#greyhound bus attack

[blue-bujo]

Bowled Over (Roy Kent x Reader): Chapter Two

You work at a bowling alley and a young girl named Phoebe has a birthday party there. You catch her uncle's eye.

Roy Kent x female reader

Will try to update roughly every two weeks

Chapter Two: Being Better

Words: 1.2k

Warnings: Roy Kent-level language (you know what you're in for), discussion of mental health, past medical trauma

Author's note: A short one this time around, but I'm quite proud of it. They get longer after this. Enjoy getting a look inside Roy's head!

Roy Kent, the whistle-less manager of AFC Richmond, was done thinking about women. And he was happy being friends with Jamie Tartt, and he wasn’t at all hurt that Keeley Jones was now back into women after he was her last man. Doctor Fieldstone had helped him figure all that out, and she had pissed him off doing it. He respected her for that. Roy Kent told himself that he could handle being Just Roy.

So why was he still mad, a week later, that he had been Just Roy at Phoebe’s birthday party, and that fucking Just Roy had been distracted by an incredibly fit woman at the bowling alley? Why did it matter so much that her hand had brushed his?

The team had noticed that something was off. Beard, Nate, Higgins, and Will had even convened the Diamond Dogs to address it, but Roy had firmly shut it down. Only Jamie was close to figuring it out, bless him, and that was only because the little prick had been at the birthday party. He had the full context. Once he put the pieces together, Roy knew it was only a matter of time until he blabbed it to the other Greyhounds, so he had to get himself under control before then. If he had to be a bit more brutal in training to wear them out, then so be it.

After a particularly rough training in which Isaac was on the verge of attacking Roy, Beard pulled the manager aside.

“Whatever you have going on, Roy, you need to cut it out. Your opponent is the other team, not your team. These boys are about to break.”

Roy growled. If only Beard knew! But then he looked at the pitch, and his team being dejected all over it, and knew Beard was right.

Fuck.

“Oi! Circle up!”

The players did so slowly, cautiously. They looked at him like they were expecting him to blow up. He hated that.

“I’ve forgotten that this is a game that we’re supposed to play. For fun. That’s on me, and I took out my shit on you. That was… wrong of me, and I’m… sorry.”

“Is it shit we can help you with?” asked Dani Rojas, the only player who wasn’t quaking in his boots expecting Roy to snap. He was such a golden retriever, it was unbearable.

“You don’t know what’s going on in my life for a reason, and I’d like to keep my shit my shit,” said Roy, because he didn’t want to have a repeat of his team’s involvement in his relationship with Keeley. Not that the girl at Phoebe’s birthday party was even an option. He’d never see her again, and he didn’t care. “Just deal with your shit, and I’ll deal with mine, and I won’t get carried away at training again. Deal?”

All of the guys rumbled their agreement. They looked relieved, Roy noticed. Then he noticed Sam Obisanya’s hand up. “Yeah?”

“Coach, I think in this situation, we should all remember what Coach Lasso used to always say was the happiest animal.”

Joining in, Nate added, “Sam is right.”

With a roll of his eyes, Roy allowed the smallest of smiles “I will try to be a bloody goldfish. Now get out of here. We’ve got Brighton in two days, and I don’t need you lot dying on the pitch before then. The bus leaves tomorrow at half-ten. Dismissed.”

AFC Richmond all parted ways there, and Roy eventually found himself sitting on the sidelines alone. He enjoyed his life – of course he fucking did – but he was reminded of what he’d had before he’d started managing the club and trying to better himself. He’d had people. They hadn’t been perfect, but he’d had places to hang out other than his empty house. Now he was technically above them, and it would probably be inappropriate to hang out with his players.

Trying to be better made you feel like shit.

He had to go inside; sitting out here alone was too depressing. But he didn’t have to face the team if he stayed out here, and he didn’t have to go home to the empty house that was too big for him. At least here, he was on the pitch, even if he wasn’t playing.

Although, why did he have to keep from playing? Now would be the perfect time, with nobody out here but Will, who was cleaning up the drink station.

“Oi! Will!”

The young man looked up. “Yeah?”

“Bring me the fucking balls, will you?”

Grabbing the mesh bag full of training balls, the kitman jogged up to Roy and held it out uncertainly.

“Not a word to the boys,” growled Roy as he took the bag.

“No, not at all, Coach Kent,” Will promised, backing away.

Now left to his own devices, Roy dumped the bag at the penalty marker and nudged one of the balls into place. He hadn’t shot a penalty, or kicked a ball at all, in a long time. Even when he’d played, he hadn’t had many opportunities on goal as a wide midfielder.

He stretched quickly, then squared up at the box. After taking a breath to steady himself, he backed up three steps and charged.

The football flew up into the top right corner of the goal, ricocheting off of the side post with a clang. An ugly shot.

Roy repeated the process four more times, hammering the ball into the net. On the last show, he planted his leg a little too abruptly and felt his knee twinge painfully. Fuck. It hadn’t slipped out of position, but it was close. He’d have to ice it tonight, alone on his couch or in his bed. He hated that; being laid up with nobody to talk to and distract him. He’d have to start a book and hope it was good.

He packed up the balls, limping slightly as he brought them into the training facility and stowed them in the equipment room. It was a disorganized mess; someone had dumped some old things from the upstairs offices to store in there. His old standee was there, randomly, from his first season with Ted, his last as a player. The cardboard Roy Kent was only from a few years ago, but the real Roy had a hard time recognizing him. The cardboard Roy had been miserable. He’d been younger, yes, and he definitely looked it, but in addition to the general lack of aging on his face, he lacked the smile lines that had started to appear more noticeably around his eyes and nose.

Maybe he was better than he’d been then. He was older now, yes, and he had a shit knee, but he wasn’t as miserable.

“Dr. Fieldstone’s turned me soft,” he muttered. His knee hurt, and he was immediately turning to all of the work they’d done on the way he thought about himself rather than sulking about it. It was fucking annoying. He wanted to be mad. He was going home to stew about being old and alone with his fucked knee in his empty house, he decided.

But first, he hobbled out the long way, through the locker room and to his office, to place a hand on the sign. Because he had to Believe that things would be better eventually.

[reidslovely]

How to Disappear: Waves Crash in Over My Head

Please reblog and comment inlace of liking, pretty please.

Previous Chapter: Life Unknown

Pairing: Link/Alex Goodrich x Fem! Reader/OC-ish.

Content Warnings: Slight anxiety attacks, Link sends his fist through a wall, flashback heavy. Talking about aggression, mentions of broken noses. Intense arguing. I'm sure I missed something, let me know!

Waves crushed in over his feet, the soft sand beginning to sink beneath him. He was locked in place watching her talk with her friends by the fire. She glowed in the light of the fire, her eyes brighter than the fire and the moon.

 Waves crashed back in over his feet, he watched everything wash back out. He let go of the breath he was holding. Sudden hands on his back brought him back from whatever world he had landed on and pulled him back to this world. 

Her world. 

“You were great out there tonight.” 

His heart felt stuck in his throat as he gazed down at her. His lips turned up into a smile, his arms coming down to swallow her whole as he pulled her against him. 

“Yeah? Thought I looked silly out there, I got all nervous knowing you were watching me.”

Her head threw back in a laugh like it always did, the childlike joy filled their own little bubble.

“I’m serious!” He shouted in a laugh, his nose against her forehead. “Thought of such a pretty girl got me all sweaty in the jersey..the jersey you’re wearing by the way.” 

(Y/N) faked a gag, shrugging her shoulders causing the lacrosse jersey framing her to slouch slightly. 

“Mhhm well maybe I should stop coming. I'd hate to ruin your college scouting..” (Y/N) spoke up to him, her eyebrows raising.

“No, no you’re my good luck charm, need you there.” 

“I’ll be there..always.”

“You better be.”

-

Sun warmed his face, as Alex’s body jarred forward waking him up from his memory. Alex swiped at his nose, blinking a few times waking up from his long nap. Fairfield County was a welcoming sight. 

Not. 

He stood from his spot on the greyhound, watching the young mother and her daughter who sat next to her file out first. The little girl looked up at Alex smiling at him, and Alex smiled back before dropping his head. He grabbed the small grey bag off the seat next to him and jumped off the bus pushing the glasses to his face. 

He felt like a ghost here. Fuck, he was a ghost here. He wished his parents luck in talking their way out of this one. Alex, head down, took off up the street walking the square. Talking himself up to make the trip to his old subdivision, hoping he can keep whatever demons at bay. He watched a group of boys in jerseys cross the street laughing, lacrosse sticks over their backs. 

He loved lacrosse. It was the one sport he actually enjoyed, and maybe it’s because it let him exude just enough aggression to get by. He had done wrestling but biting got him disqualified, he did boxing but you can only break so many noses before people start asking questions. Lacrosse though. Everyone there was aggressive, most of the boys on his team were put on the team by the school psychologist to help them vent their issues. Alex found it funny that his aggression almost got him a free ride to college solely due to being hidden in his athletics. 

Alex had gotten caught up looking at the past, he didn’t see what was in front of him. Literally. 

“Oh my god I..I’m sorry.”

Alex hit the ground, the woman’s bag she was carrying dropping and scattering her groceries all over the street. The small girl holding the woman’s hand gasped. Alex put his head to the concrete, anger rising in his chest. He squeezed his eyes tight, taking deep breaths calming himself down before speaking. 

“I’m fine. I’m okay it was my fault I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“Neither was I. I’m so so sorry.” She laughed nervously. It twisted in Link’s chest. It was all too familiar, and the eyes peering up at him made him sick to his stomach. The knife in his stomach twisted deeper as he saw the moment of recognition wash over her own face. Two ghosts staring back at each other.

-

“You can’t do this. You can’t just disappear.” Alex’s jaw twitched as hot tears poured down his face looking at (Y/N). He unpacked her clothes as she tucked them away. “It’s not disappearing if I tell you where I’m going.” 

Her words didn’t sound like her own. It was distant, void of the warmth she usually spoke to him with. “I have to go okay, Link. My mom and I don’t have a choice. Okay. There’s money involved and..and she made a legally binding contract or whatever.” 

“With who? Your aunt that you two have to disappear? You can come live with me, my family won’t care they love-”

“I can’t be with you Alex! Okay, do you fucking understand that? We’re just kids, everything is so..compli-” It was ‘Alex’ that set him off. She never called him that. 

“I’m complicated. That’s what you’re trying to say. You’re giving up on me like everyone else huh? Huh!”

(Y/N) flinched as he yelled. Tears rolled down her own cheeks and she choked on her own tears. He didn’t care. She was leaving him, she didn’t have a right to be crying. He didn’t know what happened next, he doesn’t remember it. It was like he woke up after seconds of black, his hands through the drywall of the tiny house he’d loved in comparison to his family's estate. (Y/N)’s mom stood in the doorway of the bedroom he’d spent hours in.

 “You should go, Alexander.” The older woman spoke softly, with a motherly tone. There was something they weren’t telling him. (Y/N) started to run after him as he walked up the wall. Her mom held her back as she cried for him. 

-

The girl he loved was a woman now. Standing before him in sundress and her hair pulled back into a butterfly claw clip that matched the little girls. One thing that didn’t change was the gold ‘A’ that hung around her neck, now joined by a golden ‘P’ on a smaller chain. The little brunette girl that had been holding (Y/N)’s hand had bent down picking up his sunglasses and items that fell from his bag.

“‘ere you go, sorry.” She spoke with a speech impediment that impaired her ‘r’s. But she had tried really hard in pronouncing them so that (Y/N)’s lips curled up into a reflexive smile, patting the girl's shoulders. 

“When did you move back? Wh-..” His face twitched in confusion. His brother surely would have known and would have told him. 

“Two years ago.” She spoke, pulling the girl back into her side. Playing with her brown curls. “I tried looking for you but..I was told that you..well weren’t around anymore.”

“I wasn’t technically. But..” “Mommy can we please go? I wanna show Addie my new toys.” Alex’s eyes wandered her fingers for any sign of a ring. Mommy? She’d had a child? She couldn’t be more than eight years old. She’d moved on so quickly after him when he never did. (Y/N) took a shaky breath, smiling down at the girl. 

“Course baby. Huh, Link..it was nice to see you.” He felt like he was stuck in slow motion as she turned away from him. “Wait, wait.” He rushed after her, hands shaking. “I uhh..do you have a number I can call you on?”

She hovered for a moment, she seemed paranoid looking around and even past him. “Yeah.” She let go of the little girls hand, digging in her bag for something. She slipped a yellow card into his hand, and for a minute let their hands linger on one another. He wonders if she can feel the heartbeat in his fingertips, and his eyes begging her to stay here for moments longer.

“You look good.” She smiled. “I didn’t care much for you blonde.”

She’d kept up with him, hidden in plain sight. That made him feel good, to know she’d at least watch from a distance.

“I didn’t either.”

Her hand left his, and took the little girl's hand back in hers. “Let's go P.” She said sweetly, the little girl waved at him. “Bye!” She yelled as she walked down the street, (Y/N) looking over her shoulder at him catching one last glance. 

-

“You knew? You knew she was in town and you didn’t tell me. You didn’t mention it in a single phone call.” He yelled at his brother as they stood on the back porch of his childhood home. 

‘I didn’t think it was important.” Ben says calmly. “And I thought it would make you spiral to know she had a kid.”

“No, I'm spiraling now because I had to find out this way.” 

“It was almost a decade ago, she left you and you burnt down a school in retaliation. I’m sorry for thinking it would send you down a rabbit hole of anger.”

Link could feel his eye twitch, he reached up scratching his face with his free hand. Flicking a cigarette with the other. Ben stared at him, having more to say but holding it back. He felt sick to his stomach, like he could crawl into bed and simply rot. A part of Link always hoped that she’d wait for him, turn eighteen and come and find him. But she never did, which he didn’t make it easier for her. Always moving, not having a phone. They could have had a good life. Maybe had she never left he would have gotten help sooner, maybe they’d have a white picket fence life. He thinks about the life he could have had. Coming home from a long day at work, a suit and tie for some silly office job he’d gotten to support them. He thinks about kissing his highschool sweetheart hello and watching their daughter playing. 

Then, in the middle of it, he remembers sending his fist through the drywall of her room simply because he was angry and didn’t know where to put it. Though he knows he’d never hurt her, or his metaphorical child he feels sick. He hates himself. 

“I loved her. So much, and I was devastated when she just up and left and wouldn’t even tell me why. You knew that, you knew how much that meant to me. I still love her.”

“You don’t know her anymore. She doesn’t know you anymore, okay?”

“I could though. I could love her, and she could find something in me to love again.”

Ben was biting his bottom lip, Link knew his brother's heart hurt for him. But Link could also read people, way better than he’d like to admit he could, and Ben was hiding something. 

“I’m gonna call her.” 

Alex grabbed the sliding glass door of the house that led into the casual sitting room. As he walked in, his hand fishing inside the bag on the couch for his phone he heard a voice that stopped him in his tracks. 

“Son..” His father’s voice filled the room, that fake politician's smile on his face. And if Alex knew how to fake one thing it was a smile. 

“Dad, hi.” 

His father took a couple steps in hugging his son to his chest. “So good to have you home. We have a lot to talk about.” 

Alex hugged him back with one hand, feeling like a little kid again. “That we do.”

taglist: @helloheyhihowdyheya @tarzinnia @a-lumos-in-the-nox @messymissy @sincericida @moonyslove78 @toomanyfictionalboyfriends @eevylynn.

[odvunir]

physical/mental health update

quick rundown of how things have been from november til now

everything was going mostly normal until

my dad passed away very suddenly and i needed funds getting down there for his celebration of life

i converted several large donations into large commissions because i wanted to show appreciation

i ended up spending more and more on the ticket due to schedule conflicts with several people

i had a mixed time but overall i was in an unhealthy environment physically and mentally the whole time

both bus trips exhausted me. in every way imaginable. i was up 30+ hours each time and greyhound buses are genuinely the most uncomfortable cramped shit ive ever encountered in my life.

i got home and was still recovering from the stress and exhaustion when i caught covid for the first time, and was obviously unable to function or get proper rest for several days.

as soon as i started to feel better i took a small edible (fairly normal for me, im dependent on weed) and experienced an anxiety attack that mimicked a heart attack (which was what my dad passed from at 56 so i couldn't stop thinking about him and panicking more, my heart rate was 165 when the paramedics got there, my limbs were weak, i couldn't stop shaking and my chest felt like someone smeared menthol all over it)

i went to the ER and spent 20 minutes with 4 different nurses trying to get blood / IV, i was dehydrated the whole time and they wanted me to get fluids via IV (so you know.) they actually blew a vein in my hand and it still hurts

i was given temporary anti anxiety meds which for a few days actually helped me sleep

i got my period, which for me includes a LOT of pain and fatigue and mental erraticism

i woke up one night directly into an anxiety attack and had to call my boyfriend for several hours until the physical symptoms faded. this put my sleeping schedule off course

i continued to have difficulty sleeping bc i was so afraid of laying down to sleep and getting an anxiety attack that it would end up being a self fulfilling prophecy. i usually smoke a bit of weed to help me sleep - that went out the window as it also gave me massive anxiety attacks

i finally calmed down my anxiety and i have a new culprit keeping me awake - snoring. i have snored myself awake 5 times at least, just in the 6 hours i was able to sleep just now.

on top of all this, getting commissions to pay rent and bills has been more difficult than ever before and i'm terrified i'll have to ask for help or go further into debt just to be able to pay rent. an anonymous user gifted me enough money to go see a doctor about my anxiety and i still haven't gone - because i still have a couple hundred to go before i can even pay rent and bills, which all tend to hit me at the same time.

i continue to be behind on commissions because, well gestures to all of the above. which stresses me out more because i have always prided myself on delivering commissions in a timely manner and having to bump people week after week and book comms a full month and a half in advance is grating on my psyche.

so yeah

does a silly little pose

[bllsbailey]

Police: UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting Suspect 'Took Bus From ATL To NYC,' Atlanta Police Join Probe

Law enforcement officials verified to the press on Thursday night that the masked shooter wanted for stalking and fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, reportedly took a bus from Atlanta, Georgia, to New York in order to commit the murder.

The authorities believe that the suspect is now back in Atlanta.

After getting off the bus at the Port Authority bus station in Manhattan on November 27th, the shooter landed in New York City and went to a hostel.

“We are fully cooperating with authorities on this active investigation. As it is ongoing, we cannot provide further comment at this time,” a Greyhound spokesperson told Fox News. 

When Thompson, 50, was walking from his midtown hotel towards the company’s annual investor conference at a Hilton Hotel across the street—blocks from popular tourist destinations like Radio City Music Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and Rockefeller Center, where the famous Christmas tree was lit on Wednesday night—he was ambushed in the early hours of the morning and killed. New York City police said that the evidence clearly suggests that the attack was planned.

Following the shooting, the suspect abandoned a burner phone in an alley, according to police sources who spoke to FOX. Police are now investigating fingerprints left on a water bottle, a burner phone, and data that was on the phone.

According to two law enforcement sources who reached out to the press on Thursday, the masked shooter who followed and killed the chairman of one of the biggest health insurers in the United States, had the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose” written on his ammunition, mirroring a phrase used by industry critics.

One of the officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity since he was not permitted to publicly disclose specifics of the probe, said that the phrases were scribbled in permanent marker.

The expression “delay, deny, depose” is frequently used by attorneys and critics of the insurance industry to describe strategies aimed at avoiding payment on claims. It describes how insurance companies postpone payments, reject claims, and then defend their positions. Physicians and patients have increasingly criticized health insurers such as UnitedHealthcare for rejecting claims or making it more difficult to acquire care, which is life-saving in many cases.

Meanwhile, Atlanta police announced that they will “be providing assistance as needed” as well. However, since the crime was committed in New York, ATL authorities noted that their spokespersons, in addition to ATL officials, will not be making any further comments or statements regarding the case.

UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS were all included in a Senate report in October that described which companies have the highest denial rate for certain Medicare Advantage patients. 

Additionally, in April, UnitedHealth said that it expected $1 billion to $1.15 billion in “direct” costs in 2024 as a result of a cyber attack. The healthcare company said it also projected another $350 million to $450 million “business disruption” hit, which includes lost revenue. The announced losses came after ransomware attackers took control of critical systems at the company’s Change Healthcare business earlier this year, which limited patients’ access to prescriptions and stopped payments to care providers. 

Meanwhile, social media users chimed in and expressed their own theories and thoughts on the recent shooting.

“Two things can be true at the same time: 1. Health insurance companies can be ruthless & oftentimes take advantage of people in their most vulnerable moments. 2. We shouldn’t be celebrating a civilian getting murdered in broad daylight,” said one X user. “Not saying a brazen assassination is ever right but do you know the story on them? They got hit by ransomware and instead of telling anyone, they sat on the problem for months while doctors couldn’t get paid and patients couldn’t get care. Then when the doctors came and complained, they offered them loans to get them through the rough time. Then they waited longer. Then they bought the doctors out for pennies on the dollar. Scum of the earth,” said another.

Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts

[myflagmeansace]

In 2005, I watched Bush's inauguration in horror. How could a country celebrate such an evil man who led our country into a war based on lies and deceit? Why did everyone defend him and accuse his critics of being "terrorists"? I felt like I was being gaslit. Why could no one see what was really going on?

I was 17, in high school, and living in Idaho at the time and remember hearing students and teachers boldly and loudly claim to be patriotic while also threatening U.S. citizens of Latino backgrounds to go back to where they came from.

[That small town hasn't changed much since the 60s. The only difference is that stores can no longer post "No Mexicans. No dogs" in their store front windows anymore, though the sentiments are still ever present.]

During Bush's presidency, raids were inflicted on towns across the country. One of the most publicized raids in Idaho happened in the Magic Valley at a Winco because a Greyhound bus employee reported bus passengers who "appeared to be undocumented". The sheriff at the time was bought by the local farmers and understood that the "round ups" weren't good for the ag workforce and having stores raided disrupted the sugarcoated Mormon vibes of the town. Raids of that scale never happened in that town again. At least, not in the public eye.

The next year, I attended my first protest to call attention to the brutal mass deportations happening across the country. It was scary because we weren't sure if we were going to be attacked by the police or counter protesters, but we walked to the capital anyway. It was incredible to see so many of us fighting for the same rights. We understood that their fight was our fight. We refused to live in fear. It's the first time I learned the chant, "el pueblo unido jamás será vencido" (the people united will never be defeated), a chant I still hold close to my heart.

Today's inauguration and the disbelief and outrage of it is not a new experience. And what our not-so-bright-future holds is not unprecedented. It has happened over and over and over again, and people refuse to learn from it.

Somehow, the price of eggs and gas, the weaponizing of religion, and their need to feel superior to others will always be more important than figuring out a better way to take our country's issues and use them to propell us into a better future.

My only hope is that their ego and incompetence will be their demise. Nothing relating to the government is ever sustainably efficient. Even so, they will destroy as much as they can while they hold power. Many innocent people will be caught in the crossfire. And many not-so-innocent will remain blind and in denial that their troubles can't be resolved by corrupt and hateful leaders. They weren't resolved 20 years ago, 40 years ago, 100 years ago, and they won't in the next four.

All this to say, protect and nurture your hope because this too shall pass. And remember what peaceful resistance looks like. Refuse to comply by claiming incompetence just like they do. Waste their time. Question them. Lose and misplace things that are valuable to them. Be annoying. Meet their energy. Together, we'll make it through this.

[yifftwiceplz]

ooc physical / mental health update

quick rundown of how things have been from november til now

everything was going mostly normal until

my dad passed away very suddenly and i needed funds getting down there for his celebration of life

i converted several large donations into large commissions because i wanted to show appreciation

i ended up spending more and more on the ticket due to schedule conflicts with several people

i had a mixed time but overall i was in an unhealthy environment physically and mentally the whole time

both bus trips exhausted me. in every way imaginable. i was up 30+ hours each time and greyhound buses are genuinely the most uncomfortable cramped shit ive ever encountered in my life.

i got home and was still recovering from the stress and exhaustion when i caught covid for the first time, and was obviously unable to function or get proper rest for several days.

as soon as i started to feel better i took a small edible (fairly normal for me, im dependent on weed) and experienced an anxiety attack that mimicked a heart attack (which was what my dad passed from at 56 so i couldn't stop thinking about him and panicking more, my heart rate was 165 when the paramedics got there, my limbs were weak, i couldn't stop shaking and my chest felt like someone smeared menthol all over it)

i went to the ER and spent 20 minutes with 4 different nurses trying to get blood / IV, i was dehydrated the whole time and they wanted me to get fluids via IV (so you know.) they actually blew a vein in my hand and it still hurts

i was given temporary anti anxiety meds which for a few days actually helped me sleep

i got my period, which for me includes a LOT of pain and fatigue and mental erraticism

i woke up one night directly into an anxiety attack and had to call my boyfriend for several hours until the physical symptoms faded. this put my sleeping schedule off course

i continued to have difficulty sleeping bc i was so afraid of laying down to sleep and getting an anxiety attack that it would end up being a self fulfilling prophecy. i usually smoke a bit of weed to help me sleep - that went out the window as it also gave me massive anxiety attacks

i finally calmed down my anxiety and i have a new culprit keeping me awake - snoring. i have snored myself awake 5 times at least, just in the 6 hours i was able to sleep just now.

on top of all this, getting commissions to pay rent and bills has been more difficult than ever before and i'm terrified i'll have to ask for help or go further into debt just to be able to pay rent. an anonymous user gifted me enough money to go see a doctor about my anxiety and i still haven't gone - because i still have a couple hundred to go before i can even pay rent and bills, which all tend to hit me at the same time.

i continue to be behind on commissions because, well gestures to all of the above. which stresses me out more because i have always prided myself on delivering commissions in a timely manner and having to bump people week after week and book comms a full month and a half in advance is grating on my psyche.

so yeah

does a silly little pose

[madelinetess]

Wouldn't it be nice?

“There are only ten minutes remaining till the end of this match and Richmond players seem to be in quite the pickle.”

“You are right Arlo, it does appear to be a dangerous situation for the greyhounds. As of now the score is 1:1 but Chelsea’s in possession and it looks like they may score the winning goal after all.”

“A beautiful pass from number 11, getting through Richmond’s defence, the only thing between the Chelsea Striker and leaving the match victorious is Richmond’s goalie, Zoreaux, who seems to be having a tough day today.”

“The greyhounds are relying quite heavily on their defence players today… What’s this? A beautiful kick by the Chelsea attacker! It’s soaring through the air and… By God, Arlo, did you see that?”

“If you are referring to the brilliant dive by Richmond’s number 13, then yes, I most definitely saw it. We simply have to look at it again, the way he got in there just in time to kick the ball right back into the stands, simply marvellous.”

A slow motion replay of Jan’s desperate save displayed on the screen accompanied by the cheers of the fans in the stands and the live commentary by both Chris Powell and Arlo White.

“The Dutchman did it again. He has definitely been the backbone of today's defence, foiling most of the scoring attempts. But back to the game, it is now time for Nelson Road residents to either try and keep the ball for the remaining four minutes, or to shock us with some clever closing play.”

“You never know what to expect from them, and they’ve been continually pulling all kinds of tricks from their sleeves. Chris, what do you think is going to happen?”

“It remains to be seen, Arlo, we’ll just have to wait.”

“Bumbercatch passes to Montlaur, Montlaur goes in to score, but no! It was a feint and it’s Jamie Tartt now with the ball. Tartt passes to Rojas who gets through Chelsea’s defence and gets the ball straight to number 12 and it’s a goal! A beautiful play by the Greyhounds mere seconds before the final whistle! Richmond winds up victorious with two goals from Tartt and Hughes respectively.”

“A beautiful display of teamwork indeed. It’s games like this one that truly highlight the unity of the Nelson Road Team, the famous ‘Richmond Way’ a term coined by Trent Crimm in his best selling book…”

The commentary was now fading away as the team exited the pitch, still euphoric after the win. Jan walked feeling exhausted but hyped up and was now heading to the locker room to celebrate along with the entirety of the team. The coaches were already there, waiting for them. 

Everyone got seated and the room fell into silence, awaiting Roy’s words. 

“Allright, I’ll make it quick. Good job Jamie, Colin,” He nodded at each respective player but then turned towards Jan “Jan Maas. You are the main reason we didn’t fuckin’ lose today!” Excitement in their manager’s voice crystal clear. 

Dani was the first one to cheer, but soon everyone joined in and the whole locker room was once again filled with excited footballers. Shoulder pats and bear hugs were exchanged once again before Roy had to shout to get them to settle down and listen to the announcements.

“Oi! You have fifteen minutes to celebrate here, and after that I expect to see you all on the bus, ready to head to the hotel.”

With that Roy left to support Rebecca handling the interviews, and both Beard and Nate followed him out of the room, probably to settle some other matters.

The team changed quickly and it wasn’t even twenty minutes later that Jan sat next to Richard on the way to the hotel. The Dutchman pulled out a well loved book that was given to him for his birthday by the man sitting right next to him out of his bag. Richard himself could never read while in a moving vehicle, so as usual he opted for listening to music and looking out the window, completely zoned out. 

The ride itself was short, and soon enough they all stood in the hotel lobby waiting to get their keys.

“Listen up people!” Coach Beard could be heard over the general ruckus “You get settled and then at 8PM sharp we meet in conference room 3 for our movie night! Jan Maas, today you get the honours of drawing the movie from our box of suggestions.” 

A collective choir of whoops and whistles filled the foyer.

The movie night tradition became a thing when Ted was still their manager and it was one of the many things that stuck around even after he didn’t. Of course pillow fights also kept on happening, but the clean-up after a movie night is undoubtedly easier, and watching a silly movie is definitely a great way of winding down after a difficult match. 

The box of suggestions though, was Phoebe’s idea that Roy decided to implement. At the beginning of the season each player got to write down one movie name on a post-it and put it in a purple glittery shoebox. Then, every movie night someone from the team would draw a piece of paper from said box and whatever it said, that was the movie they were going to watch. 

The suggestions were obviously restricted, to the disappointment of both Moe and Richard. Richard’s, because almost everyone voted no, on classic French cinema, and Bumbercatch’s for reasons unspecified. The only other rule was no one was supposed to know who suggested what.

So obviously Jan and Richard turned into a game to see if they could guess who wrote down which movie. So far they were pretty sure that Dani suggested Night at the Museum and Sam was definitely the one who pitched Ratatouille, as for the other ones they were based purely on speculation. Both of them were pretty positive that Thierry picked How to lose a guy in 10 days. Richard kept disagreeing with him about who suggested Baby Driver, it was a tie between Jamie and Isaac, but for some reason the same disagreement also occurred while debating who picked Ocean’s Eleven.

Some other movies they watched included classics such as Jojo Rabbit, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Legally Blonde, The Greatest Showman, and Knives Out. The jury was still out on all of these. 

They agreed not to disclose what movie they themselves suggested, to keep the game more interesting. 

Jan however knew exactly what Richard picked. He remembers the first practice of the season, he remembers the weather outside, and the exact button up shirt that Richard wore that day. 

Why does he remember that? Well, because he spent the entire after-practice meeting staring at the four undone upper buttons, and not thinking about what movie he should put down as his suggestion. That in turn meant he caught a glimpse of Richard’s post-it and the two titles written in neat handwriting. Duplex and 50 First Dates sat right there being deeply analysed by the Frenchman struggling to pick one. That’s when Jan decided, whichever one his friend doesn’t pick, he was going to write down.

The jangle of the room keys brought the Dutchman back to Earth. Richard has already gone and picked them up from coach Beard and was now motioning for Jan to follow him to their accommodations. 

Most of the team roomed on the same floor, but the coaches made sure to get themselves settled the furthest away from the rest of the team. The rooms were nice enough, with a small balcony, two beds, wardrobe, a table with some chairs and an adjacent bathroom. Enough for a one night stay. 

Richard immediately threw his things onto the bed by the window and sat down on it. After dozens of times sharing a room at away games Jan already knew that the Frenchman loved being woken up by the sun. 

The Dutchman took the other bed and unpacked some of their bathroom things. There was no use taking two tubes of toothpaste, so they both agreed beforehand who was going to take one, same with soap and shampoo. Neither of them trusted the ones provided by the hotels.

After they were done unpacking they headed down to the dining room to grab some dinner before coming back up to their room to get changed into some sweatpants and comfy t-shirts and whatnot. Then the only thing left was to locate conference room number 3. 

On the stairway they were joined by Colin, Isaac, Moe and a couple of the reserves. They already went up a flight before Reynolds stopped them to ask a question.

“Hold up, does anyone know where we are supposed to go?” 

“Conference room 3, duh” Colin answered.

“Yeah, but do any of you actually know where that is?”

Everyone stopped in the middle of the stairway and shook their heads.

“Then where the hell are we going?” Goodman piped up.

“O'Brien, didn't you say that your roommate stayed back to ask the receptionist about it?”

“Yeah, he did.” Tom turned around as if to locate said roommate and didn’t seem to find him. Then he turned around again, hoping for a different result. That clearly didn’t seem to help. “I forgot Bhargava!” he yelled out and dashed down the stairs back to the rooms.

“Do you guys think he just locked him inside their room?” Colin asked, looking after the goalkeeper.

“Maybe he just forgot to tell him we were going already..?” Isaac supplied. 

“Nah, he totally locked him in,” Richard laughed heartily and looked at Jan smiling which he reciprocated.

“Isn’t there a floorplan somewhere maybe?” Jan asked no one in particular. The Dutchman looked around trying to find something that would tell them where to go. While they were still standing around on the stairs they all heard O’Brien shouting.

“Lads! We got to go downstairs, not up!” A chorus of groans lasted a good ten seconds it took them to get downstairs and back to the lobby.

Once they finally reached the conference room Roy looked at them, then at his watch, and then back at them. 

“What took you so long, you got fuckin’ lost, or something?” 

“Well, what matters is that we are all here now.” Reynolds said after a beat of silence.

“That is the bare minimum, we said at 8, it’s 8:20”

“Actually, it’s only 8:17 so it’s closer to…” Goodman started but one look from their former captain turned manager shut him up.

"We need to learn how to appreciate the little things, like finding our way, or Richard…" Jan said, throwing an arm around his friend, who was standing right next to him.

The Frenchman was not amused, and rolled his eyes pointedly exaggerating the movement.

"Laugh all you want, I'm not the one that had to ask the hotel desk to get another duvet, because I didn't fit under the one that comes with the room."

“Fuckin’ hell… Enough of that, get inside, sit down and get ready to watch the movie.” Roy stopped them before they could drag the conversation out even longer. “Jan, come with me to pick the movie.”

Inside the conference room a projector was set up, along with a few rows of nice cushioned chairs to sit on. Roy stood in front of the chairs waiting for the footballers to settle down on their seats. 

“Today's match was hard,”Roy began his speech. “but we pulled through. And we fuckin’ won!” Here Roy paused, waiting for the cheers to die down. “And we owe it not only to the ones scoring the goals, but to our defence as well, especially to Jan Maas over here, so Nate,” Here Roy turned to the shorter man, “Bring in the Box!”

Nate approached with the glittery shoebox and dramatically opened the lid before turning to Jan waiting for the Dutchman to pick out a post-it note with the title of today’s movie.

Jan covered his eyes and reached into the box pulling out a piece of paper folded twice, handing it to Roy and walking off to sit down on an empty chair next to Richard that the shorter man saved for him.

“And the movie of the evening is… 50 First Dates!”

Some people whooped, some looked around confused. Richard turned to look at Jan grinning. Jan returned the gesture for the second time today and turned to the screen waiting for the movie to start. He has never seen it before, but since Richard enjoyed it, then it must be nice. 

The snack bowls were passed around, the light turned off, and the movie put on. Jan held onto the popcorn he was handed. For the next hour and a half every now and then the Frenchman would nudge him to get the bowl within his reach.

From time to time someone would snicker at some joke, Jamie definitely winced at the scene where Lucy beat Henry up, Thierry pointed out the fact that the dolphins were named Mary Kate and Ashley and Dani shot up during the diary burning scene to exclaim that it’s almost like that time when they were getting rid of the ghosts from the treatment room. 

They all bawled their eyes out at the break up scene, and tissues had to be passed around during the final one. Jan ended up liking the movie and judging by the fact that by the end most of the players were trying to hold back tears, so did they. 

Once the light came back on the coaches gave them ten minutes to tidy up, and get back to their rooms. Isaac and Sam stayed the longest to make sure everything was back to how it was beforehand, which meant Colin was stuck outside the doors waiting for his room key that his best friend held on to, Jan and Richard decided to keep him company. 

“How’d you like the movie?” the Welshman asked, noticing how the two of them decided to wait around with him.

“I liked it” Jan simply answered “And you, Richard, you’ve seen it before, right?”

“Yeah, but I still find it enjoyable.” 

“Yeah? Is it because Henry reminds you of… well, you?” Colin laughed

“Why? Because Dickie here is a shameless flirt, or actually a softie that cares a lot about penguins?” Colin joked as Isaac joined their group while Sam was locking up the conference room.

“I’ll have you know, penguins are actually great animals.”

“Yeah, and they are also the best secret agents in the world” the Nigerian finally joined their tiny circle, and they were able to start moving towards their rooms. 

They all stopped in front of Sam and Dani’s room to talk a bit more before retiring for the night. Jan couldn’t help but notice how short Richard looked standing next to them all, well, maybe not next to Colin, but the rest of them towered over the Frenchman a little. 

After about ten minutes of idle lounging around Colin yawned loudly prompting their discussion to halt.

“Need your beauty sleep?” Isaac asked.

“Better not, because he would need a lot of it.” Richard quipped.

“And remember, we have to be up early tomorrow.” Jan replied without missing a beat.

Colin flipped them both off as they bid the group farewell and took off in the direction of their room. 

Back in their room they got ready to sleep taking turns in the bathroom. Richard went in first so when Jan exited after his own shower he was surprised to see his friend still up clearly waiting for him. As soon as the Frenchman noticed Jan was done in the bathroom he motioned for him to join him on the bed, so Jan did.

“So, who do you think picked the movie? I’m pretty sure both Dixon and Goodman recognised it but I’m not sure any of them would have picked it as their one choice.”

“How about Tommy Winchester?” Jan suggested trying to seem oblivious.

“Nah, that’s also not it…Maybe Reynolds?” the shorter man continued to speculate.

“How do I know it wasn’t you?” It might have been a bit of a risky move there, but it wasn’t unsound to assume that. “After all you did know the movie and I remember you mentioning something about liking Drew Barrymore romantic comedies…”

“It does make sense, but let me tell you a secret. I wanted to put that one down, but ended up picking a different movie.” Richard winked at him and it took all the self control Jan had to not reveal to him that he knows. “Also, you remembered that comment about Drew Barrymore? I didn’t even remember it until you mentioned it.”

“We are friends, I remember things about you. Things like your favourite actress… Maybe not the French cinema ones, because most of them I’ve never heard of, but you know… other ones…”

“Give French cinematography a try, you may end up liking it. We could put a film on during our next charcuterie night?”

“How did you end up liking it? I didn’t think goat farms had access to a lot of fancy French cinemas.”

“Well, my maman had a big city soul and I got it from her. She never did get out of the farm, but I did and have been living with splendour for the two of us ever since. Never looked back…”

“You never talked about her before… She sounds like a lovely woman.”

“She was… She was the only one who would get my father to dance with her. He was the most stern man you’ve ever met, but when she put on an old record and asked him to dance he would, just like that… Bought them an Adele record for their 20th wedding anniversary with the money I earned in my first job because that was the only new release at the local store. Père and I listen to it every time I visit him back home.”

They were now both lying down, propped up on the big pillow and looking at the ceiling, Richard leaning on him.

“What is your family like? I don’t think I ever heard you talking about them either…”

“Well, I have a brother and a sister, both older than me, and my parents own a small corner shop…”

Jan woke up in the middle of the night disoriented. He looked around and noticed someone lying on top of him. 

Richard’s rhythmic breaths and the rise and fall of his chest calmly brought Jan back to Earth and stopped him from panicking lest he wake up the smaller man. They must have fallen asleep whilst talking.

The Dutchman looked back at his friend and smiled softly at how the other man curled up into him. He made a move to reach for the blanket at the foot of the bed without stirring the Frenchman but was unsuccessful in his attempt as the other man stirred awake.

“Morning… Well, not morning, but there isn’t really a greeting for the middle of the night…”

“Hello to you too… Can we go back to sleep, or are you gonna move some more?”

“I… Well, uh… Sure, let’s, let’s get back to sleeping.” Before lying back down Jan draped the blanket over the both of them and spared one last look at his best friend. He waited before Richard’s breathing slowed down again before speaking.

“I was the one who put down that movie… Because I saw you struggling to pick one, and I decided to pick the one you wrote off.” He was now absentmindedly tracing patterns on Richard’s right shoulder and arm while spilling some stuff he’d be too scared to admit in the daylight. “I couldn’t stop looking at you that day… And many days before and after that. It’s been a thing for quite some time. And now I’m thinking that I’d like to buy a gramophone so that we could get a vinyl of some Adele album and dance to it, and maybe visit your dad on the farm… You could show me the goats. I've never touched a goat before… And maybe we could grow older together, but not as friends… As something…”

“Just so you know, I’m not asleep yet…”Richard whispered softly as Jan's face dropped. “And I think I would like that too, but maybe we could talk about it more in the morning?” Jan’s face went from horrified to touched to happy as he hugged the man lying next to him.

He pressed a soft kiss to the top of Richard’s head and burrowed his face in his hair. Richard in turn kissed his neck before turning to find a comfortable position and go back to sleep.

“Goodnight Richard”

“Goodnight Jan”

[whitesinhistory]

On May 20, 1961, Freedom Riders traveling by bus through the South to challenge segregation laws were brutally attacked by a white mob at the Greyhound Station in downtown Montgomery, Alabama.

Several days before, on May 16, the Riders faced mob violence in Birmingham so serious that it threatened to prematurely end their campaign. The Freedom Riders were initially organized by the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE), but after the Birmingham attacks, an interracial group of 22 Tennessee college students, known as the Nashville Student Movement, volunteered to take over and continue the ride through Alabama and Mississippi to New Orleans.

These new Freedom Riders reached Birmingham on May 17 but were immediately arrested and returned to Tennessee by Birmingham police. Undeterred, the Riders and additional reinforcements from Tennessee returned to Birmingham on May 18. Under pressure from the federal government, Alabama Governor John Patterson agreed to authorize state and city police to protect the Riders during their journey from Birmingham to Montgomery.

At Montgomery city limits, state police abandoned the Riders' bus; the Riders continued to the bus station unescorted and found no police protection waiting when they arrived. Montgomery Public Safety Commissioner L.B. Sullivan had promised the Ku Klux Klan several minutes to attack the Riders without police interference, and, upon arrival, the Riders were met by a mob of several hundred angry white people armed with baseball bats, hammers, and pipes.

Montgomery police watched as the mob first attacked reporters and then turned on the Riders. Several were seriously injured, including a college student named Jim Zwerg and future U.S. Congressman John Lewis. John Seigenthaler, an aide to Attorney General Robert Kennedy, was knocked unconscious. Ignored by ambulances, two injured Riders were saved by good Samaritans who transported them to nearby hospitals.

[the-firebird69]

Now, Justin witnessed Mac Daddy from. prohibiting our son from going to that shell gas station, which is also the bus station for Greyhound. Now, before we levy some very serious charges. We went to see what their opinion was of what they were doing. And he doesn't seem to understand what we're talking about.. You're keeping our son here, but force And you are a criminal holding him hostage. or a certain plan to run. What's your plan? And we don't like you for it. You're an insulin child. You've had surgery and you're useless. Just like the rest of you. They're absent surgery. There's a lot of you. And some people say it was the demons. They're saying that Sarah and Trump have it. and they don't But they do have the other surgery. So they're wondering how the hell that happened. We are two and we wanted to know why it happened. We looked into it and it looks real stupid. It is stupid. And you're a stupid person, Mac Daddy, and you're gonna pay for what you've been doing to our son as. same as Stan is. Your forces are getting reduced and you're already being a big jerk. We can see you being a big jerk. Now we're gonna take it out on you, and you're gonna hate it You're gonna regret all this stupid **** you're saying to us right now.. And we're going to bring lawsuits. and you wanna send to be there at court because you wanted to threaten him with it. And you're beating the **** out of yourself with it And you're dying from it. And putting John Remaillard in there didn't help. you didn't help you at all. And you're you're so much less of a man because of it. He lost a lot of stuff, and you lost a lot of money. and a lot of troops. And it's gonna get worse really quick. Mostly because of what you idiots are doing. And we can't make it that much worse. It's not. true, but what do you all suck really bad in your inane? Your plan was gonna fail from the start. Our son would kill you if someone people did not.

--- We need you all to pay attention. We're going to cut you down. and take away everything you have for the little war here and you're never going to be here or anywhere again. It has begun And just being a little brat and demanding stuff hasn't done you any good. You're delusional when you belong in a mental hospital. especially Magdaddy, who had our son put there. That guy is a fool.

--- In the Western Hemisphere. Lisudo Empire to the pounding, and then. are going down. their population is now around. 3.9%. because they are being attacked by a large group. They have a system of bunkers and military bases. and they are not occupying the American bases at this time They are pushed out fully last week and mostly they were pushed out a month ago. However, they occupy certain bases. One of them is Cheyenne. and the other is in Colorado. Base nearby. and Utah. And we don't want him going there. You people are sick. Pigs and you're disgusting. And you're stupid.. Your bases are now at 35% of capacity. A few more hits, and they'll be out. The ones in Washington state, Oregon State and B. C. And northern Michigan. are. going to be out. sooner than the rest. And they are at about 23%. And yeah, he took tons of stuff. But he's been getting hammered and they doubled up on him.. They've been blaming us for what's happening to you So now we're going to take your territories because nobody opens their mouth about us at all.

--- This morning is a new day. Last night, the Macklemore Lock mostly, no, in the Pseudo Empire. Actually, everybody here. even people who are Giants. of a lower level suffered. and became sick. They're going to all have cancer by the end of the week.. And Mack Daddy. was complaining of many aches and pains. And yesterday it said I can't stand it But he stayed here and started yapping. So these guys are going to pretty much die. And we have that as something that's going to happen. But the death rate is pretty high up there. for this area. Charlotte County They did have I believe it was 4.5 million higher ups. Oh, who are original people here. And that was yesterday. The place did infill and they were about 10 million people. Last night because of the high levels of radiation yesterday. about seven million people died. or left and that left 3.5 million original Mac Morlock and Pseudo Empire. There really were two million deaths so people. left.. The mutant population is about. 2 million and the Mac Morlock are now 3.5 million. And there are others who are Giants who come in and out. and they're about 1 million. They're not class a. Most of them are mixed. but they do better with it. And they come in when it's low. However, this cuts the leadership down of the Matt Warlock. by two about 2.1%. And the pseudo empire is cut down to 3.9 percent. And the clones are at 16%. It's very low.. And they acted in their terrible and we have to supplement and provide controls. And it is a system to try and drag us in here. And yeah, you're all fools and stuff..

.--- Last night, the Morlock Mac. tried to go down in. several locations and they found a few things of interest. in the West in the Grand Canyon area They found a chasm and they went down to it and they found tunnels. They're not small either. And they tried following the tunnels. and they mapped it out. and then see where it could go to the middle area. And they are going to try and get there. It'll be a big war at the Grand Canyon and it will. move Cheyenne mountain complex. The base there will be ruined and Vegas is going to get ruined and other places nearby. But those are the hot spots. fairly soon What's going on here will come to a head. And these people are going to be. pulverized..

--- We have more news. These stashes and caches of Trump are at 50%. of security personnel. and military personnel to defend them from within an infiltration efforts are up to about 20% That means two more runs and they're gone rough. Or three. And that would be a few days each. And BJ will move in and take all the hardware. It has been noted a lot of. foreigners. that this is the case. What they are doing is prepping for it. They're getting ready. to invade the bunkers. And they let BJ a expend to all his people. prepping it for them. because that's what VJA did.

--- Additional we are watching people be as rude as possible to our son. And we're watching them die. And sometimes slowly, but last night was, that was a lot of people. And it's up and over two million now a day. So we're wondering what's gonna happen with you. And the number of yours dying is getting up there as well. It's remarkably high for the. over the years. And we do expect more of you to die today and tonight than yesterday and last night. A lot more Yes. Probably 700 million. and from cancer and other stuff Which means it might be higher. And at that point, a lot of your leaders will want to evacuate. And you'll tell them no, and they will And John Remillard, will occupy their bodies, mostly because you tracked up and doesn't have power. That's why And he's a big parasite.. So we're gonna watch his people die. at their father's hand. And we won't be satiated That does help out during the day.

more shortly

Thor Freya

Olympus

[beatricelalalala]

Containment Specialists 2023

We are checking the progress of our biology experiments (biomes in jars) when the head of the department suddenly drops. We can see that she was attacked and decide to shut the exits and find the culprit. We search the entire room and find nothing. One of the researchers suggests that whatever killed her may be small or invisible, and we need to look more carefully. We look under tables and shelves. I spot some translucent jelly fish like creatures in the water of my biome jar. They cannot be seen unless they are moving. They are smaller than my fingernails. I lift the top and find a large apple sized creature clinging to the top. I put the lid back on. My partner and I look over the rest of the people here. Two of them are acting strangely. We think that the jelly fish creatures are parasites that want to spread. The whole group says they are on board with containing this infection. We clear the center of he room and pull up two sofa facing each other. The people we think may be infected sit on one side and we sit on the other. We watch. One possibly infected person will not co-operate. They keep touching other people. We decide that they need to be put down and shoot them. Another person tries to leave the room. We shoot them before they get to the door. My partner and I would give anything to stop this infection. We kill everyone in the room. We leave and decide to travel, looking for other infection sites. We get on a greyhound bus. I think that this is perfect. Everyone is so close together that I wont need to do anything. I can just sit here and by the end all of these people will be my allies.

[allovertheworldblog]

Venice Beach, California, USA

I took a crappy old Greyhound bus and was back in Los Angeles - the City of Angels.

Bound for Venice Beach

I take a bus which takes under two hours to get from Spring Street in central LA to the beach.

The first hostel is full so I go down the street, a stones throw from the beach.

LA is full of characters, the hostel was no exception.

In my room alone there’s an English guy who’s over to visit friends in the States, in another life he moved lock, stock and barrel to Tasmania and lived there for six years;

3 Kiwis who are in the States for a wrestling tournament, they are bound for snowbound Missouri to take part in a competition, two of them are Maori’s, they’re the picture of mental preparation, they have an almost Zen-like detachment.

The final occupant of our dorm deserves her own paragraph, let alone a biography.

She is a lady in her 60’s from Brazil, French-Brazilian, as she describes herself.  

She is a leather booted, leather trousers wearing, former hippie.

Her late husband was a world famous artist.

She was no slouch herself, being an innovative multi media artist.

They lived what sounds like a gilded life in Malibu and New York. Unfortunately her lifestyle has had an effect on her.

Her fondness for liquor seems to have kept with her; an empty bottle, and a full one is to be seen beside her bed.  

Her daughter is in town. The lady says that her daughter caused trouble at her last hostel.

‘There was blood everywhere’, she doesn’t go into detail. 'What will I do when she calls?’, she asks me, 'will I tell her where I am?’.

'No’, I say, thinking more out of self interest, as I don’t want there to be blood everywhere here as well. 

'What do I say to her?, she asks, pleading with me. I tell her that she needs to think of herself first.

She hugs me and thanks me, as if this is what she wanted to hear. 

Her phone rings throughout the night. In the morning news reaches her that someone is in hospital,

it’s a man, he’s had a heart attack. 

I go check out Venice Beach, it’s a Sunday morning.

The path beside the beach is busier than the beach.

There are people out to walk, run, cycle, see and be seen.

There’s a good atmosphere about the place.

I walk to Santa Monica and check out the pier.

It’s a real step back in history. It is peopled mostly by families. At the end of the pier is a sort of fair ground, replete with roller coaster

and different stalls and foods counters.

It’s a real pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 

On Monday I’m off to Hollywood.

[nerdsworld]

🚨 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTED AGAIN BY NYPD🚨

Illegal Immigrant who was one of eight that jumped NYPD last Saturday,was re-arrested in front of the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan after mixing words with NYPD patrolling the area.

The individual seemed to be showing off the fist-to-cuff melee he had with two NYPD officer to other individuals in front of the hotel.

You would think he would have had enough sense to get on a bus,like the others did and get out of dodge.

An NYPD spokesman said the officers arrested Yoiber Martinez 19,on charges of disorderly conduct, disrupting traffic and possession of a controlled substance.

Salty Crackers assessment on the situation.

Apparently,they are NOT sending their brightest.

🚨UPDATE🚨

New York Grand Jury:

🚨New Police Footage of Brawl with NYPD🚨

💥ICE Re-Activated 💥

One of the Illegal Immigrants was indicated on attacking two NYPD officers two weeks ago this afternoon. Tuesday 02.06.2024

🚨NYC Illegal Immigrant Theft Ring BUSTED 🚨

U.S Marshals Searching For Ring Leader

Chaos Ensues After Attempted Shoplifter Starts Shooting in Times Square Thursday Evening

02.16.2024

Immigrant Attacks MTA transit worker,New Yorkers come to her aid ⛑️

Can America SURVIVE another four years of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris?

Friday

02.02.2024

L.George

[afroastronaut48]

Themes From Week 2

"The Rider" By Mrs. Due is set during the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. This was a time American society questioned racial segregation and equality. This story primarily centers on the experiences of two sisters, Pat and Priscilla, who go on to become well-known and devoted participants in the civil rights struggle. The Greyhound bus, which serves as a backdrop for several events in this book, is the main location of the plot. Tragic turn of events occurs when the bus driver experiences a transformation that is superhuman and becomes known as "The Rider." His actions grew unpredictable and frightening, making Pat and Priscilla as well as the other passengers feel uncomfortable.As the trip goes on, it becomes dangerous when the driver has an abrupt medical emergency, which makes the bus veer dangerously. Pat and Priscilla, who remain firm in their support of civil rights, step up to the plate at this moment. Their bravery gains them control of the bus. They eventually propel the bus toward a potentially life-threatening scenario. The bus goes straight into a crowd of furious people who blocked the road. These people have been misled by deception believing a white woman on the bus was assaulted by a black man. The passengers' lives are in danger as the situation develops and comes to a breaking point. Pat gets the wheel and, in an instant, he drives the bus past the human barrier. The result is a frenzied and violent picture, with the attackers left in disarray as the bus speeds away. However, The Rider appears to linger behind the bus, leaving the story with an unsettling conclusion. "The Rider'' combines themes of strength, horror, and the supernatural at its core. It is a powerful picture of the racial struggles and dangers that people lived during this time in American history. This is a tale about survival and fortitude set against the volatile landscape of the Civil Rights Movement. It effectively captures the dangers that activists faced as they persistently worked for justice and equality in a divided country based on race.

[lucillemartinisme]

Les Twins • Larry’s Freestyle

So after boarding the bus we had to get delayed again after a few hours in some small town so they ordered everyone pizza n pop to eat then they announced because of the delays n everything else that everyone was going to get refunded their money back for their trip n once we are at our destination call the Greyhound station as soon as possible n request for your money to be returned n give them the info they need well me trip was in me name but it was paid for by Randy the guy me daughter Dainasia set me up with on his credit card so me told him n me also called the Greyhound but me don't know to this day if he ever got refunded n once we arrive in Cincinnati late at night me went to daughter Dainasia apartment n told her what more happened n she was already going thru her thang earlier that evening cause someone sold them a stolen TV a dude named Kevin n he got severely beat up in the hallway of the apt building n they were trying to attack me daughter Dainasia n her family she called me that evening while me was on the bus saying she was hiding in the bathroom with her kids n kids father cause they was trying to kick in her door thinking she had something to do with the stolen TV they had police n ambulance there eventually so bout time me got there around midnight everything was over n Kevin was hospitalized from his severe beat down come to find out later it was me daughter Dainasia friend from Chicago named Yaya boyfriend who beat down Kevin and me guess they police filed a warrant against him n was looking for him guess he was facing attempted murder charge so the next morning after arriving at Dainasia apt me called the women assault bureau n told her what happened to me n me told her that me didn't know if me could file rape cause in the end me agreed to sex n took the moola n she said it was indeed rape that the cab driver already had sex with me without permission in me sleep then he put me in fear of me life so me had to agree n that me was caught up in a sex trafficking ring n me needed to go to the police station Right away before it happens to more women and girls n me told her me told me daughter Dainasia the same thing but wasn't sure so me hung up n walked to the police station she lived on rockdale in the Virginia's apartment complex me walked up the street from there n went to the police when me got there the police didn't want to file the report saying me should have had in done in Florida where the rape happened n me said me wasn't comfortable doing that but me just arrived back here late last night n came to them early next morning n they still was refusing to take the police report so me called the lady back at the women's victim assistantance n she got on the phone n started yelling at the police that they better take the police report n it didn't matter where the rape happened that they were the police and she felt like me felt they it was sex trafficking n to take me to the hospital and have the rape exam done n they were to take me so they did we arrived at 234 Goodman drive thats the hospital address n they did the rape exam after several hours of filling out more police reports they needed a report for everyone me filled out at least 5 extra ones then this white lady rape examiner came in n there was a magazine sitting on top of the exam table where they put their tools n she opened the magazine to a pic of a white lady n thwn folded it to where it was only half her face shown one eye half faced then she proceeded to ask me questions n asked me daughter Dainasia some questions to me believe cause she was there as support plus in all me reports me said me was on the phone with her almost all the time n was witness to just about everything so she proceeded to do the rape exam she combed me vagina hairs for DNA n did a vaginal exam she said that me vagina was ripped n that me vagina indeed showed signs of rape she then asked me to remove the rest of me clothes so she can take pics n me daughter Dainasia left out the hospital room the rape examiner

[myfootyrthroat]

I was referring to bus lines out of the city, like Jefferson, Mega, Greyhound, etc. (I know what "public" means, and if you'll notice, I did not say it.) Sure, the government could order them to stop running, but the government could also just close the roads. (And frankly, most the of non-car centric people I know would be much better at navigating that scenario with or without a car.) I think most incidents people are talking about are like "everyone's fleeing a hurricane" and not "fiction post-apocalypse is starting and the government is ordering the killing". If the government wants to turn cities into inescapable ghettos, it's much easier to block cars than pedestrians and bikes.

I'd also rather most of city planning center around getting groceries and going to the doctor rather than killer robots attacking.

The sad thing about 'walkable city' discourse is that making cities more open to people who walk or use public transport is, in and of itself, actually pretty good. It's just that unfortunately there's a significant overlap between people (online at least) who seriously focus on that issue and people who have turned hating cars into a facet of their personality, and members of the later group are predictably some of the most out of touch and condescending people you will ever meet.

[whitesinhistory]

On May 9, 1961, 21-year-old John Lewis, a young Black civil rights activist, was severely beaten by a white mob at the Rock Hill, South Carolina, Greyhound bus terminal. A few days earlier, Mr. Lewis and 12 other Freedom Riders had left Washington, D.C., on a Greyhound bus headed to New Orleans. The Freedom Riders—seven of whom were Black and six of whom were white—sat interracially on the bus, planning to test a Supreme Court ruling that made segregation in interstate transportation illegal.