#Viruses in winter

[manicpixiedreamguy]

Already spent eight days of 2025 sick in bed, I miss when wearing masks in public places was mandatory

[gotyouanyway]

another thing is that yes masking mainly prevents you from spreading covid via your breath and only does so much to protect you from inhaling it, but a mask will still protect you quite well from more droplet-borne viruses that are going around right now and they still help stop you touching your face with your dirty hands and getting yourself sick that way. which is a big deal right now with everyone's immune systems being damaged and all these other viruses going around. maybe a mask won't really stop you getting covid but it can go a long way stopping you from getting every other cold and flu and stomach bug going around too. and covid isn't the only virus that can cause long-term damage especially if your immune system isn't working right. so like the overall protection factor of wearing a mask rn is probably higher than ever. zero risk, high potential reward

[gingerale2017]

sometimes i forget about cress like im thinking of a scenario and i skip a character and its cress not bc i dont like her (i AM her actually) but i create stories where her certain expertise (hacking and illegal stuff) doesn’t fit w the plot im cooking up.

i can’t make a kaider fic without thorne and i cant write thorne without cress. so i have to somehow make her more relevant than just being thorne’s gf but an essential person to the plot.’idk how to explain it but i ALWAYS have to change smth abt my story to make cress fit

[ellearts]

September 1 clocks in and I'm sick again :<<

[ayamohammed2024]

Hello

my name is Aya, I am 26 years old, currently living in the northern part of Gaza City, and I am a mother of two children. My oldest is my daughter, Sana'a, who is 5 years old, and my youngest is my son, Wasfi, who is 3.

Since the morning of October 7th, 2023, our lives have been turned upside down. We have lived through the hardest days of our lives, facing displacement and homelessness. We have been forced to leave our home more than ten times since the war began. We would leave without knowing where to go.

We sought refuge in schools and relatives' homes, hoping we could return home and that this nightmare would end. But our house was bombed, and our dreams were destroyed. We became homeless and displaced.

Every day, we wake up to the sound of bombs and rockets. I lived in constant fear and terror with my children, especially when my family's house was bombed while we were taking shelter there.

We are experiencing a real famine in Gaza. I’ve gone to bed with my children many nights without dinner because there is no food available. We have had to eat animal and bird feed due to the high cost of flour just to fill the hunger of my young children. Even after eating it, we all suffered from diarrhea and severe stomach pain. My children developed rashes on their bodies due to the spread of viruses and the accumulation of garbage. There is also a severe shortage of water, and even when we find it, it's not safe to drink.

My children cry, asking for vegetables, fruits, and eggs, but we can’t afford them because we have no income. The gas shortage has forced us to use fire for everything—cooking and baking—using plastic and pipes because firewood is so hard to find.

My children also developed jaundice, and I struggled a lot to get them better because there was no access to vegetables, fruits, or medicine. I even feared that my son might have developed polio because he already had leg problems before the war, and they worsened due to malnutrition.

Winter is coming, and we have nothing for it. I need clothes and shoes for my children to keep them warm, but I can’t buy them because they are so expensive.

For this reason, I beg of you and hope that you can support me, even with the smallest contribution, so I can provide my children with the most basic necessities of life.

I was displaced with my children to my family's house, tears in my eyes. On the way, Salah Al-Din Street was bombed, and the Israeli occupation committed horrific massacres. By the grace of God, we survived for the first time. We lived in terror and fear. A few days later, my family's house was bombed, and we were pulled out from under the rubble, miraculously surviving for the second time.

When my husband heard the news that we had died, he came to bid us farewell, only to find us alive by God's grace. We returned with him, but as the situation worsened and the fire belts in our area increased, we started to flee again and again, not knowing where to go next.

I beg of you to share my story and help me continue to live.

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #230 )✅️

Vetted by butterfly nu #1133

[huda123sblog]

Hello

My name is Hoda, I am twenty years old and my husband's name is Sobhi, he is twenty-four years old. We live with my husband's family, which consists of fourteen people. Our lives have turned for the worse since October 7, 2023. Since that day😭, the occupation forced us to leave our home and we were displaced from 8 to 10 times. Then we went to the security line in the south of the Gaza Strip🇵🇸 because of the fire belts, missiles and shells. We went without shelter. After that, torn tents were provided to protect my family🙋‍♀️🙋. The news came to surprise us that our home was bombed. Here, our dreams and hopes were shattered.

Now, we are suffering from the lack of flour for my family due to the exorbitant prices of food🥬🫑. This has caused malnutrition for my family, as well as the lack of water. When water is available, it is unclean and unfit for drinking. This has caused the spread of epidemics and viruses that caused the spread of skin rashes in my family. Animal food, such as fodder and barley, was mixed to provide food for my family, which caused stomach pain and diarrhea.

I beg you In achieving my dream of having children, I got married at the age of fifteen and now it has been five years since my marriage and I have not had children, so please help me collect money to plant children. 😭🙏😢

Otherwise, I did not complete my studies due to lack of money and lack of a place to study, and I hope that you will help me achieve my goals🙏🙏.

We suffer in lighting fires that are used to heat water, cook food and provide warmth. The price of firewood has risen insanely, so we use pipes and plastic instead of firewood, which has led to a crisis in the respiratory system. Winter may be coming and my family and I will not have clothes, blankets, shoes and useful tents. I do not know what I will do to protect my family from the bitter cold. Thank you. ❤️

I was hoping to beg you to help me and my family survive the danger of war.🙏😔🔗

@xxx-sparkydemon-xxx @lampthehealthminister @baandar @doug-dimmadumb @astronotesstuff @prokyon @the-bitch-isback @aceofrage @intheindustrynow-blog @horrorcore2002 @thescavenger29 @yvening @springcres @meowmaids @akaratna @ezras-turtleneck-blog @fagarlic @grandpom @omens-augury @pianta @kingtransgender @friendlizard @intricatecakes @marbirds @error-core-animations @block-swing-perry @br-eddrolls @kraigerzz-blog @daily-click-reminders @commissions4aid-international @anneemay @tumkaafiho @balaclava-trismegistus @ripley-stark @mangocheesecakes @bees-fantasies @girl4pay @turtletoria @rikebe @esperantoauthor @starless-gaze @frehscah

✅️Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #314 )✅️

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved on our archive

By Anthony Robledo

The side effects of newly discovered COVID-19 strain XEC might not be as severe, but is part of the more contagious variant class, experts say.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines XEC as recombinant or hybrid of the strains KS.1.1 and KP.3.3., both from the Omicron family that became the predominant strain in the U.S. late December 2022.

The variant, which first appeared in Berlin in late June, has increasingly seen hundreds of cases in Germany, France, Denmark and Netherlands, according to a report by Australia-based data integration specialist Mike Honey.

XEC has also been reported in at least 25 U.S. states though there could be more as genetic testing is not done on every positive test, RTI International epidemiologist Joëlla W. Adams said.

"We often use what happens in Europe as a good indication of what might happen here," Adams told USA TODAY Friday. "Whenever we're entering into a season where we have multiple viruses occurring at the same time, like we're entering into flu season, that obviously complicates things."

What is the XEC variant? New COVID strain XEC is a recombinant strain of two variants in the Omicron family: KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.

The hybrid strain was first reported in Berlin late June but has spread across Europe, North America and Asia with the countries Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark leading cases.

Is the XEC variant more contagious? While there's no indication the XEC strain will increase the severity of virus, it could potentially become a dominant strain as Omicron variants are more contagious. However, current available COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots are particularly protective against XEC as it is a hybrid of two Omicron strains.

"These strains do have the advantage in the fact that they are more transmissible compared to other families, and so the vaccines that are currently being offered were not based off of the XEC variant, but they are related," Adams said.

Like other respiratory infections, COVID-19 and its recent Omicron variants will increasingly spread during the fall and winter seasons as students return to classes, kids spend more time inside and people visit family for the holidays, according to Adams.

How can we protect ourselves from XEC and other variants? The CDC continues to monitor the emergence of variants in the population, according to spokesperson Rosa Norman.

"At this time, we anticipate that COVID-19 treatments and vaccines will continue to work against all circulating variants," Norman said in a statement to USA TODAY. "CDC will continue to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and vaccines against circulating variants."

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older, with some exceptions, receive an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the virus, regardless whether or not you have previously been vaccinated or infected.

Norman urged Americans to monitor the agency's COVID Data Tracker for updates to new variants.

KP.3.1.1:This dominant COVID-19 variant accounts for over 50% of cases, new CDC data shows

What is the dominant strain of COVID in the US? COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 is currently the dominant strain accounting for more than half of positive infections in the U.S. according to recent CDC projections.

Between Sept. 1 and Sept. 14, 52.7% of positive infections were of the KP.3.1.1 strain, followed by KP.2.3 at 12.2%, according to the agency's Nowcast data tracker, which displays COVID-19 estimates and projections for two-week periods.

KP.3.1.1 first became the dominant strain in the two-week period, starting on July 21st and ending on August 3rd.

"The KP.3.1.1 variant is very similar to other circulating variants in the United States. All current lineages are descendants of JN.1, which emerged in late 2023," Norman previously told USA TODAY.

COVID XEC symptoms There is no indication that the XEC variant comes with its own unique symptoms.

The CDC continues to outline the basic COVID-19 symptoms, which can appear between two to 14 days after exposure to the virus and can range from mild to severe.

These are some of the symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea

The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Inability to wake or stay awake Pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

[saeboria]

just because 'flu season' is ending, it doesn't mean you have to stop wearing a mask

spring and warmer weather is coming, and i feel like there's a lot of people that think you should only wear a mask in the winter and that is not the case!!! there are many other viruses lingering in the air that roam all year round, indoor and outdoor!! i know i've personally been told this before.. when i told someone close to me more recently that i was starting to sell mask chains, they said "oh that's great for the winter since it's flu season"

but wearing a mask helps protect you and and your community all year long

if you started to mask again, please don't stop! and if you haven't yet, there's no better time to start then now! 🤍

[formulakracing]

time off — t.w.

pairing -> sick toto x reader

word count -> 1.1k

warnings -> toto is sick, lots of hurt + comfort, slight cursing, mostly fluffy stuff

a/n -> i am finally working through fics that are lined up in the garage. i believe this one was a request from an anon! i hope you guys enjoy! <3

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

the blaring of an alarm pulls you from your slumber.

stirring, you wrinkle your nose, fighting a yawn. there's a swath of comforter to your left, the fabric rising and falling. carefully, you nudge the bundle, your voice thick with exhaustion.

"toto, it's time to get up love."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

there's a groan that rises from the comforter, the figure rolling over. he wraps an arm around your frame, bringing you in close.

"f-five more minutes."

you can't help but notice that his voice is deeper. significantly deeper. there's a bit of a rasp to it, almost as if it pained him to speak. he nuzzles his head into your shoulder, coughing ever so slightly.

arching your brow, you purse your lips. this sort of behavior in the morning was unlike toto. he was a man who structured his mornings around a strict routine. each day, without fail, he woke up to his alarm, getting out of bed with ease. typically, you were the one who struggled to get up, as he had to lure you with breakfast.

shifting your body, you turn over, a tender hand connecting with his cheek. almost instantly, you feel the heat radiating off his skin.

"are you feeling okay?"

an eye opens, forming a slit. he exhales, shaking his head, "i'm fine. just want a few more minutes of sleep. that's all."

"are you sure?" your brow furrows, "you feel warm."

letting out a grunt, toto snuggles closer to you, sniffling, "i was just underneath the covers."

almost instantly, it clicked.

he wasn't feeling well. he must have came down with something. after all, it was the start of winter. everyone was spreading around a menagerie of illnesses and viruses. it was just customary with the change of the seasons. due to the nature of his work, he came into close contact with dozens upon dozens of individuals nearly every day.

it could have been anyone who was sick, but he was around them long enough to contract something. what it was, you weren't quite sure. hopefully it wasn't anything too serious.

pressing kiss to his temple, you engulf him in your arms, resting your chin on top of his head. you can feel a smile form against your chest, the team principal murmuring words you can't quite decipher. there were more than likely in german, his native tongue.

"you probably need to get going soon," you murmur, grateful for the coziness of the morning cuddles, "don't you have a presentation to look over?

"mmm," he hums, "probably."

"so why aren't you up yet?"

"not feeling well," he grumbles, "i think one of the interns gave me something."

"those damn interns," a giggle bubbles up in your throat, "what are you going to do with 'em?"

"send a letter to their university filing a complaint," a hoarse chuckle flows from his lips, "i should really get up, though. i do need to look over that presentation."

"maybe you should take the day off," your hand delves into his hair, playing with the soft brunette locks, "you should really get some more rest. i could make you some tea and some soup later on, if you're feeling up to it."

"you make it so damn difficult to leave," he counters, squeezing you in his embrace, "i just can't stay away from that pretty face."

"then why haven't you called in yet?"

"you know why i haven't."

reaching over to the nightstand, you pick up his phone, "i could always do it for you."

raising his head, toto tilts his chin upward, his gaze twinkling with amusement, "i would pay good money to watch that. why don't you go on then, love. call in for me?"

"i will," the words are barely a whisper, "you know i would do anything for you, right?"

licking his lips, the team principal readjusts, scooting up so that your faces were eye-level. he leans in, the tip of his nose brushing against yours. fingers grasp your chin, pulling you in even further.

you would more than likely get sick as well, but that was a risk you were more than willing to take.

especially when he was so fucking irresistible, admiring you with those beautiful mocha depths. his lashes flutter as your lips collide with his, a rumble brewing in his chest as your tongue trails along his lower lip.

"c-careful schatzi, i don't want to infect you."

"you can do more than infect me," fingers tug at his roots, "infect me, kiss me, fuck-"

"maybe i do need to take that time off then," his tone is brimmed with lust, and you can't help but feel a firmness pressing against your inner thigh.

"go ahead baby," you cock your head, batting your lashes, "call in. for me."

before you know it, he's out of the bed and on his feet, pecking your forehead, "i'll be right back. give me five minutes, love."

as he strolls out, pressing his phone to your ear, you wait until you hear the steps dissipate. cautiously, you slink out of the space, tiptoeing down the stairs.

your poor, pathetic man.

all riled up over a few kisses.

toto wolff taps his screen, relief rippling as he makes his way back toward the room. he was able to successfully call in, just take a day off and fight whatever illness this was. he could stay with his love, all cuddled up and drunk off bliss.

however, when he pokes his head into the bedroom, his heart skips a beat.

you weren’t there.

yet, a scent wafts into his nostrils. one that he knew all too well.

the aroma of tea. and something else he couldn’t quite place his finger on.

as toto clambers down the stairs, he makes a right, entering the kitchen. once his eyes fall on you, his knees buckle.

you’re at the stove, brow knit with concentration as you flip something in a skillet. there’s a cup of tea waiting for him at the island, steam billowing from the mug. padding over to you, he peers over your shoulder, curious to see what was in the skillet.

“oh hi,” you flinch at first, yet relax as his arms wrap around your waist, “i figured i’d make you a nice breakfast so that you could take some medication.”

so that’s what you were up to.

the team principal presses a swift peck to your temple, “thank you, schatzi. i adore you.”

“of course! i love you.”

“and i love you,” toto’s breath is warm as it fans against your earlobe, the words thready with need as he continues.

“we’re going to make this day off worthwhile. okay schatzi? once we’re finished here, you’re mine.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

[counterintuitivecomics]

Thought I'd share the Palestinian colors version of my MASK UP! poster 🍉😷🇵🇸 Thank you so much to everyone who shared and downloaded the FREE MASK UP! poster pack!

Hypothetically, you can print this on a risograph by download the design in separate color files and using red, black, and green, and it'll look basically like this mock-up. Let me know if you actually print it in any way, I'd love to hear more C:

We CAN take care of each other, and a better world is possible. If you're feeling alone and helpless, masking up with N95s/KN95s when around others, indoors AND outdoors, is a great place to start. Masking helps protect us from deadly pathogens (like viruses and smoke) PLUS it stymies police surveillance and makes events more accessible to disabled people. All our struggles against fascism and genocide are united, and Palestine will be free!

[ID: "MASK UP!" above 3 figures in different respirator masks, drawn from the waist-up and moving forward shoulder-to-shoulder, all in the colors of Palestine’s flag (red, black, white, and green). Top figure: An Arabic person in a fluttering white kufiyah over a black hijab and dress, plus a white Aura 9210+ N95 disposable mask. L: A fat teenager with monolid eyes, in a black hoodie with a genderqueer symbol, and a black disposable Laianzhi HYX1002 KN100 mask. They’re holding a box labeled FREE that’s full of COVID-19 Rapid Tests and plastic-wrapped N95s. R: middle-aged Black person in a power chair, wearing a Flo Mask eslastomeric respirator with a customized rainbow cover, a winter hat with a Disability symbol pin over mid-length dreads, and shirt featuring 6 flags. (R to L) Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Tigray, Ethiopia. Underneath reads: "RESPIRATOR MASKS PROTECT: your health, your identity, and your community. Find resources near you at COVIDActionMap.org." End ID.]

[cozage]

HELLO IVE BEEN WAITINT DOR THIS MOMENT CAN I REQUEST FOR LAW A ONE SHOT OF HIS SO BEING SICK N HES JUST SUPER WORRIED N SCARED FOR HER WELL-BEING AND NURTURES THEM BACK TO HEALTH THANJ YOU I LOVE TOU HAVW A GEWAT DAY/NIGHT TOODLES POOKIE PIE

A/N: Apparently I don’t know how to write short fics anymore. Here you are :) Word Count: 3k Characters: gn reader x Law CW: reader sickness, serious sickness, angstttttt (with fluff at the end. i'm not a monster)

Sickness

It took a sniffle for Law to finally see the signs. 

You were already asleep, sprawled out in the bed when it happened. You had been abnormally warm today, spending most of it in a tank top and shorts despite being in a winter ecosystem. When it was time for meals, you opted for ice cream over anything else. You hadn’t been very hungry, and that was the only thing you craved. The crew had made fun of you, but you hadn’t shot back any witty remarks like normal.

And then at bedtime, you had immediately pulled Law into bed when you both entered the room. Your cold feet pressed against his calves, causing him to hiss and jerk away from you. But you just gave a soft, sleepy giggle, wrapped your arms around him, and fell asleep almost immediately. He enjoyed your snuggles, but not even ten minutes later, you had pushed him away and kicked the blankets off, sprawling out in the bed in the little clothing you had on.

It’s not exactly where Law thought the evening was going. You had been so clingy over the past few hours, silently begging him to go to bed. He just thought the two of you were just playing a game of teasing, one that would end in a night of fun. 

And then you sniffled in your sleep and readjusted, groaning from the heat in the room. And Law realized what he had been missing all day. You were sick. How could he even call himself a doctor if he couldn’t see the obvious signs with you, the person he knew best? 

He needed to run a scan. He wasn’t sure how serious it was, and early intervention was always the best cure. He slowly, painstakingly, tried to get out of bed without disturbing you. 

“Law?” Your voice was thick with sleep, your eyes only opening a fraction of an inch. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he assured you. He bent down to kiss your forehead, but thought better of it. If it was contagious, he didn’t want to catch it. Instead, he put a hand to your face, and his breath caught in his throat. He could feel the warmth radiating off of you. Your skin was hot to the touch as he swept your matted hair away from your forehead. 

He was panicking now, but he gave you a tense smile. He had to maintain his composure. “Go back to sleep, alright?”

“I’m hot,” you whined, flipping over your pillow and pressing the cool silk fabric to your face. “I don’t feel so good.”

“I know,” he cooed, still brushing the hair out of your face. “Let’s get to the bottom of this, okay? See what’s going on.”

You gave a weak nod, too tired to do anything else. “Can we just do the exam here?”

“I’ve got you,” he whispered. One arm slid under your back, the other slid behind your knees, and Law scooped you up in one swift, gentle motion. 

You laid your head against his chest, and he could feel the heat coming off your body in waves. He forced his heart to remain steady and unbothered, fully aware that you could hear it. 

Silently carrying you to the medical room, his mind raced through the options of what you could be sick with. It was likely a virus, which meant it would be difficult for him to remove. And viruses could change and multiply on a dime. You were already displaying signs of-

“Law.” Your groggy voice jarred him from his thoughts. “I’m fine. Stop panicking.”

He had been so focused on his heart, he hadn’t been paying attention to the rest of his body. His grip on you had gotten too tight, his pace was just short of sprinting, and his breath was shallow and rapid. 

“You should’ve told me,” he said, carefully maneuvering you through the examination room door. 

“I didn’t think it was a big deal. It’s just a cold.”

“It could be-”

“Don’t start spiraling,” you scolded, giving a light cough. “Just do your job.”

His eye twitched in irritation, but he wouldn’t say anything because you were sick. He knew you were right, of course. But he hated when you had to call him out like that. He placed you gently on the cool metal table, and you hummed in delight at the refreshing sensation against your skin. 

He grabbed his sword and ran a quick scan, trying to find the source of your sickness. 

A red icon appeared in your scan around your lungs. “Bronclima,” Law breathed. “A very rare parasitic virus that can be caught in winter islands. The virus can hibernate for hundreds of years, usually residing in old snow caves.”

You gave a weak laugh. “Like the snow cave we climbed down into yesterday, huh?”

“This isn’t funny!” Law snapped. He ran to his bookshelf, searching for any information about it. “Bronclima is extremely rare and…”

“Deadly?” you finished for him. You suddenly felt infinitely more tired. “Can’t you just take it out?”

“Parasitic viruses are tricky,” he mumbled, flipping through an old book. “You have to get it all or else your body just becomes more susceptible to them. It’s hard to use a room technique on viruses in general, but parasitic ones are alive and can move, which makes it almost impossible.”

“Antibiotics, then.”

“No.” Law’s teeth were grit together; you could tell he was only keeping it together so you wouldn’t break down in a panic. “Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections. Viruses just have to run their course.”

“The strong survive,” you hummed, closing your eyes. “The weak die. I see.”

“You’re not dying,” Law hissed. “Bronclima only likes the cold, so we're going to keep you hot and force this thing to die, okay?”

“I’m already so hot, though,” you whined, rolling over on the exam table. At least the metal helped you cool down.

“Good. Stay hot. Stay alive.” Law picked you back up, and you groaned at the sudden movement and absence of the cold surface. 

He carried you to the shower without a word and set you down inside it. You could feel the anxiety rising in him as he fiddled with the temperature gauge, and turned the shower on.

You cried out in pain as the hot water hit you, and your hands flew up to try and block as much of the water as you could. Your skin immediately started to turn red, welting as the water cascaded over you.

Law saw your reaction and quickly tested the water with his hand, but it was only lukewarm. He clenched his teeth and slowly turned the water hotter, adjusting the nozzle so the water was raining down directly on you.

“Law!” you shrieked, trying to get out of the way without moving. You couldn’t find the energy to crawl away from the water, even though your skin felt like it was burning off. Law watched you carefully, turning the water temperature up slowly. 

“Please,” you sobbed, curling up into a sitting fetal position. “Please stop. You’re going to kill me, Law.”

“Hey.” Law crouched down next to you and tilted your head up to look him in the eyes. Tears and scalding water streaked down your face and blurred your vision, but you could see the familiar outline of him. He had stripped down to only his boxers, and he pulled you into his lap and held you close to him as the water rained down on your both. He kissed the top of your head, trying his best to comfort you. “You’re strong. You can handle this, okay?”

You let out a sob in response, but you nodded into his inked chest. You had been through worse, though you couldn’t remember a specific time at the moment.

The two of you stayed there for a long time. You weren’t sure exactly how time was passing, so you counted how many times his fingers ran down your hair. It was 259 strokes before you finally passed out from exhaustion and pain. 

You woke up, now in a steaming hot tub, Law still holding you. You let out a soft whimper from the pain, and Law jolted up. 

“Sorry,” he mumbled, readjusting you slightly against him. “I must’ve dozed off.”

You gave another small nod, too tired to do anything else. 

“We need to get your entire body submerged,” Law said, his voice steely. “At least up to your shoulders.”

“Law, please-”

“I know.” His voice broke when he spoke. “I’m sorry, but I can’t lose you, okay? So please keep fighting.”

You could hear the desperation in his voice. He was on the verge of tears, barely holding it together for you. 

You had to fight for him. You owed him that much, and so much more. He always had faith in you, he was always saving you. This was the least you could do. Clenching your teeth and bracing yourself, you completely submerged yourself in the scalding bathwater. 

The heat of the water took your breath away, and you clamped your hands over your mouth to prevent any more air from escaping. You felt like your skin was melting off, but you forced yourself to stay completely under. You’d stay under as long as you had to if it meant getting this wretched virus out of your system. 

Two strong hands grabbed your arms and pulled you back to the surface. Law’s golden eyes pierced into your soul, scanning your face for any signs of distress. 

“Let me go back under,” you begged between heavy breaths. 

He scowled. “So you can drown?!”

You pulled away from him and plunged back into the water. It still burned, but it wasn’t as hot as before. 

Law immediately pulled you back up, trying to get you to calm down. 

“Soup,” you gasped, wiping the tears from your eyes. “I need soup.”

“What has gotten into you? Where’d this energy come from?”

“I want to live. I want to be with you. I’m not being taken out by some stupid virus. So go get me soup!”

Law grabbed your face and went to kiss you, but you pushed him away. As much as you needed his lips as encouragement, you couldn’t have him getting sick too.

“Soup!” You pushed him out of the tub, and he ran out the door in his boxers. You could only hope nobody else on the ship was awake yet. You were certain that would cause a lot of questions between captain and crew. 

Alone in the tub, the water felt much warmer. You could feel yourself sweating, and you were starting to get nauseous. Your body felt like it was on fire, but you forced yourself to keep your body submerged. You desperately wanted to get out, just for a second. But you couldn’t. You refused to give this parasitic virus even a moment of rest. Law was right. You were not weak. 

He came back into the room with a bowl of soup, and your nausea increased just from seeing the steam rolling off of it. 

Bile rose up your throat and into your mouth at the smell of the hot dumplings. You leaned over the side of the tub. “Law, I think-” 

Law quickly put the bowl down and grabbed a trash can, his skilled fingers wrapping around your hair and holding it back just as you emptied your stomach into the bin.  

“It’s okay,” Law soothed. “You’re okay.”

Once you were finally done, he set the trash can aside and grabbed a rag to help you get cleaned up. “That’s a good sign,” he said, brushing your stringy hair away. 

You gave a light laugh. “How are you not completely disgusted with me right now? I’m a mess.”

“I could never be disgusted with you.” His voice was so caring and soft, you almost broke out in tears. 

“Soup,” you choked out, desperate to change the subject as tears welled in your eyes. You didn't want to be physically and emotionally vulnerable with him right now. One was enough for him to handle.

He gave you a small knowing smirk but didn’t say anything. Instead, he rested the soup bowl on the edge of the tub and climbed back in with you again. 

You reached for a bowl, but he intercepted your hands and pulled you into his chest instead. “Give yourself a moment to recuperate,” he said. “How’s the water feel?”

“Hot,” you groaned, but you nuzzled your head into his chest. “You’re a nice addition though.”

He trailed his finger up and down your spine, both of you laying against each other in silence. You could almost fall asleep like this if the water weren’t so uncomfortable. 

After a few minutes, he tapped lightly on your back. “Ready for the soup?”

“I’m probably going to barf again,” you warned. 

“I think I can handle it. I’m a doctor after all.”

You rolled your eyes, but picked up the bowl. It was so hot that you almost dropped it from shock, but Law grabbed your hands to steady it, and he nodded at you encouragingly.

The best course of action would probably be to drink the broth first, and then eat the dumplings. You pressed your lips to the rim of the bowl and inhaled. The steam burned your nostrils and the back of your throat. Every part of you was screaming in anguish, but you opened your mouth and tilted the bowl upwards. 

The broth flooded your senses- first with flavor, and then immediately with a burning sensation. You sputtered and choked from the pain, and Law pulled the bowl away from you as you coughed, attempting to clear your airway. You tried to settle yourself down, but you couldn’t figure out what was wrong. It was like you were choking and hyperventilating all at once. There was too much air, yet not enough. 

Law put the bowl of soup on the edge of the tub and began rubbing your back, trying to get you to calm down. You could see the panic in his eyes, despite his cool exterior. 

“What hurts?” He asked urgently. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine,” you said between coughs. “Just burns.”

After another few minutes, you finally calmed down enough to breathe without coughing. “Let’s try again,” you offered. 

“I hate being so useless,” Law said. “You’re working so hard and I can’t even do anything to help.”

“What are you talking about?” you scoffed. “You’re the only thing keeping me going. Every ounce of me wants to give up. And I would’ve if it weren’t for you.”

“That’s not what I-”

“Being a doctor is more than just operations, okay? You’re doing the best you can. Cut yourself some slack, Trafalgar Law.” The amount of energy you had to use just to form those words was making you a little dizzy, but you didn’t regret it. “Now give me that soup.”

It burned going down. You wanted to scream and cry and curse, but you didn’t. Even with tears streaming down your face, you drank the entire bowl. You could feel your stomach bubbling, trying to decide if it should reject the liquid again, but it stayed down. 

Law moved you to the shower again, and you let the hot water rush over your skin while he refilled the tub. The water from the showerhead still burned, but it was more like a tingling sensation now. You weren’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. You’d mention it to Law later; you didn’t want to inconvenience him with possible bad news at the moment. 

“Ready to move back to the tub?” he asked, poking his head into the shower. 

You gave a weak nod and pulled yourself to your feet. You began to take a step, but stumbled and fell. Law closed the gap between you in an instant, catching you and keeping you steady before you hit the ground. 

“You’re standing,” Law said, looking at you as if you had just performed a miracle. “You haven’t stood on your own since you got into bed last night.”

You gave him a smile. “Help me to the bath? I don’t think I’m quite ready to walk on my own.”

“You’re standing, though! Do you know how big of a deal this is?” You could hear the excitement in Law’s voice, which sparked your own joy. 

“Tell me.” You took a step towards the bath, your arm wrapped around Law for support. 

“You don’t understand,” Law said. “Bronclima takes your energy from you and you never get it back as long as it’s alive. If you’re regaining energy, then…” He helped you into the tub, afraid to say the last part. He was scared to hope for the best outcome. 

The water felt warm against your skin, but in an almost pleasant way now. You sat down and sunk into the water so that your entire body up to your shoulders was submerged once again. 

A blue hue emitted around the room, and Law ran another scan on your body and you closed your eyes and enjoyed the steamy atmosphere. 

“Clear,” Law mumbled. “It’s clear.” You could hear the scan being run again, and the soft positive beep of no issues being found. 

“Am I cured, doctor?” you hummed, your eyes still closed. 

“It’s gone,” Law whispered, hardly believing it himself. That virus had a 15% survival rate and usually lasted for days. And you beat it in less than 10 hours. 

“We can’t let this bathwater go to waste.” Your entire body suddenly felt very limp, worn out from what you had just put it through. “Come lay with me.”

“In the bath?” Law raised an eyebrow, but you held a hand out, beckoning him in. You knew he couldn’t say no to you after all you had been through. 

He gingerly stepped into the tub and rested his back against the wall of the tub. You felt his tattooed arms wrap around you and pull you up onto his chest. You rested on him, the water feeling much more inviting now than it had earlier. 

“This is nice,” you murmured, already starting to doze off to sleep.

“We can lay here as long as you want,” Law said. He held his composure until he was certain you were asleep, and then cried silent tears of relief until his eyes were red and puffy. He had been so close to losing you because of his negligence, and he vowed to never take you for granted again. 

[after-hours-art]

Cocoa with a little bit of love

Pairing: Blair Waldorf x f!reader

Genre: fluff, hurt/comfort

Warnings: mentioning of ED (bulimia)

Blair's favourite season passed for sure when one November morning snow started falling down from the sky. Relatively bright day goes by with the aura of snowflakes lazily dancing in the air, getting stuck to hair, eyelashes, scarves, and coats of students of Constance and St Jude's as they are hurrying into the building away from minus temperatures. You, however, enjoy snow. Not the coldness itself, but for you, there's no better thing to do in winter than curl up in a blanket by the window with a good book in one hand and hot cocoa in another. As a matter of fact, you're sure maid at your apartment already settled such cosy space for you in the living room. Your daydreaming stops when suddenly sometimes hits your shoulder, almost knocking you off the stairs.

- Don't just stare into nowhere, Y/N. Someone might hurt you.

You smile under your nose, hearing the commanding voice of Blair's. Her dirty pink coat looks lovely with the navy scarf wrapped around her neck as she visibly shivers. You can't stop corners of your lips from lifting a little when few snowflakes tangle in her hair. God, she's so beautiful it hurts. You look at her, up and down. As much as you're sure those tights of hers are with warmers inside, you can't help but worry.

- You cold? - you ask. Blair looks at you as if you just offended her.

- No. I'm fine. M-move it. - she scoffs, rushing past you to get into the building. You shake your head and sigh, slowly following her inside.

//

You enter the girl's bathroom in a hurry. Last class's PE completely messed up your hair and makeup. Or maybe that's simply a karma that you got for being overcompetitive while playing volleyball? You sigh, brushing your hair, praying that you won't look like a mess for the rest of the day. After some fighting with wet from sweat hair, you manage to look decent. As you adjust your makeup, the bell rings. You groan and keep focusing on your ruined lipstick. You pop your lips a couple of times to spread lip gloss evenly when suddenly you hear disturbing noises from the last toilet cabin. You swallow nervously, not sure what to do. You step a little closer, your heartbeat increasing in anxiety. Not every day you heard someone throw up at school. You swallow nervously. Being a rather fearful person, you are reacting in crucial moments like accidents or emotional troubles aren't your strong front. You pack up your cosmetics to the small makeup bag and shove it in your school bag. Throwing up noises turn into sobs when you pick up courage to step closer to the cabin. You knock on the door.

- H-hey... you okay? - you ask hesitantly, not trying to imply anything. It could've just been someone feeling sick. Viruses are around it time of the year, aren't they?

- I'm fine. Go away.

Your eyes open wider when you recognise the voice from the other side of the cabin, despite how breathy and shaking it is at the moment. You take a deep breath and sit on the bathroom floor, your back against one of the toilet cabins.

- You're not okay... We can talk if you want to. - you say quietly, hoping that you'll be encouraging enough for her to open up. You hear the sound of water being flashed, followed by the girl sitting down on the other side of the door, her shoes hitting the stone floor. The bathroom falls silent for a longer while, interrupted only by quiet sobs of the girl.

- I told you that I'm fine. Go snoop in someone else's business. - her voice turns more harsh and demanding. The lock on the door clicks, and she steps out of the cabin. Her Hermes bag drops on the floor when she sees you sitting on the bathroom floor. Blair Waldorf in all her downfall - tears caused by forced vomiting ruined her foundation, her eyes are red as well as her cheeks.

- Y-Y/N... - she stutters. You look up at her, standing up from the floor. You've never seen her this broken. She looks like one of those porcelain dolls that will shatter the second you touch her.

- Blair... - you start gently, your voice unsure even more than hers. - Are you... okay?

You know she didn't have the best Thanksgiving. You were there to witness it yourself. Her father didn't come, and it hurted her enough that he and her mother divorced and he went to live with his male lover in France, but not coming to a holiday that she considered theirs really stung her delicate heart. As much as Blair refuses to admit it, she is one of the more vulnerable people in her friend circle.

- I'm fine. - she says and walks over to the mirror, taking a small toothbrush out of her makeup bag and brushing her teeth. As if she literally planned to return her lunch.

- Blair... - you say gently, but she ignores you. Pretending that you're not here is easier. Noone knew about her... issues. Well, Serena did. But then she decided to vanish to boarding school. Her mother knew too, yet she had too much on her plate with Waldorf Designs to address the issue in more ways than just providing therapy for her daughter. And it helped. For a while. Yet, every time she lost sense of control over the situation, her bulimic tendencies relapses. And right now... Blair Waldorf is out of control for past two weeks.

- I'm fine, Y/N. - she says, her voice slowly turning back to normal through it's still little horase. You walk up to her and put hand on her shoulder, carefully tucking lose hair behind her ear.

- Blair... wanna go to my place? - you ask hesitantly. Classes will be finished in two hours and... missing two classes isn't a crime. Still, she looks at you as if you suggested murder. That's no surprise, there's no more perfect student than Blair Waldorf at Constance. However, now she nods.

- Okay. This one time.

//

Ride to your apartment passes in silence. Neither you nor Blair say anything. She looks like a beaten up puppy, looking outside the window at the streets. Your fingers grip tighly on the edge of your skirt. You're so not good in all the emotional stuff yet your best friend needs you. The girl you... like needs you. You swallow your discomfort and finally manage to speak.

- You... do you want to talk about it? - you ask hesitantly, your eyes never leaving her. You feel your heart break for her, seeing her so different than usually. It is almost unnatural to see Blair struggle with something. She always seems so perfect and put together. Who would've guessed that it's only a facade that she puts up to cope with emotions?

- I don't... - she says. - And don't ask again. Today never happened.

You stare blankly at her, trying to understand why she's so harsh with you when you're trying to help. You reach your hand to her, resting it on her thigh. Soon her hand lands on yours, letting you gently squeeze her fingers in reassuring grip. You feel how cold her hands are, almost as cold as silver ring on her finger. She doesn't look at you, stubbornly keeping her gaze on the streets that your car passes. Fate wanted it, your driver took earlier turn making the ride longer. You keep your eyes on her, studying her features. Her deep brown eyes, her, now little fuzzy from humidity caused by snow, brown hair. Pink headband, innocently matching her winter coat. You fight the urge to kiss her, to pull her close and reassure her that she's perfect even when she trips. But you don't do anything, too afraid that you'll scare her off losing both - friend and secret crush.

//

Your maid - Celia - looks surprised seeing you home so soon yet she doesn't say anything. She already got on your mom's bad side for setting the table with wrong set for important event and since that she tried to keep away from troubles. Your family paid too much to lose this job. You hand her your coats.

- Come. I promise you'll like it. - you say, pulling unwilling girl behind you. You two make your way into the living room, greeted by huge dog. You smile when Blair let go of your hand and begin to pet the Weimaraner. You can't help but chuckle when your dog starts licking her face. He always liked her.

- Come on! - you smile, pulling now laughing Waldorf, to your cosy nook by the window. You invite her to sit on the couch by the window on fluffy white blanket.

- Wait here. - you say, and walk away. In the kitchen you start preparing your signature cocoa, a good quality cocoa powder with bit of cinnamon, orange aroma and marshmallows. With two mugs in hands you make your way back to the living room.

- What's that? - she asks hesitantly when you carefully hand her pink mug.

- Cocoa with a little bit of love. - you say, smiling. White and pink heart-shaped marshmallows float on the chocolate surface.

- Y/N... - she starts but seeing your stern glare, she shuts up.

- Blair. Please. I want to do something nice for you. And... and I don't know... I just guessed that you'd want some warmth. With... everything happening around last month. I didn't get to see you often and I meant to ask... how are you doing.

- Are you pretending because you saw me puke today? - she scoffs, not believing your intentions.

- What? No. No.

- Don't fool me, Y/N. You're not a minion. Nor we're super close in terms of friendship.

Your enthusiasm decreases a little. Accusations that you have underlying motive to get her to open up hurt.

- I'm not fooling you, Blair. - you start to defend yourself, sipping on your cocoa. - I'm honestly worried. Even before... bathroom thing. You became so much quieter this year. And since Serena left for boarding school. You're not that close with Nate anymore. Please. I want to help you. - you put hand over hers, praying that she won't pull away. And she doesn't. She looks like a kicked puppy.

- I'm not copying well. My mom didn't invite my dad for Thanksgiving. I... blew out of proportion and ate the whole pie. Like really... whole thing. I just... - she pauses and hesitantly takes sip of her beverage. - I lost control over everything. And what hurted the most was that I couldn't tell anyon-

- You could've tell me. - you interrupt her, squeezing her hand a little, your voice soaked with mix of honesty and desperation. Desperation to be the person she'd go for if she's sad, troubled, happy. To be her person.

She looks at you confused.

- I barely knew you then. I mean... less than over past three months, that's for sure.

- I... - you swallow realising that you're overstepping a boundary. You take a sip of you cocoa, marshmallows melting in your mouth.

- I wanted to be there for you I just didn't know how. - you admit after few moments of silence. Blair's gaze softens but only so little.

- It's fine. You wanted good. It's much better than anyone else did for me for the last months. - she says, taking a sip of cocoa. - With Serena gone and Nate acting... not like Nate, I actually felt lonely lately. So lonely, I considered venting to Chuck. - she chuckles at her own misery. You chuckle too, trying to fight off her bad mood with some humour. After all... grotesque exists for a reason. You smile at each other for a moment. You sigh, fighting the urge to cup her cheeks. She's so beautiful, perfect, and now is on your blanket at your home, sipping on your cocoa. Is it too much to ask to see her like that every day?

- I'll listen to you. - you say softly. - I promise. Whenever you need me, I'll be there. We can talk or not talk. I can .ake you cocoa or we can bake together. I don't want you to feel hopeless anymore. And I don't want you to force vomiting. It's not good for you. - you add. - You don't need to restrict food to look perfect, be approved by your mom and such. You're already a masterpiece and... if your mom can't see it, if Nate can't see it, then they both mist be blind. - you state confidently, putting your mug away. Blair's eyes shine with something. Something like hope mixed with tears. She rarely allowed herself to feel strong emotions, always trying to be in check. Yet now she lowered her guard down.

- Thanks, Y/N... - she says, finishing her cocoa, not admitting that it's the first sweet thing she had since that infamous Thanksgiving's pie. Nor she admits that she can taste love in it.

- You're welcome. Now talk... I want to hear it all. - you smile, resting against pillows. Blair smiles and sits next to you, her head resting on your shoulder. She starts hesitantly, not used to opening up, yet it takes only a few moments to let her story unfold. You listen to her, holding her hand the whole time, making mental notes on each thing.

The snow behind the window dances in the air, and the temperature inside the apartment keeps you both warm and cosy. Sun starts to set, even though it's merely 4pm, but that's the beauty of winter. You listen to Blair's venting for two hours now. Who would have thought that it would take two hours, 4 mugs of cocoa with marshmallows and a blanket in cosy nook to help someone settle with their emotions, even when you're not greatest supporter or not most sympathetic person?

[yesornopolls]

FYI

[ch3rrybbie]

Randall suddenly has me in such an insane chokehold, I'm not even joking!! I have an exam in 2 days lmfao bUT LOOK AT ME, girl drop some crumbs pls

Sunsetz

Summary: basking in the bliss of a cold winter afternoon and overpacking.

Warnings: flufffff, illusions to smut?, fromville being fromville

ch3rrybbie says: GO STUDY GIRL PLEASE😭 read this as a post exam treat heheh. Hope you enjoy other Randall fics coming soon 👀

———

Cold winter sun spills through the open window and into the optimal coziness created.

Windows: open

Duvet: thick

Record player: miraculously on

Randall: right where he belonged.

The chill of the open window was mitigated by the pair of you taking a nap in your double bed. Winter meant an onslaught of viruses throughout town, one you’d both fallen sniffly victims to and insisted on doting upon each other.

You were conten with your two reprises from this town, your bed and Randall.

The soft crooning of sunsetz by cigarettes after sex floated through the room and you burrowed further into him head tucked into the crook of his neck as his deep breaths lulled you into thought.

You couldn’t sleep too scared you’d wake up in the dark with a monster ready to kill Randall and make you watch. That fearful thought luckily wouldn’t happen but others weren’t so lucky. You remembered how far you’d come, how much you’d survived and what you’d found.

No one expected anyone to find love in this hellhole yet you did. And you intended on keeping him.

You’d pulled up to the town music blasting confused and so close to sunset. The panicked faces of the townsfolk scared you into attempting to drive away. Randall unwilling to let you drive into certain death ran alongside the car wrenched the door open and pulled you into a park, he then dragged your rightfully hysterical form onto the bus and held you to him until dark.

When they came.

You pushed away the thought of the monsters.

But hey at least you’d brought a ridiculous amount of personal items including your beloved record player and vinyls.

In any other circumstance that meet cute can not ever be romantic but in this one it was what drew you to him. That and other things but mainly the fact he risked his life to ensure you didn’t die to those things. From then on you always felt safe in his arms.

Even now as fear snuck in through gusts of wintery air, the bands of muscle wrapped around your waist wrested those fears away. Your heart clenches as you look up as his peaceful face, giggling as he breathes out a particularly dramatic gust of air as he stirs.

“Stop watching me” he dramatically pouts and you stifle a giggle and quickly shut your eyes pretending to be asleep.

Your facade makes him laugh heartily and he begins to smother your face in kisses causing a flutter of laughs to pour from you.

After the laughing dies down you realise he knows you too well.

“How long ‘ya been asleep baby?”

At your silence he smooths a hand down your cheek and probes, “you haven’t been to sleep at all have you ?”

Looking away and sighing you begin to formulate a lie and he cuts you short rising from bed.

Your dampened demeanour is lifted watching his writing muscles strain as he stretches and saunters towards the window in only his boxers.

He firmly shuts and locks the window ensuring you can see.

When he rounds the bed once again you smirk up at him and smooth a hand onto his exposed hip, “I can think of much better things to do than sleep”.

He chuckles as he climbs back in, wrapping you up in him, feet and arms tangling.

“You can’t fool me baby and as much as I’d love to do that right now you need to sleep off that cold, we both do. I’ve had my sleep share and now it’s your turn , you’re gonna need to energy when you wake sweetheart” he teases and kisses you softly.

“Now sleep” he jokingly commands.

So you do. Because you are always safe and warm with him.

Your record player scratches at the end of the song, his heart softly beats beneath your ear, his hand cups your head and safe soft sleep welcomes you.

You dream of your future with him, sweet fat babies clinging on the both of you and more than enough love.

[trinarysuns]

Fun things gleaned from reading The Witcher books after only knowing tv/game canon:

-There's something wrong with the sun's light and it's getting worse. It's theorized that in a few thousand years its light will be toxic enough that everything will be nocturnal. This is totally irrelevant to the plot.

-90% of landmasses in this world are in the northern hemisphere.

-White Gull isn't alcohol (probably), since child Ciri grabbed some off a table and drank it without flinching. It is however a diluted alchemical distillate that's a mild recreational drug (to Witchers) and a hallucinogen (to humans). Also it's blue. Black Gull, however, is just flat out a Witcher hallucinogen that's probably extremely toxic to everyone else.

-Yes, Geralt and the rest spend their winters in Kaer Morhen getting high for fun

-You've heard of Kaer Morhen's fanon hot springs, now get ready for its canonical HRT* mushroom and fern cave garden (*unspecified endurance enhancer (and pain inhibitor?) fed to unaltered Witcher candidates and also Ciri, which Triss tells Vesemir to dial back on because Ciri wouldn't go through puberty properly)

-The vague implication that wherever humans came from was not a medieval level world ("you destroyed your own world", the trial of the grasses involves tailored viruses, Geralt knows what genes are but is unclear on the concept of antibiotics). I'd bet that the grasses formula can't be recreated because at this point they just flat out don't understand it enough anymore. This is, again, totally irrelevant to the plot.

(I also now understand why 99% of fic takes place in the first half of the general canon or post-game Witcher 3, because the back half of the book series is... Nnnot very good. Genuinely not sure what happened there but The Tower of Swallows and Lady of the Lake are structural trainwrecks)