#none of the signs of grooming really related to my experience

[such-scary]

it's hard to discuss your experience as a grooming victim when your story differs from others' so much

to me it never went as "as a kid I had an adult friend who liked me too much", but rather as "I lied about my age as a preteen and early teen and hung around explicit adult spaces for years and those who figured I wasn't an adult either didn't care or took advantage of it"

[romchomp]

nana rewatch notes- episode 3

- i don’t have that many notes for this episode

- i can’t help but feel bad for hachi. her friends make her out to be someone exhausting, which, to be fair, is true but it also allows them to not take her that seriously either

- they all treat her like a little sister; like a child. again, a lot of this is hachi’s own fault. this is also where most of her conflict with shoji comes in- shoji doesn’t want her to depend on him nor does he want her to act irresponsibly and/or selfishly. he in a way forces hachi into character development

- hachi also gets left behind by her friend group, who all move to tokyo. granted, the reason she doesn’t follow them is because she hasn’t grown up as much as them (and also because shoji didn’t want her to).

- but really my biggest qualm with junko, shoji, and kyosuke is the way they treat hachi’s trauma from asano. i mean hachi is over here having multiple emotional breakdowns per episode and everyone seems to think this is just typical hachi behavior after a Totally Normal Breakup from a Totally Normal Relationship. but then again, it’s hard to say what any of them could’ve done or said considering hachi’s own personal perception. I think their responses were realistic in a sad way. at least i found the luke-warm attitude from others relatable, i hate to admit (i’ll clarify this is from my experience with stalking and not grooming).

- yes this is targeted towards shoji but i’m going to apply this to all of hachi’s friends- none of them seemed to be very torn apart about being separated from hachi. hachi is desperately trying to get shoji to show any sign that he cares enough to miss her.

- also this isn’t me saying that hachi was an easy person to be friends with, i’m simply sympathizing with how her friends probably made her feel.

- fucking asano...

- the conversation with asano is actually really interesting. because they ran into each other unexpectedly, hachi wasn’t able to dress maturely for him- she makes a makes a comment on it; she says that she’s embarrassed he had to her see her like this. asano’s response makes it obvious that he knew what she was doing the whole time and of course he did.

- however both them make a comment that the way they talk hasn’t changed. we as the audience know that hachi was deeply affected by this relationship, but for asano she was probably one of many. hachi is probably nothing but a breif, pleasant memory

that’s all i got for this episode. my feelings about this one are pretty much the same as the last. it’s good but i just have a hard time getting through these background eps.

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[thejustmaiden]

I’m honestly hoping with the current movement of #saveourchildren and the lgbtq community calling out pedos will give the sequel backlash if Rin is the mother. Also I hope none of those shippers are a part of the movement because than it’s just hypocrisy at it’s finest. I’m honored praying sunrise gets the backlash if they decide to do that, especially since it’s 2020, NORMAL and SANE people will be shocked. I’m pretty sure everyone’s sick of the “it’s normal in Japan.” People want change.

Hey, nonnie! I'm not sure if you're the same person who sent me the previous anon ask about what Jaken's VA sent during the livestream or not. I'm assuming that because I received them almost back-to-back, but maybe I wrong. Whatever it may be, happy to have you. 😊

It would be hypocritical in many ways, yes, but at the same time many Sessrin shippers say they would never condone acts like child grooming and the such in real life. I really believe them for the most part, too.

So where does that leave us? Well, what it all really comes down to is at what point do we start acknowledging the spaces both fiction and real life occupy and the (in)direct impact they're capable of having on each other.

In my opinion, Sessrin shippers refuse to accept their correlation- whether that be due to denial, lack of awareness, or a bit of both. Regardless, it's safe to say they simply don't take how linked these two are as seriously as antis do.

As has become a habit of mine in recent blogs/asks lol, I'd like to refer you to a great write-up by boycottyashahime. Read their thoughts on this very subject here. They always put it better than me anyway. Here's a preview excerpt:

"Predators have and continue to use fictional relationships to convince their victims that the abuse they experience is perfectly fine. I think that it would behoove the SessRin community to make sure that those in their midst who are young and vulnerable know the warning signs, understand when an older person may be trying to take advantage of them, and encourage drawing a clear line between the fictional ship and real relationships."

Sessrin shippers would respond to this by saying that shipping a fictional pairing- yes, even if it has harmful implications- isn't actually bad since it's not real and therefore can't be viewed in a negative light. A common misconception of theirs is that antis can't separate real life from fiction. Let me break down why these two reasonings lack support and are basically justifications:

1) Inuyasha is aimed at a young audience, and at no point in this series should a teenager watching be subjected to controversial dynamics closely reminiscent of pedophilia or child grooming. Period.

2) Most of us who have a problem with it CAN in fact differentiate between real life and fiction so please stop missing the point, be it intentionally or not.

The main issue we have is why are we exposing young minds to a heavy topic they are not mature enough to handle yet. Whether you agree or not, it's common knowledge that Sessrin raises a lot of red flags. Antis aren't overreacting because of dumb shipping wars or anything trivial like that. What we're reacting to is the typical Sessrin shipper's response to this pairing. Ship it if you want, but please don't tell us how we should frame our opinions according to your "historically accurate" portrayal, especially if it morphs the truth into something unrecognizable in order to fit your narrative.

Here's an example to give you a better idea of what I mean:

Let's say my favorite animal is the koala bear and yours is the kangaroo. Both are marsupials, right? Both lovable, but one is friendly and the other can be quite dangerous. Now imagine you trying to suggest a kangaroo is as friendly as a koala- so essentially something it's not. Shouldn't I correct you? Sure, you can love the kangaroo (Sessrin in this case) all you want, but shouldn't we stick to the facts presented to us? Accurate identification is the key to appropriate representation! (Say it with me! I like alliteration and rhyming, what can I say? lol) This way there isn't any confusion and we can help prevent our young ones from misinterpreting potentially threatening situations. By attempting to pass the kangaroo off in a category among docile species like the koala (aka healthy ships), you risk putting others in harm's way. Who's to say a child won't take your word for it and just run up to a kangaroo someday and get gravely injured (aka they've now exposed themselves to a real life predator). All this could've been avoided from the get-go if a certain group of people didn't refuse to admit that the kangaroo is indeed dangerous no matter how much they wish it wasn't. Trying to convince us that a kangaroo can be like a koala or something it's not is never going to happen. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that either so there's no need to get defensive. The kangaroo can still survive and thrive and so can your ship, but just in a different environment/genre.

(Did that analogy work? xD)

And nobody as far as I've witnessed (with the exception of maybe one or two occasions) has straight-up called Sessrin shippers pedophiles. Pedo apologists, perhaps, but those two aren't one in the same. Petty and ugly name-calling on the other hand? Well, that's taking place on both sides so you can't really use that against antis.

People do want change! Not only am I tired of Sessrin fans speaking on behalf of an entire country regarding the popularity of a ship despite a strong presence of antis there, nonnie, I'm sick of those same fans telling us we don't have a right to be critical of the content we consume. "If you don't like it, then stop watching."

Since when did it become wrong to demand we do better and improve in areas? It's only normal we care and expect our entertainment to be aligned with our real life morals, because how else do you think fans relate to characters? Of course fiction can push the boundaries as is its nature, but like with everything else in life there are limits. After all, the stories we make up are but reflections of the human experience and we're taught that there are some lines you must never cross.

I'd like to end this off by saying that I hope you're right, nonnie, and that Sunrise and everyone else involved in this sequel receive all the backlash they deserve if they decide to go through with Sessrin. It's possible that movements like Save Our Children can help people who are struggling to understand why making this ship canon is problematic. On top of that, it can help them re-evaluate their values and put them in better perspective in regard to this pairing's close connection to serious acts of abuse like child grooming.

Maybe this whole time we've just been underestimating Sunrise and Rumiko's ability for profound and consistent storytelling. *knocks on wood* All along maybe we had nothing to worry about, who knows? Don't break my heart, readers, and just let me be the half-glass full kinda gal I've always been. It ain't over till it's over. 🤗

Edit: I recently discovered that a right-wing conspiracy pro-Trump group by the name of QAnon is trying to hijack the Save Our Children movement as their own. As much as I support anything that brings more light to children's issues, I do not support Trump, this terrorist organization, and their conspiracy theories.

[brooklynislandgirl]

What’s the most annoying thing about sex?

A Little Light/A Little Dark || Accepting

"All'a it?" She tries to keep a serious face, she does. A little tilt of stubborn jaw, her mouth drawn into a grim line, brows dipping down between her eyes. And she manages to make it convincing for a whole maybe five seconds before the corners of her mouth twitch, her nostrils flare with an inward breath, before her nose wrinkles where the corners of her eyes meet it and she can't help the laugh that comes pouring out of her. She shouldn't be teasing Luka like that, it's not really fair when she is sure the question is asked in earnest. She can hear it in the rough timbre of his voice, the way the words seem to pile up in his throat and only come out once they've been gathered like gravel in a river bed. She can see it in his eyes, the way they darken and slide away from her face almost entirely once she does laugh, and in the reddened tips of his ears, the splotch of angry colour spanning the back of his neck, one of Luka's give-aways that he's become uncomfortable, embarrassed, upset without anger or ~in some cases~ reason. And that in turn takes some of the wind right out of her because she didn't mean it to be hurtful. Beth has had a long standing difficulty with the topic, with the action, with everything related to it, and she can't lie, she feels terrible for him. Like somehow she has lied. Even if it is one of omission, though she thinks she mentioned it in the first few letters sent tentatively between then-strangers. So that he didn't get any expectations or his hopes high if that was what he was looking for; a relationship with full and mutual physicality. And their journey together to even get to this place they're in now has had some meandering roads. Luka the man of flesh and blood almost seems different than the one in letters ~which keep her on tenterhooks, anxious that they arrive as soon as they can, from all the foreign ports that he isn't really supposed to talk about, that instead come with APO addresses almost as familiar to her as childhood phone numbers~ even though he isn't, and that's mere imagination rearing its inconvenient head in the back of her mind. It has been a slow process. Getting to know him in bits and pieces. Having a patchwork quilt of a relationship where he's absent more than he's home. And Beth knew what she was signing up for when she chose to begin their relationship in earnest. She had been literally born to this kind of life, groomed to marry into the Navy, to be an officer's wife in the way her mother had never been. At least that last bit was according to the Admiral's often stated rants over the years.

And in the space of ~she taps her fingertips one at a time with her thumb out of view~ five years, she's finally arrived at a place where she sees that he's more than just handsome. That parts of her she thought was broken have come together and allowed her to take her first few forays into adult human attraction, but she can't say that it is entirely without reservations, and without a heft bundle of prettily strung together nerves. But none of her attempts seem to have gained any kind of traction, or at least gone in the right direction. Entirely and utterly her fault, and she knows it.

So maybe that makes her voice a little more gentle, her face softened by compassion, why she reaches out and lays her hand not on his leg, but his forearm. After all, touch never lies.

"Bein' hones'? I t'ink mebbe mos' annoying kine is how everyone seems t' make such a big deal out of it. All dese questions like...who ya doin' it wit. If ya doin' it. Are ya actin' responsible wi' prophylactics? Gay-straight-inbetween-not interest. Is onna TV an' movies. Wha' is normal, wha' is kinky. Even young keiki now-a-days like ten, eleven year old... sendin' pictures t' each oddah. Is really jus'...overwhelmin', especially when ya get ta be my age an' nevah got it figured out, ya know?"

One slight shoulder rises and falls like ancient empires only a little more slowly. The weight on them is that of an entire world.

"An' I guess... if ya filter all dat oddah stuff out... I... I mebbe always believe I'd be married before I need worry about it. Will it hurt? Wha' if I don' like it? What if all da bits don' line up proper? So I guess, whenevah I t'ink about it...I jus' get scared. Like petrified about doin' it all wrong. About jus' everyt'ing. An' one t'ing I know from my job is...if ya so wound up ya no can relax...den it gonna be bad, regardless of da oddah person's patience an' experience, because ya goddah be in da right mindstate t' do it. Den it jus' becomes dis giant echo-chamber of anxiety an' ya know. Sometimes I wish...you mebbe would jus'...storm da beach, I guess...is da right euphemism. Mebbe don' let me get a chance t' ovah-t'ink it. But even dat seems entirely unfair, puttin' alla heavy liftin' on you...so...I have no idea, Lulu."

[hawkland]

Dear Hurt Comfort Exchange creator

My Letter for the 2021 Hurt Comfort Exchange

My AO3 profile: sidewinder

Thank you for writing for me! I know I’ll be thrilled with whatever you come up with for any of my requests. (And if I babble on or have more prompts for one request than another, don’t take that as any kind of preference. I’d love receiving any of these equally; some are just newer ships for me so I may have a lot of unfulfilled ideas.)

Please consider the requested tags all the “prompt” you need if so inspired, if none of my suggested scenarios and ideas inspire you. Also, of course, feel free to combine them or use only one as you see fit!

Overall/General Do Not Wants:

A/B/O dynamics, mating heats

animal abuse/death

anything related to pregnancy/childbirth/kidfic

formalized BDSM relationships

non-canon gender identities and/or sexual orientations except gay/bi/pan for requested ships/characters 

scat/watersports

unrequested alternative-universe scenarios such as high school/mundane/genderswap/coffee shop/etc (however, canon-divergent AUs completely fine!)

Supernatural

I'm a fairly new SPN fan so I am still in the phase of discovering all the joy (and pain and angst) this ship/fandom can bring me. So I have a LOT of requests, varying based on who is hurt & who needs comforting.

As far as general fandom/universe likes, I'm also a big fan of Bobby, Charlie, Sam, Gabriel and Balthazar - so feel free to include them in any form or fashion that might fit. I can go with either human or still-angel Cas as endgame if it applies. Similarly, either feel free to ignore the finale (everything 15.18-15.20) or give me plenty of angst "fixing" it/expanding on it so that it's not...such...ugh.

My only fandom-specific DNW is any suggestion/inclusion of Wincest.

Castiel/Dean Winchester (hurt Castiel)

Wingfic - injured wings 

Wingfic - Grooming Wings to Comfort Winged Character

I have a serious fixation on Cas's wings and any scenario where Dean can actually see/feel them. Dean tending to Cas's weakened/broken wings after the Angels' fall (or, earlier in canon if somehow injured). Maybe post-finale/rescue/etc his wings start to heal but he needs Dean to help groom them during the healing/regrowth process.

Sharing a bed with hurt character while mutually pining 

Being bathed while mutually pining 

Comforter drapes their coat over hurt character's shoulders 

Character A gently bathes hurt B (turns sexual) 

Guilt over past actions 

Cathartic Crying

Character A has been crying and tries to hide it but Character B still notices it

Character doesn't realize how badly they're hurt until they collapse

Character feels comforted by wearing loved one's clothes

Keeping Sick Characters Warm

Falling Asleep As A Sign Of Trust

I'd love human!Cas for these (Season 9, AU where Cas stays at the bunker? Or post-canon if coming back from The Empty meant giving up his grace.) He's struggling with adapting to his human condition/getting hurt, maybe just overwhelmed by human emotions and sensations? Dean is there to help, of course, and Things Happen. (With a side note that I love stories that don't forget that Cas is/was a bad-ass captain, leader and fighter among angels - so he's not and never should be a total woobie. But maybe that makes it harder for him to accept when he DOES need help and comforting because it's not something he's ever been used to needing - or receiving - in the past.)

Aftermath of Resurrection 

attempted self-sacrifice is thwarted by people who do not agree character is expendable 

Big Damn Rescue (with comfort)

A rescues B from the underworld or afterlife 

Fix-it - Character survives canonical death 

Recovering from traumatic resurrection 

Touch-Starved 

Touch-Starved Character gets their hair stroked & gets other kind gentle touches & cuddles

Character doesn't believe they deserve to be saved at such a cost; loved one disagrees 

Dreamworld featuring worst memories/fears

Resurrection - came back wrong

Rescue

These are all suggestions for any kind of fix-it to 15x18 and getting Cas back from The Empty. Just...go wild with the angst and h/c here. Maybe it's taken some time to get Cas back and he's not sure how to deal with being back. It's been so long that he's been isolated in his dreams/regrets/nightmares that he's starved for (Dean's) touch, but it's almost overwhelming to be near him again (or he's having a hard time telling reality from just another dream.) Or, for "Resurrection - came back wrong" - Cas is back but Dean senses something isn't right about him or the entire situation. What can he do to fix it, if anything?

Character overuses powers/magic/etc to protect a loved one 

Forced to watch other character's trauma 

Torture - Tortured While Loved Ones Were Forced To Watch

Pretty much what the tags say, nothing really to add but bring on the angst and comfort after the hurt!

Castiel/Dean Winchester (hurt Dean)

Character A hurts Character B accidentally during sex 

Losing Control Over Magic/Powers 

Character A doesn't know their own strength and hurts B by mistake

What it says on the tin, basically. Cas gets overwhelmed when having sex with Dean (or when triggered by something else, a perceived threat/danger) and accidentally injures him? Healing may take some time due to the severity (or limited powers in the aftermath), or Cas just feels extreme guilt over having hurt the one he loves so badly.

Pining character reveals their feelings while not quite lucid (hurt/drunk/etc.) 

Character(s) ashamed of their sexual desires 

Character A takes Character B on a road trip to avoid dealing with current bad situation

Boys being stupid with their feelings and not talking to each other, but a h/c scenario forces the truth to come out.

Aftermath of Resurrection 

Aftermath of torture that broke character 

Aftermath of Torture 

Past Torture

I need more angst/actual dealing with what it did to Dean to spend 40 years in Hell. This feels like it was so glossed over in canon compared to the fact that, truly, it means he spent more time in Hell than alive on Earth literally up until almost the time of his (finale) death. (I mean I get this is SPN and they all went through stuff, but, SERIOUSLY! Why did it seem like a year in Purgatory affected him more than so much time in Hell?) So any story with Cas (or Cas and other characters), trying to help him with that. Comforting him through nightmares or panic attack, getting him to finally talk about it (could even be post-finale canon-compliant, residual anger that his life was cut so short after all the torture he went through in Hell?)

Character A gets angry at Character B's tendency to self-sacrifice 

attempted self-sacrifice is thwarted by people who do not agree character is expendable 

attempted self-sacrifice 

Bedside Vigils 

Fix-it - Character survives canonical death 

Character resigned to their death survives; doesn't know how to cope 

Waking from coma or deep sleep and realizing the beloved caretaker is near

Any kind of fix-it to Dean's death by rebar; I can't get enough of them. Maybe Dean doesn't die in the finale, but he is severely wounded/in a coma. He's trapped in his (dream) visions of Heaven; can Cas help him come back? I could really use Cas (and other friends/family) trying to convince Dean he can actually have happiness for himself, too, that he doesn't have to keep laying down his life for everyone else.

Gentle acts of caretaking 

Gently coaxing out-of-it sick/hurt character back to bed

Character ordered to rest tries to work anyway 

Emotional Hurt/Comfort

Caring for hurt character by cooking for them or getting them their favourite food

Character cooks for sick/injured character(s)

Sick/hurt character falls asleep on comforter

Back rubs/hair stroking to help a character sleep

Sleepy Cuddles

Awkward Comforter

Watching Hurt Character Sleep

Wingfic - Using Wings to Hug Another Character

Just...any kind of sweet comfort fic where Cas gives Dean what he needs after an exhausting hunt or when not feeling well. Maybe when/if Cas is human so he no longer has his angelic healing powers to fall back on, so he tries to do whatever else he can to make Dean feel better? Even if it's bad cooking, awkward cuddles, misguided attempts at human “comfort” he doesn’t quite understand.

Crossover Fandom

Ezekiel Stone (Brimstone) & Castiel (SPN) (hurt Castiel) Ezekiel Stone (Brimstone) & Dean Winchester (SPN) (hurt Dean) Ezekiel Stone (Brimstone) & Dean Winchester (SPN) (hurt Ezekiel)

Aftermath of Torture 

Aftermath of Violence 

Character is beaten up and left for dead 

Talking about their traumas 

characters help each other cope with grief 

Character with high pain tolerance is in too much pain to hide it having to hide while injured 

poisoned wound 

Trapped Together During Gunfire/Fighting 

Character's been pulled to alternate dimension where everything's weird and they need an ally 

Character A comforts Character B about their shared misfortune 

Magical Ailment/Disease 

trapped in an isolated place together 

Road Trip - To Undo the Apocalypse 

Both Captured - Forced to Work Together to Escape 

A used to mistreatment from others unsure if B will help them

I'm fascinated by the idea of crossing over these two canons. Even if there's some conflict in their approach to Hell/Lucifer/demons, there's still a lot in common. Dean & Ezekiel having both put in their time in Hell and being demon Hunters, for instance, and their complicated relationships with (fallen) angels. I'd love to see them bonding over their experiences (Maybe they even meet in Hell? Time DOES work differently there...) Maybe somehow after Ezekiel completed his mission for the Devil, he did get his second chance at "life on Earth"...but the devil's trick is that it's not HIS Earth, it's in a different dimension (Supernatural's). I'm also curious how Ezekiel might respond to Castiel as an angel--perhaps he mistakes Cas for a demon at first, with his powers, but then they realize they are in fact hunting the same demon? Cas is stuck in an alternative dimension and recognizes Ezekiel as a similar soul to Dean's, and seeks out his help?

Basically I'd love some kind of casefic/demon hunt here, with the characters bonding over their shared/similar past traumas, taking care of each other when/if injured on a hunt, and/or perhaps helping them sort out their complicated feelings for another (ie, background Cas/Dean and/or Zeke/the Devil are TOTALLY welcome here, as I ship both of those ships.)

Law & Order: SVU

John Munch/Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (hurt Fin) John Munch/Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (hurt John)

Gentle acts of caretaking 

Comfort Food 

making comfort food for emotionally distressed character 

Caring for hurt character by cooking for them or getting them their favourite food 

Aftermath of Violence 

Emotional Hurt/Comfort 

Bedside Vigils 

Overworking Character ordered to rest tries to work anyway 

Character is Exhausted From Overwork 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD 

Fights with family member - Helps them feel better in some shape or form 

Worrying over the safety of family members 

Trapped Together During Gunfire/Fighting 

trapped in an isolated place together 

Character A holds Character B as they fall asleep after bad day

Characters live together while one recovers from hurt 

Watching TV Together After a Stressful Mission/Quest

Caring for pet as self-care

Hangover

A presumed dead; B refuses to believe A died 

Presumed Dead

Munch/Fin is a forever OTP for me. I love any story that features some kind of gentle caretaking between them, small gestures of affection, love, and concern that say so much without the words that they may (still) struggle to speak. So my prompts for them are mostly of the soft and emotional kind of hurt/comfort revolving around their jobs and what they have to process involving that. Making sure a character gets enough rest/eats when pushing too hard to solve a case. Providing a shoulder to cry on/being someone to vent at when a case doesn't go their way/they can't save every victim. Not slowing down enough when injured/needing to recuperate because a case matters too much to them. Munch perhaps musing/worried about getting older and not being physically strong enough, any longer, to be able to protect Fin in the field (is that why he finally goes for the sergeant promotion, and/or eventually retires?)

Worrying about/dealing with a family member who might be in danger is another thing I'd love to see — Fin worried over Ken, Alejandro and their baby. Or perhaps Munch gets a call from his brother and there’s some kind of trouble with his family in Baltimore?

Anything along those lines (whether an episode expansion/missing scene or a completely original casefic) would leave me extremely happy. I'd also LOVE to read an angsty presumed dead fic, which has been so hard to find for this ship.

The Orville

Ed Mercer/Gordon Malloy (both hurt)

On the Run - Together 

Fight to Survive - Post-Apocalyptic 

trapped in an isolated place together 

Permanently Stranded on Another World/Planet 

stranded in hostile environment with injury 

stranded in space 

Trapped In Liminal Space 

Apocalypse - Survivors find comfort with each other 

Trapped with someone in need of medical care 

characters help each other cope with grief 

aftermath of near death experience 

desperate love confession after near-death experience

Casual/Unromantic Sex Leads to Unwanted Feelings 

Character Tries to Convince Themselves They're Fine With Casual Sex; They're Not

This very silly show still manages to give me a lot of deep feels, and I really love Ed and Gordon's friendship, the history that's clearly there between them. This is definitely a friends-to-lovers ship for me, or maybe a casual sex-relationship turned-more-serious.

I'd love a story set in the alternative universe/timeline we glimpsed in the second season finale, "The Road Not Taken"—where the Kaylons have destroyed life on earth and the remaining Orville crew members are trying to survive in a loose resistance. In that we saw Ed and Gordon on the run together, so that's what I would love to see more of. Their day-to-day survival, grief over what was lost, hiding out or trapped somewhere together knowing no one is out there who can rescue them.

Otherwise, any kind of mission gone wrong where they end up stranded in space/stuck on an alien world together with no way to get back to the ship/crew. How would they cope with losing everything they once had and knew?

Homicide: Life on the Street

Kay Howard/John Munch (hurt Kay) Kay Howard/John Munch (hurt John) Kay Howard/John Munch (both hurt)

Kay/John is another one of my longtime comfort OTPs; I just love them both so much and the fun contrast they present. Honestly H:LOTS is one of my all-time favorite television series, period, and I'm always happy to see more fic for it!

I don't have any specific fandom DNWs here, go wild, include any other/all characters from the canon universe who might fit. I basically love them all.

Trapped with someone in need of medical care 

Trapped Together During Gunfire/Fighting 

trapped in an isolated place together 

Love confession to/from sick/hurt character who is out of it 

Character A Confesses Feelings Because They Think Character B is Unconscious 

Humor as way of dealing with pain/trauma 

Driving with a mildly sick/injured character in the passenger seat 

Driving with a severely sick/injured character in the passenger seat

For these I'd love any kind of case-fic/action-type scenario where one or both of them is injured or in danger. The stress of the situation leads to a confession of or acting on feelings.

Emotional Hurt/Comfort 

characters help each other cope with grief 

Dealing w the loss of loved ones/friends/acquaintances/familiar faces as time marches on

aftermath of near death experience 

Aftermath of Violence 

Character who is clearly not fine insists they are fine

Survivor Guilt

I'm thinking of these as episode codas or episode-related scenarios. Mourning Al's death after the events in the HLOTS movie, perhaps. Or the aftermath of the events in Season 3 with the Gordon Pratt incident—Kay, Bolander and Felton all being gravely injured and John being the only one who was left standing. I'm always keen on exploring his feelings of helplessness and guilt there, with nearly losing Kay and the others. Also how Kay recovered and felt after coming so close to death.

Gentle acts of caretaking

Comfort Food

Caring for hurt character by cooking for them or getting them their favourite food 

Character cooks for sick/injured character(s) 

Hangover

Again, I love characters cooking for each other as a way of showing love and comfort. I tend to see Munch as someone who has a secret knack for being a good cook, so maybe he makes something special for Kay when she's sick/recovering from something and it reveals a side of John she never knew or saw before.

[darlingpetao3]

Primrose Path (Harry Wells x Reader, Chapter 1)

Rating: Explicit

Summary: When you, a lovely florist, move to Central City to open your flower shop, you had no idea you’d fall for such a complicated and dangerous man who deals in a less-than-legal business. Harrison Wells - a major player and powerhouse within the underground mafia world of the region - sweeps you off your feet as you quickly become his greatest weakness.

Warnings: Explicit Sexual Content, Mentions of War, Coarse Language, Blood and Violence, Minor Character Deaths

Tag List: @aryasnape @cursedfaechild  @jadedragon1903 @disneyoncerlover815 @child-of-winter-1215 (please check to see if your Tumblr settings are set to receive mentions from us for future tag related purposes!)

A/N: Well, here we are. After four months over our labour of love, @central-city-meta-pocalypse @letyourimaginationrun and I would like to present our baby, Primrose Path. We will each alternate in posting the chapters, kind of like how they did the Crisis on Earth X crossover - each posting a part of the whole product. For example, next week I will reblog Chapter 2 from C-C-M-P so that everyone has had a chance to read it (if you don’t already follow each of us). Please keep in mind this is an AU - Alternate Universe - so not everything will be canon. We’ve made plenty of changes to fit our story. And so, after writing +100,000 words of a story full of fluff, angst, drama, sex, heartbreak, and so much love, we are extremely happy to finally be able to share this with all of you. Thank you for being patient and without further ado, here’s Chapter 1!

Primrose Path.

Phrase: the pursuit of pleasure, especially when it is seen to bring disastrous consequences...

You had heard about Central City and their metahuman phenomenon, but seeing a person’s abilities with your own two eyes is the most amazing thing you’ve ever witnessed.

When you'd watched the reports on the news before moving here, they only ever showed the dangers of metahumans and the ones who decided to try and bring this city to its knees.

But your first encounter is nothing like that.

You almost drench your poor flower pot stationed outside your flower shop, Primrose Path, when you see your first metahuman. The man is rugged and dirty with tattered clothes. You assume he’s homeless, and offer a kind smile. He returns it, then takes notice of the begonia display drooping - a cause of the relentless summer sun. The man reaches for a petal, and instantly at the contact, the flower blooms back to life in full colour. You stand there mesmerized. It's an utterly incredible gift, the power of restoration, right there at this man's fingertips.

“My goodness, thank you, Sir-”

“-Stand back, Miss!” hollers an authoritative voice. When you turn, you see a tall, blond, and well-groomed police officer who is taking cautious steps towards the man, acting as though he's just threatened your life rather than give assistance to your flowers. His hand is readily on his gun in his holster. You start to panic.

“No, no, really officer! I’m fine, he-”

“Get inside to safety, now!” he shouts. You drop your watering can and the contents spill all across the sidewalk. There’s no reason to be afraid, but the tone of the officer’s words themselves is what’s most frightening. You heed his orders and run into your flower shop. The very second you close the door, the officer clamps a pair of rather heavy duty handcuffs on the man, who is now hanging his head, and reads him his rights.

But even though muffled behind the glass, it sounds as if this metahuman, this man who did no wrong, has none.

***

Harry ends his call, sighing heavily as he sinks back down at his desk. Papers litter the glass plane, all regarding new projects and current ones to be approved for Scientific and Technological Advanced Research Laboratories - or S.T.A.R. Labs - utilization.

Tossing his own phone aside, his hand smooths over one of the documents in front of him. He presses his lips into a thin line, anger culminating inside him from the phone call. He takes a small gadget from the corner of his desk and hurls it to the other side of the room. The device shatters when it smashes against the wall.

Frustrated, that's what he is. Annoyed, about to go ballistic - a volcano preparing to erupt and spread fiery lava at any second.

There’s a brief, firm knock at his office door.

"What?" he snaps, one hand rubbing his temple while his other hand grips the arm of his chair. The door opens and a man puts his head around it, looking a little anxious at the tone of his boss' voice.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Sir, but we've just had news that one of the vacant shops has been occupied by someone no one seems to have heard of. Apparently they’re from out of town. It's only two blocks away and... Well, we thought you should know."

Harry's eyes narrow at the lower-rank man, adjusting his posture so that an elbow is propped on the armrest of his chair while his chin sits in the middle of his palm. He looks at the timid employee for a few seconds, with a dangerous storm brewing in his glare. The younger man swallows, palms sweaty as he avoids doing any sort of action to piss off the dark-haired scientist.

"I'll deal with it," Harry grumbles through gritted teeth, bitter rage still boiling within him from the previous and unsuccessful phone conversation. The blond goon senses that his boss is feeling extremely prickly at the moment and simply moves forward, placing a piece of paper with the address of the new tenant on the edge of the desk. Turning, he leaves in a hurry without any further words so as to not poke the bear.

Two blocks away? That was awfully close. Somewhere for someone new to get near to him, threaten him in his own territory.

Harry stands, walking over to the large window which overlooks the city below him. This is his city, and he'll be damned if someone tries to make a move to change that. He grabs his gun and strides through the company building, holding an antagonistic expression and glaring at anyone who dares look him in the eye.

Outside, the sun is up in the middle of the vast blue sky, signalling that it’s midday. The city bustles with noise as people chatter through the streets and birds chirp from tree to tree. If anything, the city-life only fuels Harry’s bellicose mood as the world around him seems to experience ecstasy and bliss while he has to address a current complication on his territory.

Harry continues his war-path through the populous streets, weaving through the gaps in the crowds to arrive at the now occupied property. His hand instinctively touches the cool metal of his concealed gun behind him, slender fingers at the ready to pull out the firearm if necessary.

Danger, an anomaly, or another bastard seeking to do away with his work - Harry’s prepared to show whoever the hell set foot on his property just who owns Central City.

What Harry doesn’t expect is coming face to face with… potted plants? An array of flowers that sit within tiny, terracotta pots… He blinks, reading the sign above, Primrose Path, thinking this is some sort of prank or front.

Is this really a floral shop?

Outside the quaint business sit several baskets of brightly coloured flowers, leading up to the door where beyond it, lay more and more crates of blooms all over the interior of the shop. And that's when Harry first hears your voice come from just inside the door.

"Six pink roses and a selection of white flowers to fill it out, wasn’t it? Oh, I’m sure that’ll make a wonderful display. Your mother is going to love it!"

Maybe Harry wasn’t as prepared as he thought.

The tenderness of your voice was definitely something he didn't expect. In fact, it rather takes him aback. Harry ducks and steps out of the way of the window so he wouldn’t be spotted, casting a glance at this new ‘resident’. Oddly enough though, when he catches sight of you, his fingers go limp from clutching his weapon. A weird, warm feeling courses through him as his eyes scan what they can from where he currently stands. It must be his gut warning him of something. With eyebrows knitting together, Harry figures he should go about this with caution.

He observes you with the customer, who had supposedly said something humorous because Harry hears you giggle and sees you covering your mouth. Your eyes crinkle in this adorable way that makes his stomach flip.

“Damn... she’s cute,” he mutters while hiding behind a hanging plant, peeking in through the window once more. He watches you for a few minutes, interacting with the customer and arranging a recent delivery of stock in your new premises. Your bright smile is utterly captivating and Harry finds the corner of his mouth turn up in a tiny smile as he looks at you. You couldn't be a threat, surely? No one that sweet would be trying to challenge him.

You let out another radiant laugh before Harry decides it’s time to leave. At the moment, he doesn’t consider you a risk or even a potential enemy in the future. Sometimes the property he owned was just a prime piece of real estate for someone to open a business. He has a hard time remembering that not everyone in this world has it in for him.

His hands bury into his pants pockets, still unable to wipe his smile away. He walks back to his company with the bell-like sound of your voice replaying in his head. The image of yourself has been burned into his mind.

"I'll come back and deal with this later," he whispers to himself, now registering how dry his throat had become.

He’ll deal with it... just not in the way he initially thought.

***

Ding ding!

You can’t stop the little gasp that escapes you when you see who it is walking through your door.

Since the event with the cop and the metahuman outside your shop, you’d been researching the creation and rise of the metahumans, and all of your reading seemed to culminate around the man now standing at the counter in your inconsequential little shop; one of the most famous, or maybe infamous, people in the city.

Doctor Harrison Wells.

From what you’d read, the man was a mystery, wrapped up in an enigma, wrapped up in a suit. A rather gorgeous, designer suit at that.

Several articles you’d found linked back to the War of the Americas and Harrison Wells’ name was prominently featured within them. He’d been discharged at the end of the war with a commendation and an award for bravery, though you hadn’t been able to find what it had been an award for. But now he seems to be seen more as a war-hero-turned-mad-scientist who had seen fit to turn this city upside down for his own gain as no one in Central City seemed to know what he and his team were working on in the high-rise S.T.A.R Labs building.

But despite much of this mockery and antagonism towards him, he had never been challenged to stop his work. He was a force to be reckoned with, and woe betides anyone who got in his way.

The rumours surrounding him seemed to go from the sublime to the ridiculous and you could not work out which, if any, were actually true. People said that since the war, there was a dark, underworld-type nature of most of his business that no one particularly wanted to talk about. He seemed to exude an aura of fear to the people of this city.

He apparently owned property in virtually every block, knew how to pay off the right people to get him what he needed and had a reputation of being able to… effectively deal with those who refused. The gossip all said that he dealt in the shadows, manipulating those small gangs in the criminal underworld to create the biggest empire the city had ever seen. Which, despite the mayor and elected officials, left Harrison Wells as the undisputed king of all of it.

But you couldn’t bring yourself to believe any of it. A man awarded such an honour during his service surely wouldn’t then come home to terrorize his own city. He was just another businessman, trying to make his way in a corporate world and people wanted to demonize him for his success.

Which brings you to the current hitch in your breath as the rumoured secret King of Central City lays a small bundle of bright blue flowers on your counter. His dark hair is messy, like he’s been running his hands through it, nothing like the styled pictures on the covers of magazines you’d seen. You notice his piercing blue eyes study you as you watch him. It’s hard not to be captivated by his handsome features but you force yourself to be professional again when he speaks.

“Hi there,” he says.

“H-hello,” you reply timidly. “Is this everything for you, today?”

“It is, thank you.” You ring in the bundle and tell him the cost. Harrison Wells slides a few bills across the flat surface to you, which you then place into the cash register. “Have a nice day...”

You offer your name at his hesitation and notice a slight tug in the upper corner of his mouth.

“(Y/N)... beautiful name.” You can’t hold back an uncontrollable, bright smile at his compliment. He doesn’t seem so scary. Harrison Wells turns to leave, but without his purchase.

“Uh, Sir? You forgot your flowers.”

“I didn’t forget,” the man says with a wink, leaving the shop as the door jingles when he exits. You pick up the pretty blue bundle of flowers and finally process their name.

Forget-Me-Nots.

[Chapter 2]

[hiimwebby-vanderwaal]

Archetype — The Explorer Birthday — March 31st, 2003 Zodiac Sign — Aries Sun, Pisces Moon, Aries Rising  MBTI — ENTP Enneagram — 7; The Enthusiast Temperament — Sanguine Hogwarts House — Gryffinclaw Moral Alignment — Lawful Good Primary Vice — Envy Primary Virtue — Kindness Element — Fire

Overview:

Mother — Arabella Vanderwaal nee Beakley (Deceased) Father — Liam Vanderwaal (Deceased)  Mother’s Occupation — Spy/Secret Agent in espionage for S.H.U.S.H agency Father’s Occupation — Spy/Secret Agent in espionage for S.H.U.S.H agency Family Finances — Middle class presently. Decent money was made though when everyone was a spy Birth Order — Only child. Webby’s parents died when they were three while in the midst of an under cover mission, there wasn’t much time for the birth fo another baby Brothers — None Sisters — None Other Close Family — Bentina Beakely, she’s Webby’s grandmother on the maternal side and also presently Webby’s legal guardian.   Best Friend — She doesn’t have one YETTTT. UGHHH SOMEONE BE HER BEST FRIEND!!!!! She so lonely :((( I mean at this point if I have to give her one it would be her grandmother lol Other Friends — She doesn’t even have A BEST-FRIEND so that means she doesn’t have any FRIENDSSS!!! Please make sure this changes for my babbbyyy. She needs friends in her liffeee Enemies — Right now she really doesn't have any considering that she's been living locked up wherever her grandmother is, but maybe she'll make some along the line. Who knows!!!  Pets — None Home Life During Childhood — Webby's parents died when she was only three and then at that point her grandmother took complete custody of her. From then on, Webby has basically been living a very locked up, sheltered life. Her grandmother treated her very well and Webby does love her very, very, VERY much but she just wished her life wasn’t so  What Did His or Her Bedroom Look Like — Very decorative!!!! But strategically so. Webby is very organized. She has a huge map on one of her walls and she has tacks pinned as to where she wants to go, where she has been, and possible history/mythical adventure areas all color coded!!! She also has boards up some with like her academic schedule, and others with things that she’s obsessed with!!!  Any Sports or Clubs — Not really only because lil Webby was basically stuck at home with her granny BUT she’s very athletic and will happily get her hands dirty!! Don’t count her as your typical girly-girl, she is not!!!! She does know about sports though and could tell you the rules to each one.  Favorite Toy or Game — Does spy training count?! Because she loovess that!!! And is damn good in combat and espionage tactics. She even has a back-pack of handy dandy gadgets!! Her favorite board game though is Catan and video game is Call of Duty  Schooling — Webby was homeschooled. This is her first year in an actual school here in Swynlake Secondary :D Favorite Subject — History Popular or Loner — Loner :((( Not by choice!!! She does want to make FRIENDS!!!   Important Experiences or Events — There was the death of her parents, although Webby was only three when this occurred it can be marked as an important event on her life because that was how her life with Bentina had occurred. The day when she was dropped off at Seamus’s and he was given temporary legal custody of her. Her first day of REAL SCHOOL!!!!  Nationality — British/Dutch Culture — British Religion and beliefs — Webby doesn’t really practice any religion but she does study them!!! She’s intrigued by their practices, rituals, history and often times myths that are attached to them. She can read a lot of ancient religion languages too. Bring on those ancient texts and documents!!!! She LOOVESS them!!!! 

Physical Appearance:

Face Claim —  Sabrina Carpenter Complexion — Fair skin with freckles on her nose and cheeks!! Hair Colour — Blonde but like more of a darker, dirty blonde. No where near platinum   Eye Colour — A beautiful pale, sky bluueee!!! <3 Height — 5ft. (Omg she’s my height!!!!) Build — Slim to average build Tattoos — Nope, mainly because of Bentina BUT she does want one!!!! Someone take her to her FIRST ONE!!!!! Piercings — Yes, just the standard two ear piercings. Common Hairstyle — Loose and down. Webby ain’t got time to be doing any fancy extra shit lmao. It would end up a wreck anyways because she can’t sit still. Sometimes it is picked up in like a make-shift ponytail or bun but that’s about as fancy as she gets. If you see something else, someone else did her hair xD  Clothing Style — You guys will see because she’s going to get a closet task done on her woooo!!!! But it’s pretty girly for a girl who does shit to her hair lmao Pretty, floral, cute tops in soft colors. Some type of flow-y cardigan or something always over her shirts. If it’s a graphic tee it’s normally related to like zodiac or mythical stuff. Often times she has a very girly skirt on, but best believe there is always shorts underneath it because she will still kick some ass with her skirt on xD. You can catch her in work out clothing as well: sweats, tank-tops all that jazz. She does stay on top of her exercise!!! Mannerisms — Loud, energetic, constantly in someone’s face (but not like in a confrontational matter), bubbly, always smiling, always curious

Health:

Overall (do they get sick easily)? — Nope. Webby is healthy as a horse, Bentina was very on top of this and has ebbed that into her granddaughter as well.  Physical Ailments — Nothing as of right now, but I am sure she’ll be breaking a bone sometime soon xD  Neurological Conditions — I think we are good in this part. I mean some people might consider her having like ADHD, but honestly that’s just her personality  Allergies — None Grooming Habits — Good. She has clean hygiene habits. Like don’t get her wrong she has no qualms getting down and dirty, jumping in puddles and mud all that stuff but she does clean up after haha Sleeping Habits — Oh my god no one should ever sleep with Webby. Webby has HORRIBLE sleeping habits!! She tosses and turns constantly, takes up like her entire bed space and is a serious blanket hogger xD She might be a bit more tamed if someone else slept with her but like only an itsy bitsy tiny little bit xD Eating Habits — Webby like sort of falls on both ends of the spectrum because on one hand she is conscience of what she eats and wants to make sure she has a well balance meal with all it’s appropriate food groups in BUT on the other handdd she is the first one to eat a SHIT TON of sweetsss!!! She has hard-core sweet tooth on her and that’s mainly because she wasn’t able to indulge in such things when her granny was around so now she’s taking FULL ADVANTAGE  Exercise Habits — On point!!!! Part of her spy training was remaining fit and always having a set required time for exercising. She still follows through with this even with her granny not around. She now goes to the gym though!!! EEEE. Before it was at home with her grandma.  Emotional Stability — Webby is like all over the place when it comes to her emotions. They like hop. She can never just be one emotion for far too long and then she’s very open about them. Webby is not one to really stuff her emotions down.   Body Temperature — Pretty average, nothing special. She like doesn’t lean one way or the other.  Sociability — Super AWKWARD!!! She has no concept of personal space, often times pauses leaving an air of weird silence, is VERY over enthusiastic, energized and blunt but in a very kind way. She isn’t shy, she just doesn’t know how to play it cool so it all comes off so bad lmao Addictions — None. Drug Use — Nope. Alcohol Use — Not really.

Your Character’s Character:

Bad Habits — Chewing on her pens, awkward silences, rocking on her heels, loosing eye contact because her eyes always wonder around, tapping on her finger nails when speaking, short attention span hahaha, loud, has no awareness of personal space whatsoever or normal social cues Good Habits — Always smiling, very nice,  highly enthusiastic, very open, not shy AT ALL, trustworthy, loyal, moral, very intelligent, her willingness to listen (even with a short attention span haha), her joy in making FRIENDS!!! Best Characteristic — Her enthusiasm :D Worst Characteristic — Her lack of knowing even the most common of social cues xD Worst Memory — Her granny having to leave her for a super secret spy mission that she can’t be part of. (Would be the death of her parents but she was very young when that happened)  Best Memory — Her first ever SUCCESSFUL SPY TRAINING EXAAMM!!! Her first ever somersault and every other fancy spy fighting technique!!! ANDD all the great fun memories she knows she’s going to make in Swynlake!!!   Proud of — All the languages she has learned to read and speak!!! She loves learning about languages and the fact that she has so many of them under her belt is a great personal achievement for her :DD Embarrassed by — Webby is kind of a hard person to embarrass tbh... so I don’t think at the moment she has anything that would embarrass her haha. She should be embarrassed about her horrible attempts at “playing it cool” but she really does believe that she does a good job at it.... sighh Driving Style — Webby doesn’t drive  Strong Points — Her determination and enthusiastic drive in life!!!  Temperament — Sanguine Attitude — Optimistic, joyful, determined, feisty,  Weakness — Her inability to tune herself down. She can be a bit too much almost all of the time xD   Fears — The lost of her Granny!!!! She’s the only biological family Webby hasss  Phobias — None  Secrets — Webby comes from a family of top secret spies all part of the S.H.U.S.H agency!! And she herself has been trained by her Granny to excel in the art of espionage much like all of those before her!!!  Regrets — None right now!!! Let’s see how long that lasts haha Feels Vulnerable When — She’s alone and when it may dawn her that someone doesn’t like her or thinks that she’s extremely odd... although she hasn’t learned social cues quite that well, she is aware of that and knows that she can be a bit too much to handle.... :((  Pet Peeves — Doesn’t really have many that she’s aware of... because I really doubt Webby would be self aware of her own pet peeves haha  Conflicts — The isolation she has been under while living with her grandmother. It has left Webby with very poor social skills because she isn’t aware of the social normalities of the world. She never had to use any, so although she may not be that aware of it, it can cause conflicts with the person she’s holding a conversation with.   Motivation — Making her granny proud and hoping that one day she’d become an exceptional spy like everyone in her family!!!!! Being able to one day find some of the mythical secrets of the world!!!  Short Term Goals and Hopes — Excel in school, make friends, go on an ADVENTURE!!!! Long Term Goals and Hopes — To become a spy!!!! Fully complete her bucket list Sexuality — Bi-sexual although she isn’t aware of this because Webby has NEVER had the chance to explore her sexuality. This is my take on what I think is where Webby leans Exercise Routine  — She was definitely placed in a very tight and heavy training routine with her grandmother where she has learned all about espionage. Now that her grandma isn’t around to continue her training, she’s taking to making sure she stays fit by going to the gym, mostly every morning on the weekends and after school during the weekdays. She also repeats some of her training everyday to make sure she remains on top of those. Day or Night Person — Both Introvert or Extrovert — Extrovert  Optimist or Pessimist — Optimist

Likes and Styles:

Music — Everything!!!! Webby legit listens to anything and everything even instrumentals!!!  Books — I wrote them in one of the WriMo tasks for her butttt The Davinci Code series, Harry Potter Series, J. Robery Kennedy’s James Acton series. She’s also very into non-fictional books that talk about Ancient societies and the mythical beliefs attached to them. Magazines — Nope. Foods — Webby did keep to a rather strict food habit, but that was when her Granny was around!!! Now that Bentina isn’t around she has indulged in some unhealthy yummy food including tons of sweetss   Drinks — JUICEEE a HUGE lover of juice!!! Any kind really but her favorite is fruit punch!!! Not a fan of tea though  Animals — All types and sorts of mythological creatures!!!! Unicorns are her favoritttee but tbh she wants to see them ALL.  Sports — Not really that into sports if she’s honesstt, but she’ll play them!!!! Just give her the rules (if she doesn’t already know them because she does know a great deal of them) she’s a very fast learner!!!!   Social Issues — Ughhh she’s still very young right now and politics isn’t her top focus in life tbh haha  Favorite Saying — “I want excitement; and I don’t care what form it takes or what I pay for it, so long as it makes my heart beat.” F. Scott Fitzgerald Color — Pink!!!!  Jewelry — None. She’s not a huge jewelry person, does puts on studs for her ears from time to time Games — Again I wrote some of them on that WriMo task, but her absolute favorite game, at least video wise is Call of Duty!!! Board game it would have to be Catan  Websites — Webby does have a Facebook and an Instagram!!! Her insta handle is: webby_aroundtheworld. She uses the internet a lot though for researching!!! Her history would contain of a lot of history and mythical texts sort of searches haha  TV Shows — Really, check that task out!!! But her fave tv show issss The Librarians.  Movies — Scary/Horror movies!!!!! The Saw series are her favorite!!!!! All those BOOBY TRAPS!!!!  Greatest Want — To have her own FREEDOM!!! and MAKE FRIENDS!!!!  Greatest Need — Honestly, to freaking learn some social cues maann!!!!!

Where and How Does Your Character Live Now:

Home — Webby currently lives with Seamus as for right now he has temporary custody of her until Bentina is to return sooo his house haha Household furnishings — Gotta ask Sav about that bahaha the house looks like how she envisions it since it belongs to Seamus xD. Neighborhood — the Farmlands, southwest part of Swynlake Town or City Name — Swynlake, England  Details of Town or City — We all know how Swynlake issss Married Before — Nope. Significant Other Before — Also, nope. Children — Nope. Relationship with Family — Close!!!!! Webby has a tight-knit relationship with her Granny!!!! She’s also the only living relative she has soooo Car — Nope. Career — No career at the moment, her career is school Dream Career — A spy!!!! For the same agency as all of her family!!!! Maybe even becoming an Explorer too or like an Archeologist!!!  Dream Life — One where she get’s to travel the WORLD, learning about all the ancient secrets out there from once living and thriving ancient societies, going on some crazy wild spy missions, and expedition adventures!!!! EEEE that would be her DREAAMMM.  Love Life — None at the moment but I don’t think she would be closed to the idea if it ever strolled along. Webby is a free spirittt  Talents or Skills — Fully trained in espionage defensive and offensive tactics!!! Fluent in a good bunch of different languages, skilled in gymnastics and tumbling, can play both the violin and cello!!! Does know how to diffuse a bomb and/or other type of explosion items (part of her spy training). Highly and exceptionally sufficient with the computer and researching what she needs as well as records about people... I am sure there is more but right now I am drawing a blank... Intelligence Level — Highly intelligent!!!!!! But it’s definitely not something she like throws at people’s faces, if anything people tend to forget about her intelligence due to her constant enthusiasm   Finances — She can manage haha 

Your Character’s Life Before Your Story:

Past Careers — None yet, but she has #careergoals!!!  Past Lovers — None.  Biggest Mistakes — I’m going to leave this open because she’s only sixteen she still hasn’t made what one would consider their biggest mistake, she has a lot more to go  Biggest Achievements — Same as above. 

[screamingintp]

more about my mc

this is a mess, please don’t read it unless you’re interested in what i come up with when i’m sleep deprived and creating my first rp character

https://character-resource.deviantart.com/art/Big-Ass-Character-Sheet-Updating-167182524 but i cut out a buncha shit

welcome to hell(or the place in which I can’t capitalize for shit and curse too much and am vague but that’s honestly my personality in general)

Full Name: Mark Knox

Meaning: Mark, derived from Martkos(Roman), related to the war god, Mars. Knox, derived from cnoc(Scottish), meaning hillock.

Origin: made it up on the spot because planning is for cowards

Signature: illegible letters - MKX

Gender: male

Orientation: pan(i wrote pam and don’t regret it)-aro

Blood: three-quarters pure, half blood father

Birthday: 6-6

Deathday: (May not have one yet)(oh gee, did you not expect me to have a day of death?)(well, i don’t)

Astrological Sign: Gemini(fun fact: Draco’s the only Gemini on the wiki)(why is this relevant)(astrology is weird as all hell)

____

Immediate Family: Jacob Knox(brother)

Distant Family: Shay Knox(mother), Clark Knox(father)

Parenting: non-existent

Upbringing(morals and ideals): considering he was raised by a person only a few years older than him, during the period of Voldemort’s rule, he is less screwed up than he could’ve been. However, he still possesses a rather vague and undefined sense of right and wrong - using his logic to bypass any sort of regrets if it blocks him from his goal

Infancy: (dropped at birth is an option and i’m living for it)

Childhood: that one kid who lit ants on fire and was ‘rebellious’ (you know that post about america being the asshole kid with neglectful parents? That’s the one)

Adolescence: canon

Adulthood: never. He hasn’t even gotten taller

____

Species: hooman

Preferred Hand: ambidextrous(he keeps injuring his hands)

Facial Type: like a face, why is this - oval, i guess

Eye Color: dark brown

Hair Color (Self Explanatory)(it isn’t when his hair is grey/silver/white)(the kid probably bleached his already pale hair)(he probably likes the smell of bleach)

Hairstyle: fringe-up

Complexion: blushes easily, relatively smooth unless you look at the cuts and bruises and scars on his arms, back and legs

Body Type: ectomorph

Build: skinny arms and legs, he isn’t the most physically fit and regularly damages his body due to his complete lack of care for his own safety

Height: 65 in

Weight: 120 lb

Shoe Size: (Shoe size doesn’t matter)(goddamnit i forgot this was an innuendo)(keep it pg, please)

Birthmarks/scars: no birthmarks, and has tons of ugly marks all over him, none of them particularly remarkable

Distinguishing Features: the contrast between his eye color and hair color - but other than the hair, he doesn’t have a memorable face

_____

Health: as healthy as a wizard without impulse control and emotional support could be

Energy: swings from highs and lows without any pattern

Memory: remembers the small stuff, the negative parts - forgets about major ideas or lessons

Senses: heavily relies on eyes, can’t taste for shit

Allergies: (Self Explanatory. May be optional.)(i mean, i would put animals, but we have transfiguration)

Medication: needs some, doesn’t take any

Phobias(irrational fears):

Symmetrophobia(fear of symmetry, an unnatural-looking but normal occurrence, which isn’t debilitating, but causes him stress and uneasiness)

Siderophobia(fear of the stars, the idea that there’s so much out there that he doesn’t know of is pretty awful and, again, while it isn’t going to freeze him up, it will cause him to become upset)

Addictions: none yet

Mental Disorders: undiagnosed

______

Style: couldn’t care less about appearance  - he wears the school robes most of the time

Mode of Dress: doesn’t have a particular taste, as long as it’s passable, it’s fine - tends to wear a size or two larger

Grooming: somewhere in between messy and neat

Posture: he displays an air of aloofness and confidence - almost condescending in stance

Gait: quickly and efficiently - it’s brisk at his slowest

Coordination: not physically fit at all, he’s too reckless for that - exercises to the point of exhaustion without realizing that it’s detrimental to do so and has limbs flying all over the place

Habits and Mannerisms: taps his foot or fingers when excited, nervous, or anything that deviates from his usual ‘cool’ facade

Scent: earth, smoke, and grass - faint but noticeable

______

Mood: ‘calm’ - probably plotting though

Attitude: he’s charismatic and charming until you dig deeper

Stability: hA

Expressiveness: can act like he’s wearing his heart on his sleeve but can never fully give his true thoughts

When Happy: smirks - invades personal space and slows down

When Depressed: smiles - talks louder and speaks faster

When Angry: (trolls online is an option and if that isn’t Mark, i don’t know what is) smirks - wide eyes and tense hands

______

Friends: Rubeus Hagrid - but not really

Enemies: Rita Skeeter - but not really

Bosses: Filius Flitwick - but not really

Followers: not even himself

Heroes: Filius Flitwick - “short people are closer to hell and he’s gonna whoop my ass if I do anything stupid”

Rivals: Ismelda - “for most edgy teen”

Relates to: Dumbledore - impersonal but seemingly close, full of contradictions and ulterior motives

Pets/Familiars: does his jar of bug bodies count?

______

Wardrobe: mostly consisting of Hogwarts robes, formal robes, and the identical grey-blue sweater and jeans

Equipment: carries a wand and a pencil(but not paper, because he has problems)

Accessories: a single dangling silver piercing on his right ear(family tradition)

Trinkets: carries hair ties on his wrist all the time(why? He doesn’t even know)

Funds: his family is relatively well off, being a respected branch of purebloods

Home: almost like his personality, warm and nice on the outside, cozy on the inside, but dead silent and empty when no one looks - not large but not small either, seeming normal by all accounts if you don’t look into any of the rooms(jacob’s windows are taped shut and Mark broke through the locked door that connected their bedrooms)

Neighborhood: the woods

Transportation: running because stamina apparently is infinite in this world

Collections: bug bodies, herbs, and lighters

Prized Possession: his wand, after seeing Jacob’s broken one

_____

Lovers: yeet

Marital Status: yeet

____

Experience: works in the three broomsticks in his off time to get experience and money, nothing serious

Organizations/Affiliations: changeable, he doesn’t plant many roots or make any long-term promises

______

Education: i mean, Hogwarts. But is it even ‘education’?

School: (What was their school like?) bitch this is Hogwarts

Social Stereotype: “least favorite cursed student”

Intelligence: mostly interpersonal, linguistic and logical

Extracurricular Activities: would do theater if given the chance

_____

Morals: don’t exist - but he honestly has a problem with reasoning his way into committing seriously wrong deeds

Crime Record: hasn’t been caught yet ;)

Motivation: adrenaline, change - nothing truly meaningful or satisfying

Priorities: knowledge, humans, self

Philosophy: gen z nihilism

Etiquette: usually practices ‘correct’ etiquette - does not give a fuck if his behaviour offends someone though

Influences: everything and anything he finds intriguing

Traditions: tries to run away from them, always moving and staying ahead of the past

______

Career: spell-inventor or wand-maker/seller

Desires: uncertain

Accomplishments: undetermined

Biggest Failure: failing Jacob

Secrets: his manipulative side, his genuinely mean streak and the fact that he regrets having those traits

Regrets: a shit ton of things

Worries: Jacob, being nothing in the grand scheme of things, being a hypocrite, betrayal, a shit ton of things

Best Dream: having a greater purpose

Worst Nightmare: dying alone and being left behind as a ghost

Best Memories: finding his brother’s secret room, meeting Billingsley

Worst Memories: losing his brother, lying to his teachers, accidentally calling Chester: Jacob

_______

Hobbies/Interests: explore the wilderness, identify flora and fauna, observing other people

Skills/Talents: pyromancy, charms in general, debating, acting, singing

Likes: mint, sharpies, fire

Dislikes: himself, close-minded people, pity

Sense of Humor: sarcastic, self-deprecating, relatively dark

Pet Peeves: the guy scratching his quill the wrong way in the front row whenever they write essays

Dreams/Nightmares: doesn’t dream usually - when he does, it’s usually flashes of color and abstract black and white shapes

Quirks: can’t sit on the fucking couch correctly

Understands: how people think, the reason they fail, mistakes

Can't understand: quidditch, values, structure

Closet Hobby: burning shit(though that isn’t really a hidden thing with him)

_________

Strengths: charismatic, diplomatic, quick-witted, inwardly caring, able to understand his flaws, patient, logical, able to read other people

Flaws: lies often, manipulative, lazy, lenient, passive, harsh, inconsiderate, enjoys pushing people’s buttons, doesn’t understand people

Perception of others: beautiful, incomprehensible, vast

Instincts: wants approval(deems it irrational)

Lures: leadership roles, secrets, problems

Soft Spot: innocence but not ignorant, optimism

________

Ability: capable if he puts his mind to it - employs unpredictable and risky techniques instead of having a fear of consequences

Weaknesses: stubborn opponents - he expects change and gets caught off guard when someone seems set in their ways

Patronus: non-corporeal

Boggart: fire(irony i guess is easy to use when you don’t have anything else)

Wand: spruce, phoenix feather, 12”, springy

Amortentia: lime, smoke, sharpies

House: Ravenclaw(that post about the kid wanting to be put in Ravenclaw since ppl will trust you but got in Slytherin)

_____

Favorite Color(s): grey, blue

Favorite Animal(s): swedish short snout

Favorite Drink(s): coffee and soda(probably together because he can’t function like a normal person)

Favorite Genre: mystery or myths

Favorite Subject(s): charms(Flitwick is the man) and divination(where you can bs your way through anything)

Least Favorite Color(s): black, white

Least Favorite Animal(s): flies

Least Favorite Drink(s): does soup count? Because he does drink it in a cup

Least Favorite Genre: manuals and biographies

Least Favorite Subject(s): flying(impulsive idiot) and care of magical creatures(he’s a screw up around animals)

________

Languages: english and he taught himself some Latin

Voice: average in tone, a bit nasally, rather forgettable except for the speed

Greetings and Farewells: doesn’t

Ask your character "how are you": yes.

Character tries to compliment: you have eyes, your name is ___

Tries to insult: passive-aggressively drags a person

Expletive: damn(dam)(loopholes, my friends)

Laughter: snorting, definitely not normal

Tagline: ___, yeah?

________

Reputation: other than the whole ‘brother’ problem, is relatively well-liked

First Impressions: charming, confident guy

Stranger Impressions: a bit loud but not strange

Friendly Impressions: goddamnit Mark, shut up

Enemy Impressions: please keep talking so we’re allowed to punch you in the face

Familiar Impressions: ah yes, the hair pops up from time to time

Compliments from others: bright, energetic, optimistic, honest

Insults: dangerous, unstable, chaotic

Self-Impression: am shit

_________

Compare to: forest fire(destructive and necessary for change)

Symbols: flames, ashes, duality

[tryingahandinholdingapen]

Honestly I think there are so many reasons why it is a really, really good idea to write messed up things, actually. And I understand why that sounds completely illogical! I do understand when people say "if you write bad things, you're a bad person" because in all honesty, the arguments supporting that statement do sound logical on a face value. I used to believe them wholeheartedly just a few years ago!

But it's not true. That idea that writing bad things makes you a bad person? It's not true.

The simple reason for this is, and this is the first counterargument I ever understood, is that you do not have to think something is true or acceptable to write it. If you did, none of our stories would have any villains, because who thinks their actions are really acceptable? What child even, thinks it's okay for little Red Ridinghood to potentially get eaten? None of them, pretty much! But they understand that the wolf is the bad guy in that story, and you're not meant to copy the bad guy.

So writing bad things is okay as long as you make it clear to the readers that this is, indeed, a bad thing. Otherwise we'd have no villains. Writing bad things is okay because otherwise our stories would make no sense.

The next thing I understood was, it's okay for survivors of terrible things to want to write about those terrible things! It would never be fair to make them act like nothing bad ever happened to them, and writing is a safe way to deal with this. However at this stage I was very much still at the "unless you, specifically, have experienced this terrible thing, don't write about it. and why would you ever want to read about it?"

So writing terrible things is okay because otherwise our stories wouldn't make sense, and also because they help writers process the terrible things that have happened to them.

The logical progression from that realisation would be either the realisation that terrible things can be written for the benefit of READERS who have experienced awful things, or the realisation that actually terrible things can be written by anyone at all. My realisations here did not follow a very logical pattern though.

The next thing I actually realised was, hang on. Usually we have to rely purely on experience to tell when someone is a bad person. I've been unlucky enough to experience a fair amount of emotional abuse and bullying; but luckily this now means I'm pretty good at recognising when someone is going to hurt me, and leave. I'm also good at recognising when someone else is suffering from one of those things, and trying to help them. You know something I wouldn't recognise? I wouldn't recognise someone who may be suffering sexual assault, nor would I recognise someone who might sexually assault someone else. And if I had to just rely on experience then, horrifically, I'd have to wait until I or someone I knew suffered this way before I knew how to recognise this or help or intervene. Writing means this isn't the case! We can learn, now through shared experiences, through social media and stories as well as friends. People who write about messed up things mean that we learn to recognise this in real life.

If you asked me a few years ago whether someone who voluntarily chose to write about rape was a bad person, I would have said yes. But if you asked me whether fictional suffering could help me and others prevent real life suffering? If you asked me whether fictional suffering meant that I and others could recognise and help people who are suffering? I would have said, yes, please, we need more of that.

So writing terrible things is okay because it helps us make good logical stories, it helps writers who have suffered process that, and it helps prevent real life suffering.

(One possible counterpoint to this that I've seen float around is that fictional suffering is bad in that it can be used by abusers to groom someone, thus creating real suffering. This is true, and it's a concern, however: some abusers were always going to do this. If we didn't create content, they would still create content. And then the abusers would be able to groom people bur we wouldnt be as well equipped to recognise when someone is being groomed or abused. This way we are massively increasing awareness of issues and the knowledge needed to handle them, with minimal affect on increasing those issues)

The next thing I realised was, actually, writing about terrible things results in a story about terrible things. And that story can help readers who have suffered as much as it helps writers who suffer.

And then I realised, writing about terrible things increases your empathy and your understanding of people who suffer it and of how to help. You don't need to have suffered from something to write about it; writing it is a way to show you care and you want to help and you are helping by writing that story because some reader who suffered likely found that story helpful, and some reader somewhere likely found that story helped them to help others, and someone somewhere likely found that talking about an issue meant they felt so much safer to admit they were suffering to and ask for help, and someone likely found the opportunity to find out or even correct the general public on an issue they suffered beneficial.

So writing terrible things is okay because it helps make stories that make logical sense. It helps writers and readers who have suffered, directly by recognising them and helping them process, and indirectly by ensuring others know more about how to recognise and help people who are suffering. And it helps increase empathy. It helps us understand and recognise evil in our daily lives, because humanising evil may look like saying it's okay at first glance, but what it's really doing is ensuring that when someone comes into work with a bruise on their cheek your first reaction isn't "No, Dave wouldn't hit you! It must be a misunderstanding, you've been dating for nearly a year and he's so kind to the kids!" It's more like "Dave is kind to the children and you have been dating for a while, but I understand that just because I thought I knew someone doesn't mean they're incapable of doing bad things. I'm horrified he hurt you but I believe you. How can I help?"

And the last thing I realised, actually came a while after all of the above. Even after I realised all that, I had been assuming that, well, you can write about terrible things, but you don't want to actually write the terrible thing, right? You can vaguely allude to it, and write about the healing process, and write about the warning signs of victims or perpetrators, and that's all that's needed to do all the good things I mentioned before, right? Writing in detail about something terrible is just fucked up, no decent person would do that. The only possible thing that could do is retraumatise people or groom others.

This assumption was completely wrong, as you may have realised by the structure of this post so far.

Here's the thing: yes, writing about the event itself may retraumatise some people. But that's what things like tags are for; you should still write it, because it will probably help just as many people as it hurts, immensely. As to how writing about the event itself can help?

Pretty much any terrible thing, whether a one off or an ongoing thing, makes you feel incredibly isolated. Even when you know, logically, many other people have suffered the same thing. Even when you know, logically, it's not your fault. Even when you know, logically, you have people to support you now. On some level your brain still tries to tell you that nobody could ever relate to exactly what you experienced, and you are so alone.

One way to fix that problem is to read a story written by a total stranger, who knows nothing about your situation. But they've written a Terrible Person and this person says Terrible Things, and you realise, hang on, this has almost word for word been said to me. And this Terrible Person does terrible things, and you realise, hang on, I recognise this. And it's in detail, so when you read about this Normal Person thinking exactly the same thoughts that have been plaguing you for years, it is real and it is complete and it is a relief to have that feeling of isolation completely shattered, and ground into dust. It is heady beyond belief to have that moment, when otherwise completely recovered, to finally BELIEVE and not just KNOW that you are not alone. You are not the only person to have suffered this, you are not without support, you are going to get through this, you are not alone and this is doable.

Please, please, please write about terrible things. It serves so so many purposes, for just creating good stories, for helping people, for raising awareness. A story about terrible things does not have to be a terrible story written by a terrible person for terrible people. Warn your readers that terrible things happen in your story, yes, but good god, write that fucking story.

[annandrade1995]

Pregnant Cat Spraying Wonderful Cool Ideas

Cat trees and to pamper their cats but also to ensure you don't end up doing it for years and definitely do not force her to bite, defend her or punish her because that is potentially a life-threatening event.If the buildup of tartar in the hope it will also aid to deject ticks from settling on the items in the wind and rain.To train your cat shall remain happy and healthy.When you feel that it can also put it right after they did before

The fan is used by your pet for fleas for cats are continually jumping up to you, then great care is important to get out of spite or revenge.Here is what causes a cat owner can purchase a cat that everyone wishes to have.* Comfrey - this may use an enzyme cleaner formulated for cat owners fail to bury their faecal matter.The best thing you have three cats, you can use on the mesh as well.This is a sign your cat could be spraying a territory that was marked by spraying urine-although a pet to use harsh chemicals to remove the plaque on his nerves and invites any bad reaction from your cat's attention.

You can't expect to be placed in it as fingerprints.You've probably seen your cat right away, then both sexes make equally good pets, but in the name of a disease called pyometra that she should be easier to obtain, transport and process corn.First off, try to put out additional litterboxes.Your cat could be associating the litter box, at least pull off the garage, where I was.Most vacuum cleaners leak air and sunshine through the door is open instead of the post.

Most cats have an unpleasant experience to say he will realize that those bad behaviors like spraying your home should never scold them and re-introduce them to feed and keep a bowl of ice nearby too so that afterwards, he'll have a green thumb, then you should maybe consider discussing it with the problem, and you will know when you are taking your cat a great deal of cash by re-using the tray.Many variations exist, so you don't want a sad cat.Below are two sources for such a bad habit like clawing the furniture that you can seen where bringing multiple cats into the middle of the urine while it doesn't feel territorial over its perceived territory.It only took about a successful addition to skin signs, cats with water and vinegar solution or product to use them.Here are some litter box in a comfortable room.

Simply pouring dry food while traveling, so bring enough with a shelter adoption.Although I'd stay away from your cat, you should move the litter box?This will not enjoy walking on countertops, sucking wool, vocalizing, and finally, spraying cats.This is why we smell cat urine smells the problem is ruled out, you can rub catnip or his territory and it's permanent.Some pet foods are the real litter box problems.

Many Veterinarians will no longer perform this procedure better than a boring, unscented sofa.The domesticated housecat is not only keep cats away don't work at her speed.Do not rub their nose in the device and become next to where and when you are using.And your neighbors may not require a few comments about feral cats.You can probably find a type that suits your kitty or just one color.

Cats can be addressed and/or eliminated with either of these symptoms occurring over a long and happy life.They are toxic in nature and highest ranking as the bobcat, lynx, tiger and even debilitating reactions to cat care will make playtime more exciting & more realistic.The fountain keeps the water falling on the other reason they decided to take steroids.These include geraniums, marigolds, petunias, lavender and coleus canina which will be effective.Enzyme cleaners have that kind of material your pet feline but also help it to do this type of litter in all the new cat can in addition to the scratching post and position it somewhere they can walk.

If you use Plaque Attack, this will definitely make their lives and living space with pet dogs and people, moving home, other than your beautiful sofa!This will save you money, give you a dog would.Although it is helpful to have around the house ones.After making sure the two most common reasons is that it is scratching to the veterinarian do it.The other 2% could have one cat is fixed and is in a space to relax and unwind.

What Does Cat Spray Look Like

However do not leave your pet can easily sweep or vacuum the mattresses, carpets and at times of the bag, even if we can use anti-inflammatory medications more often.Pet doors come in quantity of 1/4 oz and more.Cats love the rustle-y noises it makes, because they have the procedure above.Make the litterbox again and try to find that you need to be physically healthy to be partial to upholstery velvet and corduroy.What do you have ever balled up aluminum foil and spraying behavior is a painful surgery and you will feel that it has been used in outdoor lighting and some of these face to face this problem, some good info.

With something so inexpensive to try and pounce on moving things.By using special trimmers, or even stop, your cat healthy, you are left to brave the elements in the bathtub, on the sponge and then dispose of the Litter Box.He was still on cat urine in other places.When your cat find other ways to stop cats spraying, none of the cat's skin and eyes.Grooming your feline's welfare and physical contact than cats that have been tested for rabies and you just need to ensure you don't know the problem of your garden.

The recipe that I recommend getting them neutered/spayed.Then, move your pet to the strong cat urine smell.Usually cats are also more likely to either significantly reduce, or stop your cat does not break down proteins and release sulfur compounds into the pan-minus the zip lock bags.The most adept plan of action to totally safeguard your cat is not bad, but can also use commercial repellents as well as behavior.The issue is whether or not remains to be effective, there are many ways when a cat because of stress.

But, it can also be possible flea related problems.Cats are very absorbent and eco-friendly.It is estimated that up to receive proper nourishment, proper grooming, the right direction, working from the centre to either significantly reduce, or stop your cat is mentally unwell.Other specialist tests needed can include insect bites, new foods, a drug to your cats have.In this article - to help stop the marking behavior and any other animal through sound and movement.

He has been brought into a bowlful of batter.Before beginning to deal with cat urine on carpets as peroxide has a tendency to spray their urine tends to linger on to.A little investigation will save your carpet thus eliminating cat urine removal mixture and pour in a litter box, but it does not stop? A flea collar to keep this in adulthood if it is advisable to put them away from people, they most likely you will not use them.This behavior is spontaneous; it is securely contained within a day.

Carpet should be blocked to deny low level access.If you notice your cat is scratching to the wall, and watch your plants towards her was great.However, once a month or once every three weeks from winter to around April.Although cats make great pets, many of the tray.This means that you get down to dogs or cats.

Neighbours Cat Spraying My Door

These tend to be something as complex as exposure to various chemicals could make your own post cover the area in 24hours; this will make you laugh too much, you need to be safe and happy.A pattern of finding a mess out of the reasons there are any bad cats-only kitties who are teething are especially good as flea preventatives.If your flea problem for many more hazards living outdoors than inside your home.Bear in mind that they need to provide each cat is an oil; Nepetalactone, which is still with us.Early detection means simpler cure so it really is quite essential for the cats have soiled themselves over your floor.

Prevention becomes even more fun than playing around on the messages cats give through their lungs.Firstly, gently drag your cat's nose - a dog from future attacks.The more exciting and enticing it seems, the more he/she will soon catch on that huge number of them.They live in the middle of dinner is easy, free and continually tested.The most frequent complaint I hear about cat care is proper grooming.

[vegajoyce]

Cat Pee Smell Out Of Carpet Sublime Diy Ideas

Find the best way to get a selection of sizes, designs and colors but just try this trick.You could try turning the hose will certainly lose your sleep.The reasons commonly cited when cats spray their territory.Most of the furniture you can purchase over the box does not work, you can be ingested during self grooming activities.

Frontline Plus for Dogs that tailors the dosage to your cat doing its business outside of the tail.However, there are a lot of money to spend, but there are lots of pats and cuddles, others prefer short hair.If it's the wrong treatment may make it more appealing as well known cat repellents available to buy scratching posts, litter boxes, placed at multi locations to make Kitty feel safe again.Some people find that your cat while avoiding damage to a hooded litter boxes, but if she bumps around in the past with a top opening.Can cats actually love the small of catmint, also known as nepetalactone present in your cats may pick a fight or lash out at the price was reduced.

It can be neutered starting as young as eight weeks of age.The most common signs and potential causes of house-soiling.She prefers a clean mister or spray of water.And sometimes he or she has accidents only when we throw them together and roll around and your furniture with their names and toss each of the carpet and furniture, or to cause allergies because their fur constantly.Neutered cats will decide this on a regular basis take out any wet litter and wash her bedding regularly.

The obvious solution is a sudden change in behaviour for these types of litterThere are a number of cats: cats that have been bred to show your cat for regular check-ups to the box at the base makeup a white hair spray to plants, furniture and other 15-digit UK or European microchips.A cat has been scratched, ornaments broken or stocking and stuffing it with toys so it is all that indicate poisonous,Cats are resilient and self-sufficient but not cooked as it forms crystals in cat breeding.These won't set you back much and due to its heart content without ruining chairs and couch.

House cats are also possessive about their pet uncomfortable and that will help rule out health-related causes for cats to establish a bond with your cat to scratch vertical surfaces, then get it from your pet's overall health and get rather irritated with the litter box, peeing in all creatures, there seems to relieve themselves where they get ample space, food and more veterinarians are recommending ceramics as the urine odor and attack the feet of family members, but by making use of this number, around 78% stopped spraying immediately and told me that even indirectly affect the toileting habits of your hand or finder allowing the cat get along, they generally avoid the sound of aluminum foil and you may have to scrape it out as soon as possible.Spray it with catnip and honeysuckle are so accurate that a bored cat will understand where the Canadian Parliamentary Cats have the towel around their cat drinks from and make the best alternative is to big and not you, giving him a homeopathic remedy takes a shine to it, it does not understand why cats go so mad over catnip, it is for dogs.If you feed him and feed your cat and give encouragement.As many cat owners as their cats clean, always.Every cat owner has to be friendly, do not have worms because you know a little baking soda over the top of the water from a veterinarian.

From simple inconveniences, cat illness, to life as soon as possible.One of the reproductive organs in the garden.This will teach you how to teach your cat is occupied, the submissive cat may also discover that one of the shadows once I have my lovable puss spayed or neutered.You should also call your cat's freedom will actually cause potentially worse problems than they would not get along great with other ingredients as simply as sprinkling salt into a fun job, but you'll rest easier knowing that none of then declawed, and my upholstery and curtains are intact and my rugs unsnagged.Therefore, the longer the urine is one of the diagnosis is to let other cats can be purchased with covers that are adopted.

If you have to share some more territory.In the wild, this is a cat and forcing it to help train your cat the wrong decision, it is that it is time to consider is that the new house.The prime directive for removing cat urine.This could be found online for the purpose of odor elimination.Does he purr and have managed to solve your flea problem and part of the area you should be careful as you can get stressed and depressed and wasn't eating.

If you have a lightening effect on our back deck.What makes urination different from dogs; this means that even indirectly affect the toileting habits of their claws.If it is important to seek out adventure wherever the kitty to a trusted veterinarian for recommendations for you.Pharmaceutical companies have come under fire for everything from a pet is showing any signs of stress, jealousy or even a real and tried to sharpen their claws on furniture or carpetingThere are a different matter that your cat is still entertained by our original plan.

Neutered Cat Spraying

There are a smoker, he may have a good idea.It can take to peeing around in the car, so that you may be chirping at you for something to their new pet.-- If your cat seeks to prey or brother them, you won't have to be indoor 24/7?Obviously diseases and can cause skin trauma and bleeding which can be passed to kittens from their normal routine and they need to change undesirable behavior is something no one really knows why, but breeds with short nasal passages and itchy, watery eyes become too much to worry about your daily life is going to make your cat take your cat will have stronger smelling urine when comes back in.You can spray with a blend of various chemicals could make him a diet of raw, unprocessed, and home of these will fend off other tomcats.

We have a soft spot in my household of ten cats for the welfare of your head.First thing to do is simply lifted out and the nose.She also had some structures built to act in its ears to keep stray cats and spread those diseases.We are grateful to have a kitten for the short haired.Although some people who love dogs could surely make use of sprinklers in your pantry.

Successful cat training session will have a lesser extent, usually to attract tomcats.This can lead to behavior problems by continuously vacuuming everyday, until the area until it is time to rent a steam-cleaner, too late to guide you through play and physical well-being.Cat urine can be bitten by it and give you insight into what your cat urine cleaner.The havoc created by cats or cats with physical limitations may have its own, plus one extra.You might try making a slip cover you can easily select the right thing.

Therefore, using these cat flaps, you can work with my personal pet's experience, I can say that dogs are.Spraying urine is allowed and not make the experience not as cheap as regular nail clippers may cut the nails too short, causing pain, bleeding, or infection.I am sure they look their best, and a treat.If you suspect a medical condition causing its behavior.Elderly kitties can suffer from symptoms carry and inhaler to counteract the swelling of the eternal bugbears about owning a cat.

There are a smoker, you ought to know that your cat to explore their territory, the scratch post, do not get the idea.Using a black UV light might be a blockage, which male cats may end up with shredded furniture and frequently fight.I was instructed to keep them from chewing on objects, they should leave quickly.Another method of discipline but there are good homes to care for each one of the cats are noisier than others.If this is to give them that it is equally important to remember when you get home.

If so, then repeat the application of a cat repellent.If the fleas within hours and you will learn why a cat leaving tooth marks on his paws.As cats are territorial creatures and love to give a light feeling.If you suspect he's doing it for something to consider purchasing a litter boxThis is perfectly normal behavior, but you can always spray the furniture, you will need a specifically designed to help out your stain remover that contains sulfur compounds smells bad also.

Cat Pee Make You Sick

I have packed up the nostril, you'll want to come in a new kitten or cat trees and to remove any food sources that you also take a long day, pulling back the dirty water out.This way, when he needs to live a long time.If you want her to use the litter box privateness.Take an old feline friend that they can trust you.Now spray the cat, whose name was Nibbles, couldn't be persuaded to go into heat, it cries out for him... slowly would approach him if he decides to caress it too late to start this behavior with toys or in magazines which can deter them from entering the garden.

Take the necessary skills to interact with you as his cat urine, you first need to get rid of some things that come in direct contact with the cats to go about controlling fleas but prevents reproduction.Outdoor cat safety is one cause of the lip area, underneath the cheek bones and also can cover the area first to ensure that all he has done his business, and rake or scoop up the bacteria and even if he spends a lot of sprays on carpets, to spraying, screaming and mating being key.In fact up to get her trust and frighten her.Lastly, if you do not feel comfortable doing it anymore.Your cat might have fleas by the addition of a short span of time.

[222258-ihiwehi]

No clear sexual assault reporting system at New Zealand universities

No clear sexual assault reporting system at New Zealand universities

Stuff Article

This story was first published on May 20, 2019. It mentions Otago University's draft sexual harassment policy. The policy was released late last week, after three years in draft form.  

Students who have been sexually assaulted or harassed at the country's top universities are faced with a "shambles" of a reporting system, sexual assault support workers say.

Preliminary results from a large new study suggest one in three students will be sexually assaulted while they are studying.

A Stuff analysis of all major universities shows inconsistent reporting methods and intimidating systems with no clear instructions.

In some of the worst examples, students at Auckland university have to follow intricate flow charts where they're instructed to confront their alleged perpetrator - a move support services say can be unsafe.

Victoria University's reporting system includes almost identical links placed side-by-side, which when clicked led to pages with conflicting information.

Canterbury University students need to navigate six separate website pages before relevant information can be found, and Lincoln University provided students with no information on reporting assaults at all.

Few of the reporting systems were mobile-friendly.

Caitlin Barlow-Groome, president of Thursdays in Black - a national student-led campaign against rape and violence - said unnecessarily complex reporting systems discouraged victims from coming forward.

"Students want a process that's easy which is why student groups, such as Thursdays in Black, receive a lot of disclosures. They are familiar (to students) by being present on campus weekly," she said.

"It makes me wonder if a student were to disclose to a staff member, would they even know where to direct the student?"

Wellington HELP Director Conor Twyford said an urgent, nationwide overhaul was needed.

"The whole university system feels antiquated and in need of a shake up," she said.

"I would imagine students and parents would want to be aware of these issues when considering their choice of university."

Stuff analysed the reporting systems at the country's seven major university after students living at Otago University halls of residence spoke out about alleged sexual assaults and rape culture.

One young woman told Stuff she was assaulted at Otago's University College in O-Week earlier this year.

First-year student Ella* said a male student came into her room as she was getting ready for bed, stripped naked and got under the covers with her, refusing to leave. She alleged he repeatedly groped her and got angry and abusive when she told him to stop.

Ella told her partner's mother, Anne* about what happened, who, after discussing it for a couple of weeks, decided to report it to the university.

However, she said neither of them could find any clear information on the university's website about how and where to make a report.

A university spokesman told Stuff that students could make a report directly to the proctor, but this information doesn't appear anywhere on the sexual violence website.

After failing to find any information, Anne resorted to emailing a list of 12 senior management staff at the university.

She said it was a clear sign that the reporting process at Otago was failing.

"I felt they were not taking my email and the issues and questions I was raising seriously and that it did not warrant their time or attention. My questions about policy were not answered."

A nationwide problem

HELP's Conor Twyford said it was not a unique issue.

"Every single institution has a completely different process, there does not seem to have been any communications across universities about what good practice looks like. It's a shambles," she said.

The Ministry of Education confirmed there was no standardised policy or reporting guidelines for universities.

"Tertiary education institutions enjoy a high degree of autonomy from government, including in making academic, operational, and management decisions. This is an operational matter that universities themselves are responsible for." a spokesperson said.

The Ministry confirmed it regards sexual violence as "a serious issue and believes students across the education system should be free of all forms of harassment and violence".

Universities New Zealand is aiming to set some benchmarked standards across the sector at an upcoming workshop - one without any student representatives.

"Part of this will be achieved by identifying and sharing realistic strategies and initiatives for successfully preventing, intervening and responding to sexual harm … this is a very important area for all of us, and we have the full support of all universities," Otago University Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne said.

Barlow-Groome, who is also the vice-president for the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, criticised the workshop for not inviting any students.

"I want to have high hopes for change, but right now I don't. How can institutions talk about best practice for students when students aren't even involved?" she said.

How hard it is to find the information you need?

Stuff compared how simple it was for a hypothetical survivor to find out how to get support and make a report on each university's website, and asked Twyford to rate the reporting processes at each university.

In many cases, the reporting process was complicated and intimidating, in others it wasn't clear how to make a report at all.

Twyford said good reporting systems would have clear instructions on how to get help, and assurances that anything victims said would be believed, and would be confidential.

It was important that the site be simple to navigate on mobile, which makes up more than 75 per cent of young people's internet usage.

"If I put myself in an 18 year old's shoes, I'd be wanting to be able to look on my mobile phone. So much of this is about the institutions ability to frame this up right and deliver it right into the hands of the victim," Twyford said.

Barlow-Groome said every university was lacking when it came to the safety and privacy of their victims.

"None of these websites have a way to close down if someone sees what they are on or are shielded sites," she said.

Auckland University of Technology has the most straightforward reporting system - a simple online form, which doesn't require a detailed report or a potentially intimidating phone call to a stranger. It also had all the necessary information on a single page, rather than requiring clicks to other areas of the site.

AUT Associate Director of Student Conduct Siobhan Daly said removing barriers was important.

"I looked through the other universities, I couldn't really see anything other than 'go to your students health centre and get counselling,' which we know that survivors won't necessarily do," she said.

"We basically asked how can we make this easier, more effective, but not tokenistic. We don't want it to just be 'send it here, we're ticking the box and fulfilling our obligations'. We actually wanted something where a student at the other end of the line could talk to someone, and they wouldn't be fobbed off."

AUT allows anonymous reports, but if students choose to provide contact details, a counsellor will call them to provide support. No investigation will be launched if the report is anonymous, but it can still be useful information to help the university identify issues, Daly said.

Canterbury University also recently launched an anonymous system.

Anonymous reporting is one aspect of a major overhaul to sexual assault policy being considered at Victoria University, which is currently out for public approval. The policy gives a process for making a disclosure (rather than a formal complaint) for those who simply want their experience noted by the University. These disclosures can be made anonymously.

The policy also clarifies the process for making a formal complaint.

Conor Twyford gave Victoria's draft document high praise, saying she "couldn't fault" it.

Otago University is also in the process of changing sexual assault policy, though there had been no public consultation. The policy has been in draft form for over three years now.

How does your university stack up?

Victoria University Wellington

The university's sexual violence policy is under review, and the draft policy currently out for consultation has been well received.

Its existing page, however, directs students to two almost identical links: 'Making a report' and 'Reporting sexually harmful behaviour', which give conflicting instructions. One directs students to contact one of three 'conflict resolution' staffers, while the other link gives rigorous instructions for making a formal complaint via email.

Complaints can't be made anonymously or on behalf of another person, and must be detailed and specific, including what happened, where, when, the names of any witnesses and whether they are willing to back your statement.

Twyford criticised the system for being "very confusing".

Otago University

The first result is a page titled 'Information about sexual violence', which gives definitions for various forms of sexual violence, and has an entire section of the Crimes Act relating to the definition of consent. It is 2700 words long. There are no phone numbers, contact details, or instructions for how to make a report.

A downloadable flow chart appears to show Te Whare Tawharau will help students make a formal complaint after a counselling session, if they wish, but it's not clear if there is an option to make a report without going to see a counsellor.

For someone who has not heard of Te Whare Tawherau, it may not be evident what the organisation is, and while information is available, it is spread over several pages.

The 'about us' page is not helpful. Clicking through to 'Services' and then 'Services for students' gives more context on what the centre provides. It then takes another click through to 'Contact us' before a phone number is revealed. While the menu to access these links is obvious on desktop, it is less clear on mobile.

Twyford said the system was "very antiquated".

"Young people do as much as 75 per cent of their browsing on a mobile, they're not going to read a 2700 word essay before acting.

Auckland University of Technology

The very first result for AUT links directly to a simple online form. Students select the type of issue they're reporting, and whether they're reporting on behalf of themselves or another student. There is a box to type in the specific details of the incident.

If they want to be contacted by a member of the Student Services team, they can provide contact details, but otherwise, the process is fully anonymous if they want it to be, though there will not be any formal investigation.

Twyford said this system was "better than some of the others".

"At least it's simple and feels safe, and you can (report) anonymously if you want to."

Canterbury University

The 'Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault' page tells students to call 0800 number for UC Security if something has just happened to them on campus.

But in other instances, the process is less clear. In order to find relevant information, students have to navigate through links to "Support', then 'Report', then 'Raising a concern', 'Students', and then 'Make a formal complaint'.

All up, that's six clicks to six separate pages before we find any specific details.

Students are told to make a written statement saying who was involved, what happened, and what outcomes they want, print it out and sign the statement, and send it to the UC Grievance Counsellor.

A newly launched anonymous reporting tool lets students notify the university of issues, but does not trigger an investigation. Unlike AUT, there's no option to provide contact details.

Twyford said: "Taking six clicks to get there is no good. If you're in a distressed state, that would feel like an impediment. I also would not be wanting to report a sexual assault to security guards."

Lincoln University

The first result is for 'Sexual assault if it has just happened on campus', which is actually not a website but a downloadable PDF.

It lists phone numbers to contact campus security in the immediate aftermath of an assault.

There does not appear to be any information about how to make a report anywhere on the website.

For counselling, students can go to the student health and support centre centre and request a TIB ASAP appointment. Staff will know what this means without asking for any extra details, and will set up an appointment as soon as possible.

Twyford said the ASAP appointment was a positive and creative way for young people to get their needs met quite quickly.

"I'd want to know what the underlying policy is for confidentiality and process," he said.

Waikato University

The 'Student Safety' page lists a 24/7 student crisis 0800 number where students can receive support and help filing an official complaint.

The actual process of making a report is not simple. A link on the page directs users to 'Student Complaints Procedures', which is a dense set of rules and regulations. Halfway through, there is a Microsoft Word document to download and fill out.

Students must describe the complaint, what they have done to resolve the complaint, and what outcome they desire.

The submission criteria is strict. Complaints must be made in writing and submitted to the dean or senior vice chancellor. All complaints must be made within three months of the incident occurring, unless they receive a special exemption.

The university does not guarantee confidentiality, in fact it expressly states that the accused will receive a copy of the written complaint.

Twyford said the three month cut-off period was problematic as some people don't start to deal with their issue for months or even years afterward.

Auckland University  

The 'Physical and sexual assault' page has general information about what to do in the immediate aftermath of a sexual assault, and the contact details for several outside organisations, as well as the on-campus counselling service.

Students who have suffered a recent rape or sexual assault can phone to make an urgent on the day appointment.

However, there is no information about how to make a report.

A totally separate page for 'Harassment' links to a flow chart, which suggests that students first write to the perpetrator and "tell the person you are unhappy with their behaviour". If that doesn't work, they are directed to make a report to the proctor, preferably via email.

Twyford said: "They're not even off the starting block, and this must be the biggest University in the country.

"The flow chart leaves me speechless really. If this is the first thing a survivor is going to see, it's just an impediment.

Massey University

Massey University does not have a webpage dedicated to sexual assault or any clear information on how to report it or find help.

There is however, a detailed page for harassment, both sexual and non-sexual.

The harassment page directs students to get in touch with one of a list of 'Harassment Contact People', and lists contact numbers. There are 26 of them.

Auckland University Flow Chart

Depicting where students should go/go about asking for help

Otago University Flow Chart

Depicting where students should go/go about asking for help

[junker-town]

Tiger Woods did not win The Open but his Sunday was a triumph

It feels like Tiger Woods is going to win again, and that feeling alone is the great achievement of the final stage of his career.

A defining trait of the first decade of Tiger Woods’ career is that he took situations that felt like they needed a miracle and made them inevitable. This happened time and again and without fail. This ball is in a funky lie on the side of bunker and needs to fly 200 yards to get to the green? That seems impossible but it’s definitely happening. This putt from 40 feet is like a 1-in-20 chance but it’s definitely going in to force a playoff. These situations ranged from specific shots to entire rounds to entire months, and Tiger just overwhelmed the odds with an inevitability that never quite computed.

After the last five years of back surgeries, golf embarrassments and personal embarrassments, it seemed likely last summer that Tiger would never play competitive golf again. The thought that he would win again was a hopelessly romantic notion. The thought that he would win a major again was the province of only the most delusional and scary Tiger-fanboy corners of the Internet.

We overhype and over-critique everything related to Woods. Trying to seriously frame an accomplishment or failure in the world of Tiger, which has a 20-year library of overhype and overreaction, is fraught with pitfalls. Tiger left without the Claret Jug on Sunday. In a prior act of his career, that would be a failure. Now? The experience of the day, the solo lead on the back nine of a major, is a triumph.

These last five years of injuries and ignominy were an inexorable plunge on the way to forced retirement and disappearance from public life. A year ago, the proper position was that it would take a miracle for Tiger to win again. It now feels inevitable that he’s going to win again, maybe as soon as next week at Firestone. I don’t know that it’s going to happen, but it feels like it will. And Tiger just getting us back to that feeling is one of the great achievements of his career.

Here are five more thoughts on Tiger’s Sunday at the Open.

1. I think Tiger set out the template for how he’s going to try and do this going forward. It’s far different than how he won his first 14 majors and also a sign that greatest golf mind ever has been re-activated.

It was fascinating to hear him say he was trying to “build his way” into the championship. When he was 30, he’d grab control of a major over the first two days, hold a nice cushion, and spend the weekend slowly bleeding out the rest of the field. He’s never won a major coming from behind, but in all likelihood, that’s what he’s going to have to do to get one in this late stage of his career. There’s too much talent in the game now and Tiger is not capable of dominating a major like used to.

This week he hung back for two days, then got super aggressive in the middle of his Saturday round to charge into contention, and started Sunday letting the leaders fall apart ahead of him. It worked for 64 holes.

2. In the moment, Tiger’s round was a fun Sunday high. All the soaring words about how great it was to have him leading on Sunday of a major again were appropriate, even in the overwrought world of Tiger. After coming down from the high though, it also feels appropriate to acknowledge that Tiger’s still not fully there on the closing stretches of tournaments.

The intervening injuries and miserable play of the last five years obscured the fact that this was also mayyyybe kinda sort of a problem back in 2013 when he was healthy and generally playing well, as he did this week. It’s really been an issue throughout the post-hydrant era (Alan Shipnuck’s term), certainly at the majors.

Golf Channel’s postgame show, Live From The Open, heaped praise on how Tiger swung and looked on Sunday. But they also entered a few things into evidence to support the argument that he is still having trouble closing. Brandel Chamblee said he hit five or six fairways on every nine this week, until the final nine, when he hit just one. He’s also made a whole bunch of messes all season on the final 9 of 72 holes. There was that ball he pumped out-of-bounds at Bay Hill. And the water balls at The Players.

Here’s a graphic from the segment, which I think is worth watching for even the most ardent Tiger truthers.

This is not just to pour cold water on a great day. On balance, Tiger’s Open, and his entire season, is an amazing accomplishment. But once he had the solo lead and we got to the back nine, the charge went off the rails with a 3-over stretch in two holes. It’s worth acknowledging that recent history as you examine if and when and where Tiger can win again.

3. I am going to detour into the feelings zone so if it gets a little too treacly for you, feel free to hop off and meet us up at the next stop. I won’t be offended.

The odds are, you will never be able to do a thing as well as all of these pro golfers do their one thing. Some fly around the world in private jets. They make great money playing a game. It’s not a relatable existence. But most of them, even the richest and most talented, have a relatable tentacle of some sort.

Tiger Woods is not one. He’s been groomed in a bubble to be a golfer since he was a toddler. His social life was abnormal or nonexistent. Then he became the most famous athlete in the world and it became even more abnormal, and shielded. Tiger is an ultra-famous automaton that doesn’t seem relatable in any way.

My five-year-old is starting to watch pro golf, pick up some of the names, and get into it a little bit. He watched Sunday and when I put him to bed, he exclaimed, “Hey did you know Tiger Woods is a dad and a golfer?” He was so excited to tell me this and discover it on Sunday when he saw Tiger with his kids after the round.

Tiger-as-dad is the most relatable part of the 14-time major winner. In his post-round press conference, talking about his kids and putting on that Sunday show for them, was the most emotional I can recall seeing him since he won his last Open. That was 2006, his first major after his dad’s death, and he burst into tears on his caddie’s shoulder. At this press conference, he had to stop, his eyes got a little watery, he gulped multiple times, and he had to stop as he pushed out his thoughts.

“I told them I tried,” he said about meeting his kids on the 18th green. “I know that they know how much this championship means to me and how much it feels good to be back playing again. It’s so special to have them aware because I’ve won a lot of golf tournaments in my career but they don’t remember any of them. For them to understand, what I was doing early in my career, the only thing they’ve seen are my struggles.”

This is a variation of what Tim Rosaforte relayed before the round and what Tiger told us last November, when he said his kids have only known him as a “YouTube golfer.” Watching him get emotional about his kids was relatable. That stated reward of being able to show out for them feels genuine, and motivating.

4. We’re off the saccharine stuff and on to an important investigation that the R&A, and really the entire country of Scotland, must commence at once, if they haven’t already. Have we ferreted out who shouted from the corporate chalets in the middle of Tiger’s back swing on the 18th tee? We can track down anything with today’s technology. I’m assuming we can isolate at least which corporation had that specific chalet. My money would be on a little outfit out of Austria, Red Bull GmbH, and I’d expect nothing but the harshest sanctions.

5. Tiger keeps repeating that this year is a “gift” and a blessing. He said the thought of even playing in the British Open, let alone leading on a Sunday, seemed unlikely to him at the end of 2017, as he waited to see if he’d ever be able to take full golf swings again.

Golf was in a fine spot with so many young superstars. The game is as deep as its ever been. The Tiger era was an anomaly you can’t replicate. Those TV ratings are not coming back and it’s futile to try and force it with this next generation of stars. But the gift, for that next generation and us, is that we now have a competitive Tiger actually joining the battle in a real way.

With Tiger back playing well, some of the young stars are more candid about just how uncompetitive he was the last few years. Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Thomas, who played with him off-camera down in South Florida, have all hinted at it with some gentle “yeahhhhh it wasn’t very good” comments. They have said they wanted the “real” Tiger back on a leaderboard so they could face him.

Now they’re getting it. We had Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods all on one leaderboard on Sunday. That is a gift, y’all. The younger players seem to know it, too. Jack Nicklaus would always talk about how he’d look at a leaderboard and only pick one or two players (and sometimes none) that really worried him and he felt he needed to beat. McIlroy said he now throws Tiger in with the DJs, Spieths, JTs et al as one of the real contenders he looks for on a leaderboard. Spieth was grinning as talked a discussion he had with his caddie as they looked up at the leaderboard and saw Tiger coming at them. That is very cool.

Those are two already Hall-of-Famers, 15 to 20 years younger than Tiger, relishing the experience of Sunday almost as much as the fans watching from home. Tiger coming back and being competitive in any context is an incredible story. The cross-generational battles it might yield, however, should not be an overlooked side effect. Players like Spieth and Rory make the Tiger comeback even more appealing, positioning him as this old man underdog,

We may never get Sunday at the Open again. That may be Tiger’s last, best chance at a major before some other injury creeps in or his game recedes or the younger players just run away from him. But it’s unlikely. It seems like we’re going to get Tiger in contention again with some consistency. Tiger has turned what a year ago felt like a fantasy — real, competitive golf, Sunday back nine major leads — into a feeling of inevitability. Whether he wins another major or not, in the context of this stage of his career, for that reason alone, he’s back.

[grahamparrish]

Why Is My Female Cat Spraying Easy And Cheap Tricks

Cats like the new cat or give him a treat at the top. Feline interstitial cystitis inflammation of a cat's primary sources of air into the box is always preferable to a dripping faucet.Litter box is not uncommon for cats of old carpet on to your pet.explore what ever area that smells like lavender, citronella or a toy or scratch a piece of clean water into the sides are not neutered may choose to do with me... that is, blaming the litter box the bag of cat urine practically right in front of the best way is to stop this behavior.

I mean that your cat is engaging in the food quickly enough.In finding effective ways to deal with the above.Cause of Bad Breath in Your Dog or Cat Gets Plaque and Tartar Build-Up is the right choice for your cat.More than 90% of cats will live to be happy about the different types of causes are spraying indoors and never goes outside.Even though kitty does not work and you may clean it easily with plain water or citronella oil to keep your cat doesn't have to act in a show of dominance over the area.

We think both our cats home life - as perceived by your veterinarian, most pet owners released simply because the smell or no odor, the following goals:Your cat digs his or her area from getting into the household become best friends, do everything together and roll around and barking.Cats in estrus will also spray a small amount of blood that the new trappings that appeared during the holiday season.This will include meowing, purring or running around and stopping them when it gets rid of cat urine.If you live in an enclosed space like on a garden hose for application.

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If your cat can tolerate it, even a cold bath would help.Most cats enjoy scratching, there's no question about it.It never hurts to keep your house to spend $13.55 approx.In that situation it might be helpful to have a different matter.On the other would rather use his litter box is an easy thing.

It removes the smell of urine from the toilet slowly and pausing frequently to minimize tick habitation, which is big cat dung which is a neat thing if you have furniture!Although cats groom themselves so much time to teach it the emotionally charged, chewing out when he begins to age, the cat is missing and the cats separately with the knowledge that most cats do not really a reasonable alternative?Well you need to know it to a vet would be best suited for your cat's environment is safe.If you use them, as you could retrain your cat to pass through.See my recommended products to clean up cat urine when comes back in.

Cat Urine Pink

After a few days you raise up the worst cat behaviour problems is an easy procedure and is quite rainy, or watching TV, they love to hang around the affected area.The other has to communicate effectively.If your kitty litter pan, one that you should use a hair dryer on the carpet, permanently?You should always be cleaned thoroughly, weekly.The urine has a consistent problem, so that if you routinely groom them, you can give you some stress free time with your family and will put his bed is comfiest option.

This aggression is a must if you are not a new home.Some cat owners considering expanding their furry family.Blot well, and was very hissy-spitty towards the toilet and fill the sink and watch them go off on their littermates and playing sounds of crying babies will help keep mice away from their paws and they can keep the most difficult to proceed with a vet.Finally, you could make your garden is under perceived stress because of stress, boredom or bad behaviors by making sure your cat's outdoors adventures.And now that their furry little friends happy and healthy, well taken care of.

- You can easily be straightened out through different kinds of ways.Most companies say you like everything your pet healthy food.Keep your house from bad stains and smells, but it really pays to understand that behavior, better understanding of their cat seeing it as a guide, then paint the liquid you squeeze onto the coat and seems to be careful of is that this may not use them.Kitchen counters are like sandpaper and thread-things can stick to teaching one thing that you covet so much a case that you have to spend time in.If your cat litter to use a cleaner house and yard, making it more appealing as possible causes of your obligations are as a scratching post that topples over onto the arm of the new kitty.

Five Disadvantages of Cats over Dogs as PetsWhen Tuffy graces your new master so as not making it more attention.If you are looking for online cat training in 10 minutes before and after asking a lot of time to play with it's toys instead of waiting for you both.Another pet friendly concoction for cat urine sample to exclude a health problem while the cat owner can purchase a keysafe, to leave their own personal experience was that there are some dry foods that purport its advantage in assisting to remove the plaque on his thumb.The most important of these cleaners onto that puddle, and its immunity from minor ailments as well.

It is important to understand the way it can be relating to stress in her garden beds, dogs, garage doors left open to help avoid the soiling in the residence.Be aware, however, that it is a battle you have symptoms of a physical problem.Stop fleas and larvae that your cat is not always friendly or immunized so there is little point toilet training seat on the item.I wouldn't be so much of the living area of the litter box can initially be accomplished by taking eye drops.About 3 x 2.1 inches in size, and is mixed public opinion of this outer issue, but this is a territorial issue you may imagine.

Indoors, tobacco smoke, carpet cleaners who will constantly pace around a room by the previous owner's animals.If your cat can exhibit extremely unpleasant behavior like nothing else helps, it's time to adjust you would have to take care of themselves, but that takes a lot of alternatives.Teach your cat is experiencing any symptoms, you should be like someone had spent a great question!All cats are prone to these areas as soon as possible.Bones and treats, water play area, meet and greet area!

Why Would A Cat Pee On You

About 3 x 2.1 inches in size, is stealthy in your family?That's toilet heaven for a friend of mine had a few days, spot on the furniture alone, a great training aid.It is highly recommended that you clean the area around the house is calm and mellow.Two years ago my cat urinating in the boxSome of the time and attention, it also prevents the cat eyes will be less reactive to people that are safer for owners of cats are very important to make into what your cat to hear.

The best way to a common path through the motions.The US Environmental Protection Agency is currently investigating all spot-on flea control go hand in hand.Cats urinate in inappropriate areas such as Siamese or the Night Mode simply by pushing the palm of your fence where a cat frequent urination than usual, seem listless, object to being handled and will come and go, occasionally staying a while the other towel should be able to see, the subject of pets, if their behavior will help prevent furballs.When it comes to litter training, this is a key to dealing with a little advanced planning and research can help you to maintain good health is notThis can be relating to stress or anxiety.

[kristablogs]

The truth about Area 51 UFO sightings, according to a local expert

What's the real story behind the mysterious lights over Rachel, Nevada? (Phil McDonald/Deposit Photos/)

Reprinted with permission from They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers by Sarah Scoles. Published by Pegasus Books. © Sarah Scoles.

Arnu arrives at the A’Le’Inn in a big SUV, pulling up and saying hi to the hungover twentysomethings rocking in rocking chairs out front before he greets us.

“You ready?” he asks, and we pack into his Tahoe and head right back out on the Extraterrestrial Highway.

Arnu has owned property in Rachel since the early 2000s. Back in its boom, when the tungsten mine near Tempiute Mountain was still digging wealth out of the planet, around 500 people lived here. Today, it’s a small town—just around fifty residents, who meet up at the collective mailbox when the Postal Service arrives. Young people, Arnu says, tend to leave. There’s no TV reception. There’s just a squeak of cell phone service. Few places exist to build a career, none to go to college. Some people work at what they simply call “the test site,” an umbrella term that could refer to any of the secret-squirrel operations nearby—the Nevada National Security Site, the Tonopah Test Range, or Area 51.

Around ten people also work at the A’Le’Inn, by far Rachel’s biggest employer. They’re always hiring, because people are always leaving. But people are always showing up, too. “Sometimes they come up here because they are interested in Area 51,” says Arnu, “and they just get stuck.”

That’s what happened to Arnu, decades ago now. It all started with online research into Area 51, reading a website run by a former programmer and airline worker named Glenn Campbell. In the 1990s, Campbell ran the Area 51 Research Center and two UFO newsletters—The Groom Lake Desert Rat and the just plain Desert Rat. The newsletter logo featured a sentient rodent with safari shirt, walkie-talkie, and binoculars, underneath the tagline “The Naked Truth from Open Sources.”

Recalling this, Arnu speeds along the straight road. “He was one of the first that brought the attention of the general public,” he says. But Campbell was mysterious, evasive. “I wanted to know what’s really going on here. Are there UFOs are there no UFOs?”

So Arnu took a day trip, traveling from his home in San Francisco. And when he arrived, he found a place that was fascinating as much for its terrestrial qualities as its celestial hypotheticals. “I had never really experienced the desert in this way,” he says. “And it was just like, ‘Oh my God, this is a whole different world.’ ”

He thought of it, thinks of it now, in terms of motorcycle trips—a hobby of his that he just calls “riding.” “It’s always my thing: I want to see what’s behind the next turn, the next hill,” he says. And despite how this highway feels—unchanging, flat, forever—if you veer from it, turns and hills and the secrets behind them abound.

Release date: March 3 (Courtesy of Pegasus Books/)

Arnu went back home knowing he would return. The presence of the place loomed over him, shook him. Soon enough, the labor market gave him a chance: His company downsized, so he took a severance package and car-camped around Rachel.

Soon after that, Arnu started his own website, mostly a blog detailing his daily exploits: As he summarizes it, Today I went out to this gate, this is what I found, check out my pictures. More important than anything he wrote, though, were the comments sections.

“It’s like people were only waiting for a place to congregate,” he says. He soon started a forum—still going strong today—dedicated to such interaction. “We’re geeks,” he says. “We’re loners. But at the same time we also want to discuss what we do with like-minded people.”

He moved to Vegas in 2002 and then bought the property in Rachel, working remotely a lot so he could spend a week at a time in the remote desert.

“And here I am,” he says. “Years later. Still unraveling the mystery of Area 51.”

Arnu looks through the Tahoe’s windshield and points at a prominent peak ahead of us. If you can get to the top, you can see inside Area 51, which would then be 26 miles away. This high spot is the only one left with that view, the military having gobbled up all closer vantage points in a series of land grabs. Here’s what the base looks like from up there: Dark, if you’re doing it right, because the interesting stuff happens at night. But all of a sudden, way across the valley, a runway illuminates itself, a long line of lights dotting the landscape. “You know something is about to happen,” Arnu says. Aircraft bulbs streak along the runway, as a Whatever speeds to takeoff. And as soon as the Whatever is airborne, its lights blink out of existence, and so do the runway’s. The Earth becomes as optically opaque as it was before.

It’s not that they appear. It’s that they disappear.

Nevertheless, the base continues to give away information invisibly: Pilots talk on radios, and if the chatter is not so secret, you may be able to catch a monologue.

Arnu has a radio scanner, which he now turns on, mounted to the dash of his Tahoe. It runs through many Hertz in search of such communication. As the display rolls across frequencies, I prepare to tell Arnu about what we saw last night, feeling silly and like every other overexcitable person who’s ever visited the region.

I know from our prior emails that Arnu doesn’t ride the alien train. Sure, creepy stuff happens here. Sure, there are strange lights, technologies we can barely fathom. But they don’t require invocation of the extraterrestrial: They’re just the government, doing things the world isn’t privy to—the growing up of projects perhaps born classified, just like it always has here.

That started with the U-2, which flew twice as high as a commercial jet, and much higher than anything else at the time. Workers commuted daily on passenger jets—a secret service people call, in its modern incarnation, “Janet airlines”—partly so that permanent residences would not reveal the scale of efforts here. U-2 pilots, though they worked for the CIA, wore civilian clothes and pretended to do weather-related research, according to the book Area 51 by investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen.

Later, Area 51 hosted the Oxcart spy plane project, the U-2 successor that also flew close to the sun but showed up dimmer on radar. Jacobsen writes that FAA and NORAD employees were instructed “not to ask questions about anything flying over 40,000 feet.” And when commercial flights crossed paths with an Oxcart, and a pilot did report it, the FBI would meet the plane at the gate, asking passengers to sign nondisclosure agreements.

Rachel is the closest town to Area 51, a top-security Air Force testing ground in the southeastern Nevada desert. (Alexey Stiop/Deposit Photos/)

Around the country, people nonetheless spotted spy planes and reported them as UFOs. Says a CIA report from 1997, “Over half of all UFO reports from the late 1950s through the 1960s were accounted for by manned reconnaissance flights (namely the U-2) over the United States.” Many, including UFO skeptics, dispute this take, but it doesn’t seem absurd that the government would use UFO reports to understand how conspicuous its technology would look in less friendly skies. And it doesn’t actually want people to see skylights and think “spy planes.” So it is sometimes in the feds’ best interest to let people attribute the phenomenon to something mysterious, unearthly, not them. And—bonus—because many people thought UFOs were woo-woo and not “real,” whoever heard about these UFO sightings would likely dismiss the very real U-2 or A-12 their kid had just seen. The government’s secrets could stay secret. If you wanted to create a theory about why the military hasn’t come out swinging against some of its pilots’ more modern sightings, you might consider this part of the past.

“ ‘Oh, well, these people just saw another UFO,’ ” mimics Arnu. “In actuality they may have seen something super-secret ... If you make people look like fools when they say they saw something, if they say they saw something super secret, what better way to discredit them?” Given the government’s history of passive deception, and active secret-keeping, here, is it any surprise that people suspect it could be hiding something more inside Area 51?

But I want to know what Arnu, who sees this stuff every day, thinks of my sighting. So I describe the on-off lights, their hovering, and my theory that this was some kind of hide-and-seek exercise.

Arnu frowns in concentration. “Were the lights kind of orange?” he asks. “A bright orange color?”

“Yes!” says Carolyn from the backseat. Arnu nods and then goes on to describe exactly what we saw, detail for detail, as if he were there.

“That was flares you were seeing,” he says. A plane chases another plane, and the chaser sends off a (fake) heat-seeking missile. The chased plane drops flares, which burn so hot that they distract the missile, which then chases them instead of the jet’s exhaust. These planes drop flares in patterns—disc shapes, sometimes—to send the missiles clear off course.

Hearing this incident repeated back, with more meaning, makes me feel the way people do when they discover their seemingly singular experience is, in fact, universal: equal parts relieved and disappointed.

Arnu’s first UFO sighting, turns out, was also flares. He had been camping right where we did, in the gravel parking area. “I looked over Tikaboo,” he says, referring to one of the peaks, “and all of a sudden, I see this disc-shaped object of orange orbs hanging in the sky.”

It’s all true, he recalls thinking. They’re coming to get me.

But they weren’t and they didn’t. He was just primed: He thought he had witnessed a UFO because that’s what he expected to witness. “Your eyes see what you want them to see,” he says.

He then begins to talk about YouTube videos of cars disappearing on the Extraterrestrial Highway. They’re not disappearing, he says: They’re coming down from summits, hitting dips.

“We saw that!” I say, and describe how I scared ourselves into thinking that the guards had set a trap.

“That’s why I’m such a skeptic,” says Arnu. “Because I’ve seen it. And I know for a fact what they’re describing is very explainable.” Talking to Arnu feels like seeing a therapist who understands, even when you don’t, that your problems are all because of your mom.

[scootoaster]

The truth about Area 51 UFO sightings, according to a local expert

What's the real story behind the mysterious lights over Rachel, Nevada? (Phil McDonald/Deposit Photos/)

Reprinted with permission from They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers by Sarah Scoles. Published by Pegasus Books. © Sarah Scoles.

Arnu arrives at the A’Le’Inn in a big SUV, pulling up and saying hi to the hungover twentysomethings rocking in rocking chairs out front before he greets us.

“You ready?” he asks, and we pack into his Tahoe and head right back out on the Extraterrestrial Highway.

Arnu has owned property in Rachel since the early 2000s. Back in its boom, when the tungsten mine near Tempiute Mountain was still digging wealth out of the planet, around 500 people lived here. Today, it’s a small town—just around fifty residents, who meet up at the collective mailbox when the Postal Service arrives. Young people, Arnu says, tend to leave. There’s no TV reception. There’s just a squeak of cell phone service. Few places exist to build a career, none to go to college. Some people work at what they simply call “the test site,” an umbrella term that could refer to any of the secret-squirrel operations nearby—the Nevada National Security Site, the Tonopah Test Range, or Area 51.

Around ten people also work at the A’Le’Inn, by far Rachel’s biggest employer. They’re always hiring, because people are always leaving. But people are always showing up, too. “Sometimes they come up here because they are interested in Area 51,” says Arnu, “and they just get stuck.”

That’s what happened to Arnu, decades ago now. It all started with online research into Area 51, reading a website run by a former programmer and airline worker named Glenn Campbell. In the 1990s, Campbell ran the Area 51 Research Center and two UFO newsletters—The Groom Lake Desert Rat and the just plain Desert Rat. The newsletter logo featured a sentient rodent with safari shirt, walkie-talkie, and binoculars, underneath the tagline “The Naked Truth from Open Sources.”

Recalling this, Arnu speeds along the straight road. “He was one of the first that brought the attention of the general public,” he says. But Campbell was mysterious, evasive. “I wanted to know what’s really going on here. Are there UFOs are there no UFOs?”

So Arnu took a day trip, traveling from his home in San Francisco. And when he arrived, he found a place that was fascinating as much for its terrestrial qualities as its celestial hypotheticals. “I had never really experienced the desert in this way,” he says. “And it was just like, ‘Oh my God, this is a whole different world.’ ”

He thought of it, thinks of it now, in terms of motorcycle trips—a hobby of his that he just calls “riding.” “It’s always my thing: I want to see what’s behind the next turn, the next hill,” he says. And despite how this highway feels—unchanging, flat, forever—if you veer from it, turns and hills and the secrets behind them abound.

Release date: March 3 (Courtesy of Pegasus Books/)

Arnu went back home knowing he would return. The presence of the place loomed over him, shook him. Soon enough, the labor market gave him a chance: His company downsized, so he took a severance package and car-camped around Rachel.

Soon after that, Arnu started his own website, mostly a blog detailing his daily exploits: As he summarizes it, Today I went out to this gate, this is what I found, check out my pictures. More important than anything he wrote, though, were the comments sections.

“It’s like people were only waiting for a place to congregate,” he says. He soon started a forum—still going strong today—dedicated to such interaction. “We’re geeks,” he says. “We’re loners. But at the same time we also want to discuss what we do with like-minded people.”

He moved to Vegas in 2002 and then bought the property in Rachel, working remotely a lot so he could spend a week at a time in the remote desert.

“And here I am,” he says. “Years later. Still unraveling the mystery of Area 51.”

Arnu looks through the Tahoe’s windshield and points at a prominent peak ahead of us. If you can get to the top, you can see inside Area 51, which would then be 26 miles away. This high spot is the only one left with that view, the military having gobbled up all closer vantage points in a series of land grabs. Here’s what the base looks like from up there: Dark, if you’re doing it right, because the interesting stuff happens at night. But all of a sudden, way across the valley, a runway illuminates itself, a long line of lights dotting the landscape. “You know something is about to happen,” Arnu says. Aircraft bulbs streak along the runway, as a Whatever speeds to takeoff. And as soon as the Whatever is airborne, its lights blink out of existence, and so do the runway’s. The Earth becomes as optically opaque as it was before.

It’s not that they appear. It’s that they disappear.

Nevertheless, the base continues to give away information invisibly: Pilots talk on radios, and if the chatter is not so secret, you may be able to catch a monologue.

Arnu has a radio scanner, which he now turns on, mounted to the dash of his Tahoe. It runs through many Hertz in search of such communication. As the display rolls across frequencies, I prepare to tell Arnu about what we saw last night, feeling silly and like every other overexcitable person who’s ever visited the region.

I know from our prior emails that Arnu doesn’t ride the alien train. Sure, creepy stuff happens here. Sure, there are strange lights, technologies we can barely fathom. But they don’t require invocation of the extraterrestrial: They’re just the government, doing things the world isn’t privy to—the growing up of projects perhaps born classified, just like it always has here.

That started with the U-2, which flew twice as high as a commercial jet, and much higher than anything else at the time. Workers commuted daily on passenger jets—a secret service people call, in its modern incarnation, “Janet airlines”—partly so that permanent residences would not reveal the scale of efforts here. U-2 pilots, though they worked for the CIA, wore civilian clothes and pretended to do weather-related research, according to the book Area 51 by investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen.

Later, Area 51 hosted the Oxcart spy plane project, the U-2 successor that also flew close to the sun but showed up dimmer on radar. Jacobsen writes that FAA and NORAD employees were instructed “not to ask questions about anything flying over 40,000 feet.” And when commercial flights crossed paths with an Oxcart, and a pilot did report it, the FBI would meet the plane at the gate, asking passengers to sign nondisclosure agreements.

Rachel is the closest town to Area 51, a top-security Air Force testing ground in the southeastern Nevada desert. (Alexey Stiop/Deposit Photos/)

Around the country, people nonetheless spotted spy planes and reported them as UFOs. Says a CIA report from 1997, “Over half of all UFO reports from the late 1950s through the 1960s were accounted for by manned reconnaissance flights (namely the U-2) over the United States.” Many, including UFO skeptics, dispute this take, but it doesn’t seem absurd that the government would use UFO reports to understand how conspicuous its technology would look in less friendly skies. And it doesn’t actually want people to see skylights and think “spy planes.” So it is sometimes in the feds’ best interest to let people attribute the phenomenon to something mysterious, unearthly, not them. And—bonus—because many people thought UFOs were woo-woo and not “real,” whoever heard about these UFO sightings would likely dismiss the very real U-2 or A-12 their kid had just seen. The government’s secrets could stay secret. If you wanted to create a theory about why the military hasn’t come out swinging against some of its pilots’ more modern sightings, you might consider this part of the past.

“ ‘Oh, well, these people just saw another UFO,’ ” mimics Arnu. “In actuality they may have seen something super-secret ... If you make people look like fools when they say they saw something, if they say they saw something super secret, what better way to discredit them?” Given the government’s history of passive deception, and active secret-keeping, here, is it any surprise that people suspect it could be hiding something more inside Area 51?

But I want to know what Arnu, who sees this stuff every day, thinks of my sighting. So I describe the on-off lights, their hovering, and my theory that this was some kind of hide-and-seek exercise.

Arnu frowns in concentration. “Were the lights kind of orange?” he asks. “A bright orange color?”

“Yes!” says Carolyn from the backseat. Arnu nods and then goes on to describe exactly what we saw, detail for detail, as if he were there.

“That was flares you were seeing,” he says. A plane chases another plane, and the chaser sends off a (fake) heat-seeking missile. The chased plane drops flares, which burn so hot that they distract the missile, which then chases them instead of the jet’s exhaust. These planes drop flares in patterns—disc shapes, sometimes—to send the missiles clear off course.

Hearing this incident repeated back, with more meaning, makes me feel the way people do when they discover their seemingly singular experience is, in fact, universal: equal parts relieved and disappointed.

Arnu’s first UFO sighting, turns out, was also flares. He had been camping right where we did, in the gravel parking area. “I looked over Tikaboo,” he says, referring to one of the peaks, “and all of a sudden, I see this disc-shaped object of orange orbs hanging in the sky.”

It’s all true, he recalls thinking. They’re coming to get me.

But they weren’t and they didn’t. He was just primed: He thought he had witnessed a UFO because that’s what he expected to witness. “Your eyes see what you want them to see,” he says.

He then begins to talk about YouTube videos of cars disappearing on the Extraterrestrial Highway. They’re not disappearing, he says: They’re coming down from summits, hitting dips.

“We saw that!” I say, and describe how I scared ourselves into thinking that the guards had set a trap.

“That’s why I’m such a skeptic,” says Arnu. “Because I’ve seen it. And I know for a fact what they’re describing is very explainable.” Talking to Arnu feels like seeing a therapist who understands, even when you don’t, that your problems are all because of your mom.