#Nausea or upset stomach

[anxiovita123]

Overcoming Nausea or Upset Stomach: Solutions to Restore Your Comfort with Anxiovita

Struggling with nausea or upset stomach? Learn about the causes and effective solutions, including how Anxiovita can help relieve discomfort and promote better digestion.

Experiencing Nausea or upset stomach can quickly put a damper on your day. Whether it’s a queasy feeling after a meal, digestive discomfort, or a more persistent issue, these symptoms can be disruptive and challenging to manage. Nausea or an upset stomach can be caused by various factors, from stress and anxiety to dietary habits and underlying health conditions. Fortunately, there are ways to ease discomfort and restore your balance. In this blog, we will explore the causes of nausea and upset stomachs, symptoms, and how Anxiovita can provide relief through natural solutions.

What Is Nausea or Upset Stomach?

Nausea refers to the sensation of wanting to vomit, often accompanied by a feeling of unease or discomfort in the stomach. An upset stomach, on the other hand, encompasses a variety of digestive issues, including bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, and discomfort in the stomach area. Both of these conditions can range from mild to severe and can happen sporadically or as a recurring problem. The discomfort caused by nausea or an upset stomach can affect your ability to focus, eat, or go about your usual activities.

Common Causes of Nausea or Upset Stomach

There are many potential causes of nausea or an upset stomach, some of which are more common than others. Understanding what might be behind these symptoms can help you address the issue more effectively:

Indigestion: Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, occurs when the stomach has trouble breaking down food. This can lead to bloating, discomfort, and a general upset feeling in the stomach.

Gastrointestinal Infections: Infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites can irritate the digestive system and cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and an upset stomach. Common examples include food poisoning and stomach flu.

Stress and Anxiety: Mental health plays a significant role in digestive health. Anxiety, stress, and nervousness can trigger physical symptoms like nausea and an upset stomach, leading to discomfort in the stomach area.

Acid Reflux or GERD: Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation, nausea, and discomfort in the chest and stomach. Chronic acid reflux can lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Food Sensitivities or Allergies: Certain foods can trigger an upset stomach, such as dairy, gluten, or spicy foods. If your digestive system is sensitive to specific ingredients, it can result in nausea or discomfort.

Overeating or Eating Too Quickly: Eating too much food in one sitting or consuming food too quickly can overwhelm the stomach, leading to bloating, discomfort, and nausea.

Medications: Some medications, especially those taken for pain or antibiotics, can cause gastrointestinal upset as a side effect. This can lead to nausea or an upset stomach.

Pregnancy: During pregnancy, many women experience nausea, commonly referred to as "morning sickness." This occurs due to hormonal changes that affect the digestive system.

Motion Sickness: Some people experience nausea when traveling by car, boat, or plane. This is due to a disconnect between visual input and inner ear balance.

Symptoms of Nausea or Upset Stomach

Nausea and upset stomachs can present with a variety of symptoms, which may include:

A general feeling of queasiness or unease

Bloating or discomfort in the stomach

Indigestion or heartburn

Vomiting or the sensation of wanting to vomit

Loss of appetite

A feeling of fullness even after eating small amounts

Diarrhea or constipation

How to Manage Nausea or Upset Stomach

While nausea or an upset stomach can sometimes be unavoidable, there are a number of remedies and lifestyle changes that can help ease these symptoms:

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated, especially if you’re experiencing vomiting or diarrhea. Ginger tea or peppermint tea can also help soothe nausea and digestive discomfort.

Eat Small, Frequent Meals: Instead of large meals, try eating smaller portions throughout the day to avoid overloading your digestive system. Foods like crackers, bananas, and rice can help settle the stomach.

Manage Stress: Since stress and anxiety are significant contributors to nausea and upset stomachs, consider incorporating relaxation techniques into your routine. Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can help calm the mind and ease digestive discomfort.

Avoid Trigger Foods: Identify foods that worsen your symptoms, such as spicy foods, fried foods, or dairy, and avoid them. A bland diet may be gentler on your stomach.

Seek Professional Advice: If nausea or an upset stomach is persistent or severe, consult a healthcare professional to identify any underlying conditions, such as GERD or gastrointestinal infections.

How Anxiovita Can Help

If your nausea or upset stomach is linked to stress or anxiety, Anxiovita can provide natural relief. Anxiovita is a supplement designed to help manage the symptoms of anxiety and stress, which are often the root causes of digestive discomfort. By promoting emotional balance and supporting the body’s natural responses, Anxiovita can help reduce nausea and upset stomach related to anxiety, improving your overall well-being.

The natural ingredients in Anxiovita are chosen for their calming effects, which can help ease the physical symptoms associated with stress and anxiety. Taking Anxiovita regularly can promote a sense of calm, reducing the likelihood of nausea and digestive discomfort triggered by emotional factors.

Conclusion

Nausea or an upset stomach is a common issue that can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from digestive disorders to stress and anxiety. While occasional discomfort is typically not a cause for concern, recurring symptoms can significantly affect your quality of life. By understanding the causes and exploring remedies such as staying hydrated, managing stress, and avoiding trigger foods, you can take steps to alleviate discomfort. For those whose nausea or upset stomach is linked to anxiety, Anxiovita offers a natural, effective solution to help restore balance and promote digestive health. Consider incorporating Anxiovita into your wellness routine and feel the relief of a more settled stomach and mind.

[trashcanflagic]

Seedly

I feel like Sprout is the type of guy to overwork himself trying to make sure everyone else is ok. He probably doesn’t even realize he is getting sick and then when he does realize he pushes it aside to keep helping the others. Man… I love making my faves suffer.

[blushingblurbs]

“Oh, honey, was it too rich?” she asks me, not troubling to keep her voice down. Her hands make a circular rubbing motion in front of her stomach, as if to drive her point home.

“N-no,” I belch out with a shudder. “I’m *belch* just not feeling well. But it really was delicious,” I say, fighting down another belch.

Her eyebrows narrow, noticing that I’m uncharacteristically pale. Her eyes linger on my midriff, and I’m suddenly super aware of how bloated I’ve become in the past few minutes.

I manage to swallow the last belch, putting my more pressure on my stomach. It gurgles loudly in protest.

“You don’t look good, chica,” shaking her head.

I’m blushing at this point, I know she’s right. I stand to head towards the restroom, but the motion adds to the pressure in my gut.

“Are you alright?” She’s asking again, worried - when had I placed my hand on my stomach?

I couldn’t worry about that now. I stifled another sour belch, it tastes like the homemade meal I’d just finished.

And yet not even halfway through the plate, it had felt like like it was all rushing straight through my stomach to my bowels.

My knees buckle slightly, I realize I can’t stand up straight without the belly cramps tightening. I place another hand on my stomach, how did I get so bloated?

“Honey, you’re gonna be sick?!” Her voice piercing, a tone of urgency matched only by the sensation in my stomach.

Someone thrusts a paper bag in front me. A set of hands is pushing me towards the restroom just off the staff kitchen.

The aroma of fresh, fried, and grilled food hits me worse than the first stomach cramp I’d felt earlier.

Another belch escapes my lips. Someone presses the bag to my face but I’m still being propelled forward.

Being ushered so quickly stirs something in my lower stomach. A horrid, warm, aching pressure comes over my bowels - how did that meal turn to such a bubbling mess so quickly?

I open my eyes. There’s a line of women all waiting for a bathroom stall before returning to their shift. I hear my colleague pleading, commanding them, “move, she’s sick!”

But my stomach is cramping again. I can’t wait much longer.

Compassionately, I’m allowed to somehow skip the line, my hands now clutching my belly so tightly that I barely manage to slam the stall door shut.

I tear my uniform skirt and underwear down, cursing the button and zipper and latch. I’m hardly seated on the warm plastic seat before my bowels begin to spill into the bowl.

Ppphhhbbbtttt. Ppphhht. The sound echoes throughout the crowded restroom. Through the large cracks in the stall door, I see concerned and disgusted and sympathetic faces.

Another awful wave of diarrhea hits. I bend over, victim of the belly cramps, causing me to accidentally decorate the underside of the toilet rim and seat.

“Blushing blurbs, are you alright?” My colleagues voice rings through the air.

I bury my face in my hands, feeling a wave of nausea starting to creep up.

I belch again, hot, thick air from deep in my stomach. The movement upsets something in my bowels, and I lose it from my rear again, now aware of how awful it all smells.

“Oh, blushingblurbs, it’s okay. You’re gonna be okay,” she tries to reassure me through the stall.

But I can hear the muttering and comments outside. Everyone’s heard the explosive diarrhea, and it’s triggered something in everyone.

I a few deep breaths, feeling my insides gurgle with each one. The third sends more of that liquified meal rushing out and the reality that I’m sick with diarrhea and upset tummy for 12 other women to hear and smell sets in like the norovirus on a cruise.

My stomach hurts.

[feelingpoorly]

Ok so I can’t take credit for this one because my minx of an SO randomly dropped this on me and left me all flustered but:

Caretaker realising their partner isn’t feeling well when they kiss them and taste Pepto…

[queasybellyprincess00]

absolute hedonism

Dozens of cupcakes around you, the wrappers of more discarded all around. . The couch is protected, and you are stuffed beyond comprehension. Every other cupcake you swallow a few mouthfuls of of sick lazily pour down your chins pooling on either side of your body.

Still I encourage you more, rubbing your belly as you let out a constant stream of burps and gags. At any time I cloud apply the most delicate pressure and set you off, covering you in dozens of cupcakes worth of sick. But for now, I rub your belly loving the absolute gluttony of it all. Feeling the sickness in every gasp, the angry gurgles beneath my hands.

at any moment nausea could take over. But that’s part of the thrill.

[vvvoxal]

8 for vox?

she's gonna do it even if he says no

[vicsbasement]

Is the scene in the new snippet taken from the Maria/grief fic? :P

You absolutely caught me. It is! I don't know, there's something about that moment in time for me that compels me to write it over and over again. I keep going back to it because I remember that first time we saw the picture of Charles and Carlos driving out of Maranello and to see Charles there-- they already knew, you know? And they couldn't say because there wasn't anything official. But there's this whole headcanon in my head that Charles didn't, couldn't, let Carlos go through this alone because the announcement wasn't supposed to come this early, right. So when Carlos called he picked up. When Carlos needed him, he went. I don't know. Anyway! I did say you'd win another snippet so this is another one for clingy!charles. Enjoy! Carlos was sure that nothing was amiss. He was sure that Roberto just got in his head, but—as he stumbled out of his car in FP2, Charles was the one to grab his arm to stop him from falling. Why was Charles there?

“Hello, mate!” Charles says; a light tone to his voice, cheerful and sweet. Almost too light, like it was forced gentleness. Carlos would be suspicious if he didn’t feel like he was about to hurl.

“Care to hand me over to Gigi? I’m not feeling too well.” Carlos declares, a bit of his polite front waning when another roll of nausea hits him as Charles removes his hands from his back. Carlos starts to take off his helmet and balaclava, hating the sensation of the fabric dragging against his sensitive skin.

“Fred told me this.” Charles sounded… admonishing, like he wanted to make Carlos feel bad for not telling him he’d been having a hard time keeping his food down since yesterday. “You guys heard him, where’s Gigi?” Charles gets something in his eyes when he turns serious. Carlos has seen it a couple of times before, even directed at himself, but his garage—well. It’d come alive with his instructions, with Charles’ tone.

Two mechanics scrambled out of his seat to look for Pierluigi as Charles grabbed Carlos’ arm again and made him sit in a corner. When Carlos felt he wasn’t about to keel over, he let his body fold into himself and his back curved. Carlos just wanted to sleep. The pounding in his head was worsening, the nausea came back with a vengeance, and Charles was looking for—his isotonic drink, of course. That would help a little with the nausea.

“It’s behind you.” Carlos said, and Charles turns sharply and grabs the drink, offering him the straw between pinched-tight fingers. Carlos doesn’t hesitate, but Charles seems to notice the gesture—his fingers a little too close to Carlos’ lips and mouth, so he recoils, albeit gently.

“Thanks.” Carlos murmurs, and Charles nods. He looks fidgety, like he wants to help more but he doesn’t know how. Pierluigi must be looking for medicine to stop the nausea, that’s probably why he wasn’t close, maybe he went to the Ferrari hospitality for his medikit. Charles seems to get an idea and looks for a wet towel, and hands it to Carlos. The heat is stifling and it’s making everything worse, his mouth fills with liquid and Carlos feels like he’s about to throw up in front of the whole garage, when he feels Charles’ gentle hands press the ice-cold towel to his forehead.

“They told me you had a fever?” Charles asks, sheepish. He removes the towel for a second and replaces it with his hand, looking for the pulse point right behind his eyebrows and using his wrists to gauge the temperature. “I shouldn’t have put the towel before, I don’t know if you’re still—”

“I think I am, yeah.” Carlos says. Charles is using both his wrists to gauge his temperature, now, he’s basically cradling Carlos’ head between them. And Carlos gets a good look at Charles; the frown, the pursed lips, the demeanor, and Teto’s voice echoes through his head.

“He’s clingy.” He remembers. But this is not clingy, this is just worried. Right? Just worried.

Pierluigi arrives at that moment and sees Charles cradling Carlos’ head. He raises an eyebrow, a silent question, and Carlos just shrugs as Charles makes space for Pierluigi to lean down and ask him about his symptoms.

As Carlos is trying to recall what’s causing him discomfort he feels how his mouth fills with liquid again, he starts slurring his words, the world turns on its axis and he feels as he’s fading slowly away, the last thing in his vision Charles’ expression of  utter worry.

[anon383837383]

Stomach Flu Misery

Two weeks ago the stomach flu ran through this house. My wife Amy, my oldest son Drew, and my youngest best son Chris all got the bug and were sick for days. I remember the gurgling, the churning, and nausea and the god awful puking and diarrhea (sometimes at the same time). I somehow managed to miss out on it, or at least I thought so. Each of them were sick for days with no breaks - just constant sickness. Amy and the kids were away this weekend for a soccer tournament and I had the house to myself. 

My day started out good! I woke up, got some stuff done around the house, ate some breakfast, things were fine. I started to get some gurgling in my belly but I thought it was nothing. By lunch time, my stomach was like a boiling pot and I knew exactly what was happening. “Fuck, no not now!” I said as I looked at my bloated stomach.  “No come on I thought I was in the clear!” My stomach boiled and bubbled and the nausea was at full force. I sat down and turned on the TV hoping a distraction might help calm me down. About 2 minutes into the show I had a hand over my mouth and a hand on my stomach. “Oh Crap I’m gonna throw-“ I couldn’t finish the sentence. I ran to the toilet and gripped onto it and a waterfall of vomit cascaded out of my mouth and nose. I struggled to catch my breath in between rounds. Sick just poured out of me again and again. I held onto that toilet until I was white knuckled. When I was done (or at least thought I was done) I sat back and looked at my stomach.  I sent so much stuff out of my stomach and it only gurgled and churned more. “Great, so much for a relaxing weekend” I said to my aching gut. 

I finally managed to get up and out of the bathroom, though it was only a matter of time before I was back in there. I remember when Chris had it, he was so sick he was having massive amounts of diarrhea while projectile vomiting into a bucket. It was bad. I really hope I didn’t get to that level. I sat back down on the couch where my stomach churned and gurgled. About an hour later I felt the diarrhea coming. Once again I rushed to the toilet where I unleashed holy hell onto it. In the middle of my stream I felt really nauseous but I managed to hold it all down. This is gonna be a really long weekend. 

A few hours passed and things were heading south…or out, you know what I mean! I felt beyond sick. My stomach looked like I was 47 months pregnant and it felt like I had a bag of snakes in there. I held it and tried to soothe it but it was no use. I had a bucket close to the couch and thank god I did because I woke up from a nap and immediately projectile vomited into it, nearly filling it up. My stomach kept churning so I went to the bathroom where it finally happened. 

The first wave of diarrhea hit me and came flying out like lava. In the middle of it, the nausea came back with a vengeance! My bucket was still by the couch and it was full from the last round. I tried. I tried so hard to hold it back but I just couldn’t do it. The bathroom trashcan was full and I couldn’t reach it. I had no choice but to lean over and violently vomit onto the floor. “Nnnngghhhh BLARGAHHAFRGHH” the god awful sound came out of me and all over the floor. My mouth and nose burned as it flew out. The diarrhea just kept coming and so did the vomit. I stopped vomiting for a second and that’s when I surveyed the damage. If I could throw the whole bathroom away I would. Now, as sick as I am, I have to clean up this mess. I mustered up the last bit of strength inside of me and cleaned this room. I also made sure I had plenty of buckets around so this wouldn’t happen again. I crawled my ass back into bed and plopped right down. I fell asleep for hours in that bed. I thought that last round was, well, the last round! 

It’s 3am and I wake up with the loudest gurgling I’ve ever heard. “Oh God not again” I think to myself. No, no, no this can’t be happening! I wish there was a word for what I felt because nauseous just didn’t sum it up. I tried to make it to the toilet but the first vomit was right there on the bedroom floor. When I felt more coming, I ran to the bathroom but barfed in the hallway. I was determined to finish this in the bathroom so I got back up and headed to the toilet. My stomach is SCREAMING at me at this point. When I reached that toilet I wrapped one arm around it (the other was around my stomach) and I don’t even know what happened. The amount of barf that left my mouth and nose was ungodly. In the middle of this powerful, loud, messy vomiting, my ass opens up and I shit my pants and all over the floor. This goes on for like 10 minutes. When I finish I look around and I’m horrified. There’s no way this is happening. I have to clean all this up and I don’t even know if I’m done or not! 

I clean everything up, every piece of shit and vomit is picked up. It’s a brand new day and I’m stuck in this cycle of sick. At this point I don’t even know how there’s anything left to get out of me. I think I’m done, the gurgling stopped (for the most part) and I’m not horrifically nauseous anymore. I get back into bed and pray I’m done. I sleep for almost a whole day. There’s some gurgling here and there but nothing compared to what I just went through. I’ve gone almost 9 hours without opening one end or the other, I think I’m good. 

I tried eating and drinking a little here and there and it’s stayed down for the most part. I think I’m good! 

Almost 24 hours after this whole thing started, I get another gurgle. “Oh GOD, no please - no more” I think to myself. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t possible have anything left to send up and out. I feel everything churning again and I know what’s going to happen. Sure enough, I run back to the toilet and I projectile vomit, spraying the toilet. This time is different though, I feel better after this. I think I’m finally done which is great because the whole family is coming home tonight. 

[trashcanflagic]

Concussed Shrimp

Emeto/vomit under the cut

“This is why you don’t head bang into the machines” - Finn

Just wanted this kind of art to exist so I made it myself.

[queasybellyprincess00]

dream date

We drive around the city, going to every drive through in a 2 mile radius. You have to order a large combo from every restaurant and we can’t leave the parking lot until you’ve finished the entire thing, including the drink. If that means you have to puke in the parking lot of the restaurant halfway through your meal and keep eating so be it. And since you’re driving, you have to order the meals. I want you stuffed with four full take out meals, in the drive thru ordering more, the smell of the grease and knowledge everything you’re ordering is going into your already engorged stomach making you even more sick. Ideally you puke at least three times during our trip, with maybe a big soda bloat at the end to help everything up.

speaking of soda, how’s that bladder feeling after three large pops? Four? Bet you’re starting to get tight down there. Hold it. Let your aching bladder distract you from your nauseous stomach and vice versa.

[vvvoxal]

Vox nauseous and sickly

[mainepdf]

chat i have a theory that i inherited my dad’s coeliac disease 😭😭

[vintagepromotions]

'Take Hospital Tested Pepto-Bismol ... and feel good again!'

Advertisement for Pepto-Bismol (c. 1950).

[secretobsessionstuff]

Idk if ur taking asks rn, but in the fic you posted yesterday with Jory, you mentioned that he tattooed a girl’s neck one time and he couldn’t get his stomach to settle down. maybe you could turn that into a fic 😏

Haha I totally planted that in the hopes that someone would ask about it! Anyway, a year later here's the fic.

There's kinda a surprise at the end of this, and it's not heavy on emeto, but still fun to write! Glad my brain cooperated enough.

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

The first time Jory got a red tattoo, he decided—like a reckless buffoon—to get his entire back done up with inky black tendrils surrounding red eyeballs. It was from his favourite anime, depicting a character ironically called Pride. Like a prideful son of a bitch, he convinced himself that he was immune to the common side-effects of red ink. 

Well, it turns out he wasn’t. Only the red parts of the tattoo remained inflamed and itchy as hell for months. The red eyeballs swelled beneath his skin, creating a monstruous image that he did not ask for, at least until the reaction calmed down. Luckily for Jory, his body adapted to the colour and eventually everything settled properly. It wasn’t so much an allergy to the red, but a temporary reaction. But those six months were hell: an apt punishment for the deadly sin. 

Now, whenever he tattooed another person with red ink, he made sure that the first attempt was small. On most occasions it didn’t matter because clients came in with perfectly healed red ink from years ago. This was the case with the girl at his next session. 

“You’re hundo percent sure you had no issues with red before?” he asked the girl during the consult. She wanted cherry blossoms down her neck which required all the reds, pinks, whites, and browns. He was excited about the design.

“Yes, dude, I promise. It healed perfectly,” she assured him. “I’d show you, but I’d have to take off my jeans and I—”

“I believe you,” Jory cut in. “I have an opening in two weeks.” 

Two weeks later, Kaida was sat in his chair, ready to get her neck pricked by a cherry blossom. At least it wasn’t roses. 

“Kaida’s a sick name. How’d you get it?” Jory asked at the beginning of the four-hour session. He was happy to have eaten a big meal before starting this. He certainly wasn’t hungry, not with food grumbling in his belly. 

“It’s Japanese for ‘little dragon’. My parents wanted something different.” She had no issues talking in the beginning because the tattoo started behind her ear. The vibrations rattled her head, but it was less painful than some of her other ones. 

“Love that! I’ll tattoo a little dragon for you anytime.” Jory swallowed his excitement and a hint of acid reflux. “Were you born in Japan?” 

“No, but my parents were.” Kaida went on to explain her family life. 

This was Jory’s favourite part about being an artist: forcing people to share their life stories while trapped in a chair and suffering mild pain. Just kidding, but he liked getting to know people. Kaida had a cool sort of confidence and chill demeanour. She reminded him of Dev, in the way she carried herself, knowing her worth. 

That afternoon, it was hard to focus on his client’s chit chat because his stomach was vocal enough for the both of them. He wondered if Kaida could hear the wet sounds of digestion coming from his belly. 

On top of the increasing stomach-ache, the neck was a shit place to tattoo. It looked freakin sick, but the angle was killer. Jory couldn’t find a comfortable position. The angle was wonky and made for poor lighting. He didn’t know where exactly to put his hands and he kept worrying that he was going to crush her windpipe. Dev kept a close eye on him during this session for all these reasons.

Jory’s watchful mentor was never far. Dev talked to customers as people came into the shop, but mostly they hovered around him and Kaida. They helped out by replenishing paper towel and picking up inky ones from the floor. 

It didn’t take long for Dev to notice Jory’s unease. There was tension in his jaw that wasn’t normally there. His Adam’s apple bobbed excessively every few minutes. The poor guy looked pale and sweaty. They knew he wasn’t feeling the best when he started suppressing burps. 

Root beer had been a bad idea before a session. The carbonation turned Jory’s stomach into a sudsy bath of sugar and grease. He felt pressure build up in his throat but didn’t want to let it out while being so close to Kaida’s face. 

Whenever he reached back to fill the machine with more ink, he took longer than necessary to let out the sour belches that bubbled in his stomach. He exhaled, trying to blow the smell of his chicken sandwich away from Kaida. 

With the linework done, Jory went back to behind her ear to do the shading, giving Kaida a chance to talk more freely. “What do you do for fun?” he asked her, hoping she could fill the silence and mask the sound of his nauseous tummy. Her long black hair was done up in a tight bun to keep it out of the way, but he could still smell coconut shampoo. It was only slightly assaulting to his senses. 

Kaida cracked a big smile. “My girlfriend and I are learning to crochet together. I suck at it, but she’s good. I tried to make a cat and now the beast haunts her boss’s office at work.” 

Jory laughed, the movement jostling his sick tummy. A burp filled his cheeks, but he swallowed it. “Hopefully she’s a vet or something and they can fix the unholy cat?” 

“No!” Kaida chuckled, trying to keep still. “She works at a dietician’s office. I should have crocheted a fucking carrot instead.” 

Jory had to laugh, but this time he couldn’t keep the belch from coming up. It interrupted his laugh with a wet sound that gurgled in his throat. He quickly pulled back from her face. “Jeez. Sorry, babes.” 

“You good, dude?” 

“Probably…” He covered his mouth with his wrist to burp again. “Frick, my stomach feels like a bubble bath.” Jory felt the blood drain from his face, his skin going grey like a colourless tattoo. 

Kaida didn’t know how to act. “What does that mean?” 

Dev came around the corner then. “It means he’s tapping out.” They grabbed Jory’s shoulder and told him to stand. “Come on, take off your gloves and get some air.” 

“I’ll be back in a jiffy, Kaida,” Jory said, stumbling away.

Dev scoffed. “It’ll be longer than a fucking jiffy, girl. You can stand up and take a break. You sat really well by the way. Jory just doesn’t know when to stop.” 

Dev led Jory outside where the brisk air brought some colour back to his features. Sadly, it didn’t fix the issue. They watched him lean over and burp up a small wave of sick onto the pavement. 

The belches kept coming, forcing up pathetic amounts of frothy saliva and bile. Jory closed his eyes, not wanting to see the disappointment on Dev’s face or the chewed-up pieces of chicken on the ground. He wished Dev would go back inside, but apparently, they wanted to soak up his misery for a while longer.

When Jory’s stomach finally settled, he looked back to see Dev leaning against the wall with their arms crossed over their chest. “You better not pull this shit again, Jory. If you feel sick, you stop.” 

“I’m sorry—”

“Don’t. I just need you to understand that this girl’s neck is literally on the line. Let’s ignore the fact that you could make a mistake on a very visible part of her body, but not only that—in there needs to be a perfectly clean environment.” 

Dev sighed when they saw the look on Jory’s face. He got the message loud and clear. He was a dog with his tail between his legs. And he still looked fucking beat. “How are you feeling?” 

Jory kept his gaze away from them. “Better.”  

“Were you too embarrassed to say anything? I could have helped.” 

“It just happened so fast. I thought I was fine.” 

Dev pushed off against the wall and came to lay a hand on Jory’s arm. “Me and the other artists are here to help. You don’t need to convince yourself you’re fine if you’re not. I’ll finish up with Kaida.” 

“What about Kaida?” Just then a shorter woman with bouncy brown hair walked up to the shop. “That’s my girlfriend. I’m here to pick her up.” This girl was all smiles and curls.” 

Jory cocked his head to the side. “We need more time for Kaida’s sess.” He only hoped she wouldn’t see the puddle of sick on the floor. “Do I know you? You look mad familiar.” 

“Um, I don’t know.” She gave Jory an awkward smirk. “My name is Piper. I’m an Aries.” 

Dev chuckled. “Oh right, Piper the Aries. Remember, Jory?” The sarcasm might have escaped Piper, but not Jory. 

He shook his head. “I guess it’s a mystery. Come on in. I’m Jory.” 

“His zodiac is Idiot,” Dev chimed in.”