#90 day long distance challenge

[ismails]

Please help me rebulid my Bakery

Vetted here by @90-ghost

I'm Ismail Almughanni an entrepreneur from devastated Gaza trying his best to rebuild his Bakery 🍞🥐🥖

On a quiet morning, the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the street, signaling the start of a new day at your small bakery, a place you took immense pride in. For years, this bakery had been a haven where people from all around would gather to enjoy the warm, delicious pastries and bread that you carefully crafted. It was a symbol of hard work, a beacon of hope, and a destination for anyone seeking a taste of comfort amidst life's challenges.

But one day, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. The sounds of bombing began to shake the city, and it wasn’t long before the fires of war reached your neighborhood. There was no warning, no chance to escape or save what you could. Shells rained down on the district that housed your beloved bakery. You watched helplessly from a distance, unable to do anything.

Minutes passed like hours. When the noise finally subsided, and the thick smoke that blocked out the sun began to clear, you looked towards your cherished place. It was destroyed.

The walls that once protected you and brought you closer to your customers had collapsed, and the oven where you had kindled the flames of hope had turned to ash. Everything was shattered, broken, as if that place had never been a sanctuary of peace and comfort.

But the destruction wasn’t just physical. The pain in your heart was far greater than any material loss, a place filled with beautiful memories now reduced to rubble. The moments when you saw smiles on people’s faces as they savored your bread, the laughter that echoed through the bakery—those were now just memories, dissolving in the ashes of devastation.

As days went by, you tried to piece together the fragments, not just of the bakery but of yourself as well. You knew rebuilding wouldn’t be easy, and the wounds left by the war wouldn’t heal quickly. But you also knew that the hope you had infused into your bread would remain alive in your heart, even if the tables and chairs were destroyed, even if the bakery itself was gone.

The bakery may have been destroyed by war, but its spirit lives on in you, in everyone who tasted your bread, and in everyone who walked into that small place and found a slice of happiness.

Here the pictures show Ismail doing his job as a baker, but in the harsh war, after he had a large bakery, he started baking and helping people in an old oven made of clay. His first and last concern was to help people.🌾🥐🥖

Vetted here by @90-ghost

[batneko]

it occurred to me that bowuigi would make for really good sentinel-and-guide AUs

(for those who don't know, The Sentinel was a 90's show about a guy with heightened senses and protective instincts, which make him a natural defender of humanity but can also be overwhelming. His nerdy partner who provided most of the exposition was eventually revealed to be a "guide" who has the power to soothe and support him. It had an extremely dedicated fandom and robust shipping community, which led to Sentinel AUs being super popular until A/B/O AUs eventually eclipsed them.

The basics are: Character A has super-senses and tends to be protective and territorial, but they have panic attacks/migraines/whatever because of their powers. Character B is a calming presence and often feels compelled to help Character A despite any personal differences they might have. It's important to note that the connection between sentinels and guides is not inherently sexual, though there's a lot of touching involved so if there's any attraction at all between the characters it can get awkward. Usually in the AU sentinel and guide powers are Known Abilities with support systems and sometimes even a matchmaking service in place, despite it being rare and unknown in the show.)

So for the obvious version we've got Sentinel Bowser and Guide Luigi. Bowser is an extremely powerful sentinel which means very few people can challenge him, but his instincts have driven him to conquer more and more territory over the years and he's starting to feel stretched thin. He's had guide partners before but his personality problems drive them away before too long, so he keeps a few in rotation and tries not to get attached.

He "fell in love" with Peach because her guide abilities are so strong he feels comfortable around her without either of them even trying. And since he only tends to see Luigi when Peach is also there (either kidnapped or at a group event) he doesn't notice that Luigi is a guide at all for a long time.

Until one day he has an attack in public, and since he's likely to lash out in that condition everyone keeps their distance - except Luigi. Who rushes to his side and holds his hand and rubs his brow until Bowser is able to come back to himself.

Bowser is stunned that someone he thought of as an enemy would help him so easily, as if it's the obvious thing to do. But he's also embarrassed that Mario's brother of all people had to take care of him in such a vulnerable position. He gets it into his head that the only way to save face here is if he acts like it's not embarrassing at all and that now he wants Luigi to be his full time guide partner.

This is definitely going to go great!

And then the reverse, Sentinel Luigi and Guide Bowser. Mario and Luigi are both sentinels, but they're so used to relying on and covering for each other that neither of them has ever needed a guide... Or at least they've convinced themselves they don't need one, until they're both falling at Princess Peach's feet as all the tension they've built up over the years drains away all at once.

Pretty soon it becomes clear that Peach and Mario have a connection that Peach and Luigi don't, and Luigi makes excuses to leave the two of them alone as often as he can. Which leaves him both without a guide and without his partner, putting up with all the stress and sensory stimulation on his own. He handled it before, right? He can handle it now.

Then he (literally) runs into Bowser and, just like with Peach, collapses to his knees at the sudden rush of relief. Bowser is like "not that I don't enjoy this kind of thing, but what the hell?" before he senses Luigi's distress and realizes he's a sentinel. It makes sense given how strong the brothers are, but he'd never really thought about how that kind of thing works for humans.

And, though he tells himself he shouldn't care if Luigi is struggling or not, he's not entirely heartless. Bowser scoops Luigi off the floor and lets him spend the rest of the day with him, eventually saying he's doing it because it'll be funny to have Luigi owe him a favor.

Luigi says okay. Bowser is baffled by how quickly he agreed. Either he was really really suffering, or he's so nice of a guy that he doesn't even fathom how easily Bowser can take advantage of him.

Well, it's not like it costs Bowser anything to keep him around. And it does actually feel good to be a guide instead of a king for once. Bowser decides to keep racking up "favors" until he thinks of the best way to use them, probably against Mario, or maybe to get into the Mushroom Kingdom.

Sure, once he gets that payoff Luigi will probably never forgive him and never want to see him again, but it'll be worth it... right?

[mar3ggiata]

professional help, c13. I found a mountain.

simon riley x original character.

trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault, mentions of rape, trauma, sexual themes, swearing, use of alcohol and drugs.

song to listen to when reading this: Pulaski at night, Andrew Bird.

abstract: Simon. it was alright. it's nothing, I'm not impressed. really, reading this back, I don't know what got to me, I don't know I wasn't even thinking. pretend this is not me, pretend is someone else I swear I don't think this actually happened. Alba's lying as usual. I'm out.

Her eyes lit up. A kid on Christmas morning. 'Really, you wanna know?' she asked, straitening her back. He imitated her, sitting back on the chair and crossing his arms. That position made him look huge and intimidating. She felt her lips curl into a smile. His annoyance with her amused her. 'Tell me what you found', he said, his voice deep and warm. It was the hottest thing she had ever heard in her entire life. He was even more handsome and attractive now. Tell me about your investigation? Tell me about what you found out from your hours of researching like a fucking FBI agent? Dirty talk. Her smile grew wider.

She fixed her posture. 'Okay, so… You remember the stages of the journey in the book? The first one is the River in Jordan, which let's say you guys have already covered.' She kept her tone low, she was secretive. 'The second challenge is a long trip through the desert. When they reach the exact middle of the desert the main character has a revelation or some shit, but it happens right in the middle of the desert.' She stopped because the food had arrived. She took a bite if her burger and wiped her mouth with her napkin before continuing. He was mesmerised by her. 'Sorry, I'm starving… anyways, I went on Google Earth. I measured the distance between Al-Jareena and the closest city to the Persian Gulf, it's 1765 kilometres.' She quickly realised she gave away a crucial information about herself and she hoped he didn't notice. He did. Got you, European. Fuck it I don't care, she thought and took another bite before continuing. He didn't start eating yet. 'I looked right in the middle, 882 kilometres and a half.' she stopped and smiled again. She waited for a few seconds, a pause to build suspace.

'I found a fucking mountain.' She let the words linger in the air. 'And…?' he asked, wanting her to keep going. She had a theatrical way of speaking, probably because she had a eureka moment at her apartment alone, and she wanted to share her excitement. 'I found a fucking mountain, better, it's a crater, look.' She got out her phone from her pocket, opened Google Earth on her phone and looked through the app. The screen illuminated her eyes, making them seem white and light green and made of crystal water. When she found what she was looking for, she passed him the phone. 'It's not labelled, probably not geolocalized. These craters form when volcanoes essentially cool down and collapse on themselves, they can be very deep, they can have water inside. They're all over the world, America, Egypt, Russia… This one is 4 kilometres wide.' He looked at the image of the little dot on the map, a singular circle in the middle of nowhere. 'What's weird is that the closest city is more than 10 kilometres away, it looks like the outer part is quite high, making the centre more secluded,' she clicked the 3D option on the phone, 'and there's something inside.' He looked at her, then back at the phone. He zoomed in, trying to get to the middle of the circle. He could see something, he could't say they were houses. He could see construction for sure, he counted seven buildings. 'I looked through the years to see if they were old. In the images from 2019 there was nothing there. Nothing, there was grass. It were updated again in 2021, nothing again. It was last updated about 90 days ago, that's when the buildings start to appear.' She took another bite, eyes still fixated on his. He was looking at her with her phone in one hand, burger in front of him, his head racing. When she said she had something to say he didn't think about this for sure. The Alba Crater.

'Simon, eat', she said softly and he felt that if he was standing up he would have fainted. His name didn't belong to him when she pronounced it. Not with that tone, that caring tone. He put down the phone without saying a word and peeled his mask over his mouth. It was the first time she saw his lips. A long scar on the left side. It looked like he had more on his jaw and neck. No beard. They ate in silence for a few minutes. She tried to look everywhere but his face, she sensed it made him uncomfortable. She finished before him, she was going to get a stomachache from eating so fast. She waited for him to finish, wipe his mouth and roll his mask back down before looking up again. He noticed she kept her eyes on her plate. He wanted to thank her for being understanding and, at the same time, felt fucking stupid for wearing that mask all the time. Why could't he just be fucking normal for once? He pushed back the thought and focused back on her.

'You're saying this crater is being used as a hiding spot for Khorram.' She nodded, so he continued. 'They started building a sort of little village, the place is secluded, no one really knows about it…' Except you, Alba. 'Yes, the cities are far, there are nearly no roads close by, and I don't think it's a coincidence the building appeared barely a month after your mission was announced. It's in the middle of nowhere...' He sighed. It sure made sense, it was a good story. He didn't understand why she kept having all that information to give them. Because she was good at doing research, and it made him furious. Did he want to tell Price with the risk of making him waste time on a stupid mountain? Was it all just in Alba's fantasy? 'It could be a coincidence…' he reflected and she jumped in. 'It's still something! You have no idea where he is, don't you?' She noticed she raised her tone a little too much and calmed down. 'When Arash gave me that book he looked like he had just met God, for fuck's sake. What if he's following the steps of the book, what if Khorram is inside the crater?' She kept pushing. 'What about the Persian Gulf then?' he asked 'The story is supposed to finish there.'

She bit her lower lip and let her eyes wonder around for a few seconds, lost in thought. She hadn't thought about that, to be honest. It made her insecure about her whole research now… He was right though. 'When do you leave?' she asked. 'Three days.' He sensed the air getting tense between them. Or rather, sad. She fixed a strand of hair behind her ear, 'I have to go walk my dog', she explained, he was already putting on his jacket. He got distracted for a second, for a single second. The waitress appeared next to them and Alba handed her card with a smile. 'Wait…' he tried to protest. She raised her eyebrows 'What?' she asked. She knew exactly what he was thinking, because, well, men. She was disappointed to see he was almost more impressed by the fact she payed than by her research on the crater. 'I would have paid', he said with embarrassment in his voice, and she chucked. 'No, I invited you, I'm paying.'

Truth is, where she was from, paying for meals and offering food was a form of hospitality. Plus, she never did anything fun. He tried to repress internal panic, seeing her buy him food. He wasn't used to it, at all. It made him feel weird, a state he could't describe. Vulnerability maybe. It was stupid, this whole night was fucking pointless. She was silent in the car, he took her back to the ballet school, she had her Polo there. 'Thank you for paying, you shouldn't have', hearing him say that made her smile again. 'You'll pay next time, let it go.' She replied without even looking at him. Her words were rose petals, she brushed it off like it meant nothing. Next time? The fuck do you mean next time? Stop fucking playing with me I am not your fucking friend, he wanted to scream. He couldn't. She was funny, he had to admit. I am leaving in three days I might even fucking die in Jordan and you're saying there will be a next time? If I survive, count me in, I guess, or don't, cause I'm not your friend.

While Simon could not process an answer, Alba knew exactly what she was doing. She liked putting people in difficult situations, she did therapy to deeply damaged army soldiers for a living. He was different from every guy she had ever met. It was nice to talk to someone different, to have interactions and see how people's minds processed. She had always had a love - hate relationship with men in general. Where she was from, boys only ever showed her affection through violence, control and manipulation. Dating was part of deals, part of negotiations. Women were prizes, she had belonged to someone in particular for a few years. I don't use the word belong lightly, she really had been a possession. She hated the Brits she met at university, loud, messy, always drunk and just disgusting as a whole. He was the exception. He wasn't loud. He talked to her softly. Maybe because he was older, he had to be at least 30. He blushed when she talked. He was probably panicking right now and she kinda liked it.

'You shouldn't walk your dog at night, it's dangerous.' He said, and she stopped in her tracks. 'I'll be careful', she said, ready to turn around.

'I'll meet you outside your place.' He drove away before she could say anything and she looked at him go away in pure shock. Her mouth open and eyes wide, what the fuck? She got in the car, turned the engine on. She sent a voice message while reversing to drive away.

'Oi Salvo…indovina con chi ho cenato stasera.'

notes: the crater story is inspired by a true weird crater found on Google Earth with a proper village inside. I changed the distances and some other details. also, what the fuck is a kilometre?? translation: 'Oi Salvo, guess who I had dinner with.'

taglist:

@ghostlythots @sweetfemmefatal @natxpat @chavarriakeren647 @ravenmoore14 @farther-than-pleiades @internallyscreamings @hwromi @atoxicrat @cuti3maddi3 @deafeningkittenblaze @its-celeste @serene-hills @lexidoll12 @poohkie90 @lunatiquess

@warmedbythebody @katzykat @iristhemuse @azkza @keiraslayz @abbyandermine @jennyjencakes @dest-nai @corset-briefs @nutze-kekse @ilytsukiw @b3anspr0ut

@pondsblog @missyouzoe @fallenkitten @bigauthorrascalturkey @bethtay @angelynn-nicole @starluv @stargirlisworld @giyuuslittleslut @impossiblecupcakelight

@rkrivees-blog @ghosts-hoe @kam1snotverysmart @gauky76 @freyjaaasstuff @spicyspicyliving @scottpilgrimvsmyfists @courtney0-0 @shinchanboi @darling006 @my-therapist-hates-me

[lostdrarryfics]

THE BIG FIND 2023: Day 2

The Big Find is a 10-day long Drarry fic-finding marathon to celebrate the blog’s anniversary. Below is the Day 2 compilation of lost fics, both old and new, that we’ve been unable to find. Our aim is to get as much attention to these lost fics as possible, to help people finally find their missing fics! Anyone can participate by reblogging, reading through each list, providing additional fic details, and informing us the title, author, or link of a fic, and their respective number in the comment section. Happy finding!

2.1 I’m not confident if it was in portuguese or english. Harry was an auror and Draco was an unspeakable and they were together on a mission were eventually they were captured into a sex traffic scheme. It was HEAVILY angsty and I think they were rescued by Rabastan Lestrange (i’m pretty sure it was him, but I think that it may be Rodolphus instead). It’s been YEARS since Iast read it but it made an impression.

2.2 Fairly sure that the fic was on ao3 and a wip but could be completely off the mark. The only thing I remember is that at Gringotts: the Potters’ will is read and specifically both Lucius Malfoy and Snape’s presence is requested; which is questioned by others present at the time of the reading. The Potters are aware that there is a connection between Harry and Draco - I’m guessing soulmate, mate if creature fic hence the request of Lucius. Possibly anti-Dumbledore but again not positive. fic is not ‘And The Forest Met The Sky’ by Silverhood, The Black Star by Aileen Dickinson, or Lord Thanatos by wonderfulWonderful 505

2.3 veela!Draco fic. Harry is draco’s mate and is extremely unhappy about it. Draco keeps his distance and nearly die because of it (veelas, in this universe, die if they are rejected), and Harry makes a unbreakable vow (i think that it is with narcisa) that he will at least try to be around. They eventually develop a relationship and Harry starts to search a new house for them, but Draco thinks that he is been cheated and die because of the perceived rejection. Harry eventually dies because of the vow he made and they meet again in a kind of heaven, where they also meet Lily, James, Sirius, Severus, Remus and other canon dead characters.

2.4 could have been on Ao3 or Hexfiles. It’s Draco’s birthday. Harry’s pov. Draco is in love with him. They have been friends for some years (and secretly in love, even though it’s only revealed in the end that Harry fell in love too). Draco always dances with everybody at his birthday except Harry. Tonight they dance. At some point Blaise says to Harry something like he should let Draco go so he could be with someone. There are plenty of people interested in Draco. Harry is surprised someone has noticed something is going on between them. Harry is married to Ginny and has kids with her. He can’t leave her. His thing with Draco started many years ago at his birthday party, when they talked about the war in a rose garden. They suddenly kissed. My memory might be failing me here, but I think they started eating lunch together maybe every week. They became friends, but also coudn’t help falling in love. At the time of one Draco’s birthday party (in the past) Ginny was giving birth or just birthed her and Harry’s twins. Harry was at the party without her. The need between him and Draco got too strong and Harry gave him a blowjob in the bathroom. That was the only sexual encounter between them. In the end Harry maybe dashes out of the party and Draco follow and confronts him. Harry admits he didn’t fall in love alone. I’m not sure if it was a wip or oneshot. It was all angst and hurt with strong chemistry and longing.

2.5 Ron is toasting the happy couple, maybe at their engagement party or wedding. He’s giving affectionate anecdotes about Draco’s bad behavior at school. Like, “remember the time he challenged Harry to a duel in the forbidden forest and then didn’t show?” (Not the exact quote.)

2.6 probably (like 90% sure) on ao3, but I read it a long time ago so I can’t remember. The plot was basically Harry forced to be with Draco in marriage or partnership. Initially Draco was very abusive, but slowly warms up to Harry. Harry gets to know the reason behind Draco’s behaviours is Lucius��� child abuse. Draco has secret bondage dungeon. He also has a shrine of Harry. Harry gets pregnant. Lucius is the main villain here. Narcissa & Snape are also here, along with the Weasleys though the later don’t make much of an appearance. Snape is the one who supplied the pregnancy potion to Harry. In one scene Draco admires Ginny’s attitude thinking she would’ve been good for Harry. In another scene, Draco & Harry are having sex, and Draco is clutching Harry by his throat but Harry loving runs his fingers through Draco’s hair. When their child is born Lucius wants to take it away but the healer who helped deliver stands in the way. Earlier in the fic Draco forces Harry to take poly juice so he could fuck a girl. Lucius dies in a fire at the end. The fire is at Malfoy manor. Though I’m not sure, but I think they spent their Christmas at the Weasleys where Draco promises to gift something to Molly. The fic also had an Author’s note on how they’ve forgiven someone for doing something similar in real life, replying to comments on how Draco is abusive to Harry.

2.7 drarry little mermaid AU. It was a dark fic, based on the original little mermaid not the Disney version and it was dark and didn’t have a happy ending. I think Draco was an elf/fae rather than a mermaid

2.8 All I remember is that it was Draco/Astoria, Harry/Ginny. Before it becomes Drarry, it was 50 chapters, and complete, I clearly remember a tag that said everyone gets a happy ending except astoria in all lowercase letters.

2.9 What I remember of the fic is only one scene so bear with me, Draco and Harry are in relationship I think and Draco is also there when order members come to take him from privet drive. And he also attends Bill’s wedding but during the death eaters attack he gets caught and they take him away to the manor, Harry cries alot after that. I this is multi chaptered. In this fic Draco defected I guess and he attends the marriage and disguises like how Harry does, but he is revealed and he is taken to the manor. Harry is devastated and then he keeps seeing him through his connection with voldermort being tortured or something. They are already in relationship at this point. fic is not The Wrong Sort by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle

2.10 harry is getting married to Ginny and he’s sorting out all of the things for the wedding and one of them is the cake. Draco works or owns the bakery that Harry is getting the cake from and they both start to talk and get closer. That’s when Harry realises that he’s not ready to marry Ginny because a certain blonde has his heart. I’m sure Harry, when ever he’s in doubt or just bored he apparates to the bakery and dracos always holding the daily prophet to see what the saviour of the wizarding world is up to.

2.11 it was on ao3 and i read it a long time ago (i wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t exist any more) but what i remember from it was pretty intense bdsm experimentation (between harry and draco) and they both started developing feelings but weren’t saying anything and i recall them fkin around in an abandoned class room? one scene i remember vividly is harry getting triggered by something draco says or did but it had something to do with his trauma with the dursleys and he calls out the safe word for the first time (which was snitch).

2.12 I’m looking for this specific drarry texting story I read on YouTube over 3 years ago. I think that it’s no longer on YouTube, but I wanted to know if it was ever posted on any other social media. The story goes like - Ron gives Harry the password to use the prefect bathroom where Harry stumbles upon Draco. Draco ends up doing some spells with the water (like a water snake like thing) and it fascinated Harry but Draco doesn’t really indulge in the conversation. When Harry tries to leave, Draco cages him and they end up having sex.

2.13 fic on ao3 where its set in 8th year and harry and draco are still fucked up meet up to (or just end up) fight(ing) a lot and one time harry takes it a bit too far and punches draco in the stomach, and draco throws up blood? And harry has to call madame pomphrey i believe. I dont think it was a particularly long fic but thats all i can remember.

2.14 harry and draco are twins but (i think) they were separated and then they got together like finding out they are twins and also dating lmao and okay then?? they became like rulers of the wizard world by making treaties and stuff w creatures and all that

[birdnamedenza]

Where the down bit starts

OCs: Ketan, Hunter

Not me casually being back after almost two years.

I had already started to write this story and basically had an entire plot arch all layed out in my head... and then life happened. It didn't help that this was quite the challenging story to write with all of the plot and action going on besides the actual sickness part. We have a crossover between Tiago's arch nemesis Hunter and Ketan, the one who got away so far. Ketan's scenario had to be special and Hunter is just fun to make sick with all the casual perfection going on around him. I hope I kind of succeeded, thank you for everyone who's still enjoying my writing after that long hiatus.

TW: Vomit

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ketan was stressed out, and that rarely happened. Usually, his restless energy and exuberant imagination helped him to channel every adrenaline rush into something creative. He had already come up with a perfect plan: There was a funfair in town, the ultimate setting for an interactive live stream. It was a cold and cloudy monday morning. Occasional downpours were expected, so there wouldn't be a lot of visitors, certainly not around the opening hour at 10 a.m.

The only trouble was that none of his friends were available to join him. Calvin was studying for an upcoming examn – in fact, he had just pulled an all-nighter and sounded dead tired when Ketan called him. Zena spent the entire weekend out of town for a job and wouldn't return before the late evening hours. Much to Ketan's surprise, Cassandra was the one who picked up Ezra's phone. Apparently, he had been busy barfing up his guts for the last 24 hours, thanks to a nasty stomach flu. Cassandra stayed at his apartment to take care of him and keep him hydrated. And Natalia… Natalia would have never been down for a trip to the funfair, even if she hadn't been avoiding Ketan like the plague after her drunken meltdown.

Of course, Ketan could have gone on his own or postponed the stream, but he had already announced the date to his followers. The whole thing was supposed to be a competition-style setup with challenges and matches. To fire up the engagement, the viewers could vote for the next ride and who handled it better. Short queues were expected at those perfect conditions, but whatever waiting time would occur could be passed with asking each other embarrassing questions. It was all layed out in Ketan's head and it absolutely needed to happen.

When Ketan was at the verge of despair, Calvin proved once again to be the best friend ever. He had contacted some of his fellow students if someone was, quite literally, up for the ride. A classmate named Hunter had actually agreed to join in on the fun. His health and fitness content was popular, albeit mostly among young women who weren't exactly there for the educational part. Ketan couldn't blame them – that Hunter guy was just the right eye candy he needed to attract the masses.

All giddy and hyped up, Ketan arrived almost half an hour early at the fairground. The colorful rides, stalls and games lay dormant under a dull grey sky. Only a handful of visitors strolled among the whimsical attractions that just started their work for the day. Ketan used the waiting time to map out the area and plan a route. Here and there, a whiff of sugary, oily goods hit his nose. In the near distance, the first ride began blaring out 90's electronica. It was hard to suppress a maniacal grin.

Finally, Ketan rushed back to the entrance to welcome his guest star. Just like he remembered, Hunter was ridiculously handsome with his bronze skin, sensual lips and defined curls, but his smile and his posture gave away his nervousness. Determined to break the ice, Ketan put on his most charming expression and greeted Hunter with a warm hug.

"My savior has arrived!"

"Uhm, sure thing, no big deal", Hunter replied, still a tad shy. "I haven't been to the fair in ages. Sounds fun."

"Yeah, right? It's nostalgia on steroids." Ketan had his equipment all set up and ready to go. The countdown for his viewers was ticking and quite a few were waiting for the stream to begin. "Cal has told you that we're doing this live, right? No cuts, no editing."

"Eh… yes, that's fine, it's just… I've never done this before."

"Oh, don't worry, I have." With a pat on Hunter‘s strong back, Ketan subtely directed him towards the designated starting point. "Just be yourself, they're gonna love you. It might feel a little weird at first, but you'll get used to it in no time. I promise I'm gonna make this easy for you."

"Okay, uhm… thanks." Hunter's bashful smile was thoroughly endearing. Ketan hoped that his heterochromia would show up well on camera – the light blue spot in one of his brown eyes was almost mesmerizing. The obvious fact that the guy had no idea how attractive he was only made it better.

"Take a deep breath and enjoy the adventure", Ketan reassured him. "You're gonna be great. Just don't take anything I say personal, we gotta give the audience a bit of a fake rivalry thing. Pretend that it's a sport competition and we're both taking this super seriously."

"Yeah. I think I can do that." Hunter hesitated for a moment, then scratched the back of his head. "Ah, yes… I guess I should mention that heights make me a bit nervous. I won't back out, just wanna let you know."

Ketan could barely contain a triumphant roar. He had ended up with the perfect filming partner after all.

"That's okay, don't try to hide it. I'm sure many viewers can relate", he encouraged Hunter. "They want to see real people with real emotions. Can you tell them a few things about yourself first? I'll jump in if you ever feel stuck. You'll see – before you know it, you’re an absolute pro."

-

After Hunter had successfully tackled the first obstacle of introducing himself, he slowly began to calm down. Ketan made sure to start out nice and easy with some classic games. The tin can alley, the shooting gallery, the unclimbable ladder and the strongman test all gave Hunter a chance to excel with his physical skills to gently ease him into the challenge.

To keep things exciting, Ketan had already put up a vote for the first ride they had to go on. The drop tower won by a landslide – much to Hunter's dismay. It wasn't even a big tower, 130 ft at best. A young girl barely passed the height requirement, grinning from ear to ear, while Hunter nervously looked around like he was considering a last minute escape.

"It's a bit early to regret your life choices", Ketan teased with a friendly dig in Hunter's ribs. "You can always skip the ride if you're too scared, you know?"

"No way!", Hunter attempted to join in on the banter. "I'm in the lead, remember? And I never go down without a fight."

"We're both going down in a minute, but first it's all the way up, up, up to the top." Filled to the brim with anticipation, Ketan took a seat and secured the restraints. He adjusted his 360° cam to a nice angle that showed both their faces and a good bit of the surroundings.

"Oh boy", Hunter exhaled sharply as the operator performed the final safety check. "I'm not so sure about this."

"Too late to wimp out now." Chuckling like a madman, Ketan captured their slow ascenct. The camera did a great job at conveying the height, even added to it with the warped perspective. Hunter, of course, couldn't appreciate any of it since his eyes were shut tight. He was humming a slightly distorted tune while his hands held on to the restraints. Surprisingly, it didn't even sound half bad. Besides his stunning looks and athletic skills, Hunter was also gifted with a deep and silky voice.

"You're missing out on the view, bud!" Ketan reached over with his free hand and pinched Hunter's impressive bizeps. Hunter flinched and looked up for a moment, visibly startled.

"Oh God, I hate this", he moaned and turned his eyes towards the gloomy clouds. Better than looking down, Ketan assumed. Meanwhile, the ride had come to a halt, leaving his brave three riders suspended in anticipation.

"Got a message for the crowds?", Ketan grinned.

"It was nice to meet yo-uuuaaaaaaah!" Hunter's words were ripped into a breathless scream as the platform plunged towards the ground. Weightlessness washed over Ketan's body, the sinking and exhilarating feeling of a free fall. It was like his stomach was floating in his chest, tingling and fluttering and almost unbearable, but in the best way possible. And then, before his nerves could even make sense of it, the brakes set in and it was all over.

"That was amazing!" Ketan couldn't stop laughing and after a few seconds of a horrified blank stare, Hunter joined in. Nervously, but still.

"I was right", he said with a crooked smile while fixing his hair, "I hated it."

"Well, you didn't spoil your pants, that's a plus. Should be an easy win for me, though."

"Uhm… yeah, I guess so", Hunter nodded, still out of breath. Then he remembered the whole competition aspect and forced out a: "Unless our viewers appreciate me overcoming my fear."

Ketan could barely stop himself from pinching Hunter's cheek. The man just wasn't made for bragging and taunting. His feeble attempt was so wholesome that Ketan almost broke character, and he was sure his followers noticed.

"You deserve a pat on the shoulder. Now let's check the results."

The results were anything but clear. Ketan came out on top, but only by a few percent. And the lifechat made it perfectly clear that the audience was smitten by his first time companion.

"I want to hold his sweaty hand so badly", Ketan read out loud. "Still hot, even when he's about to pee himself."

"Stop it", Hunter protested, pretending to reach for the phone. "How 'bout your embarrassing comments?"

"Later. Maybe. First, you guys gotta pick the starter, main course and appetizer for our eating contest."

"Like… who's gonna eat the most?" Hunter's eyes widened. Maybe the drop had left a lasting impression on his stomach or he feared the ride following their meal.

"What, do I look like a sadist to you?" Ketan put on his best serial killer impersonation before breaking into a smile again. "No way, I gotta do the same thing, remember? It's all about speed, baby. The winner finishes first."

"Big mistake. I'm a fast eater." Hunter pounded his shredded abs that, even under his shirt, looked like he lived on nothing but broccoli and lean chicken breast.

"Never underestimate my power!" With a last ominous glare, Ketan checked his phone for the jury's votes. Unsurprisingly, corn dog and chocolate churros were the clear favorites – phallic-shaped food always came in first, pun intended. The third pick was a bit of a wild card: chocolate covered bacon. It probably sounded too weird to give it a pass. While casually chatting some more, Ketan went to the food trucks to gather their democratically elected meal.

"You guys are the referees", he declared to his viewers. "Just in case it's a close race, which it's totally not going to be."

"Keep telling yourself that", Hunter gave back with newfound confidence.

"Look who's getting cocky", Ketan sneered and grabbed his corn dog. "Alrighty then… get ready… set… go!"

As fast as he possibly could, Ketan munched away at the crispy cornbread and the plump, meaty hotdog. He felt pretty confident until he shot a glance at his opponent. Somehow, Hunter had managed to shove almost the entire thing into his mouth at once and chewed at lightning speed. Damn it, he was a fast eater indeed. Determined not to lose, Ketan took bigger bites, then swiftly reached for the churros.

The deep fried crispiness, soft inside and intense cocoa flavor made it easy to get down bite after bite. Ketan stared at the horizon beyond the stalls and rides, focusing on nothing but pushing in the strands of pastry, chewing once or twice, then gulping forcefully. Finally, he grapped the long strip of chocolate covered bacon and chewed it off the stick before he could think about it. The smokey note hit harder than expected – the sweetness of the chocolate tried, but failed to overpower it. It wasn't horrible, just not entirely to his taste, and it left a greasy mouthfeel. That didn't stop Ketan from nibbling away every last bit, then swallowing once more.

He looked up to find Hunter already taking a sip of his water. An unfamiliar grin parted his rival's lips as he probably felt that adrenaline rush for the first time. He had finally stopped pretending – now he was taking this seriously. Ketan frowned and wiped his lips.

"Told you so", Hunter declared unabashedly triumphant.

"Just because I'm not as good at deepthroating corn dogs", Ketan growled.

"You're not mad, aren't ya?" Genuine worry clouded Hunter's smile.

"A little." Ketan gave his guest star a wink to assure him that his concern was unfounded. "Better enjoy that victory while it lasts. You might not like what's in store for you."

-

The next stop was a historically themed photo booth, just to give their stomachs some time to settle. Meanwhile, Ketan had already put up the poll for their following ride, which was going to be one of the main attractions. One that would make even him a tiny bit nervous. He knew perfectly well that the audience wanted to see them suffer and he was ready to ham it up for the camera.

Of course the viewers went for the fair’s most intimidating ride – a huge inverted coaster that started off with a steep drop, followed by a tight loop and a maze of zero-g rolls, corkscrews, hills and helixes. It was hard to imagine that this monster was actually portable. Hunter's face fell as he saw the massive steel skeleton.

"I – I don't think I can do that", he mumbled, lowering his head towards Ketan's ear. Maybe he was hoping the camera wouldn't pick up his voice.

"Come on, it's a little late to tap out", Ketan encouraged him, even though his own smile felt rather forced. He knew that this beast was assembled by pros and safety tested, his brain just couldn't get over that whole too big to be portable thing. The park management had agreed to him filming on-ride, he reminded himself, which they wouldn't have done if they weren't confident in their attractions. The uneasy feeling in his stomach was probably caused by a severe neglect of proper chewing during their eating contest. It was not like he was actually scared. "Unless… you want to give up. Double points for the winner, what do you think?"

"Uhm… I… I mean…" Hunter was biting his lip, hands fidgeting nervously, eyes staring intensly at the coaster towering over them. Then his chest heaved with a deep breath and his brows furrowed in nervous determination. "Alright. Let's do this."

"That's the spirit, big guy!" With some enthusiastic slaps on the back, Ketan steered Hunter towards the measly queue. There were five other people in front of them, waiting for the train to return. As soon as the gates opened, Ketan grabbed Hunter's hand and rushed towards the front car, ignoring the protest of a middle-aged woman. His heart was pounding, more out of excitement than anxiety. They were going to get a lovely video out of this. His followers were in for a treat.

"I… I think I made a mistake", Hunter whispered, wide-eyed. His caramel skin barely hid the fact that he had turned pale around the cheeks. As much as the restraints allowed it, Ketan reached over to pat his shoulder.

"Trust me, these things are never as bad as they look."

"No, oh no." Hunter sounded desperate as the train set in motion. Slowly, the chain lift pulled them up the first hill with the familiar click-clack. Ketan looked down towards his dangling feet while holding his camera as stable as possible. His trusty cam had this insane ability to make the selfie stick disappear on video, creating an effect of it floating in mid-air. Ketan gave his viewers a big grin while Hunter looked like he was about to burst into tears. In a futile attempt of reassurance, Ketan kept on rubbing his rival’s impressive biceps.

Finally, the train shifted into an upright position and for a moment, the entire funfair was below them. They followed one last bend towards the inevitable drop.

"I don't feel so good", Hunter rasped, his muscles tensing under Ketan's palm.

"This is the scariest part", Ketan tried to calm him down. "It's all gonna be fun from here!"

Hunter faintly shook his head, then pressed his eyes shut again and attempted to disappear into the shoulder restraints. The very next second, they went over the edge and gravity set things in motion. Ketan began to scream, but the train accelerated so quickly that the air was knocked out of his lungs. Then ground and sky changed places and all of a sudden, his feet were up in the clouds. It was amazing.

Until he heard that sound right next to him.

It was a deep, guttural retch. In one horrible moment, everything clicked. Hunter wasn't just scared. He was feeling sick. No wonder he had looked like he was about to wiggle out of his seat and jump off the ride. And to make things worse, the 360° twist of the zero-gravity roll made Ketan painfully aware of the unrest in his own stomach.

A series of dry heaves assaulted Ketan’s ear, loud enough to overpower even the wind’s roar. It was incredible that such a beautiful person could produce such revolting noises. They sent a wave of nausea through Ketan's body and made him shiver in his clammy skin. Like the rollercoaster, things were going downhill fast.

"Try to breathe", Ketan screamed, barely able to follow his own advice.

"Hu-hhhhhhrrrrrrrRRRRrrRRRrrrrrrr", was Hunter's response, and it sounded awfully wet. If only he could keep it down a little bit longer! The guy didn't even cup his mouth. He held on to the restraints like his life depended on it while his body was shaken by violent gags. Every single time, his head jolted forwards, lips wide open, tounge sticking out, like he was already in mid-puke. At this point, everyone behind them was probably terrified.

"Hold it in!", Ketan pleaded, just before the train twisted into a corkscrew. The last thing he saw were Hunter's eyes flying wide open and his cheeks bulging out. Ketan quickly turned away his head, preparing for a foul smelling flood to hit him any second. Once again, the world spun out of control and the greasy food he had scoffed down swirled in sync with their cart. It was only when they had made it through the inversion that Ketan dared to look up again.

Big mistake – another one in a whole string of unfortunate decisions. As Ketan anxiously glanced towards Hunter, he found him with his cheeks still puffed, lips pursed, eyes widened. Just a second later, vomit sprayed out of him like a fountain. With only a small gap to escape from, it came out with quite some pressure, but it didn't stand a chance against the airstream. A good bit of puke splattered right back into Hunter's face. Some disgustingly warm droplets and mushy pieces hit Ketan's cheek and his upper arm. Someone behind them screamed in terror and Ketan had the strong suspicion that it wasn't because of the wild ride.

With an instant gag, Ketan's body arched against the restraints. His nose was hit hard with the sour stench of sick, mixed with a fermented sweetness. He felt something sliding up his esophagus, like it was still well-greased from all the fried snacks. Desperate to keep his hasty meal down, Ketan swallowed several times and cupped his mouth with his free hand. The train descended into a downward helix and Ketan's stomach immediately sank, forcing another retch out of him.

Maybe it were those wet gurgles that set a chain reaction in motion, maybe it had been inevitable all along. Hunter's shoulders tensed as another gush of undigested food spilled out of his mouth and all over his front. At least now he tilted his head forward and fully parted his lips to prevent another explosion. With a horribly moist, gargling retch, the impossibly gorgeous hunk puked up large chunks of sausage and soggy dough that splattered heavily on his thighs.

Ketan's eyes watered as he fought against the mass that kept on pushing up his throat. The forceful movement of the rollercoaster, the rancid smell and the sickening noises Hunter produced all became too much for him. But the station was close, so very close. Another turn and Ketan already felt the brakes setting in. He pushed against his lips like with the force of sheer determination while his abdominal muscles clenched painfully.

"I'm so sorry", Hunter moaned weakly. Somehow, he still looked ridiculously handsome, even with strands of vomit dripping from his lips. Tiny droplets of tears had been caught in his long lashes as he looked at Ketan with pleading eyes. Ketan just nodded, mouth clutched, frantically taking in rapid, shallow breaths through his nose. The train slowed down as they entered the final stretch. He could do it. He had to do it.

Hunter, however, could not. A spasmodic hiccup shook his buff frame and without any resistance, another massive wave of beige liquid spilled from his lips. His face went blank as he immediately threw up again. Mushy bits of bacon and hotdog and cornbread plopped wetly onto the restraints. The sound was enough to send Ketan into a violent heave. Acrid liquid bubbled up from his stomach. It burned like hell and brought up bigger lumps that slid over Ketan's uvula, forcing him to gag even harder. With every fiber of his body, he tried to swallow the soggy mass back down.

Just as it all seemed lost, the train came to a halt. They had made it to the station. Unable to stop retching, his cheeks bulging against his palm, Ketan pleaded silently for the restraints to open. He saw a fairground worker approaching them hastily – a young guy, probably an undergrad like himself who  just wanted to make a bit of extra money. And then, in a cruel twist of fate, Ketan's stomach forcefully ejected another surge of puke. Hot, creamy liquid shot out of the small crack between his tightly closed lips. It poured out over and under his hand, between his fingers, down his arm, all over his cheeks and chin.

The worker stared in horror, his face one substantial "Oh no!", as he saw Ketan lose his battle in such a spectacular way. Finally, the shoulder restraints lifted themselves, like they wanted to mock his futile attempt. Their fellow riders frantically rushed out of the train. The woman that had snapped at them before was now giving them a death glare. Her hair, her face and a good part of her blouse were stained with Hunter's stomach contents.

Before she could break out into a tirade, Ketan's insides went for another loop and he projectile vomited all over himself. It spurted out of him in such a big arch that some droplets even hit the camera. The camera? A cascade of silent curses popped up in Ketan's fuzzy mind. Their entire barf‑a‑thon had been livestreamed to all of his followers, and thanks to the superior image stabilization, they probably hadn't missed a single chunk.

"Are… you guys okay?", the operator asked cautiously. Ketan looked at him and broke into a laugh. He just couldn't help himself. The entire situation was so utterly absurd.

"Sorry", he gasped, unable to calm himself down. "It just sorta… happened. I tried to hold it in, I really did, but… but…“

The laughter overwhelmed Ketan's bubbling stomach and he was shaken by another retch. A greasy brownish mush splattered onto his lap. Ketan's clothes were pretty much soaked with puke at this point and clung to his damp skin. The fresh breeze made him tremble, but he kept on chuckling as he expelled poorly chewed corndog bits. Hunter awkwardly patted Ketan's back to help him through the violent bout. After what seemed like an eternity, both the wet heaves and the hysterical giggles finally subsided.

"We can clean it all up", Hunter rasped. "I… I really didn't mean to ruin your, you know, ride."

"Uhm, no, it happens", the young man reassured him. He sounded more nervous than comforting, probably expecting either one of them to blow chunks again any seconds. "We’ll just hose it down. You guys look like you better go home."

"Yeah… you're right... sorry." Hunter sounded horribly guilty. Defeated. Ketan pressed his co-star‘s shoulder before they finally got up from their stained seats. Soggy lumps, now cooled down, slid down Ketan‘s legs. With a stiff gait, he walked down the platform – still nauseated, but doing his best to pull off a smile. At this point, he had no chance but to play it off and act unaffected.

Ketan's eyes did widen just a little as he looked at his phone. The viewer count had, in fact, almost trippled during their disastrous ride. And why was he even surprised? People were sadists after all. There was a reason the most popular challenges were always the one that made someone puke. It was the perfect blend of schadenfreude and childish humor.

"Okay, guys, this is going to be a tough one", he picked up the chitchat with his audience like nothing had happened. "I can proudly state that we gave it our all – all of our stomach contents, that is. Will you reward the spectacular human fountain or the last one barfing? The choice is yours while we're… trying to clean ourselves up a little. Stay tuned!"

Hunter hesitated to step closer. He looked helpless, lost, so Ketan grabbed his hand and pulled him along to a more quiet place behind the stalls.

"Feeling a little better?", Ketan asked in a much softer voice than his usual hyped up persona. He did feel bad for dragging Hunter into this mess. Nobody wanted to have a vomiting fit immortalized on the internet, especially not during their very first live stream.

"Yeah, I… I think so." Hunter gave him a crooked smile and a thumbs up.

Good thing Ketan’s philosophy was to be prepared for anything. Among his many technical gadgets, he also brought a large water bottle that turned out to be a life saver. First, he helped Hunter clean the worst mess from his skin and clothes before giving himself the same treatment. Quite a bit of puke had splashed back onto Hunter‘s own face. There were chunks and strands in his hair, heck, even in his ears. Ketan brought out some much-needed backup in the form of paper towels. Even then, they could only do so much – the stench of sick still lingered around them, their clothes were soaking wet and the stains easily visible. Ketan shivered and the goosebumps on Hunter's arms showed that he was freezing as well.

"Things are getting a tad uncomfortable for us and I don't think they're gonna welcome us on another ride", Ketan declared with a somewhat sheepish grin. The stream had definitely been cut short, but at least they were going out with a bang. "Let's see what you guys have to say… 'Blergh. Puke emoji, puke emoji, puke emoji' – relatable. 'Ketan, I would totally rub your back.' – aw, thank you. 'I wanna clean Hunter up with my tongue.' – interesting."

"I don't think that's a good idea", Hunter replied in such an sincere tone that Ketan could barely hold back a chuckle. Or a hug. He handed over the almost emptied bottle instead. Hunter took a deep sip, swished the water around in his mouth and politely turned away from the camera before spitting it all back out on the grass.

"Probably not, but thanks for the kind offer.“ Ketan waited until Hunter was done before he poorly imitated drumrolls. „Now let's determine the winner, shall we? It's the moment we've all been waiting for. Remember, we got double points for the last ride. So the winner of our final competition and the entire day is…" With a dramatic pause, Ketan looked at the poll. Took a deep breath. Then broke into a smile and raised his rival‘s arm. "Hunter!"

Countless hearts flooded the chat. It probably helped that Hunter's drenched clothes stuck to his chiseled body and that his face lit up in such an endearing way.

"Thank  you, everyone! Honestly, thank you.“ A tinge of red brought back some life into his cheeks that were still far from the usual golden-brown tan. „I know you guys weren't even here for me and I'm glad I didn't ruin the whole thing for you. Guess my stomach isn't used to deep-fried food anymore."

"Don't worry, it happens to the best of us.“ Ketan stretched himself to ruffle Hunter’s soft locks. „Case in point, it even happenend to me.“

„Yeah… sorry… that kinda feels like it was my fault as well. I made you… you know… I started the whole vomiting thing and then… sorry. It’s a little embarrassing.“

„My idea, my responsibility, okay?“ The shame-fueled puppy dog expression on Hunter’s face was utterly adorable and, weird enough, it sparked Ketan’s protective instinct for the significantly taller hunk. „Now before we ride home towards the sunset, let’s read some last comments to cheer you up. ‚Hottest. Thing. EVER!‘ – ‚Marry me, Hunter! Heart emoji times a bijillion‘ – ‚More streams together plllzzzz‘ – You’d like that, huh? You dirty little weirdos. Any last words to the audience, Hunt?“

„Uhm… I’m already taken, so I have to decline the marriage proposal. But thanks for the votes and everything! I really appreciate it!“

„You heard him! And you will never know what we’re gonna do next… in private. Kay thanx bye!“ After his signature abrupt last wave, Ketan bumped the phone against his forehead, then quickly turned off the camera. His grin instantly fell into an expression of pure guilt. „Hit me. Like, hard. Fist and all. I deserve it. That’s not how things were supposed to go down. I mean, it was my most successful stream ever and I’m eternally grateful for that, but I’m also honestly sorry.“

„No, it’s okay.“ Hunter waved a hand, visibly confused by Ketan’s sudden change in demeanor. „I should have said that I wasn’t feeling well. It kind of, you know, got to me with the whole contest thing and all and then it was too late. I’m just glad it all turned out fine in the end.“

„You’re too good to be true“, Ketan sighed. „And probably cold as hell, so how about a detour to my place for a hot shower and some tea? I owe you one, more than one, and it’s the least I can do.“

„Sounds great. My stomach’s still a little angry at me, I guess.“ Hunter’s hand drew a circle over the perfectly defined muscles of his abdomen. He seemed worn out, but mostly relieved. That was because he couldn’t possibly know at this moment that nothing was fine and that the steepest drop was only about to begin.

He found out soon enough when his phone started ringing.

[ros3ybabe]

Day 3 - 90 Day Challenge 🎀

I was so tired that not only was I in bed by 930, but I was asleep by 932. Sadly, I fell asleep before I could get much accomplished. But I still did some things, and I'm going to be honest because what's accountability without honesty!

🏋‍♀️ Physical Health

I did walk over 10k steps, I just don't know how many exactly because my watch died when I got home from work ✅️

🧠 Mental Health

I did not read a chapter of atmoic habits ❌️

��️ Emotional Health

I did not beat myself up or feel guilty over not doing as much as I had very low energy after a long, busy day ✅️

📚 Intellectual Health

I was in bed by 930, and this is an intellectual goal as quality sleep helps improve cognitive function ✅️

🥳 Social Health

did a quick zoom call with my boyfriend✅️

had a small chat with my roommates while they made themselves dinner ✅️

😘 Self Love/Care

I can't believe I forgot to moisturize last night but dang was I exhausted ❌️

I finally have my week break from school and work so I'm going to spend this time both on me and preparing for my finals. Let's see what's on the goal list for today!

🏋‍♀️ Physical Health

complete an at home morning workout OR some gentle stretching at the end of the day depending on energy levels

walk to and from campus today to get some steps in - try to hit 8k steps at least for the whole day

Read a chapter of Fast Like A Girl

Take morning medication and night medication

🧠 Mental Health

Read a chapter of Atomic Habits

Guided Journal AM + PM

Listen to a podcast from the 5AM Miracle or Mindset Mentor

❤️ Emotional Health

answer one journal prompt

write down a list of affirmations currently relevant to my life

Read a chapter of 101 Essays OR book on attachment styles (can't remember the name)

📚 Intellectual Health

complete homework assignments on my todo list today

research more health information regarding Inflammatory PCOS and healthy diets to follow for PCOS

budget for next paycheck

complete a couple language lessons on my apps

🥳 Social Health

zoom call with boyfriend

text long distance friend to catch up and chat

🥰 Self Love/Care

AM + PM Skincare

oil hair + wash hair + hair mask

clean around bedroom

wash dirty laundry (clothes)

wash sheets, towels, and pillowcases

wash comforter

clean makeup brushes

Misc -

look at health insurance stuff

research crochet stuff to see if I have an actual interest

There's a lot to get done today, but I finally have the time to do it, and I'm looking forward to being productive with the stuff I personally need to get done! I'm definitely looking forward to this week off as a whole <3

Thank you to everyone whose being encouraging while I embark on this challenge, I appreciate all of you so much !!

til next time lovelies 🩷

[fettuccin-e]

Matt Murdock Fic Recs (Part III)

oh matty. my tortured, angsty, sexy man. why must you have a smile like pure sunshine? why must you have a fat ass? i am simply Not Normal about this man, so more fic recs!! PLEASE comment and reblog these works from these awesome writers, they so deserve it!! (also, if you are an author and would like to be removed from this list, let me know!!)

Part I and Part II of my Matt Murdock recs!

Choice and Chance and Promise by @courtforshort15

>> As much as you've tried, your feelings for Matt won't go away. No matter how must you try to ignore it, you will always love Matthew Murdock, even if he doesn't feel the same. One night, though, may change things. (mutual pining!!! happy ending!!! hooray amazing!!)

90 Days by @multiharlot

>> The day you lost Matthew Murdock was the worst you've ever experienced. The days that follow are painful, the road through your grief agonizing, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. (i read this when i need to cry. it is so. good. HOWEVER, there is some heavy depression and darkness in here, so please stay safe!!)

Reciprocum by @murdocks-devil

>> Matthew Murdock is a giver, through and through. He never takes anything for himself, even though he desperately needs it. So, you've learned how to make sure Matt gets what he needs, without making him think that he's taking too much. (just,, taking care of matty in the sweetest, fluffiest way. so so wonderful)

Shut Up by @skeletonsslut

>> You're trying to get him to stop, trying to pry him away. But Matt's mission is to make you cum as many times as possible, and he's never been one to shy away from a challenge. (porn. pure overstimulation porn. hell yeah.)

S.M.S. by @prettyeyesnof4ce

>> There are some mornings where you wake up early, with Matt still asleep next to you, calm and warm and soft. These mornings are few and far between, so you've learned to bask in them as much as possible. (the title literally stands for sleepy morning sex. PURE SMUT and its so nice)

For as Long as You'd Let Me by @fulmis

>> Matt knows that you deserve better than him, so he keeps his distance, burying his feelings deep inside himself. He should have known that you wouldn't stay single forever, but he didn't expect the sight of you with someone else to hurt so bad. (awwwee he's so tortured and sweet,, i LOVE angst with a happy ending)

"Playing Pool" Ask by @devils-dares

>> A drabble about playing pool with Matt, Foggy, and Karen as Mrs. Murdock. Foggy insists that it's not fair that you get someone with superpowers on your team, you've never been happier. (i ADORE domestic, married!Matty. this is so fucking cute.)

Funeral Liturgy by @redahlia-writes

>> Matthew Murdock is dead, and you have to organize his funeral. But no one has found his body, and you can't help traitorous hope from creeping in, praying that he's still alive. (pain. just,, pain but its so good and ends happy so don't worry!!)

Please Don't Be Mad by @chvoswxtch

>> After Matt lies to you about being with Elektra, you think about ending things. Finally leaving. But Matt always drags you back in, for better or for worse. You're weak to him, and he to you. (UGH the smut is fucking amazing, and the angst?? game-changing. PLEASE be warned though,, the relationship in this one is slightly toxic!!)

Just The Tip, Princess by @saintmurd0ck

>> College has been getting to you both. A game of truth or dare may take the edge off, and maybe bring some feelings to light. (College matty makes me fuckin FERAL are you kidding me?? the smut is simply top tier.)

[saintmeghanmarkle]

📃 Megalist of 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 and Other 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑵𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 in H&M’s Political Orbit 📃 by u/SeptiemeSens (Part 2 of 3)

📌 Link to Tumblr post Part 1 of 3

📌 Link to Tumblr post Part 3 of 3

📌 Other notable names:

Ari Emanuel - CEO of William Morris Endeavor (WME) and famed Hollywood super agent who signed H&M in May 2023 to become power players in film and TV production, brand partnerships, and endorsements.  Ari is a prominent Democratic Party donor and his brother Rahm Emanuel is the former mayor of Chicago, former Chief of Staff for President Obama, and currently U.S. Ambassador to Japan [source 1 // source 2 // source 3]

Donald Trump - When H&M relocated to Los Angeles in March 2020, former President Trump tweeted that they'd have to pay their own way. Trump has great respect and admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II and he's also a fan of King Charles. However, he is *not* a fan of Meghan. As for Harry, Trump said: “I wish a lot of luck to Harry, because he’s gonna need it.” [source 1 // source 2 // source 3 // source 4]

Doug Emhoff - husband of Vice President Kama Harris, aka the 2nd Gentleman. H&M met with Doug at the Project Healthy Minds summit in New York City on World Mental Health Day 2023 [source]

Gavin Newsom - Governor of California. Allegedly two (2) weeks before the 2020 election, Meghan had an hour-long virtual meeting with Newsom. Newsom had been under pressure to appoint a woman of color, possibly Meghan, to replace California senator Kamala Harris if she became Vice-President. In May 2024, Gavin publicly defended Archewell Foundation's "delinquency" status [source 1 // source 2]

Ivanka Trump - During President Trump's term, Ivanka made national paid leave for families a significant part of her portfolio as Senior Advisor. Her goal was to expand upon the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to provide for paid coverage. In a significant policy win for Ivanka in 2019, Congress voted to provide all federal workers with 12 weeks of paid parental leave [source 1 // source 2 //source 3]. This was two (2) years *before* Meghan's open letter to Pelosi and Schumer. Important to note that Meghan was very much an Ivanka fangirl for many years and even interviewed Ivanka for The Tig [source 1 // source 2]. 👉 slideshow of Meghan cosplaying Ivanka through the years

Jacinda Arden - Former Prime Minister of New Zealand was among seven “extraordinary leaders” interviewed on Live to Lead, a Netflix documentary series inspired by Nelson Mandela. It was presented by H&M and co-produced by Archewell Productions. However, upon the release of this documentary in 2022, Jacinda's office immediately distanced herself from the Sussexes stating that her interview actually took place three (3) years prior in 2019 and that her involvement had nothing to do with H&M, who were only brought in at a late stage. In 2023, Jacinda was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Prince William's Earthshot Prize [source]

Jessica Mulroney - M's former bestie, stylist, and maid of honor is married to Ben Mulroney, son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Jessica was also fashion adviser to Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, former wife of Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada. Jessica and Ben Mulroney are close friends with Justin and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau [source 1 // source 2]

Johnny Mercer, Member of Parliament (MP) - In April 2024, Harry was found by a High Court to have "breached a confidentiality ring" when he emailed information to his friend, the Veterans Minister and MP Johnny Mercer concerning his legal battle over his UK security arrangements. Harry was ordered to pay 90% of the Home Office’s legal costs of defending his challenge [source]

Justin Trudeau - Prime Minister of Canada first met Meghan in 2016 through the One Young World summit. Harry and Justin also connected in 2016, over the Invictus Games to be held in Toronto the following year. When Megxit was announced, Justin said that he was supportive of Harry and Meghan’s move but refused to say whether or not Canadians were paying to protect the royal couple. More than 80,000 Canadians signed the Canadian Taxpayers Federation petition telling Trudeau they were opposed to paying for H&M's security costs with taxpayers’ money. After public backlash and immense pressure from Canadian taxpayers, the RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] ceased providing its protective policing services for H&M as they had formally stepped down as working royals [source 1 // source 2 // source 3]

post link

author: SeptiemeSens

submitted: June 04, 2024 at 11:46AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[litcityblues]

'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow' --A Review

The Missus joined a book club a few months back and this was one of the first books they read. She loved it and thought that I would love it, so after she was done with it, I snuck it into my reading queue until I had finished a few other things and then I picked it up and began to read it, not having any idea what to expect.

I don't want to get too granular with the plot, otherwise it will spoil very cool things for you, dear reader, should read this book (and you should, if you haven't already)- so, I'll put it this way:

This is the story of Sadie Green and Sam Masur, two childhood friends who met in a hospital in California as kids, Sadie was trying to occupy her time while her sister Alice fought cancer and Sam was recovering from a car accident (that we find out later mangled his foot to the point where it need an amputation and killed his mother.) The two bond over a shared love of video games and sparks a friendship between them that doesn't seem to last, as they fall out with one another, but they reconnect years later when both are in college when Sam is at Harvard and Sadie is at MIT.

Their rekindled friendship catches fire as they make and release their first game together, called Ichigo, and take the gaming world by storm, founding a gaming company in the process. Over the years, their friendship waxes and wanes. Professional and personal arguments grow and shrink the distance between them. Tragedy intervenes and seemingly makes the rupture between the two of them permanent, but in the end, they always find their way back to each other. Making games of all varieties. Living lives that are both separate and inextricably intertwined and ultimately playing their way through the levels of the game that is life- together.

Okay, don’t be scared that it’s about video games. I think if you are of a certain age, then this book will resonate with you in a major way, and while I was never a big SNES guy- not having one, I’ve played my share of Oregon Trail back in the day and I understood the romance and the challenge of playing games of that generation. I would imagine if I had an SNES I would have understood the thrill of finally getting Mario to the top of the flagpole at the end of the level- the sort of entry-level moment where Sam and Sadie bonded over it when they meet when Sam is in the hospital recovering from a car accident which damaged his foot and although we don’t know it right away, killed his mother.

I loved the video game aspect of this– but it’s also written in such a way that you can absolutely connect with this book even if you have never played a video game in your life, which is a testament to the power and skill of Zevin’s writing. As a reader, even though I didn’t have a gaming system of my own, I grew up with Number Munchers, Oregon Trail, Myst, and classic Mac Games– Zevin captures the romance and the feel of those early to mid-90s gaming experiences perfectly.

I also loved the relationship between Sam and Sadie. Part of you wants them to end up together, but both of the characters are self-aware enough to realize that they would be terrible as romantic partners but work very effectively as friends and collaborators. I think that is kind of an understated thing about this book- so often, in writing, you want characters to end up together and it’s not necessary. Sometimes the most valuable relationships in your life don’t involve love or physical intimacy at all and that doesn’t mean they’re not as powerful or can’t change your life in just the same way. The relationship between the two- the way it waxes and wanes over the years feels so incredibly real.

At the risk of being spoiler-y, there’s a chapter towards the end that drops into the second-person POV that is some of the most beautiful and powerful writing that I’ve read in a very, very long time. (NK Jemisin used second person POV to great effect in her Broken Earth Trilogy– Zevin here breaks it out for one, devastatingly perfect chapter and it works. It worked for Jemisin, and it works for Zevin.)

Overall: This book is out there in the zeitgeist and on the TikToks and the Tumblrs and all over the place and there's a reason for that: this book more than lives up to the hype. It is a beautiful piece of writing and honestly, after I reached a certain point in it, I just could not put it down. My Grade: (and I don't think I've ever done this before, so bear witness, dear reader): ***** out of ****

(Also, just tangentially as a Star Trek fan-- holy shit there are so many Shakespeare references in that show-- the book's title is taken from Macbeth and specifically, this scene.)

[augment-techs]

fanfic writer questions:

23. What’s a trope, AU, or concept you’ve never written, but would like to?

25. What other websites or resources do you use most often when you write?

26. Would you rather write a fic that had no dialogue or one that was only dialogue?

27. How long did it take to write [insert fic]? Describe the process.

36. Do you visualize what you read/write?

38. Did any of your fics get surprisingly popular (whatever that means to you)? Which ones? Why do you think they were so successful?

39. Is any aspect of your writing process inspired by other writers or people? If so, who?

23. *stares into the middle distance* ...If we're being honest, most of the AUs and tropes I've ever wanted to write, I've written. Finding one that I haven't sunken my grabby little fingers into already is a challenge. About the only one I can think of is the Groundhog Day or Wish Baby AU, and that's because they go on for such a long time. 25. TVTropes, Wikipedia, Youtube analysis videos by way of websites. I generally use actual paper books for everything else. 26. This is a bit of a cheat because I've already done both, but no dialogue is preferable to all dialogue because I HATE THAT. I am not a script writer and it REALLY shows. 27. You're supposed to insert the fic title for this question, honey. But if we're speaking in generalities, it can take me anywhere from several hours to several weeks to write a piece. 36. Oh yes I visualize, and often. Perhaps not very well, because I'm more on the verbal spectrum than feeling, but it works about the same. 38. I've answered this, but might as well add on: My 'okay, but What If...?' SDMI series is constantly and consistently on the up and up in terms of numbers of popularity. One of the reasons most recently is because that fucking 'Velma' series is burning hot garbage, but throughout my writing them, I think the thing that draws most people to them is my complete unwillingness to focus solely on the Scooby Gang. These one-shots always focus on the background characters that don't get very much screen time, but everyone loves or loves to hate in equal turns. Also one Dear Evan Hansen/Be More Chill Canon Re-Write crossover and one Kuroshitsuji anime series ending re-write are intensely popular even years later, but that was just because I put my foot down and kept it down about my views on What Could Have Been. 39. To quote Neil Gaiman, "Writers live in houses other people built." It is impossible to be a writer and not be inspired by one or more other writers, directors, artists, actors, and living things out in the world. But, in a pinch, my current inspirations come from dirgewithoutmusic @ AO3 and aletterinthenameofsanity @ AO3 due to their abilities towards AU and one-shot writing technique, and my current aesthetic comes from Oz Perkins and a few French films in their original languages from the 90s and early aughts.

[theemployerdomain]

Role Of Metaverse In Future Remote Work Culture

In a world full of changes and upcoming trends, technology has adapted to new and emerging updates worldwide. Earlier, when tech was just a word with no meaning, people used to travel long distances to earn some bucks being the only bread-earner in the family. People had no space to enjoy their personal life due to long working hours and traveling huge distances. 

Slowly, when the technology updated itself, every state and city became reliable enough to offer employment opportunities. During covid pandemic, more than 90% of organizations switched to remote work, where the users logged in/out and worked from home. In this way, they were able to have a healthy work-life balance. Some workplaces allowed hybrid work mode, where they can work 2 days from the office and the remaining days from home. 

Finally, when AI and metaverse stepped into the tech industry, remote work can be a great choice for firms to adapt. Before we even begin to discuss, let's know, 

What Is Metaverse?

Metaverse is a network that connects 3D virtual worlds to assist people with each other, shop intriguing products via cryptocurrency, hang out, adapt personal digital avatars, etc. While metaverse locations depict through virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR), they can also be accessed using a computer or smart device. However, to fully experience the three-dimensional immersion, using a VR headset is necessary.

The availability of VR-enabled headsets has increased significantly, to the point where organizations include them as part of the office equipment covered for their employees. It leads us to the next point, i.e., the role of a metaverse in future remote work culture: 

Team Solidarity: 

Even when the whole world is all set to adapt metaverse, you must ensure that your team's unity should not be disturbed. With metaverse technology, you can see your team's collaboration in your success. People who belong to a united team often prioritize collective interests over their own individual concerns. Furthermore, they exhibit greater enthusiasm and drive to contribute towards achieving the team's objectives.

Customer Interaction: 

With metaverse and intriguing VR features, the employees can interact with their customers virtually without hassle. Discuss the challenges that employees often face when interacting with customers and how virtual reality can revolutionize these interactions by eliminating significant obstacles. The emergence of virtual reality technology will enable remote employees to connect with customers in unprecedented ways, surpassing previous limitations.

Virtual Office Environment: 

The metaverse, leveraging Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), will simplify the remote work experience for employers and employees. It will be possible to establish a virtual workspace that replicates either the real-world office environment or the specific settings of the company. Within this digital realm, individuals can collaborate on tasks and projects, effectively completing work in a virtual format.

Team Collaboration: 

The metaverse will enable remote workers to enhance their communication skills and place a strong focus on teamwork. These virtual environments have the potential to amplify a team's capacity for innovation and goal attainment in a more streamlined manner. Operating within the metaverse is expected to address the issue of remote workers feeling disconnected and lacking a sense of accomplishment as part of a team, a challenge that many currently face.

Virtual Conferences: 

Virtual trade shows are poised to supplant traditional conferences and expos as they prove to be more efficient and offer enhanced engagement opportunities. Irrespective of their physical location, remote attendees can conveniently access live, interactive networking opportunities and content using their computers or smart devices. These virtual conferences take place entirely online, often within metaverse ecosystems, eliminating the need for travel, hotel bookings, or catering arrangements.

You can also watch: EmpMonitor | Leading Employee Workforce Productivity Tool

The Verdict: 

So we hope the users will finally understand the role of a metaverse in future remote work culture. It will inspire them to adapt and go ahead with the changing technology. 

[irishgolfadventure]

Sunny Surprising County Louth

Today was another beautiful day in Ireland. All the native Irish have been commenting on how nice the weather has been for the month of May. This kind of weather will really spoil us for when we make a return trip! Today might have been the nicest it’s been since we’ve been here!

We arrived finally arrived at County Louth Golf Club this morning after a few misinterpretations of our GPS guidance. Nothing that a couple of U turns couldn’t take care of though. We arrived early enough to get a little practice in on their range. And then we met Sheldon and Marc our playing partners for the day. Sheldon was from Yellow Knives, Canada and Marc was from the Silicon Valley in California. Marc was a low handicap golfer and Sheldon was a 16 hdcp. 

The course was great!! Beautifully manicured, well designed and long. I had a choice between 6500, 6700 or 7100 yards. I didn’t want to intimidate the other two by playing from the tips so I chose to play the course from 6500. Whew, the back nine started with 5 straight par 4s - 398,464,410,408 & 322! Needless to say no pars on the first five on the back (in case you’re counting I went 6,6,5,5,5) but parred three out of the last four to shoot 43 for the nine ( back was par 35) and 90 for the round. I felt like I played really well for the distance and difficulty of the course.

The course itself had trouble everywhere. Lots of pot bunkers, small mounds of heather in the fairways and the greens were by far the most undulating that we have played and they were lightening fast. The caddie’s said the course was getting ready to host the Irish Amateur next week. Some of the green complex’s were crazy challenging. My caddie was great at reading the greens and forced me to make good course management decisions. I’m sure I would have scored at least 10-15 strokes higher if it weren’t for him. Probably the best caddie I had on the trip.

At Kim’s request, I haven’t been commenting on her game or scores but she played really well today. In fact, this was her best outing of the trip! Senior Ladies Tour is now a possibility:-)

We’re going out to eat tonight at O’Connell’s in Howth. It’s a small resort town located out on a very small and rocky peninsula that is almost an island. Jutting out into the Irish Sea, Howth’s buildings are bright colored and perched on the rocky cliffs. Cool little village and a very popular place to hang out. We’ll be there with all the beautiful people tonight!!

Tomorrow is a check out some of Dublin and Malahide. Malahide is a cool seaside town with lots of shops and a beautiful marina located on another of Ireland’s thousands of scenic bays. Blessings to all! 

[infoblastadministrator]

How Does An Alaska Car Transport Service Ship A Car From Mainland USA?

Shipping a car to Alaska from the mainland USA can seem challenging, but specialized Alaska car transport services make it easier. These services use a mix of ground and sea transport to move vehicles across long distances and rough terrains. Here’s how the process works and what you need to know about vehicle shipping.

Step 1: Preparing Your Car for Transport

Before handing over your vehicle to the Alaska car transport company, you need to prepare it properly. This step ensures your car is ready for the journey and prevents unnecessary delays.

Clean the Car Inside and Out: Cleaning helps you spot any pre-existing damage before shipping.

Document the Car's Condition: Take photos of your car from all angles for reference.

Remove Personal Items: Remove all personal belongings to avoid damage or loss.

Check for Leaks: Make sure your car is not leaking fluids, as this can cause problems during transport.

Ensure Fuel Tank is Low: Keep the fuel tank at about a quarter full to reduce weight.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Alaska Car Transport Service

Several companies offer vehicle shipping services to Alaska. It’s essential to choose one with experience in this type of transport.

Key Factors to Consider:

Experience and Reputation: Look for reviews and testimonials from past customers.

License and Insurance: Ensure the company is licensed and offers insurance for your car.

Shipping Options: Choose between open or enclosed transport depending on your needs.

Step 3: Scheduling and Pickup

Once you’ve selected a company, the next step is scheduling your shipment.

Provide Details: Share your car’s make, model, and pickup location with the company.

Choose a Pickup Date: Schedule a pickup date that works for both you and the transport company.

Prepare for Pickup: Be present or have someone available to hand over the car.

After pickup, the vehicle will be transported by truck to the port of departure.

Step 4: Transporting by Truck to the Port

The first leg of the journey involves moving the car by truck from your location to the port. For example, if you live in Seattle, Washington, the car will be driven to a port in the same city for shipment to Alaska.

This ground transportation is typically done using:

Open Transport: Cost-effective and commonly used for standard vehicles.

Enclosed Transport: Provides more protection for high-value or classic cars.

Step 5: Sea Transport to Alaska

Once the car arrives at the port, it’s loaded onto a ship bound for Alaska.

Details About Sea Transport:

Container Ships: Cars are placed in containers to protect them from harsh weather.

Roll-on/Roll-off Ships (RoRo): Cars are driven directly onto the ship and secured for the journey.

The sea transport can take several days, depending on the departure port and destination. For instance, shipping from Seattle to Anchorage usually takes about 7–10 days.

Step 6: Arrival and Delivery in Alaska

When the ship reaches Alaska, your car is unloaded and prepared for the final leg of the journey. Depending on your preference, the car can either:

Be Picked Up at the Port: You collect your vehicle directly from the port.

Be Delivered to Your Doorstep: The transport company arranges delivery to your specified address.

Challenges of Alaska Car Transport

Shipping a car to Alaska involves unique challenges due to the state’s remote location and weather conditions. Here are some factors to keep in mind:

Weather Conditions: Alaska’s harsh winters and icy conditions can delay transport.

Limited Shipping Routes: Fewer ports and transport options may extend delivery times.

Regulatory Requirements: Cars shipped to Alaska may need to meet state-specific regulations, such as emissions standards.

Statistics About Alaska Car Transport

To better understand the scale and efficiency of vehicle shipping to Alaska, here are some numbers:

Over 90% of goods in Alaska, including vehicles, arrive by sea.

The average shipping distance from Seattle to Anchorage is approximately 2,260 miles.

Around 40,000 vehicles are transported to Alaska yearly through professional services.

Tips for a Smooth Vehicle Shipping Experience

Book Early: Plan your shipment several weeks in advance to secure a spot.

Communicate with the Company: Stay in touch with the transport provider for updates.

Understand the Costs: While prices vary, ask for a detailed breakdown of what’s included.

Inspect the Car Upon Arrival: Check your car for any damage and compare it with the pre-shipment photos.

Why Use Professional Alaska Car Transport Services?

Using a professional vehicle shipping company offers many advantages:

Safety: Your car is handled by experienced professionals.

Convenience: Door-to-door service reduces your hassle.

Reliability: Your car arrives on time and in good condition.

Common Questions About Alaska Car Transport

1. How long does it take to ship a car to Alaska?

The shipping time depends on the departure location and destination. On average, it takes 10–14 days.

2. Can I ship a non-operable car?

Yes, many companies specialize in shipping non-operable vehicles. They use special equipment to load and unload such cars.

3. Is insurance included in the shipping cost?

Most transport companies include basic insurance. However, you can purchase additional coverage if needed.

Alaska car transport services simplify the complex process of shipping vehicles from mainland USA to Alaska. From preparation and pickup to sea transport and delivery, each step is carefully managed to ensure your car arrives safely. By choosing a reliable vehicle shipping company, you can enjoy a stress-free experience, knowing your car is in good hands. Whether you’re moving to Alaska or need to ship a car for other reasons, these services make the process efficient and reliable.

[thirdoasttraining]

Remember that moment during your last race when your legs transformed into concrete pillars and your pace plummeted? Your body just crashed into its lactate threshold – the physiological tipping point where your performance hangs in the balance. Most athletes point fingers at muscle fatigue when their performance drops. The reality? Your lactate threshold holds the key to unlocking peak performance. Elite triathletes know this secret: proper lactate testing reveals your exact training zones and race-day pacing sweet spots. Blood lactate testing shows you precisely where your body shifts from efficient energy production to struggling with acid buildup. Your threshold points become your performance compass – guiding every training session and race strategy. Whether you're eyeing your first sprint triathlon or chasing a new Ironman personal best, your lactate threshold data becomes your roadmap to success. The Science Behind Lactate and Triathlon Performance Did you know your blood lactate levels can spike from 1-2 mmol/L at rest to over 20 mmol/L during intense exertion? Your body's relationship with lactate tells a surprising story about triathlon performance. How Lactate Affects Endurance Sports Most athletes think lactate is their enemy - just another waste product slowing them down. The reality? Lactate serves as a vital energy source your body craves during exercise. Your lactate threshold marks the crucial point where production outpaces clearance. Novice athletes hit this wall at 50-60% of maximum heart rate, while seasoned athletes push to 70-90% before reaching their threshold. Sport-specific Lactate Responses Each triathlon discipline challenges your lactate system differently. Swimming alone triggers a surge in blood lactate while your heart rate climbs just 5 to 10%. This initial flood creates a domino effect on your cycling performance: - Olympic distance swimming drops cycling efficiency - Maximal swim efforts starve your cycling muscles of blood flow - Rising body temperature during swimming throws off your cardiovascular system Energy System Interactions in Triathlon Your body orchestrates a complex dance between energy systems during triathlon. While aerobic energy powers your long-distance performance, intensity changes force all three systems to work together. Elite athletes clear lactate with remarkable efficiency - oxidizing 75-80% of accumulated lactate. Smart athletes keep their swim intensity at 80-90% of maximum during Olympic distance events, preserving energy for later segments. Your lactate threshold becomes your secret weapon during transitions, where quick adaptations between disciplines test your fatigue management skills. Research shows your recovery speed at specific intensities predicts your overall race performance. Understanding these interactions helps you craft the perfect race strategy - knowing exactly when to push and when to hold back across swimming, cycling, and running.   Mental Benefits of Understanding Your Threshold Have you noticed how elite triathletes seem to race with unwavering confidence? Their secret weapon isn't just physical prowess - it's their intimate knowledge of lactate threshold. Let's explore how this understanding transforms your mental game. Confidence in Pacing Your lactate threshold essentially defines the line between sustainable effort and performance collapse. Elite coaches know this truth: even a slight miscalculation at the start of an Olympic-distance event can shatter your finishing time. Most athletes learn this lesson the hard way - pushing too hard, too early, only to watch their performance crumble. Recovery Awareness Regular threshold testing eliminates the guesswork from your training progress. Your data reveals: - When you're training smart (75-80% of total training time should stay below threshold) - Your body's recovery needs - Daily training intensity adjustments Race-day Decision Making Think of your threshold knowledge as your internal race compass. Top performers don't just guess - they build their fitness through careful periodization and consistent retesting. Your body's signals become crystal clear. The talk test offers a foolproof check: when conversation becomes difficult, you've hit your threshold. Triathletes face unique challenges managing energy across three disciplines. Your threshold understanding becomes your guide for crucial decisions about pace, nutrition, and effort distribution. Most importantly, this knowledge crushes self-doubt. You'll toe the start line knowing exactly what your body can deliver - the difference between hitting the wall and crushing your personal best. Building a Season Plan Around Lactate Testing Did you know elite athletes maintain 75-85% of training below threshold for peak performance? Your season plan becomes your roadmap to success when you align it with strategic lactate testing results. Periodization Strategies Smart athletes choose between three proven training models: - Polarized Model: High volume at low intensities, sprinkled with specific high-intensity work - Pyramidal Model: Volume drops as intensity climbs - Threshold Model: Zones 1 and 2 take center stage, with limited zone 3 work Your race distance dictates your model choice. Olympic-distance events thrive on threshold-focused training, while Ironman success demands sub-threshold mastery. Key Testing Periods The most successful athletes schedule lactate tests every 6-8 weeks. Your testing calendar should consider: - Maintenance Phase Testing: Recovery weeks become testing opportunities - Performance Changes: Significant training shifts signal testing time - Recovery Status: Fresh legs tell true stories - Race Schedule: Key events guide your testing timeline Think of tempo workouts as your threshold checkpoints between formal tests. Your heart rate response during these sessions reveals when your zones need updates. Adapting Training Intensity Your lactate numbers guide every training decision. Recreational athletes thrive at 85-90% of V4 pace (lactate threshold pace) for regenerative work. Elite athletes? They need precise management - often training at 70-72% of V4 pace for recovery sessions. Rest periods matter more than most athletes realize. Sub-threshold work demands 10-25% interval rest, while threshold sessions need 50-75% recovery between intervals. Advanced athletes handle more work with less rest, while beginners need generous recovery windows. Remember - swimming, cycling, and running each tell their own threshold story. Your training zones must reflect these individual patterns across all three disciplines. Advanced Applications for Experienced Triathletes Elite athletes at their physical peak aren't immune to performance challenges. Let's explore how advanced lactate threshold applications separate podium finishers from the pack. Heat and Altitude Considerations Your body slams into surprising physiological walls in extreme conditions. Racing in heat (>35°C / >95°F) and dew points above 75 triggers increased anaerobic glycolysis from reduced muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery. Most athletes miss this crucial detail - your lactate levels need closer monitoring in these conditions. Four weeks at moderate elevation (2200m) can supercharge your resting metabolic rate and lactate threshold. Your blood lactate levels typically drop after altitude adaptation, especially below threshold pace. Remember this crucial detail: your maximum oxygen uptake takes a hit at altitude compared to sea level. Race-specific Threshold Training Your IRONMAN 70.3 success depends on maintaining bike intensity at 80-85% of FTP. Full IRONMAN? Dial it back to 70-75% of FTP. Smart athletes focus on: - Progressive race-condition exposure - Training Stress Score (TSS) based sessions - Strategic progression from volume to race-specific intensity Track your adaptations against race-day demands. This data becomes your confidence builder for sustainable race pace. Optimizing Taper Periods Did you know cutting training volume by 41-60% triggers positive physiological adaptations? Your taper strategy needs: - Flexible duration: 4 to 28 days, based on your individual response - Quality maintenance: Keep intensity while dropping volume - Sport-specific tweaks: Swimming often demands longer taper than cycling or running Olympic and IRONMAN 70.3 athletes need specific intervals at race pace with short threshold sets. Full IRONMAN preparation? Focus extra attention on freshness - extended racing amplifies muscle fatigue dramatically. Your running volume needs special attention during taper week - blame gravity. Struggling in one discipline? Cut that volume more aggressively to manage fatigue. Racing in heat requires special taper considerations. A 7-14 day volume reduction matches perfectly with heat adaptation needs. This approach optimizes both your lactate threshold and temperature regulation for race day. Conclusion Elite athletes use 70% less energy than beginners to cover the same distance. Your lactate threshold knowledge unlocks this same efficiency across swimming, cycling, and running. Most athletes chase random numbers - you'll chase precise targets backed by scientific data. Think of your threshold testing as your performance compass. Every 6-8 weeks, your numbers tell a story of progress, revealing exactly when to push harder and when to hold back. This precision eliminates the guesswork that derails most training plans. Have you noticed how top triathletes seem to float through their races while others struggle? Their secret lies in respecting their lactate threshold limits. Whether you're targeting your first sprint triathlon or chasing an IRONMAN personal best, your testing data becomes your roadmap to success. Remember that moment when your legs transformed into concrete pillars during your last race? Your lactate threshold knowledge prevents those moments. This isn't just about numbers - it's about racing with confidence, knowing your limits, and crushing your triathlon goals through measured, strategic progress. FAQs Q1. How can lactate testing enhance my triathlon performance? Lactate testing helps you determine your optimal training zones and race-day pacing strategies. By understanding your lactate threshold, you can train more efficiently, make better decisions during races, and ultimately improve your overall triathlon performance across all three disciplines. Q2. How often should I undergo lactate threshold testing? For optimal results, schedule lactate threshold tests every 6-8 weeks throughout your training season. This frequency allows you to track progress, adjust training intensities, and ensure your zones remain accurate as your fitness improves. Q3. What are the mental benefits of understanding my lactate threshold? Understanding your lactate threshold boosts your confidence in pacing, improves your awareness of recovery needs, and enhances your race-day decision-making abilities. This knowledge eliminates guesswork, allowing you to approach training and racing with greater clarity and mental strength. Q4. How does lactate threshold testing differ for experienced triathletes? Experienced triathletes can use advanced applications of lactate threshold testing, such as adapting to heat and altitude, implementing race-specific threshold training, and optimizing taper periods. These advanced strategies help fine-tune performance for different race distances and conditions. Q5. Can lactate threshold training help prevent burnout in triathletes? Yes, lactate threshold training can help prevent burnout by allowing you to train smarter, not harder. By maintaining 75-85% of your training below threshold and incorporating specific threshold sessions strategically, you can optimize your training benefits while reducing the risk of overtraining and burnout. Schedule Your Lactate Test Today Read the full article

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] West Bengal Team Lifting the 33rd Santosh Trophy after defeating Kerala in the Final. Photo: Hyderabad -AIFF Media Team HYDERABAD: A goal booted in from almost a kissing distance by Robi Hansda deep into the add-on time made all the difference as West Bengal players hugged and kissed the coveted Santosh Trophy they retained after seven years defeating Kerala 1-0 in the final at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. This was West Bengal’s 33rd title in the National Football Championship, but the emotional fillip the victory generated was not to be missed. Hansda, a prolific striker, who scored his 12th goal in the 78th edition of the tournament and brought a dramatic change in the final, went wild with joy after scoring the match-winner and took off his shirt to celebrate that immediately called for a yellow card. But it didn’t stop Hansda from running away with two top individual awards of the tournament – the Tulsidas Balaram Player of the Match award and the Peter Thangaraj Player of the Tournament Award. Given the way Hansda carried his team’s responsibilities on his shoulders right from Day One of the tournament, it was perhaps impossible to think of another contender for the awards.   As the match was slowly moving towards a contest to be decided in the extra-time or through the penalty shootout, Kerala defence found itself completely off-guard when striker Manotos Maji headed forward a ball in the box in the 90+4th minute after receiving a lob from the left. Kerala defender Adil Amal was wrong footed when Hansda, who was camping himself well inside the area, a few yards away from the goalkeeper Hajmal S, put the ball in to trigger off massive celebration in the West Bengal bench. Overall, it wasn’t a match to be remembered for long. Both teams were cautious in their approaches from the beginning and never could really test the rival custodians. Bengal were heavily handicapped by the absence of their key striker Naro Hari Shrestha because of injury and it blunted their attacks to a great extent. They mainly had to depend on crosses from the wings that didn’t cut much ice in the Kerala defence. Kerala, on the other hand, was cautious but time and again accelerated in counter attacks. But then, they took fancy shots at the rival goal, tried a few quick dribbles and even sent low crosses which didn’t carry the necessary stings. West Bengal coach Sanjoy Sen said he felt honoured to take the trophy back to Kolkata after seven years. “In Bengal, it is all about winning the Santosh Trophy. To finish runners-up would be considered a failure. “So, I was aware of the pressure, but took up the challenge. We had a completely young team, but they performed in the most incredible way throughout the tournament. Kudos to my boys for doing such a great job.” Hansda, who emerged the top scorer with a dozen goals in his pocket, said he was happy to win the trophy for the state. “That I could score the match-winner is a huge bonus for me. I dedicate this victory to my father.” West Bengal 1 (Robi Hansda 90+4′) Kerala 0 The post Robi Hansda brings smiles back for Bengal in Santosh Trophy after seven years appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

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[ad_1] West Bengal Team Lifting the 33rd Santosh Trophy after defeating Kerala in the Final. Photo: Hyderabad -AIFF Media Team HYDERABAD: A goal booted in from almost a kissing distance by Robi Hansda deep into the add-on time made all the difference as West Bengal players hugged and kissed the coveted Santosh Trophy they retained after seven years defeating Kerala 1-0 in the final at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. This was West Bengal’s 33rd title in the National Football Championship, but the emotional fillip the victory generated was not to be missed. Hansda, a prolific striker, who scored his 12th goal in the 78th edition of the tournament and brought a dramatic change in the final, went wild with joy after scoring the match-winner and took off his shirt to celebrate that immediately called for a yellow card. But it didn’t stop Hansda from running away with two top individual awards of the tournament – the Tulsidas Balaram Player of the Match award and the Peter Thangaraj Player of the Tournament Award. Given the way Hansda carried his team’s responsibilities on his shoulders right from Day One of the tournament, it was perhaps impossible to think of another contender for the awards.   As the match was slowly moving towards a contest to be decided in the extra-time or through the penalty shootout, Kerala defence found itself completely off-guard when striker Manotos Maji headed forward a ball in the box in the 90+4th minute after receiving a lob from the left. Kerala defender Adil Amal was wrong footed when Hansda, who was camping himself well inside the area, a few yards away from the goalkeeper Hajmal S, put the ball in to trigger off massive celebration in the West Bengal bench. Overall, it wasn’t a match to be remembered for long. Both teams were cautious in their approaches from the beginning and never could really test the rival custodians. Bengal were heavily handicapped by the absence of their key striker Naro Hari Shrestha because of injury and it blunted their attacks to a great extent. They mainly had to depend on crosses from the wings that didn’t cut much ice in the Kerala defence. Kerala, on the other hand, was cautious but time and again accelerated in counter attacks. But then, they took fancy shots at the rival goal, tried a few quick dribbles and even sent low crosses which didn’t carry the necessary stings. West Bengal coach Sanjoy Sen said he felt honoured to take the trophy back to Kolkata after seven years. “In Bengal, it is all about winning the Santosh Trophy. To finish runners-up would be considered a failure. “So, I was aware of the pressure, but took up the challenge. We had a completely young team, but they performed in the most incredible way throughout the tournament. Kudos to my boys for doing such a great job.” Hansda, who emerged the top scorer with a dozen goals in his pocket, said he was happy to win the trophy for the state. “That I could score the match-winner is a huge bonus for me. I dedicate this victory to my father.” West Bengal 1 (Robi Hansda 90+4′) Kerala 0 The post Robi Hansda brings smiles back for Bengal in Santosh Trophy after seven years appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link