#CW: Menstruation

[lxvvie]

Love, I’m in shambles right now. My heaters broke and I’m on my period shivering away under all the blankets I’ve got. I’m in desperate need of Simon acting like my personal heating pad😭

I'm in the same position (Aunt Flo's visiting me, too) but the weather doesn't know if it wants to be hot or cold (I alternate between the AC and the heat in my apartment) and my allergies are ruining my life lmao.

But let's talk about it, anon!

Simon being your personal heating pad, personal body pillow, personal blanket (and that's on top of the other blankets covering you two), personal source of white noise because of his snoring (that he will call bullshit on), and your personal masseuse as those big hands lovingly massage your tummy.

He'll even watch those shitty shows with you that you like so much and indulge in your food cravings with you.

[kocourmokroocko]

dneska jsem zjistil, že zvýšená roztržitost a zapomnětlivost je běžným příznakem PMS a ne jen můj individuální výstřelek, co jsem si vyrobil, abych byl zajímavej ✨

[clonerightsagenda]

This post has generated a lot of interesting discussion, so instead of working on my WIP I'm making a poll.

Help me waste more of my time this evening

[questforgalas]

Code Red Training

···

GIF by mlmanakin

Summary: Kix has to give a training on the menstrual cycle to the 501st. It goes exactly how you think it would

Characters: 501st legion (Jesse, Fives, Rex, Kix, Echo, Dogma, Appo, and made up clone names), Ahsoka Tano

WC: 2.4K

Notes: This is based off another silly HC I posted the other day I couldn't get out of my head. I think the idea of the engineered clones raised surrounded by men learning about the menstrual cycle is a hilarious concept. Very silly stuff. The boys are in awe of their commander after

Tags: descriptions of the menstrual cycle and what occurs. Swearing

Tay's Masterlist

Read on AO3

Kix was running out of tasks to keep his hands busy. The informational flimsies were on the fourth variation of stacking, and he’d rearranged the educational sculptures in every possible space on the desk. He wasn’t nervous. He just could make a list of 1000 other duties he’d rather be doing than, well, this.

Kix had the 41st Elite Corps to thank for this one. The poor padawan commander of the 41st apparently wasn’t prepared for her cycle, and while she was trying to retreat to her quarters to remedy the situation, she was caught with a noticeable blood stain that, understandably, caused her troopers to go into a panic. Chaos ensued as an entire corps sprang into action to save their commander who, to their knowledge, was bleeding to death for no reason.  

There’s no official report on the matter, but the message from Insi, the medic of the 41st, simply said “The troopers involved won’t be looking Commander Offee in the eye anytime soon”.

So now, all battalions led by a female general or commander had to sit through educational training on the menstrual cycle.

A 3-D model of the uterus taunted him from across the desk.

“Gotta say, don’t exactly envy you with this one, Kix,” Captain Rex’s voice interrupted Kix’s internal battle to cancel the next session and run, but instead, he turned to face his Captain, standing at attention and offering a short salute.

“You envy everything else I get to deal with, sir?” The medic offered a sly smirk as Rex put him at ease.

“You got me there,” Rex chuckled. “Although, last I remember, it wasn’t too long ago you’d be right next to Fives and Jesse when I’d be threatening another ‘fresher duty to ward off any antics.”

Kix brought a hand to his chest, feigning hurt, “Me, sir? Antics? I’d never.”

“Just because you knew how to hide the evidence better doesn’t mean you were more innocent.” A playful shove on his shoulder broke his performance.

“It’s called a medic’s attention to detail, sir.”

Rex offered a hum in response, the fond smile on his lips softening the threat of his eye roll, and he continued to make his way across the room to the chair set up in the back corner. As the commanding officer, Rex had to give his approval on the training which meant Kix already took him through the session – The captain remained professional the entire session, but the increasing crimson of his cheeks didn’t go unnoticed – so his presence here now only meant one thing.

Rex knew who was on the roster, and he was here for a show.

“You think you’re being sly Captain, but I see right through you,” Kix accused.

“I’m not sure what you mean. It’s my duty as captain to perform surprise training inspections. It’s for the good of my men.” Rex’s face remained impassive, but the medic didn’t miss the smirk tugging at his lips or the glint in his eyes.

Before he could answer, he heard voices coming down the hall. Kix went through the same mental routine he did when he boarded a LAATi, and with one last deep breath, he readied himself for battle.

_____________________________________________________________

“Wait, wait, wait! A tube?! They have an actual tube in them?”

“Not just a tube, Hardcase. Two tubes!”

“Can females create metal?!”

“How does a baby even fit in there? Like, the same size as us in the tube? Come out of THAT!”

“FEMALES LAY EGGS?!”

The first ten minutes of the session went about as well as Kix could hope for. Characteristic of this group, they were rowdy when they filed in, most coming in from the mess hall, and many in the middle of glorified battle stories that their audience wasn’t buying. As they took their seats, they settled in, and most conversation had quieted down, but when Kix stood upfront waiting for a second too long, pointed looks by Echo and Dogma had the room quieting down quickly.

Much to Kix’s surprise, the group remained attentive and curious during the first parts of his notes as he walked them through the anatomy. Not to his surprise, all hell broke lose when he started to explain conception and gestation. When the questions erupted, Kix stole a glance to the back of the room. Rex was barely holding his composure, and it looked like Jesse’s outburst broke the professional dam as Rex quickly hid his face behind his hand, shoulders shaking.

“Alright, alright, alright. Calm down! One question at a time,” Kix barked. “First, the fallopian tubes are not metal tubes, Hardcase. It’s just what they’re called because they connect two sections. Second, yes, babies as big as we are when we come out of the tube are born through the vagina. If necessary, they can be cut out, bu-“

“THEY CUT THEM OU-“ Smack “Ow!”

“Cut it, Appo,” Echo scolded.

“As I was saying, they can be cut out, but that’s in emergency situations. And lastly, they don’t lay eggs. Not females with this anatomy. They carry eggs, and once a female hits puberty, their ovaries release one egg once a month for it to be fertilized,” Kix finished.

“Oh I can tell you allll about how they’re ferti-“ Smack. “Ow!”

“Fives, you’ve never even talked to a girl,” Echo was on a roll Kix very much appreciated.

Taking a pause before moving onto the next section, Kix swept his gaze across the room. Dogma furiously scribbled notes while Hardcase and Oddball looked like they were trying to solve the equation of an ion engine. Echo lazed with his arms across his chest, attention trained on the medic, but gave Appo another swat when he noticed his head nodding to the side. Fives still rubbed the back of his head where Echo hit him, looking like a hurt loth pup not getting to make his crude joke.

Crowded in the middle, a hand raised. Kix recognized the trooper as one of the newest 501st.

“Yes, Doma?”

“Thank you, sir. I’m just curious. What, what happens to the egg if it isn’t fertilized? Does it just…fall out?” The trooper looked around on the ground as if expecting to find a scattering of eggs around him. A soft laugh floated from the back corner of the room.

“Well, Doma, that leads us into the final part of this training. If the egg isn’t fertilized, then the female body goes through what is called the ‘menstrual cycle’ in common. It’s possibly called other things in other languages, but it all refers to the same process.”

Kix picked up the 3-D model and moved back to the front and center of the room, pointing to the uterine lining.

“When released, the egg settles in the lining of the uterus. If it’s not fertilized, the lining sheds and discards the old lining and the egg through the vagina. Then the lining builds up again over the next month preparing for the next egg,” Kix explained. Silence settled over the room and not a single trooper moved. Even Echo looked like Kix just explained a 10-page battle strategy to him with one minute to learn it. “Ok, where did I lose you all?”

Eyes glanced around, no one wanting to speak first. Finally, Dogma raised his hand.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘sheds and discards the old lining’?” he grimaced.

“Here goes nothing,” Kix thought.

“Well, exactly what it sounds like. The lining literally tears itself from the uterus, falls through the vagina, and exits.”

Eruption.

“YOU MEAN-“

“THEIR BODY IS LITERALLY TEA-“

“HOW OFTEN DOES-“

“SHEDS? LIKE, THEIR BODY JUST-“

Fives, Hardcase, Jesse, and a trooper Kix didn’t recognize jumped to their feet, yelling questions. Dogma turned pale. Doma was bracing his head in his hands. Echo’s eyes went wide, stare fixed on a spot in front of him, and troopers around the room reacted with a mix of horror and confusion. The quiet laugh in the corner of the room mingled with the ruckus. Acting fast, Kix brought his fingers to his lips and let out a whistle the patrol across camp could probably hear. Immediately, the questions ceased, but the looks of horror remained. His narrowed eyes got the message across, and all the troopers settled back into their seats. Once he was sure they were focused back on him, Kix went on.

“This is where we’ll open up the question portion of the training.”

Every hand shot up.

“Fives, if this is a joke,” Kix warned.

“No, it’s serious I promise!” Fives pleaded. Kix nodded for him to go on. “When they’re going through this men-menstrol? Mens-“

“Menstrual.”

“Thanks, vod. When they’re going through this menstrual cycle, is it painful?”

“Yes. Pain can vary female to female, but common symptoms are severe cramps. Many females experience cramps painful enough to cripple them anywhere from a couple hours to days. Other common symptoms are muscle cramps in their lower backs and legs, interrupted sleep cycle, severe mood swings, bloating, digestive changes, and headaches or migraines.” Kix explained. A room of faces grimaced back at him.

“How long does it last for,” Echo asked.

“Again, it varies female to female, but on average 3 to 7 days.”

“7 days?! They’re just…bleeding! For 7 days!” A trooper exclaimed in the back.

“Maker, I didn’t think of that,” Jesse mused. “They’re just walking around with their bodies tearing itself on the inside, and they’re just…ok?”

“Well…” Kix started. “I wouldn’t say they’re ‘ok’, but they’re expected to go through life with it. So yes, many females you encounter could be in their cycle.”

“And this happens, every month?” Jesse asked, amazement in his voice.

“Yes, once the female becomes of age, and as long as everything is regular, it happens once a month.”

“Whoa,” Awe passed over the troopers.

“Wait,” Appo shot up in his seat. “Commander Tano!”

Kix’s eyes instinctively found Rex’s. The captain’s smirk turned into a wolfish grin, and it took all of Kix’s respect for the decorated captain to not flip him off.

“What about the commander?” Kix returned to the group.

“Well, she’s a female!” Appo blurted.

“Appo, are you asking if Commander Tano experiences a menstrual cycle?” Kix asked. The captain answered with a vigorous nod of his head, blood rushing to his cheeks.

“Well, I can’t disclose patient information, but Commander Tano is of the age that it’s common for females to begin theirs.”

“That..is so…fucking…cool!” Oddball exclaimed.

“You mean our Commander is out there kicking clanker butt while her body is literally tearing itself on the inside? I mean, can she be any greater?” Echo proclaimed, a proud twinkle in his eye.

“Ohhhh is that why she randomly hordes all the chocolate cakes in the mess?” Fives mused.

“I don’t think I need to remind all of you that it is not procedure or polite to bombard the commander with questions about this,” a stern voice interrupted from the back. Amusement still danced in his eyes, but the expression on Rex’s face shut all conversation down immediately.

“Yes, sir,” echoed unanimously.

“Alright, well, if there aren’t any more questions, that concludes the training,” Kix dismissed. While his brothers filed out of the room, Kix allowed himself to relax his shoulders for the first time since Fives entered.

Rex appeared in front of him, hand clasping down on his shoulder, “Not bad trooper. I think you’ll only be getting questions from Hardcase for the next 20 rotations.”

____________________________________________________________

“Hey, Rex. Have you noticed the boys have been…odd lately?” Ahsoka asked while she and Rex made their way through the halls of the Resolute,

“Not sure I know what you mean, Commander,” Rex responded.

Walking through the narrow halls, a few troopers stepped to the side to salute the commander and captain as they passed. Ahsoka noticed two things. First, their eyes went wide when they first took her in. Second, their force signatures spiked instantly with something mixed with astonishment and pride. Once they passed, she could swear she heard one of them murmur, “An absolute legend.”

These types of occurrences had been happening regularly over the last few weeks, and Ahsoka grew more confused with each one.

“I don’t know. All of them have been looking at me like the shinies look at Anakin when they meet him for the first time. It’s, unnerving,” she explained.

Rex did his best to hide the chuckle rumbling in his chest. Of course, he’d noticed his brothers completely obvious demeanor change towards their commander. Ever since Kix’s trainings finished, the whole 501st viewed their vod’ika in a whole new light – one that put her on par, if not higher, than their general.

“Eh, I’m sure it’s nothing. You know how they get, especially in between missions. Restless and bored. Start actin’ weird. Don’t pay attention to it,” Rex tried to deflect.

Making their way around the corner, Fives and Echo were spotted leaving the mess heading in their direction. When the ARCs recognized who was ahead of them, Fives bounded their way.

“Commander! Lucky running into you. Here, I grabbed an extra chocolate cake just for you. Figured you can stash it away, save it for later,” Fives suggested, giving a wink like he and Ahsoka were in on a secret only the two of them know.

“Uh, thanks, Fives. That was, kind?” Ahsoka shot a look to Rex that said “See?”, but he just shrugged her off as if Fives giving her chocolate cakes happened every day.

“Oh, and commander, I stopped by the med bay earlier. I saw they were low on high strength painkillers, so I requested that Kix put in a supply order right away so we’re well stocked. Wouldn’t want to be caught unprepared, right?” Echo added.

Rex groaned internally. For ARCs, these two were the most obvious troopers he’d ever known.

“That’s, good to know, Echo. Thanks, I think?” Ahsoka tried her best to sound polite, but the whole interaction just confused her more.

“You’re welcome! Well, we’re off to the rec center for some sparring. Rex, join us later?” Echo asked.

“Another time, Echo. I have a briefing at 1500,” Rex answered, dismissing the troopers.

Later that day, Ahsoka stashed that cake in her quarters and made a note to stop by the med bay to grab some of the painkillers before next week. She didn’t know what was going on with the boys, but she wasn’t going to not take advantage.

[leiascully]

🧠 Scully of corse

Hmmmmm a headcanon for Scully is that she doesn't actually want the house with the picket fence in the suburbs, but she can't justify her own wants to herself. Mulder shows her a freedom that she yearns for, but she still craves stability. Basically, she wants to be on a ship: a home that carries her to adventure.

Also putting this one under a cut because cw: menstruation

I think she gets a little feral around her period sometimes and loves period sex.

[evscribe]

“So it’s like when female ghouls are in heat?” Aether asked. 

“What? No!” They said, a pained groan quickly following. Y/N crumbled into the large pillow in their lap.

“But you said this happens because your body wants a baby.” His dark eyes looked at Y/N utterly confused. 

“That’s an oversimplification.” Their voice muffed by the soft fabric their face was buried in. Aether sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He wanted to understand so he could comfort them and make them feel better. Who wouldn’t want to when your partner has been a crying and pained mess for going on four days? 

“It feels like it could be a heat sometimes but it’s not. Something about my uterus shedding so a new egg can attach.” Y/N explained. Their head lifted and teary eyes met his. 

“There’s an egg?” His brows furrowed as he reached over to wipe away the tears that streaked across their cheeks.

“It’s a microscopic thing that turns into cells and then later into a baby. It's not what you think.”  They explained, hands clutching the pillow so hard their knuckles were white. A small acknowledgment leaves Aether’s lips, before his hand moves to rub their back. A gesture of comfort that typically Y/N loved. His warmth, even through the shirt they wore, seemed to alleviate an inking of the ache in their back. A soft sign left them. For once they were grateful for how warm the ghoul ran. Aether notices this and pulls them into his lap. Their back pulled firmly to his chest. 

“I guess neither of us have a good grasp on the other's anatomy, huh?” He asked, resting his head cautiously against theirs.

“I guess not.” They comment before another wave of agonizing cramps washed over them yet again. It’s moments of silence before the pain starts to diminish. Aether’s strong arms wrapped around Y/N’s waist start to unwind before they stop him. Their smaller hands halting his movements. 

“Please don’t,” It was a quiet request. Had the room not been silent he likely would have missed it. “Your warmth and pressure are the only iota of relief I have right now.” 

“We can go to the infirmary. The nurse will have something to help.” He recommended. There was a tinge of desperation in his voice. Y/N shook their head. Aether knew of their history and understood their decision, but he hoped they would make this exception. 

“Is there anything else that could help?” He couldn’t help the tilt of his head.  

“Not unless you have a blunt,” they said before a small groan left them. “or two.”

Aether thought for a minute. He rarely ever smoked outside of the parties he and other ghouls threw and it was always within the comforts of the ghouls’ shared den if not here in his room. 

“Cirrus or Sunshine might. Will you be okay if I go find out?” Y/N gave a nod in reply before inching out of his lap. When they are out of his grasp he rushes to the ghoulettes quarters not far from his own. Y/N could indistinctly hear a conversation outside of Aether’s room, but couldn’t muster enough energy to listen. Y/N curled into themself willing that the agonizing cramps and torturous ache throughout their body would cease. With a small creak of the door Aether had returned. Y/N eyes find his face , a proud smile there with fangs almost glinting in the low light of the room. 

“Cirrus sends gifts.” He tells them, holding two carefully wrapped blunts delicately between his pointer and middle finger. 

“Blessed be.” Y/N murmurs, sitting up again. Aether finds a spot on the unmade bed yet again, producing a lighter from his pocket before passing it and the blunts to them. They set one on his bedside table before putting the other between their lips and lighting it. Y/N couldn’t help the greedy inhale they took before passing it to Aether. The slow haze starting to course through their body and mind. The blunt was effortlessly passed between the two for what seemed like forever and no time. The pain of cramps faded into a dull twinge and the body ache paused by the time the expertly wrapped blunt had become a meager example of what it once was. Aether put out the barely lit roach between his pointer and thumb. 

“How ya feelin’?” Aether asked, his head cocking to his right.

“Better.” Y/N admitted with a smile. Their eyes were now cloudy and half lidded. It was a refreshing difference from the past few days. 

“Can I ask you a likely invasive question?” Y/N asked, almost mindlessly.

“Sure.” Aether says with a chuckle. Y/N loved information and where capable Aether loved helping them fill in the gaps. 

“You said female ghouls have heats, right? Is it fair to assume males have ruts?” They asked. Had they not been high whilst asking this question they would have been a blushing mess, avoiding his eyes like the plague, and tugging at their sleeve, but there was no tinge of shame or embarrassment in their voice. 

“Yeah, once every moon cycle. Mine typically hits around the first quarter.”  Aether admits off-handedly. 

“Is that why you disappear for like 3 days each month?”  Surprises and amusement registers across their face. 

“Yeah,” he said with a chuckle.

“Holy shit,  I never would’ve guessed.” A hazy giggle from them makes Aether’s heart skip a beat. 

“What did you think I was doing?” He asks, leaning back on his elbows.

“I dunno, “ Y/N shrugs. “Whatever ghouls do I guess. 

“What do you think ghouls do, Birdie?” he asked, feigning incredulousness 

“Varying amount of fuck shit.” They said falling over, bursting into laughter. It was contagious and made his chest swell. Their smile was almost all teeth while their hair now gently splayed over their face, eyes screwed shut with amusement. Something about seeing them so unabashedly happy after days of misery made him sentimental. Aether couldn't find it in himself to look away even when their laughter came to an end. Y/N raised a brow at him questionably as they sat up again. Their eyes meeting his. 

“What's up?” They asked softly, a lingering amused smile still on their lips.

“It's just nice to see you feeling better.” He admitted. It was only a half truth and Y/N could see through it easily. 

“There's more to it than that. Fess up.” They said as they eyed him in playful suspicion. 

“Are you calling me a liar?” He asked as he placed his hand over his heart in feign hurt. 

“Lying is beneath you, Aeth, but I know you definitely aren't being entirely truthful.” They admit straightforwardly. He seemed to contemplate how to respond as his hand took their's. He let out a sigh before speaking again, 

”I love you, Birdie.“ He admitted softly before pressing a kiss into their palm. A wide smile cracks Y/N's face as they reach towards him to pull him close. Their faces are mere inches from his. 

”I love you too.“ They admit proudly before pressing a kiss to his lips that he almost instinctively reciprocates. The two only break apart when they find themselves out of breath. 

“Yanno you're the most sentimental ghoul I've ever met.” Y/N tells him as the smile returns to their lips, causing him to laugh. 

“I'll take that as a compliment.” 

”As you should.“ Y/N says. 

[conkers-thecosy]

I feel so weird about my writing lately. I love writing fanfic (when I'm not fighting through NaNo months, work stress, and hormonal nonsense!) and even though I have original stories I scribble away at, it's really difficult to get anyone to be interested in them (which is fair!) and actually, I have no plans to publish again anyway, because it was a horrible experience in the end, all told.

(Published 2 books a few years ago under a pen name, but it was kind of traumatic in the end, and I stopped writing for years after - only picked it back up again this year, in fact!)

I keep thinking I should just take my original ideas and spin them into fanfiction instead. Wouldn't take much tweaking, and I'd get to keep writing whilst knowing they would at least be read??

I know I've mentioned doing this before now, but I have at least three story ideas that could absolutely be adapted for bagginshield. EASILY. But I don't know. Dunno what the answer is!

[alphacrone]

'is it a mental health crisis or am i just about to start my period?': a monthly novel by me

[cyazurai]

Don't read below if you don't want to think about lady problems.

Second period this month (nothing wrong, just that January's was super late and went into February)... so far this period has been easier, but I've had a horrendous headache every day since Sunday, and I'm ready for it to be DONE now. 🙄

[luminaryofblood]

God I've got a lot of thoughts on menstruating Mohg. And they kinda go hand-in-hand with those theories regarding how reproduction works in the Lands Between(thanks in part to Marika).

So, what if sex fell out-of-favor because of that increased likelihood of bearing an omen child? What if there was this alternate method of reproduction without sex. Eventually, fewer and fewer people are menstruating.

This eventually becomes the norm of the Lands Between.

It isn't impossible to have sex. It's just that it's something frowned on. And people of the Lands Between are incredibly judgemental toward others who are still bleeding.

And then you've got Mohg, condemned for being an omen. But then you add into the factor of him bleeding regularly that truly sets him as truly accursed, even by omen standards.

[lxvvie]

I’m currently on my period and I’m so damn tired all the time. Rest assured I’d abuse Simon as my personal pillow and heating pad. I’m not going to get up from the couch or bed and neither is he.

I must be synced with a lot of folks on here because I just came off mine. Like today lmao.

No, but please. He wants you to use him as your personal pillow and heating pad. Use him to your heart's content, doll. He doesn't feel like doing shit on his off days but lying down, cuddling, eating, and sleeping.

[kocourmokroocko]

moje menstruace třetí den cyklu, cca každých pět minut:

holka, holka pomoc

[voiceoffenrisulfr]

Becoming Spider-Man - Chapter Nine

Peter Parker Has a Problem

𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> Peter Parker & Tony Stark (IronDad)

𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 -> In which Peter's body does what it does, and Tony doesn't know how to help.

𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 -> 1690

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 -> (T) Menstruation, brief mention of hypothetical SH.

𝐀/𝐍 -> Check it out below, or on AO3 here! Cute divider by @/sweetmelodygraphics!

<- Previous Chapter (8/16) Next Chapter (10/16) ->

I woke in the middle of the night in crippling pain, whimpering as I balled up on my side. Cramps tore through my abdomen, and I sniffled back tears as I slid my feet to the floor, the cool wood offering little respite. A keening groan escaped me as I shuffled out of the room, wincing as I turned on the bathroom light, the brightness sending needles into my brain. My jaw clenched as I sat on the toilet, taking deep, calming breaths.

"Please be food poisoning, please be food poisoning…" I chanted softly, reluctantly tugging down my boxers. "… Fuck."

I couldn't deny the reality I found myself in, the scent of my own blood heavy in the air as I let out a moan, fingers clenching in the material of my underwear as another sharp stab twisted in my stomach.

I also had to acknowledge that I had, this time, been woefully unprepared.

Since moving in with Tony, I'd been getting my… Stuff from a schoolfriend, MJ. She never asked questions, and helped me out at a moment's notice, much to my gratitude; since socially transitioning, the last thing I wanted was to shatter my newfound confidence buying pads. Plus, until recently,that would require asking Tony for money, and explaining why I needed it, and there was no way I was having that conversation.

But this had come early, like a terrible Christmas present. I hadn't been expecting this particular nightmare for another week, and so hadn't replenished my stock since last month. And now I'd been caught, quite literally, with my pants down.

Another whimper escaped me as a knife twisted in my abdomen, bile rising to the back of my throat. Don't throw up, don't throw up, don't-

"Peter?" A soft knock sounded on the door, sending my head snapping to attention. "Are you ok?"

"Fine!" I called back, trying to sound upbeat as I wrapped my arms around my stomach.

"Are you sure?"

Despite the wood between us, I could hear the concern in Tony's voice, and I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah. Just… Unwell. I'll be ok."

"Can I get you anything?" he asked after a beat, and I winced, breathing deeply.

"No! Nope, I'm good," I strained, clenching my jaw against another wave of nausea. I heard him hesitate before the soft sound of his bare feet padding away, leaving me to sob quietly.

"Peter? Peter?!"

I was jerked from my half-slumber, darting upright where I still sat hunched over on the toilet, blinking away sleep. "Huh?"

"Are you ok?"

My jaw creaked as I yawned, stretching my arms over my head. I'd fallen asleep in the bathroom, stuck trying to decide how to proceed, and my bones were paying for it. "Yeah. Unwell, like I said."

"Peter, why are you lying to me?"

I blinked at the locked door, shocked by the sharp edge to his voice. "I… I'm not."

"There's blood everywhere, kid." I exhaled heavily as my vision tunnelled, hands tingling in terror. No. Dear God, no. "Whatever you've done – whatever has happened – it's ok. I'll help you. But you gotta open the door, Peter."

I stared at the latch in horror, before slowly moving to my feet, dropping the soiled boxers in the hamper out of the way and wrapping my dressing gown about myself. The furry fabric comforted me as I unlocked the door.

Tony barrelled in, one hand encased in a blaster and raised protectively. "What's going on?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room, the blaster receding as his stance relaxed when he found me to be alone.

"Don't worry about it," I muttered, an embarrassed flush creeping up my neck. His hands clapped on my shoulders, gaze locked on mine.

"Peter… You can always talk to me. You don't need to… I'd rather talk about feelings than have you feel like you have to…" His throat bobbed nervously, and I barked out a laugh.

"You think I hurt myself?" I clarified incredulously, one brow arched. Is that better or worse than reality?

Tony drew back hesitantly, eyes scanning my forearms despite their covering. "It's something I read about. Apparently, it's quite common in transgender youth…"

My head fell back as I snorted. "You're overthinking this, Mr. Stark." His face remained blank as I looked back to him, and I cleared my throat. "I am, as you said, trans, Mr. Stark. Sometimes my body does things… Things I'd rather it didn't?" I prompted when he offered no response. I watched with distant amusement as a myriad of emotions chased one another over his features, eyes widening comically.

"Oh… Oh. Oh. Do you… Do I… What…"

"Tony?"

Mr. Stark looked away, his embarrassment pinking his skin. "Yeah, kid?"

"It's fine. I'll be fine. I can sort everything. If you let me just finish up in here, I'll put on the laundry, and go to the store. Sorry about your sheets." My voice was calm and emotionless, carefully disguising my utter humiliation and disgust, and he nodded once, still unable to meet my gaze.

"Sure thing, kid. Whatever you need."

By the time I was ready to emerge from the bathroom – a shameful padding of toilet paper wedged between my legs, making me feel like a child who couldn't be trusted not to pee on the floor – almost an hour had passed. Every time I had considered getting back up, planning my movements around the apartment and the walk to the store, my breathing had stuck in my chest as I imagined the look on the face of the shopkeeper. What if they challenged me? Worse, what if they simply assumed I was female, eyes following the soft curve of my jaw and the contour of my chest, subtle but still present under my binder?

Fear kept driving me back to my seat on the toilet until my stucco panting subsided, ready to repeat the cycle, until exhaustion finally won out over terror and I had sufficiently distanced myself from my emotions to leave my sanctuary.

The door closed behind me with a soft click as I scuttled across to my bedroom, moving inside silently. I leant against the wood with a sigh, head tipped backwards, offering a prayer to any listening God that this would be over quickly, lids drifting shut as I plead silently.

By the time I opened my eyes, my heart had once again calmed to a more manageable level, but the sight before me made it contract worryingly.

My bed was freshly smoothed, the previous grey sheets replaced with black silk, tucked without the usual professional precision. Atop the bedding was a baffling array of period products – pads, tampons, even menstrual cups, in a variety of sizes, colours, and brands.

I blinked blankly, moving closer in surprise. Picking up the mask on my bedside table, I slid it on, swiping away the overwhelming information scanning before my eyes. "Friday?"

"Mr. Parker?"

"Did… Was this Tony? Mr. Stark… Did he do this?" I questioned in disbelief, sitting heavily on the bed. Paper crinkled under my hand, and I looked down.

"Yes, Peter."

The note smeared slightly under my sweating, shaking fingertips, the writing barely legible but unmistakably Tony's.

Hope this suffices, kid. I wasn't sure what you'd need, and the sales person wasn't too helpful, so I just got everything. Let me know if you need something different – or ask Friday to tell me, if you don't want to. You never have to be afraid to talk to me, Peter. About anything. You're not gonna scare me off with a bit of blood and tears. Hot water bottle is under the sheets. Aspirin and water on the bedside table, but I'll get you something stronger if you need it. Take the day off school, kid. I'll be here all day.

I choked back a sob, picking out the least dysphoria-inducing product I could and some clean underwear before making my way back to the bathroom, still clad in my mask. I wept openly once I'd slid back between the sheets, my veritable bounty of menstrual resources carefully slotted into a bottom drawer, raising the mask to my nose so I could take the pills Mr. Stark had left for me. A heavy with escaped me as I curled my body around the furry water bottle, feeling comforted despite my pain.

"Friday?"

"Yes, Peter?"

"Is he still up?"

"Yes, Peter. Mr. Stark is currently in his workshop."

I chewed my lip, torn between the desire to seek out my mentor and thank him, and my body's insistence that I stay where I was, otherwise avoiding the discomfort – both physical and emotional – that would come from moving. "Can you play me live audio of the lab?" I asked eventually, rolling onto my back, the hot water bottle moving as I breathed. Immediately the encompassing sounds of Tony's music enveloped me, and my eyes closed of their own accord. "Thanks, Friday."

I felt my breathing growing heavier despite the waves of pain still twisting in my abdomen, the artificial feeling of closeness cradling me comfortingly. I could hear the subtle sounds of metal on metal, interspersed on occasion by Tony humming along to a song, or uttering random snippets of lyrics under his breath.

"You know I know you can hear me, right, kid?" I opened one eye lazily to total darkness, jaw creaking in a yawn. "It's my house – my tech. Nothing happens here without my knowledge."

"Sorry, Mr. Stark. I just... Didn't feel like being alone," I muttered, smiling weakly when Friday parroted my words.

I could hear him hesitate, sounds of idle tinkering briefly muted. "Do you want me to come and sit with you?" he asked at length, when I was almost certain he hadn't heard.

"It's ok," I replied, shading my head with another bone-trembling yawn. "This is... nice."

"No worries, Peter. Get some rest." The sounds of his actions resumed, his unreserved mutterings a surprising blessing.

"…Tony?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

There was a pause before he replied, and despite my pain and exhaustion, I could hear the smile in his voice. "Anytime, kid."

[nakedmonkey]

birth control update

IDK if this is of any help to anyone, but in case it is, I thought I'd give a little update:

I'm on my 4th month of birth control now (this is to regulate my heavy ass period and diabolical menstrual pain) and everything was starting to feel more balanced at month 3, except I decided I wanted to skip a period because I'm having my anemia checked so i wanted to give myself the best shot, but anyway, here's what I observed month by month:

Month 1 & 2 on contraceptives

so many headaches

irregular period (I bled/spotted most of month 1)

nausea

weird periods that got noticeably shorter on month 2

Month 3

spotting fully stopped between month 2 & 3

normal, defined period with minimal cramping

no PMS symptoms

period length went from my usual 8 full days to maybe 4 days of bleeding following some light spotting

my actual period changed drastically here: On my heaviest days I'm used to emptying my menstrual cup on the hour, on especially horrible days, I'm changing it every 30/45 minutes. now, I'll empty it every couple of hours on a really bad day (this was literally just one bad day) and can then go HOURS without needing to even check it the rest of my period which is...a miracle for me I've never had this before in my life.

Month 4

For the reasons stated above, I decided to go straight into the next pack of BC and have found I'm having some cramping, a little nausea, some headaches, and very light bleeding (less blood red and more bbq sauce type bleeding. Menstruating homies, you know what I'm talking about) but it's super manageable.

My doctor says it should take about 6 months for my body to fully get used to this, so I will keep you guys posted on any new developments.

I honestly don't see myself going back after this. It's made my life so much easier and I cannot believe I went this long without it. If you've been thinking about contraceptives to regulate your period, and it's available to you (can't believe this is a thing we have to worry about in 2024) I def recommend you try it. It's so worth the initial discomfort.

p.s: my skin looks fucking amazing

[deewithani]

This is a very TMI post, regarding menstruation and menstrual products. No one really talks much about this stuff, so I just want to make a post about a personal experience, in case anyone else has questions or was curious about reusable pads.

If you've been thinking about getting reusable pads, this is your sign.

I have had recurring uterine fibroids since my mid 20s. I've had a couple of D&Cs to remove them, I've been on birth control, and in my 40s I'm still dealing with them. I deal with heavy periods every month, with pretty significant clotting.

I go through 2 packs of pads per month. I spend ~$15 a month on pads. Tampons are uncomfortable (and essentially unusable), as are menstrual cups.

I bought a pack of 5 large reusable pads to try out. I didn't expect much, because they're fabric, but I thought maybe I could use them on my light days to help save some money.

I didn't use them the 1st or 2nd month after I bought them, but I finally decided to this month.

I will never buy disposable pads again.

I decided since I work from home that I was just going to go for it from day 1. From 9pm last night to 4am, I wore 1 pad. During the heaviest time of my period. I went to bed with a towel, and crossed my fingers. I only had very minor leaking, and I do mean minor. I changed my pad at 4am, and now at 5:30pm I'm still wearing that same pad (full context, I'm doing a science experiment, I want to see how long it takes before I have to change it. So far I don't wven feel remotely wet or uncomfortable. I would not normally wear one this long).

Again, this is my heaviest day. I still have to go to the bathroom every hour or so, but it's been good so far.

It's soft. It doesn't smell. And it's held up better than I could have possibly imagined. It hasn't accidentally came unstuck from my panties just to stick on the short and curlies. In short, one of the best things I've ever bought.

[imtheiliad]

i am fully aware i’m about to start my period and yet i still am like why am i so depressed and feel so terrible and everything is annoying and angering and useless and like i don’t matter or should just —