#How Do You Train Core Stability?

[freeonlineworkouts]

Core Stability Workout: How Do You Train Core Stability?

Classic core exercises stabilize and strengthen your core. Classic core exercises include planks, situps and fitness ball exercises. A bridge is another example of a classic core exercise.

[4theitgirls]

all about mobility

what is mobility & how is it different from flexibility?

mobility is the ability of the joints to move through their full range of motion, while flexibility is the ability of the muscles to temporarily stretch.

why do mobility training?

there are many different benefits of mobility training, including:

increased flexibility

reduced risk of injury

improving joint & muscle health

improving range of motion

improving posture

gaining muscle strength

balance & stability

reducing pain & stiffness in the body

when should i start?

now! there’s a common misconception that you shouldn’t need mobility training until you are in your later years and your mobility starts to decline, but mobility training is useful no matter your age. in fact, the sooner you start, the less mobility & joint problems you will experience as you age.

how often should i train mobility?

mobility training is safe and beneficial to do daily, but ideally, you should try to train mobility at least 5 times per week for at least 5-10 minutes each time.

routines:

10 minute mobility workout by growingannanas

10 minute mobility for neglected joints by julia.reppel

15 minute daily mobility routine by julia.reppel

15 minute mobility stretch by growingannanas

20 minute slow mobility & stretch by julia.reppel

20 minute full body mobility warm up by leanbeefpatty

20 minute spinal mobility by julia.reppel

20 minute mobility workout by julia.reppel

20 minute rest day mobility flow by julia.reppel

20 minute pilates x mobility by julia.reppel

20 minute full body mobility by julia.reppel

25 minute full body stretch & mobility by madfit

25 minute mobility workout by julia.reppel

25 minute yoga for mobility by jess yoga

25 minute rest day mobility by julia.reppel

25 minute low impact mobility workout by julia.reppel

25 minute mobility workout by marie steffen

30 minute full body primal mobility by julia.reppel

30 minute primal mobility workout by julia.reppel

30 minute mobility yoga for athletes by charlie follows

30 minute beginner-friendly mobility flow by julia.reppel

30 minute mobility workout by fitness__kaykay

30 minute active recovery workout by heather robertson

30 minute core strength & shoulder mobility by heather robertson

35 minute yoga fusion workout by heather robertson

40 minute mobility & dynamic stretching by heather robertson

40 minute abs & hip mobility by heather robertson

40 minute core strength & back mobility by heather robertson

40 minute core strength & mobility by heather robertson

40 minute core & shoulder mobility by heather robertson

40 minute abs & mobility by heather robertson

44 minute core & full body mobility by heather robertson

[castellanapologist]

Dreams

(Hello! Here's a little something I've been working on! Inspired by @murdrdocs post here, I wanted to base something off it! Enjoy while I work on requests :3)

You don’t know why you started doing it. The first time had been a complete accident. Luke had just looked so good that day and with your growing feelings you were bound to dream something steamy at some point. It had started just like any normal dream, you and him relaxing on his bed. He had been talking, you’re sure of it. But slowly, ever so slowly, something shifted.

The two of you had inched closer to each other and suddenly you were under him, legs in the air as he pounded into you. His face had been contorted with pure pleasure, chanting your name over and over while rubbing your clit frantically. When he had cum inside you, you woke up frantically, chest heaving and feeling flushed. With a trembling hand you pressed your fingers to your cunt, hissing at how the fabric of your panties clung to you. Fuck. Just a dream. 

The rest of the day had been hazy and you hadn’t seen much of Luke, which had been a little uncommon but after that dream you weren’t sure you could have faced him anyway. You dreaded sleeping that night but you lucked out and dreamt of nothing. The next few days were nothing to note, and eventually Luke popped back up again. He had mentioned being spread thin around camp which wasn’t unusual so you let it slide. The two of you had relaxed at your usual spot, the dock at the lake, and chatted until the sun went down. 

A week had passed without incident and you finally let your guard down. Big mistake. Training dreams were a constant at camp half-blood, your subconscious seemingly trapped in “fight mode.” You weren’t surprised to be sword training with Luke seeing as that's what you had been doing earlier that day.

The clashing sound of metal filled your ears as Luke’s dark eyes were zeroed in on you. Even in your dreams he overpowered you, knocking your sword to the dirt. You scramble for it, only to be pinned down by Luke. The both of you breathed heavily as he pushed the side of your face into the ground, the other hand pinning your arms against your back. 

“Cmon, I know you can do better than that” He teases. You squirm under him which only causes his grip to tighten. The sword is so close, you just needed to escape and then you could grab it. You try your luck again, wiggling closer for it. Luke’s hips pressed against your ass to keep you still. Your breath catches and you go pliant under him. “Atta girl.” He murmurs. You feel your face warm. 

“Luke!” You groan, trying to catch his gaze. He clicks his tongue before pressing your face in harder. 

“I told you you need to train more, why don’t you listen to me? Just tryna keep you safe” He scolds, hips pressing firmer against your ass. You can’t help but rock back against him. His breath catches as he grips you tighter. A tense silence falls between the two of you and you swear you can feel Luke twitch against you. 

You suck in a breath and tense before relaxing. This was just a dream. You could control this. The question was…did you want to? Maybe if you just indulged in the dreamworld, you could keep your feelings in check in the real world. Slowly, you roll your hips again. He twitches against your ass again before pressing even firmer. 

“Fuck.” He groans, humping against you. It's hesitant and clumsy like he was nervous and unsure. You rock back again with confidence, needing more. It's just a dream you reason with yourself. Better here than in real life where this could go wrong. Luke gets more confident, grinding harder. 

“Luke” You whine as he lets go of your head and arms to grasp your hips instead. You’re soaked already, his noises sending shockwaves to your core. Nails dig into the dirt to stabilize yourself, moaning his name. Luke huffs out yours before flipping you over. From your new position, Luke’s eyes bore into yours with ferocity. His hands roam along your body almost reverently as curses spill from his lips. 

“So fucking gorgeous baby. Need you so bad.” He groans. Your stomach does a summersault. Fuck this was a good dream. It was like dream Luke knew everything you had ever wanted to hear from him. 

“Fuck me Luke, wanna feel you” You gasp as you pull him into a kiss. If you didn’t feel so needy you would have taken your time with this and made it more romantic. But since this was a dream anyway all you could think of was getting him inside you again as soon as possible. Luke’s eyes roll back slightly before he kisses you. Hands fumble with both of your pants, trying to shove them down quickly. He practically folds you in half as he kisses you deeper. 

“C'mere baby. Wanna feel that perfect pussy” He moans into your mouth. His hand trails down to press against your sopping cunt and you eagerly grind down onto his fingers. Half of you just wanted him in you but the other half that was so overcome with lust you took anything you could get. His fingers were long and thick, stretching you out further than you had ever succeeded. Your hips hump against them impatiently, silently begging for more. He takes so long you consider speeding the dream up but finally, finally he pulls out and presses his tip against you. The wind knocks out of you. 

He slowly pushed in, causing your eyes to roll back. He silences your cries with kisses, pressing your knees against your chest. You felt lightheaded from how deep he was and you swear you could feel him in your throat. Luke stills once he's all the way in, panting into your open mouth. You clench around him to test the waters and judging by the low groan, he was more than ready to give you what you needed. Luke pulls out and slowly thrusts back in. Your nails dig into his shoulders as his cock bullies your insides. 

“Fuck Luke!” You moan and clench around him causing his hips to stutter. He grips your jaw and twists your face to the side to bite your neck. You felt dizzy. It was too much, his dick was making you stupid from pleasure. If you weren’t dreaming you were positive that your hips would be sore and bruised in the morning. 

“You’re so fucking tight. Fuck you feel so good.” Luke pants as he captures your lips in another searing kiss. “Wanna feel you cum for me baby. C'mon” His fingers rub tight circles on your clit, making you convulse under him. Your pussy spasms around him as your orgasm builds embarrassingly quick. Catching at his wrist, you try to slow him down. 

“No fuck it’s too much!” You sob, trying to escape. He ignores you and continues his tight circles.

“You can take it baby. Need you to cum first, wanna feel you around me.” 

You’re helpless against the orgasm that crashes over you. Luke’s hips stutter as you rhythmically clench around him. Leaning down to kiss you again, his thrusts get sloppy and uncoordinated as his own orgasm washes over him. His eyes roll back as he cums, groaning your name. You blink as the edges of your vision get fuzzy, trying to stay in the dream. Luke’s saying something but sounds almost underwater and you try to lean up into him to hear better. 

Sitting up in your bed, you let out a frustrated groan. Your sibling stands over your bed with their arms crossed looking unimpressed. 

“Dude, you totally missed breakfast. Get up. We have to go to archery.” They say before walking off. You groan again and rub at your face. You almost felt a bit bad for dreaming about your friend like this but your soaked panties were a tell-tale sign of you likely continuing. 

It wasn’t until the third time that you finally picked up that these weren’t your own dreams. You had been blowing him in the woods, maybe you guys had snuck away from the bonfire you couldn’t remember. Luke fucked your face, his grip so tight on your hair it felt dizzying. When he pulled out to cum on your face, you had almost missed his whine. 

“Fuck been wanting to do that so long. Wanna see it really happen.” 

You felt your heart drop and the dream abruptly end. Sitting up in bed, your eyes adjust to the darkness. These dreams…were they his? Just yours? Or are you making him dream of this? Your head pounded as you tried to make sense of it. You couldn't go back to sleep. At breakfast, you keep a close eye on him. He seemed surprisingly well rested, even jovial. Maybe you were wrong. Maybe these were your dreams, in your own head, where you could be perverted about your friend and no one had to know. But…what if they weren’t? You decide to test it. 

That night, you lay in your bed and close your eyes. You’ve never intentionally gone into anyones dream. Or unintentionally…you think. But now you’re going to. You try to focus on Luke. It takes a bit but suddenly you’re disoriented and standing in the middle of the forest. Luke stands facing away from you, dressed in armor. You feel yourself sigh in relief. He dreams about training too. It was all in your head. You can’t help yourself though, letting your eyes roam appreciatively over his back. Something shifts. Luke seems to notice you now, turning around with a cocky smirk. 

“Found you baby.” 

Fuck. It was your doing. You had taken a simple training dream and were about to make it a porno. Luke stalks closer, loosening his armor with every step. You were so fucked up for making this happen, but didn’t want to stop. Luke crushes his lips against yours, hands tangling in your hair before you can say anything. Your hands grasp desperately at his shirt, powerless to his hungry kiss. He backs you up against a tree, hurriedly lifting you so your legs wrapped around his waist. Fuck it. Just one last time. You grind down on him to hear those sinful sounds emit from his throat once more. 

It’s not long before you're bent over, letting him abuse your cervix over and over. Luke moans in your ear, pawing at your tits as he whispers filth. You hang your head in shame at how good this feels. You’re such a bad friend for doing this, but can’t find the will to stop. Even after Luke fills you up, his hips continue to snap into you. Your pussy trembles as he fucks in load after load, his cum dripping out of you. You feel strangely empty when you wake. You don’t stop making him dream of you.

You think it’s around the seventh dream when he starts to catch on. No one has this many sex dreams right? At least not in such a short amount of time. He’s got your legs on his shoulders and is pounding into you like there’s no tomorrow when he blinks as if suddenly confused. His thrusts slow slightly, which cause you to whine and grab at him but his face is twisted in confusion. He calls out your name but not in his usual fashion. It’s tinged with a growing understanding of what's happening rather than husky with lust. Anxiety grips you, and you speed up the dream to prevent him from asking more questions.

Luke’s head is thrown back as his hips involuntarily buck harder, his nails scratching your hips. You’d never messed with the dreams before and it’s weirdly intoxicating to control him like this. You can’t help but let the power go to your head, making him fuck you harder. Luke whines out your name as you cum around him, his own orgasm peaking. 

You avoid him for the next couple of days. You know this probably makes you look even guiltier, but facing him isn’t an option. It works well at first, keeping busy so you can’t be cornered by him. But when you’re dragged to the bonfire by your siblings, you know you’re fucked. Luke’s eyes bore into you from across the fire and you try your very hardest to pretend you don’t notice. You curse your siblings when they eventually leave you to go see their friends, leaving the perfect opportunity for Luke to rush to your side. His hand grips your arm as he leans in to whisper in your ear. 

“Come with me.” It’s not a suggestion. 

You stumble behind him as he practically drags you deeper into the woods, clearly intent on having a serious conversation. Your heart is in your throat, blood running cold at his expression. You practically crash into him when he stops abruptly, but he catches you in the nick of time from falling. You barely can say anything before you’re being crowded against a tree, him looming above you. 

“You’re doing something to me aren’t you?” He practically growls. “My dreams. You’re messing with them.” 

You want to lie. To say you have zero idea what he’s talking about and that he’s acting crazy. But the dangerous glint in his eyes makes you think twice. 

“I didn’t mean to, I swear. Not at first-” You stumble over your words, trying desperately to show him you were harmless. Your words seem to have the opposite effect, Luke pressing you firmer into the tree. 

“Not at first?” He interrupts. “So what, now you’re just doing it to fuck with me?” 

You try to shake your head more frantically but he doesn’t seem to care anymore. Shoving you down to your knees, he’s unbuckling his belt in record time. You can only stare with wide eyes as his throbbing cock is exposed, mouth automatically opening. You briefly wonder if you’re dreaming again when Luke insistently presses his tip against your lips. Your tongue lolls out and he slaps his cock against it. 

“Fine. I’ll give you what you’ve been craving so badly.” He grunts before shoving inside your mouth. You gag as he ruthlessly begins to fuck your throat, seemingly uncaring that your nails are leaving scratch marks on his thighs. Luke’s fingers yank at your hair, shoving you deeper onto his cock until your nose pressed against his pubic bone. He groans as your throat convulses around him. Your name spills from his lips over and over as he chases his high. You feel lightheaded but arousal pools in your panties from his rough treatment. Trying to make him cum, you moan around his length causing him to twitch.

“Fuck. Fuck. Gonna- gonna cum-” He chokes out before holding your head all the way down again. You go pliant against him as he cums down your throat, moaning weakly in his hold. Luke swears as he pulls out, hissing with oversensitivity. You gasp for air as he tucks himself away before crouching down to face you. He grips your jaw to make you look him in the eyes, a lazy smirk on his mouth. 

“I’ll see you in my dreams tonight princess.” Luke pats your cheek before standing up and walking off. All you can do is stare at his back as he leaves, knowing he’s right. 

[lunarclawz]

— Sylus and Cats.

I wanted to explain a bit more about how cats and the nickname "kitten" are actually very important and related to his backstory.

First off, spoiler warning in case you haven't played his myth, and to also warn that a part of this will be a theory and speculation based on his myth, other cards and information we have gathered.

For starters, the first mention of cats In his myth, this was said by MC, but as we saw, he can almost know what she's thinking— it could also simply be a coincidence.

Just as how he does in the current timeline, she's is compared to an aggressive cat. She reminds him of one.

Second mention, it's obviously not stated if he saw her as a cat at that very moment, but perhaps this can sort of confirm it.

Here it is implied he brought the cat himself, this happened not long after he was released, this is my thoughts only but, maybe before he was locked on the Abyss, he might had past interactions with cats hence why he brought one to her or/and because he sees a resemblance between the two. Signalling that he can feel emotions— such as empathy.

Now we start to get a little bit more symbolic, we know that the Legion of Justitia it's made solely by orphans, they are locked away and trained to become dreamless, mindless creatures living only for the purpose of war, they cannot have any other beliefs than the ones given by the Sanctuary. If they do, it could lead to execution.

Sylus happens to mention that her soul is dull, she has no desires, or at least she suppresses them, no dreams or ambitions to follow, all because she was locked in a cage. She's imprisoned not only by the Oracle but by herself.

As she struggles to find a way out of his lair, he observes, watches her attempt with no success.

This cat very well represents MC past self, before meeting her dragon, waiting for him just as she did before her sentence. Talking to an obsidian figurine— one that ignited a fire inside of her to desire.

Almost as if it was fate, the burning figurine allowed her to break free, to meet the world beyond of those walls, something that cat was desperate for.

She hid herself, her dream of curiosity, her right to wonder. She mentions being held by threads, keeping her captive, a prisoner with a mind that cannot be suppressed.

But when she meets him, she meets the other side of the coin, the pinnacle of greed. Yet she sees it as something pure, only the twisted minds are the ones that manage to corrupt the beautiful concept of desire. The wish of something more than just monotony, the wish to see, know—explore the world that lays at her hand.

He opens her world, he frees the cat out of the cage and shows her how life is supposed to be.

She's no longer who she was, she's not a house cat, she's now a mountain cat, a cat that can roam freely. One that can wish for, and of course he will grant it. He gives her the stability she needs to explore the world for herself, he will set her free but he will always wait with a warm bed for her to return. Guarding her by the distance as she does what she pleases.

Maybe it's because he felt the same, forced to be locked away, a barrier standing within his human shape and dragon form, something he never wished for, isolating himself out of fright.

Yet he met her, consoling the fractured heart in his core, they always needed each other, to see beyond their limitations, to be set free.

He's constantly reminding her of how now she resembles a dragon, care free and beautiful. Breaking that fear.

The cat resembles her if she never met the dragon, it grew complacent. A enslaved cat, a house cat, a cat without its desire to roam. Never attempting to question the cage that locked it— perhaps didn't even see it anymore.

Current Timeline.

In some cards, we see mentioned that he takes care of stray cats, cats that roam freely and come back for his aid. Perhaps he likes this, he can't trap someone, he can't suppress their dreams, they must leave and discover by their own hand.

"Kitten" is an omen of the day he set her free.

[ponyosmom35]

she goes into the field

Simon ghost riley x reader

Liability

synopsis: there is nobody else available, so Laswell sends reader into the field to provide medical aid for Gaz. Ghost isn't too happy.

warnings: blood, gunfire, war, cursing, angst

Link to master list:https://www.tumblr.com/ponyosmom35/733401347573088256/simon-ghost-riley?source=share

MDNI

She exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in as her patient stabilized. It had been two hours of intense tedious work to keep him alive. She takes off her gloves and washes her hands thoroughly before walking out of the room. She spots Laswell talking to another medic and joins them.

"y/l/n what updates do you have for me?" she asks 

"Everyone seems to be stabilized for now" 

"Who can you spare for the field?" 

"We don't have anyone here with combat experience" the other medic, Miranda answers. 

"what's going on?" she asks in concern

"Kyle's been hit, it's not looking good, they're requesting immediate medical" Laswell says running her hands through her hair

"I can go" she responds without hesitation 

"James this is a dangerous situation, the team is in active battle and there is no room for mistakes, a man's life is at stake"

"I can do this Laswell, its an extraction right? so I won't be in the fight I'll be giving Kyle medical attention" 

"fuck" Laswell curses "follow me and we'll get you prepped"

She followed her superior wordlessly as she rubbed her hands together nervously. She kept herself as calm as she could as a bulletproof vest was strapped to her torso and she was handed several weapons, including a gun and a few knives. She straps the medical kit on her back and holds the large military rifle in her hands, careful to point it to the ground. She'd placed her hair in a quick ponytail and followed the older woman to the helicopter pad along with the other soldiers who'd be aiding in the fight. 

"listen up everybody! this is an extraction, we're sending y/l/n to give Garrick medical aid. you are to assist her and watch her six, she is not to have a scratch on her. if she's not able to help then Garrick won't make it. It's your job to protect her - no matter the cost" she says looking at each one of them in the eye "Captain Price and Lieutenant Ghost are in command and will give you further instruction when you land, good luck" 

She grabs a soldier's arm and allows him to help her into the chopper. The ride was brief, but every second felt like an eternity as she braced herself for what awaited on the ground. She could hear the explosions and gunfire and she closed her eyes, as the pilot informed them they’d be landing here. Gunfire begins to hit the chopper and she holds onto it as it begins to spin. 

Ghost curses as he realizes that they were gonna crash and signals to the soldiers inside to jump out. He watches a rope drops to the ground and the team begins to lay down cover fire. He catches a glimpse of red hair in his peripheral vision and his head whips around so hard he was shocked his neck hasn’t strained. 

Her presence struck Ghost like a hammer blow. His heart sank, a rare emotion piercing through his stoic exterior. In that moment, he realized with a clarity that frightened him just how much he cared for her. The thought of something happening to her was unbearable. She had been through a few training sessions, but she was not equipped for this level of combat. The battlefield was no place for her, and the realization that she was here, in the midst of danger, shook him to his core.

Ghost’s eyes widened in horror as he saw her. He watched as the chopper got closer to the ground and the soldiers surrounded it, laying down additional cover. She jumps out holding her gun improperly and her eyes searching frantically for anyone on the team. Time seemed to slow as bullets rang through the air. Narrowly missing her.  

In the blink of an eye, Ghost lunged forward, grabbing her and pulling her down, shielding her body with his as bullets whizzed past them. He provided cover fire, his instincts taking over. The enemies were relentless, and the rest of her team was quickly overwhelmed. Ghost’s anger boiled over, fueled by a deep, unspoken fear.

"Stay down!" he barked, his voice a mix of command and desperation. He continued to shoot, each bullet finding its mark with deadly precision.

Seeing Ghost standing above her, she was able to feel a sense of relief amidst the chaos. She looked up at him watching as his strong body positioned itself in front of her, protecting her from any danger. 

The firefight was intense, but Ghost kept her safe, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. How could he focus on the mission when every fiber of his being was screaming to protect her? He needed to ensure her safety, but he also had to get them out of there alive. The dual responsibility was overwhelming.

“I’m gonna provide cover and I need you to run towards that pillar behind you got it?” Ghost demands, his gaze finding hers. She nods, her eyes wide and blown out as her body shakes. 

“On three” he commands “one, two, three, Go now!” he yells

Ghost shoots rapidly at the enemies and she sprints toward the pillar as quickly as she could. Bullets ring through the air and she trips on a body in her path. She pulls her body up off of the ground and continues to safety. The feeling of strong hands on her body catches her by surprise. Before she could react Ghost pulled her behind the pillar and held her back against his chest. Her chest heaving as she attempts to catch her breath. Ghost lets go of her and glares down at her with his dark eyes. 

“I need you to run to the corner of the building, I’ll be right behind you” he instructs.

She nods and wastes no time in making it to the building, she throws her back against the wall and leans on it with her eyes closed. Finally, they fought their way back to a relatively secure area. 

“Red?!” a familiar voice calls out

She opens her eyes and she frantically searches for him. His mohawk catches her eye and she nearly cries in relief as he sprints over to her. He places a hand on her shoulder, he was talking to her but her ears were ringing and her body shaking. Johnny recognized the blank stare and placed a hand on her shoulder, the other holding his gun up in case any of the enemy had made it past their perimeter. He leads her to the abandoned building they’d set up in and takes her gun off of her, dropping it to the side. She finally locks eyes with him as her hearing returns. 

“Johnny” she rasps 

“You okay Lass?”

“I’m good” she nods 

The masked man enters the building moments later, the anger radiating off of him as he approaches the medic, Ghost's anger exploded.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he yelled, his voice harsh and unforgiving. "You shouldn’t be anywhere near this!"

Still catching her breath, met his furious gaze with steady eyes. "Laswell sent me. No one else could go."

"That’s not good enough!" Ghost shouted, his fear masking as anger. "You’re not trained for this! You could’ve been killed!"

Before she could respond, Price intervened, his authoritative presence enough to quell Ghost's fury. "Enough, Ghost. We need to focus. Laswell sent her to save Gaz and that’s what she’ll do” 

Price nods to the young medic and offers her a small smile, which she returns. Johnny sighs, leading her to where Gaz lay gravely injured. Her medical training took over, and she worked with precision and calm, stabilizing Gaz and saving his life. She could feel eyes on her but she refused to let it distract her. The immediate crisis passed, but the tension between her and Ghost lingered.

As night fell, they had to stay put, waiting for an evacuation plan to be established. She stayed by Gaz’s side, ensuring he was stable. It wasn’t until Ghost entered the room silently, she looked up at him sensing a presence behind her and gasps sharply. 

“You scared the shit out of me”

“Sorry” he says as he sits down a few feet from her.

“He’s okay for now, but we need to get him back to the base, he’s still losing blood” she says 

“We’ve got two teams coming tomorrow at dawn”

“Good” she says softly, refusing to meet his eyes as she picked at her nails. 

He sighs, feeling guilty for his aggression earlier. He hadn’t meant to upset her, he was simply scared for her safety. Ghost had never been good with words, he didn’t know what to say - so he stretched his hand out to her - offering a candy bar. She looks at him in amusement and shakes her head gently. 

“Keep it, you need it more than me” she says gently as the breeze causes her to shiver slightly. 

"I shouldn’t have snapped at you," Ghost said. His voice was softer now. "I never wanted you to see this."

Her expression was resolute. "It’s my job, Ghost. I go where I’m needed."

He finally turned to face her, his gaze softening as he noticed her shivering. Without a word, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Get some rest. I’ll keep watch."

The next morning, they received evacuation orders. The extraction point was two blocks away, and they had to move quickly. Ghost placed her in the middle, with Soap and her supporting Gaz. He took the lead, his eyes scanning for threats. Every time a sniper took aim at them, Ghost was there, eliminating the threat before it could materialize.

As they neared the evacuation site, an explosion rocked the ground, sending debris flying. Ghost instinctively shielded her with his body, taking the brunt of the blast. The world spun around them, but they managed to stay on their feet, pushing forward until they reached the extraction point.

The sight of the helicopter with backup filled Ghost with a profound sense of relief. But his heart sank again when he saw her bloodied sleeve. A deep gash ran along her arm, and he gently touched it, causing her to wince in pain. He wordlessly lifts her into the Heli and helps the others before jumping in and sitting beside her, keeping his body between her and the open door as he fires down on the leftover enemies. 

“You’re bleeding y/l/n” Price notes

She hesitated, her instincts to take care of herself kicking in. “I’m fine”

“Make sure you get that taken care of when we get back” he responds, his strict tone making her nod. She places a hand on Gaz’s arm and stares out of the door, watching the scenery as they fly back to base. 

Once they arrive Ghost exits the chopper, while Price and Johnny carry the stretcher with Gaz on it to the med bay, he watches her stand and walk to the edge. He holds his arm out, she takes it and jumps down. Instantly feeling better now that they were back on base. She hurries after Gaz, Ghost hot on her trail. She enters the med bay and informs the others of his status. Before she could put gloves on to begin a blood transfusion Ghost grabbed her arm causing her to look up at him in annoyance. 

“You need to get that taken care of” he gestures to the blood dripping down her arm. 

"Fine" she says walking into the office, she takes off the long sleeve, leaving her in a black tank top. Ghost follows her into the office, his breath catching in his throat as he stares at her in awe. He hadn’t seen so much of her skin before. Typically her arms were covered by scrubs and a long sleeve underneath. His eyes follow from her chin down to her chest, admiring every inch before she looks up at him. 

“I’m good” she says

"Someone needs to take care of you for once," Ghost replied firmly, his eyes betraying a depth of concern she hadn’t seen before.

She nods and watches him take off his gloves, washing his hands as he puts some latex on. She gulps at the sigh of his tattoos and clenches her legs involuntarily. Ghost carefully cleaned and dressed the gash, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"Thank you for saving me," she said softly, her eyes meeting his.

Ghost looked at her, his expression serious but soft. "We look out for each other"

The bond between them, forged in the crucible of battle, had strengthened. They were comrades, but in that moment, they became something more—a team bound by trust and mutual respect, ready to face whatever came next together.

[i-cant-cast-that-yet]

Listen, I had a whole diatribe typed out train of thought style on aroace shen yuan, but I miss clicked somewhere and now it's gone but while I'm too tired to rewrite it all I'll give yall the spark notes.

Please keep in mind, this is mostly based on my specific experiences with being aroace-- as I myself am, and also me hard-core projecting. If this comes off as strange, it's because I'm a little strange myself. Also this probably makes no fucking sense so good luck.

Aroace Shen Yuan:

He's aware of PIDW Binghe being archetypically "hot," but doesn't personally get the appeal. He's seen the fanart, he's read through the copious amounts of papapa in the novel, he's aware that Binghe is suave n sexy n mysterious and that on paper he's supposed to be a chick magnet, but naturally shen yuan is straight so He's not into it obviously.

And you know what? I really do believe that pre-transmigration shen yuan wasn't actually attracted to fictional binghe. Not even in a parasocial or subconscious way. He was, however, definitely obsessed with his blorbo. It was about his deep fascination with the specific trope inversion binghe represented. It's the one thing that kept shen yuan engaged when the novel gradually took a nosedive beyond anything resembling a self-respecting internal narrative and fell face first into weekly updates of binghe's conquests and escapades. It's about how much shen yuan loved to read about binghe having to use his wits to overcome his obstacles when his early life disadvantages came to rear their heads and keep him from blasting through all obstacles. His weaknesses eventually made him strong, and even though that plot point was likely the first to disappear with the in-world discovery of xin mo, the promise that binghe might retain that level of intrigue kept him worth slogging through the rest of the novel.

That, and the longer the story goes on, the more tragic binghe's narrative becomes and the more protective shen yuan feels; the more righteous indignation the narrative evokes in him. Binghe is disrespected by the very text he's borne from in the perversion of his original wants. Binghe wants a home, love, stability, respect from his peers, and most importantly, he wants security and the apologies he was denied as a young boy. As the story goes on, these desires are given solutions that don't address the root causes via endless harem drama. This is likely because of xin mo exacerbating binghe's insecurities and amplifying his need for dual cultivation to manage his own unstable meridians, but for an ace shen yuan, this reliance on not only sex but meaningless sex with wives who because of circumstances outside of anyone's control cannot truly give binghe any of the emotional consolation he needs to work past his own issues, must have been infuriating. Add on the layer of vague disgust at having to be essentially coerced by an evil sword to rely on sexual encounters for both your physical wellbeing via cultivation, but also as a thinly veiled imitation of a coping method for binghe's complete lack of control over his childhood circumstances, and then to watch those real issues get chopped up into monster of the week papapa with whatever new fetish bait wife airplane has cooked up for the masses? I'd go fuckin bonkers too, man.

All of this to say, I think when shen yuan dies and ends up as shen qingqiu and then meets young binghe, he's probably intensely second-hand guilty alongside his terror and confusion. This is his Little Guy, his Big Terrible Dude, all wrapped up into a doe eyed, bruised little boy that he's supposed to bully now under threat of death. This is the little boy with so much kindness in his heart and so many more reasons to hate instead. This boy hasn't chosen hatred yet, but now shen yuan has to play his part in incubating that choice towards anger and self destruction and there's nothing he can really do about it.

He tries, of course, because shen yuan isn't going to let some nebulous system strong-arm him into abusing a child, even if in the end he can't avoid the truest of damning events in the endless abyss, he tries because he can't stomach letting this boy hurt more than fate is bound to force him to hurt himself.

But I'm losing sight of the point here. Back to the aroace funny bit.

I think that within the text of the canon svsss novel, we have enough textual evidence to safely call shen yuan demi. Yes, that man is deeply repressed, but something about his specific flavor of fond, resigned acceptance to binghe's actions post canon in relation to their marital bed n whatnot, I think he's attracted to binghe, but I don't think he's like...*attracted* attracted. This is where the grey area really begins. There's a sort of attraction that as an ace person I like, conceptually experience. The idea of having someone being like, handsome and having big muscles, and being into you, etc, that's all well and good in a vacuum, but in reality? Rather not.

I'd like to posit the idea of shen yuan being eventually comfortable trying to open up both to himself and to binghe largely because for the longest time, shen yuan still has the internal feeling that nothing in this world is real.

That binghe is still, at his core, fictional.

Idk about yall, but attraction to fictional characters is so much more palatable than attraction to a real individual. Mind you, I am actively aroace, and I've never dated in my 23 years alive, so this is real projection hours, but I digress, I myself have had a handful of crushes in my runtime that I've never bothered to act on out of pure disinterest in the act of romantic or emotional connection with others.

When you can't see yourself wanting to engage with the full complexity of another person on such an intimate level, either emotionally or physically, but you still feel deeply attached to them on a level bordering obsession, its...disconcerting to say the least. I feel like if shen yuan cared so deeply for binghe, would put up with his clingyness and his antics and his possessiveness, but never fully saw him as real? It'd be devastating if binghe even found out, and shen yuan really doesn't want to hurt him, but he can't manufacture a feeling where it doesn't exist. He's devoted to binghe, he enjoys making binghe happy, he wants to be with binghe, but he knows he isn't feeling the way his wives were written to feel about binghe and that makes him worry.

Sure, he feels 'a frission of heat' or whatever bs airplane had yapped about occassionally, and binghe's muscles do indeed 'bulge provocatively' quite often, but it's not the same, dammit. He loves binghe, but he's not quite sure he's in love with being in love. He's attracted to binghe, but none of the tropes he's been pushed into by the system have done anything but make him roll his eyes and sidestep whatever papapa plot line he's stumbled into.

And just maybe, it all makes him feel like he doesn't actually love binghe, and that he's been lying to him all over again. That he's doing exactly what shen yuan tells himself he was forced to do against his will, and that he's chosen to hurt binghe this way.

What shen yuan doesn't understand is that binghe realized a long ass time ago that his shizun isn't a very romantic person, but he is nothing but caring. That his shizun may not be a typical lover, but that couldn't matter less in binghe's eyes because shen qingqiu is choosing to keep binghe around even when it so clearly goes against what feels natural to the other man because he simply wants to have him around.

There's a lot to be said around the idea of "ace people can still love," and how it leaves a bad taste in my mouth as a predominantly aromantic individual, but that's neither here nor there, but I think there's something even more impactful to be spoken about people who can't, don't, or won't love in a "normal" or "typical" fashion, but who still choose to hold space for another in their life. For those who find themselves in love with someone who can't quite love them back "properly," but who yearn so strongly that they take what they can get. For those who don't need flowers and declarations of undying love, but a listening ear and a willing companion to spend their days with.

...

Also I think it would drive bingge up the fucking WALL trying to seduce his not-shizun and pulling out all the stops only for literally none of it to work lmao.

Anyway I'm gonna go rot in a corner at work now, lmk if I should like, elaborate further on anything or delete this haha

[ratasum]

Rolling around how healing magic in particular works in Tyria, largely because I don't think that healing is as easy and convenient in game. In game, it has to be that way- we need to be able to heal on the fly during combat.

In universe, I get the feeling it's a lot more like triage.

If you're a soldier - be it in the Pact, in any of the racial militaries, or the commander themselves - you need to be able to pick yourself up and get right back into the fight. Magic healing works best in this case. You effectively give someone an adrenaline shot and a slap on the ass and send them back into the fight.

Meanwhile, anyone else not in active combat seeking medical care is less likely to need immediate magical assistance except for to stabilize someone who's losing a lot of blood. Stop the bleeding then address the rest of the issues.

As a result, you DO see a lot of practical medicine in use in the vast majority of places in Tyria. It's far LESS common to see people actively getting treated for immediate injuries except for to triage immediate needs. A farmer with a broken bone is going to benefit more from a reset arm, splint or cast, and rest with some incidental healing to speed up the process than a fast heal.

And that can even extend to combat zones. You still need to clean significant injuries. Compound fractures, if healed with magic, can heal WRONG, leading to them needing to be re-broken and re-set. Severe wounds healed too quickly could result in a patient going into shock or worse, experiencing phantom pains, and significant scarring... in some cases it can also significantly increase the risk of infection.

I think you also see as many engineers as elementalists in healing fields, as well, simply due to the elixirs they can create. They're effectively Tyria's alchemists, creating mixtures that can have any number of effects on the physical body, and many choose to remain in that field, as working on medical devices created by asura and/or charr is as much of a challenge in itself as building their own devices to their own schematics.

Aside from that, I do get the feeling high level magic users aren't as common as in game. In game there's tons of us because it's an MMO, but in the world as it exists, I think the number of individuals with significant magic is considerably lower. Even in the Pact you probably have a lot of soldiers with basic training and maybe a gun but healing magic? That's for the commander and/or their companions!

I always just like playing with the idea of magic healing as a stopgap instead of as the core way healing is done. It leads to a blended world with interesting problems to solve on both sides: how much magic to use, when to use magic versus when to use traditional healing. Can you magic away a papercut? Probably, but it's more energy efficient to just slap some salve and a bandaid on it. It'll heal in a few days anyway.

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

do you have like. resource recommendations for conditioning your body? i can't put weight on my wrists and standing hurts the instant my feet touch the ground so exercise kinda feels impossible but i want to be able to fuck my boyfriend

Yesssssss okay so I also can't put weight on my wrists and baby have I got some sex toys for you!

It's a combo of accommodation and effective medical care so lets break it down

My fellow arthritic sluts, I *know* you know how bad the joints get when we fuck, so if you don't already know, let me introduce you to the world of Position Aids:

You know what I learned being a disabled bitch working in shipping? Never muscle your way through something your body shouldn't do. Accommodate, facilitate, and meet yourself where you're at. The less you fuck yourself over by injuring yourself doing shit you ain't ready for, the faster you will improve/reach the upper levels of your capacity

So are you like me and the stabilizer muscles in your thighs have atrophied to shit but you still want to ride your girl's strap for some hot trotting, make or buy yourself a seat to help you lift your hips during sex. Buy yourself a doggie-style sex strap to get a better thrust going for your partner without hurting your joints trying to keep a grip by hand. Get a wedge pillow to angle the bottom's hips better for penetration

Sometimes the problem isn't you, I promise, disabled people have been fucking since humanity has existed and we'll keep fucking until humanity is dead and gone

And like, position aids are used to help able bodied people do wilder sex shit, but YOU can use it to help you do more routine bits that are harder for you. Like, it took me almost a year after my gallbladder surgery to have the core strength again to do any kind of sex other than pillow princessing, and when we started using straps to give us leverage on each other, suddenly it wasn't as hard to throw it back you know?

Conditioning for this kind of stuff is best thought of as "functional body weight resistance training" and literally???? Go to a doctor, ask for a prescription for PT to build stability. Tell them you've been falling more and you're worried the next one'll be bad. Ideally, they're gonna send you to someone who will assess and prescribe a physio routine for your core and stabilizer muscles. Once you've got that routine, start to learn WHY you're doing it, ask the physio questions about what muscles are being targetted and what those muscles do. Ask questions like "if I'm kneeling out in the garden for too long, sometimes I get stuck or it hurts a lot to get up, what can i do about that" and your physio doesn't have to know that "the garden" is your girlfriend's pussy, it's all good.

Position aids and physio aren't you're only options even! But they're good places to start!

[yanpoetry]

College Classes for Yanderes and the Reason!

Ever wondered what skills a Yandere might need to truly care for their Darling while keeping them under absolute control? Whether you're a Yandere in training or just curious about how some of these intense personalities manage to weave their devotion and obsession into real-life skills, here's the rundown on the college classes that could make you the ultimate protector (or controller) of your Darling. These aren't just any classes- these are the practical skills you need to master the delicate art of love, obsession, and devotion.

1. Medical Science (Doctor or Nurse Program)

Why? Every Yandere needs to ensure their Darling is in peak physical condition, right? Whether it's tending to minor injuries, ensuring constant health surveillance, or subtly administering sedatives, a Yandere with medical knowledge can provide the care their Darling "needs" while keeping them dependent on their expertise.

Classes to Take: Anatomy & Physiology, Emergency Medicine, Pharmacology, Mental Health and Psychiatry.

2. Private Investigation and Surveillance Techniques

Why? You can't love what you can't keep track of, can you? A Yandere who knows how to investigate, track, and surveil will always know where their Darling is, what they’re doing, and who they’re doing it with. Perfect for ensuring no one—no one—threatens their perfect relationship.

Classes to Take: Surveillance Techniques, Criminal Investigation, Digital Security, Behavioral Profiling.

3. Criminal Justice & Personal Security

Why? Protection is at the core of a Yandere's job. You need to protect your Darling from threats—both real and imagined. And let's face it, a Yandere who's good with security can easily lock down any potential escape routes, set up surveillance cameras, and make sure their Darling’s environment is as safe (and controlled) as possible.

Classes to Take: Personal Security, Risk Management, Crisis Intervention, Firearms Training (optional but... effective).

4. Culinary Arts & Dietetics

Why? A Yandere knows that food is not just for nourishment—it's for control. Whether it's preparing meals laced with aphrodisiacs to increase the bond or sedatives to keep the Darling docile, culinary skills are a must-have. And nothing says "I love you" like a perfectly crafted dinner that keeps your Darling right where you want them.

Classes to Take: Nutrition, Advanced Cooking Techniques, Food Safety, Food Chemistry, Meal Planning.

5. Psychology (Therapist or Psychiatrist Program)

Why? To understand your Darling’s mind is to control it. Psychology classes will teach you how to read and manipulate emotions, break down resistance, and keep your Darling dependent on you for emotional stability. Plus, with psychiatric knowledge, you'll know just how to manage meltdowns, moods, and delicate situations.

Classes to Take: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Behavioral Science, Abnormal Psychology, Psychopathology.

6. Electrical Engineering (Or just Electrical Technician)

Why? Want to keep your Darling locked in both physically and emotionally? Knowing how to set up cameras, monitoring systems, and even electric fences (if you’re feeling extra) will ensure you always know where your Darling is. Bonus points for making sure no one can ever interrupt your time together.

Classes to Take: Circuit Design, Home Automation, Surveillance Systems, Electrical Safety.

7. Engineering (Mechanical or Civil)

Why? For the Yandere who likes to design their Darling’s world literally. This isn’t just about making your Darling’s environment comfortable—it's about making it escape-proof. Whether it's building secure rooms, automated systems, or setting up barriers to keep your Darling from running away, an engineering degree gives you the tools to create your own perfect world.

Classes to Take: Structural Engineering, Robotics, Systems Design, Automated Systems.

8. Art (or Interior Design)

Why? A Yandere doesn’t just control the body; they control the mind. And what better way to keep the Darling in the right mood than to craft an environment that feels simultaneously safe and inescapable? The right design can manipulate emotions, create a sense of security while subtly reinforcing control. It's all about aesthetics... and power.

Classes to Take: Interior Design, Visual Arts, Architecture, Color Theory.

9. Surgeon (Trauma or Cosmetic Surgery)

Why? Want to make sure your Darling never forgets who they belong to? A Yandere with surgical skills can leave permanent marks, whether it’s through tattoos, cosmetic alterations, or more extreme procedures that make the Darling more physically reliant on them. These skills also come in handy when it’s time for “repairs” following an altercation or “accident.”

Classes to Take: Surgery (Plastic or General), Trauma Medicine, Aesthetic Surgery, Post-Op Care.

10. Therapeutic Massage & Physical Therapy

Why? Sometimes, you just need to show your Darling that you can heal their body and mind. A Yandere with physical therapy knowledge can not only care for physical injuries but also manipulate the Darling’s body into a state of dependence. Plus, there's something incredibly possessive about touching every inch of their body while “helping.”

Classes to Take: Massage Therapy, Body Mechanics, Rehabilitation Techniques, Neuromuscular Therapy.

[aishangotome]

Roger Barel: Chapter 6

Chapter 5

♡———♡

The courtyard of Crown Castle echoed with the lively voices of Kate and the others.

There, two shadows lurked unnoticed---.

Nika: Hmm, looks fun. The Crown is more friendly and "family-like" than I imagined.

Ring: .............

Nika: What is it, Ring? Do you perhaps want to be friends?

Nika: No way. You know we didn't come here to make friends.

Ring: I know. I will only obey Dari and you.

Nika: I don't intend to make you a puppet, but if that's what you want, do as you please.

His eyes, peeking through the gaps in his ash-blue hair, eventually focus on Roger.

Nika: Roger Barrel. It seems he's doing research related to the curse bearers.

Ring: Research on the curse bearers? What is he... trying to do?

Nika: Who knows? Maybe it's research that will hinder our ambitions.

Nika: It could even shake the very meaning of our existence.

Ring: ... Should we eliminate him?

Ring: I'll take care of him without anyone noticing.

Nika: What are you saying, Ring? We're here as goodwill ambassadors.

Nika: We need to be white and clean, for now.

Nika: Besides, he's a man who could be either poison or medicine for Vogel. It's best to let him swim for now.

Nika: But...

A ferocious smile suddenly appears on his lips.

Nika: The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, the beautiful flower gets plucked.

Nika: It would be nice if someone other than us noticed him and eliminated him.

---At the same time.

The "Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council" in the palace was filled with irritation.

Privy Councilor: It's been several days since the "Vogel," a direct organization under the German Emperor, arrived as goodwill ambassadors.

Privy Councilor: How dare the Vogel Director and his subordinates show no interest in us.

Privy Councilor: They only show interest in "Crown"...

As one spat out with hatred, the other councilors also began to curse the Crown viciously.

Privy Councilor: Crown, with their strange power of curse bearers, doing as they please in Her Majesty's presence...

Privy Councilor: They should be erased, a stain on our country!

Privy Council Member: Her Majesty must be out of her mind to keep those cursed monsters.

Privy Councilor: Before the existence of the Crown is exposed to the public, we, the Privy Council, must protect Her Majesty.

Privy Council Member: To do that, we must force Crown to disband.

That is what the "Her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council" desires.

Privy Council Member: ... But, to speak out against an organization directly under Her Majesty, we need to find their weaknesses.

Privy Councilor: Let's immediately look for weaknesses. The best material to force Crown to disband.

Unaware that darkness is once again creeping up on the "Crown"...

-

Kate: Sigh... Finally, it's over.

Finally released from the self-defense class, I was climbing the stairs, feeling completely exhausted.

(I need to train my legs and core more...)

Exhausted, I rubbed my tired legs, barely able to climb the stairs.

On these legs - under my skirt, a garter belt is wrapped around, and there's a hidden gun.

The gun was a gift from Roger.

*earlier*

Roger: Kate, I'm giving this to you. I got a good one from Victor's armory.

Kate: A gun...?

Roger: Hand it over. I'll teach you how to shoot.

I returned the gun to Roger, and a few seconds after he took aim, he shot the distant target without a single miss.

(Amazing...)

Roger: The height of the muzzle is determined based on the opponent's feet. If it's close range, the muzzle should be pointed downwards, and if it's long range, it should be horizontal.

Roger: In spaces with obstacles like rooms or trains, you might point it upwards, but that requires considerable training to stabilize.

Roger: If the muzzle wavers, the chances of hitting your allies increase, so remember that the basics are to point it downwards.

Roger explained while actually demonstrating how to hold the gun.

Roger: That's about it. The rest is just practice.

Kate: I'll try...

The gun was returned to my hand, and I held it as instructed, with Roger moving behind me.

Roger: Grip it like this. Yeah, that's good.

Roger: Put your finger on the trigger... No, don't grip it deeply with your finger. Just lightly.

Kate: Yes.

Roger: Relax... Now pull it straight back.

Roger's hand slowly moved away, and I focused my strength only on the finger on the trigger.

--A dry sound echoed, and the bullet slightly hit the target.

Roger: A little more to the left. Shoot all the bullets.

Kate: ...

My arm position was corrected, and I pulled the trigger repeatedly.

Roger: 1 hit out of 6 shots, 2 bullets grazed the target. Not bad for your first time.

Roger: We'll incorporate this into your training, so make sure to do push-ups every day from now on.

Roger: And...

Roger: Kate, think of this as your last resort weapon, only for self-defense. Okay?

*back to present*

(Roger looked a bit scary back then... No, he had a serious expression.)

As I remembered and my breath trembled slightly, I heard the sound of a piano from somewhere...

(A beautiful melody. Who is it...?)

As if drawn by the melody, I followed the sound and opened the door.

William: ...........

There, I saw William playing the piano.

William glanced at me, then continued his dramatic playing, raising his fingertips high.

The piece gradually approached its end with a decrescendo, and as the faint afterglow of the final note dissolved into the air, I offered generous applause.

Kate: It was you playing the piano, William. It was a wonderful performance.

William: Thank you for your kind words, Kate.

William, who gracefully placed his hand on his chest in response to the applause, suddenly lowered his gaze.

William: Ah... you were given a gun. A robin carrying a gun, quite a picturesque image.

Kate: How did you know? It's hidden under my skirt.

William: Your gait. When conducting undercover investigations, be careful not to let your surroundings notice.

Kate: My gait... I haven't thought that far yet.

William: But it seems you're growing quite a bit. Was it the "Robin Growth Map"?

(Ugh... It's embarrassing to hear that directly.)

William's blood-colored eyes, smiling, held a gentle power that seemed to see through everything.

(William is a mysterious person.)

(I feel like he understands everything, but I don't find it unpleasant.)

William: Kate, do you know why Roger uses a shotgun?

Kate: No... Come to think of it, Roger is the only one who uses a shotgun.

(While most members use swords or pistols...)

The shotgun Roger carries is large and conspicuous, and as an amateur, I think it would be very difficult to handle and not very convenient to use.

Kate: I have the image that shotguns are originally weapons used by people with good eyesight.

Kate: So at first, I wondered why, but...

William: One reason is that he often went hunting with his father and was familiar with it. The other is because of his "abnormal hearing."

I opened my eyes wide, receiving an unexpected answer.

Kate: Ah, because Roger can figure out where the target is by listening to the sound!

William: Exactly. Rather than risk getting injured at close range, shooting from a distance allows him to avoid that.

William: It's very Roger-like, prioritizing efficiency.

William: But that's the official reason, and I think there's another reason.

Kate: Another reason...?

William: Do you know, Robin?

William spoke gently.

As if telling a gentle fairy tale.

William: It's said that 80% of those who are forced to hold a gun in war "deliberately" don't shoot the enemy.

Kate: ... I didn't know that.

That number was much higher than I imagined.

Kate: Even if they are enemies, I guess shooting a person takes that much of a toll...

William: What about in the case of a shotgun?

William: A shotgun is originally a tool for hunting animals, not for shooting people.

William: Using it to kill people, even for the sake of judgment, would be an undeniable evil for him, from the standpoint of a former doctor.

At that moment, I remembered Roger's serious face when he taught me how to use a gun.

William: I heard from Victor that Roger himself chose the shotgun when he joined the Crown.

Kate: You mean he deliberately chose the shotgun...?

William's smile indicated affirmation.

Roger, who deliberately chose a shotgun and kills people to judge evil despite having the skills to save lives.

Roger, who has more medical knowledge than anyone else, yet calls himself a former doctor and lives in this darkness.

(... The more I get to know Roger, the deeper my questions become.)

I wonder "why" Roger decided to live in Crown.

It's not just intellectual curiosity - that much is clear...

(I wonder if I'll ever be able to ask him the reason.)

(Still, William is...)

Kate: Um, why did you tell me about Roger?

William: Hmm?

Kate: You don't seem like the type to talk about people without a reason.

William: ... That's true.

William furrowed his brow thoughtfully.

William: Perhaps because people should meet others when they need to, and be given wisdom when they need it.

Like a precept written in the Bible, its meaning cannot be understood at once.

But I felt like I had found some kind of "guidance."

Kate: It's a little difficult to understand, but... thank you.

William: You're welcome.

Kate: Ah, that's right, William!

(There was something I wanted to ask.)

Kate: I heard that there are medical books in the palace library.

William: Medical books?

Kate: Well... since I'm by Roger's side, I thought I should have some knowledge in my head.

William: Then wouldn't it be faster to ask Roger?

Kate: That's not possible.

William: Why not?

--CHOICES--

I want to grow and make him happy

I want to make him eat his words

I want to keep it a secret and surprise him

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

Kate: I want to keep it a secret from Roger and surprise him later.

William: A special surprise, I see.

William chuckled upon hearing my plan.

William: In that case, I'll guide you. Of course, it'll be a secret from Roger.

-

That night, Roger and I were called to Victor's office in the palace.

Victor: Roger, and your personal Fairytale Keeper, Kate- Her Majesty has a mission for you.

(Another mission...)

Since Roger started teaching me various things, I've been feeling my daily growth.

Thinking that the time had come to test my abilities, my back naturally straightened.

Victor: There's a certain village in the rural farmland outside the city.

Victor: It's a small village, but it's a special place where they live by their own unique rules.

Roger: Hmm, you mean a village with traditional customs. So, what happened there?

Victor: A few days ago, skeletal remains were found in the mountains near that village. A large number of them.

It was a reminder that the previous infiltration mission to the "Death Party" was easier than usual.

I swallowed the fear rising in my chest and organized the mission details in my head.

Kate: But burial is common in this country, and if it's a unique funeral custom of that village...

Victor: I thought so too. So, as we investigated further, we found out...

Victor: The police officers who went to investigate haven't returned since they went to the village.

(Even the police...? That can only mean something happened in the village.)

Victor: And, there's one more thing we found out.

Victor: It seems there's a leader called the Spirit God in that village. They say this man can cure diseases.

(Spirit God...? What's that...?)

Roger: That's incredibly suspicious! | Kate: That's so incredibly suspicious!

We frowned and spoke out at the same time.

Roger: I see, if it's related to diseases, then I'm the right person for the job.

Roger: Besides, there's a possibility that this man is a new curse bearer...

Kate: A new curse bearer?

Roger: No, it's something else.

(What is it?)

As I tilted my head, Roger declared triumphantly.

Roger: Alright, Kate and I will infiltrate that village.

Roger: And we'll expose whatever evil is lurking in that miniature garden. Right, Kate?

(This time, I'll make sure to fulfill the mission without being a burden as a Fairytale Keeper!)

Kate: Yes, leave it to me.

Victor: Thank you. Liam, who can disappear, has already infiltrated and is gathering information.

Victor: Once you enter the village, contact him discreetly so as not to be noticed.

Victor turned to us and said,

Victor: Roger, Kate. Be careful not to get hurt. Now, be loyal to your own evil.

He sent us off with words befitting the "Crown."

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 7

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

[a-griffin-in-the-sky]

You said "if any trans people want to talk" so here I am. I can't speak for everyone, but a lot of what you're asking about, for me, has to do with self love, which is one of the hardest concepts for people who've been trained their whole lives to deny themselves. I don't look back at my childhood self with distain or disgust because I know how much I went through to get here. The only thing I still hate is my dead name, which is dead because even before I realized I was trans ***I didn't want to associate with the abuser that imprisoned me until it wasn't convenient to use me anymore.*** It's a completely different reason on the surface, but I think it speaks more to the trans experience than a lot of people realize. That name wasn't one you were given the choice to have. That name didn't treat you with the respect you deserve. That name doesn't reflect who you are in the way that is so important to trans folks. One question that I heard was admittedly a lot more... What's the word for making someone simpler than it actually is? The question was: if you were transported to a deserted island with everything you needed to live a happy and full life, but NO ONE else was there... Would you still transition? Because if no, that doesn't mean you're not trans. It just means you need to examine your motivations a lot more and maybe do some healing before walking that path. For me, the answer was yes. Because seeing *myself* as someone *I see as feminine* makes me so happy that I could cry. What you're asking is real and genuine and sometimes needs to be considered by some people in the trans community; but it's also a very abrasive way to bring up those topics. It has a kind of "fuck you I'm right" energy that immediately triggers the defensive side to the target audience, so I would take all responses with a bit of salt, knowing that... Maybe they're only saying that because they felt like you were demanding they justify their existence... Something trans folks already have to do daily.

Hi, thank you for responding so thoughtfully and honestly. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your story, especially something as deeply personal as your relationship with your deadname and your past. I hear the pain behind it, and I respect the strength it takes to speak openly about self-love especially when the world hasn’t made that easy.

That said, I want to offer a counterpoint not to invalidate your experience but to explain where I’m coming from when I ask hard questions.

You said self-love is core to your transition, and I don’t doubt that for a second. But for some, the path toward self-love has become entangled with a kind of external dependency where being affirmed by others replaces internal stability.

That’s what I’m pushing against: not the right to transition, but the pressure to treat every identity as sacred and untouchable, even when it’s built on unresolved pain.

I’m not denying that trans people are under attack. But I also think that being asked to reflect deeply isn’t an attack it’s an invitation. Maybe the reason it stings is because the question touches something uncertain. And I believe that’s worth exploring, not avoiding.

We don’t have to agree. But I want you to know that my intention isn’t to erase or shame it’s to ask people (trans or not) to reckon with how identity, trauma, and power can intertwine in ways we don’t always see. Especially when the line between healing and performance gets blurry.

From what I understand, your deadname was tied to an abuser, and that association brought pain, which makes perfect sense. I want to add that while I’m not a therapist, I believe that trying to completely cut away from your past self, including that name, might not always be the healthiest path. That past, as difficult as it was, is still part of your story. You weren’t the problem; the people who abused you were. But just because they named you doesn’t mean they defined your entire story.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do think that embracing all parts of yourself, the hurt and the healing, might offer a fuller kind of self-love than cutting pieces away.

Thanks again for opening up. These conversations are hard but valuable.

I appreciate you sharing your experience, and I want to be upfront, this isn’t about holding anyone’s hand or invalidating feelings. But from what I’ve seen, doing whatever feels good in the moment isn’t always healing. Sometimes, it can actually enable the very things causing the pain.

For example, my own therapy involves confronting painful memories directly sometimes while focusing on a small ball moving back and forth, to help my brain reprocess the trauma without spiraling into rage or anxiety attacks. It’s exhausting and takes a long time. I cry, I struggle, and it often really sucks.

But honestly? That hard, uncomfortable work feels way more healing than just feeding anger or frustration. I think real healing means facing pain, not just trying to escape it.

Just to be clear, I’m not saying anyone should use their deadname or confront the person who hurt them directly. Hell no. Exposure therapy, especially without professional guidance, can often do more harm than good and actually worsen trauma.

What I mean is that healing usually involves processing pain safely, often with the help of a therapist or a structured approach.

Take a deep, honest moment to reflect on why you feel uncomfortable in your own body — the very body that has carried you through pain and hardship. Often, the desire to change ourselves on the outside comes from wanting to escape the wounds that live beneath the surface. But what if, instead of trying to erase that history, you acknowledged it? The person who hurt you does not get to define who you are or claim ownership over your story. You have the power to say, “Fuck them.”

Sometimes, when we say, “I feel like my true self now because I look the way I want,” it can feel surface-level like we’re trying to fix the outside without facing what really hurts inside.

You don’t need to alter your appearance or hide your scars to reclaim your identity. Your true strength lies in embracing your past, owning your journey, and forging a path that is uniquely yours one where healing is about becoming whole, not becoming someone else.

I’ve depersonalized ans dissociate from body a lot tbh. I’ve felt like I was outside my body, like I was watching someone else live my life. I’ve looked in the mirror and seen a face I didn’t recognize not because it was unfamiliar, but because it didn’t feel like mine. My whole life has been this quiet, constant chain of little abuses things people shrug off, but they built up and made me feel detached from my own skin. I’ve cut my hair, I’ve dyed it fun colors, not to become someone else but to feel more me. I never looked in the mirror and thought, “That old me is gone forever.”

I don’t hate her. I don’t want to erase her. She survived a lot. When I look in the mirror now, I just think, “Damn, I look good. The me from three years ago wouldn’t believe I found joy again!”

I’m not trans, but time and time again I hear trans people say, “The old me is dead,” and I struggle to understand it. Not in a judgmental way, I just genuinely don’t relate. When I think of my past self, even the hurting, broken, dissociated version of me, I feel grief, sure. But I also feel compassion. I mourn her, but I don’t want to bury her. She’s the one who kept me alive long enough to get here. And while I see others celebrating their transformation and shedding who they were, I sit with this ache, wondering, How is that a good thing? Maybe for some, it’s freeing a release. But for me, it feels like turning my back on someone who needed love, not exile. I don’t want to kill my past self. I want to hold her hand and say, You did good. You got us through.

Again, thank you for your response. I really do appreciate being able to have these conversations, even when we see things differently. I’m not here to police how anyone heals that’s not my place, and I know we all carry different wounds. But I do hope, truly, that you find peace. Even if I don’t think it’s the right way for me, or even if I question whether it leads to deeper healing, I know that only you can walk your path.

[wisteriagoesvroom]

schools of thought: part 2 🦊

A landoscar college AU, told through social media

to catch up, check out part 1 here

author's notes

thank you for your patience and the kudos on part 1 🤧 irl stuff happened and i worked on a different story for a while before getting back to this one

ignore timestamps, they don't really matter

if you enjoy it, please consider liking / reblogging / commenting! 💙

—————we pick up at the federation U library———————

lando's studying late. it's a tuesday, and there aren't too many people there - just him, linda the librarian who isn't particularly impressed at anything or anyone, and a couple of other students on other islands of desks, stuck in their own world.

lando doesn't find academic work impossible per se, it's more the sustained attention that gets challenging. and contrary to how he seems, he does actually work hard at his core modules. even if he isn't sure exactly to what end, yet.

the screen's blazing bright and lagrange's theorem is starting to make his brain statick-y, so lando rubs his eyes. one of those advice pages on tiktok said changing tasks could help sometimes to refocus on his studying. something about crop rotation or switching channels of the brain or something. if it's on social media, it must be true.

so he opens his design software instead and makes a party invite.

he sends a prayer to the holy trinity of tiesto, guetta and darude for his very basic photoshop abilities. and an extra hail-van-helden for the free software that he pirated off charles.

the party playlist is already whirring in his head. definitely some garage smashed with some old school hip hop, and he's sure there's a way to get some hans zimmer piano in there. whatever, it'll work.

satisfied with his efforts, lando sips from his hydroflask. (the drink is one part instant coffee, one part spicy honey, and a lot of hot water. carlos gives him shit about it all the time, but carlos is spanish and generally prone to dramatics when it comes to coffee and just about everything else.)

still focused on his important task of Procrastinating His Stabilizer Equations, lando texts max.

linda, to her credit, only glared at him once when he started humming kid cudi under his breath.

and judging from experience, max and charles are going to be a while, so there's nothing for lando to do but stare at the wall and keep working on his playlists. oh, and his math assignments.

meanwhile, oscar gets a ping from logan.

what is there to say about the meeting really, oscar thinks. uneventful. ———————earlier——————————

the first project catch-up with lando, they'd met under the campus bee statue. a sunny afternoon, but the campus was quiet, half of them having decamped to the nearby hills or beach for a change of scenery. it was just the pleasant and tolerable buzz of other students enjoying the warmth and doing university student things. he'd spotted a couple of people with picnic blankets out. he hadn't brought a picnic blanket, thinking this would be a quick meeting.

lando had appeared in a blur of white and orange, like a y2k elf. ear piercing, music festival rubber bracelets and all. in a t-shirt that said i'm acute angle.

"'sup osc!" lando said.

"that t-shirt's gramatically incorrect. technically." oscar had replied.

"whaa-aat. but more to the point, it's funny."

"i guess. did you do the reading yet? thought it'd be good to talk roles and responsibilities and maybe a project timeline."

"timeline?" lando said, as he tossed his backpack down and flopped on the lawn. lando extracted two heinekens from a side pocket and went through a complicated manouvre of opening them with his room keys. "thought we'd maybe crack open a beer and just chat, matey."

i'm not your matey, oscar thought. i'm a passenger to whatever train of chaos it is that you're driving and i'd like to get off.

oscar's skin prickled as he realised the double meaning of get off. he also tried to not think too hard about how overfamiliar lando was acting towards him. the worse thing was: there was a bigger part of him that was probably willing to let lando get away with it.

lando seemed to be ignoring whatever existential crisis oscar was going through. instead, lando was going on and on about philosophical youtubers and sparknotes. lando was so animated when he spoke, too: hands always in gestures, as if excitement buzzed directly out of his fingertips and onto oscar. there was a sparkle in his eyes, blue sliding into grey, that made oscar want to sit on his hands. because they were the kind of eyes they wrote about in regency novels, the windows to the soul kind of melodramatic nonsense. that would make him want to do stupid shit. like, get-in-the-way-of-the-project-grade kind of stupid shit.

so it took oscar a lot of energy to focus in that first meeting. he thought he did a pretty decent job picking up the thread of conversation, around the part where lando had called foucault's theory "the indiana jones thought thingy."

"i think you mean archaeology of knowledge."

"right! right." lando said, as he beamed up at him.

oscar had suddenly felt overly warm, then. probably just the sun on the quad, he thought to himself. he was from australia, so technically he should've known better, and worn adequate SPF. he'd have to set a phone reminder for that at a later point. he refused to be fooled again by the european summer and its apparently hypnotic effects. even if those hypnotic effects were probably mostly caused by a menacing parallel phenomenon that oscar would call solarus landonitus.

—————————————————

later, oscar's cooks dinner, and tries to decipher the instructions on the back of a frozen bag of beef mince. pato and logan are away at a football game across the border in italy, an overnighter thing.

his phone vibrates. it's lando.

oscar's hands hover over the letter keys. a party? he couldn't think of anything worse. but lando said a couple of friends, and it's true oscar hasn't really partied, and he thinks hanging out with his D&D friends doesn't really count. there had been that one instance in first year when oscar had gone to try and meet logan and pato at the ministry of sound, and he'd accidentally ended up at the ministry of state government building. after that, he'd figured parties weren't really fated for him.

but. lando, social butterfly lando, campus personality lando is the one asking. and logan's right, oscar probably does take himself too seriously.

osc types and deletes at least four different responses before be replies. he is an eng lit major, he tells himself. surely he should be better at crafting his words than this. but sometimes it is what it is.

so it isn't a commitment, and it isn't a hard no, either.

oscar stares at his phone. it's gone quiet. lando's moved on – probably uploading an instagram story. or smashing his too keyboard loudly in a public space as he solves a polynomial. or making a new and unlikely EDM song out of radiator noises, or whatever it is that lando "i'm so cool" norris decides to do with his free time.

oscar is studying the dorm kitchen tiles, thinking about not thinking about lando, when his pasta water boils over. it hits the induction stove with a loud hiss.

"shit!" osc yelps. he grabs a nearby dish towel to wipe it up.

the pasta ends up both soggy and under salted, but he eats it anyway. mind turning all the while.

——————stay tuned part 3 (hint: party party)————————

p.s. if you want to be tagged/notified on the next part/updates just lmk in comments or DM and i'd be happy to!!

[4theitgirls]

a beginners guide to pilates

🎀 what is pilates?

pilates is a form of strength training exercise that focuses on low to medium impact movements to improve muscle tone, stability, endurance, and mobility. pilates also focuses more on the smaller muscles of the body compared to traditional strength or weight training.

🎀 benefits of pilates

including the benefits that exercise generally brings, pilates:

improves mind-body connection and body control

improves active flexibility and mobility

works the core, improving stability

improves coordination and balance

reduces mental and physical stress

works muscles that can be neglected in our daily lives

treats and prevents body pain, including menstrual pain

teaches you how to pair your breath with your body

keeps the joints healthy without putting pressure on them

🎀 where to start

while you can absolutely start with studio or reformer classes, you can also do pilates routines on youtube! i recommend move with nicole and dansique fitness. if you want to get your cardio in as well, i absolutely recommend eleni fit. her workouts are some of the best i’ve ever tried!

🎀 personal tips

keep your core in mind. core strength is a major benefit of pilates because each movement requires at least a mild amount of core work to keep your body stable, so do your best to keep the engagement throughout.

start slow. pilates movements can take a while to fully understand and it can take a while to build the mind-body connection, so don’t push yourself too far in the beginning. your coordination will improve over time!

don’t underestimate it! while the movements are generally slower than other types of exercise, you will work your muscles just as much and in a way they may not have been worked before. sometimes i even find pilates more difficult than hiit or weights!

[gummyfang]

♡♡♡ |   ˗ˏˋ SUBORDINATION  ´ˎ˗

➳　【 D a r t h　V a d e r　ｘ　Ｒｅａｄｅｒ 】

❧ Warnings: 𝟏𝟖+, 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐰, 𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐛 / 𝐠𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜, 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐥

[ 2.3𝐤 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 ]

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: i get it we all love ani but regrettably my ass fell for the bald evil chicken nugget instead. people dont write for DV enough sooo here i am <3 though he doesnt take off the mask sos pretend its anakin if u like. please note this is half written to force myself through writers block so this isnt the quality i usually write but its gotta do it

𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 ♡

“This– This is highly unprecedented, Lord Vader.”

Your voice pushed itself out of your lungs in quivers and breaths, unable to stabilize itself against your pulsating nerves. If you’d had half a mind to speak from a place of rationality, you would have known that the inkling of a suggestion you were speaking against the Sith Lord provided enough reason for him to squeeze every ounce of life out of your limp body and toss it to the ground. 

Lucky for you, he had different plans for your body. 

Though the dark opaque lenses obscured his eyes from your view, you could practically feel his golden gaze pierce through your body. The burning sensation stirred and prodded at your core. He already had you in his stern grasp, and he hadn’t even started yet. 

“Your protests are merely performative. You have done nothing but bring this situation onto yourself.” Although the robotic vocoder neutralized his tone, the sneering intent of the comment was not lost on you. 

And he was right. 

Here you were, sitting sprawled out in his lap, your legs loosely wrapping themselves around his hips as you straddled the taller man’s lap. Your hands clutched onto the coarse fabric covering his robotic upper arms, as if you might topple over if you didn’t stabilize yourself against him. You hardly had any status to speak of, your role within the hive of the Empire negligible when compared to the Lord you were pressed up against. And yet, when being seated in this position, looking up at him like you were a pet, it felt like whatever dignity you had left was crumbling right before your eyes. 

This was bound to happen. Probably, at least. Hums and whispers drifted around the corridors of the ship about the extent of Vader’s capabilities. Everyone knew of his unorthodox method of execution, although the less physical nature of his power was shrouded in rumor.

In your own defense, even if you had believed the word that he could hear thoughts as if they were spoken, you’re not sure if you could have controlled your train of thought around him regardless. Your attraction to the Sith Lord was loud and bold, overtaking the clarity of your mind whenever you found yourself around him. The only feeling that rivaled your lust was your shame. It ensured you kept your mouth shut and your attraction under lock and key. You knew damn well that any kind of disrespect could get you killed, letalone this.

Unlucky for you, secrets were hard to keep from Lord Vader. On top of that, your thoughts just happened to be damn loud. Whenever Darth Vader found himself near you, his own mind flooded with your filthy imaginations effortlessly. At first it wasn’t something he acted upon. Mainly because he wasn’t entirely sure what he would do about it. To respond to these matters meant acknowledging them, and Vader found himself unsure of whether or not he wanted to do so. 

But the more Vader was exposed to those indecent thoughts, of how you yearned for his fingers to slip between your folds, for his gloved fingers to drag in and out of your soaked cunt deliciously, the more he found those thoughts becoming his own. The more powerful the urge to take in the view of your meek body beneath his own, and the more he was overtaken by the need to mold your body to his touch like clay. 

And the more you exposed him to your mind with your mere proximity, the more he’d started to consider indulging in your mutual fantasies. You’d grown somewhat careless, deeming the rumors to be just that, your curiosity drawing you closer to him when it was just the two of you. Before you’d realized, you were pulled into his grasp. 

You swallowed thickly, shame and sheer embarrassment forming a lump in your throat. Was this punishment? No, it couldn’t be. Lord Vader’s methods of punishment were much more cruel, more direct. And although your mind struggled to accept it, it left you with little guesses as to what his intentions could be. Still, even when his fingers were tracing your ribs up and down as if he were counting them, your mind desperately sought for the verbal confirmation.

“But- why?” 

Your words vented out between your lips in hot puffy breaths as Vader’s fingers ghosted over your clothed chest. His touches lacked experience, but were laced with intent under his watchful gaze.

“You are feigning ignorance.” he scoffed, his hands firmly settling onto your waist. He’d made it clear he wasn’t going to tell you what you already knew. All you could do was whimper quietly as his hands dipped down, wasting no more time as his fingers hooked around the waistband of your pants and started tugging the fabric down.

You lifted your hips obediently, allowing him to proceed. Vader wasted no time with discarding the dark piece of clothing before firmly yanking you back against his own body. You couldn’t hold down a yelp as your skin met the cold, hard material of his armor. The dark mask tilted to the side, and for a moment you could swear he was amused by how easily you folded under his touch. 

In this position, pressed up against him so closely, you swore you could feel everything. The sound of your own blood rushing in your ears was only overpowered by the artificial noises of his suit steadily compressing and decompressing, the hot air venting against your bare skin. You could feel the biological remnant of his upper leg flex against your clit, causing you to freeze up slightly with a soft whimper. 

But most of all, though the sight was obscured from you by those red-tinted lenses, you felt that golden stare piercing through you. Was he enjoying this? Was any of this genuine? Or was this just a cruel game of subordination? “You concern yourself with the specifics of the situation too much. This is what you wanted, no?”

It was like each of his words filled and pulled at the crevices of your mind. You’d heard of the Sith’s methods in altering people’s thoughts and ideas, but despite your lack of sensitivity to the Force, it did not feel like that’s what he was doing. No, Vader was simply exploring. Using what he found to guide you in the directions he wanted you to go. And, to be frank, you were more than eager to follow. 

Your tongue stuck to your palate dryly as you opened your mouth slightly, soft yet nervous breaths fogging up his dark armor, and Vader took your silence as an invitation to continue. Even if you did have any genuine complaints, he surely would have been aware of them by now. 

The fabric of his gloved hand dragged coolly against your skin, having found its way beneath your uniform and simply discovering the dips and shapes of your body. With every touch, your nerves seemed to crackle. You cursed yourself for being so sensitive, so nerve-wrecked.

His thumb presses down on the small gap between two of your ribs, tracing its way down before stopping at your thigh. Despite his movements lowering towards your aching center of arousal, his helmet never seemed to dip down. His line of sight remained transfixed on you, your expressions, your feeble attempts to keep your feelings under control. 

A thick silence where nothing happened had suddenly overtaken the situation. Where everything had previously been so overwhelming from the Sith Lord’s probing and prying at your mind and body, suddenly the stagnant mechanical breathing was all you could hear. 

As you would soon learn, this silence was just the calm before the storm. 

The blood flow ringing in your ears seemed to grow a little louder. External hums and buzzes weighed down on you, as if the air permeating through the room had grown thicker. 

Vader’s hands still hadn’t moved. His hand remained right where it was, the leathery texture of his glove just barely grazing your bare skin. And yet you could feel him. Further down. Touching you.

Your mouth fell open in a soundless gasp as an electric, buzzing pressure built itself up against your clit. You could feel the pressure dip between your folds, teasingly circling around the area you wanted to feel it in most, before dragging its way back up.

Whining softly, you let your head drop down until your forehead rested on the Sith’s shoulder, sucking in a few uncertain, shaky breaths. The pressure was firm, overwhelmingly so, but not enough for it to hurt. Vader seemed to have flawless control over how he wanted to touch you. 

He finally managed to wrench a loud whine from your throat when you could feel his Force touch suddenly drag over your clit roughly. But this time, his touch did not dip back down. The pressure started to circle around the little bud, lingering in the places that would draw the loudest noises from you. 

It was an indescribable sensation. The buzzing pleasure reached deeper than your fingers, or any other man had ever accomplished, for that matter. It almost felt like the sensations were reaching down deeper inside you. Hell, for all you knew, they were. The only thing you did know is that if he kept going like this, your orgasm would come crashing down within minutes. 

“Your resilience isn’t quite what you have made it out to be in your mind.”

Vader’s words snap you out of the pleasured stupor you were losing your mind to. Though his modulator would have cut out any sneering lilts to his tone of voice, the comment almost sounded like more of an observation. Your mind was likely betraying things in the moment that even he hadn’t been aware of before this point. 

Your eyes look up at him, pupils blown out and lips parted. His gaze remains fixated on you, the invisible touches never faltering in tempo or intensity. 

One of his hands was hovering above your thigh. The muscles in his fingers and the back of his palm were contracted, slightly curled, only slightly strained to keep you in his grasp. His other hand suddenly began moving up, and you soon felt the cold leather covering his fingertips brushing over your cheek. Four of his fingers rested on your cheek and jawbone, as he rested his thumb on your bottom lip. 

At this point, your consciousness had abandoned you. All your mind could think about was him, and the pleasant vibrations between your legs. Without giving it a second thought, you slid his digit between your lips. The leather left a musky taste in your mouth, but you were too fucked out to care. Vader pressed his thumb down on your tongue, leaving you sighing out of your nose contentedly. 

“Obedient little pet,” he hissed in a low tone. 

The wrist of his other arm twisted a little. Neither your mind nor your body could have ever prepared you for the sensations that invaded your senses mercilessly. 

Out of nowhere, the pressure had multiplied. Moved. Dear Maker, the feeling was deep inside of you now. Your eyes shot wide open as you almost bit down on his finger. Thankfully you had half a mind not to do so, remembering exactly whose lap you were sprawled out on. 

“Do not stop.”

His command was harsh, a threat lingering behind his voice. You whimpered, fat tears sticking to your lashes as you continued sucking on him meekly, trying to stabilize your breathing. 

The ever present tugging at your clit had been a lot to handle, having you teetering on the edge. This new sensation was on a whole new level. The vibrations deep inside you were harsh and unforgiving, brushing your cervix and leaving your pussy fluttering around the hot emptiness the Force left in its wake. 

The pressure rammed itself against your gummy walls until it curled itself against that sensitive little spot. Your body tried to lurch forward with a harsh cry, but Vader’s grip on your jaw suddenly tightened painfully. He was keeping you right where he wanted you, where he could see all of your reactions to how he was bending your body to his very will. 

You choked out a sob, overwhelmed by the pleasure, the pain, the vulnerability of it all. 

The Sith finally removed his digit from between your lips, thumb instead brushing over your cheek in an almost tender manner. The slew of soft cries and pants sounded heavenly to him. 

As the Force continued to abuse that gummy spot deep inside your cunt, you couldn’t hold on much longer. You cried out as you pressed your forehead against his shoulder, your pussy clenching down harshly around nothing as you felt the slick drip between your legs. Each aftershock had you forgettinghow to breathe, the pressure coaxing you through each pleasurable wave of your orgasm until you were lost in it. 

But as your high gradually came to an end, you realized that the movements inside you had not. Far from it. The swirling pressures had started to accelerate, moving even more roughly, bruising your insides. You found the strength to lift your head, looking at him with a questioning tearful expression. His respirator cycled a few times before you heard what you could swear was a chuckle. 

“You think this is over, little pet?” he sneered. “It is only over when I say it is.” You felt a particularly rough pressure against your G-spot, making you sob loudly in overstimulation. Vader leaned over, lifting your chin so he could observe every detail of your precious, ruined face. 

“You really shouldn’t ask for things you can’t take.”

𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ♡

@jellydodger

[kesouu]

Blue Star☆｡⁠*✯ﾟ⁠+*⁠.⁠✧

(⁠☆) Narumi Gen x Oc

(｡⁠*ﾟ⁠+ CHAPTER 2 +ﾟ⁠*｡⁠)

TW: Gore...

(⁠｡⁠•̀✧) sorry got excited HEHE (it's not as long as i'd like it to be tho) ALSO IMPORTANT!!! THIS HAPPENS LIKE 2 YEARS BEFORE THE MAIN PLOT!!!

7 years ago...

"Gen!" Hoshiko runs up to her best friend and uses his shoulders to jump up "Oi cut it out!" Narumi says stabilizing himself to not let him and the girl who was way too excited for God-knows-what so early in the morning. Hoshiko calms down and walks beside him "What's got you excited so God damn early?" The boy asks and Hoshiko's smile widens"It's almost time for us to graduate!" The girl spills "No more exams! No more waking up so early! Mom and dad have been making me decide on what to do after I grad but I'm still not sure...have you thought of anything?" She glances up at the boy "Nah, I don't really have any plans too, was planning on hanging out with you 'cause I'm going to get kicked out of the orphanage soon enough after grad since im considered an adult." Narumi explains as they finally enter school grounds, changing to their indoor shoes then finally separating to go to their respective classes.

"Bye Gen! See ya' later!" Hoshiko waves at Narumi who waits at the other end of the path that leads to the girl's house as he watches her go inside. It's become routine to Narumi, go to Hoshiko's house to walk to school together, hang out at lunch with Hoshiko, walk Hoshiko home before going home himself. He knew she could walk to and from school herself seeing how skilled she is with the staff from training in Bojutsu with Kendo as her required subject in middle school but he just wanted to make sure she was alright. He's about to enter the premises of his orphanage the sirens blare.

"A kaijuu has emerged in Chiba prefecture, in the city of Sakuragi. We advise all residents in the vicinity to seek safety immediately."

He goes into a sprint back to Hoshiko's house cursing in his head that he should have listened to his gut to hang out after school at your's. On his way he's stopped by large, grasshopper-like kaijuu. He grabs the arm of a deceased kaijuu left by the defense force and uses it as a sword to fight 'All you gotta do is damage that core thing right?' he thought slicing off the head on one of the 3 kaijuu infront of him 'Two more. Let's hurry this up."

Her knees felt weak, it felt like she couldn't breath like there was a lump in her throat that just wouldn't go down, it was as if she couldn't use her voice, was this all a bad dream? Was this really happening? "Ma?...Pa?..." Streams of tears leave Hoshiko's eyes as she stares her parents. Bodies mutilated with body parts cut from their torso's. The kaijuu notice her and start to lunge toward her as she forces herself to snap out of it and peels her eyes off her now deceased parents wiping her face then she runs up the stairs to grab her wooden bō from her room as the kaijuu follow her. She jumps out the window of her room a few cutting her arms, face and legs as she fell. She lead the kaijuu to the street 'Hopefully the defense force gets to me before I get killed.'

The first of the two kaijuu go to attack her as she dodges and hits the side of the its blade making it hit the ground beside her as the second comes to slice her as well. She jumps out of the way leaving the kaijuu to slice at the other kaijuu the mentioned screeching in pain as it's stomach area bleeds from the deep cut. "Ok, got a plan now." As she runs back between the two as both kaijuu prepare to strike at her she jumps up to the height of their necks and as they slice she uses her bō to dodge by stabbing it into the eye of the kaijuu and pulling herself up. She lands on the ground as both kaijuu slice the others heads off, she takes her bō drenched in blood from the eye of the kaijuu. Her vision turns hazy as she starts to give in to the mental stress and pass out.

"Hoshi!"

"Gen!"

The two run to catch eachother in a hug, one that Hoshiko really needed, Narumi could tell by the way she had blood that wasn't her own covering her school uniform clothes and how she looked up at him with tears lining her eyes that soon enough spilled. "Mom and dad....they.." the girl couldn't even continue as tears came flowing down her eyes endlessly choking on her sobs. "Shhh...it's alright, you still have me don't worry..." Narumi says rubbing her back "Let's get out of here, I'll bring you to the shelter. I've still got something to go back for so-" The boy is cut off when Hoshiko grabs him by the collar of his school uniform

"I watched those kaijuu mutilate my parents in my damn living room, I'll be damned if you get that same fate without me getting to do anything about it."

She was frustrated, frustrated at how helpless she felt when she could only stare at her parents as it happeneds frustrated that she could have done something, frustrated that it wouldn't have become this if she could have just moved but now she will, she'll pull herself together to protect the only thing she had left "Alright then..." Narumi walks toward the carcass of one of the dceceased kaijuu then breaks off one of its legs "We'll stick this onto your bō so you can actually kill these things"

The two got seperated in a fight with multiple grasshopper kaijuu after the last one remaining had run off with Narumi running after it. Hoshiko was feeling weaker and weaker after the mental and physical stress today had on her it definitely didn't help her when it started raining sending chills throughout her body. She was about to pass out until she heard Narumi's yelling and saw a group of defense officers 'He's okay!' but the closer she got the darker her vision became until it all faded to black with a faint shout of her name from a familiar voice and loud crashing occuring.

A gasp is the first sound that escapes Hoshiko as sat up in her hospital bed startlig the boy who was laying his head on her thigh as he slept sitting in a chair. "What the hell?!" Narumi yells out due to the sudden movement from the formerly limp body only to see the girl's harsh breathing as she frantically looked around when he raises his head to which he moves to rub her back and bring her in for a hug "Hey it's okay, it's over now don't worry about it..." Narumi grabs Hoshiko's face by the cheeks and makes her look up at him as his other hand held on of her own to his chest to feel his beating heart "...I'm okay see? You're okay too, take deep breaths alright? calm down for me." he says comfortingly as he brings her in for another hug feeling her breathing steady.

The steady breathing unfortunately doesn't last as quiet sobs and tears start to come out of her. "Ma and pa are gone..." Hoshiko sobs as she clutches onto Narumi's jacket as if he were going to leave like that if she let up for even just a second, in return Narumi holds her just a little bit tighter.

"...don't leave me too, 'kay?"

"I promise."

-☆☆

[freeonlineworkouts]

Kettlebell workouts

The Ultimate Guide to Kettlebell Workouts: Build Strength, Burn Fat, and Boost Fitness

Kettlebells are one of the most versatile pieces of fitness equipment, offering a unique combination of strength training, cardio, and flexibility in one dynamic tool. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned athlete, kettlebell workouts can help you build muscle, burn fat, and improve overall fitness. In this article, we’ll explore the best kettlebell exercises, workout routines, and tips to maximize your results.

Why Kettlebell Workouts Are Effective

Kettlebells are more than just weights—they’re a full-body training tool. Here’s why they’re so effective:

Functional Strength: Kettlebell exercises mimic real-life movements, improving strength and mobility.

Cardio and Strength Combined: Many kettlebell exercises elevate your heart rate while building muscle.

Core Engagement: The unstable nature of kettlebells forces your core to work harder.

Versatility: You can use kettlebells for strength training, HIIT, or mobility work.

Time-Efficient: Kettlebell workouts often deliver results in less time than traditional workouts.

Top 10 Kettlebell Exercises

1. Kettlebell Swing

How to Do It:

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding the kettlebell with both hands.

Hinge at the hips and swing the kettlebell between your legs.

Thrust your hips forward to swing the kettlebell to shoulder height.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 15-20 reps.

Muscles Worked: Glutes, hamstrings, core, and shoulders.

Pro Tip: Focus on hip drive, not arm strength.

2. Goblet Squat

How to Do It:

Hold the kettlebell close to your chest with both hands.

Squat down, keeping your chest up and knees tracking over your toes.

Push through your heels to return to standing.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 10-12 reps.

Muscles Worked: Quads, glutes, and core.

Pro Tip: Keep the kettlebell close to your body for better balance.

3. Turkish Get-Up

How to Do It:

Lie on your back with the kettlebell in one hand, arm extended.

Roll onto your opposite elbow, then hand, and stand up while keeping the kettlebell overhead.

Reverse the movement to return to the starting position.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 5 reps per side.

Muscles Worked: Full body, especially shoulders, core, and hips.

Pro Tip: Move slowly and focus on stability.

4. Kettlebell Clean and Press

How to Do It:

Start with the kettlebell on the floor, hinge at the hips, and grab the handle.

Clean the kettlebell to your shoulder, then press it overhead.

Lower the kettlebell back to the floor.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 8-10 reps per side.

Muscles Worked: Shoulders, triceps, and core.

Pro Tip: Keep your wrist straight during the press.

5. Kettlebell Deadlift

How to Do It:

Stand with feet hip-width apart, kettlebell on the floor in front of you.

Hinge at the hips, grab the kettlebell, and stand up.

Lower the kettlebell back to the floor with control.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 10-12 reps.

Muscles Worked: Hamstrings, glutes, and lower back.

Pro Tip: Keep your back flat and core engaged.

6. Kettlebell Snatch

How to Do It:

Start with the kettlebell on the floor, hinge at the hips, and grab the handle.

Explosively pull the kettlebell overhead in one fluid motion.

Lower the kettlebell back to the floor.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 6-8 reps per side.

Muscles Worked: Full body, especially shoulders and hips.

Pro Tip: Practice the movement with a lighter weight first.

7. Kettlebell Lunge

How to Do It:

Hold the kettlebell at chest level.

Step forward into a lunge, lowering your back knee toward the floor.

Push through your front heel to return to standing.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 8-10 reps per leg.

Muscles Worked: Quads, glutes, and hamstrings.

Pro Tip: Keep your torso upright throughout the movement.

8. Kettlebell Row

How to Do It:

Place one hand and knee on a bench, holding the kettlebell in the other hand.

Pull the kettlebell toward your hip, squeezing your shoulder blade.

Lower the kettlebell with control.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 10-12 reps per side.

Muscles Worked: Back, biceps, and shoulders.

Pro Tip: Avoid twisting your torso during the movement.

9. Kettlebell Windmill

How to Do It:

Stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, holding the kettlebell overhead in one hand.

Hinge at the hips and lower your torso toward the opposite foot.

Return to the starting position.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 6-8 reps per side.

Muscles Worked: Core, shoulders, and hamstrings.

Pro Tip: Keep your eyes on the kettlebell throughout the movement.

10. Kettlebell Figure-8

How to Do It:

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding the kettlebell with both hands.

Pass the kettlebell in a figure-8 pattern around and between your legs.

Sets/Reps: 3 sets of 30 seconds.

Muscles Worked: Core, shoulders, and grip strength.

Pro Tip: Keep your core tight and movements controlled.

Sample Kettlebell Workout Routines

Beginner Routine

Kettlebell Swing: 3 sets of 12 reps.

Goblet Squat: 3 sets of 10 reps.

Kettlebell Row: 3 sets of 10 reps per side.

Kettlebell Deadlift: 3 sets of 12 reps.

Intermediate Routine

Kettlebell Clean and Press: 3 sets of 8 reps per side.

Kettlebell Lunge: 3 sets of 8 reps per leg.

Turkish Get-Up: 3 sets of 5 reps per side.

Kettlebell Windmill: 3 sets of 6 reps per side.

Advanced Routine

Kettlebell Snatch: 3 sets of 6 reps per side.

Kettlebell Swing: 4 sets of 20 reps.

Kettlebell Figure-8: 3 sets of 30 seconds.

Turkish Get-Up: 4 sets of 5 reps per side.

Tips for Effective Kettlebell Workouts

Start Light: Begin with a lighter weight to master the form before progressing.

Focus on Form: Proper technique prevents injuries and maximizes results.

Warm-Up: Perform dynamic stretches and light cardio before starting.

Rest and Recover: Allow 48 hours between kettlebell workouts for muscle recovery.

Mix It Up: Combine strength, cardio, and mobility exercises for a well-rounded routine.

Benefits of Kettlebell Training

Increased Strength: Builds muscle and improves functional strength.

Fat Loss: High-intensity kettlebell workouts burn calories and boost metabolism.

Improved Mobility: Enhances flexibility and range of motion.

Better Posture: Strengthens the core and back muscles.

Time Efficiency: Delivers a full-body workout in less time.

Conclusion

Kettlebell workouts are a powerful way to build strength, burn fat, and improve overall fitness. By incorporating exercises like kettlebell swings, Turkish get-ups, and cleans into your routine, you can achieve a lean, strong, and functional body. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced athlete, kettlebells offer endless possibilities for challenging and effective workouts. Grab a kettlebell and start swinging your way to better fitness today!

References

McGill, S. M., & Marshall, L. W. (2012). Kettlebell swing, snatch, and bottoms-up carry: Back and hip muscle activation, motion, and low back loads. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 26(1), 16-27.

American Council on Exercise (ACE). (2016). ACE-sponsored research: Kettlebell workouts. Retrieved from www.acefitness.org.

Tsatsouline, P. (2006). Enter the Kettlebell! Strength Secret of the Soviet Supermen. Dragon Door Publications.

By following this guide, you’ll unlock the full potential of kettlebell training and take your fitness to the next level. Happy lifting!