the temptation. To the chef's delight, another thing off the checklist! Victory has never been so close!

GATCHING GATCHING GATCHING

nothing...

GATCHING GATCHING GATCHING

nothing...

GATCHING GATCHING GATCHING

10 dollars

GATCHING GATCHING GATCHING

nothing...

GATCHING GATCHING GATCHING

nothing...

GATCHING GATCHING GATCHING

still nothing...

Maurice wasted all his paycheck... Again...

After some time, Maurice came back home.

It was past midnight, he ate a plate of undercooked spaghetti and went to bed.

" sucks at cooking and-a goes to bed without-a brushing his teeth... And... Oh... OH MIO DIO THAT'S IT !" The chef exclaims as he realizes his quest is finally done, he busts out in colors and stars in joy ! Warping space time around him as he celebrates his victory!

The distortion was strong enough to tangle his presence with reality, making him visible to the mortal eye and making his voice audible.

His celebration suddenly woke Maurice up, screaming in shock as he looks at what he thinks is a ghost

" WHAT THE- WHO ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM ?!"

The chef stops his celebration, his colors going dull, he didn't notice he was visible, he slowly turns, harboring a shocked face

"huuuuuuh..."

Maurice is completely paralyzed, this... Being... Didn't look real at all... A bright colored humanoid creature ? What was in his meal, gasoline?

The chef looked stunned for a second... But, oh yes, he will rub his victory all over this pathetic jerk's face, he's expression shifts into a wicked smile

" Well, if you want-a to know, I am Peppino Spaghetti. Cosmic chef and ALSO THE GUY WHO JUST-A PROVED YOUR-A THROUGHOUT EVERY POSSIBILITIES IN EXISTENCE NOTHING-A MORE THAN A PATHETIC LITTLE SHIT !" He exclaims as he smiles mischievously at Maurice's face

" wait... Peppino... Spaghetti?" Maurice says while pondering... " Oooooh no, are you one of my weird ancestors cursing me because I didn't want to be a pizza chef ?!" Says Maurice, his shock turning into anger

The chef looks weirded out " What ? No... I'm-a not your ancestor, and I'm-a nothing like a ghost, I'm a cosmic chef ! A cosmic entity !"

" a cosmic what ?" He responds, looking somewhat confused " and what was that about me being a little shit ?!" He says very angered

" Ah, glad-a you mention it ! To make it simple, I watched your behavior and-a how you interact with the world, and turns out you behaved EXACTLY as I imagined! You are ungrateful, unkind, desperate, self destructive and MOST IMPORTANTLY you NEVER question yourself OR try to be better! "

" ... " Maurice looks shocked... He's trying to find a response, but the words can't escape his mouth

The chef feels his brother's emotions... A strong mix of anger and misery, he just wants to insult him with every curse words there is, and yet sadness prevents it from any to get away

" Huh... Sorry amico, I didn't-a mean to make-a you cry, but that's-a just the truth, I'm describing what I-a saw today!" Says the chef, wondering if he didn't went a little to hard on him...

" ... I... *Sigh* okay..." Maurice just lies down in his bed again, just hoping this weird cosmic thing leaves...

The chef looks completely weirded out... He expected a stronger reaction from his brother... It was... New...

This new behavior intrigued him more than anything... Maurice holding some kind of remorse? He's got to know more !

Something triggering the cosmic chef's curiosity?! How could that be ? Nonetheless he's willing to see the end of this story and understand what makes this universe's Maurice so special, until then...

===TO BE CONTINUED==>

[yougyattabekidding]

(my version of) Suchin lore :3

Warnings: Neglect, drugs mention, violence mention (not anything expicit however!!)

ok ok ok first

Teen years: Suchin grew up in a broken home. Her parents were poor and addicts she was the eldest of 3, the youngest only being 2 years old. Suchin tried her best to balance school, her job, and caring for the rest of her siblings. Being the only source of income, Suchin dropped out of high school and worked full-time. It was only a matter of time before caseworkers came to her home to question her whereabouts. Social workers came to her home and arrested her parents. Taking both her younger siblings, Suchin however ran away before they took her

During her years in the city, She would collect bets at bar fights as a sort of incoming due to her lack of a high school diploma, occasionally she would sell snacks outside of schools as another form of income. Once gaining enough she would rent a basement underneath the bar and host underground fight clubs. Charging people for the entrance fee. She managed to buy an apartment and support herself. (sketch i did of her below they get progressively worse ^_^)

Young Adult:  Entering adulthood, she would often have recurring fighters ask for a place to stay. Not wanting to lose any income of her own and not wanting to see others suffer, she let fighters rest in her home. Providing them somewhat of a sanctuary. She decided to help the fighters who had no jobs and needed a sort of income to support their families. She eventually had enough money to buy the bar where she would host nightly fights with volunteers and of course, recurring fighters. She would use her savings to go back to school finishing Highschool and finally getting a college degree 

During these gambling times, she would also provide housing for those in need their only way to repay was simply to work for her. During her career, she met many interesting people. Declining offers and accepting. Creating bridges and burning them. While receiving threats from her bad decision-making. She had kicked out many groups from her bar (Black Dragon & Red Dragon hint hint)

Adult: Around her late 20’s and early 30’s Suchin would decide to shift her career into business. She would then give her underground fight club to a close friend of hers and She would end up becoming an architect then the CEO of a building company (idk what to call them…). Her reasoning behind this? she says that she grew from her old career and no longer needed it but in reality had a bounty on her head for not selling her bar to the Black dragons. She had somewhat completely distanced herself from her old career however she still provided housing and jobs for those in need. With that being said, Kenshi needed a place to stay at the moment.

At first, she thought Kenshi was here to assassinate her but was mistaken and therefore embarrassed afterward. Suchin provided a small apartment for him and set Kenshi up for a coffee boy around her company, but soon he became much more than that. 

some other silly doodles i did b4 i ruin your life :3

After the birth of Takeda Takahashi, Suchin would continue her works of being Ms CEO. Even when missing her little lover from time to time she took great care of Takeda. 

On a unfateful day in her office after hours around aproximitly 8:30 pm, Suchin would be pronounced dead in her office. The cause of death most likely being a murder by the bullet (Erron it was Erron, Erron Black killed Suchin chat #cancelerronblack) Her son Takeda mysteriously disappears a day afterwords. His last sighting was him leaving with a man wearing a red blindfold around his eyes

THIS IS FOR MOOT that i never talk to... (@failyaoi) CUZ THEY'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTED TO HEAR ME OUT

[compressednerve]

Exploring Zachariah Trench's Office with @parasitefun

So many crazy white boy moments in his office so here's rambling about observations we made together. BTW we haven't finished the game yet (we're at The Prime Candidate Program and just found out who P7 is) so PLEASE DON'T TELL ME IF THESE ARE CORRECT OR IF I THEORIZE THE WRONG THING. I don't wanna be spoiled on anything >:O thank you.

Analysis, headcanons, and observations below!

What does his diploma say? Lets zoom in

DIPLOMA THIS CERTIFICATE IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO

Zachariah Trench

One morning, when Zachariah Trench woke from troubling dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

..........oh!! oh ok, the Kafka quote about becoming so disabled you can no longer work? And you see yourself as A HORRIBLE VERMIN because you're disabled? And they put that on a diploma and proudly gave it to Trench! Jesus Christ!!! Go listen to some of The Downward Spiral, Zachariah!!! My god I'm so fucking heartbroken over how Zachariah talks about being old and frail and weak and BROKEN!!!!!!!!!!! and useless and-I could go on. I'm a mostly bedridden disabled person myself and I usually find myself relating the most to the older characters in casts of media because they're usually the ones portrayed with the same issues I have as a younghead (arthritis, brain damage/brain fog/amnesia, fatigue and exhaustion, difficulty moving and speaking, just.. yum). And being bedbound myself is something that I feel really deeply in Kafka's work. To realize Trench relates so deeply to Gregor Samsa as well is just such a juicy delicious detail for him. And it's a diploma? My head is spinning! His self-hatred is infinite...

I love that the diploma is tucked away behind the slide projector as well. I'm not sure if this is The Slide Projector that's been hinted at but it'd be neat if it was!

NOBLE SHERIFF: "There can only be one Sheriff in town" ... :rolling_eyes: ok Mr. The Only Person You Should Fail Is Yourself ok Mr. She Knows I Don't Like Relying On Other People ok Mr. I Need A Team To Clean Up My Horrible Mistakes (k!lls self to avoid taking accountability for his actions and dumps it all in Jesse's lap). He was just drinking straight from the fucking bottle at his desk!! That's so disgusting I love it, no chaser or anything. I love the tasteful rolodex, the smooth marble pen holder (with silver in the black, but, kind of evocative of The Astral Plane hmm?), his stapler, his disgusting jug of booze, and the FRESH PACK OF CIGGIES!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!! God, Trench's addictions and compulsions being literally on his desk, the most intimate and well-frequented area of his general daily life, is just so fun! Remedy does so good with environmental storytelling.

I love how even the brands he uses are manifestations of his inner thoughts. The booze label, the tool that relaxes him and dampens his inhibitions, is of course praising him. The Lone Sheriff. The Director. The Last Line Of Defense. Zachariah Trench sees himself as the sole protector, and The Oldest House his town, his community, his ward. The most likely intentional framing of the documents he was signing being splattered with blood, acting like a barrier of his Work vs his Needs (need to relax, need for a painkiller cuz booze is a great painkiller)

I got to his documents piles and literally shouted, "HE HAS SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO!!!!". I love that the OUT pile is more full than the IN pile, Trench is so judicious with his correspondence :pleading_face: he's so tired. I bet he wishes he was still a Field Agent a lot of the time :sobbing: Looking at all the stuff on his desk like the sheer amount of documents and phone calls and other shit he has to do in a day to day as The Director must be sooo overwhelming...

It was during this moment that Paras and I realized that the greater joke of Control is about older people who stay in their jobs and refuse to make room for other workers, and they get Promoted To Incompetence! lmfao because like, Zachariah was so focused on Field Agent Stuff (in one of his Hotline calls he says, "I kept my head down. I worked my ass off." in a classic blue collar way) and being all tragic and putting his life on the line for his squad, then suddenly and forcefully being promoted to The Boss Of Everything. No wonder he has such a complex about Failing The Bureau :O

the same applies to Dr. Darling--! He's been in The Bureau for a 24 years!! He has 22 labs spread across the ever-shifting expanse of The Oldest House. He, mainly, wants to Do Research and Write Essays and all sorts of other shit that mainly revolves around being an isolated scientist with a modest team. And instead he has to make presentations for the laymen of The Bureau and he has to manage all THE ENTIRE RESEARCH SECTOR, who sends him catty memos about how their department deserves more funding (parakineseology department bribing him with his favorite booze???), and interns and junior scientists who don't know the first thing about The Astral Plane, and as Dr. Underhill complained about- The Bureau's ultimate goal is to exploit what they find, rather than actually comprehend what it is they're dealing with. Most Rangers retire due to cognitive collapse because The Bureau just shoves them in the meat grinder of trying to contain/control Everything. Ugh!

So anyways Zachariah Trench isn't a bad Director but then he's literally such a bad Director, the Worst Director Ever at the same time because it just wasn't his archetype. He took it way too seriously with a hammer in hand, seeing every problem as a nail. Dr. Darling fits the opposite of this niche as well in his own archetypical way- going from goofy underling to The Guy In Charge Of Everyone. They're both socially awkward, domineering, prone to pettiness/hostility, and under so so so much pressure for roles they were universally understood to not be able to fulfill.

All of the people we see in Control that are actually useful and agreeable with Jesse (who has been a dropout who mainly ever worked manual labor jobs up to and including janitor) so far are like, Ahti the mid-60yr old janitor who also just so happens to be the first friendly face you see when you enter the FBC and like, Simon? And fucking Langston (who is so hot I gotta write some Jesse/Frederick later)!

Langston, who is what I imagine is a direct parallel in a positive light compared to Dr. Darling and Director Trench, as in, how he entered The Bureau (he worked in the Postal Service of all places and an uncle at The FBC got him a job there), and Langston, like Trench, worked his ass off, kept his head down, but schmoozed enough to get a nice promotion, and then continued to work at a slow, steady incline for 15 years until he became Panopticon supervisor. He's like one of the only dudes in a high ranking spot who actually respects his position.

And of course who could forget dear Emily Pope :pleading_face: she's been Dr. Darling's underling for idk how long but clearly a while and she's so so ambitious like Darling is ambitious but she's so so so inhibited and held back by Darling's misogyny and higher ranking and having to be ordered to research shit but not actually be able to ask the real questions. You can really get a feel for how passionate Emily is in her work by like, not just how she talks to Jesse but in her correspondence and especially her research papers. The way she words documents ordered by Dr. Darling vs how she words documents ordered by Director Jesse Faden is literally night and day, but not for lack of enthusiasm. You can tell under Darling's mentorship she's soooo stifled, and with Jesse's lax permission "please just do whatever you want so long as it advances my (and The Bureau's) understanding of things". Emily's like a kid in a candy store and it's exactly what she needs to flourish.... Oh to bask in the light of a manual laborer :heart_eyes:

Another angle of his documents which I find titillating. The majority of his blood splatter landing on the IN pile... efflorescent....

THE FUCKING. BLACK ROCK PRISM ON HIS DESK. Paras has something to say about that later in a fic or some art. The other pack of ciggies that he was in the process of smoking (I counted the cigarettes. He has 8 ciggies left which means he's smoked 12 already. There are 4 in the ashtray which means at some point after opening the pack, he smoked 8 and then dumped the ashtray. This shows he keeps his ashtray relatively clean, which is a specific kind of character quirk about Tidiness and Cleanliness for Trench because chainsmokers like me and Paras are disgusting and our ashtray is overflowing by like, three packs and it smells horrible). The way it sits atop all his other shit he needs to sign, he's just drowning in documents (sort of like how I imagine Alan is drowning in manuscripts? WHO SAID THAT?)

*looks over Jesse's shoulder and realizes Trench's body is gone* *nearly shouting to Paras, who is sitting right next to me* WHERE IS TRENCH'S BODY? WHERE DID HIS BODY GO? WHY IS HIS BLOOD ON THE FLOOR BUT NOT HIS BODY? DID THE FUCKING BOARD TAKE HIM? DID THEY EAT HIM? WHO ATE TRENCH?

I've been likening Zachariah Trench a lot to Rorschach in his perpetual death-wish (he wants to die so bad but he'll fight everything that tries to kill him to the bloody end because he feels he can only die when he's ready to die ugh yum). The empty blood splatter after you come back from The Hotline Chamber for the first time (and realizing that The Hotline Chamber is DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO TRENCH'S OFFICE? HELLO?) is soooo fucking reminiscent of Rorschach's final death scene, where the blood splatter is the shape of his mask :hand_over_mouth: soooo symbolic sooo iconic. Note to self: Paras and I need to write/draw something about different people devouring Trench's corpse (yum).

(SIDENOTE: PLEASE DONT TELL ME IF THERE'S A CANONICAL REASON FOR WHY TRENCH'S CORPSE DISAPPEARS. THAT'D BE BALLER IF THERE WAS A CANONICAL REASON BUT WE WANNA FIND OUT ON OUR OWN!)

I wanna lick the blood off his desk and phone. Oohhhhhhn n the way it drips down the edge of the desk. I want to give him so many head wounds here. He spilled his final blood all over his classified documents and telephone and finished work and desk that he sat at a lot :pleading_face: and he was only 64 years old wah. He was so tragic and so sad and what if there was a dude who was so sad he DIED because his boss was like "put the gun to your head and see if we still like you" and Trench was like "oh good, finally, an opportunity to see if I'm still worthy" AND HE FUCKIN. WAS PROVED. UNWORTHY? OUCH, DUDE!!! HARSH!!!

Zachariah's Personal Signature Rubber Stamp (CUMS UNCONTROLLABLY)

Dude I had no fucking clue he had a picture of himself when he was younger (and healthier, and happier, and) with his kid that he accidentally killed. Like what??? He's so miserable and he sits at his desk with TWO packs of cigarettes and a giant bottle of like i'm guessing whiskey or scotch, and he just sits there and gets nosebleeds from using The Hotline and chainsmokes and stares at his Former Glory. MY GOD!

...............pistachios :pleading_face: he eats pistachios. he has pistachio snack. he enjoys pistachios. there is a bag of pistachios at his desk. he had to have gotten that at a vending machine. zachariah trench had to either ask someone to get him some pistachios (vulnerable) or he had to get up and go to a vending machine and put his money into the vending machine because he wanted a snack and he chose to get pistachios and he had to bend over and get the pistachios out of the bottom of the vending machine. zachariah trench eating pistachios. he has to crack the shells open and dispose of them somehow. pistachios are green. he eats pistachios. he wants a snack. i am literally a shell of a human being.

Imagine the smell of his nice leather briefcase. The weight of it in your hand. The privilege to watch Trench open it up and rifle through the papers, or *gets lightheaded* being able to hand him a document that he then has to place in his briefcase. I can't breathe. I like the pneumos in the background too. He has a very natural gentle clutter to his desk, like I imagine how he perceives the clutter of his mind. There's so many things to keep track of, and he's so tired... :weeping:

I'm so utterly enraged that he didn't finish two of his cigarettes. He didn't even finish his ciggie before he died!! are you fucking kidding me?! I was somewhat bewildered because the texture of the inside of the ashtray (the ashtray) looks... wet? and the two finished cigarette butts are visibly wet (distorted color, swollen cotton) and Paras said that the ashtray probably has a sort of perpetually wet sand inside it. Works for me!

Did you know if you shoot the Prism, it's breakable? I didn't know that. Makes the screenie a bit goofy but I don't care. Look at his over half-finished pack of ciggies. I would pay. kind of a lot of money. for like a collectors edition of real Black Pyramid Cigarettes are you kidding me? What kind of nightmare dimension tobacco do they put in those things?

He looks so moe here receiving his gay little medals or whatever's happening (idk if this has story relevance and gets revealed later or not). His hairdo is so cute??? Did he... did he bleach his hair? It looks like his roots are showing thru old bleach... is... Yung Trench a bleached hair baddie? I'm gonna pass out.

Me: look at that! Trench is watching the presentation! Paras: LOOK AT HOW SMOKY THE ROOM IS! HE'S HOTBOXING HIS OFFICE WITH NICOTINE! Both of us: *gagging*

So first of all this is such a big moment in terms of setting up Zachariah and Casper's relationship to each other, and how they interact with each other. Jesse uses The Hotline, and then we're treated to an interdimensional 3D Memory Flashback of observing Trench. He's sitting in his office, which is dimmed so the projector can play. He's chainsmoking so much that the ENTIRE VOLUME of his MODESTLY LARGE OFFICE is FILLED with CIGARETTE SMOKE. I genuinely am so disgusted and enamored by Trench's hardcore nicotine addiction, his.... dedication to the Ritual of Smoking. So anyways, engaging in his comfort ritual of Smoking, sitting in his nice chair and watching Darling's presentation. Imagine him ordering Darling to put together research on The Hotline immediately after his first call with The Board... and he's the only one who can communicate about what the experience is like... and then when Dr. Darling is done he delivers the video to Trench and then Trench sets aside specific dark-room-and-smoking time JUST to watch The Presentation? CAN IT GET ANY MORE HOMOSEXUAL THAN THIS? I *will* be writing about this later.

Sidenote the perspective of viewing behind his head like this is so intimate. I feel so voyeuristic, I want to hover closer to the back of Trench's neck and feel/see the hairs rise up in extrasensory response to my presence. I want to nibble on his ear.

I need him. to blow smoke in my face.

...

Well that's all the screenshots I have at the moment! Thank you for reading my post and please feel free to contribute your own ideas and observations to this because I LOVE META!! And I love hearing other people discuss it too >:3

[epicstuckyficrecs]

Favourite Stucky Fics of 2022

This feels a little bit like a farewell, but don’t worry... I’m never too far away! Here’s my favourite Stucky fics of 2022 :) 

Complete

💙 FUBAR by Ginny_Potter/ @hipsterdiva​ (Post-Endgame Fix-It | 64K | Explicit): Steve jumps in the past to return the Infinity Stones and doesn’t come back. When Bucky travels to 2012 to look for him, the Ancient One tells him just one thing: “Captain Rogers decided to move on”. Back in the present, Sam Wilson is more driven than ever to find his friend, believing him to be lost in the Quantum Realm but Bucky knows, just knows, that Steve made a choice and the choice was to stay in the past. Struggling to cope with a world he doesn’t recognise, Bucky falls in an addictive spiral of jumping up and down the timeline under the vigilant eye of the Ancient One, just to see Steve one more time, just to get his next fix. And in doing so, without even realising it, he heals and in the end finds out if he was right. Or, Time Travel is addictive, Steve is lost, and Bucky slowly realises that healing together is better than healing alone.

💙 he said, there’s a paradise beneath me (she said, am I supposed to bleed) by voxofthevoid/ @voxofthevoid​ (Hunkyclunks aka Winter Soldier Bucky/Modern Beefy Steve, BDSM | 23K | Explicit): “If you kiss me like that, Rogers, you’re gonna have a hard time convincing me you want to fuck me.” “Can’t have that,” Steve says and— And the fucker bends Bucky back like this is a goddamn romcom and kisses the everloving shit out of him. (Part 1 of some sweet violent urge)

💙 The Devil and Captain Rogers by kocuria-visuals (kocuria)/ @kocuria, zilia/ @ms-zilia​ (Post-Avengers, Canon Divergent | 55K | Mature): Steve Rogers woke up in the twenty-first century and joined the Avengers to defeat Loki and save New York. But afterwards, he finds himself struggling to adjust to his new circumstances, desperately lonely and missing Bucky more than ever. So when the Guardian of the Soulworld visits him and offers to give him one person back from the dead, he jumps at the chance to get Bucky back. The only problem is, when he arrives in the Soulworld, Bucky doesn’t seem to be there.

💙 Maybe we’ll get it all (If we choose one night) by sourwolphs/ @sourwolphs (A/B/O AU, Sex Worker Bucky | 69K | Explicit): As it turns out, it’s pretty hard to find a job as an ex-firefighter omega with PTSD, no left arm, and no high school diploma. After the accident forced Bucky to leave his job at the fire department, he stumbles upon ComfortCycle— a service that helps alphas and omegas get through their heat and rut cycles— and becomes a trained Cycle Partner. And for the first time in his 34 years of life, lonely, rich alpha Steve Rogers is considering paying for sex.

💙 Blooming Under the Dappled Light by thiccbuckybarnes/ @thiccbuckybarnesfic (Historical AU, Secret Identity | 52K | Explicit): Despite being the son of a gentleman, James “Bucky” Barnes could scarcely allow himself the hope of one day being tied to another in happy matrimony. In a society where the first-born children are revered and inherit all of a family’s wealth, last-born Bucky feels trapped in a life he did not ask for. When he makes the drastic decision to run away and become a tutor for a wealthy family, he is hoping to save enough pennies to someday have a dowry and be worthy for marriage despite his deposition. What he is not anticipating, however, is falling into the rough and skilled hands of his employer, the rakish widow Lord Steven Rogers.

💙 Okay, so he can play… (pretty’s got nothing to do with it) by darter_blue/ @darter-blue (University Hockey AU | 50K | Explicit): This is supposed to be Steve’s year. He’s meant to be taking his team to finals. He’s meant to be the number one draft pick. He’s meant to have it all. Until in walks the new kid, with his beautiful face and his tiny shoulders and his long hair and his graceful skating. Who doesn’t look anything like a proper hockey player. Who’s going to ruin everything. Bucky Barnes is about to bring Steve Roger’s world crashing down. And Steve is about to realise that’s a good thing.Maybe the best thing that ever happened to him.

💙 Rhapsody on a Theme by Astaraiche, Bittersweet_in_Boston (Orchestra AU | 41K | Explicit): in which Steve Rogers, principal cellist at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, meets Bucky Barnes, piano soloist and BSO artist in residence, and the inevitable occurs. 

💙  Read, White & Blue by JJK/ @trenchcoatsandtimetravel (Shrunkyclunks, Librarian Bucky | 99K | Teen): If Steve was certain one thing would have stayed the same during his sixty-something years in the ice, it was that libraries were still the place to go if you needed information. And Steve needed information. Lots and lots of it. aka Librarian Bucky helps freshly desfrosted Steve learn how to use computers and catch up on everything he missed whilst he was in the ice.

WIP

💙 hey now, you’re an all star (get your game on, go play) by buckyismybicycle/ @buckyismybicycle (NHL Hockey AU | 18/? | 55K | Explicit): Boston Bruins trade notorious party animal/human disaster Bucky Barnes to the Dallas Stars, and captain Steve Rogers is not impressed when Fury puts him on babysitting duties. But, as he gets to know Bucky - really gets to know Bucky - he wonders if maybe the media has got it all wrong - very, very wrong.

💙 Love isn’t always a ‘coup de foudre’ by Becassine/ @becassine, kocuria-visuals (kocuria)/ @kocuria (Bridgerton AU, A/B/O | 6/13 | 26K | Explicit): When Steve Rogers is presented at Court as a desirable Male Omega to the world, he has no idea what to expect. But after meeting the sought-after Duke of Buchanan through a chance encounter, his life is forever turned upside down.

💙 A Story We Must Tell by AHM1121/ @love-ha-fge​, MissyRivers (Modern AU, Fisherman Steve, Writer Bucky | 8/15 | 61K | Explicit): Or, the story of how ex-military turned Author - James Barnes collides with ex- Army Commander turned Lumberjack/Fisherman Steve Rogers and all the ensuing fluff, drama, romance that comes their way.

💙 This is (not) a Ghost Story [COMIC] by PottersPink/ @potterspink​ (Post-WS | 10/31 | General): Steve moves into a haunted house. Well — everyone else is convinced it’s haunted, anyways.

[everlastingremorse-blog]

Job training: Vocational school and other training programs cost money. Or if it’s an internship/on the job training, those can be unpaid, or if they are paid, usually pay less than.

Education: Famously expensive. Even community college (the cheap form of college) isn’t cheap. GED’s should be equivalent to a highschool diploma but is often not counted as such.

Mental Health Resources: Often replaced by police who will not use de-escalation tactics. Or are put on overburdened Social Workers that cannot give adequate care.

Drug abuse/addiction centers: Extremely expensive. Often offers bullshit therapies and are not run by professionals.

Food banks/food stamps: Underfunded, and incredibly difficult to sign up (for SNAP) or with limited resources (banks)

And while I’m not too familiar with the flaws of rental assistance, job banks, and employment resources (though I and sure they are numerous), all of these programs are “welfare” and constantly attacked by not just republicans as “an excuse to be lazy and not work,” or “leaches on the system who don’t deserve how well we treat them.”

But yeah, they certainly “exist”

[safehouseproject]

4 TedX Talks by Survivors of Human Trafficking

Bridges Out of the Past: A Survivor’s Lessons on Resilience | Ria Story

In this captivating TEDx talk on resilience, Ria walks you through her own horrific story of more than seven years of sexual abuse by her father. She then shares the lessons on resilience she learned as she learned to not just survive, but thrive in spite of her past. Overcome challenges, obstacles, and adversity in your own life by building a bridge out of the past and into the future. Like many, Ria faced adversity in life. Raised on an isolated farm in Alabama, she was sexually abused by her father from age 12 – 19. Desperate to escape, she left home at 19 without a job, a car, or even a high school diploma.

Ria learned to be resilient, not only surviving but thriving. She worked her way through college, earning her MBA with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, and had a successful career in the corporate world of administrative healthcare.

Today, Ria is a motivational leadership speaker and author of 9 books. Ria and her husband, Mack Story, co-founded Top Story Leadership which offers motivational speaking, leadership training, coaching, and consulting.

I was human trafficked for 10 years. We can do more to stop it | Barbara Amaya

Barbara Amaya ran away at the age of 12 after being abused by family members. She was taken in on the streets of Washington, DC by a couple who seemed nice, but ended up selling her into human trafficking. She was used for months and then sold to a man named Moses who took her to New York and continued to traffic her for many years. Now Barbara fights for other victims of human trafficking and to change policies that treat victims as criminals.

Barbara is an anti-trafficking advocate, speaker, trainer, author and survivor leader in the movement to end modern-day slavery and human trafficking. She is Senior Technical Adviser, Policy, Programs and After Care Services at SeraphimGlobal, and has been actively raising awareness of the sexual exploitation of children and domestic sex trafficking since 2012.

I was sex trafficked for years. Brothels are hidden in plain sight | Casandra Diamond

Sex trafficking may be happening behind the walls of businesses you pass daily – including the some of the massage parlours and holistic centres in your community. Casandra Diamond shares a harrowing story of her experience inside these modern day brothels: in this raw and honest talk, learn about the systemic issues that enable businesses to operate in plain sight and how you can help to advocate for change.

Casandra is the founding director of BridgeNorth, a survivor-led charitable organization that provides programs to assist victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Her work includes investing in public education, awareness, and advocacy at all levels of government including supporting Bill C-36 which is now law as the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act.

Domestic Sex Trafficking – A Survivor’s Perspective | Karly Church

As she defines what domestic sex trafficking is, Karly talks about the stages of exploitation while drawing upon her personal experiences. Karly helps educators understand how they can help elicit change. Karly Church is a Crisis Intervention Counselor, Social Service Worker, and advocate for survivors of domestic sex trafficking. She has worked the front line with youth in sex work and trafficking for over four years.

Church works at Victim Services of Durham Region, where she provides specialized services and support to survivors of human trafficking. Church is a Canadore College graduate from two separate programs: Mental Health and Addictions, and Social Service. As a survivor of domestic human trafficking, she harnesses her lived experience, extensive knowledge, and her passion to work with her fellow survivors. She meets individuals at their need while providing support with a trauma informed perspective.

Church has delivered keynote speeches throughout Canada and has trained and presented to thousands of social service providers. She is dedicated to providing preventative education through youth symposiums, presentations, consultations, interviews and panels on human trafficking.

Safe House Project

At Safe House Project, we are committed to helping survivors reclaim their lives. If you or someone you know needs assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can support our mission to end human trafficking by making a donation today. Together, we can make a difference and offer hope to those who need it most.

ORIGINALLY FOUND ON- Source: Safe House Project(https://safehouseproject.org/4-tedx-talks-by-survivors-of-human-trafficking/)

[tafsircareercounselor]

Addictions and Community Service Diploma Online in Manitoba & New Brunswick

Are you looking to develop your skills and make a positive impact in your community? Look no further than ABM College's Addictions and Community Service Diploma Online program, now available at our Calgary campus for students from Manitoba and New Brunswick. This program offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills in the field of addiction and community service, while also providing the convenience of online learning. Keep reading to learn more about this exciting program and how it can benefit you.

Skill Development

The Addictions and Community Service Diploma Online program at ABM College is designed to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to work in the field of addiction and community service. Through a combination of theoretical and practical courses, students will learn about addiction and its impact on individuals and communities, as well as how to provide support and assistance to those struggling with addiction. This program also includes courses on communication, conflict resolution, and crisis intervention, all of which are essential skills for working in this field.

Volunteerism

Volunteerism is a key component of the Addictions and Community Service Diploma Online program at ABM College. Students will have the opportunity to participate in volunteer work within their local community, gaining hands-on experience and making a positive impact. This not only allows students to apply their skills in a real-world setting, but also helps to build connections and networks within the community. Volunteerism is also a valuable addition to a resume, showing potential employers a commitment to community service and a desire to make a difference.

Community Service Diploma Online

The online aspect of this program allows students from Manitoba and New Brunswick to access the same high-quality education as those attending the Calgary campus. This means that students can complete the program from the comfort of their own homes, without having to relocate or commute. The online format also offers flexibility, allowing students to study at their own pace and balance their studies with other commitments. This makes the program accessible to a wider range of students, including those who may not have been able to attend in-person classes.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Addictions and Community Service Diploma Online program at ABM College will be well-equipped to pursue a variety of career opportunities. These may include roles in addiction treatment centers, community outreach programs, and social service agencies. With the growing demand for professionals in this field, graduates can expect to find meaningful and rewarding work in their communities. Additionally, the skills and knowledge gained from this program can also be applied to other fields, such as social work and counseling.

Enroll Today

Ready to take the first step toward a fulfilling career in addiction and community service? Enroll in ABM College's Addictions and Community Service Diploma Online program today. With the convenience of online learning and the opportunity to make a positive impact in your community, this program is the perfect choice for students from Manitoba and New Brunswick. Don't miss out on this valuable opportunity – apply now and start your journey towards a brighter future.

[pragyacareeradvisor]

3 Key Differences between Healthcare Assistant & Community Support Worker

Community support workers and healthcare assistants are two essential pillars of the Canadian healthcare sector; however, both of these careers have quite distinct characteristics. If you are looking to enroll in one of these two programs, this blog is going to help you make the right decision according to your needs.

Differences in what they do

There are differences in the job duties of community support workers and healthcare assistants. For instance, community support workers help vulnerable people who are usually at risk of getting into social and personal problems. They also help people get enrolled in social welfare programs so that they can be better served by the state-run programs. Some of the main duties of community support workers include:

Drug-related issues in youth and teenagers

Homeless people

Abuse and mental health problems

People in need of emotional support

Trauma-related issues

Refugees dealing with issues 

The job-related duties of healthcare assistants are slightly different from those of community support workers. For instance, healthcare assistants or healthcare aides usually provide assistance to people who need help in daily living. Healthcare assistants usually help people in long-term care facilities or people who need help in their homes. They usually help old people or people with disabilities. Some of the main duties of healthcare assistants include:

Therapeutic exercises of patients

Companionship and emotional support

Medication-related duties

Meal preparation and other nutrition related matters

Eating, grooming, dressing, etc.

Personal hygiene

Differences in courses and training

There are some major differences in the training and the courses that they are taught in their diplomas. For instance, take a look and notice that Edison College’s Community Support Worker: Addictions & Mental Health Specialization has a focus on courses related to social sciences such as sociology, psychology, etc. Whereas the same college in its Health Care Assistant Diploma focuses on physiology, anatomy, etc. Despite these core differences, there are some similar courses in both of these two programs, such as standard first aid, CPR level C, interpersonal communication, etc. 

Differences in career options

While both community support workers and healthcare assistants can help people with different kinds of needs, they mainly have different career options. For example, community support workers work in women’s shelters, school boards, homeless shelters, community service centers, hospitals, group homes, social service government agencies, correctional facilities, addiction and counseling support facilities, etc. However, healthcare assistants mainly work in long-term care facilities, acute care, assisted living, complex care, adult day care, etc.

After discussing the differences between community support workers and healthcare assistants, let us talk about the larger picture of the healthcare sector in Canada and how it is expected to change in the future. Like all the developed countries, Canada is getting old faster than most countries in the world. In fact, Canada has a larger percentage of a population of 65-year olds or more compared to the United States. North American countries such as Canada and the United States both have an aging population, but they are still behind many European and Asian countries, perhaps due to the higher immigration of young people annually. Most of the top 10 countries with the oldest population in the world are either from Europe or East Asia.

People 65 years of age or older make up over 17.2% of the total Canadian population. Although Canada is currently far behind compared to Japan, world’s oldest country with over 28.2% of its population over the age of 65, it will catch up to Japan by 2046, according to the data compiled by the Government of Canada. The Canadian population is not only getting old, but it is also growing very fast compared to the past. Both of these two factors are directly proportional to the market demand of healthcare workers, including community support workers and healthcare workers.

Conclusion

Whether you choose a career as a community support worker or healthcare assistant, you will not only be earning a respectable living but also serving society at large. The recognition of the services provided by these professions has also increased over the last few years, particularly after the pandemic. As discussed earlier, due to the changing demographics of the country, new job opportunities are also being created, and the trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.

Edison College is also offering a Health Care Assistant Program with Co-op; this is a 62-week diploma with 600-hour co-op placement. Practicum-based diplomas usually take more time to complete, but they also prepare the graduates for job-ready skills. If you have questions or concerns, you can contact us today to learn more about any of these programs.

[martyrette]

Sorry for lack of posting! I have an ass ton of wips and uh, I graduated last month! I’m an official fuckin’ social worker now!!! A kind FUCK YOU to the people who mocked my addiction issues and said I’d never graduate because of them in a non-supportive/helping way. LF your diploma? :)

But yeah TLDR been busy with job searching and just writing. Content SOON.

[tartarusrising-rp]

OOC INFO

Name/Alias: Arrow Pronouns: She/They Age: 31 Timezone: PST

IC INFO

Character Name: Kevin Ma Character Age: 29 Character Birthday (with year): July 10th, 1995 Gender & Pronouns: Trans Man; he/him Affiliation: Asphalt Demons Occupation: Sex Worker/Mule Faceclaim: Ben Levin

BIOGRAPHY

TW: assault, gambling addiction, death, coerced sex work

There are some people who shouldn't be parents, and at the top of that list is Thomas Parsons. But Helen Ma had no other family, no marketable skills, and no way of staying off the street without him. Despite that, he makes it no secret that he's disappointed not to have a son, and for as long as Kevin can remember, his father has taken out that irritation on horse bets and casinos.

Even with that looming dark cloud, their mother worked two jobs to put food on the table and make sure their clothes are clean and warm. She was perpetually exhausted, with sore hands and bags under her eyes, but she always had a moment for her children. When Kevin comes out to her, it's clear that she doesn't understand, but she still tries, and that's all that matters to him. He forgives when she catches herself using the wrong pronoun, and explains patiently whenever she has a question.

Life is by no means easy, but Kevin learns to adapt. One lesson his mother instills in him and his sisters is that no matter the circumstances they find themselves in, they must always strive for excellence. His grades, while not perfect, are enough to get him into a nearby university, four years to hone his skills in computer science and get a degree that would actually be able to help his mother and his sisters for once. He finds himself in college, with the freedom to spread out and experiment and dive into new situations without fear. He makes new friends and broadens his horizons, feeling for once like he has the safety net to be who he wants to be.

He's four months away from graduating when the Demons jump him for his father's gambling debts, though he had no way of knowing it was them at the time. Police assumed it was a crime of opportunity, or potentially even a hate crime, and no one is ever arrested for it. They dump him outside of a hospital, his right leg bent at an unnatural angle, face swollen beyond recognition. Four surgeries and eight months of recovery later, and he starts to learn how to walk again, even if the pain never leaves. Graduation comes and goes while he is in a coma, but Kevin never actually receives his diploma. The idea of jumping through hoops to get a final few credits hardly seems worth it, much to his mother's chagrin. But she's also just thankful that he's alive.

The medical bills start to stack up, and to his credit, Kevin's dad tries to square up. Kevin finds a job working at a local arcade, doing what he can to help out the couple that runs it as well as his parents. For a few years, things balance on a razor-thin edge but they manage. He thinks about using his computer skills for something more lucrative, with people willing to pay more. But old vices are hard to shake and a streak of good luck quickly turns into a whole host of bad for his old man. He disappears for good one night, and the cops find his body four days later, half-buried in the wetlands with a bullet through his temple.

The day after his funeral, Kevin limps into the clubhouse of the Asphalt Demons to meet with the President. He offers to work to pay off his father's debt, on the condition that the Demons leave his mother and sisters out of it. A noble request, and one that the gang is willing to honor as long as he holds up his end of the bargain. They call, and he comes. Most nights are spent in back rooms and seedy people, hands groping and gripping like they owned him, which they did. Sometimes, he's tasked with delivering goods from one place to another, anything that makes him useful in the eyes of the organization. But the money is better than it has been in a while, and the Demons make sure he gets his fair cut. It's enough to keep things steady, and he knows he can at least trust the gang to keep his family safe when he can't. It's not the situation he wanted for himself, but he bides his time until something better comes along.

[testormblog]

Going Nowhere

Most children strive to grow up quickly to escape their boundaries.  I was no different.  Now sixteen years old, I was considered an adult.  Alas, the reverse happened to me; I became a prisoner not an escapee!  My life had become wretched and I was powerless to change it for the next five years of my indenture after my probation period finished.

Every day, I sweated at the Ipswich Workshops then lined up to required technical classes at the Ipswich Technical College, three nights a week and for a half day.  At least this meant I avoided the old codgers at the boarding house.  I only heard their loud snores as I flopped on to my lumpy bed, exhausted and utterly miserable.  Besides, I missed my beloved birds and had left them in Dad’s care.  I hated where I lived but couldn’t afford anywhere else.  My landlord demanded nearly all my wages.  He left me a few measly shillings for my train fares.

One shouldn’t give up hope.  I valiantly tried to keep it and searched for a chance to roll my dice of fortune again.  I read the available jobs listed in the Railway’s Workers Weekly when nobody was looking.  A couple months after I had started work, the Chief Engineer’s Office listed four cadet (apprentice) draftsman positions in Brisbane.  I thought one of these might be an escape route and quickly applied.  My Railway exam ranking secured me an interview and a position.  The top ranked guy scored another.  We virtually evaporated from the Workshops and reappeared in a huge drafting room of hundreds of desks in Brisbane City.  I never returned except once some sixty years later after the hell had met its own demise.

I felt like a jailbird released from prison, and its stepping stone the half way house, into better society.  I didn’t realise that life would be tough on the other side too.  I soon discovered that my electrical studies weren’t useful to a cadet draftsman.  The other cadets were enrolled in draftsman courses or engineering studies.  Thus, I needed to switch.  The Queensland Central Technical College had recently reviewed its engineering subjects, updated them for modern practices and rolled out its 1960 Engineering Diploma, a seven year course.  I decided to do it.  I started three months behind and had lots of catching up to do.  Alas, I was time poor.  I sat in the classroom from six to nine four nights a week and for a half day on Saturday.  On the nights, I waited a couple hours on a draughty train platform for the ‘Midnight Horror.  At 1 am, I staggered up the road to home for a woeful three hours sleep.  I was close to being a dead man walking.  One night, at 2 am, the Bethania Station Master on duty, fortunately one of Dad’s mates, found me asleep in a train carriage laid over for the night.  His daughter, who lived closer to the City, took pity on me and took me in.  I kept my head down at work and college.  I miraculously survived and passed every engineering subject that year.

At work, I went from a place where men swore in English to one where they swore in foreign languages, predominantly Russian.  Whilst the bosses were Australian, many workers were White Russians, post war escapees from Red Russia.  These men chain smoked foul smelling pipes and cigarettes.  A metre thick smoke cloud hovered over everybody, constrained above by the ceiling.  The room was a death cell whether one smoked or not.  Doubtlessly, a lad looking for acceptance by his colleagues, I smoked a few packets of Camel and Rothmans.  I had tasted nothing as disgusting as these cheap cigarettes.  Thus, I didn’t smoke much outside the office nor could I afford to, thus I evaded this addiction.

Everybody in the Chief Engineer’s Office worked silently and diligently unlike their brethren in the Workshops.  No pranks happened here!  I was eager to learn whatever I could.  However, nobody sought to teach me anything.  The men were immersed in whatever segment of infrastructure they had to design.  Being a cadet, they trusted me to do no more than trace their pencil designs on cartridge paper on to blue linen in Indian ink.  These tracings became the blue prints for the manufacture of componentry.  I traced various shaped steel components, scaled to dimensions, for the foundry at the Workshops.  The task was monotonous and tedious due to the careful penmanship required.  For two and a half years, I never drew up any of my own design work.  Nor did my pitiful wage of less than ten pound a week increase.  I earnt marginally less at the Workshops.  Heavens, I could have earnt more birding.

The office bell clanged eight times a day, four times to start work and four times to stop it.  It first rang at 9 am and last at 5.06 pm.  It ruled my day!  As required, I signed on in a book at these times irrespective of when I really began or finished.  The 5.06 pm finishing time clashed with the South Brisbane train timetable.  In those days, no rail bridge connected Brisbane City to the Southside.  On my college free nights, I had fourteen minutes to sprint through the street crowd, down Adelaide Street to George Street then across the old Victoria Bridge, a kilometre and a half.  Missing the train meant at least a half hour wait for the next.  I, being a runner, usually beat the train by a minute if I wasn’t queued to sign the book.  Most of the men in the same predicament signed the book the following morning.  So, I did too.

One night, the Chief Clerk, a power hungry snake, laid a trap for us.  He worded up his team beforehand though.  Somebody leaked his intention but didn’t tell me nor another guy about it.  The next morning, the snake frog marched us two into the Chief Engineer’s office, a suite so palatial it widened my eyes.  I cast my eyes to the floor and stood stone still whilst the Chief Engineer harshly berated us for disobeying the Railway rule.

As my mother unwittingly taught me, take the heat, retreat yet note the score as outstanding and wait for the day to complete.  The chance would come.

Years into the future, a colleague would eventually be promoted to the Railway’s Chief Engineer.  We’d meet again across a desk with me employed by another organisation.  Between us would be a tender for a new rail bridge.  He’d fail to check the document thoroughly.  My allegiance would be to my then employer not to him nor the Railway.  I’d remember the timebook incident and my misery working for the Railway.  That day, the Railway would pay dearly, hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth.

That office bell began to sound like the dead knell to me.  Older cadets were resigning.  Then the guy, who began with me, snagged a role with an oil company.  I knew I had to ‘write on the wall’ too despite my indenture and my Railway blood.

[gabrielxpierce]

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE

The Wheel of Fortune turns evermore, seemingly to communicate that life is made up of both good and bad times, and that the cycle is one that we cannot control. It is something that is subjected to both kings and workers, and that nobody on earth can avoid what is fated. When you have good moments in your life, make sure that you enjoy to the fullest, for what comes up must always go down. The same is true in reverse - when you are in a bad situation, things will eventually become better again. 

STATISTICS

FULL NAME : Gabriel Henry Archer Pierce ALIAS : Gabe AGE : 31 DATE  OF  BIRTH : June 30, 1993 HOMETOWN : Seattle, WA, USA. TIME IN EAST HAVEN :  April, 2024 RESIDENCE : Emerald Mist. FACECLAIM : Thomas Doherty trigger warning: missing person, bodily trauma, memory loss

EDUCATION : High school diploma. Fire Academy. OCCUPATION : Unemployed. GENDER : Cis-Male PRONOUNS : He/Him SEXUALITY : Pansexual. HAIR COLOUR : Black EYE  COLOUR : Blue HEIGHT : '6'0'' BUILD : Lean/Muscular ACCENT : American LANGUAGES : English, Italian., Arabic TATTOOS : One saying 'who is this' on his chest. Hilariously before his amnesia SCENT: Davidoff Cool Water ZODIAC : Cancer LOVE LANGUAGE : Physical touch. CLOTHING: Various styles but loves bold patterns HAIR STYLE / BEARD:  ( x )

CONDITIONS : Amnesia ALLERGIES : Strawberries, pumpkin EATING HABITS : Big eater, barely gains weight. But loves junkfood. EXERCISE HABITS : weights and treadmill SLEEPING HABITS : 4-6 hours a day, has night terrors but can't remember upon waking. ADDICTIONS : None DRUG  USE : None ALCOHOL USE : Yes

POSITIVE  TRAITS : Intelligent, patient, empathic, helpful NEGATIVE TRAITS : overthinker, uncertain, abrasive, lost PHOBIAS : Unknown FEARS : Unknown HOBBIES : Soccer, true crime, mixology HABITS : repeats the tunes and catchphrases on the radio USUAL DEMEANOUR : Searching.

FATHER : Archer Pierce (Deceased) MOTHER : Violet Pierce (Deceased) SIBLINGS : Rosalie Pierce (Missing) COUSINS: Valentina Delgado, Joanna Pierce OTHER: Viktor Pierce (Paternal uncle) PARTNER(S) : None CHILDREN : None PETS :  None.

BIOGRAPHY

April 9th, 2024. Gabriel's life began when he woke up in a hospital bed in Kansas city. Bruised and battered, with no recollection of his past at all. He found out pretty quick he had a love for bananas and mashed potatoes and that he was allergic to pumpkin. He could quote marvel movies but when seeing them only had a vague recall of what was going to happen.

With his uncle's contact in his emergency tab on his phone, his uncle was called, who arrived in Kansas soon after, with photos of proof of their relationship. He was told of his parents, and how they were gone. Of his sister, who was missing and who was the reason he was in Kansas in the first place, looking for her after a tip. It was probably how he end up being beaten up, having pried in wrong corners and talked to the wrong people.

He's trying to piece together who he is. He has the facts, knowing he was a firefighter back in Seattle, he found out he has a love for metal music, considering he had many records in his apartment of various bands. He had both the bible and the Koran on his shelf, but whether he was a believer of either religions he could not tell. His favourite colour was red, with all the red in his apartment and he loved dressing in bold patterns.

It was easy to see he was overwhelmed in his apartment, trying to catch fragments of his past that his uncle suggested packing it all up and living at his place in Kismet Harbor until he felt up for living on his own again, and so he did. He's still searching in terms of what to do. He feels torn for searching for a woman he doesn't remember, but if his current state had anything to do with his search for her, doesn't that mean he was on the right track?

This biography will grow the more Gabriel finds out about his past.

TIMELINE

1993 - Born june 30th.

2024 - moved to Kismet Harbor in April

[long-lasting-loss]

I am not where I want to be, but I am far from where I used to be.

Today I am over a decade sober, a busy mama with my almost 10-year-old daughter, a full-time college student about to collect my three-year diploma in Child and Youth Care, engaged to my fiance of 7 years, and working as a supervised access worker part-time, while applying to full-time positions to work with youth in mental illness and addictions. I attend counselling sessions regularly, journal, prioritize self-care and advocate for mental illness and addiction at any opportunity. These days I hardly drink even in social gatherings. I prefer a tea and book over a party scene. This new life I have worked so hard for is so beautiful despite the storms that will continue to come through. They remind me to be grateful for the days of sunshine.

I am currently writing a biography of my wild little life and planning to return to school for my bachelor's in psychology to fulfill my dream job of being a Mental Health & Addictions Counsellor. *Little Kylie would be so proud of big Kylie.*