#(we wish you) a protein christmas

[spilladabalia]

The Fall - We Wish You A Protein Christmas

[suzukiblu]

Excerpt from an in-progress DP x DC soulmate AU starring Jazz Fenton, a very unfortunate mugger, and a smoothie. Oh, and I guess Jason is there too.

Jazz meets her soulmate in, of all places, Park Row. Or as the locals call it, Crime Alley.

Seems about right for her life, she decides as she kicks the shit out of the guy who was trying to stab him for his wallet fifteen seconds ago. Her soulmate watches her curiously, seeming unconcerned by the fuss, and takes a sip of his smoothie.

Also seems about right, for her soulmate. A guy who got too nervous when necessary violence happened was not going to survive Thanksgiving in Amity Park, much less Christmas.

Well, it is Gotham.

"Hi," he says.

"Hi, sorry, one sec," Jazz says, then leans over the groaning mugger and offers him a card to the best local crisis center she's managed to track down via research and word of mouth in the four months she's been in Gotham. Not her card, obviously, since she just roundhouse-kicked the guy in the head to protect her soulmate from him and that's arguably a conflict of interest. Or close enough, anyway. "So you should check these guys out, they've got a very high success rate in their job program and there's an associated food bank and rent assistance, if you qualify."

"What?" the mugger says dazedly.

"Also if you ever touch my soulmate again I'll make you wish for the cold mercy of the Infinite Realms," Jazz adds pleasantly. The guy goes very, very pale. Then he snatches the card from her and runs for his life and eternal soul.

"This is the nicest thing the universe has ever done to me," her soulmate muses, taking another sip of his smoothie.

"Getting you mugged?" Jazz asks wryly, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Are you religious? Do you want kids?" her soulmate asks. "Also, who's your favorite Bat?"

"Robin, obviously," Jazz says. "The overdramatic and feral little stabby one, I mean. He reminds me of my little brother. Makes me feel a little bit maternal, to be honest. So that answers two out of three, and as far as religion goes, I only believe in Psychology Today, highly customized guns, and my mom's ninth-degree black belt."

"This better not awaken anything in me," her soulmate mutters under his breath.

"That seems unlikely, or we wouldn't be soulmates," Jazz says.

"Point," he says, sipping his smoothie again. Jazz didn't even know anywhere in Crime Alley sold smoothies, but she is new around here. "Wanna go break my bed? Or maybe go get coffee?"

"You've already got a smoothie," Jazz says.

"So I do," he says.

Jazz looks him over. He's her soulmate, so she's not surprised to find him gorgeous. She wasn't ever expecting a familial soulmate–Danny is a very intense sibling to have, and her parents are very intense parents to have, not to mention everything about Dani, and "soulcousins" aren't typically a thing–and she's never been especially interested in keeping around too many close friends, so considering all that, she was already expecting her soulmate to be a romantic one. If they are platonic, it's definitely only going to be because her soulmate is an aromantic asexual. Which he probably isn't, since he already asked about kids and religion and if she wanted to go break his bed.

Then again, she's met people who'll posture worse than that. Especially guys, and especially ace ones with a clear investment in their masculinity, and given this particular guy is built like a brick house could only dream to be, chances are he has some feelings about his masculinity. Though he's also drinking a visibly pink smoothie, not a neutral-colored protein shake or generic black coffee, so . . . fifty-fifty there, maybe?

Further inquiry will probably be required.

"I'm Jazz," she tells him. "What's your name?"

"Robin," he says. Then he–pauses. Blinks. "I mean–Robin."

He looks very confused for a second, and Jazz blinks too, and refocuses her eyes a bit. Oh, is he–

"Are you overshadowing that guy?" she assumes. For the love of–of course her soulmate would be a ghost, she thinks dryly. Who'd want a soulmate their mom and dad wouldn't want to grill for information and ask a thousand invasive questions, after all? "I mean, he's really hot, don't get me wrong, he looks good on you, but I'd rather meet you for real."

"'Overshadowing'?" Robin looks bemused.

"I'm Danny's sister," Jazz clarifies. Robin does not look less bemused. "You know, the new king?"

"What?" Robin says. Jazz frowns a little, feeling a bit bemused herself.

"Do you not get out much?" she asks.

"Never, actually, but also yes and constantly and way too often," Robin says. "My job is kind of demanding that way."

"What's your job?" Jazz asks curiously. Ghosts' jobs are always interesting, even if only for how they interact and manifest with their Obsessions. She wonders what his Obsession is, actually, because smoothies seem like an unlikely option but she doesn't have much else to go on here.

Can't be weirder than Box Ghost, either way.

"I'm a Bat," Robin says, then looks absolutely alarmed and also absolutely horrified.

"Huh," Jazz says, tilting her head. He seems really big to be one of the Robins, and a little too old besides. A year or two younger than her, maybe, and even the older Robin she's pretty sure is at best Danny's age. Though that's assuming this body is the one he fights crime in, admittedly. Although it's kinda funny if one of the Bats is just named Robin. Must get annoying on patrol, though. "I didn't know any of you were dead, but I guess that's not actually a surprise either, given the profession."

"Why did I say that to you?" Robin asks tightly.

"I told you, I'm the new king's sister," Jazz says. "You know, it's the royal family thing. Technically I'm his regent, legally speaking, but only because I'm better at paperwork and he doesn't count as a legal adult in the Infinite Realms yet. Hasn't been dead long enough, you know how it is. But I've been alive long enough to, apparently? But his 'being alive' technically stopped tracking at fourteen. It's complicated, basically."

"What the fuck does that mean?!" Robin demands.

"It means you can't lie to me because you're one of my brother's subjects," Jazz says, really not understanding his reaction. Every ghost knows this, after all. The only ones who wouldn't know it are too young to be away from their guardians' haunts or even leave the Infinite Realms at all. Definitely a ghost who knows how to overshadow someone this thoroughly and fully is old enough and experienced enough to know it, though. "Whose body is that, anyway?"

"It's my father's," Robin says. Jazz's eyes widen a little and she has several very concerned internal reactions before he chokes and sputters–"I mean–it's not–he's not–!"

"You realize there is no healthy way to mean that, right?" Jazz says. Robin looks frustrated and freaked out and she feels bad about it, because she didn't mean or want to upset him, but she clearly has. "Sorry. I mean, I still secretly feel like I'm the one parenting my parents half the time, you're not the only one with weird feelings about yours."

"I'm his," Robin says, then grits his teeth in visible pain. He's this close to crushing the smoothie cup he's holding but hasn't actually done it. Jazz wonders if that's an example of deliberate self-control or subconscious restraint.

She's pretty sure Robin didn't mean to say that, though.

"Are you okay?" she asks, a little concerned. Normally ghosts just stop talking about things they want to lie about, when they realize who she is.

"No," Robin says. "I'm just his. I've always been his, I always will be, his good soldier, his worst mistake, not his actual fucking son, why am I telling you this?!"

"I don't know," Jazz says, frowning in increased concern. "Usually people can work around the inability to lie a little bit, but you sound like you're being compelled to speak. Increasingly like, actually. Hm. What's your Obsession? And what kind of core do you have?"

"What?" he says.

"They might be making you unstable, is all," Jazz says. "I don't think it'd be a soulmate thing but to be fair I don't really know how that works. Are you dead, or are you a manifestation of something?"

"I'm dead," Robin says, staring at her. "That bastard clown beat my head in with a crowbar and blew up what was left of me. I woke up in my grave and–I–how did you know that?"

"Well, I didn't, that's why I asked," Jazz says reasonably, idly wondering why the Joker isn't dead yet, since this is Gotham and obviously it wouldn't be another "bastard clown" Robin was referencing, even if he wasn't a Bat. But like, at least dead via the court system, if nothing else. The Joker is insane, yes, but no one can argue he doesn't know right from wrong at this point. Does New Jersey just not have the death penalty, maybe? She hasn't thought to check. "Maybe it's the guy you're in? He's not drunk or high or anything, is he?"

"I hate drugs," Robin says, gritting his teeth again; tightening his grip on the smoothie again. He's trembling, just barely. "I hate them. I'd never touch them. I don't know what you are. You're scaring me. Please stop."

He definitely didn't mean to say that, Jazz can tell.

But . . . he doesn't know what she is.

He doesn't know.

Well, that's a problem.

"Robin," she says gently, and for some reason his face twists painfully at the sound of his own name. "Can I see your core? Please?"

[musings-of-a-college-dork]

An Odd Request

Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader

Word count: roughly 1K

Steve’s wife goes to the gym and makes an odd request when she arrives home. 

Warnings: sorta NSFW (mdni), use of Y/N, terms of endearment (baby).

Author’s note: This is just fluffy Steve and was written directly after I got home from the gym needing this man and a very specific kind of cuddling so…here it is! Short and sweet and very silly. Hope y’all enjoy! 

It was a quiet Saturday morning in the Harrington household. Steve was the only one home, having a few hours on his own as Y/N went to meet her personal trainer. She had been seeing a trainer for a while as she, quote on quote, wanted “to be able to carry all the groceries in a single trip all by myself.” A noble and worthy cause in Steve’s eyes and yet as long as he was around, she’d never have to lift a finger. He was more than content to show off his own strength for her enjoyment…and yet wished to support her in any and all of her goals so off to the gym she had gone. As such, he had the home to himself for a few hours, a chance to get some work done. 

He had spent most of the morning thus far drinking his coffee and sketching up new basketball drills and formations for the middle school team he coached. He finally understood exactly what Hopper had meant all those years ago about “coffee and contemplation” finding more and more that the man’s wisdom was never ending the older he got. We’ve gotta tighten up their current formations, he thought as the TV played some mindless sitcom in the background while he chewed on the end of his pencil. His mind looked over the squiggles on the paper in front of him trying to decide how to fix this. It had been weeks since they had won a game and morale was dropping fast. Jamie has to pass more but Donovan can’t really shoot…maybe if we move Paul to center and then swap Jordan and Cole we could-

The man wasn’t given another moment to think as he heard the front door open and close with a loud slam, the sound of feet padding their way down the entry hallway. 

“Hey, baby!” Steve called as he continued to focus on the squiggles, drawing a few more lines before erasing them with equally as much vigor, “How was the gym?” A loud groan was all he received in reply as his wife dropped her bag to the ground and kicked off her tennis shoes, not even bothering to put them in the basket where she knew they belonged. The same basket she insisted his shoes lived in but rules didn’t apply to her, at least not right now. I’ll tease her about it later. “That good huh?” He called with a low chuckle as he ran a hand through his hair, “Well your protein shake is in the fridge. Should be cold enough since I put it in when you left.” Oddly enough, the man received no response. He waited a moment before he called again, looking up from his work.

“Bab-” And just like that she was in front of him. He jumped and let out a quiet swear as he clutched a hand to his chest. He hadn’t seen her before she had left and found himself taking a sharp inhale as he looked her up and down. She looked so fucking gorgeous in those tight black leggings that fit her just right, a simple white workout top, hugging her every curve, and the expensive black workout jacket he had saved up to get her for Christmas that she never left for the gym without. Not to mention the way her hair looked post-workout and the glow of sweat that radiated off of her. He was about to open his mouth to make some lewd remark he hoped she’d find charming but-

“Hold my tits.” The man blinked once, then again, his mouth open and gaping like a fish. 

“W-what?” 

“I want your hands on my tits,” Y/N repeated, holding his gaze with complete and utter seriousness, “Please.” 

“Like…you want my…”

“Your hands. On my tits. Now.” When the man continued not to move his wife let out a deep sigh and took the pencil from his hand, laying it down next to his sketch as she replaced it with something much better. She led his large palm gently to her breast, letting out a sigh of relief as she encouraged him to give a little squeeze. Again, Steve didn’t even know what to do, never having seen her like this. Sure, she was usually a little more cuddly and blissed out after the gym as the endorphins ran through her body but this was…new. A good kind of new. 

“So I take it you had a good time at the gym?” The man teased breathlessly as he ushered her around the coffee table to sit beside him on the couch. The woman let out a hum in confirmation as she laid down so they were pressed together, her back to his front, and wrapped his arms around her so his hands could live right where she needed them to. Another chuckle came from Steve as he buried his face into her hair finding-

“Did you put on perfume?” 

“After working out,” she whispered as her eyes closed shut in complete and utter satisfaction, being held just the way she needed to be right now, “Didn’t want to come home smelling only like sweat.”

“I don’t mind,” Steve used his nose to brush the hair from the side of her neck, making her giggle as he pressed mindless kisses there, “I smell like sweat all the time and you still love me.” 

“I do,” Y/N titled her head so he could press a kiss to her lips, one she returned eagerly before laying her head back down on the couch, “Fuck, I’m never doing the Stairmaster ever again.” 

“Y/N, baby, if this,” Steve gave her tits a little squeeze to punctuate his thought, “is what happens after you’re on the Stairmaster, by all means, keep doing it. Any excuse to cuddle with my pretty little wife and hold her boobies is more than fine by me.” 

“Don’t call them that,” Y/N scrunched her nose with a chuckle as she pressed her ass more into him to fit them closer together. 

“What?” The man teased giving another squeeze, “Boobies?” 

“STEVE!” The couple dissolved into a communal fit of giggles as they lay there together, all stress and strain completely forgotten as calm domesticity filled their hearts and home. 

[theehorsepusssy]

THE FALL - We Wish You A Protein Christmas

[seasononesam]

Im clocking in for my 8 hour shift at the talking to you about Sam factory 🧍I really wish that throughout the show we could have had more moments like the prank war in hell house like right at the end where they’re laughing and goofing like that clip makes me want to explode so bad. Also when they’re fighting over the money clip (I don’t remember the episode I hope u know what im talking about). Also that one where they’re recounting the plot to Bobby and making fun of each other. Also that Christmas episode. Like look me in the eyes and say Sam doesn’t love Dean when he bought him oil and a protein bar at the gas station and put together a Christmas party and made him EGGNOG !! Like I really think that people who think that Sam doesn’t love Dean don’t have a younger brother (I have many so I am qualified to speak on this and little brothers are the worst until they’re not. Like one of my brothers refuses to hug me back he just stands there and lets me hug him. If we were characters in SPN people would be dragging him through the mud for not loving me). I don’t remember what I was saying. Anyway. Sam loves Dean and if Dean was here with us today he would be going through the Sam Crit tag and picking fights with everyone in it.

welcome valued employee 🫡

but yes REAL AND TRUE!!! I know we get a few moments in later seasons but there's something about the early ones where they're just such brothers (tm). sam clearly loves dean more than anything and yet the way some people talk about it is like...wow sam hates dean or dean SHOULD hate sam but no you are correct if he saw what you guys were saying about sammy his little brother sammy he would be mad.

[writing-whump]

Cold with a chance of fluff

Seline comes down with a cold. Isaiah is frustrated she didn't tell him. Some fluff and cuddles.

Isaiah came home around 5 pm, snowflakes melting in his black waves as he shook off his coat.

"Sel! I waited for you in front of the uni. Where were you?" His eyes widened as he approached the living room, where she was wrapped in blankets and her fluffy bathrobe with an ereader on her lap.

"Wait. You didn't go anywhere today?" he said with disbelief.

Seline shrugged, leaning against the cushions behind her. "Nope. My throat was all scratchy yesterday so I thought I would take an easy day and maybe the cold wouldn't go all out."

"A cold?"

"Yeah. It's been really going around at work. 7 people called in sick this week, can you believe that? As if the Christmas coming closer and the promise of holiday makes everyone unguarded."

Seline was rather eager to play the whole thing off. It was nothing. Sh felt the cold coming up for some time, hoping she could fight it off without any symptoms. The first indicator were the giant aphtas on her right cheek. They spread around at the start of the week, but there was still a chance they would go away if she just didn't poke at them...

But then the mucus started to gather at the back of her throat and it hurt to swallow. And she was tired and cold, even more than usual, going to the bathroom several times a day to just hold her hands under the hot water to unfreeze. It was horrible how cold she was after sitting for one hour while everyone else praised how well the university building's heating system worked this year.

Being sick always meant free days when she was small. Her mom fussing, making her honeyed tea and overflowing with home remedies like onions with sugar in a jar to take little spoons off and snuggling up in blankets by the fireplace with her favourite movies running in the backround.

During the decade of her travelling with the train back and forth, sickness became tiring. It was a gamble between 'I don't feel too bad but if I have to travel for two hours to the city and back I might' and the stress of when was she strong enough to return again. The darkness falling early, the frozen streets covered with snow, the sheer coldness in the air, the feeling of being stranded in the city...

She felt stranded even now. Away from her family cushioning, sick with something stupid and small that shouldn't stress her out. At least she had 5 days free in a row, since there was a holiday of some sort she didn't even know the name off and because she had classes only on three days and work was dying out. Students didn't really want to work on their thesis before the big holidays. She had some stuff to hand it, but her head felt stuffed with cotton from the early morning, so she gave up that.

Instead, she resolved to fight the cold with tea, warmth and movies, hopefully strong enough till the evening, when the boys came home.

She was not going to be stressed out, emotional and whiny over a cold, just cause she wasn't home, didn't like anything she cooked and wished for nothing more than a fresh warm soup. No way she was that childish.

And no way she was going to ask or demand too much again. She had asked guys to stay with her at least until the next train came. She asked if she could tag along for a Christmas Market visit or a lecture or if they would wait for her to show her a way to a pub every local knew but she never heard off.

No way she was going to ask anything like that again.

Isaiah still looked stunned as he unwrapped his cashmere scarf with black-gray-white stripes. "And you didn't think to mention that in the morning? Or message me?"

"It's nothing serious. And the end of the year is stressful for you, you are handing in your master thesis proposal after all."

Isaiah regarded her with a frown. "Did you eat anything?"

"Eggs and bread. We are out of both though." And Matthew's protein shakes. Cause there was nothing that could fill you up so reliably while the taste didn't matter. And you could make it with boiling water! Anything warm was a plus.

Isaiah scoffed, going behind the sofa into the kitchen, opening the cupboards in a quick succession. "I'll make you a soup. Beans and noddles sound okay?" He already had beans in the water since yesterday evening.

Warm soup of anything sounded wonderful, though she never heard about noodles combined in a bean soup. "You don't have to-"

"Do you like it or not?" His voice was frustrated.

"Ah, yes, of course," she said a little coyly.

Isaiah threw the beans in and cooked the noodles parallely next to it. The kitchen soon warmed up with the smells and light that spread over the floor.

Seline stood up from her little nest on the sofa, feeling obligated to contribute in some way.

Her head began to pound almost immediately when she got into a standing position and she felt terribly self-conscious about the bathrobe and her pyjamas. She didn't bother changing, knowing she would just sweat through anything and the loose pjs were the most comfortable.

Isaiah watched her from the corner of his eye, steering the soup and adding salt and paprika inside. "Sit down."

"Can I-"

"Please, don't." His voice was weirdly clipped.

He didn't give her a hello kiss or reach to hug her or touch her. It was rather strange, making her chest all tight.

She recoiled in response just a little, hugging herself.

"Go sit down," he said, tone softening. Then he turned a little towards her, cupping the side of her face. "And take your temperature as well."

Seline leaned into his touch just a little, enjoying the warmth of his palm against her skin and the weird cotton feeling inside her scull. "Okay," she said with a small voice.

Staggering back onto the couch was a relief. She huddled back into the blankets. Even reaching for the handkerchief inside her bathrobe felt embarrassing, cause what would he thing? It was a bad idea to have come here, she should have just stayed in her room and be gross there...

Isaiah brought her a green tea with lemon just a few minutes later, gingerly putting it onto the table. "Sugar?"

"No, thank you." Her voice was all clogged up, but she was too shy to blow her nose in front of him. Oh hell, she was being so irrational, even to herself.

Isaiah sat down beside her, stirring the tea with care, taking the tea bag out on a small plate on the tray he brought.

"Are you going to say that everytime I try to give you something? 'No, thanks'?"

Her head snapped back a little from suprise. "What?"

Isaiah pouted, looking at the tea cup in his hands. "You didn't tell me you were sick. And you are all embarrassed and red and flinch, when I get close."

"Aw, come on, Isaiah. It's not like that." Seline looked for the handkrief, pulling it out of the bathrobe pocket to wave it at him. "You can't seriously want to see this, can you?"

"Oh? And what's up with all the 'why don't you want me near, Isaiah?' Or 'you feeling sick, can I help you, Isaiah?'. Or my favourite 'I couldn't find you disgusting if I tried'?"

She shrank at the reminder. "But that's dif-"

"You think I could do anything less for you?"

"You don't have to do it just because you owe me-"

"Owe you?" His eyebrows shot up.

Yeah, what was she supposed to say to that? They just started dating. Sure, they saw each other in some embarrassing or vulnerable situations, but Isaiah's issues were more serious than hers. And he didn't owe her so much as she owed him for having such a difficult argumentative personality, for picking up fights and asking sensitive questions and driving people mad with topics they were too tired or unwilling to talk about...about for being a witch that wasn't willing to get along or to tolerate rules or get along with others, who walked around the city just finding things she disagreed with, feeling alienated and and alone and like the world was against her.

Isaiah came, made her break her rules about getting involved with wolves. Then he made her feel safe and fascinated and like she wasn't a burden to wait for at the train station or in front of the University or ask about a German word that still escapes her after living in Austria for 14 years...

Isaiah slid closer on the sofa, taking both of her hands in his, snotty handkerchief still balled up in one of her fists.

"What if I want to do this? What then?" he asked, leaning closer to her, forehead almost touching hers.

Her breath hitched a little and she reddened at the closeness.

Isaiah's lips brushed against her ear. "Didn't I tell you already? You could do anything to me and I wouldn't mind?"

She looked up at him, drinking in the intensity of his sea green eyes from this close, the warmth and smell of his cologne radiating from his skin....

And then she sneezed. Right against his neck.

"Oh, I'm so sorry-" she pressed her hand against her running nose, her throat tickling and ears burning with emerassment.

Isaiah chuckled, hugging her close abrupty. He seemed to have realized that where words didn't work, touch would work just fine.

She sniffled against his arms, enjoying being balled up. He rubbed her back, face burying into her hair, still chuckling.

"It's not funny," she protested healf-heartedly, mind easing a little. She wiggled in his hold, reaching for the handkerchief, face slightly turned away as she blew her nose and cleaned her upper lip.

"Gow abway, you'll cwatch it."

He drew away just enough to have a good view at her, both hands going into her hair, pulled them aside from her face. "I'll not. If I should, I would already. And if I will, so what?"

She rolled her eyes, but relaxed in his hold. Isaiah wrapped her in his arms and she squeaked as he threw himself against the pillows on the sofa with her tucked against his chest.

Seline melted. His arms were strong and his chest was warm and clean and she snuggled her head closer against his chest, one hand bracing against it. His heartbeat was fast against her palm.

They stayed like that, wrapped in each other like pancakes, when a sharp peeping sound came from the kitchen. Seline almost dozed off, when he gently wiggled himself out, pushing her against the pillows and throwing a blanket over her.

A few minutes later, he returned with a steaming bowl of soup, beans and noodles with an excellent smell that had her shaking the last remnants of sleep as she lifted herself in a sitting position.

Isaiah placed the bowl and the spoon in her hands carefully, sitting down next to her with one of his own, smiling proudly.

"This is delicious," she said as she took the first sip. It was hot and well-flavored, immediately warming up her insides and soothing her raw throat.

"Don't sound so surprised," he said with a laugh, finally starting to eat himself instead of just watching her.

"I'm not. It's the main reason Matthew and I keep you around," she teased.

Could she really be so lucky? A handsome guy who was so caring and sweet to her, actually making an effort, was intellectually stimulating on most days and...could even cook?

Isaiah's smile only widened at that. "I would hope so." His eyebrows met in concern as he watched her. "How are you feeling? Does your head hurt?"

"I'm way better already. I really just need a bit of peace and quiet and...." Seline watched as Isaiah's smile fell, letting go of the spoon on the way to her lips. "And you, if you, ehmm..." she whispered, voice trailing away.

Isaiah's face lit up instantly, almost spilling the soup. "If you allow me, I'll spoil you rotten, my lady."

@bellysoupset

[starlightsuffered]

Christmas Retreat (part 7)

Info - injury, shy British reader, mention of lawsuit, mention of alcohol addiction

The hot tub now seemed like a really nice dream when I woke up. I had gone to bed toasty and warm and thinking of Timothée and his strong hands. My dreams were lovely, and I had a smile on my face when I drifted off.

I felt rejuvenated when I woke up. I pretended that it was just my loosened muscles. I was actually humming to myself as I put on my cable knit jumper. I didn’t usually be kind to my reflection but the forest green looked nice against my tan skin.

It was wild what a kind boy and standing up for someone could do for your self esteem.

I grabbed a book and walked out to breakfast. It wouldn’t be too bad to watch the others from the living room. I’d be warm and toasty by the fire and they’d be having fun sledding.

I smelled pancakes and bacon and I felt my stomach growl. I was smiling at the different people as I sat down. I began to pile my plate with food. I’d taken my first bite of pancakes covered in blueberry syrup when Timothée plopped down beside me.

Timothée was having lots of protein this morning. I wondered if he’d be working out later. Fuck, I’d like to see that. I was lost in the imagery of a sweaty, straining Timmy when the real deal interrupted me.

“You’re going sledding right?” He asked after swallowing.

“Oh…. No, I’m sure I’d just hurt myself or do something stupid. I think I’ll watch from inside,” I shrugged. I wished I could match his energy, but I wasn’t a snow sports type of person.

“You’d hurt yourself?” Timmy asked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

I heated even more than I already had. Now he thought I was so damn pathetic that I couldn’t handle sledding, which was essentially sitting.

“Oh, no,” he laughed. “Not that kind of sledding-“

His explanation was cut off by Margret flitting into the room. She was wearing a wreath of pine needles as a sort of crown. She wore a scarlet dress to match her lipstick.

“Come on, come on, they’re here!” She exclaimed. Soon we were piling outside. Grand beasts in the form of Clydesdale horses were snorting steam into the air. They pawed at the ground. Each one was hooked up to an elaborate sled, silvery white and pale blue.

“Oh, this is what you mean,” I murmured. I was in awe of the creatures.

“Two to a carriage, even if you’re single. We could only afford so many,” Margret sang out. I was still frozen still as couples hurried forward.

“Would you like to ride with me?” Reginald asked me. I was absolutely taken aback. I couldn’t believe that he was asking me. Didn’t he have his eyes on Timothée?

“I, um, I-“

“No, y/n is coming with me,” Timmy said, and was immediately pulling me along. We settled into the comfortable furs together. I had a friend who was a fan of Narnia. I wondered what she would think of this.

With jingling bells the sled took off. The horse snorted and began a brisk pace. I wondered just how the horse knew where to go. They must’ve been trained on a specific route.

“Let’s make this a little more interesting,” Timothee grinned. He grabbed the reins of the horse and began to guide it a different way.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I asked in alarm as we skidded around a corner. Our ride was now bumpy and the horse whinnied as if they knew this was a bad idea too.

“Live a little y/n,” Timothée laughed.

It was like a movie scene then. I looked up at him. His curls blew in the wind, his cheeks were pink with mirth, his smile reached further than it ever had. He looked like a wild fairy, revealing in the winter wonderland. He looked like a jovial cowboy who owned every inch of land in front of him. He looked like a king, confident and regal and beautiful. He looked- I didn’t need to use simile. He was enough just as he was, because he was a gorgeous boy who I was falling for deeply. I didn’t need to find some poetic comparison. All I needed was to stare at him and drink him in.

“Here we are,” he said, breaking my reverie. It could have been hours or minutes, but we had diverged completely from everyone else.

“Take that Reginald,” I thought I heard him mumble. He then turned to me with a grin.

“Care for a hike?” He asked.

“I’d actually love that,” I said. My heart calmed now that we weren’t racing like the chariot in the Prince of Egypt.

Timothee found me a walking stick and together we began a trek. Timmy had brought along the horse, in case we were too tired to walk back.

On the way up the incline we played would you rather. The game turned into easy conversation. I told him about my family, living with my mum, and my niblings who I loved dearly. He told me about his three sister. He also mentioned his own struggles with alcohol and how he’d recently overcome them.

He seemed a bit gloomy when we talked about family. He didn’t bring up anything sad but his mood changed a bit. However, then we got to the top of the landscape.

“It’s gorgeous,” gasped Timothee. “Come here!”

He dragged me the rest of the way. I panted as I stood beside him. I looked out to the picturesque scenery.

“It really is! It looks like one of those quaint Christmas towns people set up.”

“I’m glad we ditched,” Timothée said after a time of silence.

“Oh, yeah, me too,” I agreed.

I was still looking out at the world. I made sure to take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment. I centered myself in this moment and listed things I was grateful for. I could call back to this moment when things felt bleak.

My internal meditation was interrupted when something wet and cold slammed against me. Pieces of slush were seeping into my coat. I turned to see Timothée.

He was even pinker with cold, but he was smiling cheekily. In his hand was the remnants of the snowball he’d thrown at me.

“That’s it!” I joked.

We began to heave snow at one another. Lumps of the freezing sludge were soaring through the air. We were both laughing and dodging, until my feet slipped.

Unlike the first time, Timothée was not there to save me. I heard a sickening crack as my ankle twisted an odd way. I fell to the icy ground. I had the breath knocked out of me.

As I rolled over I heard Timmy calling my name even if my ears were ringing. My ankle was throbbing. My vision had black spots in it, likely from how suddenly the pain had come on.

“I’m sorry, are you okay? Fuck, you look pale as shit! Y/n, talk to me,” Timothée was begging. He was cupping my face. His hands were like ice.

“S-sorry, I’m just not used to a tumble like that. It took me off guard,” I confessed.

“I’m sorry, let’s get back. We will be really missed if we take too long.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

I attempted to stand and my ankle gave out. I felt weak and dizzy. Timothée looked terrified at the realisation I couldn’t walk properly.

“Oh fuck,” Timothée exclaimed.

“I-I’ll be okay,” I said shakily.

“No way.”

With those words, Timmy scooped me up and carried me bridal style. He didn’t even grunt with the effort. I was surprised. I felt light but protected in his arms.

He carried me easily to the horse. He loaded me up on the animal and then got on too.

“Hold on to me okay,” he said, looking back.

“Okay,” I said in a nearly dreamy tone. I wrapped my arms around him. I pressed my cheek to his back. They should bottle him and provide him at hospitals. I barely noticed the feeling in my ankle as I inhaled his musk.

We made it back to the sled and Timothée professionally hooked up the horse again. I was surprised at his ability. I didn’t know how he looked so confident in his every movement.

His jaw was set as we rode back to the resort. I had to wonder if he was upset with me. This would be the second time I’d fallen around him. Did he think I was some nuisance?

“Y/N is hurt!” He called out, hopping out of the sleigh before it had even stopped.

“Oh dear, oh my. Did you go off the path?” Margret asked in concern. I was about to speak up when Timothée lied.

“No,” he stated firmly. I was confused. Before I could make any contradictions He was swooping me into his arms again.

“What can I do?” Margret asked, her hands flapping like small birds with anxiety.

“I’ve got her, just bring me a first aid kit and some water,” Timothée said plainly.

I watched as people looked upon us with jealousy. I felt like a princess as he carried me over the threshold of the resort. He was headed right for his rooms. The experience was heady but the pain in my leg was becoming more potent.

Everything finally clicked when Margret hurried in and was offering me cookies and tea and complementary robes and blankets. Timothée had purposefully not said how I got hurt because I could potentially sue. He was making sure I had control of the situation and protecting me. Margret was terrified I’d ruin the opening of her new business venture. Timothée knew I’d get free things and special treatment. My heart softened even more towards him.

“I’ve got her,” my saviour said again, brushing her off. I realised he also hadn’t said where I was hurt. He had just asked for a first aid kit.

“Thank you for carrying me,” I mumbled, my body tingly and hot. Margret had left and it was just he and I.

“Don’t worry,” he said, lifting his face so our eyes met. He reached up and pushed a stray curl out of my face.

“I’ll take care of you.”

@pmak2002 @softhecreator @plutoispurplw @sp1deyyf4ngz @seungcheol17daddy @jesschalamet @vvsdreaming @lovelyrocker @therealbeabodoobee

[anythingandeverythingallofthe]

Photo of cure lil baby goats at my inlaws’ for attention.

So I’m trying my very best to be vegan in Ghana (4 years) and I tell you its not easy. Non supportive husband being my major struggle. He gets angry if I spend money on vegan alternatively (not that there are many. I have found only tofu and some vegan sausages that tasted horrible. Some canned food can be ordered from capital city).

My main source of protein is beans and pea protein powder that i asked my parents to bring from abroad. Food gets incredibly one way. Especially now that Im working a lot more than before and have no time or Energy to cook.

This Christmas I had to work online like 10-12 hours a day even Christmas eve. I had no time for cooking. Luckily we spend our holidays with my inlaws so the rest of the family gets to eat. But since my inlaws have no idea what a vegan is I had to eat toast for Christmas dinner. Well, its not their fault. I am very grateful to be here and would never complain to them.

I could have in theory go look for food at a roadside shop. Someone might sell beans. But my husband get angry if I don’t eat the same food with him. He claims this breaks the unity of the family. Also cholera is going round so roadside food might be a bad idea anyway.

I’m so sad and tired and angry at myself of not being able to eat animals. Angry at the damn cowspiracy film i saw. Wishing I could go back and take the red pill and forget everything. i’m so tired and sad and dissapointed.

[candy-floss-crazy]

Gluten and dairy intolerance’s has been on the rise in recent years. In fact there’s over 8.5 million people in the UK that now lead a gluten free diet. This can be hard because it means that you have to cut out a lot of food from your diet and you can’t enjoy one of life’s biggest pleasures carbs and ice cream. Luckily in this modern day more brands are creating alternative food now allowing people with intolerance's to be able to eat a wealth of different foods, for example you can now get soya milk or almond milk as an alternative for dairy milk, gluten free alternatives to bread and of course Ice cream made with maggots. Ice cream made with maggots - not a typing error No…that wasn’t a typing mistake maggots is right a company has decided to make ice cream with the creepy little bugs called maggots. More precisely the species called the larvae of black soldier flies. Personally I think that this ice cream alternative sounds pretty manky but they say that the ice cream doesn’t actually taste of maggots. The company based in Cape Town University Of Technology process the maggots with other natural ingredients then mix it with an array of different flavours in the ice cream machine. The flavours include such as Chocolate, Christmas spices and Peanut Butter all of which are strong flavours presumably to make sure that you definitely can’t taste any maggots. The head of Production I don’t understand why you’d take a fancy to trying larvae ice cream than a different alternative such as soya ice cream or almond ice cream but according to Leah Bessa the head of the product development that there is very good altruistic reasons for doing so she told the sun news paper "Insects are typically environmentally friendly and sustainable to farm because they use very little land, water and food to grow on," she also later added that they produce a lot of protein, fat and minerals meaning whoever eats the ice cream is getting these benefit’s too. I have not personally tried the ice cream or have any wish to do so, something about eating blended maggots doesn’t agree with my digestive system however when free scoops were given out on a taster day and they received a flurry of good reviews and apparently the taste is similar to other dairy free ice creams. In fact one quote left on the day read It tastes like ice cream should taste. A little bit more earthy, a bit more organic taste. But I'm pretty happy." With plans for the ice cream company to expand to other parts of the world including here in the UK it hopefully wont be too long until we can get our hands on some however I don’t know how well it will go down with our clients! maybe Ice cream made with maggots may be a unique selling point here at Crazy & Co. so watch this space!!!. Read the full article

[drdunev]

Can you believe it is Thanksgiving already? The snow is already flying up North, so I am glad to be in Florida this year, and happy that I can see patients, family and friends another time before Christmas rushes in.

Give yourself the gift of a good Immune boost. There are so many herbs and supplements that will help you escape whatever comes your way. Your own innate Immune system, mostly located in the lining of the gut, is your best defense against a host of health issues. There are chewable immune supplements for the kids and anyone who hates swallowing pills. Scout’s Motto-Be prepared!

We are watching how much sugar we eat this year, so I will be making pumpkin pie with Monk Fruit and Stevia. The spicy desserts really lend themselves to these plant-based extracts that taste sweet to the tongue, but don’t contain sugar and don’t spike your blood sugar. I always double or triple the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, and that further balances blood sugar control.

Thanks to Birch Benders there are pumpkin pancake and waffle mixes. Avoiding gluten or eating paleo? If you can't buy locally, it's available on Amazon.

Turkey meat has the amino acid Tryptophan, which the body uses to make both Serotonin and Melatonin. So, that satisfied, feel-good mood after a big turkey dinner is partly from the unique benefits of turkey.

Don’t forget the digestive enzymes like Enzycore and Zypan or Betaine HCL to help you enjoy that good lean protein.

I am doing a lot of Telemedicine and long-distance consulting, so if you have family members who live elsewhere and need help, let me know. See a healthy snack recipe perfect for Thanksgiving below.

The Pilgrims and the Native Americans came from completely different religious beliefs, cultures, countries, and customs. But they came together over the things they shared in common. We all need healthy whole foods, our families, and our friends. Sometimes we are fortunate enough to find people who can teach us the things we need to know to survive in new environments. Despite their religious differences, the Pilgrims undoubtedly thanked God for the wisdom the Native Americans shared that enabled them to survive in the harsh winter of their new home. Many of our best medicines came from Native American herbal tradition. Echinacea is a North American herb that is a powerful immune remedy, cultivated by Native Americans.i Sage, Motherwort, Willow Bark, and Saw Palmetto were other herbs the early herbalists learned about from the tribal practitioners.

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving, with enough kindness and goodwill to share.

ihttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12808356/                                  Roasted Parsnip Chips Parsnips are those cream-colored, odd shaped root vegetables that look like carrots. They are surprisingly mild and sweet when roasted. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large roasting pan or cookie sheet with parchment paper (if you want to make clean up easier.) Slice the parsnips diagonally and spread out in the pan. I usually roast the larger pieces first, and add the smaller ones later for even roasting. Brush or drizzle the sliced parsnips with olive oil and salt to taste.  Roast for 20 minutes and check. We like them crispier, so I roast them longer, but they are ready whenever they start to turn golden brown. They can be roasted and stored in the refrigerator until ready to be reheated and enjoyed. Even die-hard vegetable haters may enjoy these! Parsnips have great nutritional value. The mineral content includes manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc and phosphorus. Vitamins include B1, B6, B9, C, K, and E. They also have the fiber that our gut biome loves. And the contain Falcarindiol, an antioxidant that may destroy tumor cells. In ancient herbal lore, parsnips were considered an aphrodisiac. Pretty good stuff for an oddly shaped carrot! Let me know if you try this recipe or have another parsnip recipe to share.

[odk-2]

The Fall ‎– (We Wish You a) Protein Christmas (2003) Mark E. Smith / Dave Milner / Ben Pritchard / Elena Poulou / Ben Pritchard from: "(We Wish You a) Protein Christmas" (CD Single)

Personnel: Mark E. Smith: Vocals Ben Pritchard: Guitar Elena Poulou: Keyboards Simon 'Dingo' Archer: Bass Dave Milner: Drums

[happybird16]

Tay, what stupid item would the AOT characters order from online pickup that would make you roll your eyes?

The fact that I have both a Jaeger and an Ackerman that regularly order from my store lmao.

This sort of became what I think they’d order period lol.

Mikasa: Weight lifting equipment and accessories. She’s one of those people that orders the 40 lbs or more weights that threaten the integrity of our carts the entire time we haul it across the store. 💪🏻

Armin: Hmm. I don’t think I’d really roll my eyes at anything he ordered, but we’d probably be out of most of his stuff. I feel like he’d eat organic and super healthy and I always feel bad when we’re out of that stuff. 🍲

Eren: Chips. Just all of the junk food. Cookies, Doritos and Soda. There’s always be a video game mixed in too. There wouldn’t be a single healthy item in the mix. 🍪

Jean: 60+ bananas. Very confusing, but really he’s just making smoothies and freezing them for breakfast. He gets a ton of strawberries and Kale too! 🍌

Connie: I like to think of the modern version of him as an up and coming YouTuber/TikToker, so he’d always just get a ton of trendy stuff. At one point there is just so many slime packages and giant gallon bottles of glue and glitter. ✨

Sasha: She doesn’t get anything particularly outrageous, but orders three times a week and it’s a lot of food. A lot. We just assume she’s in a giant family, but still it’s a lot and often.

Erwin: I highly doubt he’d use pickup, I just think he’d be so bad with technology and would probably enjoy walking around the store. If he did the order would just be tiny, probably only a few food items (a lot of yogurt, I think he’d like yogurt) and a bunch of History, How To or Self Help Books. Maybe some romances, I low key see him into them. 📚

Hange: Rope and duct tape. We’re all very concerned that the order is just that, but in reality it’s actually not what we’re thinking. They’re actually doing a project for science, but it certainly raises some eyebrows. Also A LOT of coffee.

Levi: I see him as super picky and very stingy, so I don’t really see him as shopping at Walmart. If he did I think he’d do it in person and aim for anything that’s clearanced, especially the meats. He definitely wouldn’t like any of our tea, he’d go for the fancier loose leaf stuff. Maybe he’d order sewing supplies and a lot of crafty fix-it-at-home stuff, but I think his orders would mostly blend in. 🧵 🪡

Reiner: Those giant jugs of protein powder and very often. He’d get the weirder flavors too, like the sour patch kids ones. Every once and awhile he throws in a cute kids outfit (it’s for his niece Gabi) and we’re all confused by the juxtaposition.

Historia: She’d probably order all her bras and panties online because she feels embarrassed shopping for them in person.

Ymir: All the food she orders is super spicy 🌶️ Gets the ghost pepper flavors of hot sauce.

Moblit: My store doesn’t sell alcohol, but if we did, that. Also Death Wish coffee 💀

Porco: A lot of hair gel and axe body spray

Pieck: She gets all the seasonal plush blankets for every holiday. Like every variation for Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. Just hoards all the blankets.

[arrowjaeger]

Basic TMNT Headcanons (2012)

because i think we need more tmnt headcanons that aren’t solely revolving around how they would be as a boyfriend…

Leonardo

• he/him

• bi guy in denial

• doesn’t fully understand what LGBTQIA+ is but supports it

• is the oldest of his brothers

• definitely has all the first born traits

• goody-two-shoes, tattletale, annoyingly nice etc.

• has seen every episode of space heroes 37 times

• is maybe a little too protective over his comic book collection

• like he wouldn’t even let his brothers talk about it

• pretends he’s edgier than he is

• is listed as “Fearless” Raph’s phone

• often wrongly deemed as Splinter’s favorite

• listens to one direction

• unknowingly listens to music about gay men and vibes to it not realizing he relates to it

• always makes his bed in the morning

• probably does yoga at 6 am in the dojo

• will only watch sci fi

• plays adventure games like Zelda or Tomb Raider

• makes the best tea

• is mostly vegan

• a poser when it comes to skateboarding

• has separation anxiety

• teachers pet when it comes to learning ninjitsu

• thinks he has the best smile

• probably has dimples

• would rather be cold than hot

• being cold blooded that leads to issues

• relates to Linkin Park’s “What I’ve Done” on a spiritual level

• cannot sing

• like he cannot carry a tune whatsoever

• if the ninja turtles came out with a christmas album, Leo would be stuck playing the triangle

• he’d try to sing backup but Donnie would turn his mic off

Raphael

• he/him

• kinda homophobic but he doesn’t realize it/kinda just internalized homophobia

• second oldest

• is sour that he isn’t the tallest

• secretly likes frank sinatra music

• most protective brother but he’d never admit it

• honestly he’s just a big teddy bear

• is determined to make himself look good in grey sweatpants

• doesn’t know how to play his drum set but likes the vibe it gives his room

• wishes he could learn how to play the guitar but he doesn’t have enough fingers

• is listed as “hulk” in Mikey’s phone

• is probably still learning how to read

• problem child (tm)

• dry scoops protein powder

• always adds 30lbs when he tells you how much he can bench press

• likes action movies as much as he says he likes horror

• he hates horror

• rages when he plays Fortnite or Apex

• he also plays Twisted Metal

• does clap push ups to show off

• has amazing thighs

• surprisingly the best driver out of all of them when he tries

Donatello

• he/they

• baby he’s bi bi bi

• likes April and Casey both but hasn’t realized it yet

• third oldest

• middle child (tm)

• complains about being the middle child but no one hears him cuz he is *cough* the middle child

• has a concerning obsession with star wars

• hopeless romantic

• has like 12,000 date ideas but is too scared of rejection to ask anyone out

• 70% brains, 30% coffee

• corrects others grammar (sometimes he just mutters the corrections under his breath)

• gives the BEST gifts

• super insecure about the way he looks

• hates his hands and wishes they were smaller so he could work on his tech easier

• love language is definitely words of affirmation

• listens to too much dubstep music

• he definitely listens to vocaloid

• read all of the harry potter books in a week

• he is nearsighted and he didn’t even realize people could see things that were so far away-

• wore April’s glasses once and was blown away with how much he could see that he asked if he could keep them

• she let him have them (seeing as she either wears contacts or just accepts the fact that she can’t see) and he popped the lenses out making his own customized spectacles

• he only wears them sometimes but usually has them on him

• wants to wear a bi flag colored mask in june

• is obsessed with hoodies

• is listed as “Donato” in Leo’s phone

• anxiety and depression

• maybe a little ocd

• probably helps tutor kids online

• enjoys Alfred Hitchcock and Twilight Zone

• really doesn’t feel like he has time for games but when he does he sticks to the classics like Tetris or Kablooey

• occasionally plays Overwatch because April plays it

• is basically the therapist of the group

• gives the best advice unless it comes to relationships

• knows all the LGBTQIA+ labels

• if you talk to him about how you are feeling about sexuality or gender he with diagnose you

• memorizes spotify ads

• lip syncs to them whenever they play

Michelangelo

• he/they

• doesn’t use labels but identifies strongly with pansexuality

• go with the flow kinda dude

• doesn’t care about labels

• supportive as fuck-

• youngest out of his brothers

• used to like being called “baby brother” but after being called it for 15 years he started getting sick of it

• *fs 180 ollies into your dms*

• brain empty unless it comes to skateboarding moves, then he knows all the terminology

• probably a pro at Tony Hawk 3 for the PS1

• secretly is an amazing graffiti artist

• has teamed up with Casey to make amazing pieces more than once

• definitely makes tiktoks and everyone just thinks he is a guy in costume or is a cgi creation

• has an insane amount of followers

• is OBSESSED with Jojo Siwa

• would wear high tops if his feet would fit into them

• probably has a JoJo Siwa scooter with matching knee and elbow pads

• has “High Top Shoes” on repeat in his brain 24/7

• ADHD

• is listed as “Baby Bro” in Donnie’s phone and he hates it

• honestly an amazing cook when he tries to be

• laughs at hate comments

• Splinter’s actual favorite

• only watches cartoons or Nickelodeon sit coms

• relates to Cat Valentine

• sucker for minecraft

• he found a cat village and built his house right next to it

• screams whenever he sees a baby zombie

• they run so fast

• gives the best relationship advice

[sailforvalinor]

EVEN MORE LU Boys as Random Things My Brothers, My Friends, And I Have Said

Warriors: “I learned today that if you’re going to teach children idioms, you shouldn’t use ‘drop it like it’s hot’.”

Wind: “I had someone put a weapon right at my nose and I was like, ‘I like your axe’.”

Sky: “I want to cry, anyone want to cry with me?”

Twilight: “I wish I could cry on command…”

Four: “It’s okay, I’ll cry for you. I charge interest though.”

Hyrule: *eating a salad*

Wild: *barges in* “WHERE’S THE PROTEIN”

Hyrule: *points at salad* “B-but the greens—“

Wild: *excitedly searching through the groceries* “We got rice?!?”

Time: “It’s like Christmas back there”

Hyrule: *shows attempt at love letter to Aurora* “I’ve got this so far.”

Legend, like a liar: “Listen, I’m not telling you what to say, I have just about as much experience with this stuff as a dead fish.”

Warriors: “I found some trash back here—“

Legend: “Oh, did you find a mirror?”

Four: “Don’t friendzone them, end zone them.”

Hyrule: “You guys make a Monday feel like a Friday.”

[upwiththegood]

MAIDSTONE  STROKE  GROUP 

DECEMBER  NEWSLETTER

 

 

 

 

 

 2022

 

 

 

 Its coming up to that time of year again, yes “Christmas”, and we have our christmas lunch to look forward to on Thursday 8th December at the Village Hotel Maidstone, or if you don't read this till after the Christmas lunch we hope you enjoyed it. It is a little early maybe but, Wendy and myself, John, Kathy and Richard would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you and your family a Merry Christmas. I'm sure you wish each other a Merry Christmas also. It has been a very strange year in many ways we have gone through many things as a group and in our own lives, and come out at the end of this year better we hope as a group. We have some idea's for next year in terms for pushing our group forward which we will put forward a few months into 2023. I would like to THANK JOHN on behalf of you all at Maidstone Stroke Group for the COMMITMANT and HARD WORK he puts in ALL YEAR, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes by various members myself included.Our commitmant now is next year and with fuel prices etc going up we have to reflect this in terms of outings ( costs ) so maybe you the members can put ideas forward to us, we will be looking at places we maybe make our own way?. AGAIN A HUGE THANKYOU TO JOHN.

 

 

                             Article by Peter Fenton

BETTER BRAINS

Punters who gamble on horses have higher IQs

 Blokes who gamble on horses tend to be brainier than those who do not, research shows ?. A study of nearly 15,500 British male punters found horseracing enthusiats had a higher than average IQ. Experts claim they often make complex decisions – unlike other wagers, such as the lottery or slot machines. For each step up on the IQ scale, punters spent around 21 per cent more on horseracing, around £800, researchers found. The study shows intelligent people prefer more complex punts such as accumulators, with only 19 per cent of bright sparks opting for simple bets. More than 19 in 20 horseracing enthusiasts – including the late Queen who was an avid fan of the sport – also bet. They spend around £4billion a year at the bookies. The University of Eastern Finland and Liverpool University study says: “Compared to the average man in our sample, the average better has a higher IQ score. It is plausible intelligent people and those with numerical ability gain satisfaction from absorbing themselves in tasks involving 'crunching numbers' such as horse wagering. They enjoy the intellectual challenge.' Writing in the journal of Behavioral Decision Making, researcher Jani Saastamoinen said: “Horse betting

has been described as an intellectual form of gambling par excellence.” He added: “Bettors use knowledge ans skills to make a careful judgment of the outcome of a race and even losing bets are a source of pride as opposed to winning by pure chance.”

 

                   Article from daily paper            

 

 

CHEERS! 2 PINTS FIGHTS DEMENTIA

Reduces risks by a third

 

 Two pints a day help to slash the dementia risk by more than a third, a study reveals. Experts found teetotallers faced the highest risk of developing the brain wasting disease after analysing the boozing habits of nearly 25,000 over 60s. In comparison people having between one and two drinks a day saw their risk plummet by 38 per cent. Scientists claim alcohol may protect the heart, which in turn helps to cut risk of dementia. Another theory is it reduces the build – up of toxic proteins linked to Alzheimer's. Writing in the journal Addiction, researcher Dr Louise Mewton from the University of New South Wales, Australia, said: “Drinking up to 40g a day (five units) was associated with a lower risk of dementia when compared with lifetime abstaining.”

 

Article from daily paper

QUIZ

Here's a music quiz from the 1960s for all you oldies

 

 ONE – Who sang this song: “Running Bear” around 1961 ?

               

 ANS --------------------------------------------------------------

 

 TWO – Who played this song  “For once in my life” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS --------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

THREE – Who played this song “Don't sleep in the subway” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ---------------------------------------------------------

 

FOUR – Who played this song “'Im Henry the V111, I am” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS -------------------------------------------------------

 

FIVE – Who played this song “Lay Lady Lay” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ------------------------------------------------------

 

SIX – Who played this song “Sweet Talking Guy” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ------------------------------------------------------

 

SEVEN – Who played this song “Soul Limbo” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ------------------------------------------------------

 

EIGHT – Who played this song “Blue on Blue” ?

 

ANS -----------------------------------------------------

 

NINE – Who played this song “Bristol Stomp” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ------------------------------------------------------

 

TEN – Who played this song “I Got the Feelin” in the 1960s ?

 

ANS -----------------------------------------------------

 

ELEVEN – Who played this song “Puff, the Magic Dragon” in the 1960s ?

 

ANS ----------------------------------------------------

 

TWELVE – Who played this song “Glad all over” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ---------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

THIRTEEN – Who played this song “Wild Thing” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ----------------------------------------------

 

FOURTEEN – Who played this song “Cathy's Clown” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ---------------------------------------------

 

FIFTEEN – Who played this song “Your Precious Love” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS ---------------------------------------------

 

SIXTEEN – Who played this song “Do you Believe in Magic” during the 1960s?

ANS ---------------------------------------------

 

SEVENTEEN – Who played this song “I'm Telling you Now” during the 1960s?

ANS ---------------------------------------------

 

EIGHTEEN – Who played this song “Something Stupid” during the 1960s ?

 

ANS --------------------------------------------

 

NINETEEN – Who played this song “La La Means I Love you” during the 1960s ?

ANS ---------------------------------------------

 

TWENTY – Who played this song “Girl you'II Be A Woman Soon” during the 1960s ?

ANS --------------------------------------------

 

 

All answers in next months newsletter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A

HUGE

THANKYOU

TO JOHN

FROM

ALL

AT

M.S.G.

JOHNS  NOTICE  BOARD

 ONE ---- Xmas dinner is fast approaching we have 37 people attending, you can arrive anywhere from 10.30am if you want to grab a coffee first. To arrive at the inspiration suite for 12oc to be served dinner from 12.30pm. Geoff Stevens will be there to entertain. Finishing anywhere between 3 and 4oc you can stay for a coffee if you wish at costa.

 TWO ---- On Tuesday the 20th December, which is our last meeting day, this year it will be slightly different as June dines son Gary is putting on an event for his Mother and us to include a musician for 2  and a half hours and a buffet which will be catered for by Jane at Tovil club. Everyone is welcome and we hope to cater for about 40 people. Please come along and help June enjoy her event. ( there wont be bingo & raffle on this occasion )

 THREE ---- Brick lane will be going ahead on Weds 8th February by Brookline coach we have 27 people going and so far 7 have paid their £50 pp, so would like to collect in January ASAP.

 This year has been a particularly difficult year with dwindling numbers and organising viable events, we are going to try to put our best foot forward and see if we can come up with some ideas to remedy that. Meanwhile myself, Diane, Peter&Wendy, Richard, Gerry and Kathy wish each and everyone of you a very good Christmas and a prosperous new year.

                                                                               JOHN

[densi-mber]

Magic Deal

A/N: Kensi and Deeks build their friendship during a roadtrip on Chirstmas Eve. Set around Season 3.

Day 11:  Kensi/Deeks trying to cheer up or take care of the other after a rough day.

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The outcome of their last op took them to San Francisco. Well, not the outcome but Callen and Sam’ statement, ‘we are the senior agents, we choose who gets a 382 miles drive’. After nine days working on their last case, the team recovered weapons and classified intel that were stolen in a Freemont’s precinct, which had to be delivered safely along with the NCIS agent that joined them to coordinate the operation.

Unfortunately, the military plane that took Kensi, Deeks and Special Agent Heck to San Francisco was not available for a return trip, as any other commercial flight for the next 3 days. December 24th could be a bit of a problem for making last minute reservations, being a car trip the only option to return to LA in time for Christmas. Deeks loved the idea of spending a six hours drive with Kensi, annoying her with games, questions and Christmas songs, but alone in the car he could sense that something was bothering her.

‘’Little Saint Nick’ is by far the best song for the holidays, it has nice background music, it’s cheerful and it has history. It’s really important to know Santa’s routine on his big night. What do you say?’ He had rambled about Christmas songs and their contribution to the “merry spirit” for five minutes now. She was still silent.

‘If you say so.’ Kensi said as she watched the sunset in the passenger seat. She was distracted and distant, exhaustion taking over her as they were finally alone. Their partnership didn’t begin as peaceful and joyous as Hetty expected, but they were slowly becoming comfortable with each other and learning to relax as friends during the day brakes.

‘Hey, I get that you’re tired, but you haven’t complained about my non-stopping talk yet and you look like the girl in sad movies that stares at the old house while moving out, are you okay?’

She turned to him, surprised at his worried tone. ‘Yeah, I’m just…tired, that’s all.’

‘Sure…you’re sad because everyone is having a feast at OPS while you’re stuck with protein bars and old peanuts until our next stop. Come on partner, what’s wrong?’

Kensi sighted, she hoped their long trip would make him less persistent in his eagerness to know everything that was passing through her mind. Of course he couldn’t just let it go.

‘I told you, just tired.’

‘If you tell me I’ll be quiet for the next fifteen minutes. That’s a great offer.’ He smiled, then looked at her trying to lighten her mood just a bit.

She glanced at him, ‘As if I was listening to you…’ Cocky remark, better than silence.

‘Hurtful, Kens…hey, you can’t expect me to share a long tedious ride with you like this. Besides, it’s almost Christmas, you have to spread love and happiness. Just tell me, I’ll give you a great piece of advice and all your problems will be solved, magic deal.’ She could tell he was really trying to have an honest conversation. He was willing to offer her some peace of mind, but her habit of keeping feelings to herself was solid.

‘Why do you want to know so badly?’ Once again, her voice had a different tone.

‘You’re obviously upset. I just want to cheer you up, that’s all.’ No jokes, no teasing, he meant it. ‘But you know what? It doesn’t matter, I wa-’

‘Deeks…’ She cut him, afraid that she bothered him. He was nice and friendly, and she was being harsh to him in return, great. ‘I’m sorry, I’m…I’m not used to this. I appreciate it, I really do, but talking and sharing is not my thing.’ She looked at him, wishing to express more than she could with words.

‘Okay, not sharing then. Plan B.’

‘What’s plan B?’

A wide smile appeared on his face and as he turned up the music he proudly announced his plan, ‘Bribing you with food it is, my little sad companion.’

They stopped for pizza at a service area. As they shared a large Carbonara Special he began a light chat about abandoning their life as federal agents and travelling all over the State, discovering forgotten places and rescuing every dog they would come across. They talked about the countries they would like to visit and about their favorite TV shows; after that, they bet the last piece of pizza at rock, paper, scissor. She obviously won, west coast rules could be tricky.  Deeks’ carefree attitude and the food made her relax, and maybe even smile a bit when they fought like eight years old kids about their dream car and which one was better.

They returned to the car to fill up the gas before leaving when ‘Take on me’ began playing on the radio. Deeks danced and singed with great delight as if nobody was watching while she was crying from laughter at his total lack of shyness. She thought she was about to die of laughter when an old lady smiled and approached to him, dancing at the end of the song. Satisfied with his performance, he paid, congratulated Louise for her great moves and joined Kensi to continue with their trip. He was really something.

‘Thank you.’ She smiled softly at him. He made her laugh, forget and changed completely her mood. Kensi realized that no one had never put so much effort to know her. Deeks could be prying, but he was respectful and patient, making her comfortable enough to share untold stories or information that either Callen or Sam knew, she slowly opened up to him. She trusted him with her safety, sure she could trust him with her friendship.

‘Christmas is always a hard time, kind of a painful reminder that I failed my Dad and that I couldn’t fight hard enough for Jack. Since my Dad left, I’ve never really celebrated it.’ Looking shyly at her hands, she ate the last protein bar waiting for his reaction.  

‘Like the Grinch but sexier?’ Her laugh filled the car once again. Deeks searched for her eyes, smiling softly, almost whispering. ‘If you want I can dance for you in the middle of a gas station as a new tradition for Christmas.’

‘Weren’t you even the slightest embarrassed?’ Kensi couldn’t believe he would share such an over-the-top performance in front of three families and an astonished cashier without even blushing.

‘It made you laugh, didn’t it?’ And for that, it was worth all the effort.

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Merry Christmas to all the NCIS: LA Familia¡ Here’s my annual contribution to Densi-mber.

@densi-mber​ once again thank you for planning (as every year) such an amazing month full of Densi goodness and inspiring ideas, you’re all great¡