#Red Roman Salvia

[teeheemarie]

🌶️ Lets Make A Movie 🎥

Ghost x Female Reader (Kitten/aka you)

NSFW, +18, BJ, Rough, Hot,

1.6K Words

Ghost will be leaving in 24 hours for another mission with Task Force 141. After two years of you and him dating, you were getting pretty used to him leaving for a mission and coming back.

So to prepare for him leaving you already took naughty polaroids of yourself, which are his favorite to look at when he is away. Some polaroids were of you in a sexy red lingerie set, others in a black leather babydoll set and a few naked ones. Anything that showed your curves on display was Ghost’s favorite and the thought of him using your polaroids to get off, excited and flustered you.

Ghost comes into the bedroom and sees you laying on the bed naked with the polaroid pictures on the nightstand, newly printed and ready to be snuck into his bag.

“Well, well, what do we have here kitten?” he asked while smirking and raising an eyebrow. You blushed; you loved the way his eyes scan your body in such a predatory way. Like he could draw every inch, every detail, of your body blindfolded and not miss a single thing.

“I took some of those pictures you like so much for you,” you tell him shyly. Normally you are more confident but being “caught” in the aftermath of taking those pictures is new.

“MMMM, you know I love those photos so much, kitten” he spoke in a soft tone as he walked towards the bed. He was wearing a tight black shirt and jeans. His typical mask was off and his beautiful face with a scar was shown. He smelled of slight cologne, musk, and soap.

Ghost lifts your chin, “Seeing you naked right now, makes me want more than just pictures, kitten,” he leaned in and kissed your lips softly before pulling away.

“I was thinking of something more than just pictures this time..” he looked down at you. His thumb rubbing your bottom lip while he bites his own lip.

“Kitten...let’s make a movie this time. One I can watch when I’m lonely, thinking about you and horny,” he said in a husky tone that sent chills down your spine. His hand gripped your chin pulling in as his lips met yours. The kiss was long, passionate and warm. His tongue danced with yours and his hand rubbed your chin gently. Both of your hot salvias exchanged in each other’s mouth and your hands went to the hem of his tight, black shirt. You wanted more. He wanted more.

The feeling of heat and passion was mutual. No words were needed.

Ghost pulls away from the hot kiss and smirks at you, “I’ll take your eagerness as a yes”, he spoke while removing your hands from his shirt.

He moved to the foot of the bed where one of the dressers were and set his phone up on record. You watched his movements like a hawk.

He gazed at you while he took off his tight black shirt, revealing his ripped muscular body and scars and he undid his pants, but just enough to where he could remove his cock.

“Kitten. I want you to blow me. Sloppy and hard,” his tone was demanding but filled with lust. You quickly nodded and crawled to the side of the bed where he was standing. His phone he had placed on the dresser was within perfect line of you and his cock.

You touched his cock. His cock was semi hard but you knew the moment you started blowing him it would erect fully. His cock is 9.5 inches long, thick to where you need two hands to wrap around it, the tip was shaped like the perfect roman helmet. His cock always stretched you out when you two fucked.

Ghost stared down at you, “Come on kitten, i only have 24 hours left to spend with you” his tone was a little less demanding but still had that roughness that you loved.

You nodded, wrapped both hands around his cock and slid your mouth down his shaft. Your hands gently twisting while your tongue teased the tip of his cock and licked all the way down and back up the shaft. Your mouth wrapped perfectly around, with saliva dripping slightly out the corners of your lips.

“MM, just like that kitten. Just like that,” he moaned while his hands gripped the back of your head. He pulled on your hair slightly as he watched your mouth go up and down his shaft.

His cock now completely hard in your mouth causing you to gag a little each time you go down his shaft. Ghost moaned out and the grip on your head became more firm.

“Your mouth feels so good, Kitten. Hmmmm, I need more…” he groaned out. His hands now forcing your head down his shaft. As he forced your head down his shaft, you felt the tip of cock hit your uvula causing you to gag and drool out the sides of your mouth.

“MMMMMM yes. I love to see you struggle,” he groaned louder. His hands forcing you down his cock faster. Your hands tried to keep up with the way he was pushing your head down his cock. He noticed this and grabbed your hands hard.

“Just let me fuck your face, Kitten. It will be easier,” he strained out. His hands now grasping yours firmly making it hard to move. He started moving his hips back and forth fast, his cock entering and leaving your mouth hard and forcefully.

Drool and saliva gushing out everywhere, your eyes watering, “AAA!! AAA!!”. You could barely make out moans with how fast he was stuffing your mouth with his big cock. He tightened his grip more on your hands and titled his head back.

“FUCK, your mouth is so fucking warm” he rammed his cock hard into your mouth, causing you to choke slightly.

He grunted loudly, “MMMM FUCKKK!!!” he pulled completely out of your mouth, pushed you down to the bed, lifted your legs up to his level and drove into your pussy hard with his cock.

“GHOST!” you cried out as his cock entered your tight pussy hard. Your body arched and your eyes teared up slightly. His size often did that to you.

“Kitten,” was all he moaned out while his hips kept driving into your pussy. His cock hit your g spot each time. His hands gripped your thighs hard, leaving slight markings.

You bit your lip and your hands went to your nipples. Your nipples feel sensitive and hard, you flicked your nipples. You moaned, and your pussy was getting wetter and wetter.

“Thats a good Kitten. Tease yourself more,” he said biting his lip as his cock thrusted in and out of you. Your pussy was getting wetter and wetter. You could feel yourself wanting to cum. The desire was there. You flicked your nipples hard, “mmm right there” you said in a soft moan but loud enough for Ghost to hear.

He nodded and pulled you completely down his shaft. The tip of his cock right at your g spot. You felt his cock throb against your g spot, you flicked your nipples harder and faster.

“MMMM you’re close Kitten, I can feel your wet pussy pulsing against my cock,” he moaned in an eager tone.

“I want to cum for you” you moaned out; your nipples now harder and too sensitive to touch anymore.

He smiled, and started thrusting in and out of your wet pussy harder.

“Let's cum together, Kitten,” he said and his tempo picked up pace. His hips smacked against you hard. His cock pulsed inside you as he kept ramming in and out of your pussy. Your pussy wall completely stretched out. Wetness dripped each time he pulled out.

His speed picked up. Faster and faster. Driving in and out of you.

“AAA!! AAAA!! GHOST!! YESSS!! AAAAAA!” you continued to moan. You both were driving each other insane.

“FUCK SAKE KITTEN!!” he drove his cock harder and harder, beating into you like a drum. He was going mad with your moaning, and screaming his name.

“AAAAA!!!”, your back arched, “FUCKKKKKIN HELLLLLLLLLLL!!” he moaned over your scream.

He pulled out quickly, his and your cream flowing out of your pussy. He raised your hips even higher to where only your upper back, shoulders and head were on the bed. He brought your thighs to his mouth. He liked one thigh that had both your guys’ cum dripping down. He licked all of it from the thigh all the way to the entry of your pussy.

His tongue lapping at the mixture of his and your cum in your pussy. You could hear him slurping it all in. Tasting every single drop. Knowing that it would be a long time before he could taste this again.

After a few minutes of him licking your pussy clean he set you down on the bed, your legs hanging off slightly. He went to the camera and turned off the video.

“Now Kitten. Not only will I have sexy pictures but also your amazing moans, face expressions and the sight of your pussy dripping to fuck myself too,” he said in a husky, yet excited tone.

You blushed. The idea of him jerking off to your guys sex tape would be enough to get yourself off.

He went over to the bed, lifted you up and kissed your forehead. “Kitten, let's shower.”

Small timeskip:

The next 24 hours were filled with love making (several rounds and several showers), cuddling, watching movies, eating food and more cuddling.

He left early in the morning, kissing you on the forehead. You woke up to a letter on your nightstand. You opened it. A few photos came sliding out.

Ghost not only left you a beautiful letter, but two ring picture options and 5 polaroids of himself.

You were not only going to be the future Mrs. Simon “Ghost” Riley but you also got your own set of photos to masturbate too.

[magicalshe]

headcanons and an explanation of drug names used on this blog.

Okay, so I want you all to know that I will be using names for real-life drugs and the names of fantasy drugs on this blog. Why? Well, it mostly has to do with Lilim. In my canon, it's hard for demons, devils, and other supernatural with 'poison immunity' or 'poison resistance' to feel the effect of human substances (both drugs and liquor). This is because they were made for humans by humans who have a significantly lower tolerance than folks like the residents of hell. So instead of having to take an obnoxious amount of human drugs to feel anything, the supernaturals have developed their own drugs over the years (many of which have fun or interesting effects).

Under the cut will be a list of drugs that Lilim is known to take, both human and not, as well as some descriptions of the fantasy ones.

regular/real drugs.

alcohol via drinking.

cocaine via snorting.

psilocybin mushrooms via oral consumption, typically straight or in tea.

salvia via smoke inhalation.

cannabis via smoke inhalation or edibles.

LSD or acid via tabs or sheets meant to be taken orally.

MDMA or ecstasy/molly via oral consumption, typically pills or tablets.

PCP or angel dust via smoke inhalation or pills.

ketamine via snorting or oral consumption of pills.

fantasy drugs.

dragon spice. It's basically a fantasy mix of cocaine and ketamine that is meant to be snorted. Because of the name, many people wrongly assume it to be made of something like dragon scales. In fact, the name is a hint at the drug's largest consumer.

heavenly lotus flowers. These are heavenly flowers that look like red and gold lotus. They are made into a tea that gives a person a relaxed and euphoric feeling. It's popular amongst the heavenly hosts and those belonging to the Upper Realms.

nepenthe. Popular amongst the Greco-Roman crowd, it is made from the resin of unique trees that only grow on Olympus or in Hades. It promotes jovialness and is most often used at celebrations. It's consumed by mixing it into a liquid (preferably wine) and drinking it.

sundrops. A sweet, amber tablet meant to be dissolved slowly on the tongue or on the side of the cheek and is made through a fae alchemy process that combines liquid sunlight and an herbal mixture unique to the Seelie court. It has heavy aphrodisiac and pain relief effects and is popularly used by the fae during courtship dances or solstice celebrations.

blackroot. A lichen that grows on large rocks in all circles of hell. When chewed on, it causes the user to have a pleasant tingling sensation on the lips, tongue, and gum. It also gives the user a sense of mental sharpness, alertness, and quicker reflexes for a few hours. Blackroot is most popular among foot soldiers and lower-ranking demons due to its cheap price.

wandercaps. A mushroom that looks like a blue inkcap mushroom popularized by the fae of the Unseelie court. It's a hallucinogenic that allows one to see onto the ethereal plane for a number of hours. It's typically washed with moon water and then eaten plain.

sharpsugar. An energy-boosting iridescent white power that can be snorted or rubbed on the gums. It was made popular by stage performers and is well-liked by the upper ranks of hell for use during long meetings or gatherings. It has a side effect of whitening teeth and is fairly expensive.

stardust. Made from dead stars, it's typically used by eldritch space horrors but has been growing in popularity recently due to a new refinement process discovered by the fae. It's basically like space LSD. It is recommended to be mixed with water and then drank.

purified stardust. A more concentrated, powerful, and safer version of stardust.

shatter. An odd emerald substance that can be smoked or consumed in a tincture. It gives a potent and pleasant high. If taken in large and consecutive doses it is possible for the individual to split into copies of their self. The effect lasts until the copies are killed or the high ends causing the copies to turn into emerald green smoke. During this time, the copies are scarily realistic to all the senses.

fever fire. Made from the ground petals of a translucent flower that only grows in the coldest parts of hell, fever fire causes the body temperature of the user to rise and enter a pleasant yet foggy state of high. It can be paired with sundrops to force creatures into an artificial heat or estrous cycle.

redthyme. An odd concoction that is used to force that user into a violent, psychotic state. It is typically drunk and is infamous for its bitter taste. Prolonged use of this drug is known to wear down one's mental state quickly.

unicorn wax. It's basically fantasy top self cannabis and is normally smoked. Unicorn wax is in fact made out of unicorns and is very expensive because of that.

[life-around-me-yura15cbx]

Salvia officinalis

Some of the best-known are sage, common sage, garden sage, golden sage, kitchen sage, true sage, culinary sage, Dalmatian sage, and broadleaf sage. Cultivated forms include purple sage and red sage.

Clade: Asterids

Order: Lamiales

Family: Lamiaceae

Genus: Salvia

Salvia officinalis was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The Romans referred to sage as the "holy herb," and employed it in their religious rituals.

Шавлі́я ліка́рська, Шалфе́й лека́рственный.

дезинфицирующим, противовоспалительным, вяжущим, кровоостанавливающим, мягчительным, мочегонным действием, уменьшают потоотделение, при воспалении дыхательных путей, при выпадении волос. Ну и курить, конечно, можно.

Backyard plants, 47/22 Northcross dr, Auckland

New Zealand

На самом деле ананасный шалфей.

Backyard plants, 47/22 Northcross dr, Auckland

[gardenmuse]

Rich, vibrant colors of fall.    Cool weather intensifiying the colors and starting the season off.   

A challenging year for sure, but, thankfully, there are silver linings now and then.

Early October  -   Catharpin, Virgini

[queen-ofnewyork]

Review of d’Alba’s Vital Spray Serum

d'Alba is a Korean brand that aims to give its customers a luxurious, sensory experience. They create products to match each season, including the “skin gourmet” line that’s inspired by dishes made with white truffles. Their Vital Spray Serum is designed to reduce redness and inflammation and it's meant to help your skin look smoother and silkier. Key ingredients include rosehip fruit oil (moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, brightening, firming, soothing, adds vitality), rose geranium flower oil (astringent, tightens, brightens, clears away dead skin cells, soothing), rose flower oil (hydrating, anti-aging, minimizes the appearance of scars), cherry flower extract (antioxidant, soothing, promotes smooth and supple skin, anti-aging, whitening), 10,000ppm of white truffle extract (rich in vitamin C, brightening, fades dark spots, nourishing, hydrating, skin repairing) and pomegranate fruit extract (antioxidant, maintains skin health, moisturizing, aids in cell regeneration, nourishing, hydrating, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory). This product retails for between $25-30 USD, you can get it here for $33 + shipping (free on Prime). If you buy it through the link above there is currently an 11% off coupon to use and you’ll receive samples and a headband for free. If you leave a review on their Amazon page you’ll receive another serum for free. 

Ingredients

Water, Isododecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Tuber Magnatum (Piedmont White Truffle) Extract (10,000ppm), Butylene Glycol, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon (Gromwell) Root Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Betaine, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Fruit Extract, Glyceryl Glucoside, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Adenosine, Saccharide Isomerate, Glycerin, Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Flower Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Eclipta Prostrata (False Daisy) Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Anhydroxylitol, Artemisia Annua (Sweet Wormwood) Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Flower Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Xylitol, Melia Azadirachta (Chinaberry) Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Hibiscus Sabdariffa (Roselle) Flower Extract, Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Camel Grass) Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Extract, Mentha Suaveolens (Apple Mint) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Glucose, Rose Flower Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Prunus Serrulata (Japanese Cherry) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Fragrance, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol

To quickly note, I received this for a small fee from 0.8 Liter for my honest review, this post is not sponsored.

This product contains 100 ml (3.38 oz) and has a light floral scent.

The spray comes in a sturdy, plastic spray bottle with a very fine mister.

The spray serum is extremely lightweight and very watery.

Once absorbed, it helps to plump and hydrate the skin.

Recommended use is immediately after cleansing your face, shake the product up and down 3-5 times to thoroughly mix the ingredients and then close your eyes. Hold the bottle 30 cm (about 12 inches) from the face and gently spray 4-5 times over the face and then gently pat skin to help absorption. After using, I really like the format of the serum, that there is mister and it feels more hygienic to me. This serum spray does have a fragrance, but it's very slight and I didn't notice any irritation from it. I noticed that it left my skin brighter and healthy. The ingredients are all very nourishing and I feel with long-term use they'll make a huge difference. The mist is very fine, I do personally prefer a much less fine mist, but it's very refreshing and great if that's your preference. This spray is also a multi-use product that can be used as a toner, serum, mist, setting spray, hair mist, and body mist. I'd recommend this to people with red and irritated skin as well as to most skin types.

What I like: the product is really lovely and it has a nice light floral scent. I enjoyed how healthy and dewy it made my skin look. It does a good job of brightening and hydrating. It's super refreshing as well and I really like the ingredients. It's great that can be used in multiple ways because it's a spray. What I don't like: nothing really, but avoid it if you have skin sensitivity to fragrance.

Pros:

Hydrating

Refreshing

Nourishing

Adds a healthy dewy glow

Soothing

Nice ingredients

Comes in mist format

High quality

Lovely light fragrance

Hygienic

Cons:

Fragrance

Would I buy again?

Yes

Rating: 10/10

[halforc-mercenary]

𝔚𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔗𝔬 𝔊𝔯𝔬𝔴 ℑ𝔫 𝔞 𝔐𝔢𝔡𝔦𝔢𝔳𝔞𝔩 ℌ𝔢𝔯𝔟𝔤𝔞𝔯𝔡𝔢𝔫: Medieval Healingherbs

What to grow in a medieval herbgarden by English Heritage, May 2016.

Medieval medicine was based on the notion of the body having four ‘humours’ related to the four elements:     ◉ blood (air) was hot and moist     ◉ phlegm (water) was cold and moist     ◉ yellow bile (fire) was hot and dry     ◉ black bile (earth) was cold and dry. It was the physician’s job to work out how to restore the balance of a person’s humours if they became ill, and so plants and herbs were ascribed properties to redress the balance. A cooling herb would be used if you were considered to have too much blood or yellow bile, for example. Plant used in the treatments were for example: 

 Sage (Salvia officinalis) Sage, whose first botanical name comes from the Latin salveo, meaning “I am well” , was used by the Romans in medicine and cooking. As with some other herbs mentioned below, ‘officinalis’ is a reminder of its monastic medicinal use — the officina being the monastic storeroom where herbs and medicines were stored. In the medieval period sage was described as being ‘fresh and green to cleanse the body of venom and pestilence’. It was also chewed to whiten teeth and used very frequently in cooking along with lots of onions and garlic. This means that sage and onion stuffing has a medieval pedigree! Sage is best grown in well drained soil with full sun and can be grown either from seed, from cuttings or from plug plants.

Betony (Stachys officinalis) This was once an incredibly popular herb, and used for curing anything and everything you can think of – including a few extras like fear, ‘violent blood’, and ‘chilly need’. Depending on the variety, betony grows between 25cm and 90cm tall. Its flowers, generally purplish but sometimes white, appear between June and October. It’s long-lived and slow-growing and prefers dampish but not waterlogged areas.

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea or wild clary is Salvia verbenaca) Another member of the salvia family, Clary Sage was also known as ‘clear eye’ and ‘Oculus Christi’ (Eye of Christ) as its main use was as an eyewash, made by infusing sweet scented leaves in water. It’s a biennial with purple-blue flower spikes from late spring to mid-summer and attracts honey-bees and other pollinators.

Hyssop (Hysoppus officinalis) In medieval herb gardens, hyssop was considered a hot purgative. Drunk in oil, wine or syrup, it was meant to warm away cold catarrhs and chest phlegm. It was also rubbed on bruises to soothe them and had purifying, astringent and stimulant uses. äIt has spikes of blue, pink, or red flowers and prefers well drained soil.

Rue (Ruta graveolens) This was used as a strong purgative for plague and poison, and as a holy water sprinkler in exorcisms. Its medicinal properties have now largely been disproved, and its use in cures may be dangerous. Its smell is a repellent to Japanese beetles, dogs and cats and it attracts some species of butterfly.

You can recognise rue plants by their bushy, bluish-green, fernlike leaves ,and yellow flowers with wavy edges and green hearts. Rue can grow up to 90cm tall. Best grown in well drained soil with full sun – rarely needs watering. Take care when handling the plant – its sap can be a strong irritant.

Chamomile or Camomile (Chamaemelum nobile) Chamomile is said to revive the sickly and drooping plants growing near it. It’s a very tough plant, sometimes grown in ‘chamomile lawns’ — which take a lot of work to establish. Since the daisy-like flowers are very small, lots of them are needed to be of use. Once you have enough of them, chamomile flowers are good for making sedative and digestive infusions that also combat flatulence. Chamomile tea with dittany, scabious and pennyroyal was a preferred medieval remedy against poison. This perennial herb grows best in cool conditions and prefers part-shade and dry soil.

Dill (Anethum graveolens) The word dill derives from the Anglo-Saxon dilla which means ‘to lull’. It was used as a kitchen herb for flavouring fish, pickles and pottages, as well as in the infirmary for cordials. Along with cumin and anise, its seeds were made into spice cakes to eat after rich meals or illness to help with digestion. Its delicate fronds can reach 60-90cm in height.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) Infirmarers grew cumin to use its seeds in soothing ointments for the complexion and eyes, as well as for its culinary uses. Cumin was grown more widely than dill outside monastic gardens. Peasant rents were sometimes paid in cumin, along with hens and eggs. It’s native to the Mediterranean and requires a long hot summer, so isn’t the easiest plant to grow in the UK.

Comfrey – also known as Boneset (Symphytum officinale) Comfrey has a long history of use in medicine, and was grown in infirmary gardens for its power to heal wounds and inflammations and (as its nickname suggests) help to set broken bones.

Comfrey needs rich, moist, alkaline soil and generally prefers shady areas. It can grow up to 120cm tall and has long, hairy, deep-green leaves. Take care when handling the plant, which can irritate sensitive skins.

[jeonsdear]

It’s you - (IX)

↬ Parts:  I , II, III, IV, V , VI, VII, VIII, X, XI

↬ Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Reader (oc: female)

↬ Genre: college!au, noona!reader, soulmate!au, fluff, angst, smut

↬ Rating: sfw

↬ Warnings: salvia (lol)

↬ Accompanying song:  HENRY 헨리 ‘It’s You’ (Live Ver.) (check out the                                    spotify version too!)

↬ Chapter Summary: 

Jungkook couldn’t help but to throw his friends a panicked look and his panic only grew as Yoongi’s face was plastered by a shit-eating grin.

“Y/n! We were just about to play a game in one of the rooms back there. Grab some bottles of beer, will you?“

↬ Notes: Hey! Here’s the 9h part. Hope you enjoy, loves. Also, have you seen the fake love comback stages? I’m shook. Goodbye wow. Also do the roman numbers confuse you or is it okay?  ♡ And please let me know what you think, that’s a great motivation for writing - and I love talking to you.  Likes and especially reblogs are always appreciated ♡     —  Read this part on AO3 if that’s easier for you —  English isn’t my first language so excuse any mistakes  —  I track jeonsdear fanfiction (follow the tag for updates)

↬ Word Count: 3.0 K

When you are not fed love on a silver spoon you learn to lick it off knives.

Starting your senior year at college you promised yourself to make the most of it. But after watching your best friend taking her boyfriend Jungkook for granted and your own soulmate drowning in despair, you find yourself caught in a web of lies and heartbreak. How can you believe in love when the one destined for you doesn’t want you?

read my stories here request imagines, reactions and text messages here find me on archive of our own here

You could feel Jungkook’s glare from across the room. The tall boy leaning against the dark walls of Professor Lee’s office seemed to try burning holes into the side of your head. But you ignored his irritated huffs and instead focused on the insane plan Mr. Lee so enthusiastically rambled on about.

“You are going to dress up nicely. Mingle with the people and Mr. Jeon should use his charms for future connections. Miss y/s/n, you are a senior, everybody is going to expect you to set your foot properly into politics about now anyway.“

“And what about my charm?“

“What charm?“, piped up the annoyed voice from across the room. Your eyes shot daggers at Junkook, already deciding you wouldn’t share your favourite blanket with him tonight.

“Use your charm as well, Miss.“

“With all due respect, Professor. I don’t see how this is going to get us any kind of information about a possible soulmate archive.“

Ever since you had agreed to the old man’s plan, you knew why you were doing it. Essentially to protect Jungkook from his own stupidity. You still thought sneaking your way into politics would be no use.

“And I don’t understand why you involved Y/n in this, Professor.“

Mr. Lee let heaved a long sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose that was decorated with the imprints of his round glasses.

“Because Miss y/s/n is a well-known figure in local politics already. “

“Don’t you think I should be involved when you decide to find out my soulmate’s identity?“

Crossing your arms over your chest you turned your body to Jungkook as he took two steps towards you.

“Besides, who gave you the right to dig into my business?“

Jungkook quite audibly growled at you and a guarded expression took over his face.

“The right of being your best friend. I have to live with your sorry ass every day. And just because you are not questioning the system doesn’t mean I don’t. “

“I didn’t force you to live with my sorry ass. You can move out anytime.“

Jungkook had the audacity to roll his eyes at you before he turned towards the old man who had watched the scene with interest while taking notes.

“She doesn’t even want to find out the truth. I’m sure we can find someone else with…connections.“

You stretched your arm to pinch the skin around his elbow.

“And who is supposed to protect you? You’re most likely going to get yourself evicted because of sticking your stupidly cute nose in business people get killed for.“

You didn’t expect his deep belly laugh and even Mr. Lee had his eyebrows raised at his student when he doubled over from laughing.

“Protecting me? You're a girl.“

The old man shot you an excusing look but you had had enough. You didn’t even fully understand his anger, but arguing with a sexist phrase wasn’t something you were willing to accept.

“Well, this girl is going to make sure you’re not drowning in an unfamiliar environment, and this girl is sleeping on the couch tonight.“

You grabbed the bag hanging over the rest of a very old velvety chair and threw it over your shoulder.

“I have a 5 thousand words essay to write, goodbye Professor Lee.“

The man only held up one of his hands and watched you storm out of his office.

The stupidity of men was visible in every generation, he mused as he watched his male student huff in annoyance.

At first he had tried to keep it a secret from Jungkook. The reason why he had brought you into the team at first didn’t seem too important and easy to disguise. But somewhere along the lines he had realized that his explanation of your presence had too many loopholes. So fearing his true attention with this project might be discovered, ruining all the work he had done so far, he had stuck with the surface truth of his motivations to bring you into the team.

And really, observing the two young people in a natural environment had proven to be extremely beneficial.

So with a small smile he stood up from the chair that was about to wreck his bad back forever, and motioned for Jungkook to leave.

“I know you have an evening class, Jungkook. You should go before you’re too late.“

And with a small bow Jungkook left.

 --

 It was quarter past 1 in the morning when you realized that you didn’t have to sleep on the sofa because Jungkook still hadn’t come home.

While a defeated sigh you shut off your laptop and rubbed your temples. You hadn’t meant what you said about sleeping on the sofa. Not only because you hadn’t had nightmares since sharing a bed with Jungkook, but because you adored falling asleep next to him. It just felt right. And you tried not to dwell on that too much.

But there was still Yeonseo, and as you stood up from the spot on the floor you had sat on you realized that that was where he probably was staying for the night.

You knew the coil in your stomach was jealousy. Not exclusively jealousy, but you had developed a certain kind of possessiveness towards your best friend. You had grown so close that it was only naturally to fear his loss.  And that was the threat his girlfriend embodied.

At least that was what you’ve been telling yourself.

Without thinking about it, you picked up your phone to check whether you had any messages from him.

You didn’t.

For a hot second you thought about calling him but you growled in frustration at your hideousness. You had no right to demand him to be home and you sure as well weren’t a baby who needed their stuffed animal to sleep.

Despite your affirmations you didn’t sleep that night.

 --

 Over the course of the next week a new kind of tension found its peak between you two.

Jungkook’s grunts filled the gym as he worked his already sore back muscles. But the burn in his muscles overshadowed the burn in his heart and the irritation coursing through his veins. Apparently his soulmate was in a similar mood to him, making the fire inside him ten times worse.

So he tried working it out. With heavy weights and sweat coating his entire body. A few days ago he had tried letting some steam off through rough sex, but somehow it had left him even more aggravated.

He was pissed at himself and he didn’t even know why. But he can’t get the hurt in your eyes out of his head when he came home in the morning after a night at his girlfriend’s.

God, he felt dirty. Dirty and frustrated.

So when his hyung’s had suggested going to that terrible frat party, he had jumped on the chance to get you off his mind.

He realized that that was a hopeless wish when he walked into the crowed livingroom full of drunk college students just to spy you sitting on his classmate's lap.

What the hell.

You were dressed in a short skirt paired with knee-high boots and a red blouse. You looked absolutely gorgeous, but that didn’t make that boy’s hands on your thigh acceptable.

Jimin followed Jungkook’s eyes and he grabbed his sleeve to keep him from storming away.

“Don’t.“

“Let go of me, Hyung.“

“So you can rip her off that dude’s lap? She’s been looking at you with daggers in her eyes the whole week. She’s going to kill you. What the hell have you done?“

Jungkook growled and ripped his arm from his friend’s hold.

“Nothing.“

He felt Yoongi’s hand on his shoulder and his deep voice filled his ear when he moved his head closer to his.

“You two have been dancing around each other for weeks now. Fuck it out.“

“Yoongi!“

Taehyung sounded absolutely horrified and Jungkook was sure his face showcased the same emotion.

“He isn’t wrong.“, Jimin chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders and caught your eyes from across the room. A smirk played on his lips as he watched you making your way towards him and his friends. Jungkook, oblivious to your approach, rolled his eyes and huffed.

“Don’t even dare think this, Yoongi.“

“Think what?“, your sweet voice peeped up and the boys all turned around.

Jungkook couldn’t help but to throw his friends a panicked look and his panic only grew as Yoongi’s face was plastered by a shit-eating grin.

“Y/n! We were just about to play a game in one of the rooms back there. Grab some bottles of beer, will you?“

You raised your eyebrows at the older boy before throwing Jungkook a questioning look when you saw him squirm.

“Uhm Hyung, what game?“

“The kissing game. Collect some of your friends as well.“

It was almost comically how both your’s and Jungkook’s eyes simultaneously widened in presentiment and Jimin had to keep from laughing when his friend’s hand automatically found yours and suddenly all the anger between you two was forgotten when your eyes met in mutual understanding.

Yoongi apparently picked up on his friend’s intentions as well and before anyone could run away he had you both pushing towards the room he had been talking about earlier.

You struggled against his hold but it was no use – 7 minutes later you were sat in a circle on the floor with Jungkook’s friend and some of yours. The girls were buzzing in the prospect of getting to kiss the boys and especially your friend Sunghee couldn’t keep her eyes off Seokjin. You watched as he winked at her and almost scoffed as she turned bright red. You elbowed him into the side before throwing him a warning glance, but he only smirked.

Jungkook sat across from you and you could feel his eyes on you. You knew exactly how this would end and so did he. So why were his eyes glistening with anticipation?

“What game exactly are we playing?“, one of the girls piped up while handing around the bottles of beer. You wrapped your fingers around the cold beverage but otherwise didn’t bother to open it.

“Too hot.“, Yoongi said. “Do you all know the rules?“

He was met with collective head shaking so he started to explain: “We will let a bottle decide the couples. This couple has to kiss without stopping or touching each other. The one who touches the other first, loses. The winner?“, he smirked before continuing, “gets to do whatever he wants to the loser and get’s to exit the game. If not, the winner gets to play against the other winners. Resulting in one person winning.“

Yoongi made sure everyone understood the rules before he chuckled mischievously and added “Make it as steamy as possible. This is about being the best kisser in this group.“

“Fuck, I hope I get Jungkook. I’ve heard he’s fun to kiss.“, a girl whispered and another one giggled.

“I might lose willingly if that means I can touch those abs.“

Your low growl shut them up and you were busy killing Yoongi in your imagination. You were positive you were about to win this game, knowing there wasn’t a single guy you’d really enjoy kissing beside Jungkook. And the universe couldn’t possibly be that cruel, right?

But then again, one of these girls would get to kiss him and the thought alone made you angry.

“But some of us aren’t single.“, you randomly threw into the conversation and all eyes laid on you as you were being a party bummer.

“She won’t mind.“, Jungkook’s voice cut in and his eyes were challenging when you frowned at him.

You really, really didn’t want him kissing anyone but you.

“Alright then let’s get started!“

Yoongi laid a bottle in the circle and looked up. “Let’s see who the first players are.“

 The bottle took four spins to land on you.

Your eyes were trained on the spinning bottle and the only noise came from Jimin who was distinctively murmuring Jungkook’s name. In the corner of your eyes you saw Yoongi leaning forward in anticipation and suddenly the room erupted in yells and laughter.

The universe, in fact, was cruel.

You didn’t even have to look up to know the bottle had landed on Jungkook but when you did, his eyes were widened in shock. Yoongi silenced the room as he smirked at you two before motioning to get it on.

“Are you gonna go through with it, Jungkookie?“

Taehyung’s words ripped him out of his thoughts and a certain kind of want took over his mind and body. Here was the truth: He wanted to kiss you. God, he had been dreaming about it for a while now. But when would he ever be able to get a taste without any consequences? This game was perfect to explore forbidden waters and he was planning on winning this one. He was damned if he didn’t manage to make you want him for once. But when he searched your eyes in consent he noticed the longing in them and his eyes dropped down to where you bit your lip.

“If y/n is okay with it.“, he said with a voice dropping lower in excitement.

You only nodded slowly before clearing your throat and sitting up upright, faking confidence.

“Sure.“, you said nonchalantly, but your emotions were running havoc. While you were dreading kissing Jungkook you were also longing to kiss him. And if his eyes were anything to go by, so did he.

You both looked around before shuffling towards each other while the others moved backwards to give you enough space.

You gulped as you felt Jungkook’s hand on your thighs pulling you closer to him, a light smile playing on his lips as he noticed how nervous you were. Then he placed his hands on either side of your legs, making sure he wasn’t touching you.

“Noona?“

He wet his lips with the tip of his tongue.

“Hm?“

“Have fun losing.“

The start of your protest was cut short when he moved his face close to yours and his dark doe eyes starred into yours. He was so close you could count his thick eyelashes and his breath fanned over your slightly opened lips. You gulped as Jungkook’s eyes fluttered shut and then you felt his plush lips brush gently over your own. Your eyes closed at the unfamiliar contact and your whole body shivered at the softness of his lips as he increased the pressure.

Since there was no time limit, Jungkook made sure to savour the moment of feeling your lips against his for the very first time. And he loved it. He loved it way too much. Your shaky breath had him moving again, placing another soft kiss against the swell of your lips before catching your lower lip between his teeth and slightly pulling at it. Then he caressed the abused lip with his tongue and suddenly you sprung into action, biting his lip and whispering his name before forcing his lips apart with your tongue.

The low whine that filled the room was unmistakenly male and both of you tilted your heads to deepen the kiss. What had started off as a careful and testing kiss, turned into a passionate one as your tongues battled for dominance. Your hands twitched at your sides, longing to bury themselves into his soft hair, but you wanted him to lose. You wanted him to moan. Just once you wanted him to moan your name, and not Yeonseo’s.

So you let go of your reservation and you kissed him how you had wanted to for a very long time. It wasn’t just lust but affection. And you wanted to him to feel it. But somewhere in that was also anger and the whole irritation you both had felt for the last week.

Your breaths were ragged and uneven as Jungkook leaned even closer to you. He felt like his head was swimming, he wanted to swallow you, taste you, mould together. A mewl escaped you as you pulled at his bottom lip, struggling with keeping your hands to yourself and your body flooded with heat as you finally heard his high-pitched moan.

Jungkook felt way too hot in his skin and it bordered on torture keeping his hands to himself. He wanted them all over your body. In your hair, on your waist, everywhere.

“Oh fuck.“, he murmured in realization and somewhere someone in the room laughed amused at the pained exclamation.

He didn’t stop kissing you. Even during his breathy moans and whispers, your lips kept on moving together and he could have sworn his heart was about to burst with all these emotions. He felt overwhelmed as if he could feel your emotions as well. He imagined he could feel the goosebumps on your skin as he sucked your tongue into his mouth, taking over the kiss. He didn’t want to stop kissing you, oh no, but he wanted to take this to somewhere else. With fewer eyes prying on you two.

And he was determined to win.

So he put all the dominance he had in his bones into the kiss and could feel you melt into him. And suddenly he felt your fingers in his hair and your body pressed against his and he was about to laugh in triumph when he realized that his hands were already grabbing your waist.

Coming up for air, you two starred at each other, slowly blinking away the daze and realizing that the only one chuckling was Yoongi. Jungkook couldn’t tear his eyes away from yours and just in that moment he realized what you two were doing here. But he couldn’t find it in himself to care. Neither of you could blame alcohol for the want in your eyes and you knew it. This wasn’t solely physical either, Jungkook realized, as your fingers drifted from his hair sidewards to caress his cheeks. The grip on your waist tightened as he almost purred under your caress, eyes fluttering shut before they bore down into yours once again.

“I guess you both lost.“, Yoongi teased with amusement latched in his voice as the air was pregnant with astonishment.

“No, Hyung, I think both won.“

Complications.

You have won tons more of complications.

[youtuberswithalex]

PRVL, Vol 1, Ch. 9: Panic Button

Summary: Virgil is convinced the world is spinning out of control.

Word Count: 6,006

Warnings: fighting, faunus discrimination, lying, mentions of the death of a sibling

Tag list: @vigilantvirgil @what-even-is-thiss @lovelylogans @nose-to-meet-you @faithfulcat111 @haikyuupaladin @virge-of-death @storytellerofuntoldlegends

Behind the Scenes Table of Contents: Desktop/Mobile

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Chao lifted his hammer just as the blur was about to make contact with his head, and for a split second, they could see a woman balance on the handle; her dark brown tail flicked as she jumped to the ground. A growl formed in her throat as she charged forward. Chao pulled his hammer away and kicked her in the stomach. Her heels kicked a cloud of dust into the air as she skidded to a stop.

“What in the name of Pumpkin Pete is going on here?!” Roman yelled.

Virgil gripped his pole, glowering as Chao and the woman charged at each other again. “Nere,” he growled.

“Whom?”

Nere leapt into the air as Chao swung his hammer and slammed her feet into his shoulder, using it as a spring board to jump back and touch the wall of the cave. Virgil ran forward.

“What are you doing?!” Patton yelped.

He skidded to a stop in front of his uncle with Sangria Salvia held in front of him just as she shot forwards; as she whipped out a pair of daggers out of her pockets, something collided with Virgil’s side, and he flew back towards his friends. He looked up to watch Chao dodge Nere’s attack and glare at him.

“Stay out of this!”

He scrambled to his feet. “No! Let me help!”

“This isn’t your fight!”

Nere stabbed at Chao, but he thrust the handle of his hammer against her arm and used the force of her attack to flip her over his head. She twisted and threw a few punches, each of which Chao dodged.

Virgil ran forward and jumped, lifting his pole to strike her, but a gust of wind blasted him away; his back slammed into the wall of the cave, and he collapsed into the dirt. He weakly started to push himself up, only to watch as Amnon charged at him. He snapped his pole in half and fired a few shots.

“Virgil,” Logan called, voice unusually calm for the fighting around them, “What’s going on?”

Amnon dove at Virgil, and he rolled to the side just in time. “Nere’s been after Chao for as long as I can remember,” he stated, using his pole to lift himself to his feet. “Don’t know why, don’t know how long before that.” He looked over his shoulder to make eye contact with Logan. “But she’s made it very clear that she’s got some serious beef with-”

A foot slammed into Virgil’s chest, and he fell to the ground; Amnon leapt on top of him, lifting a fist, but Virgil somersaulted backwards until he was on top of him. Amnon sucked in a deep breath and blew at Virgil, and he found himself flying into the air again. He squeezed his eyes shut and braced for impact just as he smashed into the floor.

“Be careful!” Chao hollered.

Groaning, Virgil pushed himself to his knees. “Yeah, thanks for the tip,” he coughed.

He heard footsteps rushing up behind him, and he snatched his pole off of the ground; just as he whipped around to fight, a pair of black wings appeared between him and Amnon, and gunshots echoed through the cave. Roman dashed forward before Virgil could fully process what was happening.

A few feet away, Patton held up his shield as he hesitantly looked to Logan. “Should we help?”

“No. Considering how little Chao wants us involved and how minuscule our area is, I believe we would only get in the way,” Logan stated.

Patton chewed on his lip as he turned back to the fights. Virgil was swinging his pole at Amnon while Roman shot through the air time after time, but Amnon was dodging their attacks and blowing them away without even breaking a sweat. Not far away from that, Nere and Chao were doing acrobatics around each other and delivering countless blows with each flip or duck. Neither one seemed to be affected by any of the attacks, no matter how many times they were hit.

A growl rumbled through the cave, and Logan and Patton nearly jumped out of their skin. Their wide eyes briefly met before they whipped around. Patton let out a yelp.

“Grimm!”

“Keep calm,” Logan instructed. “We can handle this.”

“But there’s so many!” Patton exclaimed.

“We can handle this,” he firmly repeated.

Patton shot his teammate a glance before turning back to meet the countless red eyes creeping into the cave. He felt his breathing pick up. Lifting his shield, he swallowed thickly. Logan laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t panic,” he said.

A Beowolf began to charge, and Logan threw his weapon into its pistol form, shooting it down before it could even get close. Patton blinked; Logan looked at his shield.

“All we have to do is make sure they don’t get close enough to interfere with the others, alright?”

Nodding, Patton lifted his weapon and fired a few bullets at the legs of an Ursa.

Virgil ducked under a punch and swung his pole at Amnon’s legs; as he jumped over it, Roman shot down and kicked him in the back, and he table-topped over top of Virgil. Roman leapt on top of him and pinned him with the blade of his sword pressed against his throat, but Amnon kicked him back into Virgil. He jumped to his feet, and Roman charged. Virgil gripped his pole and growled, looking over to where Chao was dodging Nere’s stabs.

“I thought you said your mission in Atlas was over!” he yelled.

Chao grunted. “I’m a little busy right now!”

“Uncle Chao!”

“Watch yourself-!”

Virgil saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and bent backwards just in time to miss Amnon’s kick. He stuck his pole in the dirt and flipped his feet above him, letting his weight tip it to finish the backflip for him. Amnon stepped back before it could hit his crotch; he whipped around to punch Roman before charging at Virgil.

“Ah, not the face!” Roman snapped.

“Are you serious?!” Virgil screamed.

“No, he’s Roman!”

“Patton, the Grimm.”

“Oh, right.”

Logan rolled his eyes and ran forward, pistol transforming back into a book just before he gripped the strap and threw it at a small Deathstalker. Its pincers snapped at it, but the strap wrapped around and bound them together. Logan yanked, and the appendages ripped off. The Grimm screeched before it began to evaporate.

There were gunshots behind him, and a Beowolf collapsed to the ground; Patton bolted over and jumped in front of Logan, holding up his shield just as Boarbatusk crashed into it. He shoved it away and looked at Logan.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’d be better if you would kill the Grimm instead of just injuring them,” Logan huffed.

Logan ran around him and into the hoarde of the monsters. Biting his lip, Patton tucked his face behind his shield.

“…Right.”

Virgil whipped his pole in front of himself to block another attack; this time, Amnon didn’t jump away, but instead pushed against it and held his ground. He and Virgil held glares at each other.

“Virgil, be careful!” Roman yelled.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chao freeze for just a split second. “Don’t-!”

Nere landed a kick into his stomach, and he slid back a few feet. “You’re Virgil?” she laughed. “My, you’ve certainly grown since the last time I saw you!”

Virgil’s breath caught in his throat. “Uncle Chao…?”

“Nere, shut up!”

“Oh, what for?” she quipped.

Chao growled and sprinted forward, spinning to gain enough momentum to land a heavy blow on Nere, but she ducked just in time, swooping her foot to knock his legs out from underneath him. He hit the ground and somersaulted. By the time he got back to his feet, she was staring at Virgil with a raised eyebrow.

Roman swooped in and kicked Amnon away from Virgil, and he dove after him; Virgil, however, stayed rooted to the spot. He and Nere had made eye contact.

Her facial features relaxed, and she glanced between Chao and Virgil. “Oh. I get it.”

“Get what?” Virgil asked. “Uncle Chao, what is she talking about?”

“Nere,” Chao growled.

She laughed. “You’re afraid he’s going to meet the same fate as little Crina, aren’t you?”

“What?!”

Just as the scream had left his mouth, Virgil was blasted away by a gust of wind Roman had just barely dodged. He tumbled through the dirt, and the world fell quiet against his heart pounding in his ears.

Logan was out of ammo. He threw his weapon out of its pistol form and gripped the strap as tightly as he could, mind scrambling to calculate the most efficient way to kill as many Grimm as possible. The book whipped back and forth until a King Taijitu grabbed it in its mouth and bit down hard. Logan gasped as he was yanked forward.

“Do something!” he yelled.

Yelping, Patton waved his hands. “I- I don’t know! I don’t know!”

“I can’t do this alone, Patton! Help!”

As Logan regained his traction enough to fight back against the King Taijitu, Patton’s eyes darted around the Grimm closing in on him. He squeezed his eyes shut and lifted his shield, firing across the hoarde in hopes of hitting at least one. There was a screech. He opened his eyes in time to see a Boarbatusk stumble. Patton charged, but it turned to him, and his heart leapt into his throat.

His traction on the ground disappeared.

Arms pinwheeling, Patton tried to keep his balance on the sheet of ice he’d created; he tried to stop, but his boots kept sliding against his will. The Boarbatusk planted itself right at the edge and tucked its head back. He hissed when he realized there was no avoiding a collision.

His stomach hit bone. His shield and his breath were both knocked away. A tingling sensation ran over his skin. Patton hit the ground and tumbled through the dirt until he slammed into the wall.

“Patton!”

“Huh…?”

Patton cracked his eyes open in time to see the Boarbatusk heading his way; this time, however, no ice formed around him. He scrambled to his knees, ignoring how every muscle in his body screamed at him to stop.

A blue book wrapped around its tusks just as it drew near, and it reared back from the force. Behind it, Patton could hear grunts of strain. He would have sighed in relief if he wasn’t too terrified to move.

Virgil pushed himself to his knees, ears pounding with every gunshot and clash of metal that echoed through the cave. His chest squeezed, and his eyes darted around. There had to be something he could do to help more.

Chao and Nere dashed in all sorts of directions, almost blurs in the darkness.

Roman caught blow after blow of Amnon’s attacks, and his attempts to fight back were becoming slower.

Patton’s eyes were wide as he trembled in the face of the Boarbatusk.

Logan kicked away a Beowolf, muscles straining to keep Patton safe.

Virgil was powerless.

Heart thundering in his chest, he whipped around and threw out his arms. “What are we supposed to do?!” he screamed.

Chao knocked Nere away and turned, scanning the cave just as Virgil had done seconds ago. There was a long pause while Nere regained her balance and charged again. She leapt at him. He swung his leg around and smashed his heel into her face. She fell to the ground and didn’t move.

Lifting his hammer above him, Chao ran to Roman and skidded to stand in front of him. Amnon sucked in a breath, but Chao slammed his weapon into his stomach, and a yelp wrenched out of him instead of a blast of air. Amnon smashed into the wall of the cave and crumpled while Chao grabbed Roman by the wrist and dragged him towards the Grimm. Virgil hurried to catch up.

Roman ripped himself away and lifted into the air, shooting forward and slicing the Boarbatusk in half. Logan stumbled from the sudden lack of resistance, but Virgil caught him by the shoulders before he could fall. Flying back to Patton, Roman scooped their leader into his arms before he made his way out of the cave and out of their sight.

Chao picked Patton’s shield off of the ground and used it to frisbee through a line of Grimm; as they began to dissolve, he frantically waved Logan and Virgil through the smoke and out of the cave. Logan grabbed the shield on the way out. The sunlight practically blinded them when they stepped onto grass.

They ran.

As soon as the three began to slow their paces, Roman eased himself and Patton towards the ground. Virgil desperately wanted to sprint over, to take Patton and hold him close to remember that he was okay, that he was safe, but his blood was boiling and his muscles were aching and his chest was heaving… His mind was in a fog thick enough to sink ships.

He stopped, doubling over to gasp for air while the other two ran to them. His heart twisted.

“Is he alright?” he heard Chao ask. He hardly sounded winded. Virgil squeezed his eyes shut.

“I’m okay,” Patton replied. His voice was tight, and he paused to clear his throat. “I’m sorry.”

“No need for apologies. You took a tremendously heavy hit. It completely stripped you of your aura,” Logan said.

There was shuffling, and then the sound of feet gently hitting the ground. A hiss of pain followed soon after.

Roman sucked in a breath. “Ooh, easy, easy… Oh, Pat, you’re going to be feeling this for a while…”

“I-It’s alright,” Patton said, following it up with a quiet laugh.

Chao let out a sigh. Virgil heard his hammer fall against the ground. “I owe you all one hell of an apology,” he stated. “If I had known we were going to be ambushed, I never would have brought you along.”

“There was no way you could have predicted a change in plans like that,” Logan pointed out. “You have done nothing wrong.”

“…Yeah. Whatever. I’m just glad you’re all safe.”

Virgil felt something inside him snap.

“…Nere knew,” he growled.

There was a pause. He opened his eyes and stood up straight.

“Knew…?” Patton whispered.

“She knew.”

Virgil finally looked up and glared. When he saw Chao stiffening, a tremble began to shake his body. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Roman glance hesitantly between them.

“Um… What is happening?”

Silence fell. Virgil clenched his jaw, trying to keep his breathing steady. His blood was starting to boil, and it was beginning to feel impossible to stay calm.

“Why did Nere know about her?” he snapped.

“It’s not important.”

“Really, because I think it’s pretty damn significant that your mortal enemy knows about what happened to Crina!”

Logan cleared his throat. “I believe it might be wise to take a deep-”

“Shut up!” Virgil yelled.

Patton gasped. “Virgil! He is your teammate, don’t talk to him like that! Apologize!”

Virgil stayed silent, choosing instead to return his glare to Chao. It felt like his chest was being squeezed by a King Taijitu. He swallowed thickly.

“Does Dad know that she knows?” he asked.

Chao looked away.

“Does Papi?”

He shut his eyes, jaw setting. Virgil gripped his pole as tight as he could to distract himself from the tears forming behind his eyes. When it became clear that he wasn’t going to be getting any answers, he stormed past the group and towards where they’d been left off.

The fluttering of wings sounded behind him. It took all of his willpower to not whirl around and drive his fist into Roman’s face. He turned his face away as soon as he landed and began to walk next to him.

“What in the world was all that?” Roman asked.

Virgil huffed. “Nothing.”

“Really? Because it certainly seemed like something,” he pressed. “Who is this Crina you spoke of? Why is it so important that-”

“I’m not talking to a faunus about this!” Virgil spat, finally turning to glare at Roman. His eyebrows raised and his lips parted, but Virgil ignored it. “Why don’t you just go back to the zoo and leave me alone, alright?!”

Roman said nothing. His lower lip twitched and his brow creased. Virgil only caught a glimpse before he stomped away.

“Virge? How ya feeling?”

The sincerity in Patton’s voice tempted Virgil to get up, but the lead in his limbs kept him pressed against his mattress. He shifted, pulling the blankets to cover his head even further than before.

“Fine,” he grumbled.

There was a pause. He heard a scoff, presumably from Roman, and then a sigh from whoever was closest to him.

“We’re going to go get dinner,” Patton informed. “Do you wanna come along?”

“No.”

“Virgil,” Logan said, “You need to eat. You haven’t eaten anything all day. It isn’t healthy.”

“Don’t care. Not hungry.”

“…Do you want us to bring you something back?”

Virgil shut his eyes, burying his face in the sheets. “I don’t care.”

Another pause, and then the door opened and three sets of footsteps walked into the hallway. Two of them continued until they were out of earshot; the third stayed behind. Virgil held his breath.

“If you wish to talk about anything,” Logan quietly stated, “Know that we are willing to lend a hand.”

Virgil stayed quiet. The door shut.

Slowly, after the silence of the room became a little too unbearable, he pulled the covers away and sat up. The light of the room pained his eyes after being in the dark for so long, but when he glanced out of the window and through the tree branches, he saw that the sun was below the scarlet horizon. He’d been here for hours, yet his chest was still aching as horribly as it had been in the Emerald Forest that morning.

His eyes sunk to the floor as he ran through the events for what felt like the millionth time. It was obvious now, why Chao hadn’t wanted to talk about his last mission. He just didn’t understand why that had to be a secret. It wasn’t like he was a little kid anymore! With the amount of times he’d gone on a bounty mission to find her and she’d gotten away, he was used to hearing that his missions had failed. What was so different about this one? Did something happen to make it worse than usual, or had…

Had Virgil done something to make Chao lose his trust in him?

Virgil’s breath caught in his throat. No, that… that couldn’t be right. He and his uncle had always had such a close bond. Virgil told him everything, and Chao always looked out for him, and they used to talk on the phone almost every night unless Virgil had too much homework or Chao was on a mission. If Virgil had done something wrong, surely Chao would have said something. He always said something.

…Except. He didn’t say anything about his mission failing. And he was silent about Nere knowing about Crina.

Virgil looked at his desk, where a picture of him and Chao sat on one of the shelves. It had been taken on the day he graduated from Sanctum. Chao had said he was shaping up to be a good Huntsman that day.

How much had Chao lied to them?

A knock on the door jarred Virgil out of his head. He rolled his eyes and lay back down, shoving the covers back over his body.

“Which idiot forgot their scroll this time?” he called.

Silence.

There was another knock on the door.

Virgil frowned. “Did you leave it with your voice, or is it a nonverbal Logan? Knock twice if you’re Logan.”

One single knock sounded this time. Huffing, Virgil threw off the covers and headed to the door. He swung it open with a glare.

“Why the heck can’t you just-”

The words died on his lips. Chao hesitantly smiled.

“Hey,” he offered.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. “What do you want?”

Chao shrugged and lifted the two pints of ice cream in his hands, careful not to drop the book that was tucked under his arm. “Peace offering?”

He wanted to be mad. He wanted to yell, to kick him out of the dorm, to call his dads and tell them what his uncle never had and get them on his side. He wanted to break down and hug him and apologize for being upset, or to just go back in time and say no when Chao offered to take them on the mission and avoid this whole problem in the first place.

Instead, Virgil simply stepped out of the doorway. As soon as Chao was inside, he shut the door and watched in silence as he sat himself on the bookshelf under the window. They made eye contact.

“I was… hoping we could talk?” Chao said.

Virgil stayed silent, but his mind began to scream. What’s he going to say oh no why’s he bringing ice cream for this he only brings ice cream when things are really bad there’s a bad reason why Nere knows about Crina oh man what if Nere’s his ex what if Dad and Uncle Chao both dated Nere what if Nere’s our aunt what if Nere’s our mom and Dad and Papi lied to us for all of these years about Aunt Diana what if-

Chao cleared his throat. “Look, I know you’re mad- I’d be pretty upset, too -but nothing’s gonna get better if we don’t communicate.”

Clenching his jaw, Virgil looked away. “You’re one to talk,” he huffed.

Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh Virgil why did you say that, why did you have to go and ruin-

“Yeah, I guess I am,” Chao sighed, “And I want to fix it. I splurged to get you that black vanilla ice cream you used to rave about. Even remembered to get spoons this time!”

Memories of sticky, cold hands on a hot summer day at Sanctum set a soft smile on his mouth before he had the chance to hold it back; he rubbed a hand over his forehead and walked over to the bookshelf.

“Well, at least you got one thing right…”

He hopped up next to Chao and took the pint and the spoon, pulling the plastic tab away while the frost melted against his palm. Chao did the same, and they clinked their spoons together before moving to open their containers. For a second, it seemed like everything was back to normal, like Virgil was going to go home and lie to Papi about eating ice cream before dinner and make fun of Dad for the new information Chao had given him about the dumb things they did as teenagers. It was like nothing could be bad again.

And then his scroll buzzed against his mattress, pulling Virgil back into reality. The lid was only halfway off of his ice cream when the rock dropped in his stomach. He stopped.

“Um… Uncle Chao?”

Chao took a bite of his Red Sap sherbet and turned to look at Virgil, who slowly dropped his hands to let the pint sit in his lap. Virgil let his eyes trace the black and white plaid of his pajama pants instead of looking back.

“I know I asked this a lot in the forest, and I’m sorry I got so mad, but…” He sighed, shutting his eyes before finally making eye contact. “Why did Nere know?”

Chao paused, and his mouth twisted as he bit the inside of his cheek. His spoon tapped the crevice in his ice cream as his eyes darted just to the side of Virgil. After a moment, his head turned to look at the floor.

“Uh… Virge, that’s…”

“A difficult question?” Virgil finished. “Yeah, I kind of figured.”

Rolling his eyes, Chao shot him a glare. “It’s more complicated than you think,” he stated.

Virgil huffed and finally pulled the lid off of his container. “Look, I know I’m still really touchy about it and all. But like… she’s my sister. You don’t exactly get over seeing your little sibling leave one day to go to the store and never come back. I doubt you’d get over it immediately if it had happened to Dad.”

“No. I wouldn’t,” Chao sighed. “And I’ve told you that. Didn’t we finish this conversation a couple of years ago?”

“Apparently not.” Virgil scraped his spoon against the black ice cream. “I get that it’s been hard for me and you don’t want to make it worse, and I can respect that, but I’m not thirteen anymore! I know what the world is like now! There is nothing you can say that’s too complicated for me.”

Chao leaned back and pointed his spoon at him. “You are still just a kid, and being in training to become a Huntsman doesn’t change that.” He took a bite of his sherbet and continued with his mouth full. “Seventeen, never left Mistral before you came here, haven’t even gone into the City of Vale yet… trust me, there’s a lot I could say. You’re too young to understand the world, whether you like it or not.”

Virgil stared at Chao for a long moment, and then he set down his ice cream. “So was Crina,” he snapped, “But that didn’t stop her from being killed by it.”

Chao froze. He glanced at Virgil, then to the opposite wall, then to his sherbet, and back to Virgil. The spoon pushed the half-melted bits around in the container until he shut his eyes and let his head fall back against the window.

“She was there.”

Virgil raised an eyebrow. “Who, Crina? I mean, yeah, that’s a little-”

“No. Nere. She was there when the Grimm attacked. That’s why I couldn’t save her.”

There was a long pause. Virgil tried to swallow and open his airway, but his mouth was too dry. He slowly looked away.

“…Oh.”

Opening his eyes, Chao raised his eyebrows and went back to his ice cream. “Yeah. ‘S why I didn’t want to tell you. It would have made a bad situation even worse.”

Virgil chewed on his lip. “I… thought you said you were fighting the Grimm when it happened,” he whispered.

“I said I was fighting. Never said it was Grimm.”

Slowly shutting his eyes, he tried to push away the sensation of the world spinning out of control. It was fine. It was fine! Chao had had a good reason to do it! With a village as small as theirs, the likelihood of Grimm attacking was already high, and everyone did what they could to avoid negativity spreading- that was why they’d kept Crina’s death a secret in the first place! Virgil knew this, he knew he knew this, he knew he shouldn’t be upset… So why did it suddenly feel like he was so powerless against the world, like none of what he was doing was going to make a difference?

“I know I should have said something earlier,” Chao softly admitted. “You have a right to know about how your own little sister died. I’m sorry.”

Virgil gradually let out a breath. “It’s fine. You didn’t do it to upset us.”

“I’ll tell your dads tonight. Because, you know, I’m sure that they’ll want to start their day hearing that I lied to them about how their daughter died.” A dark chuckle escaped him, and then he hummed. “You know, on second thought, maybe I should wait until it’s nighttime there…”

Normally, Virgil would quip something back about giving them nightmares or only waiting because he’s procrastinating, but his wits had been thrown into a closet and jailed with a lock that had no key. He pulled his lower lip between his teeth and looked to the floor.

“I was so scared,” he whispered.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chao turn his head towards him. “What do you mean?”

“When I yelled for you,” he said, wrapping his arms around himself, “I got knocked out of the battle, and I looked around and realized that there was nothing I could do. Roman was fighting that guy who was way stronger than him, Logan was kicking away so many Grimm-” Virgil looked up at him, the King Taijitu in his chest returning. “There were so many, Chao-”

Chao set his sherbet to the side and pushed Virgil’s ice cream out of the way as he scooted closer to him. “It’s alright, Virge. We made it out.”

“And- And Patton, he was terrified, but his semblance wasn’t working… He was completely out of aura…”

“Everyone’s safe, Virge. That’s all that matters.”

“But what if they weren’t?” Virgil asked, tears finally starting to prick at his eyes. “I just- I- I saw Patton, and I just- it was everything I’d imagined Crina was like when-”

Chao put an arm around him. “Relax. He’s not hurt.”

“But what if he was?!”

“There’s a million what-ifs under the sun.”

Swallowing thickly, Virgil let his mouth fall shut. He leaned into his uncle and let out a shuddering breath. “I always thought that if I had gone with you guys into town, I could have helped you save her,” he breathed. “But… I don’t know anymore. I completely froze up back there. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“There is nothing wrong with you,” Chao firmly stated. “So you got a little scared your first time on a mission. Big deal! Fear is natural. Your dad pissed his pants after his first kiss ‘cause he was so scared, and that’s nothing compared to what you and your team just went through! Trust me, it’s gonna be way easier on your next mission after that.”

Virgil sighed. “That’s the problem, it wasn’t just today. I’ve been completely freaked out this entire semester. Every little thing has been pissing me off, or making me terrified- I’ve even started being afraid of homework, Chao!” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve never felt like this before in my entire life, even after Crina! It’s like… everything’s just… scary, and I don’t know why.”

Chao began to rub circles on Virgil’s arm, letting out a breath as he shook his head at him. “I think I might have an idea.”

“What?”

“When was the last time you were away from your dads before coming here?” he asked.

Pausing, Virgil racked his brain. “Uh… Crina and I went away to that summer camp when I was like, ten.”

“And when was the last time you had to go to a new place, by yourself, with no friends or family to help you adjust?”

“…I don’t know if I’ve ever… oh.”

Chao raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Yeah. Big changes, kid. They’ll do weird things to you.”

A flush of embarrassment crept over Virgil’s face, and he looked away.

“…Did you feel weird when you started at Haven?” he softly asked.

“Oh, like you wouldn’t believe. Don’t let your dad know I told you, but I cried on the phone to him and your grandparents almost every night for almost three quarters of my first semester there.”

“Really?”

Scoffing, Chao pulled his arm away and grabbed his sherbet. “Yeah. My teammates hated me. And hey, yours don’t! You must not be doing too bad if you’ve got friends like them!”

Overreacting. Virgil was overreacting. Like always. Ignore the panicking you’ve been doing day after day, ignore the pit in your stomach screaming he’s wrong. You’re fine.

“Hey, that reminds me.”

Chao set his ice cream down and picked up the book laying next to him. Tilting back his head, he inspected the cover; Virgil forced out a laugh.

“Starting to go blind?” he asked.

He scowled. “Shut up, you’re not gonna have room to talk in a couple of years if you have the same eyes as Diana.”

Virgil went to glare back, but Chao shoved the book into his hands before he could say anything.

“Look, I found this at some book store in Vale this afternoon,” Chao explained. “I figured you could stand to read something that wasn’t a comic book for once. Plus I wasn’t really expecting you to forgive me that easily over this, so it was going to be a part two of the peace offering, but… Y’know. Gift.”

Virgil raised an eyebrow and looked at the cover, only to have his features drop in surprise a moment later.

“…No way,” he breathed.

“Yep.”

“I didn’t know this was a book!”

Chao frowned at him. “Are you serious? Virge, it’s A Non-Descript Winter Holiday Carol. It’s been around for like, a hundred years! Why did you think there were so many movies of it?!”

Laughing, Virgil held the book to his chest. “I don’t know, I just thought the first movie was popular!”

“Oh, my gosh, you really are an idiot.”

“Says the guy who thought Dust came from bookshelves!”

“What- I was eight! How did you know about that?!”

“You’re not the only Vengier who likes giving dirt on his brother,” Virgil admitted.

Chao growled and looked away. “Should’ve never trusted that little snot…”

Virgil giggled, dropping the book into his lap and reaching over to hug him. “Thanks, Uncle Chao,” he mumbled into his shoulder.

An arm wrapped back around him.

“Yeah, whatever. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“I can’t believe you!”

Bang!

Nere and Amnon flinched as the man slammed his fist into the wall, shoulders heaving as he huffed for air. Amnon grabbed the edges of his scarf and twiddled with them while the man let out a moan.

“I’ve been so gracious to you, Nere,” he growled. “It’s been over a year since I spared your damn life. Over a year since I pushed aside my agenda so you could finish your revenge mission. I even gave you Amnon! And this is how you return that? By letting him get away again?!”

He whirled around, jabbing a finger at Nere; Amnon shuddered at how she stayed perfectly still, how she was conditioned enough to show no fear. A pin of ice settled in his stomach at the thought of being the same as her someday.

“How many times have you failed this mission now?” he snapped.

“Four,” she stated.

“Right! Four times! That’s four times you’ve wasted my time by chasing after some guy that apparently is way out of your league!” the man yelled. “So, tell me, Nere, why the hell should I let you keep after him?!”

She paused. Amnon chewed on his lip.

“There is good news,” she said.

The man barked out a laugh, staring at her for a long moment. “Good news? What the hell could have come out of a failed mission that could possibly be good?!”

Nere didn’t even blink at his shrieking, a smirk forming on her lips.

“We found her son.”

The man froze.

“…You mean…?”

“Yes,” Nere interrupted.

A smile formed on his lips. “Where?”

“He was with Chao, but it didn’t seem to be a normal occurrence,” she continued.

Amnon found his voice. “It looked like he was only being guarded by three other boys his age. Easy to defeat.”

Cackling filled the room. A chill ran up Amnon’s spine as the man raked a hand through his green fauxhawk. He rested his arm against his shoulder, the powder blue sleeve standing out against the dim lighting.

“Oh, that’s awesome,” the man sighed. “Looks like I don’t have to fire you two after all.”

Amnon stiffened, but the man turned around and began pacing before he could say anything.

“Now… I believe it’s time we start brainstorming.”

[autumn-new-moon]

Essential Oils Master List

This list contains the oils that I personally found useful enough to put in my grimoire. If you have more, feel free to add them, but please tag me (@autumn-new-moon) so that I can update my grimoire! I’ve included the Latin and common name of each oil, to make it easier to find them.

Abies alba - White Fir: milder substitute for pine oil (good for sensitivities), can treat stiff and sore muscles, can treat mucousy coughs, can stimulate blood flow.

Achillea millefolium - Yarrow: anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, can treats cuts and abrasions, can treat menstrual pain, may be useful in treating hemorrhoids but consult a doctor first.

Angelica archangelica - Angelica: can treat PMS and painful periods, an expectorant, can stimulate the immune system.

Aniba rosalodora - Rosewood: mainly used for aromatherapy with emphasis on improving the skin.

Anthemis nobilis/Chamaelum nobile - Roman/English Chamomile: relaxant, anti-depressant, can treat PMS.

Boswellia carterii - Frankincense: can treat wounds, can treat dry and aged skin, anti-inflammatory and cell regeneration properties, an astringent, can treat congested respiratory diseases.

Canarium luzonicum - Elemi: can treat wounds and skin infections, can help alleviate asthma.

Cardamomum elettaria - Cardamom: digestive stimulant, soothing effect on the lungs (when diffused).

Citrus latifolia - Lime: disinfectant for cuts and stings, an astringent, a stimulant.

Citrus limonum - Lemon: a stimulant and focusing agent, a natural disinfectant.

Citris paradisii - Grapefruit: a stimulant, anti-depressant, diuretic, can treat cellulite.

Citrus sinensis - Sweet Orange: anti-depressant, can stimulate diet, can be used as a diuretic.

Coriandrum sativum - Cilantro: detoxifying and cleansing effects, assists with digestion.

Cymbopogon citratus - Lemongrass: topical antiseptic and antifungal agent, can act as a warming agent for aching muscles and joints.

Cymbopogon winterianus - Citronella: natural insect repellent (can be used in combination with other oils to a stronger effect).

Eucalyptus globulus - Eucalyptus: decongestant and expectorant for respiratory diseases (when diffused), a warming agent for aches and pains.

Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce - Sweet Fennel: can treat menstrual cramps, can help regulate irregular menstrual cycles, can reduce intestinal spams and flatulence, has diuretic properties, can help treat cellulite and poor circulation.

Gaultheria fragrantissima - Wintergreen: warming agent when applied to the skin, stimulant (when used in aromatherapy).

Helichrysum italicum - Immortelle: anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects, can be used to heal inflammation of the lungs and airways (when diffused), an astringent.

Jasminum grandiflorum - Jasmine*: anti-depressant, stimulant.

*Jasmine is a very expensive oil, so other oils with the same properties can be used instead.

Juniperus communis - Juniper: can treat edematous conditions especially those related to inflammatory conditions (i.e. rheumatism, gout, arthritis), has diuretic properties.

Juniperus virginiana - Virginia Cedarwood: treats itching skin and bronchitis, can be used as a component for various muscle rubs, repels moths.

Lavinus nobilis - Sweet Bay: has expectorant and decongestant properties, may help with headaches especially sinus-related ones, has appetite stimulating properties, can increase the production of salivary juices.

Lavandula augustifolia/officinale - Lavender: known as first aid in a bottle, heals burns, remedy for insect bites and stings, relaxant properties.

Lavandula latifolia - Spike Lavender: treats respiratory infections, has warming properties that can treat arthritis, aches and pains, and poor circulation.

Matricaria chamomilla/recutita - German Chamomile: treats inflammatory and itchy conditions, can soothe digestive problems, a common component in wound healing blends.

Melaleuca alternifolia - Tea Tree: has anti-bacterial and antifungal effects, has anti-inflammatory properties, can help treat acne, boils, candida infections, sore throats, tinea and other inflammatory conditions.

Melissa officinalis - Lemon Balm: has antispasmodic and calming effects, has anti-viral effects especially for viral infections such as cold sores.

Mentha piperita - Peppermint: treats cramping indigestion and nausea, as well as sinus pain and headaches.

Mentha spicata - Spearmint: has antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscle of the gut, can treat nausea and travel sickness (in some individuals), can help treat colic in babies.

Myristica fragrans - Nutmeg: has uplifting effects especially with stress, can be a component in rubs for muscle aches and pains and arthritis.

Ocimum basilicum - Sweet Basil: helps relieve menstrual and intestinal cramping pain, has focusing properties.

Origanum vulgare - Oregano**: maintains healthy immune system function, supports respiratory function, powerful cleansing and purifying agent, offers powerful antioxidents.

 **This oil is especially helpful during cold and flu season: add about a dime sized amount (3-4 drops) to a shot glass full of water and swallow it quickly without letting it sit in your mouth (take it like a shot) and follow it by a swig of juice (orange or cranberry tend to be best, since they have strong flavours that’ll mask the oregano flavour). Do this at the first onset of cold or flu symptoms and it’ll help minimize them, if it doesn’t get rid of them altogether. Take this a couple times a day (morning and evening) for best results.

Pelargonium graveolens - Geranium: has antibacterial properties for wound healing and acne, a soothing aid for shingles and other neuralgia, a hormone balancer especially for women.

Pimpinella anisum - Aniseed: relieves spasms associated with indigestion, flatulence, and menstrual cramping, often used with fennel oil.

Pinus pinaster - Pine: an expectorant for respiratory infections, can relieve aches and pains, a diuretic and stimulant for circulation.

Piper nigrum - Black Pepper: a warming agent for muscular aches and pains, can aid in chronically cold hands and feet.

Pogostemon cablin - Patchouli: treats inflammatory skin conditions, astringent properties, can help reduce anxiety.

Rosa damascena - Rose: useful for gynecological and hormone problems as well as PMS and mood problems, aids in skin care, can reduce redness in capillaries, can restore youthful qualities to the skin.

Rosemarinus officinalis - Rosemary: stimulates memory and concentration, an expectorant for respiratory diseases, alleviates muscle aches and poor circulation.

Salvia sclarea - Clary Sage: antispasmodic for menstrual pain, regulates women’s hormones, an antidepressant and relaxant especially for panic and nervous hysteria.

Santalum album - Sandalwood: anti-inflammatory agent, aids dry and inflamed skin, heals sore and dry throats, also used for pruritis and genito-urinary infections.

Thymus vulgaris - Sweet Thyme***: anti-bacterial properties, a warming agent for massages, a potent natural insecticide.

***Thyme is irritating to the skin and scalp, so never apply undiluted or exceed the recommended amount.

Vanilla planifolia/fragrans - Vanilla: a remedy for anger, tension and irritability, an aphrodisiac, can help to stimulate appetite, the scent of vanilla may also help suppress cravings for sweet foods.

Zingiber officinale - Ginger: a remedy for nausea including pregnancy sickness and travel sickness, alleviates spasms in colic, stimulates circulation and metabolism, aids in pain from arthritis. 

[catherindonald]

Sage: The Herb of Thanksgiving

By Susan Belsinger

“Sage soothes both youth and age and brings the cook pleasing praise.”                                    Carolyn Dille & Susan Belsinger, Herbs in the Kitchen

The majority of recipes that we find for stuffing (cooked inside the turkey or other fowl) or dressing (generally cooked separately in a baking dish in the oven), use fresh or dried sage leaves for flavoring, whether the ingredients include sausage, oysters, mushrooms, nuts, dried fruit, traditional white breadcrumbs or cornbread. Besides its traditional uses with poultry, game, and liver, and in sausages, sage can add a rich and graceful note to vegetables, breads, and sweets.

Sage’s culinary use with rich dishes probably came from its reputation as a digestive. It was very highly held as a medicinal plant by the Greeks and Romans. Its principal use was as a calmative for the stomach and nerves. Regular use of sage tea was said to confer an even disposition to excitable natures and a healthy old age to everyone. Swiss peasants and American Indians used sage as a dentifrice, first chewing a few leaves, then brushing the gums with a twig.

Sage is much respected culinarily in England and Italy, where most country gardens have a sage bush, often fifteen years or older. The flavor from good sage stock does not deteriorate with age, however sage varies in flavor as much as some of the more delicate herbs, depending on the soil and weather conditions. Dalmatian sage from Yugoslavia is esteemed because the camphor odor is less pronounced than in sage grown in different climates. This aroma is also milder in the fresh leaf. The flavor of fresh sage has decidedly lemon rind tones over resin. The lemon flavor recedes and the camphor, and a pleasant muskiness similar to silage, comes forward when sage is dried.

Common sage (Salvia officinalis) seems to keep its aroma and flavor through cooking and drying. Dwarf sage ‘Nana’, white-flowered sage ‘Alba’, and purple-leaved sage ‘Purpurescens’ and the wide-leaved, German ‘Berggarten’ are all handsome varieties of common sage, with good flavor and aroma. The latter cultivar is very strong in flavor, so a smaller amount should be used in place of common sage.

Sage–it’s not just for turkey!

Tis the season for sage—so harvest and dry it—or bring it into the kitchen and get creative with your salvias! Here are just a few ways to use this cold-weather herb in warming winter dishes:

Turkey stuffing—I particularly like it baked in my cornbread, which I bake ahead and then crumble and let it dry out a bit.

Winter squash baked with sage, garlic, and drizzled with olive oil.

Oven-roasted root vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, rutabaga, parsnips, turnips, leeks, and onions) diced and baked in a hot oven with sage leaves and olive oil, perhaps sprinkled with some ancho chile powder or smoked paprika.

Pinto, black, red and white beans are much improved by the flavor of sage and it works well with green chiles.

Pasta e fagioli wouldn’t be the most delectable pasta and bean soup without sage.

Hearty stews, cassoulet and chili benefit from sage seasoning, not to mention its antioxidant properties.

Both risotto and pasta are wonderful when combined with winter squash, sage leaves, and toasted nuts.

Try fresh sage leaves in your biscuits or pumpkin scones.

Combine sliced sweet potatoes, apple slices, and onions (or not) in the crockpot with sage leaves and drizzle with a little maple syrup and add a few knobs of butter. Serve when meltingly tender garnished with toasted pecans.

My favorite seasonal fruits—apples and pears—are delightful with sage from sage apple cake, pear, and cranberry crumble to applesauce.

Sage honey is great for sore throats and coughs—taken by the spoonful or added to a cup of hot tea—I have some infusing now in local honey.

Cultivating Sage

Sage graces the garden with its soft grey-green foliage providing a pleasing contrast to the bright hues of most other culinary herbs. It will grow to a bush about four feet in diameter, keeping a well-rounded shape with little pruning in mild climates. All of the sages should have a well-drained or gravelly soil and some added calcium where it is lacking in the soil. Sage needs full sun and will survive through cold winters if well mulched. It should be pruned in the early spring to encourage new growth.

A good practice to follow is mulching sage with an inch or two of sand. That, and the careful sanitation of removing weeds and dead leaves will usually suffice to spare the plants from the soil-borne wilt diseases to which they are susceptible.

Harvesting and Drying Sage

Like most herbs, sage should be dried in a warm dry place away from sun. Once the leaves are completely dried they should be stored whole in airtight containers. Sage should be crumbled, never ground, as needed for cooking; grinding completely destroys the delicate lemony perfume and leaves the harsher resinous flavors.

Susan is a culinary herbalist, food writer, educator, and photograph whose work has been published in numerous publications. She has authored a number of award-winning books. Her latest book, The Culinary Herbal: Growing & Preserving 97 Flavorful Herbs was co-authored with the late Dr. Arthur Tucker.

Susan is passionate about herbs and her work, sharing the joy of gardening and cooking through teaching & writing, and inspiring others to get in touch with their senses of smell & taste.

Sage: The Herb of Thanksgiving published first on https://marcuskeever.blogspot.com/

[reddirtramblings]

Finally! I’ve found time to post again about our Yorkshire garden trip. My first post was about Newby Hall. You may get really tired of these UK posts, but as Robert Browning wrote:  “Oh, to be in England now that April’s there,” or perhaps, in this case, June.

Antique copper pot used as a very large container. The owners were thrilled to get one that was so large. Unfortunately, I can’t remember what was once boiled in it. Sheep’s wool? Sorghum? I don’t know.

I hope you don’t mind me sharing our travels because travel is one of the things I truly live for.

Sedum ‘Matrona,’ Salvia nemorosa ‘Wesuwe’, and tall campanula at Cow Close Cottage.

When not traveling, I’m planning my next trip. Last week, I spoke on a panel with two other bloggers, Erin Schanen from The Impatient Gardener and Elizabeth Licata of Garden Rant at the GWA Annual Conference & Expo in Chicago.

Next month, I’m meeting Bill in Milwaukee, for the 115th Anniversary of Harley Davidson. Yes, we ride a Harley. He’ll ride the entire way from Oklahoma to Wisconsin. I’ll fly.

I’ll ride to Roman Nose State Park in Oklahoma, and even Bikes, Blues and BBQ in Arkansas, but Wisconsin is entirely too far for this Red Dirt Girl.

That said, let’s get back to our Yorkshire Garden trip.

The herbaceous border on one side of the Cow Close Cottage.

While it’s fun to travel almost anywhere, traveling to English gardens with friends and my husband, Bill, makes everything so much better. Layanee DeMerchant of Ledge and Gardens and her friend and travel agent, Lorraine Whittemore organized this trip. Another dear friend, Cindy Tournier at My Corner of Katy also traveled with us. We met many other lovely friends on the tour and in the gardens.

I think travel makes you a better person. I really do.

[Click on the photos in the galleries to enlarge them and read the captions.]

Lawn at Cow Close Cottage.

Lawn roller. British gardeners take their lawns very seriously.

Herbaceous border and one side of the Cow Close Cottage.

Part of the reason I went with Layanee’s group was that I’m also thinking about leading people on trips. Heck, I already do all the research before I go with another group. Why not share that research with others!

Foxtail barley grass, Hordeum jubatum ‘Early Pink’ mixed with Salvia nemorosa ‘Wesuwe’ at Cow Close Cottage. The guys said they just let the grass reseed each year. It is beautiful in this spot.

What do you think? Would you like to go? If you think you might sign up for my travel newsletter, and you’ll get a copy of my free packing list too. I’ll also send you tips and tricks to start saving for that bucket list vacation.

Salvia nemorosa ‘Wesuwe’ and Nepeta grandiflora ‘Blue Danube’ against a ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud.

One of our first stops on our Yorkshire Garden trip was Cow Close Cottage, open as part of the National Garden Scheme, a voluntary organization where gardeners open their private gardens, large and small, for charity. In fact, all of the gardens we visited were part of the scheme or were larger public gardens.

Layanee sitting in the chair at the end of the meadow. I cannot describe the amount of insects that were fed by this meadow of grasses and wildflowers. I still want to plant my meadow. Perhaps, I’ll get to it in 2019.

William Moore & John Wilson own Cow Close Cottage, and they were delightful hosts. So kind, and interesting to talk with. They bought the property in May 2008 and planted the first border in 2009. They retired to the cottage in 2010 so it’s a fairly young garden. It is planned and planted so that the perennial borders hit their peak at the end of July.

They were lovely also in June.

Purple astrantia, masterwort, around a large bird bath in the back garden.

All of the photos in this post are from their wonderful garden.

The ha-ha at Cow Close Cottage. Ha-has were built to keep animals out of the upper garden without destroying the view from the house.

Groups and individuals pay to enter gardens and have refreshments, like cake, tea, and elderberry cordial. The Brits seem to be big on elderberry cordial, and Bill and I were glad because it’s quite tasty. Sometimes, elderberry cordial is served cold and diluted with water, and other times diluted with sparkling water. Either way is delicious. While many of the gardeners made their own elderberry cordial, and you can too, you can also buy Belvoir Fruit Farm Elderflower Cordial, 500ml on Amazon of all places.

Part of the shade garden in the front yard at Cow Close Cottage

The view from the upper garden.

Cattle and the Yorkshire view. Yes, it does truly look just like the television shows on PBS.

Honey bees at Cow Close Cottage. Check out that old stone wall. Scrumptious, isn’t it?

You may notice from the lawn that they were in the middle of a drought that then deepend over the summer. I’ve heard that the rains have now returned. Then again, you may not notice because southern gardens in the U.S. are often in drought most summers.

I hope you enjoyed our visit to Cow Close Cottage. I’ll do another Yorkshire post soon.

Yorkshire garden trip: Cow Close Cottage Finally! I've found time to post again about our Yorkshire garden trip. My first post was about…

[josephkitchen0]

Growing Herbs Outdoors? Try These 7 Garden Themes

By Gayle, Blossom’s Herb Farm – We are all inspired to plant a gigantic vegetable garden every year to cut costs at the grocery store. But have you ever thought about combining your hobby with your landscape? By growing herbs outdoors as well as perennials you can do double duty. Did you know that landscape gardening can add 10 percent to the total value of your home?

When you decide to add a new planting bed, think about what you like to do in your spare time. I enjoy tackling soap making recipes and homemade toiletries, so I started growing herbs outdoors that I dry and use in my homemade concoctions. If you are a weaver and would like to start using natural dyes for wool, then start growing herbs outdoors that will serve as dye plants.

Our best chicken secrets revealed with this FREE guide!

Even old pros say they got dozens of tips for their flocks by reading this guide. YES! I want this Free Guide »

For my church this year I was planning to donate a Bible garden. Not only will it be there to touch and feel for the students, but the students can look up passages that go with each plant. If your religion is different and you’re in touch with Mother Nature, then plant yourself a garden full of Wicca herbs that you can use in your rituals.

A medicinal garden is a good theme as one never knows when an ailment or condition may arise. Passionflower (headache treatment), lemon balm (depression treatment), and lavender (insomnia treatment) are just a few of the common herbs in a medicinal garden.

Another one of my favorites is my hummingbird and butterfly garden. I just sit back and listen to the rumble of the hummingbirds. Remember butterflies need to lay their young on host plants so plant a few extras of their favorites to allow the caterpillars to feast on. The number of theme gardens is endless. I’ve listed a few ideas here:

Hummingbird Theme

Many plants attract hummingbirds, but the best attractants are tubular in shape and many are red, although that’s not always the case. As long as you provide nectar sources from late spring through the first frost, convenient places for them to nest (willows), perch, and of course a water source, they will visit. Here are a few suggestions: Ladybells, snapdragon, columbine, butterflyweed, bee balm, false indigo, butterflybush, dianthus, foxglove, daylily, coralbell, heucherella, hibiscus, hosta, lobelia, maltese cross, catnip, catmint, beardstongue, phlox, obedient plant, willow, salvia, veronica, honeysuckle, and clematis.

Butterfly Theme

To have a successful butterfly garden you need to provide both nectar and host plants, a water source (a shallow dish with a few rocks) and places for hiding and resting. After mating the females will seek out specific “host plants” in which they will lay their eggs and the hatched caterpillars will then eat. For example, Monarch caterpillars will only feed on butterfly weeds (also known as the milkweed plant). So it is quite important to provide both host and nectar plants in your garden. The caterpillar will then shed its skin and transform into a chrysalis and firmly attach itself to a host plant over winter.

Take care when tidying up your garden for winter not to disturb chrysalides, caterpillars or eggs. It is better to cut down your perennial garden in spring.

The following is a list of both nectar and host plants: Achillea, allium, antirrhinum, aquilegia, armeria, artemesia, ascelepia, boltonia, buddleia, campanula, caryopteris, centranthus, chelone, coreopsis delphinium, dianthus, digitalis, echinacea, erigerion, erynigium, eupatorium, foeniciculum, gaillardia, gaura, helenium, hemerocallis, hypericum, hyssops, inula; leucanthemum, liatris, lobelia, lychnis, lysimachia, malva, monarda, nepeta, origanum, penstemon, perovskia, phlox, physotegia, rudbekia, rue, salix, salvia, sedum, sempervivum, thalictrum, thymus, valeriana, veronica, veronicastrum, humulus, loncera, campsis, loncera, and viola.

A “Perfect Cup of Tea” Theme

Pick two tablespoons fresh herbs per cup of tea or one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup. Bruise herbs with a wooden spoon, place in a teapot and pour boiling water over the herbs. Cover and let steep for about 15-20 minutes.

Plant and combine any of the following to make your own special herb brew. Yarrow, hyssop, lemon verbena, calendula, German chamomile, clove, pineapple sage, betony, stevia, thyme, and lavender.

Dyers Theme

The following plants historically provided color for fabrics and wool, but many times a mordant will be needed to get the right colors. (Consult a book for color achievement.) Yarrow, Roman chamomile, calendula, elecampane, horsetail, bronze fennel, sweet woodruff, lady bedstraw, St. John’s Wort, woad, bay tree, catnip, parsley, weld, rosemary, madder, black-eyed Susan, rue, sage, betony, comfrey, feverfew, tansy, or hops.

Herbal Bath Theme

Smoothing, soothing, and hydrating to the skin, herbal baths are a perfect antidote to combat impure air and water conditions. The basic bath is to place ½ cup of any combination of herbs in a non-metallic pot, add water to cover. Bring to boil, simmer 10-20 minutes to extract the wonderful benefits. Strain. Pour the fragrant brew into your warm—not hot— bathwater. Perspiring does not allow the absorption of the herbal nutrients. Try planting a few in a pot or in the ground. Lavender, mints, sages, chamomile, thymes, calendula, hops, parsley, basil, rosemary, roses, savory catnip, strawberry leaves, marshmallow, bay, verbena, comfrey.

Insect-Chasing Theme

Mix up a combination of herbs, dry thoroughly, and make into sachets to tuck into dark, creepy corners. Wormwood, southernwood, costmary, hyssop, rue, bay tree, lavender, peppermint, pennyroyal, spearmint, catnip, patroulli, mountain mint, rosemary, sage, santolina, tansy, thyme.

Medicinal Theme

Herbs are wonderful plants, but remember there is a dark side to all good things. Be careful when self-medicating. We make no recommendations or claims, but this is a list of plants that were used throughout history. (Ed. Note: Check with your physician for any possible herb/drug interactions.) With a little study, you can come up with mini medicinal theme gardens such as sleepy time herbs, headache herbs, cold herb garden, arthritis garden, etc.

If you have an ailment, a group of historically used herbs to suit you needs might consist of: Yarrow, oxknee, sweet flag, calamus, snow on the mountain, hyssop, lady’s mantel, garden chive, marshmallow, lemon verbena, chamomile, American arnica, mugwort, French tarragon, pleurisy root, New England aster, false indigo, wild indigo, calendula, German chamomile, costmary, black cohosh, coneflower, rattlesnake master, hemp agrimony, Joe-pye weed, Queen of the Meadow, bronze fennel, Sweet woodruff, lady bedstraw, bigfoot geranium, ginkgo tree, Russian licorice, Japanese blood grass, chameleon plant, St. John’s Wort, blue hyssop, bay tree, lavender, motherwort, lobelia, horehound, lemon balm, mint, bee balm, catnip, Russian sage, parsley, balloon flower, jie geng, garden sage, soapwort, Jing-Jie/Japanese Catnip, skullcap, betony, stevia, comfrey, feverfew, tansy, thyme, coltsfoot, valerian, mullein, vervain, culver’s root, passionflower vine, oregano, mallow, rue, rosemary, violet.

Other ideas are culinary, beer making, cut flowers, dried flowers, rock gardens, fairy gardens … endless possibilities. With all the hobbies out there I am sure you can attach a gardening theme to your passions in life.

Happy gardening and enjoy growing herbs outdoors for all your hobbies.

Originally published in Countryside March/April 2001 issue and regularly vetted for accuracy.

Growing Herbs Outdoors? Try These 7 Garden Themes was originally posted by All About Chickens

[queen-ofnewyork]

Review of Glowhill's Aurora Whitehole Glow Mask

Glowhill is a Korean brand that combines skin’s natural glow and makeup’s colorful glitter to be visually appealing while being beneficial to the skin. Their Aurora Whitehole Glow Mask is designed using diamond and pearl for radiant, clear skin. Key ingredients include: diamond powder (gently exfoliates, brightening, helps to disguise fine lines and imperfections), pearl powder extract (skin regeneration, anti-redness, brightening, whitening, supports skin health), centella asiatica extract (healing, antioxidant, anti-aging, soothing, strengthens skin) and milk protein (anti-irritant, hydrating, nourishing, healing). This product retails for between $22-40 USD, you can get it here for $38.99 + free shipping.

Ingredients

Water, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, Methylpropanediol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Xanthan Gum, C12-14 Pareth-12, 1,2-Hexanediol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Butylene Glycol, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Leaf Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propanediol, Disodium EDTA, Pearl Powder, Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata (Fish Mint) Extract, Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Extract, Tin Extract, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Bellis Perennis (Daisy) Flower Extract, Aspartic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Phosphatidylcholine, Sambucus Nigra (Elder) Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Extract, Magnolia Liliiflora (Purple Lily Magnolia) Flower Extract, Plumeria Rubra (Red Frangipani) Flower Extract, Lilium Tigrinum (Tiger Lily) Extract, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Milk Protein Extract, Hylauronic Acid, Ceramide NP, Amethyst Powder, Tourmaline, Diamond Powder, Topaz, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ruby Powder, Sodium Hyaluronate, Fragrance

To quickly note, I received this for a small fee from 0.8 Liter for my honest review, this post is not sponsored.

The mask contains 50 ml (1.69 oz) and it has a very perfumey scent.

The mask also included a silicone pack brush.

The mask is white and has a beautiful glittery glow. It has a sticky finish, but it does spread pretty easily.

The mask shines beautifully and dries down entirely. It does pull off dry skin and baby hairs due to how sticky it is. (Sorry for my face lol)

The mask also gets right into the pores and pulls out dirt. After taking off the mask, my looked brighter and whiter and leaves it very smooth.

Recommended use is to take a moderate amount and spread it out wide and then once dried, remove it after about 15-20 minutes. Avoid the eye and lip areas. After using, it's important to note, this mask has a very strong scent, I personally love it but it's not ideal for everyone. The mask has a very smooth and sticky texture and there's no grittiness from all the glitter in it. The ingredients are nice and not irritating and the silicone brush actually spreads the mask easily. It gives the skin a brighter tone and soothes redness. This mask does pull kind of tightly so it's really best to avoid if you have sensitive skin.

What I like: I love this sparkly mask trend honestly. The scent of this mask is awesome, it's like some lovely perfume. The ingredients are lovely and it has a smooth texture and is easy to spread on the skin. There's no grittiness from the glitter and the pack brush works very well too. It's very brightening and soothes redness. It also smoothes the skin very well. What I don't like: I love the scent, but it may be an issue for people with an aversion to fragrance.

Pros:

Brightening

Smoothing

Great ingredients

Sparkly!

Great scent

Spreads easily and very smooth

No grittiness

Cons:

Fragrance

Would I buy again?

Yes

Rating: 9.5/10

[oilingpoint]

Healthy Essentials: The Best Essential Oils For Hot Flashes!

Hot flashes can really be a hassle. They can be stressful as they come and go without warning. Most people look to their doctor to prescribe them accordingly with medicine that may ease the symptoms of hot flashes.

Taking traditional synthetic medicine can sometimes be a hassle as medication can be expensive and produce unwanted side effects.

Essential oils are a wonderful alternative traditional synthetic medicine as essential oils are natural, affordable, and have little to no side effects. This is your ultimate guide to finding the best essential oils to treat hot flashes!

Best Essential Oils For Hot Flashes - What Exactly Are Hot Flashes?

Before we get into knowing the cure, it is best that we know what hot flashes are and what are the condition’s causes, symptoms, risk factors, and complications. It is most important to know your condition before you treat it, for this reason I've listed down below all of the things that you need to know about hot flashes!

What Are The Symptoms?

Hot flashes are a quick feeling of heat that is usually followed by having a red flushed face and sweating. Scientists have not exactly determined the cause of hot flashes but they are usually related to changes in air circulation.

The symptoms of hot flashes include:

Skin that suddenly feels warm

Experiencing redness of skin on the face, neck, ears, and chest

Sweating

A heartbeat that is faster than usual

Tingling in your fingers

Aside from the symptoms that I've cited above, many people tend to feel cold and get chills when their bout of hot flashes goes away.

While hot flashes are common during the day, they can also occur at night. Hot flashes that occur at night are called night sweats. Night sweats can be a hassle as it can cause you to have a hard time to sleep.

On the other hand, a hot flush is a hot flash that comes with redness in the face and the neck.

The duration of hot flashes may vary but they tend to occur for short periods of time during menopause.

Hot flashes are a trademark symbol of menopause. Women who are undergoing menopause tend to experience hot flashes as often as a few times a day. Although menopause is the leading cause, it isn't the only cause.

What Are The Causes And Risk Factors?

The exact cause of hot flashes have not yet been figured out by scientists, but it is often thought that hot flashes are caused by changes in air circulation and hormone levels. Hot flashes have been found to be triggered by several factors.

Potential triggers of hot flashes include:

Spicy food

Hot drinks

Alcoholic beverages

Warm temperatures

Tobacco smoking

Tight clothing

Stress, anxiety, depression

Pregnancy

Chemotherapy

Hyperthyroidism

Spinal lesions

Certain medications

Besides the things that I've listed above, there are a number of other things that can trigger hot flashes.

Studies have also shown that ethnicity plays a factor on the likelihood of an individual to get hot flashes. People of African descent have been shown to report more instances of menopause caused hot flashes than their European and Asian counterparts.

I advise that you consult your doctor as soon as you can if you experience hot flashes on a regular basis. A doctor would be able to accurately pinpoint the cause of your hot flashes and advise you on how to deal with them accordingly.

Are There Any Complications?

Yes. Night time hot flashes or night sweats can wake you from your slumber and in time cause chronic insomnia. Hot flashes have also been linked to the development of heart disease and bone loss.

Hot flashes may seem like a medical condition that should not be of concern but it may serve as a gateway for many other medical conditions that can be life threatening. It is very important that you not take hot flashes for granted and deal with them accordingly.

Diagnosis

There aren't really any tests to diagnose hot flashes. Instead, your doctor may diagnose you based on your description of your symptoms. Your doctor may also sometimes ask you to take a blood test in order to find out if you're in menopausal transition.

How To Self-Manage Hot Flashes

If you're experiencing mild hot flashes, I suggest that you take on these lifestyle changes to manage them:

Stay Cool

It is widely accepted that slight variations in your body's core temperature may cause hot flashes. I advise that you dress in layers so that you may remove your clothing accordingly if you feel warm.

Another way to stay cool is to open your electric fan, windows, or air conditioner. If possible, lower your room temperature.

Lastly, if you feel that you're about to experience a bout of hot flashes, drink something cold as soon as you can. Cold drinks are great for lowering your body temperature and alleviating hot flashes.

Relax

There are some people that find relief from their hot flashes through meditation and other stress reducing techniques.

Even if stress reducing techniques don't completely eliminate your hot flashes, you should do them anyway as they might provide other benefits, such as easing sleep disturbances that tend to occur with menopause.

Watch Your Diet

Caffeinated beverages, spicy food, and alcoholic beverages are all known to trigger hot flashes. It is most important that you learn to recognize what food and drinks cause hot flashes and avoid them for the better.

Lose Weight

If you are overweight or obese, it is best to shed off those unnecessary pounds as losing weight may aid in easing your hot flashes.

Do Not Smoke

Smoking has been linked by both doctors and scientists to hot flashes. By not smoking, you dramatically reduce your chances of getting hot flashes.

Aside from reducing the risk of getting hot flashes, not smoking also greatly reduces your chances of getting deadly diseases that are known to be caused by smoking. You'll be doing yourself a favor by not smoking!

Best Essential Oils For Hot Flashes - What Are The Best For Your Hot Flashes?

Like I said earlier, essential oils are a great alternative to traditional medications if you're looking to manage the symptoms of your hot flashes. Experts have found several different essential oils to be able to provide utmost relief when applied on various areas of the body.

The essential oils that relieve hot flashes come from a variety of different plants.

Below are the five essential oils that have been found to be great for alleviating the symptoms that are caused by hot flashes!

Clary Sage Essential Oil

Clary sage essential oil is extracted from the herbaceous plant, salvia sclarea. People have been using the clary sage plant medicinally for more than a thousand years as an eye cleanser. The term ‘clary’ comes from the Latin word ‘clarus’, which means clarifying or cleansing.

The essential oil that is extracted from this plant has been found to possess antibacterial, anti-

inflammatory, carminative, sedative, hypotensive, euphoric, and antidepressant properties. 

Aside from being used for medicinal purposes, clary sage essential oil is also used in the cosmetic industry as it is a common ingredient in many deodorants, herbal soaps, shampoos, face washes, and other hygiene products.

To relieve yourself of hot flashes, all you need to do is to rub three drops of diluted clary sage oil across the back of your neck or your feet.

If you want even quicker relief, dab a few drops of the oil on a napkin or a swab of cotton and inhale and exhale.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is actually the most used essential oil in the entire world. Ancient records tell us that lavender essential oil has a deep history and has been used medicinally and religiously for more than two millennia.

The Egyptians famously used lavender oil for mummification and as a perfume. Aside from the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans also used lavender oil for cooking, scenting air, and bathing.​

Lavender oil is great for hot flashes as it balances your hormones and soothes perineal discomfort. Aside from being able to relieve perineal discomfort and balance your hormones, Lavender essential oil also has the ability to promote feelings of relaxation and improve the quality of your sleep.

This amazing essential oil is a perfect alternative for those who are taking sleeping aid medications as lavender oil does not have side effects.

Hot flashes are guaranteed to be a thing of the past with lavender essential oil!

Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil has a fresh and invigorating minty aroma. This amazing essential oil is very versatile and has been found to be great for countless different kinds of applications.

Scientists have widely studied this oil and have discovered countless alkaloids and compounds that benefit our health.

The peppermint plant is actually a natural hybrid of the water mint and the spearmint plants. Native to the European continent, this plant grows to a maximum of 60 cm tall. Peppermint plants bloom from July to August, where they sprout tiny purple flowers.

Peppermint oil is extracted from the whole plant above ground just before flowering. The oil is extracted by steam distillation from the fresh or partly dried plant.

This wonderful essential oil is perfect for relieving the discomfort brought upon by hot flashes. For quick relief, all you need to do is to apply two drops of this oil on a tissue and hold the tissue up to your nose and breathe in slowly.

Basil Essential Oil

Basil oil comes from the basil plant that we all know and love. We often associate basil with Italian cuisine, but did you know that the essential oil that can be extracted from the plant has loads of health benefits?

The essential oil that comes from basil is mostly used for respiratory, muscular, and joint support.

Aside from what I stated above, basil oil is also great for increasing your estrogen levels. Increased estrogen levels in women often improve moods and therefore reduce stress and unwanted bouts of hot flashes.

To use basil essential oil, all you need to do is to rub the diluted oil on your feet and the back of your neck.

You're sure to get quick relief with this amazing essential oil from the basil plant!

Citrus Essential Oil

Citrus oil aromatherapy has been found by scientists and doctors to have a wide array of benefits for women who are suffering from menopause.

A study which was conducted back in 2014 proved that postmenopausal women who inhaled this essential oil experienced an increase in libido and a decrease in symptoms brought upon by menopause.

Women who inhaled citrus essential oil are said to experience a decrease in blood pressure, as well as an improved pulse rate and a more balanced estrogen level.

Aside from being beneficial for blood circulation and hormone regulation, citrus essential oil has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties. Your hot flashes and aches and pains are sure to become a thing of the past with this essential oil!

Best Essential Oils For Hot Flashes - What To Consider Before Treating Your Hot Flashes With Essential Oil

Essential oils are a great alternative to traditional medicine but like all medicines, essential oils aren't perfect for everyone.

I generally don't recommend essential oils to people who have sensitive skin as essential oils may sometimes may do more harm than good due to allergic reactions that may arise when a person who has sensitive skin uses them.

Before applying any kinds of essential oil, I believe that it is best that you conduct a simple test to make sure that you aren't allergic to the oil that you plan on using.

To test your skin, all you need to do is to put a dab of the oil that you wish to use on your skin and wait for fifteen to thirty minutes. If there aren’t any harsh reactions, then you're clear to proceed.

The post Healthy Essentials: The Best Essential Oils For Hot Flashes! appeared first on Oiling Point.

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[queen-ofnewyork]

Review of Frienvita’s N.M.F. Royal Crown Mask

Frienvita is a Korean brand that mixes friend with vitamin. It's a mix of enjoyment, sensibility, dynamic, and answer finding. Their N.M.F. Royal Crown Mask is the queen of all moisturizing masks. Key ingredients include glycosaminoglycans (natural moisturizer, keeps skin hydrated, maintains skin's volume, elasticity, and firmness), sodium hyaluronate (anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, hydrating, moisturizing, healing), sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer (provides long-lasting moisture effects, increase skin’s elasticity, reduces skins roughness), hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid (designed to easier penetrate the skin, stimulates collagen synthesis, moisturizing), amino acid complex (wound healing, repairs damaged skin, protection against sun damage, skin maintenance) and jasmine flower extract (anti-aging, antioxidant, evens skin tone, moisturizing, non-irritating). This mask retails for between $2-4 USD, you can get 10 pieces here for $24.99 + free shipping.

Ingredients

Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Diglycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Fraxinus Rhynchophylla Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Flower Extract, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Leaf Extract, Lilium Candidum (Madonna Lily) Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, PVM/MA Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Butylene Glycol, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium PCA, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Glysine, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Valine, Proline, Isoleucine, Ceramide NP, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Glycosaminoglycans, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Histidine, Cysteine, Methionine, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Copper Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Hexapeptide-9, Fragrance, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol

This mask contains 27 grams (0.95 oz) and has a skincare/ingredients type scent.

The mask is made of very soft cotton material and is kind of thick but it doesn't weigh it down on the face. The eye holes needed to be adjusted but otherwise, it's a great fit.

Recommended use is to wash and apply toner to the skin. Let the mask sit for 10-20 minutes. After removing the mask, gently pat the remaining essence into the skin. After using, first, note, this mask does contain fragrance, as many masks tend to do so if you don't want that feature to keep that in mind. This mask is really moisturizing as it claims, it really penetrates deep into the skin and keeps the skin moisturized for a long period of time. It's also very hydrating and contains many nourishing and hydrating ingredients including a cocktail of hyaluronic acid. It also does a good job of soothing redness and irritation and has long-lasting effects. I'd recommend this to anyone with really dry and dehydrated skin.

What I like: this mask is so nourishing and so moisturizing, it really makes a difference and the moisture is long-lasting. It's also soothing and takes care of the irritation. The ingredients are lovely and there's a lot of great ingredients there. This is a great option for very dry skin. What I don't like: there's fragrance.

Pros:

Moisturizing af

Hydrating

Nourishing

Soothing

Nice ingredients

Comfortable

Long-lasting effects

High quality

Cons:

Fragrance

Would I buy again?

Yes

Rating: 10/10

[josephkitchen0]

Growing Herbs Outdoors? Try These 7 Garden Themes

By Gayle, Blossom’s Herb Farm – We are all inspired to plant a gigantic vegetable garden every year to cut costs at the grocery store. But have you ever thought about combining your hobby with your landscape? By growing herbs outdoors as well as perennials you can do double duty. Did you know that landscape gardening can add 10% to the total value of your home?

When you decide to add a new planting bed, think about what you like to do in your spare time. I enjoy tackling soap making recipes and homemade toiletries, so I started growing herbs outdoors that I dry and use in my homemade concoctions. If you are a weaver and would like to start using natural dyes for wool, then start growing herbs outdoors that will serve as dye plants.

What's in your home medicine closet?

Download this FREE Guide to learn home remedies for common ailments — from poison ivy and warts to cold sores and cough remedies. YES! I want this Free Report »  

For my church this year I was planning to donate a Bible garden. Not only will it be there to touch and feel for the students, but the students can look up passages that go with each plant. If your religion is different and you’re in touch with Mother Nature, then plant yourself a garden full of Wicca herbs that you can use in your rituals. Another one of my favorites is my hummingbird and butterfly garden. I just sit back and listen to the rumble of the hummingbirds. Remember butterflies need to lay their young on host plants so plant a few extras of their favorites to allow the caterpillars to feast on. The number of theme gardens is endless. I’ve listed a few ideas here:

Hummingbird Theme

Many plants attract hummingbirds, but the best attractants are tubular in shape and many are red, although that’s not always the case. As long as you provide nectar sources from late spring through the first frost, convenient places for them to nest (willows), perch, and of course a water source, they will visit. Here are a few suggestions: Ladybells, snapdragon, columbine, butterflyweed, bee balm, false indigo, butterflybush, dianthus, foxglove, daylily, coralbell, heucherella, hibiscus, hosta, lobelia, maltese cross, catnip, catmint, beardstongue, phlox, obedient plant, willow, salvia, veronica, honeysuckle, and clematis.

Butterfly Theme

To have a successful butterfly garden you need to provide both nectar and host plants, a water source (a shallow dish with a few rocks) and places for hiding and resting. After mating the females will seek out specific “host plants” in which they will lay their eggs and the hatched caterpillars will then eat. For example, Monarch caterpillars will only feed on butterfly weeds (also known as the milkweed plant). So it is quite important to provide both host and nectar plants in your garden. The caterpillar will then shed its skin and transform into a chrysalis and firmly attach itself to a host plant over winter.

Take care when tidying up your garden for winter not to disturb chrysalides, caterpillars or eggs. It is better to cut down your perennial garden in spring.

The following is a list of both nectar and host plants: Achillea, allium, antirrhinum, aquilegia, armeria, artemesia, ascelepia, boltonia, buddleia, campanula, caryopteris, centranthus, chelone, coreopsis delphinium, dianthus, digitalis, echinacea, erigerion, erynigium, eupatorium, foeniciculum, gaillardia, gaura, helenium, hemerocallis, hypericum, hyssops, inula; leucanthemum, liatris, lobelia, lychnis, lysimachia, malva, monarda, nepeta, origanum, penstemon, perovskia, phlox, physotegia, rudbekia, rue, salix, salvia, sedum, sempervivum, thalictrum, thymus, valeriana, veronica, veronicastrum, humulus, loncera, campsis, loncera, and viola.

A “Perfect Cup of Tea” Theme

Pick two tablespoons fresh herbs per cup of tea or one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup. Bruise herbs with a wooden spoon, place in a teapot and pour boiling water over the herbs. Cover and let steep for about 15-20 minutes.

Plant and combine any of the following to make your own special herb brew. Yarrow, hyssop, lemon verbena, calendula, German chamomile, clove, pineapple sage, betony, stevia, thyme, and lavender.

Dyers Theme

The following plants historically provided color for fabrics and wool, but many times a mordant will be needed to get the right colors. (Consult a book for color achievement.) Yarrow, Roman chamomile, calendula, elecampane, horsetail, bronze fennel, sweet woodruff, lady bedstraw, St. John’s Wort, woad, bay tree, catnip, parsley, weld, rosemary, madder, black-eyed Susan, rue, sage, betony, comfrey, feverfew, tansy, or hops.

Herbal Bath Theme

Smoothing, soothing, and hydrating to the skin, herbal baths are a perfect antidote to combat impure air and water conditions. The basic bath is to place ½ cup of any combination of herbs in a non-metallic pot, add water to cover. Bring to boil, simmer 10-20 minutes to extract the wonderful benefits. Strain. Pour the fragrant brew into your warm—not hot— bathwater. Perspiring does not allow the absorption of the herbal nutrients. Try planting a few in a pot or in the ground. Lavender, mints, sages, chamomile, thymes, calendula, hops, parsley, basil, rosemary, roses, savory catnip, strawberry leaves, marshmallow, bay, verbena, comfrey.

Insect-Chasing Theme

Mix up a combination of herbs, dry thoroughly, and make into sachets to tuck into dark, creepy corners. Wormwood, southernwood, costmary, hyssop, rue, bay tree, lavender, peppermint, pennyroyal, spearmint, catnip, patroulli, mountain mint, rosemary, sage, santolina, tansy, thyme.

Medicinal Theme

Herbs are wonderful plants, but remember there is a dark side to all good things. Be careful when self-medicating. We make no recommendations or claims, but this is a list of plants that were used throughout history. (Ed. Note: Check with your physician for any possible herb/drug interactions.) With a little study, you can come up with mini medicinal theme garden such as sleepy time herbs, headache herbs, cold herb garden, arthritis garden, etc. If you have an ailment, a group of historically used herbs to suit you needs might consist of: Yarrow, oxknee, sweet flag, calamus, snow on the mountain, hyssop, lady’s mantel, garden chive, marshmallow, lemon verbena, chamomile, American arnica, mugwort, French tarragon, pleurisy root, New England aster, false indigo, wild indigo, calendula, German chamomile, costmary, black cohosh, coneflower, rattlesnake master, hemp agrimony, Joe-pye weed, Queen of the Meadow, bronze fennel, Sweet woodruff, lady bedstraw, bigfoot geranium, ginkgo tree, Russian licorice, Japanese blood grass, chameleon plant, St. John’s Wort, blue hyssop, bay tree, lavender, motherwort, lobelia, horehound, lemon balm, mint, bee balm, catnip, Russian sage, parsley, balloon flower, jie geng, garden sage, soapwort, Jing-Jie/Japanese Catnip, skullcap, betony, stevia, comfrey, feverfew, tansy, thyme, coltsfoot, valerian, mullein, vervain, culver’s root, passionflower vine, oregano, mallow, rue, rosemary, violet.

Other ideas are culinary, beer making, cut flowers, dried flowers, rock gardens, fairy gardens…endless possibilities. With all the hobbies out there I am sure you can attach a gardening theme to your passions in life.

Happy gardening and enjoy growing herbs outdoors for all your hobbies.

Originally published in Countryside March/April 2001 issue and regularly vetted for accuracy.

Growing Herbs Outdoors? Try These 7 Garden Themes was originally posted by All About Chickens