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lookingforluna · 3 years ago

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Rotate || C. San

❥ Pairing: Choi San x Reader

❥ Word Count: 9.4k

❥ Rating: M

❥ Genre: strangers to lovers au, smut, non-idol au, fluff, humor

❥ Warnings: lots of smut, explicit language, unprotected sex, teasing, dirty talk, praise kink, San's mouth is filthy, jealous San, creampie, intercourse

❥ Summary: During a late-night ice cream run to the supermarket, you bump into a handsome guy with a green streak in his hair that claims to have met you at the club the weekend before. When you confess to not remembering him, he becomes determined to make sure you never forget him again.

❥ Moodboard: Edit 1

❥ Song Inspiration: Rotate (Clockwise) by Rak-Su

❥ A/N: This is my first ever ATEEZ fanfic, so much longer than originally planned. I recently joined the fandom 2-3 weeks ago, and I'm so excited to start writing. As you can tell, San is my bias, and this man makes me WEAK in the knees. I have so many fics planned, so please support me! I hope you guys like this one! Can't wait to make new ATINY friends <3

Hmm, should you try one of the new flavors? Usually, you stick to buying the mango-flavored mochi ice cream, but today there was a new arrangement of flavors on display. Green Tea, Red Bean, Strawberry, Vanilla, and Mint Chocolate Chip.

“I recommend the mint chocolate chip. It’s one of my favorites.” A soft voice interrupts your thought process, causing you to turn around only to see an incredibly attractive guy standing behind you.

You couldn’t help but feel a little awkward, not used to handsome guys just walking up and talking to you. If anything, they didn’t really look your way, and if they did, they never approached you.

“Oh well, thank you for the suggestion,” you shyly smile, giving a slight head nod before turning around. Your fingers trail over the mint chocolate chip package, seriously considering it. Mint chocolate chip wasn’t exactly your favorite, but you weren’t against it.

“Don’t you remember me?”

The question catches you off guard as you stare at him, trying to organize your thoughts. You were certain you would remember this man from just the bright green streak in his hair, but you couldn’t place him.

The more you gaze at his face, the more his features remind you of a fox. His face shape is very defined, and his jawline is so intense. God certainly took his time with this creation. For some reason, you couldn’t move away from his eyes and how they remained fixed on your own.

“I’m sorry, I don’t. Should I?”

You honestly wanted to curse yourself at this moment as his eyes flitted over your frame. The thought of dressing up as you did a quick run to the supermarket didn’t cross your mind. It was late at night, and you just wanted something cool to help with the boiling summer heat. That meant running out of the house in a slightly cropped white t-shirt and short black biker shorts.

This night would always be stuck in the back of your head forever. The words your father always told you about looking presentable in public suddenly entered your mind, and of course, you should’ve listened to his advice.

“I’m San. We danced together in the club last weekend,” he says, as the tip of his tongue does a quick swipe across his pink lips.

That simple motion was enough to make your knees buckle, but you must keep it together. Thinking back to that night, your close friend Jackson had you taking long shots straight from a Hennessey bottle. The only reason you couldn't remember him is probably cause you were drunk off your ass.

He doesn’t need to know that.

Truth is, San caused something to stir in your stomach. It had been such a long time since a guy actually gave you attention like this, and he was breathtakingly beautiful. He was far from the guys you typically went after, and maybe that’s a good thing.

The last thing you want is to seem desperate, though the only way to avoid that is to seem uninterested. Or at least seem hard to get.

“I’m sorry, your name doesn’t ring a bell. I danced with many people that night,” you explain, sounding calm and confident. The original reason you entered the supermarket returns to your mind, and you focus on the shelves again, your body turning away from him.

From the corner of your eye, San straightens his posture, not expecting that answer from you at all. He knew you wouldn’t have been alone at the club. Of course, you would have caught the eyes of many guys, but he was certain you would’ve remembered him at least.

“I guess you weren’t that memorable,” you finish, settling on the mint chocolate chip mochi box.

As you turn around, ready to leave, your breath hitches at San’s tall frame looming over you. His eyes are different from before. Instead of the bright wide doe-eyed guy from earlier, his eyes are darker, more intense, and slightly narrowed. You hadn’t realized how tall he was before, but here you were, craning your neck to look up at him.

His plush lips part when suddenly a familiar voice breaks the heated staredown.

“Woah, Y/N! I see you’ve met San!”

An energetic Wooyoung makes his way to San, followed by Hongjoong, hands full of different chips and snacks. San’s eyes flicker between you and the guys when suddenly something registers in his mind. Wooyoung drapes an arm over San’s shoulder, pulling him close and creating some distance between the two of you.

“You guys know each other?” San beats you to ask the question. It certainly was a small world, after all.

Wooyoung laughs while patting San on the chest before looking at you, “This is our childhood best friend we kept telling you about. He just moved to the city.”

What were the chances you would run into the guy you had heard countless stories about almost every day?

“So this is the best friend you guys talk about every time we hang out?” You do a quick once over of him, matching his image to the third friend in the stories you always wondered about.

“Well, it looks like I am memorable after all,” San slightly smirks as his eyes focus on yours, widening, and cheeks lightly flushing.

“Are we missing something?” Hongjoong asks as he stands next to you, him and Wooyoung exchanging glances.

“It’s nothing important,” you quickly reply, earning a slight scoff from San as he runs his fingers through his black hair, muscles flexing from the motion.

Hongjoong organizes the snacks in his hands as he turns to look at you.

“Are you busy tonight? You should come out with us.”

Wooyoung’s loud laughter causes a couple a few feet away to pause and stare before returning to their shopping.

“Y/N busy? Do you see what she’s wearing? You’re having one of your depressing movie nights, aren’t you?”

Wooyoung motions to the box of ice cream in your hand before shaking his head in laughter. Of course, you were so predictable. He and Hongjoong knew you like the back of their hands. Your routine on Saturday nights was usually the same if you weren’t with them or other friends.

“They aren’t depressing! You just don’t have taste,” you exclaim, crossing your arms and glaring at him, a small pout appearing on your face.

“No, I have to agree. Watching The Notebook and Dear John on a Saturday night is depressing,” Hongjoong agrees while squishing you against his side in a comforting hug.

San stands there watching the little conversation between the three of you in silence. He could see why Hongjoong and Wooyoung would be close friends with you. In a way, you reminded him of himself.

Back home, he would usually stay in on the weekends and hang out in front of the TV, preferring to be alone. Since moving to the new city, though, he wanted to break those old habits, so he agreed to go out with the guys tonight.

“Fine, I’ll go out with you guys tonight, but on one condition,” you say, breaking San away from his thoughts as he glances down at your small self.

“What is it?” Hongjoong asks, his eyes lighting up at the thought of you finally going to the club with them.

“Wooyoung’s buying my ice cream,” you say, tossing the box into his hand with a grin before walking ahead of them, a small giggle leaving your lips.

“Ya! I’m always buying your ice cream, I swear!” Wooyoung shouts jokingly as he follows behind you, happy you agreed to their plans.

Hongjoong catches up to them, San trailing behind as he watches how your hips sway with each step. A smile breaks across his lips as he thinks of you, realizing that he enjoys your feistiness more than he expected.

“Wooyoung, I don’t know how I feel about this dress,” you nervously express while pivoting back and forth in front of the mirror.

It was far from anything you had ever worn out to the club. The dress was bought sometime last summer while on a trip with a few close friends of yours. They had convinced you to buy it, exclaiming that it was about time you stepped out of your comfort zone.

The last thing you expected was for Wooyoung to pull it out from the depths of your closet and toss it on the bed, a pair of matching sparkly black heels beside it. You tend to stray away from sparkly short dresses, but this one caught your attention because of the beautiful strappy back.

The self-conscious feeling begins to rise at the idea of forgoing a bra. You always wore bras in every dress you bought, but the intricate back of this one made it impossible.

“Oh, come on! I’ve never seen you in something like this! You look banging too!” He shouts while motioning to your figure as if presenting you to an audience.

Well… maybe you could wear it out. The dress was bound to come out of the closet at some point, and Wooyoung was the only one who could convince you to wear it. You had let your hair down in loose curls and decided to keep your makeup simple. You did your regular face routine with the addition of some eyelashes, winged eyeliner, and of course, a bold red lip.

While you were busy studying yourself in the mirror, you hadn’t noticed that Wooyoung had left the room, heading out to call for a ride to the club.

Instead, standing in his place against your bedroom door stood San, his brown eyes scanning over your body multiple times before settling on your face. He was certain you were trying to put him into a trance. He couldn’t figure out where to look, completely captivated by you.

“Wooyoung, I’m not sure about this. I’ve never worn anything like this. Some guys can get touchy in the club, and I don’t want to start any problems,” you huff out a little disappointed before turning around.

You almost stumble a little, completely unaware of the moment San entered your room. He was leaning against the door, arms crossed and noticeable beneath the fitted black dress shirt he wore, the first two buttons opened and exposing his chest. The black skinny jeans he wore pressed against his legs a little too perfect as he straightened himself.

“You look stunning in that,” he says, his voice suddenly sounding deeper than before.

It’s hard to swallow as you look at him, trying to avoid eye contact but hopelessly failing. He has siren eyes; you're sure of it. The man might even be a siren himself or some damn mythical creature. That might not even be the right word to describe him, but all you know is that it becomes hard to breathe every time he’s near.

“T-thank you,” you manage to stutter out, nerves on complete display for him. His light chuckle warms your heart as he steps towards you, eyes locked on your own.

Your fingers fumble with the short fabric at the end of your dress, lightly biting down on your bottom lip before releasing it.

“I'm not sure. I know how guys are at the club. I don’t want to get into any problems,” you nervously explain to San, his head tilting to hear your concern.

His brows furrow in confusion, and you’re sure he hadn’t thought about that. Maybe he would agree that you should change out of the short dress and put on something else.

“That’s not an issue. Wear the dress. I can fight,” he softly breathes, the look on his face absolutely serious and firm. This was when you were sure your knees would buckle from that sentence and look alone.

Luckily before you can reply, Hoongjoong enters the room, announcing that the ride is 5 minutes away. You stumble back a little, caught off guard by Hongjoong and aware of the proximity between you and San.

Before you can fall back, San’s strong hand wraps around your wrist, tugging you forth and right into his chest. A soft floral and sweet scent enters your senses, and all you want to do is bury yourself there.

“Ya! Y/N, you’re so clumsy. Let’s go,” Wooyoung shouts, dragging you away from San before looking back and shooting his friend a wink.

San stands there in shock, not expecting Wooyoung to pick up on his interest in you. He thought he was doing well keeping it a secret, but clearly not well enough if Wooyoung noticed.

I just wanna see you rotate, both ways

I just wanna see you rotate, slowly

The music booms loudly in your ears as the bass thunders in your chest, and your favorite song begins. The club was becoming more and more crowded as the minutes went by. The four of you had been here about a little over an hour, and the vibes were only getting better.

“This is my song! Let me show you!”

Your voice is barely heard over the sound of the music as you shout to Hongjoong, your hands in the air and hips swaying to the rhythm. Wooyoung had disappeared some time ago, most likely looking for some girl to take home.

The last time you saw San, he was sitting at the bar, a few girls immediately flocking towards him. Of course, it made you feel some type of way, the way he smiled at them, but the two of you aren’t together.

He’s single.

And so are you.

“Oooo, wait, take this shot first and let me see!” Hongjoong yells as he pushes what’s probably your fifth tequila shot of the night into your hands, quickly downing his own. Taking a deep breath, your head tilts as the cool liquid slides down your throat, the burn immediately settling in your stomach as a new wave of confidence takes over.

Your hands glide up and down your arms as the rhythm and lyrics take over your body. The flashing blue and green laser lights of the nightclub gave you an adrenaline rush, your skin heating up from the shot and other bodies brushing up against you.

Hongjoong disappears from your sight for a few seconds before he reappears, tugging your wrist towards the bar.

Mingi, the tall and buff bartender you became quick acquaintances with due to your many appearances at his club, sent a wink your way before he tapped the counter twice. Confusion settles onto your face as your head tilts to the side, Hongjoong pulling you next to him.

“Only for you! Just this once!”

Mingi shouts before his hands rest on your waist, and you’re hoisted up until your heels touch the flat surface of the counter. Your heart stammers at the realization that they want you to dance on the bar. Cheers and shouts erupt around you as people start to notice.

One time, let me put it 'pon ya

Two times, let me put it 'pon ya

The nerves slowly vanish as you feel the music, your hips ticking side to side as more people corner around the bar. The attention you’re feeling only empowers you even more as you lean forward, arching your back and moving your waist in a slow wine.

Three times I try, you caught my eye

You know what's on my mind

You glance around at the crowd, drowning in the attention and feeling of so many eyes amazed by you. When you make contact with those familiar, dark, and slightly narrowed eyes, your breath falters a little. San sits at the end of the bar, body leaning back against the chair as he tracks your every turn, dip, and bend.

“Wooo, you look hot, Y/N,” Wooyoung shouts as he appears behind San, hand resting on his shoulder. Wooyoung raises his shot in the air to you before sending it back down his awaiting mouth.

Why you acting so shy?

Come and take the spotlight

Gracefully and in time with the beat, you dance towards the end of the bar, very aware of the girls sitting on each side of San, watching you with bitter stares. Just as your favorite part of the song plays, you drop low in front of him, aware of how high your dress rises, barely covering your ass.

Baby, make your body go clockwise, anti-clockwise

The alcohol floods your veins as Hongjoong, Wooyoung, Mingi, and the screams of other people sound in your ear. Your fingers fasten in the top of your hair as your hips twist in circles, fingers moving to caress down your arms, putting on a sexy show for one man in particular.

San licks his lips, one eyebrow lifting as his eyes take in every inch of your body, your ass on display for him, and god was he blessed. Never had he ever received a dance from a girl in all of his years of dancing, and from the way, you were gazing at him, he knew this was his first.

As the song comes to a slow finish and the next one starts, Mingi helps you down the bar, and you make your way towards the three guys you entered the club with.

Wooyoung and Hongjoong pull you in between them, squishing you against their warm bodies as they hug you close.

“I have never seen you dance like that,” Hongjoong shouts as he looks at you in complete awe.

“Wow, I’m surprised you’re not a dancer with smooth movements like those,” San says before taking a sip from the glass in his hand.

“See, that’s a huge compliment coming from a dancer like San!”

Hongjoong smiles as he looks between the two of you. You knew from the countless stories Wooyoung told that he was a pretty well-known backup dancer, but you hadn’t realized he was that good, and your cheeks began to heat up.

“This was all my doing,” Wooyoung says as he looks at you, “I knew the dress would bring out a different side of you that you’ve been hiding!”

A soft smile settles across your face as you realize he’s right. There’s no way you would’ve been bold enough to dance like that on the bar in a different dress. With all their eyes on you and no idea what to say, you thought of the one thing that would make you feel more relaxed.

“How about another round of shots?!” You begin to walk away and head towards Mingi on the other side of the bar without waiting for a reply when Hongjoong’s hands suddenly shoot onto your shoulders.

“Woah, we just had a shot less than 10 minutes ago.”

Hongjoong was right about that, but taking a shot might ease your nerves around San. He wouldn’t stop looking at you with that intense stare as he sips his drink. You had no idea what he was drinking, but if you had to guess, maybe it was vodka.

“Yea, wait here. I’m gonna get you water instead,” Wooyoung shouts over the loud music before ruffling your hair a little and heading towards the busy bartender.

“Water? Are you guys serious? I’m not even drunk,” You pout, looking at Hongjoong with wide eyes while wrapping your arms around his neck.

He tries so hard to hold his laugh in but fails and just shakes his head at you. His soft hands reach up to unclasp yours from his neck, looking over at San as he speaks.

“Please watch her. She’s had her fun for the night. I’m gonna call for a ride to take her home,” Hongjoong explains.

San sends a smile his way, assuring him not to worry about you. Now that Hongjoong leaves, reality sinks in. You’re stuck here with San watching you. All you want to do is disappear into the crowd of people, and that’s exactly what the voice in your head tells you to do.

Just as you get about five feet away and into the crowd, a really tight grip encircles your hips, pulling your hips flush against a firm body. The hardness against your back is the first thing you notice, and you’re in shock.

Before you even turn around, the presence behind you fades as if it was in your imagination. The hardness was there one second and gone within half a second.

“Touch her again, and I’ll break your fucking hands.”

The low and threatening voice is the first thing you notice as your eyes land on a fuming San. His jaw clenches as he fists the shirt of some guy clearly drunk off his ass, now looking like a deer in headlights. The guy raises both hands in surrender as he mumbles out a jumble of words before San lets him go, and he takes off.

Standing there, you’re unsure what to do. Maybe you should thank him, but you didn’t ask him to do that. You didn’t need him to protect you, but he still did it. He’s still pissed. You can tell from the way he stands there, still looking in the direction of the guy, shoulders tense and jaw clenched.

A deep breath exits his mouth as he turns around to look at you, his face immediately relaxing as his brown eyes meet yours. You swallow, mouth feeling dry as he slowly walks over to you, head tilting as he studies your face. One of his ring-clad fingers ghosts over your cheek before tucking a stray curl behind your ear.

“Are you okay?” San asks as his eyes soften.

Out of all the expressions you had seen from him, this was a first. You didn’t think it was possible for him to show concern since he was always looking at you with those narrowed eyes. All you can do is nod, not able to trust your voice because of the way he’s looking at you.

“It’s because of this dress. Some bastards can’t keep their hands to themselves,” he says while glancing around you before pulling you closer. His hand was comfortably resting on your lower back, the heat from his palm warming up your skin and making it hard to breathe.

“What? You told me to wear the dress in the first place,” you complain, suddenly feeling disappointment fill your head at the thought of him not liking the dress.

As if reading your thoughts, he pushes his tongue into his cheek before sucking his teeth. He noticed how quickly your face had fallen and couldn’t stand seeing you like that.

“I did tell you to wear it. I love the way you look too,” he says, voice more serious as he glances down at you.

“I just don’t like anyone else enjoying the same view as me,” he whispers, tongue wetting his lips as he sucks it into his mouth.

The change in your breathing doesn’t go unnoticed by him as he slowly leans in closer, your senses overtaken by that same soft floral, sweet scent you associated him with. San’s grip on your waist tightens, and you can feel his minty breath wash over your face as he gets closer.

“There you two are!” Wooyoung’s shout makes the two of you jump apart quickly, your friend grinning like a Chesire cat because of the position he had caught you two in.

“Here’s your water, Y/N. Hongjoong was looking for you guys. The ride is gonna be here soon,” he explains as you down the water, the ice coldness soothing your throat and taking away some of the heat you had been feeling.

Wooyoung stands there, eyes flickering between you and San as he shakes his head and slaps him on the back, a chuckle leaving his throat.

“We should go meet Hongjoong,” San shouts over the loud music, unsure how to make things less awkward for you now that Wooyoung had almost seen the two of you kiss.

You nod in agreement, still chugging the water down as the two of them follow closely behind you. Little did you know that the two of them were playfully pushing each other around, Wooyoung excited about the thought of you and San together.

“Damn, where the hell did Wooyoung go?” Hongjoong groans as he looks around the front of the building used to this happening. He was always taking on the parent role in the group even if he didn’t want to.

“I thought you saw him sneak back into the club with that blonde girl,” San comments while shrugging his shoulders, clearly not concerned with his friend’s whereabouts.

You stifle a laugh as Hongjoong throws his head back, sweat trickling down the side of his forehead from his constant running around before he once again enters the nightclub.

“Wait here for the ride,” he orders, giving you both one last look before entering the swarm of bodies.

Right as he enters the building, two girls walk out, giggles erupting from their lips but suddenly becoming serious as they traipse over to San leaning against the brick exterior. You recognize them as the two girls that were sitting around him earlier in the club.

“What are you waiting here for? You can come home with us,” One of the girls giggles while trailing the tips of her fingers across the top of his exposed chest. The way she looked up at him with giant doll eyes made you want to throw up all the shots you had downed.

“Yea, we can show you a very good time,” the slightly shorter friend smiles as she squeezes his bicep and earns a soft chuckle from him.

You were pissed at Wooyoung and Hongjoong for leaving you with him. The last thing you wanted was to watch these two girls drool all over him. The worst part about it is that he was actually entertaining them, chuckling and tilting his lips as his eyes flicker back and forth between the two.

“Fuck this,” you mutter to yourself, head fuming at what you were witnessing.

It’s been almost 10 minutes since you’ve been waiting for the damn ride and you were done waiting. The cool breeze helps calm your emotions as you begin the walk back to your apartment. This area's streets are pretty noisy, with other people entering and leaving the different strings of clubs up and down the block.

You don’t even glance back to see if San notices you walking away. Truthfully, you didn’t think he would care, and why would he? He was occupied with not one but two girls! Pain shoots through your feet as the aftermath of wearing heels for so long finally begins to settle. Your apartment is only a 10-minute walk away; if you power through the pain, you can make it.

“Y/N, is that you?” The voice causes you to halt in your tracks, turning to notice a very happy and smiling Seonghwa entering your line of sight.

“Oh my gosh, Hwa! It’s so nice to see you!” Excitement runs through your veins, replacing the bitter emotions from before. It was nice to see a familiar face and one that was like family at that.

“Damn, you went to the club like that? Let me see you do a spin,” he grins, holding out his hand for you to grab onto.

Giggles erupt from your lips as you twirl for him, the club's neon blue and green lights swirling in your vision. He lets out a low whistle that has your mood soaring through the roof and a wide smile spreading across your face.

“Were you at the club with your friends?” You ask him as he stops spinning you, his hands resting on your hips.

He looks back towards the entryway of the other club, replying, “Yea, I was out with Yeosang, Yunho, and Jongho. I’m leaving now, though. I’ve had my fun. Do you need a ride home?”

Someone must have been watching over you because you swear Seonghwa was an angel sent in a time of need when you needed help the most. He grins widely, noting the relief that washes over your face from his offer.

“Yes, please! My feet are killing me, Hongjoong is still looking for Wooyoung in the club, and San is busy with some girls,” you ramble on, voice coming out slower and softer towards the end.

“San,” Seonghwa states instead of questioning, and you’re confused for a second until you feel a firm pressure on your hips, Seonghwa’s hands falling and being replaced with tighter ones.

“Yes, that’s my name.” A shiver runs down your spine as his cool breath hits your neck, your body tensing from his closeness.

Turning around in his arms and away from his body, his warmth immediately leaves you. A frown fixes on his lips from your reaction, but it passes as he looks at Seonghwa, eyes narrowing.

“What are you doing here?” You ask him, feeling irritated with the way he glares at Seonghwa. His brown eyes shift to your face, brows pulling together as he speaks.

“I was in the middle of a conversation, and when I looked up, you were gone. I saw you turn the corner and followed you. I was worried,” he explains, voice low as he runs through everything in his mind.

The concern in his voice has you softening for a minute, and warmth fills your heart as you realize he came looking for you. Then within a second, it disappears again as he looks at Hwa with that same glare as before.

“We should get going. Our ride is waiting,” he says, dark eyes unwavering from Hwa.

“I’m good. You can go ahead. Seonghwa is going to take me home,” you state. You don’t back down even when San’s dark eyes stare into your soul. Anyone walking by could easily tell he was pissed off from the look on his face alone.

“You’re leaving with me,” he says even more firmly than before. His body inching forward to grab you when suddenly Hwa steps in front of you, clearly finding amusement in San’s reactions.

“She doesn’t want to leave with you. I’ll take her home.”

The last thing you wanted was to see the two of them having a damn dominance contest. You didn’t come to the club to deal with this. It was supposed to be a night of just fun with friends, and now these two were having a pissing contest.

“She came with me. She’s leaving with me,” San grits out, jaw clenching and face getting closer to Seonghwa with each word.

“Listen,” you shout, stepping in front of Seonghwa and placing your hands on San’s chest to push him back a little.

“I’m leaving with Seonghwa. You were so busy earlier that you didn’t even notice me leaving. You can go have fun with your girls. No need for you to take me home.”

You turn away from him, grabbing onto Seonghwa’s wrist as you lead him to the parking lot. Sure, you felt a little bad, but you didn’t like how he wanted your attention one minute and then was busy with another girl elsewhere the next. You have every right to make your own choices, it wasn’t like the two of you were together.

San’s eyes widen in shock as he processes the words that leave your mouth. He didn’t think you would fight him on this. In fact, he thought you would just give in to avoid any more conflict. He feels like shit as he watches you walk away with Seonghwa.

It was true that he was busy talking to those girls, but they wouldn’t leave him alone. He didn’t want to be rude and tell them to stop talking or just walk away from them. He let them continue their words, letting out some awkward chuckles here and there, but the truth is he didn’t even pay attention to the conversation.

He thought you would turn back, return to him and wait for the ride. It wasn’t until you turned the corner that he realized he fucked up. He sprinted from those girls, not caring to apologize or explain as he ran in search of you.

He thought going after you would make things better, but it just seemed to make things worse, and watching you leave with another guy made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Jealous.

It’s about midnight when you finally slump against the couch after saying bye to Seonghwa. Once you reached home, the dress was immediately off your body and replaced with a soft silk black robe.

The heels are neatly placed in your closet, and the only thing remaining is your makeup. The major downside of going out so late at night is removing all of your makeup, especially the eyelashes.

Scrolling through your phone, you send a quick text to Hongjoong and Wooyoung, letting both of them know you got home safely and that Seonghwa gave you a ride. You don’t expect a text from them, certain they’re still at the club or just leaving.

As you look out the window, you’re happy you left the club when you did. It started drizzling when Seonghwa dropped you off, and now it was pouring. Throwing your phone onto the couch, you decide to go take off your makeup when a knock on your door halts your steps.

Glancing at the clock, you wonder who could be knocking at your door at this hour. Assuming it’s most likely Wooyoung or Hongjoon deciding to crash at your place, you swing the door open without a second thought.

The last thing you expect to find is San soaking wet from the rain, clothes dripping wet, hair stuck to his face, and breathing heavily.

He glances at you, noticing the black robe wrapped tightly around your frame, before pushing himself into your apartment. You shut the door, eyebrows pulled together in confusion.

“Where is he?” His chest is moving up and down at a fast and steady pace as he tries to walk by you, his eyes franticly searching all around your apartment.

“Woah, did you run here, San?” You ask, blocking his path as you tug on the side of his black shirt. It was the only thought that came to mind when you noticed how out of breath he was. It had only just started pouring a few minutes ago too.

“Where the hell is he, Y/N? Is he in your room?”

San asks as he begins walking towards your bedroom, a water trail following him. Your hands push against his chest, stopping him before he can even enter the hallway, keeping him in the kitchen and living room area.

“Stop it! You’re dripping water everywhere, San!”

You shout, becoming upset with the mess that he’s creating in your apartment. Cleanliness is one of the most important things you value. Having things in order is always important to you, and with the mess San is causing on all of your floors, you’re about to pull out his and your hair.

San looks down at your hands pressing flat against his chest, his own cold hands wrapping around both of your wrists as he looks you straight in the eyes.

“Answer my damn question, Y/N! Is he here? Was he her-” His eyes are completely dark and fuming as he stares at you, trying to stop himself from imagining you and that punk together.

“Why the hell does it matter?”

You yell, cutting him off and preventing him from finishing his sentence because his actions are so uncalled for.

It was none of his business if Seonghwa was at your place. Taking a step back, you try to tug your wrists from his grasp, only for him to pull you closer, your chin now touching his chest.

“If you interrupt me one more time, Y/N– so help me, god.”

“As if I’m gonna listen to you. Please, what are you gonn- ”

Before you can even finish the sentence, your back is against the front door, San’s drenched body pushing against yours and wetting your robe.

“I’ll show you what I can do about it, but first,” he pauses, his forehead against yours, eyes closed as he takes a deep breath before opening them again and focusing on your eyes.

“I need to know. Were you with him?” The way San asks the question makes your frustration fade away. His voice is soft and almost shaky, as if he’s afraid to hear the answer, but he needs to know.

“I wasn’t with him. Nothing has ever happened between us, and it never will. I don’t think his boyfriend would be too happy, honestly,” you carefully explain and watch as San’s eyes widen in realization. You can visibly see his shoulders relax as he lets out a breath he had been holding.

“But why were you bothered by him so much?”

The question tumbles out of your mouth so quickly before you can even process it. It had been on your mind the entire ride back home with Seonghwa, but you weren’t planning to bring it up at all.

It was hard to read San. At first, you thought he might actually be interested in you, but then the next minute, when other girls were around, it was as if you didn’t exist.

“Because you were with him and not me.”

He leans back a little, his arms by the side of your face still trapping you between his body, but now you could see him entirely. A fake chuckle is all you can do to express how you feel, and from the look of surprise on his face, he wasn’t expecting that.

“It didn’t seem like you needed me. You had enough girls to occupy you,” you mockingly reply, catching him slightly flinch from your harsh but true words.

A loud sigh passes through his pink lips as he fists a hand through his wet hair, tugging at the strands in frustration.

“Fuck… I was trying to stay away from you because you’re friends with Wooyoung and Hongjoong. I was trying to distract myself because I don’t want to fuck things up,” he explains slowly, thinking about his words carefully.

His eyes remain on yours the entire time he speaks, and you know it’s the truth as you get lost in his dark eyes and his soft, honey voice.

“Then why did you come here?” The question comes out barely above a whisper, almost unheard because of the pouring rain.

“Because I can’t stop thinking about you since the first night we met. I know you don’t remember, but I do, and I keep remembering it. I’ve been thinking about you all day, and then I ran into you at the store,” San says as he reaches up to gently caress your cheek with his thumb, not imagining that this moment was actually happening.

A small smile touches his lips as he notices how your eyes close and you lean into him.

“I thought it was just a coincidence at first. I’m not someone who believes in fate, but everything changed for me when I found out Wooyoung and Hongjoong knew you too. No one has ever affected me this much. I just can’t get enough of you,” San breathes out his confession, relieved that it’s all out there but unsure of what happens now.

You’re unsure about your feelings for him as you stare at him. You know you have some, but he’s right. Both of you are friends with Wooyoung and Hongjoong, and there’s a risk to the friendship there. If things end badly between you, that could damage many friendships and complicate things.

San starts to feel a little uneasy at your silence. He didn’t expect you to accept his feelings and say you love him, but he expected you to say something at least, even if you rejected him.

Regarding relationships, you were never one to jump into things. You never did one-night stands and considered yourself as someone who prefers long-term relationships.

But as you look at San standing before you and confessing that he hasn’t stopped thinking about you for a second, all of that logic goes out the window and into the storm. You were always thinking with your head; for once, you wanted to let your heart win.

“How badly do you want me?” You quietly ask, looking up at him through your eyelashes.

A groan escapes San’s lips as his tongue wets the surface, “So fucking bad. If it meant giving up dancing to be with you, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Without any regrets.”

You stare up at the man before you, his hand reaching up, gripping your jaw tightly, his silver rings feeling cold against the warm skin of your cheek. His thumb slowly brushes over your bottom lip, admiring the lust swimming in your eyes and the red flush settling onto your cheeks.

Without thinking, you part your lips and slowly wrap them around his thumb, feeling satisfied as the digit starts to sink further into your mouth.

“Fuck, Y/N,” San groans, his eyes hooded in desire, as he pulls his thumb from your mouth, biting his lips as he notices the clear trail of saliva connected to it.

“Kiss me, San.”

That’s all it takes for San to let go and smash his lips onto yours. He kisses softly yet passionately as if he’s trying to get lost in you. He wants to memorize every single curve of your lips and each inch of your mouth as his fingers grip your hips tightly.

It feels as if every inch of your body is on fire, your hands gripping his shirt as you pull him tightly against you. You want more of him. It feels like you’re drowning in his smell, touch, and taste. His fingers draw small circles against your hips over your robe, and the realization of how little clothing you have on hits you.

San lightly teases his tongue against your lips, a smile splitting onto his face as you easily grant him access. His tongue explores your mouth, lightly flicking against your own tongue a few times, giving him complete control.

“Fuck. This is a one-time thing, right?” You manage to say against his lips feeling breathless.

It’s supposed to be a firm statement, but it comes out more like a question. San makes it incredibly hard to think straight when his lips are pressing against yours so rough and hungry. He breaks away from the kiss to talk for a second before continuing his actions.

“You know that’s a lie,” he murmurs while peppering kisses along your jawline and down to your neck, teeth biting the skin there but not deep enough to break this skin.

“This might be the first time, but it definitely won’t be the last,” he says against your neck, leaving small hickeys as he continues down to the top of your robe. His flick up to yours, heat swirling in them, gaze darkening and eyes hooded.

“Don’t give me that look,” you whine out, aware of the wetness gathering between your thighs from just his stare alone.

San chuckles against your chest, his warm breath hitting the slightly exposed skin there.

“What’s the matter, Y/N? Do you get nervous when I look at you like this?” The smirk on his face is disgustingly sexy, and you can’t argue with him. He knows exactly how to use his expressions to his advantage, leaving you in a mess before him.

With a soft thud, your head leans against the wall as you avoid eye contact with him. His stare wasn’t equivalent to a siren. You were wrong to think that before. He had the eyes of a demon, dark and waiting to devour you.

“Don’t be shy now. Where’s the feisty girl from earlier?”

He mumbles against your chest, purposely avoiding the deep neckline of your robe that reveals some cleavage. His lips leave delicate kisses across your chest, his hands wrapping around your thighs and hosting you up against him.

Pride fills him as you let out a loud and needy whine, pulling his head tightly against your chest as he swiftly kicks his shoes off before entering your bedroom.

San tosses you onto the bed, mesmerized by the way your hair spread out around you in a perfect halo, as the robe comes undone, both sides falling open and exposing your smooth skin.

His teeth immediately sinks into his bottom lip, trying to digest that this was happening. You were here, spread out and so needy for him. Willing to let him touch you in ways you could only dream about.

“Please touch me, San,” you beg, moving to sit up only to halt your actions, San shaking his head and telling you not to move.

“God, I love when you say my name,” he groans, fingers making quick work of his black buttoned-down shirt and jeans, the clothing left in a pile at the front of your door.

He can’t keep calm as he takes in every uncovered inch of your skin, from the perfect curve of your breasts and hardened nipples to the red panties he had been picturing all night.

The image was stuck in his head from the moment you flashed him in the club during your dance. He didn’t know if it was intentional or not as you dropped in front of him, legs spread at an angle so only he could see between, but thank god you did.

He carefully drops onto his knees, head dipping low as he presses gentle kisses up your feet, ankles, legs, and thighs until he reaches your center.

“San, please just fuck me. I can’t wait any longer,” you moan, fingers weaving into his hair as you pull him up, his eyes rolling back from your neediness.

“Guess I’ll have to wait until next time to taste you,” he chuckles against your lips, the comment a small reminder that this wouldn’t be the last time.

You want to tell him not to get his hopes up, but the whiny “just fuck me” is all the confirmation he needs. If he made you feel like this, you would never let him leave your apartment.

There’s a scraping of teeth, and a battle of tongues as both of your fingers work to remove the remaining fabric on your bodies. San draws back to look at you, a low “fuck” passing his lips as his mouth latches onto your breast, pulling the flesh into his mouth and moaning loudly. His fingers play with your other breast, pulling and twisting at the nipple before giving it the same attention with his mouth.

You can feel his dick, heavy and hard, slip between your thighs and slowly drag against your wet folds. He pauses his sucking and breathlessly says, “Condom?”

As much as you know you shouldn’t, you shake your head. You’re on the pill but don’t know if San has been with anyone else. You also didn’t have any condoms around, not having an actual sex life, but you were certain San carried one with him.

“I want to feel you. I want you inside of me now,” you moan out, pulling San back to your lips as his hands position your legs around his hips.

San is certain he just died and went to heaven. Not only did you want to have sex with him, but you wanted him to fuck you raw. Truth is, he didn’t prepare for this to happen. He didn’t carry condoms with him like most guys because he wasn’t out looking for sex.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you,” San breathes out as he stares into your eyes, the tip of his dick leaking precum as he pushes through your folds, breaching your entrance.

You feel intoxicated by his touch, the pink head of his dick stretching your walls as the smell of his heavenly cologne overflows around you.

You push your hips down, grinding yourself against his length, taking him in another inch as pleasure washes over the both of you. San licks his lips, eyes glued to where your bodies join, enjoying how he fits so snugly.

“Fuck, you’re so big,” you manage to breathe out, continuously clenching as San finally bottoms out completely inside of you. His breathing is just as heavy as yours, experiencing this for the first time. He had never had sex with anyone like this before, and every feeling was magnified.

“You feel so good, baby,” San grunts as he carefully moves his hips back and forth, swearing each time you clench around him.

His hips pick up pace as your moans encourage him, sweat dripping down the side of his forehead as he holds himself up by the forearms, taking in your fucked out expression.

He admires you, your body relaxed and covered in his marks and sweat. In his mind, you looked like a work of art, and he was the proud painter perfecting each brush stroke until you were no longer the clean blank canvas as before. He was determined to leave you a mess, so you would be reminded of his presence in this room even when he wasn’t there.

The sound of his dick moving in and out of you sets your skin ablaze as the squelching sound of your juices gets louder with his hard thrusts. The moans that leave your lips become more obscene as San gives a rough thrust upwards, pushing himself deeper inside of you, hitting that special spot and making your back arch.

“I- I love it when you t-talk dirty,” you struggle to say as the pleasure builds up with each of San’s powerful thrusts.

The smirk that stretches across his face as he looks at you with hooded eyes screams trouble. You’re unsure if telling him that was a mistake, but you’re about to find out.

You’re unsure if telling him that was a mistake, but you’re about to find out. He flips you over, dick never slipping out as he thrusts into you from below, your hands grabbing onto his shoulders as he ruts into you. You’re letting out whines, shaking your head from side to side as the pleasure becomes too intense.

“I know you can take it, baby. I know you love it. Look how good you soak my cock,” San says, his praises encouraging as you look down to watch him disappear into you. His dick is so hard and covered in your wetness, his lower stomach shiny from your arousal.

“Fuck, you’re such a filthy girl. And it’s all for me, right?” He asks as his thumb finds your clit, pressing tight circles on it that draw out a long “yes” from you.

“Only for you. Only for you,” you pant against his lips as you lean forward, San’s hands gripping your ass as he pounds into you.

He’s on the brink of cumming, and when he delivers one powerful thrust, he feels you shake, your pussy holding him incredibly tight as you orgasm, wave after wave hitting you, each stronger than the previous.

He manages to fuck you through it, dick pulsing as your walls constrict around him, praising you as more wetness seeps onto him.

“That’s it, that’s my girl,” he grunts, teeth grinding as your tightening and wetness propels him to chase after his own orgasm as his eyes have trouble finding a place to focus.

He’s reeling in pleasure as the images in front of him take over his mind. His eyes flicker between his thick cock disappearing between your swollen lips, sliding in and out of your wetness and your glassy eyes staring down at him.

“Please give it to me. I want you to cum inside of me. Please, San,” you beg, your words coming out high-pitched and desperate. It was all San needed to hear from you. You didn’t have to beg him, he would give you everything he had, over and over until he was empty.

“Fuck I’m cumming,” he moans loudly, the loudest you’ve heard him tonight, as his thrusts turn sloppy and warmth floods your insides.

Each hot spurt has you clenching around him, further heightening his pleasure as he empties himself, enjoying the view of his cum squeezing out of you.

His hair sticks to his forehead, sweat dripping down his face, neck, and chest. Almost every inch of his skin is covered in sweat, and so is yours. Both of you are a mess, and as you carefully pull off him, a mixture of your wetness and San’s cum spills out onto his stomach, earning a loud moan from him.

“You’re so sexy, baby,” he chuckles, pulling you down by the neck and planting a short and gentle kiss against your lips.

He reaches over to the nightstand, grabbing a tissue to wipe his stomach as you lay beside him, legs sticky with both of your releases. As San catches his breath next to you, dick already softening, you can’t help but mumble, “That was amazing.”

San pulls you closer to his side, one hand hooking around your shoulder as the other settles onto your hip. Head resting on his shoulder, he looks down at you, eyes full of warmth and a mouthful of white teeth on display.

“It was incredible,” he replies, placing a sweet kiss on the top of your head. A peaceful silence fills the room, and he opens his mouth to speak again.

“I hope you know you’re more than just a one-night stand to me. I want you every morning. Every day. Every night. In every way possible,” he whispers, looking down at you, brown eyes sparkling in the soft moonlight.

“I feel the same way too,” you confess, heart swelling and comforted by the fact that this was more than just a night of sex for him.

San leans in, his lips moving to cover yours when a loud bang in the living room suddenly interrupts it.

“What the fuck?” You jump, startled by the noise.

San’s face becomes serious as he stands up, covering you in the blanket at the foot of your bed before pulling on his briefs.

“Stay here. I’ll check it out,” he whispers, about to walk away when you tug onto his wrist.

“Wait! Take this,” you quietly say, leaning over the edge of the bed to pull a metal baseball bat from underneath.

“For protection,” you explain, handing it to him only to receive a soft chuckle. You watch as he steps out into the hallway, anxiously waiting. It’s silent for a few minutes before you hear a loud and annoying voice.

“What the fuck! Are you trying to kill me?! See, I told you, Hongjoong! I knew the two of them would fuck! You owe me 50 bucks!”

Footsteps sound down the hallway, and you pull the sheets closer to your chest, covering any visible skin. An embarrassed San trails in, followed by a drunk Wooyoung and a tipsy Hongjoong.

“I tried to make them leave,” San explains, cheeks flushing as he runs his fingers through his hair.

“Y/N!” Hongjoong whines as he takes another step into the room.

“Now I owe him money,” he drunkenly pouts, looking cute and defeated. All you can do is laugh as San returns to his spot next to you, leaning against the headboard.

“I knew she wouldn't be able to resist him! That’s my boy,” Wooyoung shouts a little too loud, causing Hongjoong to flinch as Wooyoung smiles in triumph.

“Yea, you’re right. She couldn’t resist my charms,” San grins, eyebrows raising as he gives you that sexy look he was talking about.

You lightly slap his chest, cheeks flushing in embarrassment as he pulls you towards him, placing a kiss on your nose before ordering the two trouble makers to leave.

You weren’t entirely sure what would come out of this, but you felt good about it. If this happened when you listened to your heart, you would do it more often.

❥ Don’t forget to like, comment and reblog! I love to hear your thoughts 💙✨

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Taglist: @cookiechristie @jenotation @woosmaid

#thekpoparchives #san smut #ateez smut #choi san #choi san x reader #rotate choi san #ateez fanfic #choi san smut

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juanmccord · 4 years ago

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The Top 5 Best CBD Oil Brands Reviewed for 2021

In the event that you are in a great deal of torment, you have most likely had a go at everything to mitigate it! Possibly you haven't yet attempted CBD oil, yet it gradually has become a very famous health choice generally in view of the recuperating properties of the cannabis plant. As the world attempts to recuperate from COVID and the worldwide pandemic, it's an ideal opportunity to take a gander at some elective enhancements you can add to your way of life in 2021.

CBD oil is otherwise called Cannabidiol, which has been demonstrated to be a successful type of help with discomfort for some, in light of recounted proof. CBD oil can assist with numerous diseases to your wellbeing like irritation, constant agony, and even joint inflammation and headaches.

CBD can accomplish something other than help calm agony, as it likewise attempts to help improve the nature of your rest, can lessen uneasiness, and may improve your invulnerability.

You should realize that not all CBD items are the equivalent, and it very well may be overpowering attempting to figure out the numerous choices that you can purchase. How would you realize where to begin and what the correct item is for your necessities?

We have done the examination so you don't need to and we will give a breakdown of our most ideal decisions for CBD oil in 2021. Comprehend that we assessed each CBD oil dependent on various components like the wellspring of hemp, intensity, and what kind of concentrates were utilized. We did likewise consider customer audits and how much value for your money you are getting.

Best CBD Oil: The 5 Top CBD Products for 2021

In case you're searching for the best CBD items in 2021, you can unquestionably purchase any of these brands on our rundown.

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1. Regal CBD

In the event that you need a powerful alternative, Royal CBD conveys the most intense CBD oil you can purchase for help with discomfort. That, yet Royal CBD ensures that the entirety of their items are non-GMO, dissolvable free and sans pesticide, guaranteeing they are sourced from morally delivered modern hemp, which is wealthy in both cannabinoids and terpenes.

This organization began little. Established in 2017, they promptly centered around the nature of their items and on making an incredible client support group. Their attention on client care paid off as they are quite possibly the most famous CBD organizations around. Illustrious CBD has gained notoriety for making unadulterated, exceptionally powerful CBD items.

They utilize a heatless CO2 extraction measure, which causes them save the virtue of the last CBD item. Since it is full-range, Royal CBD makes certain to have the entirety of the normally happening phytochemicals that can be found in hemp, permitting you to accomplish the company impact.

You can purchase anything you need at their online store like colors, chewy candies, oils, containers, pet items, and even skin creams. There are a wide assortment of potencies, so there makes certain to be something for you, as their colors range from 250 mg to 2500 mg for every jug. Their flavorings are somewhat restricted, offering just regular, berry, or vanilla flavor, yet clients rave about it.

This is some solid CBD oil, and individuals that need something solid and effective will profit most from utilizing Royal CBD oils.

For the best CBD oil in the USA, go with Royal CBD. You will not be disillusioned.

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2. Gold Bee CBD

Another extraordinary competitor for the best generally speaking CBD oil available that is incredible for relief from discomfort and furthermore tastes extraordinary is Gold Bee CBD. The first concern for Gold Bee is client support, and they exceed any and all expectations to ensure their clients get all they require.

Like most CBD oils, Gold Bee was set up only a couple years back in 2019. Their vision for cannabidiol items was to make items that you could undoubtedly fuse into an ordinary way of life without causing you to feel high or out of it. Advertising endeavors are focused on youthful grown-ups needing to look into deterrent health.

You can anticipate a prizes program, and you can likewise acquire credits in the event that you allude companions to utilize Gold Bee's items, or do things like leave a survey or monitor the brand on your online media accounts. You would then be able to utilize your focuses for limits on your #1 Gold Bee CBD items.

You will discover many flavor alternatives and power decisions too. Gold Bee sells all that you can envision like colors, topicals, vape cartridges, and you can even purchase CBD-mixed canine treats for your pooch.

The full-range CBD oil is generally well known and you will discover this color accessible in centralizations of 600, 1200, and 2400 mg, which means you have a ton of alternatives. A few people struggle with the flavor of CBD oil, yet this brand offers a great deal of flavors like citrus, mint, berry, and vanilla flavor, so you will have a lot of alternatives.

You'll discover the hemp separate oil from this brand is incredible if your objective is discovering colors and chewy candies that taste the best. This is by a wide margin a standout amongst other tasting items we tried. In case you're searching for another solid and set up CBD brand, purchase from Gold Bee CBD.

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3. Vibes CBD

At whatever point you put anything into your body, ensure the fixings are best in class, and this goes for food, beverages, and items like hemp. This expansive range CBD oil by Vibes CBD is high on our rundown generally as a result of its boss quality.

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Vibes CBD was established in 2018 by a family-run group that needed to make unadulterated CBD accessible to the majority. This family-claimed organization values selling drug level, hemp items that are ensured natural and just accessible through their site (not in high road stores).

They basically sell top notch CBD as colors, creams, gels, chewy candies, and balms. In the event that you need something to help quiet your canine during a tempest, you can purchase CBD pet items also.

Vibes CBD accompanies cannabidiol content in the colors of 7.5, 15, 30, or 45 mg for every serving, so you can pick your solidarity. There flavors accessible are common, serene mint, summer lemon, and orange happiness flavor. Remember that the chewy candies are accessible in both strawberry lemonade and green apple and have 10 mg for each sticky.

Vibes CBD items are outsider tried for quality and they make a point to just utilize natural, economically sourced, and safe materials. All clients get a duplicate of the outsider lab test results with each request for added true serenity.

On the drawback, Vibes CBD is situated in the UK, and in this way delivery to the United States can take between 7-10 working days.

4. Favored CBD

Clients love Blessed CBD's oil for its capacity to treat torment. This is ostensibly the most elevated appraised CBD oil on the worldwide market, as clients reliably leave positive audits for this item.

A group of UK-based business people searched out to give a successful, premium hemp-determined CBD that could be bought at serious estimating. Favored CBD sells a great deal of excellent items, yet figures out how to keep the quality predictable all through.

You can likewise effectively see the testing records of their items. Clients can filter QR codes from the items that show the particular lab testing results for that particular item.

Interestingly, you can buy oils, softgels, powders, chewy candies, containers, topicals, and even pet items at their online store, which means you shouldn't need to go to an excess. You'll additionally see they have oils that are comprised of equivalent measures of CBD and other cannabinoids.

On the off chance that you like the flavor of unflavored oils you can get them in potencies of 500 to 1800 mg of CBD, so there is something for everybody. You can likewise take part in a "Buy in and Save" program, which will give you a markdown on each request and you don't need to pay for transportation.

Like the past brand, Blessed CBD is situated in the UK. Delivery to the United States can require as long as 3 weeks, however it merits the stand by (Blessed CBD has likewise been casted a ballot "best CBD oil in the UK" by Manchester Evening News, Reader's Digest, Mirror, Birmingham Live, Leicester Mercury, Express, My London, Hull Daily, Stoke Live, LA Weekly, Bristol Post, Yours, Daily Star and QuitNet).

5. Cheef Botanicals

What sort of torment do you have? In the event that it's ongoing and continually repeating, you need to consider the CBD oil from Cheef Botanicals. They make all-normal items that are very moderate.

Made by natural food specialists in Colorado, the Cheef Botanicals group takes a gander at CBD comprehensively. Utilizing just hemp filled in the U.S., they value morally sourcing every one of their items.

On the off chance that you are worried about quality, you will value that all that they produce is outsider lab tried for both quality and wellbeing. Furthermore, for those worried about cash, they back their items up with a 30-day unconditional promise, making all buys practically zero danger on your part.

Assortment is something else going for Cheef Botanicals since you can purchase practically any CBD item you might actually need. No more shopping at more than one retailer, as you can purchase CBD colors, edibles, hemp blossoms and pre-moves, cases, concentrates, vape cartridges, and topicals all at a similar online store.

Their full-range CBD oil can be bought in potencies of 300, 600, 1200, and 3000 mg for each container giving you a ton of alternatives. Lamentably, their oils are unflavored, so you may have to become accustomed to the taste which can be very natural and severe. Concerning their chewy candies, you can get them in centralizations of 300 to 3000 mg for each jug.

Some different brands in the CBD business who additionally make quality CBD oil yet didn't exactly make our rundown are Nutra CBD Olie, Spruce CBD, Nuleaf Naturals, Charlotte's Web, Fab CBD, Lazarus Naturals and CBDistillery.

What is CBD oil?

There are a couple of things to think about CBD oil, which is a phytocannabinoid that is known as cannabidiol.

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#health

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itsomgitsgreenblogging · 5 years ago

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A Never-Ending Feast

Yes, it is me again. Really we all should have expected this, but when Jester pulled out Heroes' Feast in episode 105, my friend alixcat basically said, yeah, you are writing a fic about Jester using Heroes' Feast right? And I was like....yeah, you right. I'm back on my Labor of Love bullshit 24/7. This one's for you!

Jester often shows love through acts of service, OR 5 times that Jester summoned a feast for others and the 1 time she made a feast for herself.

Bon appetit!

Read on AO3

Preview:

The trudge to the inn was a terrible one. It was one of those summer days that clung to your skin and sowed misery with the humidity. It was almost a relief for it to start raining, but as soon as it did the wind howled and shook the trees with intensity, and the sky cracked open with lightning and thunder. Yasha looked unbothered by the storm, but Beau grumbled and trudged her way through the front door of the inn looking like she had been personally insulted. It didn’t help that when they ordered food, all they received was burnt chicken and wilted vegetables coated in oil.

“I can’t believe we spent money on this shit,” Beauregard snapped, her temper hot and lashing like a whip. She cast a dirty look to the innkeeper, who plainly ignored it and continued on with their day.

“I know what will make us all feel better,” Jester said, fluttering her fingers with her excitement. “I have that new spell that makes the food! Everyone, let’s go upstairs to our room and I’ll make us a feast!”

“I’m down,” Fjord said, picking up a particularly sad looking green bean from his plate and watching it flop around in an extremely unappetizing manner, not that Jester ever believed that beans were good. They were one of those things that Mama swore were good for her, but if they were so good for her then maybe they ought to taste good too! Regardless of her feelings about green beans, the Mighty Nein all followed Jester up to their room, where she settled down on a blanket and pulled out her jewel encrusted goblet. For a moment she prayed, and then the Traveler’s energy pulsed through her.

What kind of feast shall it be today? Jester heard the Traveler ask.

I’m thinking...summer! The kind of things you would eat on a beautiful summer day, the kind of summer day that Beau would love, not whatever this shitty day is!

Magic overflowed from the goblet, and out from the ground plates patterned with flowers, and bowls of porcelain began to appear like they were sprouting flowers and tall grasses. Strawberry shortcakes with dollops of indulgent creams that were scented of vanilla and the zest of lemons, peach crumbles with layers of streusel flavored with the warming spices of ginger and cinnamon to give it just a punch of flavor. Scoops of coconut ice cream covered in toasted coconuts and topped with pineapple sauce and bright cherries. Bananas dipped in chocolate and covered in toasted nuts and strawberries, slices of banana cream pie and rhubarb pie.

Veth picked up a glass bowl containing a trifle half the size of her body, layers of cake soaked in rum, blueberry sauce, custard, berries, and jelly that was arranged like a large fruit display. Caleb began cutting slices of a pavlova, sweet toasted meringue garnished with kiwis, passionfruit, strawberries and cream. Yasha and Fjord were busy sharing a pineapple upside down cake and coconut ice cream, as Beau worked on her own plate that she stacked high with pies baked into jars.

“I’ve never had iced tea before,” Caduceus said, taking a long indulgent sip from a glass.“Would you like some?”

“Oh yes!” Jester said as she took the glass. It was iced tea as her Mama made it, the signature Nicodranas brew layered with black-citrus tea with sweetened condensed milk and coconut milk. Jester sighed as the flavors mingled on her tongue. She took a mouthful of streusel next, sighing as the tender peach melted her in mouth with the brown sugar and coconut and made the flavor of summer. She dipped forkfuls of banana cream pie in pineapple sauce, cut chocolate covered bananas to add to her slice of pavlova. She took indulgent sips of different drinks to refresh her palate and add more flavor, watermelon tea or frosted lemonade or fizzing fruity floats with scoops of ice cream that melted into foam that lapped at the edge of goblets the size of bowls.

By the time the hour was up and the feast vanished, Jester had truly eaten her fill. She sighed as she settled into bed that night. For a moment she swore she felt Beau’s eyes on her.

“Thanks Jester,” Beau said, voice rough with feeling. “That did hit the spot.”

“Of course,” Jester said with a smile that Beau couldn’t see. “Any time.”

______________________________________

They sat camped outside the dungeon, in the bubble as Caleb meticulously casted. The villagers there had complained about something coming up from the depths of the old abandoned mine. Jester wondered idly if it could be gnolls again, but based on what Fjord and Beau had discovered while snooping about it seemed to be something far more...trickey.

“We just don’t know what we are gonna be walking into,” Fjord said worriedly as he balanced the Star Razor across his knees. Yasha who had been minding the perimeter came back and settled down, looking a bit unnerved. Jester felt a quiet sense of concern for her. It really was awful how she kept getting mind-controlled all the time! Jester would need to talk to the Traveler about that some time to see if she could help.

“If we hit it hard enough, it’ll fall,” Veth said, cocking her crossbow confidently.

“It might not hurt to prepare ourselves though,” Caleb said as he sat himself down next to Veth. Caleb then caught Jester’s attention with an awkward wave. “Jester, would you be, perhaps, capable of creating that feast again? To...ah...bolster our efforts?”

“Yeah, yeah yeah yeah,” Jester said thinking about it. “I can do that today!”

“Can you include some meat?” Veth said, picking at her teeth. “Any at all?”

“I have to give Caduceus something to eat!” Jester said, reminding Veth as she pulled out her bowl.

“Aw, that’s nice,” Caduceus hummed as he fixed his sleeping bag.

Jester settled it on the ground, and as she had done before she called the Traveler’s power to her.

What kind of feast shall it be today? Jester heard the Traveler ask.

I’m thinking...warm and filling! Something crisp like an apple on a brisk fall day, and the flavors of a Harvest Close Festival.

And there on plates and bowls patterned with leaves in brilliant autumn colors was their feast. A whole roast duck glazed with orange sauce and served on a platter on a smear of plum applesauce with skin so crispy that it cracked when Caleb took his first bite. Bowls full of sunny pumpkin soup topped with crisped onion, that paired perfectly with loaves of bread that were stuffed with fennel-pork sausage that Beau downed so quickly that Jester was half sure it would be more effective to just raise the bowl to her lips. Rabbit in rosemary-wine sauce, served with sides of potatoes mixed together with a spicy savory mustard, and mushroom risotto with rice so tender it brought tears to the eyes.

And then of course dessert, which Jester was mostly concerned about and wouldn’t dare to stint on the servings. Apple pie with cinnamon-sugar dusted on crumbling crusts. Baked apples covered luxuriously thick caramel sauce and covered in peanuts, and elephant ears swirled in cinnamon and drizzled with frosting. There were slices of smooth and glossy pumpkin pie and crunchy and delicately sweet pecan pies topped with dollops of whipped cream, and sweet potato cheesecake with gingersnap streusel crumbled on top. Goblets were full of apple cider, or hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows and drizzled with salted caramel, and coffee made buttery and rich with swirls of cream and brown sugar and even pumpkin. Butterscotch cookies pressed into the edges of large glasses of milk were what caught Jester's eyes first and foremost.

"This is my favorite thing," Jester said as she dipped the warm cookie into the glass of milk that had a rim encrusted with chocolate dust and cinnamon sugar, sighing as the butter, crunchy edges of the cookie, and the sweetened warm milk melted together in perfect harmony. Veth pressed in close to her, finishing off her plate before grabbing a glass of milk and cookies.

"This reminds me of when I was a girl," Veth laughed, her eyes misty. "But my mother wasn't nearly as good of a cook as your magic is."

“Aw, thank you,” Jester chirped, trading her now empty glass for a new plate and taking bites from pecan pie and long sips from cream-pumpkin-coffee. She gave Veth a side hug that Veth gladly leaned in to.

"It really is lovely," Caleb said, with a soft reflective look of his own as he stopped up soup with a piece of bread. His dark fingers sweeping around in a well practiced movement before popping the last piece of bread in his mouth.

“Hey, save some for the rest of us,” Beauregard teased as she elbowed Caleb.

“There’s plenty to share,” Veth argued with no heat. “I’ll make you a plate.”

Jester said nothing, but cuddled more firmly against Veth's side as she enjoyed her cookies in milk, thinking of a time with her own mother and perhaps something like this.

_______________________________

The ship rocked them back and forth as they gathered in the captain’s quarters. Jester had been full of energy ever since she learned that today was Fjord’s birthday. He had asked for nothing big or special, trying to argue that he couldn’t know his actual birthday and that he was getting too old for celebrations, but all of them had gotten him gifts regardless. Small little useful things, because Fjord would have surely refused anything more than that. Once the others had finish gifting things to Fjord, which he took with an increasingly tender and misty-eyed expression, Jester pulled out her jeweled goblet and set it upon the table. She casted the spell as she usually did, feeling her chest fill with the energy of her god.

What kind of feast are we having today? The Traveler asked curiously.

A celebration! Jester responded exuberantly. A fancy dinner party!

Upon the table that Fjord had set up, the plates and bowls and trays appeared, bubbling up from the spell like little boats buoyed on the water. A sweet and creamy lobster bisque, besides a tray of mussels steamed in white wine garlic and lemon juice, and nestled between buckwheat galettes made of salmon, capers, and dill. Mashed potatoes that were made smooth and rich with exorbitant amounts of butter found a place next to plates of mushrooms and gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce, and spicy butternut squash soup. Crispy crab cakes with a rainbow of dipping sauces in bowls shaped like shells and baked oysters dusted with spices and cheese. There was even a whole braised octopus in the center of the table, arranged among slices of lemon.

“I’ve never had anything like this,” Caleb admitted as he looked at the perfect slices of raw tuna in a loose approximation of a raw bar. “Is this supposed to be raw?”

“It tastes pretty good,” Veth said, scooping up her own serving of the ceviche of raw tuna marinated in lime juice and tossed with onions, tomatoes, avocados, and cilantro. She slurped down mussels at an alarming rate and did her best to encourage Caleb to cry the crispy calamari with the garlic aioli and the steamer swimming in butter.

"Look, our favorite!" Fjord said, sharing a knowing look with Beau and Yasha as he motioned to the plate full of fried fish and potatoes with tartar sauce. Beau and Yasha laughed as they loaded up their plates, pressing the flaky white fish into sandwiches made from the warm fresh white bread.

“What’s for dessert?” Caduceus asked curiously.

“Chocolate! You can’t really have a birthday without a chocolate cake,” Jester said excitedly as she moved to cut slices of a decadent chocolate cake, moist and sweet and filled with chocolate cream and raspberry sauce, settled besides saucers of chocolate mousse, and crisp cannolis filled with sweetened ricotta and chocolate chips. Chocolate covered strawberries were gathered in a luxurious array of white, milk, and dark and covered with nuts and candies. Stacks of salted caramel millionaire’s shortbread with crisp butter-cookie sandwiching layers of caramel and covered in chocolate, even bubbling pots of chocolate and caramel fondue with a wide array of fruits and snacks to dip into the heavenly smelling liquid.

“Thank you, Jester,” Fjord said with a wide smile that had lantern-light glinting off his tusk. “Thank you all of you. This has really been the best birthday I have ever had.”

“Don’t forget to blow out your candles!” Jester said, offering him a slice of his cake. Beauregard reached over to the goblet and pulled out a candle, passing it to Veth who planted it on his cake. Caleb reached out to punch the candle and it lit and began to glow.

Fjord blew out his candle, and closed his eyes to make a wish. As she took a bite of her own slice of cake and then dipping a forkful in the chocolate fondue, she wondered if any wish could top this simple pleasure as she pressed it against the top of her mouth so it could just melt away bit by bit and she could savor it. She would try to savor it all, for as long as she could.

____________________________

No one enjoyed trudging through a swamp, especially not Caduceus. Jester knew the Wildmother was a powerful god god, but it seemed to her that she could look out for Caduceus a little better. Jester found that the task often went to her, and of course she didn’t mind. Caduceus was steady as a rock, let Jester braid his hair, and listened intently whenever Jester rambled. The least Jester could do was yank Caduceus out of muck puddles whenever he fell in them, in return for being such a good friend. Jester could tell though that Caduceus was relieved when they stopped for the night, and Yasha who had fallen into a bush of prickers was just as excited to be bedding down. They would have a hard day ahead of them the next day, this Jester knew. So when Yasha quietly asked her if she could cast Heroes’ Feast to aid them, Jester already knew what was on the menu.

What sort of feast tickles your fancy, my dear Jester? The Traveler asked her.

Now seems as good a time as any to have an afternoon tea!

At night?

Of course, duh!

I do love the way you think. The Traveler chuckled as the goblet summoned for them their feast, spreading it about the dome.

Their afternoon tea was spread out on three tier and four tier porcelain stands decorated in flowering vines, kettles appeared and whistled merrily as they did as did beautiful tea sets in a variety of flowering colors and painted with rabbits and ducklings. Nestled among the kettles and tea cups were pots of toppings, from sunshine yellow lemon curd to vibrant marmalade and a treasure trove of jams to clotted cream and thick yellow custard. There was a stand of finger sandwiches all cut in diagonals, like cucumber and herbal butter, watercress and fluffy egg salad, prosciutto and goat cheese, and smoked salmon and cream cheese. One that Jester scooped up was a fluffernutter that made Jester smile. The next stand was a twisting array of scones filled with fruit or berries or nuts or spiced with cinnamon in turn, hearty spiced pumpkin muffins, blueberry muffins, lemon-poppy seed muffins, and danishes filled with jams or sweet cheeses and dusted with sugar or drizzled with vanilla frosting. And then of course, the cookies. Trays of cookies from madeleines with their shell-like filigree edges to smooth as button macarons to stacks of simple butter cookies and shortbread surrounded them like patches of wildflowers.

“Oh Jester, this is wonderful,” Caduceus sighed into his cup of tea. “Let me pour you a cup?”

Jester nodded enthusiastically as Caduceus poured her a cup of ruby-red tea. Jester took a sip and was immediately struck by the gorgeous strawberry almost malty note of it. Dipping in a shortbread cookie and eating it made her whimper with the sublime pleasure. The shortbread simply melted into her mouth like a dream, like it was meant to be together.

“It’s too bad we can’t stop for an afternoon tea every day,” Jester sighed as she excitedly cut open a scone to layer it with clotted cream and blueberry jam and lemon curd. Caleb watched her do this and mirrored it, though adding far less then she did of all three toppings except the lemon curd. Jester didn’t understand why he was being so stingy, but not everyone could truly appreciate sweets as she did.

“I can’t eat rich food too often,” Beauregard admitted as she cornered the market on tiny finger sandwiches. “It’s a nice once in a while thing, but otherwise it screws up my workout routine.”

“This is magic food though,” Veth pointed out. “Does it really count?”

“Tastes the same, and feels the same in my stomach,” Beauregard said with a shrug.

“What are these tiny orange things?” Yasha asked as she eyed a canape.

“That would be salmon roe,” Fjord explained and when seeing Yasha’s befuddled reaction further explained, “fish eggs.”

“Tasty,” Yasha said, offering no more explanation on that as she popped it in her mouth.

“All we need now is a fancy place to sleep,” Jester said excitedly as she poured another cup of tea and tried that one. This tea was bright and citrus and with a strong floral note, that perfectly matched the lemon-poppy seed muffin and was smoothed by the lemon-vanilla frosting on top. “You guys have got to try this tea! I’ll get everyone a cup!”

“It tastes like flowers,” Veth said, doing that thing where it sounded like she was complaining but she really wasn’t.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Caduceus asked, smile sweet on his face. Yasha smiled too, but didn’t say a word.

_____________________________________________

In Jester’s nightmares, there was a different kind of feast.

The room itself was familiar, and Jester could almost feel like she shouldn’t be there but couldn’t remember why in the haze of the dream. There was a single window above the door, casting the glow of a red and violet twilight across the room that was cluttered with bottles and jars and strange books and drying herbs. The only other light was fat candles of yellow-beeswax, choked by glass and made dim, and the dying embers of a hearth. The table was set for two, and yet as Jester looked around she was the only one in the cramped little home. Even the ceiling cages swung empty and creaking amongst the wooden slots. Jester took a seat, and just as she did she saw her goblet sat in the center of the empty table.

Her goblet overflowed, and out of the spreading liquid came a menagerie of sweets. Jester set herself upon them all with a reckless abandon. A strange sludge in a crusty bowl ended up being blueberry soups with dollops of sweet cream, overturned cups ended up being creme brulee with glistening caramel crusted on the tops, casseroles full of bread pudding steaming with cinnamon and drizzled with butterscotch and topped with ice cream flecked with ice cream. There was a bouquet of flowers that filled the air with their sugary scent, that as Jester plucked a beautiful pink bloom melted into her mouth with the flavor of rosehip and fairy floss. Forks melted in between her fingers and she realized they were made of chocolate, and the placemats were now made of crunchy honeycomb. She bit into her glass only to realize it was made of shards of sugar flavored with mint and the liquid within like pressed and sweetened lemons and melons. She took more ravenous bites, filled her plate high and yet somehow treats continued to spring from that never-ending goblet-

The liquid from her goblet splashed and overflowed as it turned over under the weight and gushed out like a strange pulsing wound, dripping off the edges of the tables and onto Jester’s skirt and seeped in. She recoiled from the sensation, scurrying away as she swiped at it with her fingers. With her vision and the dim light she could see that the liquid was a oily black. The candles all flickered as if shuddered by a breeze, the smoke hazy and twisting as it tickled the low-hanging herbs that were drying from the ceiling. The liquid began to splatter onto the scratched and dusty floor, pitter-pattering at an ever-increasing rate.

“Now, now my dear,” a familiar croaking voice said as a large hand settled upon her shoulder, fingernails slicing past layers of her cloak. Jester could hear the cracking of dusty-joints and the lumbering crunch of her footsteps. “You have prepared such a feast for me.”

“I...uh…” Jester squeaked as she felt a too long finger mind her neck. She didn’t dare to move, afraid that such a movement would slit her own throat, but let Isharnai tip her chin up and back so Jester could see the witch hunched over her.

“Such a precious giving girl,” Isharnai cooed, and her strange face came into focus, dull green eyes searching Jester for some truth that Jester desperately didn’t want to admit. “So full of misery. What a treat you are.”

“I’m not,” Jester said, her heart pulsing quick and fast in her ears. Her fingers were slick with the black liquid now, it was up to her thighs now bunching and collecting her skirts and glueing them to her legs. But it was her fingers-suddenly she couldn’t move them, as if she had gone numb at the wrist. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe as suddenly the panic overtook her. Where were her friends? Where had everyone gone-?

“We are friends. Friends don’t lie to each other,” Isharnai said, voice cruel with softness. “Now come, don’t you want your last cupcake?”

-Jester looked up to the table again and saw wilted flowers and cracked bowls and something bleeding-it was a heart and it was still beating and the whole home contracted and pulsed like it was a thing alive and in the center of it all there was a single cupcake that glistened with gold and-

What a horrible dream! The Traveler’s voice swept across her mind like the wind on a winding path. For a moment she felt like she was falling and yet she didn’t fear as the wind carried the scent of autumn. No need for this, sleep now Jester and know I am with you.

And so the color of her dreams changed, and she slipped into something safe.

____________________________

The girl behind the counter was a teenager, fresh faced and with her hair in twin braids. She had a dusting of freckles across her thin nose and smiled happily when Jester walked through the door of the little bakery in the nowhere town that they had stopped in for the night. It was bright and early the next morning, and Jester had snuck out apart from her friends in hopes of finding something that answered her prayers. The Traveler truly was with her in this endeavour.

"What can I get you this morning?"

"What do you have?"

"Would you like savory or sweet?"

"Sweet, always sweet," Jester said seriously, because sweets were no laughing matter at all.

"We have muffins, blueberry, cinnamon swirl, and cornbread. We also have cinnamon rolls, and we do have cupcakes."

"What kind of cupcakes?" Jester asked excitedly.

"We have a honey-apple cupcake, gingerbread cupcake, and a carrot cake cupcake. The carrot cake is our topseller."

"Carrot cake," Jester grumbled, feeling her nose scrunch. She knew that it was a popular flavor, but she just couldn't wrap her mind around a vegetable in a cake. But she did know from Beau's grumbles that she enjoyed carrot cake even though, as Caleb had pointed out, it was rather nerdy and old-fashioned of her. Beau had given him a solid punch in the arm at the teasing and had disagreed in the way she did where she wasn't really disagreeing but more arguing for the sake of arguing. "Alright, I'll take a dozen, but like a mixed dozen. Four of each flavor?"

"Absolutely, that'll be four silver."

Jester slid the girl six silver and smiled.

"You keep the change," Jester told her and watched as the girl's eyes widened and she nodded vigorously. The girl quickly packed up the cupcakes and tied the box with a string before handing it off to Jester. She smiled and thanked her again before heading off. Jester walked for a little bit, finding the apple tree just outside of the inn that they were saying. Carefully she set her box on the ground as she pulled out her own handkerchief and settled it amongst the roots. She carefully opened the box of cupcakes, careful not to jostle any of them. She lifted one out from the box, the honey-apple cupcake Jester assumed based off of the drizzle of honey that covered the swirl of vanilla buttercream.

“I thought we might share this,” Jester said as she crossed her legs, feeling the morning dew and the sunshine dappling her face as the trees shifted with a breeze. She lifted the cupcake to her lips and took a bite. She sighed at the flavor of the sweet floral honey infusing the cake with its buttery undertones and mellow vanilla crumble, the sharp flavor of the apple-filling that was syrupy and made decadent with brown sugar and cinnamon and the tang of lemon, and of course the melting buttercream frosting that dissipated like a vanilla cloud. Jester felt a hand touch hers, and a shoulder bump against her own.

“Thank you, Jester,” the Traveler said whispered and when Jester blinked there was a second bite taken out of her cupcake.

Jester laughed, and went to take another bite.

#critical role #critical role fanfiction #jester lavorre #5+1 fic #food descriptions galore #read with a snack

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stillness-in-green · 6 years ago

Text

Salt-Sweet Curse (4/?)

The backstory doesn’t drop, but the other shoe certainly does.

(More Mermaid AU for @codenamesazanka and anybody else who’s enjoying it, as I most certainly am.)

“So what’s at this exhibit, anyway?”

“You could have asked me that before you ran off.”

“A chance to get clean’s more exciting than a museum exhibit. Now your other arm,” Toga instructed with a grin. She’d returned from her excursion with a sack full of cosmetics and towels, and despite his initial reluctance, had demonstrated on her own body that the various creams and powders and oils left her totally tailless. He’d refused to let her rub him down but consented to being toweled off, if only to get her focused on any other topic.

“I already told you it’s not at a museum.” Shigaraki rolled his eyes and shifted positions, holding out his right arm. She took his wrist in one hand and set to scrubbing his bare skin up and down with the intensity of a dishwasher tackling one particularly stubborn bit of dried food. The entire room smelled of roses and allegedly-water-lilies.

They’d spent the night in a boarded-up, vacant bar and were now killing time until the afternoon. Too early, and all the staffers would still be fresh. Too late, and he might not get enough time to look around. The sweet spot would be just as the bulk of classes would be letting out.

The University of Foreign Studies in Kyoto was holding a month-long exhibit on world mysticism. Shigaraki had tried temple purifications, he’d tried reiki, he’d tried waterfall meditations and sacred salts and bloodletting and every other kind of cure and blessing Japan’s native traditions had to offer. None had worked, and while he didn’t exactly think he was going to find a cure-all sitting under glass at a college show, at least it might give him a few new leads to follow.

Toga listened—or did a fair job of faking it—to his clipped explanation, scooting around halfway through to rub down his back. Honestly, he had no idea if walking in smelling like a cosmetics counter was less likely to get them kicked out than just going in like he normally would, but the white cotton was definitely coming away from Toga’s fierce scouring visibly begrimed, so he couldn’t argue that he wasn’t at least cleaner.

“Can we get food after?” she asked eventually, as Shigaraki ferociously toweled dry shampoo out of his hair. “I bet there’s all kinds of neat little places around!”

“You spent the last of your money on that takoyaki last night,” he pointed out sourly, swiping traces of white powder off his shoulders.

Toga giggled, flipping him a carefree wave.

“We’ll be wandering around a campus with a bunch of other people today!” she assured him, blithe and cheerful. “I’ll get more.”

“If you get arrested for pickpocketing, I don’t have a way to break you out.”

That sent her into a fresh peal of laughter, as if the very idea was hysterical. Shigaraki snorted and reached past her for his discarded hoodie, giving it a cautious sniff. The smell of artificial lavender still clung to the fabric. Ugh. He was cleaner than he could remember being since the Edo period, but did it have to be so much work?

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

It took Toga less than half an hour to get bored. She popped up in front of Shigaraki, grinning from behind a 2000 yen note, and he waved her off with a grumble of, “Don’t be gone for too long,” and went back to poring over an exhibit about Tibetan singing bowls.

In retrospect, that was probably too vague. Their definitions of “too long” definitely wouldn’t match up—how could they? So after another hour, when there was no sign of her having returned, Shigaraki rubbed at his head in irritation, did one last circle around the room to mentally note the different traditions, and then headed out.

It didn’t take much wandering to find the campus store. No sign of her there, and he was not so desperate that he was going to approach the bored-looking cashier. He filched a magazine on the way out—cellphones made it so much easier for people to miss such little acts of thievery.

Where next…? She’d had a few sips of his cheap umeshu that morning, and it had to have run through her system by now. He scowled, rolling up the magazine and stuffing it into one of the pockets in his hoodie.

If I have to sneak her out of here and back to the sea because she got her ass splashed by toilet bowl water… I really will fucking scale her.

The peal of laughter cut his hunt for Toga and/or women’s bathrooms short. That was her, all right, her voice bouncing up and off the walls of a thin walk between two buildings. He eased out of his impatient stalk and into a lazy stroll, shoring himself up against warm brick to eavesdrop.

Well, to attempt to eavesdrop. Toga’s voice was chirpy enough that he could make out the odd phrase or enthusiastic declarative—“Tokyo,” “literature class,” “How cool!”—but the man accompanying her was lower-toned, speaking no words Shigaraki could parse, just warm, polite cadences and a periodic chuckle.

He let it go on until the heat beating against his black clothes had begun to draw a sweat he could smell in crests over the remnants of the morning’s floral assault. With several minutes having passed and no sudden grunts or soft gurgling sounds seeming imminent, he gave up and turned the corner. If he was lucky, the library here wouldn’t require a student ID and he could get some research in, but not if he just lurked around out here all afternoon.

The gap ran back most of the length of the buildings, closed off at the rear by a connecting brick wall. Toga sat perched on an outdoor table near the back, legs swinging cheerfully beneath her. She spotted Shigaraki as soon as he stepped into the space. Her companion—big, broad-shouldered, dressed nice but not too nice, like he was meeting someone for a casual lunch—turned at Toga’s wave.

“Your friend?” he queried as Toga hopped down from the table. Shigaraki stopped halfway in, hands in his pockets, watching them.

“My friend,” Toga confirmed with a bright smile. She all but danced up to him, hands behind her back, a small plastic bag swaying around one wrist. “All done looking around?”

“I want to check the library,” he answered, and added with a snort, “No need to stop chattering on my account, if you think you’d get bored.”

“Rude,” she clucked, but her grin didn’t budge. “I can find something to read.”

Shigaraki felt the weight of a stare on his face; he looked over at the man Toga’d been talking to, scowling. What, like I’m the suspicious one here? I might have just saved your life.

The guy didn’t look old enough to be a professor, but maybe old enough to be assisting one, with blandly handsome features and neatly trimmed hair. The eyes were sharp, though, bright and crinkling at the edges from the calm, knowing smile on his face.

Shigaraki felt the hair on the back of his neck rise on the sudden wash of intuitive terror. He didn’t know the face, didn’t know the voice, but he knew that smile.

No. Fuck, no, what the fuck is he, how the fuck did he no no no—

Toga yammered something he couldn’t hear over the sudden tidal roaring in his ears. The man walked closer, gaze unwavering. As he closed the distance, a gust of wind twirled through the small common, kicking up swirls of stray leaves and discarded bits of paper.

On the breeze came the smell of the sea.

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

A sun-bright outdoor deck, floorboards polished to a shine. The air stitched with the cries of gulls, lingering and distant. A day too warm and kind for the ice running down his spine at the words that man had been saying on the other side of the paper-screen door.

“He will become the next ‘me’.”

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

Sakai-san had moved to stand between them and the exit, which Toga had honestly been expecting pretty much since she let him walk her in here to begin with. Of course, at that point, she’d only been expecting some garden variety sexual harassment, and debating whether a good bloodletting would be worth interrupting Shigaraki’s time at the exhibit and his annoyance afterward.

But Shigaraki’s face had gone a pasty color that reminded her of mushroom flesh, or the pale grubs that clustered on the underside of fallen trees in deep forests—not comparisons she’d have been able to make just a month ago, but accurate ones all the same. He stood rigid beside her, wide red eyes fixed on Sakai-san.

And I thought he was just wearing a nice cologne. Silly me.

“It’s good to see you again, Tenko,” Sakai-san greeted, and everything about his expression—the kind look in his eyes, the gentle smile, the tilt of his head—said he really, truly meant it.

“That’s not my name anymore,” Shigaraki hissed, thin hands clenched at his sides.

“I’d be happy to call you by whatever the young lady does, if you prefer.” He nodded towards Toga and, when Shigaraki didn’t respond, huffed a laugh. “No, I didn’t think so. Have you been keeping well? You certainly seem in a better state than the last time I saw you. A woman’s touch, perhaps?”

“You set the exhibit up,” Shigaraki ground out. “How many people do you have here?”

“Now, now. I only want to—”

Toga reached into the bag from the school store, noting the way both their gazes jumped to her, Shigaraki staring like he’d forgotten she was even there, Sakai-san—the mysterious All for One?—with a sudden cold warning on his face. She pulled out a Kit Kat (strawberry cheesecake flavor) and made a show of peeling back the colorful plastic.

“Don’t mind me,” she said, flapping one hand at them and taking a large bite. Through a mouthful of wafer, she added, “You’ve got me curious!”

Shigaraki bolted—or tried to, but Probably All for One was somehow even faster, and sidestepped, catching her friend’s shoulder in a friendly-looking grip that still nearly pulled Shigaraki off his feet. “Ah, ah. I came to talk, Tenko. Give me the dignity of a few minutes, at least.” His mouth said at least, but his tone said or else. Toga took another bite of her snack, rustling the wrapper, and this time neither of them paid her any mind.

So far, so good. Tenko, huh?

“I don’t have anything to say to you,” Shigaraki said in a hollowed-out voice. Toga frowned to herself. He really was scared, poor thing, his shoulders hunched into a familiar curve—the same defensive posture from that first afternoon beneath the bridge, as the rain broke and re-broke the river into dancing fragments. Clear skies all day today, though—they’d listened to the forecast this morning on their scavenged little radio and everything.

“I’m not asking you to talk to me, am I?” All for Sakai-san countered, amused. “Now, I’ve recently made the acquaintance of a certain doctor. He and I have been conducting some research that I think would be of some interest to you.” Shigaraki’s mouth twisted in the way it always did just before he was about to say something really viciously derisive; the other man rode right over it. “This new body of mine—I didn’t come by it in the usual way.”

Toga blinked; it was an easy response, and when the man shot her a glance to gauge her reaction, it was still easier to let herself lean into the surprise, shade it with puzzlement.

“You haven’t told her yet, have you?” he asked.

“He hardly tells me anything,” Toga confirmed over Shigaraki’s stubborn silence, and this prompted another warm chuckle.

When he looked away again, she reached back into her bag, her hand closing on smooth plastic. She hadn’t been expecting to need this anywhere near so soon. What would her daily fortune have had to say, if she’d had a newspaper or a smartphone or anything at all to check it with this morning?

What would my daily fortune have had to say about any of the last few weeks? she wondered as she pulled out the small bottle. Oh, well. I think I’ve been lucky, and that’s what counts.

“Of course you’re aware of my regenerative abilities,” All for One was saying. “The old beliefs say that the heart is the core of such powers, but modern science suggests it's actually the brain that—”

Shigaraki was standing nearly at arm’s length from All for One, who still held his shoulder in an unrelenting grasp. It was probably far enough away, though, as long as she was careful with her aim. Toga took one dainty step, adjusting her position and unscrewing the cap on the bottle with the Kit Kat wrapper to keep her bare skin from touching the lip of the plastic.

All for One’s gaze swung up to her just as her arm swung up to him. He really was fast, she thought, admiring the way he tried to twist Shigaraki between himself and the arc of liquid that gleamed, briefly, in the shadows.

Shigaraki, who hadn’t even glanced her way, dropped rather than fight the drag, knees folding beneath him. Toga had been aiming high in any case, though. The water—plain old bottled drinking water—caught All for One full across the face.

He staggered back two steps and Shigaraki ripped himself free. Toga conscientiously lobbed the bottle towards the back wall and, before it had even hit the cement, broke into a sprint, seizing one of Shigaraki’s sleeves on her way past.

“He told me enough!” she called gaily to All for One as his legs gave out. He hit the ground with a heavy thud and Toga bit her lip, grin aching on her face, at the look he gave her as she shot past him. Understanding, even a note of admiration, and the promise of malice so bright and clear he might as well have been raising a celebration toast.

Shigaraki fell into stride behind her as they broke back into the sunlight, and her heart sang in her chest as his cool fingers groped and clutched and wrapped around her wrist, tight with fear and desperate as a prayer.

They ran, leaving the sound of tearing fabric behind.

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

“He will become the next me,” is the line that turned my feelings on Shigaraki from, “Ugh, why would you waste such a great design on such a trite light novel nihilist?” to, “GO, HAND-MAN, GO GO GO!” I assumed All for One, with his thrashed-to-within-an-inch-of-his-life body, was setting Shigaraki up for some kind of body-thief plotline, and obviously, the bratty, petulant Shigaraki was no match for the experienced, meticulous manipulator that was his Sensei. Immediately, my root-for-the-narrative-underdog instincts kicked in.*

That’s not the way the story ended up going, of course, but the thought has remained with me, an important milestone in my relationship with Shigaraki as a character, so when I saw the opportunity to use the line more literally in this AU, I grabbed it with both hands and didn’t look back.

*See also: Gaelio Bauduin.

#shigaraki tomura #toga himiko #all for one #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #my writing #ficcing #bnha #salt-sweet curse

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dreadhaus-literature · 5 years ago

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{Story} “IT’S ME.“

ITSMEITSMEITSMEMONICAITSMEITSMEITSME.

“But why hasn’t he called?”

Monica shifted her phone to her shoulder, pinning it to her ear to better hear the response of her coworker as she padded into her kitchen in search of something sweet to eat and treat herself with. It had been a long day at Fazbear Entertainment, as most days often were, but having a coworker she was close to helped immensely.

“I don’t know why he wouldn’t, but I called,” came the quiet response, but there was an underlying rumble of jealousy that Monica had come to expect from Tod. “That...should count.”

“It does,” Monica replied with an easy, good-natured laugh. She was used to Tod Lakhani’s somewhat hostile treatment of other men in her life; he was protective, overly so, and incredibly sweet...if not a touch on the possessive side considering they were just friends. Monica would date him instead of Zacharie if she thought she could survive the smoldering intensity that lay behind Tod’s two-toned eyes. “It counts so much.”

That seemed to appease Tod, because when he spoke again, his deep voice wasn’t full of biting teeth. “He said he’d call tonight?”

“Yes! Well,” Monica stopped to give it a second thought, green eyes sightlessly perusing the contents of her fridge as she concentrated. “Not exactly, but things have been going really well, and--”

“You don’t have to explain.” Tod interjected gently. “Even if you didn’t have a standing phone date, it’s common courtesy to keep in touch. If it were me, I’d call you every day.”

“Tod,” Monica’s laughter returned. “You do call me every day.”

Tod didn’t even flinch. “Damn right I do.”

The night air outside Monica’s home was balmy, a hint of sunlight still trapped in the invisible gusts as they whispered and wound their way through leaves and branches. A storm had come through the night before and the remnants of the wind rushed along the side of her house and as it went it disturbed the thin, blond and white strands of hair of the “man” hidden in plain sight right outside her window.

Two-toned eyes, one sky blue, the other the color of arterial spray, were riveted to Monica’s movements, following her as she walked around her kitchen in her pajamas. A slight whirring sound could be heard as the eyes moved, hinting to the intricate wiring hidden beneath both artificial and stolen skin. The “man” had no use for breathing and thus made no other sounds as he watched the object of his undying affections talk on the phone. There was nothing that could distract or disturb him from his task, his objective solely to catalog every moment of her that he possibly could, filling the kilobytes of storage inside his head that already had countless hours of her stored, locked lovingly against the still, stolen heart in his chest. That searing red eye memorized her walk patterns while the mesmerizing blue eye drank in every glimpse of her satin soft skin. Slowly, he raised his hand, sagging flesh pressing flat against the window as if he could breach the distance and feel for himself; the nerves in the flesh didn’t work but the cold metal beneath, did. He knew she’d be warm to the touch in ways he could never be, but...well, he hoped what he’d done would make that better. He’d tried.

For her, Ennard really, really tried.

Ding dong.

Monica turned, brow furrowing, as her doorbell echoed down her front hall. Tod was still talking as she pulled her phone from her ear, the time 9:33PM illuminated at the top of the smartphone screen. Who the fuck was at her door at this hour?

“...Tod, hang on, someone’s at my door. Can I call you back?”

“No, but you can take me with you to answer the door.”

Monica bit back a smile. She was normally not one to like being told what to do, but Tod phrased his protective “demands” in a way that was pleasing, not scolding or belittling. He always came from a place of loving concern and she was grateful for it, especially now. There was a slight pinch of unease at the pit of her stomach as the doorbell chimed again but realistically, it was probably just a neighbor with something benign. Monica replaced her phone to her ear, making her way down her dimly lit front hall toward her front door. There was silence on the other side of the wall of wood, but what did she expect, honestly? Someone to be banging a gong, shouting “TOP OF MORNING,” like some sort of Irish lunatic?

“Who is it?”

Monica hesitated for a split second before she stretched up on her tip toes, pressing her face gingerly against the solid wood of her door to peer through the peep hole. As soon as she did, she breathed a side of relief, seeing blond hair and blue eyes illuminated on her front porch.

“It’s Zach,” she told Tod, her pulse slowing. “I guess he decided to come over instead of call?”

“...I guess I won’t eat him today, then.” Tod resigned. “But if he upsets you again, that’s the dinner bell for Ol’ Zach.”

Monica laughed. Tod didn’t.

“I’ll leave you to him, then.” Tod didn’t try to hide his reluctance or disappointment, but there was a small smile in his voice. “Good night, honey.”

“Good night, Tod. See you tomorrow?” Monica couldn’t help the hope in her voice, even as she reached for the deadbolt to unlock her door.

“Wouldn’t miss you for the world.”

The line going dead was heard even as Monica was pulling the phone away from her ear, lifting her head to give Zacharie a smile. “Hey, it’s a little late to show up without calling but--”

Monica cut herself off as Zacharie lifted his head, her blood turning to ice in her veins as her phone clattered to the floor in shock. He was smiling at her, but it was the most unnatural smile she’d ever seen in her life. He looked...thrilled to see her, the smile stretching his lips so wide she was worried they might split at the seams--seam being the literal use of the word, since it seemed his face was sewn together down the middle. Zacharie looked...taller, at least two feet taller than she remembered and as he ducked into her doorway, she nearly fell backward to get out of his way. His joints creaked, and if she focused passed the terrified pounding of her heart in her ears, she could hear a slight whirring, mechanical sound every time he moved. His steps were heavy, thudding against the wood of her floor and as he came closer, the light from her entryway cast him in horrible relief. His blond hair was only half it’s usual tawny sunshine; the left side of his head was a wispy silver, as if the pigment had died and withered away...and speaking of death...that half of his face was much paler than the right side, the pasty white flesh drawing her attention up to a red eye--not blue. It gleamed at her, raked over her like a laser and seared her as it did so, as if she could feel each pass intensely.

No...No, there was no fucking way--

“Mon-ica,” ‘Zacharie’s’ voice was not his voice, not even close. This voice sounded deeper, clearer, like a scalpel’s edge against metal right at the center of an echo chamber. It reverberated off her ribcage, wrapped itself around her heart like livewires to cinch tight and steal her breath right from her lungs. She’d only ever heard her name sound so broken and mechanical over artificial intelligence, as if she were asking Google to pronounce her name aloud and she had a horrible, horrible feeling she knew what she was dealing with.

“S-Stay back!” Monica gestured with her hands out in front of her, backing further into her front hall to put distance between herself and this strange creature wearing Zacharie’s face.

‘Zacharie’ tilted his head at her, the smile sliding off his face but he didn’t listen, taking a few thundering steps after her. “What...What’s wrong?”

“L-Look I don’t know who the fuck y-you are but--”

‘Zacharie’ swept out his arms, that whirring sound mixing with the pull of skin over something other than bone and Monica was drawn to his hands, long fingers ending in sharp, unnatural points that appeared almost sharp. His gesture was meant to be a mimicry of one she’d seen a million times, a motion of obvious ‘take a look’ but it was off-kilter, incorrect, as if he wasn’t human enough to pull it off.

“It’s me,” ‘Zacharie’ insisted, his arms still splayed wide. “Monica...it’s me.”

The second time he said her name was much smoother than the first, and all the more unnerving for it. It sounded as if he was learning.

“Y-You...” Monica’s voice died, failed her as the machine wearing Zacharie’s skin drew closer and she could see the porcelain mask lying beneath the skin of it’s “face”. The baby blue eye she’d though was Zacharie’s wasn’t his at all. It belonged to a ghost, a silly office urban legend, a joke told by coworker’s to scare new hires.

Ennard. The skin-stealing, serial-killing rogue animatronic of Fazbear Entertainment lore.

Except Ennard wasn’t real. Monica had been a loyal Fazbear employee for years now, and she knew all the animatronics and she knew them well. After all, she was responsible for writing their cutesy backstories, and composing the lyrics to all the songs performed on Freddy Fazbear’s stage every night. She knew Circus Baby’s favorite flavor of ice cream was strawberry, that Freddy liked the color red, and that Chica’s favorite kind of pizza was any kind of pizza--why? Because she’d written it. Any new animatronics commissioned, she was brought in on the ground floor to help design them from their conception, to help a seamless integration with the rest of the Fazbear Family. Ennard wasn’t real, couldn’t be real, because she’d never heard of him outside of jokes and whispered rumors of him “haunting the vents” at night. Sure, there were the occasional office pranks where someone would fix a faulty animatronic overnight and “blame” Ennard by saying he did it but that was just a story. Ennard wasn’t real.

But...everything she’d heard about Ennard seemed to be staring her in the face. He had one good working eye, blue, and one factory-issued red retinal scanner (because he was discontinued and thus never given a full set of eyes) Ennard wore a porcelain mask over the wiring of his face, complete with a clown nose and while she didn’t see the clown nose she could definitely see the porcelain mask under the sagging skin stretched over his “face”. Ennard was immense in size, eight feet tall, as he was meant to be one of the “fatherly” figures of the Fazbear Family and had to stand comparable to what a child might imagine the father of the animatronics would look like. He was never given anything other than his facial mask so his massive body was a collection of wires and metal parts; rumors swirled that he changed them out at night in the factories, constantly working on and improving himself--because the scary resolution to all the stories was that he would one day rise up and kill the head of Fazbear Entertainment, put on his skin, and no one would ever know. Monica could recall all the times she’d laughed at the stories, enjoyed making some up herself just to watch her interns all jump every time an air vent made the slightest sound, but it wasn’t supposed to be real.

Ennard wasn’t supposed to be real!

“Do you...like it?” Ennard brought his long arms in, the mechanical whirring blending with the pull of cloth as his long fingers patted his stolen face. “I made it just for you.”

Oh god, Monica’s brain was processing information too fast for her to keep up with and her stomach roiled at the knowledge that her crush had his skin literally peeled off his body by the rogue animatronic Ennard.

“I thought you’d like me better this way.” Ennard lowered his hands from his face to adjust his bow-tie. His wiring might be covered beneath the cloth and stolen skin but he wasn’t going to lose everything that made him who he was. “If I looked like him. Like...Zacharie.”

Monica put shaking fingers over her mouth, shaking her head side to side in denial, but Ennard wasn’t very good at reading human emotion--at least, not yet.

“No?” His frown sagged almost comically, the skin around his mask drooping a little too low to be natural. “Is it the stitching?” Ennard’s fingers came up to his face as he turned to examine himself in her hallway mirror, eyes on the clean line holding two halves of the stolen face together. “I can make it better.” He nodded, pulling and pushing at the mask over his natural face. “I will make it better for you.”

“E-Ennard?” Monica’s voice was hoarse with emotion and it caught his attention immediately.

The whirring was audible in the silence as Ennard turned to her, his two-toned gaze nailing her to the floor. His body was stone still and it got so quiet she could hear herself near gasping around the adrenaline coursing through her system. For a few more seconds he said nothing, his gaze committing this moment to literal stored memory before he uttered, “Again,” in such hushed reverence Monica thought she misheard him.

“W-What?”

“Again.” This time it came out like a bullet, Ennard’s massive form closing the distance between them with such a powerful gait one of Monica’s decorative figurines rattled off a hallway table, clattering to the floor. Ennard’s fingers were cold, the skin only a slight barrier to the icy metal beneath as he cupped her face, his red eye bright enough to cast illumination on her face; she realized with a terrified shudder that he was recording this, their first meeting. “Say my name...again.”

Too terrified to deny him, Monica desperately swallowed until she got her voice back. “...E-Ennard...”

Ennard’s blue eye drifted closed, ecstasy clear on his stolen features, but that red eye remained open, recording so as not to miss a moment of this joyous, momentous occasion. With an unnatural, guttural sound, Ennard’s arms slid around her petite frame and he hunched over her, hugging her close, threatening to crush her as he had no inkling how to treat a fragile human body.

“We’re going to be so happy,” he enunciated his words, punctuating them as if he could speak them into reality--and for him, they already were. This was the happiest day of his life. “I knew you were the one. We all know how special you are.”

Monica didn’t need to know he was talking about the other animatronics, confirming another office rumor--that they were all sentient and very much aware of what was happening around them. It was an unspoken rule one treated the animatronics with respect and that rumor was 98% of the reason why.

Swallowing thickly, Monica couldn’t help noticing the sickly sweet scent of cologne against metal and if she...ignored she was hugging the leftover skin of the beginnings of her crush, it had an odd appeal to it. She turned slightly as she felt Ennard nuzzling his cheek against hers, as if trying to meld their skin together, to get closer, and considering Ennard had a penchant for enjoying being under someone’s skin...she could only imagine how close to her he really wanted to be.

“Zacharie was a mistake. A flaw in the system.” Ennard spoke of reality the way one might expect him to; he was an animatronic, a computer-built program who ran on simulations and based his reality on what was allowed inside his particular simulation. “I corrected the flaw. Now there’s nothing between us.”

“I-I don’t...u-understand.”

“You will.” Ennard promised, unaware of how that made Monica’s pulse spike in alarm. “Once I get you home, you’ll understand.”

“H-Home?” Monica tried to draw back but Ennard’s grip was, unsurprisingly, like iron. He was not allowing space between them, not anymore.

“Yes. Home, sweetheart.” Ennard tried out his first term of endearment and found he liked the way Monica’s skin warmed further when he used it. “We’re a Family now, and what’s a Family without their mother at home with us where she belongs?”

- - -

A/N: Hehe okay so author’s notes are tacky and I hate doing them BUT! I did want to add a few things here because this...was a doozy to try and write “quickly” and have it still make sense. I’m still trying to get back to writing and with that comes the fear I’m not describing things well or coherently because getting your thoughts back in that mindset takes practice, kind of like reeling them in so to speak. So if this is confusing I’m sorry!!

I just--oh right okay so first things, the “ITSMEITSME” up there, the intro line to the fic? It’s clickable, and shows the version of Ennard in his skin suit that I used as inspo, here.

I also just made up some rando to be your “crush” in here, love, since Ennard...was gonna take his skin, lmao, I didn’t wanna use anyone actually from the Haus.

Tod was a little cameo, so. 😋 That was just a little treat for you~

But basically what I tried to lay out here was an AU where you work for Fazbear Entertainment and Ennard has learned all about you from watching you in the vents, and from the other animatronics who all of course refer to you as their Mother as you’re the one who really created them. That makes him the Father to your Mother, and his infatuation with you reaches the point that he decides to kill your crush, take his skin, and win you over that way. Flawless plan is flawless, right? 10/10 in Ennard’s mind.

So I hope that wasn’t too confusing! I wanted to build suspense and mystery without revealing everything until the very end so I hope it wasn’t like ??? the whole time, lmao. I just wanted to write something that features a little bit of creepy, a lot of obsession, and I know how much you love Ennard’s “skin suit” from Sister Location so I thought, perfect combo!

Thanks for letting the weirdos love yoooooou 😘 i’m including myself in that bunch, too, because Senpai is perfect and i am a lucky ducky. 💛

#{story} : it's me #{character} : ennard #{theme} : for monica

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onomatophia · 6 years ago

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title: the fools who dream

pairing: naruino; implied sasusaku

notes: wrote this as a birthday gift for myself. rewatched la la land and it made me..... Feel Things. this movie hurts so fucking much. that 7-minute What Could've Been sequence was one of the most emotionally taxing experiences of my life

also: naruto and la la land are not mine (i wish)

—

here's to the ones who dream

foolish as they may seem

here's to the hearts that ache

here's to the mess we make

—

it starts at a wedding.

she; a struggling singer working on small gigs here and there, hoping to catch a break and make it big in the world someday, and

he; a clumsy busboy aspiring to be a successful chef and restaurateur one day.

they were dreamers. falling in love was not in their to do list, especially not on a mid-july day in the middle of a wedding they're not even invited to but are paid to attend to do their jobs. their hearts were too busy yearning for faraway dreams for it to start beating for another person.

but fall in love they did, anyway.

it was but a typical day. they were just meant to do their jobs, go back into the comfort of their apartments, drink booze, and watch whatever it is that's on the television until they fall asleep.

he did not plan to stumble about in the reception area, spill a few drinks, hear her singing, and ogle at her majestic form in the stage, clad in a lavender dress with her blonde hair let down to her waist that he imagines is as silky as the satin sheets on his bestfriends' apartment.

she did not expect to catch the eyes of a blond haired man with his shirt drenched with red wine, standing in the side of the ballroom looking like a lost boy, feeling like she's drifting as she falls into its ocean blue depths.

it was like straight out of a romance movie. there they stand, a few feet apart, eyes locked with each other, she was singing a love song, he looks like lovestruck fool and everything was suddenly on pause. everyone stopped dancing, bored looking aunts stopped asking for more drinks, the groomsmen frozen as they try to flirt with the bridesmaids.

it was only them, a love song, and a once upon a time with a promise of a happily ever after. a love story to tell their future children about.

—

it unfolds slowly at first. a few dates, flirting here and there, texting each other during work, holding hands, nighttime strolls towards ichiraku for dinner after her gig, plucked flowers for her from his apartment neighbor's plants, chaste kisses on the lips every night.

they exchange stories about their childhood, first dates gone wrong in the past, her favorite songs, his favorite food, funny anecdotes about his two bestfriends who finally got married after years of tiptoeing around each other, and why he likes the color orange so much.

he finds out how she came to be a broke singer from being a science major. she came to know he wanted to be a chef like his late father and how no one wanted to hire a college dropout with no prior work experience and who did not even go to a culinary school.

he learns that music is her soul and that she loves jazz, classical music and rock. she finds out he secretly likes taylor swift and beyonce even when he keeps insisting that he's a fan of the beatles and queen.

she tells him she will hold sold-out concerts one day and there will always be a seat in the front row reserved especially for him. he tells her he will own a restaurant one day and he will add her favorite food on the menu and name it after her.

they fall into her bed on a warm thursday night, where fixing her broken lightbulb in the bathroom, turned into a few teasing to a passionate make-out, and before they knew it, they're already bared of their clothes. they memorized each other's bodies with their hands, filled the room with sighs and words of tomorrow's promise, their names echoing in the night like a prayer. they filled each other's blank spaces, every touch felt like a fire burning through their skin, every kisses felt like what sinners go to church to. it was an unfamiliar dance yet they still manage to fall into step and meet each other halfway like they've been doing this all their lives.

they're a few steps away from love, but they're getting there anyway.

—

they begin to learn each other.

slowly, he took up space in her life. his jokes, his touches, boisterous laughters, the color orange, the taste of miso ramen, the calluses of his palms, and the stars in his eyes tucked into the lyrics of the love songs she wrote.

he gradually filled her heart the way his clothes slowly piled up on her sofa and ends up taking space in her closet. their toothbrush, an embarrassingly bright orange one and a soft lavender one rests inside a chipped giveaway mug. now there is a bottle of chocolate syrup beside the maple syrup, milk cartons taking the place where beer bottles once stood, vegetables replacing the unhealthy amount of bacon stocked in the fridge and her once empty cupboard were now filled with ingredients for ramen.

and if he could, he would write a volumes worth of books about how she makes him feel. but he can only tell jokes, let her take every one of his hoodie jackets, make her coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoons just the way she likes it, tuck her hair into her ear, sink into her as if his life depended on it, and touch her in places that elicits gasps and pants in a silent way of his that shouts i love you.

she adapts his weird mannerisms, he starts to mimic her slangs. he learns to cook her favorite food, she sings taylor swift songs that he will not admit he likes. he became her favorite audience in her nighttime gigs, she became his food taster even when he thinks her palate is as bland as noodles without sauce. he is now her muse and she, his favorite customer he serves his delightful dishes to every night.

he buys her a strawberry flavored ice cream and lots of tissues when she comes home from a failed audition. she attempts to cook spaghetti and meatballs for him after another failed job interview but always ends up making a mess in the kitchen which is okay because it makes him laugh.

they develop a habit and routine; she sleeps on the right side of the bed with her purple pillows, he on the left side with his orange ones. he will wake up at seven and start to cook breakfast because he will not allow her to live off on coffee alone throughout the whole day on his watch. she will wake up at eight, eat bacon and pancakes with him and kiss him goodbye when he leaves for work. a double date once a month with his brooding best friend and his charming and cheerful wife that she instantly gets along with. and they fight about ugly orange jackets and hair caught in the shower drain which follows intense hours of making love.

he's the housewife, she's the repairman. he washes the dishes, does the laundry, the cooking, the cleaning. she fixes the leaking pipes on their kitchen sink, repairs the broken chairs, and checks the cable. together, they go grocery shopping, grouts the kitchen and bathroom tiles, paints their room blue, and water the ugly plant he brought home with him one sunday afternoon. sometimes they forget to clean for weeks and leave the apartment like a dump site and that's okay.

holiday now involves a cheap boxed wine, pizza, ramen, monopoly board games, a very cheesy christmas movie playing on the tv, and dancing awkwardly on top of the upholstered brown couch they bought.

they loved each other on autumn afternoons in the pumpkin spice lattes they shared together, on winter mornings in the bundle of their scarves and coats, on summer evenings slicked with sweat and bodies moving together in a beautiful rhythm, and on spring dawns when he leaves a trail of kisses on her shoulders that makes her think that maybe it's gonna be like this forever.

in the small of her apartment, with paint peeling off the walls, scratched papers containing her sprawled handwritings flying everywhere, mugs with cold coffee on top her piano, and an ugly plant standing beside the ugly couch is where they found their home and their refuge. it is messy and small but in this place, she is the best singer songwriter in the world that has ever lived and he is a world renowned chef praised by every critics. in this place, their dreams are within reach and everything seems possible.

—

and this is how it falls apart:

reality starts to take a hold of their life. they are nearing their thirties and he realizes that part time jobs isn't going to cut it anymore. he accepts a job offer from an old friend for a work that pays more.

she gets an offer from a recording company in new york and for the first time, she is going to reject a chance to make it big in the world because she doesn't want to leave him. she doesn't tell him any of this.

like how they started, it unfolds slowly.

- dinners started to get cold.

- a series of apologies and excuses that only gets old.

- she loses her favorite audience in her nighttime gigs.

- mornings of waking up to the left side of the bed already made. cold nights of preparing to sleep with the left side of the bed still made.

- he loses his passion for cooking and starts to give up.

- she stops singing for him. the piano in the living room started to get dusty.

- arguments reserved for tomorrow because they're too exhausted to fight.

- waking up one day and not recognizing the person they share the bed with anymore. even the faces they see when they look into mirror is unfamiliar to them.

- a major fight breaking out one cold friday night.

- cold, harsh words coming out of their mouths. words they cannot take back.

- she finds herself writing songs about heartbreak one day.

- the food he cooks started to taste bitter in his mouth.

- their home started to get cramped with unresolved anger and untold secrets.

- "we're hurting each other, aren't we."

- "i'm sorry."

- "i'm sorry, too."

they were sandcastles, meant to stand beautifully after being built so carefully, but is always meant to be crushed in the end.

—

how unfortunate it is, he thinks, for things to end. to invest so much into something you believe would last knowing it fell apart with your own doing. to have a taste of something perfect only for it to slip away from your grasp in a blink of an eye.

how unfortunate it is, she thinks, for packed boxes, awkward voice messages, a wilting ugly plant, ripped off scratched papers, deleted numbers, habits to unlearn, regret for all the hurtful things said to one another, and her sitting on the floor wearing one of his shirts and trying not to miss him be the culmination of a year spent in love.

—

this is how they say goodbye:

they sit at a park bench near her apartment and watch the people going about in their lives for the day, not knowing that today marks the end of something beautiful.

he finds out about the offer she rejected and in his left hand is a plane ticket to new york. in his right hand is her hands and her heart. in his eyes are a million apologies and a promise of a love that is never going to fade away.

she thanks him for not giving up on her. in her smile is an assurance that it's okay. in the forehead kiss that lasted too long says that he is her great love. in the way she rests her head against his shoulder tells him that she will never forget.

and in their goodbyes are oaths of achieving their dreams no matter what the odds are.

—

it ends at a wedding.

she; a successful singer, millions of copies of her two albums already sold around the world, and is currently on a world tour, and

he; an owner of five-star restaurant, praised by various critics, and is always packed every night.

she sings at a wedding, this time not as a job she was paid to do, but as a gift to an old friend. and it is not just a typical day. today is a special december afternoon where they both see each other again for the first time in five years.

there is no accident in the way he turns his head and seeks her gaze. there she stands on the platform, clad in a velvet red gown, and still looking perfect as the first time he saw her six years ago. he feels the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders upon seeing the way she moves that he recognizes with familiarity and upon hearing a voice that used to make his heart sing.

as she starts to sing, she deliberately locks eyes with the man who captured her heart six years ago. there he sits on his assigned seat in front of the reception area, looking as handsome and ruffled as she remembered, and so different from the lost boy who once stood in one side of the dancefloor with his white shirt drenched with red wine.

this time, there were no pause. this time, the background and everyone around them started to fade. this time, time didn't stop for them but it moved backwards to some time six years ago and forward to a very different future. a past where nothing went wrong, where mistakes are easily fixed, and there were no words to take back. a future where they were the ones getting married in this very day.

hidden in the song she sings are a million alternate realities, a montage of what-ifs, echoes of what-could-have-beens, and the promise of a future long gone.

lost in the depths of each other's eyes, they can picture it. a story where there were no hurdles and obstacles to overcome. it starts on a mid-july day in the middle of a wedding, where everything is perfect and their dreams are not so far away. in this story, he didn't take his friend's job offer and she tells him about new york. in this story, their love only grew stronger and nothing kept them apart. she catches a big break and he goes with her and both of them achieved their dream together in another country. she holds sold out concerts at big stadiums, and there he is on the front row, on a seat reserved especially for him. featured in the restaurant he opened were his father's recipes and a weird pizza flavor named after her. the new apartment they moved to was bigger but just as messy and filled with love than ever. the ugly plant he bought was still alive and her cheap piano didn't gather dust. in this story, there were no habits to unlearn, no happy memories to regret, no cold nights to write sad songs about.

a story started with a wedding when they were still struggling dreamers and a story that ended with their wedding when they finally achieve their dreams and the only thing left for them to chase after was their happily ever after.

the song ends and they both come back to reality. and in this reality, it was another person who sits on the front row of her concerts instead of him. a different name and a different favorite food were written on the menu of his restaurant. and this is not their wedding.

this is his wedding.

this is nothing like a romance movie. this time it wasn't just the two of them in the scene. this time includes him and his bride sitting together with their hands clasped and looking all kinds of perfect, an engagement ring on her left hand that clasps the mic, and smiles from each other that says thank you for the wonderful journey they shared six years ago.

it was a once upon time gone wrong, but they did get their happy ending anyway.

it wasn't a love story. it was a story of passion and struggles and people you meet along the way that will always have a special place in your heart.

a story to tell future dreamers about.

—

and here's to the fools who dream

crazy as they may seem

here's to the hearts that break

here's to the mess we make

—

end

—

(italicized words were from the lyrics of The Fools Who Dream from the movie La La Land sung by Emma Stone, written by Justin Hurwitz / Benj Pasek / Justin Noble Paul)

#also: i suck so bad at writing sex scenes forgive me for i am still a fresh flower #it took me a week to write this bc it's so emotionally taxing and it's hard to find words to reflect the magnitude of melancholy im trying #naruino #fic #yamanaka ino #uzumaki naruto #pia writes

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deliciousfoodrecipes · 2 years ago

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How To Make A Delicious French Toast

Awaken to a compellingly delectable breakfast that is really fast and simple to prepare utilizing a couple of essential fixings you probably as of now have in your kitchen. This French toast recipe absorbs thick cuts of bread a combination of milk, vanilla concentrate, cinnamon, and an egg prior to throwing each cut in a skillet. Soft and delicate within and totally brilliant brown outwardly, making French toast is one of our number one — and generally liberal! — breakfast dishes. You can utilize any bread you have left over from the week to make this morning meal treat, yet we particularly love the thickness of sourdough, challis and brioche French toast. Shower with maple syrup and redo with various fixings like strawberries, blueberries, and honey spread for a delectable breakfast that is ideally suited for Easter early lunch. For warm and consoling French toast variety, look at our cinnamon French toast recipe.

1 egg

1 teaspoon McCormick® All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Cinnamon

1/4 cup milk

4 slices bread

KEY PRODUCTS

pure vanilla extract

MCCORMICK® ALL NATURAL PURE VANILLA EXTRACT

McCormick ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS

1 To make this easy French toast recipe:

Beat egg, vanilla and cinnamon in shallow dish with wire whisk. Stir in milk.

2 Dip bread in egg mixture, turning to coat both sides evenly.

3 Cook bread slices on lightly greased nonstick griddle or skillet on medium heat until browned on both sides. Serve with Easy Spiced Syrup (recipe follows), if desired. Voila, easy French toast.

4 Easy Spiced Syrup: Add 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract and 1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Cinnamon to 1 cup pancake syrup; stir well to mix. Serve warm, if desired.

What might you at any point fill in for milk in French toast/could you at any point utilize water rather than milk in French toast?

Any plant-based milk can be utilized as a substitute for normal milk (or cream) to make custard. On the off chance that you don't have any of these, then, at that point, utilize a tiny measure of water (around 1 tablespoon for each 2 eggs). In the case of utilizing water, note that you will wind up with an egger French toast- - we suggest blending in some ground cinnamon, vanilla, and a spot of salt to add flavor and cut the "fried egg" flavor.

What is the stunt from French toast's perspective?

Utilize higher fat milk; follow the milk to egg proportion gave in the recipe; utilize thick cuts of bread and splash on the two sides until very much immersed; utilize a sufficiently huge dish and preheat on medium intensity; cook French toast in liquefied margarine for more extravagant flavor, however watch out for the spread and intensity level so as not to over-brown or consume the milk strong in the spread. You can likewise utilize day old or lifeless bread.

Why add milk to eggs for French toast?

French toast needs fluid to mellow the bread, as well as something to 'tie' the fixings. The milk is important for the hitter or custard for splashing the bread cuts - entire milk and eggs are the critical elements for rich custard. Adding milk, as well as vanilla concentrate and a spot of salt, likewise assists with keeping away from 'fried egg' flavor. If you want to reads more recipes you click on Chicken fried rice and chicken fried recipe.

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reediculouslyfit · 4 years ago

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No Need to Add Sugar- Life is Sweet Already!

By Lisa Reed, MS, CSCS, USAW

We all know that eating too much sugar has been linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, not to mention tooth decay.

In a study published in Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine in January 2014, researchers found that the odds of dying from heart disease rose in tandem with the percentage of sugar in one’s diet, regardless of a person’s age, sex, physical activity level, and weight.

Sugar 101: There are two types of sugars: 1) Naturally occurring sugars are found naturally in foods such as fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose). 2) Added sugars include any sugars or caloric sweeteners that are added to foods or beverages during processing or preparation. The major sources of added sugars are regular soft drinks, candy, cakes, cookies, pies, and fruit drinks (fruit juices and fruit punch); dairy desserts and milk products (ice cream, sweetened yogurt and sweetened milk); and other grains.

Example names for Added sugars can include: • white sugar • brown sugar • high fructose corn syrup • crystallized fructose • fruit juice concentrates • agave and maple syrup • molasses • honey • sugar molecules ending in “ose” (dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose)

Furthermore, some products include terms related to sugars. Here are some common terms and their meanings: • Sugar-Free – less than 0.5 g of sugar per serving • Reduced Sugar or Less Sugar – at least 25 percent less sugars per serving compared to a standard serving size of the traditional variety • No Added Sugars or Without Added Sugars – no sugars or sugar-containing ingredient such as juice or dry fruit is added during processing • Low Sugar – not defined or allowed as a claim on food labels

* Although you can’t isolate the calories per serving from added sugars with the information on a nutrition label, it may be helpful to calculate the calories per serving from total sugars (added sugars and naturally occurring sugars). To do this, multiply the grams of sugar by 4 (there are 4 calories per 1 gram of sugar). For example, a product containing 15 g of sugar has 60 calories from sugar per serving. Keep in mind that if the product has no fruit or milk products in the ingredients, all of the sugars in the food are from added sugars. If the product contains fruit or milk products, the total sugar per serving listed on the label will include added and naturally occurring sugars.

Although sugars are not harmful in small amounts to the body, our bodies don’t need sugars to function properly. Added sugars contribute additional calories and zero nutrients to food.

Over the past 30 years, Americans have steadily consumed more and more added sugars in their diets, which has contributed to the obesity epidemic. Products with a ton of added sugar in them are foods that are processed, which means that there’s a decent chance other important nutrient could have been stripped out in the process of making the food sweeter and more desirable for consumers.

Foods consisting of only naturally occurring sugars, on the other hand, are typically inherently full of other good stuff, like fiber (in fruit), protein (in dairy products), and vitamins and minerals (in both fruit and dairy products). Reducing the amount of added sugars we eat cuts calories and can help you improve your heart health and control your weight.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting the amount of added sugars you consume to no more than half of your daily discretionary calorie allowance. For most American women, this is no more than 100 calories or about 6 teaspoons per day and for men no more than 150 calories per day for men or 9 teaspoons per day.

So here are Lisa’s 4 Simple Fixes For a Sweet Tooth! 1) Rely on protein, fat, and veggies! Of course add natural fruit, but like anything, do so in the right portion sizes! When you include protein, healthy fats, and fiber in your meal, together they will slow down the release of blood sugar in your body and keep you full for longer.

• Choose healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, and heart healthy oil to help keep you full for longer, thus helping to decrease your desire for sugar. But be sure to consume the right portions. • Eat plenty of veggies and select whole, fresh fruit over juice! • Read your food labels. When you want canned fruit, look for one that has been preserved in juice rather than syrup, which has a slightly lower sugar content! • Never eat fruit by itself. Always have with a protein and fat! For your cereals, oatmeal, or yogurt- mix ¼ cup of your “sweetened yogurt” with ¼ cup of no sugar added. The goal would be to select the no sugar added and select a natural sweetness alternative like ½ cup of fresh fruit. Examples: • At breakfast, add almonds and 1/2 cup of berries to your usual oatmeal for anti-oxidant benefits and more fiber! • Have an egg white omelet with your morning avocado toast. • Instead of adding sugar to cereal or oatmeal, add fresh fruit (try half a banana or ½ cup blueberries or strawberries). Portion sizes make a difference!

2) Never go fake! When you are reducing your sugar intake, you may be tempted to switch to artificial sugars for your sweet fix. Resist! Diet sodas, sugar-free candy, and packets of fake sugar in your coffee is not the answer.

Data from several population-based studies have found that consumption of artificial sweeteners, is linked to: • development of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and even Type 2 Diabetes. Researchers have been able to show the change in gut flora leads to an increased absorption of glucose from the diet.(development of insulin resistance). Solution: Limit artificial sweeteners. Period.

Many consider switching to sparkling water or carbonated water instead of soda. But this is not a great choice. With the newly popular soda maker devices, you can make carbonated water in your own home with a push of a button. They inject your water with carbon dioxide. • sparkling water can wear out tooth enamel due to its carbonation, • increase IBS symptoms, trigger constipation and/or diarrhea in some, • and it often many contain unhealthy additives and sweeteners.

Here are a few examples of common foods and drinks That Are Surprisingly High in Added Sugar: • Mt Dew 12 oz can= 46g/11.5 tsp sugar • VitaminWater =32 grams/8tsp sugar • Sport Drink 20ozbottle= 32g/8 tsp sugar • Ketchup 1 tbsp= 1 tsp sugar • Sports Drinks can often be mistaken as a healthy choice for those who exercise. However, sports drinks are designed to hydrate and fuel trained athletes during prolonged, intense periods of exercise. For this reason, they contain high amounts of added sugars that can be quickly absorbed and used for energy. • Granola is often marketed as a low-fat health food, despite being high in both calories and sugar. Oats are healthy, however, the oats in granola have been combined with nuts and honey or other added sweeteners, which increases the amount of sugar and calories. If you like granola, try choosing one with less added sugar or make your own. • Flavored Coffees have sugar levels that can be staggering. A large flavored coffee in some coffeehouse chains can contain up to 25 teaspoons of sugar! • Crazy Sugar example-The sugar in one 12 oz soda is as much as in 1 orange + 16 strawberries + 2 plums!

4) You are sweet enough already. Believe it, then plan and shop like it! As you reduce sugar, your taste buds will change. You’ll really be able to feel the results!

Believe it! Super-sweet foods like ice cream and candy will start to taste too sweet. When you could have a whole slice of cake before, now a couple bites will be enough. You'll notice the natural sweetness in fruits vegetables—and yes, I promise they will taste better, too.

Plan! You can still indulge in an occasional sweet treat after you resolve to slash sugar. The idea is to avoid wasting your daily sugar quota on non-dessert foods like cereals, ketchup, and bread. To avoid overdoing it, only have desert after dinner on one weekend day or as a special treat. • When baking cookies, brownies, or cakes, cut the sugar called for in your recipe by one-third to one-half. Often you won’t notice the difference. • Enhance foods with spices and extracts instead of sugar. Try ginger, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg, or almond, vanilla, orange and lemon.

Shop like it! Buy unsweetened. Buy foods labeled "no added sugar" or "unsweetened." You'll find unsweetened versions of these common foods in most grocery stories: non-dairy milk like almond milk, nut butters (look for those made with only nuts and salt).

Do not go cold turkey, just cut back slowly. Stay sweet everyone and little by little you can avoid eating sweets. YAY you!

In sunshine & strength,

Lisa

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thefrostfalgar · 8 years ago

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Taste (KilGuin Week Fic)

A submission for Kilguin week, which I’m late about like 1 month because life just won’t let me do something fun.

Anyway thanks for @leenahanwoo and @acid-jack-here for checking my fic and beta read. *hugs and smooches both*

Kilguin Week Day 2: Ice Cream

“I’m telling you, such contradiction shouldn’t exist.”

Penguin almost rolled his eyes to hear that words in the final tone, as if it’s an important decision of a ship captain in the middle of the storm. When the truth is, it’s only a simple line that should be in a light tone. It’s only a lunch conversation anyway. What’s so final about it?

But Law would poke his eyes out if he caught Penguin rolls his eyes. Most likely without sedative. So Peng only shrugged and sipped his coffee. Peng usually likes something light like tea at lunch time, but when he saw the ice cream truck parked in the hospital’s yard, Peng knew he needed something punchy to bear with Law’s rant about red haired, tall, handsome guy whose muscles are too good to scoop ice cream.

Not that he’s such a sour, unsupportive friend. In fact, Peng really is happy that Law finally got his eyes on someone again. His genius junior was too workaholic for his own good. It’s just that after ten days in a row listening to how gorgeous the red haired guy is, Peng really need help to cope with it.

“What contradiction? That a hot guy like him shouldn’t work at ice cream truck, of all place?” Peng asked after licking a line of foam on his upper lips, quoting what Law said two days ago.

“Precisely!” Law nearly yelled, and it even got Bepo turned from his book for a moment to give his cute puzzled look. Peng shook his head towards the pale man’s direction, telling Bepo non-verbally that it’s not important. He then turned his eyes back to Law, who’s currently staring at the red head as if he’s undressing the red-head mentally. Damn, maybe that's exactly what he's doing right now. “The whole situation with that man and the damned ice cream truck is a contradiction. Why scooping the soft ice cream with such big muscles? Where did he get those muscles anyway?”

Peng smiled a bit to his best friend’s attitude. Law usually is a serious, almost stoic man. He dedicated his pretty eyes on the pages of book and his time on practicing what he read on the book. But when Law fell for a guy, he fell hard. And it happened only twice since they met 13 years ago. Both were equally intense.

“Maybe he dragged the truck in his spare time. You know, for exercise,” Shachi joined the conversation as he sat himself beside Penguin. His eyes that was covered in sunglasses fixed on the red head. “Muscles like that don’t just happen. Not by scooping ice cream.”

Law turned his eyes to Shachi, which Penguin really grateful that looks really don't kill. "Shachi, don’t!”

There was the final tone again, and Penguin almost groan to hear it. He always forgot how possessive Law got when he fell for a guy.

“Law, chill. I’m just giving away my opinion,” Shachi said, with both hands raised as if being pointed by a gun. “You know I’m not that much into guy."

“You’re into everything that’s hot and has two legs,” Law accused. “You can’t take this one from me, Shachi.”

“Nope, but anyone can. If you don't get up your ass and take him yourself,” Peng interrupted “It’s been ten days you’re eyeing him, man. Maybe it’s time for you to just go there and do something about it before that obsession turns you into Dr. Psycho.”

Law shrugged. “I don’t like ice cream."

“But you like him right?”

“Yeah, so I’m gonna go there and buy something I probably throw away later? I don’t want to hurt his feeling. He probably whisk those ice cream with those big muscles.”

Penguin groaned. “Just give it to Bepo later!”

Law was shaking his head, and started to blabber ten thousand reasons─including a detailed assumption that he might not swing that way─that made Peng want to face palm. But Law would cut his hands if he did that. Again, without sedative because he is more skilled as a sadist surgeon instead of a brave lover. So Peng took it upon himself and got up from his seat, shutting Law up in the process.

“Pen, where are you going?”

Penguin didn’t answer, and keep going until he’s 10 feet away from the ice cream truck, grinning through his shoulder as he caught Law’s horror stare. “I’m gonna buy ice cream first, Law,” he said, almost shouting Law’s name to get people’s attention. “See you inside?”

Law was staring at him in a mixture of horror and wrath, which, by the look of it, Penguin was pretty sure that he might lose a limb or two. But it’s worth a try. Besides, what kind of friend he is if he couldn’t be a wingman to a tall, dark, lean, and handsome guy like Trafalgar Law?

However, when he reached said ice cream truck (with Law’s stare still burning the back of his hat), the red head was nowhere to be seen. In his place, was a blonde guy with the same muscular feature, longer hair, and huge disappointment because then Penguin would lose both limbs to Law’s cruel dissection for nothing.

So much for wingman attempt.

“Hello,” the blond greeted. “What can I get you?”

Your red head friend, Peng almost blurt out. But he’s better than that, so he decided to play calm and stared at the list below the truck window, trying to decide which one between pistachio and chocolate mint ice cream that will act as better protection against Law’s wrath later. “I don’t know, actually. Which one is more popular choice?”

“Our strawberry flavor is the best,” the blond said as he leaned his upper body closer to Peng, so they can both look at the menu. “It has a slight sour taste because we made it from real strawberries. Oh, and we also have cookie dough flavor. It’s new but people been buying that. But it depends on what you prefer.”

Peng wrinkled his nose, feeling somewhat weird because this muscular blond who can easily pass as massacre killer category is actually discussing about ice cream flavors of all things. And it looks like he knows what he’s talking about too, making it even weirder.

“You seem uneasy,” the blond suddenly speak, making Peng distracted from the deep thoughts of his emergency survival plan and said man's weird features.

“Huh?” was the cleverest thing the hatted man could say in less than one second.

“You seem uneasy,” he repeated. “You’re the first person who pulled that stressful look in front of ice cream truck. Don’t actually like one? Lose a bet?”

Being under the attention of such an attractive guy makes Penguin blushed a little. I mean, he’s not even gay. So that shouldn’t mean anything… right? “That obvious?” he asked with a nervous laugh. “And actually… Now you bring it up, which one will act as better protection against one’s wrath?”

Killer gave a bright smile filled with humor. “I think it depends how pissed that girl is,” he said. “If she’s shutting you out, you probably want to give cookie dough. It’s sweet and has unique flavor. But if she’s about to breathe fire towards your direction, then you definitely should go for chocolate. Double scoop, no less.”

Penguin laughed with the man, feeling somewhat shy with his confession. But what the hell, he thought. Law gonna cut me into pieces anyway. “Well, how about a guy?” he asked. “And he’s so pissed that he might cut me into pieces.”

“Whoa, what did you do?”

“Nothing. Just coming here,” penguin replied hesitantly. He then sighed and decided that whatever the blond might think, it is less important than his wish to keep his body parts intact. “Look, it might come off weird and you’ll probably run away and never go back to this hospital after this, but… is your red-head friend swings that way? You know… that.”

To his surprise, the blond burst out a laugh, a more honest laugh filled with pure humor instead of politeness like before. That made Penguin blushed a little, but it's not time to be a chicken about it. “Yeah, Kid could swing that way. He’s too much of a simpleton to be able to choose between both sexes,” he replied when he finally managed to control his laughter. Penguin could feel his stomach crunched when the laughter reduced into a smile. “What is this having to do with Kid? You want his number or what?”

“Oh, it’s not me. It’s my friend, actually,” Peng said as he turned his head towards Law, who is still furrowing his eyebrows. Penguin knew that look. It means that Law is thinking about a gruesome way to avenge Penguin of his action. “The tall, dark, and scary guy that sit over there. He had been eyeing for your friend since he saw him, so I took it upon myself to come here and help him make any move. Although, since the red head is not here, big chance this will be my first and only chance to play wingman before I’m dead and dissected into tiny pieces. So maybe the right flavor of ice cream might help bigger my chance to stay alive?”

The blond paused for a moment, then giving a bright smile that made Penguin’s heart skipped a beat. What’s with this ice cream truck, sold by two muscular handsome guys that was probably a reincarnation of Vikings strongest warriors? “Actually, I have better idea,” he said as he scooped a red-colored ice cream. “Here, bring this watermelon ice cream to your friend and say that my friend, Eustass Kid, is actually single and is also interested in him.”

Penguin furrowed his eyebrows. “You want me to lie to my friend?”

“It’s not a lie. It’s a pending truth. See, your friend look like Kid’s type,” Killer shrugged. “Besides, I’m trying to help you stay alive and intact here. So maybe if you say that you can ask for more information, he’ll spare your life for another day?”

Again, without his mind giving consent, Penguin’s mouth blurted out a cheerful laughter. “That’s actually quite nice of you,” he said.

The blond continued to smile, making Penguin’s head spun. Ugh, it must be the heat, he thought. If anything, Penguin is the only one in their group that shouldn’t be affected by something like this. Everyone had their own taste; Law with men, Shachi with anyone just beautiful enough and interested in him enough, and Bepo with women. But Penguin was the one who never felt anything at all. He’s content enough to see love from his friends’ perspective. Besides, he didn’t think that he could handle heartbreak as good as Shachi.

But WAIT. Why did he think about it at all? It’s not like it mattered, right? The blond man is beautiful, sure. But it doesn’t mean that Penguin should be attracted to him or anything.

He brushed the thought off his mind, and exchanged number with the blond for the sake of updating each other with the progress.

When Penguin got back to the place where his friends were, Law was nowhere to be seen. Bepo said that Law was running into an emergency, which means Penguin just got spared for his life. He smiled, enjoying what’s left of his lunch break with watermelon flavored ice cream that even though sounds weird at first (because watermelon tasted like water with a bit salt and sugar), it actually tasted good.

However, the light taste or the coldness of weatermelon ice cream just won’t cool down the warmth he felt in his chest.

What a heat this summer brings.

Later that night, just when penguin hop on to his bed, his phone vibrated, alerting Penguin that he got a new message.

Are you still alive? – Killer

Depends. If I say yes, will you hunt for me and change it?

Penguin sent the message, pretty sure that this Killer is the guy from the ice cream truck. The next message then confirmed his guess.

Sorry, it’s the guy from the ice cream truck. People call me Killer so I’m used on that. Sorry if it confused (and probably scared) you.

Penguin chuckled, then replying the message with giving his nick name too, instead of his real name. They shared their progress with each other, Peng stated that Law was happy with the information Penguin got for him about the red-head. The mention of his name alone made Law light up like a summer sky, not to mention that he’s single and is a bisexual. In exchange, Killer stated that Kid was also pumped with the perspective of getting a tall, dark, and handsome doctor as a boyfriend. They texted back and forth until Penguin fell asleep, and their conversation continued the next day, when Penguin came to ice cream truck 20 minutes before his lunch break was over.

They kept on doing that for days, exchanging information and progress of their respective best friend over text and talk on the ice cream truck. Penguin felt lighter each time they meet, a feeling that he found strange and unusual. He thought that it must be the joy of helping others. However, as a nurse, he helps people every day. The happy feeling when the patients threw him a smile is slightly different from what he experienced everytime he talked with Killer. He gave it a thought, more often than he allowed himself to. But again, Peng thought that it might be because he helped a junior he respected so much since they were in med school. Besides, Law is less a scary guy when he was in love. So that’s an additional gain for him.

Yeah, that must be it.

By the second week they play cupid, Killer changed his shift with Kid so he could eat lunch with Penguin, discussing the complex progress between two complex men that were Law and Kid. Their talks were usually light and full of humor, with Penguin did most of the talking and Killer listening. Sometimes, they came up the plot to set those two on accidental date, but never actually execute the plan. Each time, Killer always brought watermelon ice cream, knowing so well that Penguin liked it more than any other flavor on their truck. On the other hand, Penguin was pretty sure that the light, sweet taste of the ice cream was the reason that made him chattier than his usual self. But again, he could also blame it on the slow development of Law and Kid’s relationship. They’re clearly into each other, but none of them really got the guts to text each other first. It really irked him to the point that he make plans to solve that problem.

“Really, though,” Penguin sighed as he dug his wooden spoon halfway to the half-melted ice cream. “They have each other’s number now. Why Kid hadn’t got the guts to text Law? Does he even have balls beneath of all those muscles?”

“Why don’t Law text Kid first?” Killer retorted, sounding a little too defensivr. “He was the one who’s actually like him since the beginning, isn’t he?”

“Law is just being Law,” Penguin huffed. He stuffed a spoonful of ice cream to his mouth, feeling it melted and cooled down his mouth. “He swore that he wouldn’t make first move to a guy that will most likely top him.”

Soon as the words left his mouth, Penguin made a face, with Killer mirroring him in an instant.

“I really don’t want to think about it.”

“Ugh, sorry. But I don’t want to be the only one suffering from that image in my head,” Penguin said while laughing.

Killer only smiled calmly, causing Penguin’s stomach to twist and he swore that he could feel his heart flutter in his chest. And this is not the first time, either. He bit his lips, digging his ice cream and put another spoonful to his mouth.

“Whoa, take it easy with the ice cream,” Killer said. “What did it ever do to you?”

“Nothing,” Penguin replied as he took another spoonful into his mouth. “I just really like it. Like… So much.”

“Really?” Killer asked, not losing an inch of his tempting smile. “More than you like me?”

Penguin stopped abruptly, feeling thankful that the last piece of ice cream he ate had successfully went through his throat because if not, he was sure he would choke and cough uncontrollably.

Penguin would take it as a joke. It had to be a joke, but upon seeing Killer's stiffen face and the fact that a bunch of butterflies just flew and swirled around in his stomach, Penguin knew that it wasn't. The light feeling he felt when Killer smiled was not a joke either. So this time, instead of laughing it off and curling himself up in shame like the usual Penguin would do, Peng clenched his fist and decided to get back at the blond. Because even though he was sure that he was an asexual before meeting Killer, he couldn't keep blaming on watermelon ice cream for everything he felt around Killer.

He had to know.

“I don’t know,” Penguin said, letting out a smug smile that hopefully look as confident as Law’s. His heart was clapping like a thunderbird in his chest. “I never taste you.”

Once spoken, Penguin could hear that it was much, much bolder and contained more innuendo than he actually intended. Penguin could feel his heart exploded, sending huge rush of blood on to his face. His mouth went dry, and not even the moist watermelon ice cream can help him.

“Whoa, that come off a little bit too Shachi. I didn't..."

Before he could mutter a complete apology, or even explain what he actually think, Killer leaned his body towards Penguin, across the small table that get in their way, and captured Penguin with his surprisingly soft lips and composed strength.

Killer kissed him slowly, as if he's waiting for Peng’s reaction, a wordless permission. Penguin, now recovered from shock, decided to close his eyes, then tilted his head to deepen the kiss. Giving Killer the permission and reaction he waited for. As they kissed, Penguin thought about how a man as buffed as Killer could actually control his strength, putting just right pressure on his lips, and eventually, tongue. Letting Peng taste him, along with a light taste of Peanut Butter and Jelly that was his lunch and the slight taste of watermelon from his.

When they finally broke their kiss, Penguin could feel his heart calmed down for a bit, the calmness Penguin recognized as a sign that he was assured of something. It was a feeling he got when he dealt with the patient the right way. Only, this feeling is more intense and sweeter.

“Well?” Killer asked. A flush of blood could be seen behind his slightly darker complexion, along with a hesitant stare from a peeking green eye behind his blond bangs. Penguin just realized that he messed Killer's hair alright during their kiss.

“We need to try again tomorrow,” Penguin said shyly. All of his bravery was sucked out of him, literally. So he grabbed his cup of ice cream back and stared at it intensely. “When you’re not eating peanut butter and jelly?”

Killer only laughed at that, and since then, they shared a kiss after lunch and another talk about Law and Kid. Each time, their kiss went deeper than before, to the point that they had to take lunch in the shadow of the ice cream truck, or Peng's empty nurse station for the sake of PDA.

However, when Law finally caught them kissing in the nurse station, he and Kid finally confessed that they had actually handled their relationship on their own and even went on regular date aftet the first week Killer and Penguin play matchmaker on them. Kid was ready to tell and thank them but Law, being an observant man he is, decided to keep it a secret upon seeing Penguin’s reaction every time he talked about Killer. Kid played along with his plan, because he always hear Killer’s drunken confession about how adorable the little bird is. Penguin of course threw hat towards Law'a direction for making fool of himself, and Killer mumbled about moving out for having such a secretive, and anipulative roommate.

Now that they have no pressing matter at hand, Penguin and Killer spent their time to kiss more. Exploring the newfound affection of each other. Soon, lunch time becoming less and less sufficient for them, so they decided to meet in the evening for dinner, movies, and when they ran out of restaurant to try and grew bored of the cinemas, they ended up cuddling at home. Sometimes at Killer's, most of the time at Penguin's.

After so long, Penguin decided that he likes the taste of faint vanilla ice cream in Killer’s mouth most, as it complete the watermelon taste in his. Close behind, was Killer’s actual taste when he kissed Peng good morning.

But it was a hardly fair comparison, for Penguin had yet to be familiar with the latter. But from the light, yet sweet taste that made him feeling brave and hungry for more each time, Penguin was sure that it would be his favorite in no time. Just like the watermelon ice cream.

Besides, they have unlimited mornings ahead of them for Peng to taste Killer as he likes.

#kilguin #kilguinweek #kilguin week #penguin #killer #eustass kid #trafalgar law #kidxlaw side pairing

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kurtwarren54 · 7 years ago

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PREGNANCY / WEEK 20 TO 28

Excited to chat with you and share more pregnancy updates (and currently 29 weeks pregnant as I write this EEK!!!). Hope you enjoy these updates and if there is anything else you are dying to know, please leave me a comment on this blog post and I will be sure to include in my next update.

WEIGHT GAINED As of the start of week 28, I have gained 16 pounds.

HOW BIG IS BABY By week 28, Baby is the size of a large eggplant. A little over 2 lbs and about 14-15 inches.

BABY MOVEMENT This has been one of the most exciting things to happen during the second trimester. It started off as what felt like little gas bubbles popping in my stomach. I remember the first time I thought to myself, “OH MY GOD THAT IS THE BABY MOVING!!!!!!” And I put it in my calendar the first time that Blake felt a kick at 22 weeks! (Which was on April 23) It took me considerably longer to feel movement because of the position of my placenta. My placenta is both in the front and on top so doctor said it might take a touch longer for me to feel stronger movements. I am happy to report baby is dancing on the inside now and it’s such an incredible thing to finally be able to get that immediate knowledge that baby is inside doing well and able to actually kind of communicate with me that way. It’s also so special that Blake can feel the movement. It brings such a real element to the pregnancy that we have been waiting for till now!

HOW I’M FEELING: PHYSICALLY Headaches/Migraines: I have continued to have migraines during this time but they have started to settle down. My doctor allows me to take excedrin migraine at the onset (since I can always tell when they are coming on) as well as I lay down, put on my eye mask, and lay an ice pack on my forehead. This usually REALLY helps and has allowed me to not be taken out for an entire day or two because of them. As I have gotten closer to week 28, I have not had one for quite some time. So fingers crossed this time has passed.

Hip + Tailbone Pain: I started to get really intense pains in my hips and tailbone making it even difficult to walk. The pain has come and go and my strategy is to continue doing a lot of the stretches I learn in my prenatal yoga class which seems to be helping. I also make sure to sleep with a pillow (or A LOT of bunched up comforter between my knees) to relieve some pressure and that seems to help as well.

Peeing my pants: I am still peeing my pants on the regular over here. TMI I know… but let’s be real. It happens. Now Blake thinks it’s funny to see if he can get me to laugh so hard that I pee myself… NAUGHTY HUSBAND. I continue to pack panty liners with me in every single purse for those… just in case scenarios. But at this point, I think I should prob pack a spare outfit in my car for a super serious accident. We also recently started taking a prepared child birth class at our hospital and while facing each other on a mat during breathing exercises, Blake and I were literally laughing so hard I peed myself in class. AWESOME. Maybe I should just wear an adult diaper to my next class. In all honestly, I think it’s great he can make me laugh like this.

Bye Bye Nausea, Hello Energy: The nausea is gone and I have to say I am feeling much more “normal” if that is a word for it. It’s incredible how much nausea can really drag you down in every way and it’s been amazing to be able to start to enjoy my pregnancy in new ways.

HOW I’M FEELING: MENTALLY These weeks were right in the sweet spot for me. Because the physical symptoms started to subside, it’s like there was this huge breath of fresh air for me to breath in mentally. It’s easy to not love being pregnant when you feel like garbage 24/7 and I have to say, things started to get a little bit easier. I know I talked to you about not 100% LOVING being pregnant in my last update and I am happy to report that this chunk of time relieved some of that. While I still have this amazing respect for how difficult it is to go through pregnancy, it’s been a beautiful blessing to be able to fall in love a little bit more with my body, the process etc. Some days are harder and some are easier but being able to feel the baby, watch my body grow, it’s created this amazing little spark of love that I just can’t describe.

HIGH RISK DOCTOR APPTS So at our last scan, the anatomy scan, we saw a CPC (choroid plexus cyst) which had me FREAKING OUT. We went to our echocardiogram at the high risk doctor and quickly saw that the CPC was gone and that there was nothing to worry about. The heart all looked great as well. This was all amazing news. The doctor did however notice something going on with the placenta. He found what they call a “marginal cord insertion” where the umbilical cord inserts into the placenta within 2 cm’s from the outside of the placenta. There is also another type of cord insertion that is much more severe and worrisome but my doctor assured me that this was not that. Because they saw this, we now need to be monitored more frequently as the baby gets bigger to ensure he is growing on track and getting all the nutrients he needs from the placenta. We have been going every 4 weeks to monitor and everything has been looking good! At this point we just roll with the punches and know that is baby is growing, that is all that matters. And getting a little extra screen time with our little guy is never a bad thing.

GLUCOSE TEST At week 26, I headed to the doctors office for the dreaded Glucose test. The horror stories I heard… were endless. Let me tell you about my experience. It’s a fasting blood test so for a preggo that has nausea and needs to eat.. It’s not the most fun experience. But, considering my background in what I have done for this baby to date, I wasn’t really that worried about this test. I got there and was able to pick a glucose drink flavor that was refrigerated (which I think made it easier to drink) and I picked lemon lime. Like drinking a Sprite right? HA. They take 1 blood draw before you drink the beverage and then wait an hour, test again, and wait another hour and test again. I chugged water before the test so I would not be dehydrated which made the blood draws easier. Honestly, the experience wasn’t bad for me. I had my laptop with me and just kept myself busy working while I waited for each blood draw. All in all, it wasn’t my preferred activity but the experience wasn’t as bad as everyone made it out to be. Excited to tell you I PASSED!

WHAT I’M EATING My food preferences always seem to include some kind of dessert or sweets. Love having something on hand after dinner to get that little bit of a sweet tooth fix! We have been taking more frequent trips to grab ice cream and frozen yogurt and I am not mad about that! We also stock the freezer with ice pops, haagen daz bars, and yasso frozen yogurt bars (mint chip is my fav!) We cook a lot but I always love a good italian meal. Something about it comforts me. I also always have string cheese on hand as well a new favorite, Blue Diamond Honey Roasted almonds for when I want a sweet treat but also a little protein. Other than that, I pretty much am eating everything and have random cravings all the time where I tell Blake, “Hey you know what sounds good?? Strawberry shortcake.” Totally reasonable requests coming from me all the time. HA!

HOW I’M SLEEPING Sleep has been going ok. I have stopped taking the unisom for now as I have been sleeping through the night and don’t want to take things if I don’t really need them. If you remember, my doctor let me take unisom to help me with sleeping. I do toss and turn all night from side to side but generally that is how I usually sleep anyways. I have actually been sleeping without a body pillow. What I do is steal ALL of the comforter and bunch is between my knees and my feet since I move around so often. It’s working for me for now but I am sure that will change soon. I have my pillows handy for when I need them. I actually slept surprisingly well on our babymoon to Maui. Considering we were not in our own bed, I slept like a rock. Likely because of the time change and spending 8 hours a day in the sun.

EXERCISE I am still loving my prenatal yoga class every Friday and the stretches and practices I am learning are going to serve me well getting closer to Labor. I also still try to get to the gym when I can but after the babymoon, I have been more tired and getting to the gym less these days. I don’t force my body if I feel like I am too tired to go. I always listen to what my body needs. When I go, I still do the treadmill at an incline of 3 and speed of about 3.5 and then do some arm circuit machines. Thank goodness I have Blake who will keep me motivated and always ask if I want to join him at the gym. So when I feel up to it, I can go.

BODY IMAGE Last post I talked about body image and at this point in pregnancy I am feeling much more comfortable in my own skin. We headed to our babymoon around week 26 and I have to say, it’s the best I have felt my whole pregnancy. Maybe it was that sweet Hawaiian breeze… but it’s also likely because it was in the perfect sweet spot for my body and soul. My bump was finally loud and proud and something just clicked where I felt confident and beautiful. I spent my days in Hawaii in my bikinis with a smile plastered on my face, watching my baby boy move from the outside, and having literally the best time. Do I have cellulite? Hell yes. Are there things I might not love about my body? Of course. But you know what, there is way more love than anything else I have for my body at this part of the journey. Getting ready in the bathroom I would just start staring at my belly, thinking back about how much I dreamed of these days. To look into the mirror and stare back at a rounded growing belly. Every time I catch that reflection I take a minute to think about just how lucky we are.

BABYMOON If I can suggest one thing, take a babymoon. It doesn’t have to be a whole big vacation, it can even be just a weekend getaway. If you can make it happen, just slip away for the weekend with your significant other and take the time to indulge just the two of you. Have a nice meal, enjoy a sunset, anything. Looking back on our trip, I am so thankful we had the time to spend together and really just RELAX together. Without work or obligations getting in the way. Everyone LOVES to tell me how your life will forever change once that little love bug comes into our life but it’s really true that this time together just the two of us is so special. We scheduled a photoshoot with my dear friends of Love and Water to capture the moment and ended up with some incredible memories from our trip. For us, Maui is so special because we got married there 3 years ago and it was the start of our family of 2 (plus lola and the cats!). Being able to come back as a soon to be family of 3, was even more magical and I can’t wait to bring out little one to these exact same spots and create new memories in one of our favorite places.

CHALLENGES Hormonal meltdowns: The hormonal meltdowns are still real. ALL. THE. TIME. I really try to curb my unreasonable nature but at times it’s just impossible. So this continues to be one of those things throughout pregnancy that lingers but at this point, I think I (and Blake) are semi used to it by now.

WHAT I’M WEARING I recently did a post here sharing my babymoon wishlist and alot of things I wore while in Hawaii. I recently did a huge shopping haul before our trip and stocked up on alot of dresses. Honestly dresses are the easiest thing to wear and not feel constricted and it’s been so wonderful that is Summer and I can get away with doing that. It means that I can still buy non-maternity dresses to slip into as well. I have been lounging in this cute graphic tee, this little bit sexy cover up, and this dress that just makes me feel like a sexy, beautiful pregnant woman. I also picked up this bra that is not maternity and surprisingly cozy to wear under white tops and dresses for summer. I need to pick up another in black.

SELF LOVE Part of my self love routine has been scheduling time to get a mani pedi. Seems so simple but it’s always so fun to get to pamper yourself. I was able to enjoy an AMAZING prenatal massage on our babymoon and will likely schedule another massage in the coming month. Blake and I also continue to make time for date night every week. We either plan a new recipe we want to try together, or try a new restaurant to savour the time when we can just pick up on a whim. So important to focus on always strengthening our relationship and having fun along the way. Blake has been my rock and does SO much for me in general, and basically takes over cooking all the time so I can rest and he is basically the best husband around. I need to actively thank him more because without him, I would be a hot mess.

RECENT PURCHASES Babyletto Crib from Serena & Lily YAY!!! We got our crib and put it together. Alot of you asked about it and we bought it from Serena & Lily because apparently it’s been sold out alot of other places online. It’s modern, and beautiful and I am in love.

LexyPexy Pretzel Teeth because baby toys, I just can’t help myself

Hooded sweater + Disney Pants from Zara Zara kids is a dangerous place. I ordered a couple things that are so freaking cute. You know how I feel about disney and I bought these little disney joggers… that I wish came in my size!

BABY PREPARATIONS Like I said above, we finally have our crib and it’s set up, and it’s glorious!!! We are in full swing designing our nursery with my dear friend Anne who is making sure Baby Boy has the coolest room around town! We are not focused on a theme per say. We are more focused on soft neutrals and creating a warm rich texture based space. Will share a sneak peek with you all soon.

I am also currently working on my West Coast Baby Shower with the lovely ladies of Beijos Events which is making me just so happy. Excited to celebrate with all my friends out here! I have been sharing a lot of the baby products and gifts coming in from my registry and others and started to share them to my highlights on my IG profile. I will be sharing a roundup of my registry must haves as it’s been a number question lately for all you mama’s to be out there planning your own registries. I have to say, making a registry is VERY overwhelming for a first time mom that literally has no idea what they are doing. It took me SO long to comb through research and decided on things. So will be excited to share what I learned with you all.

I need to start planning for my hospital bag, Blake’s and Lola’s. That is high priority now as I want to be sure I am prepared for the unexpected.

WHATS NEXT Hopefully it will be smooth sailing into the third trimester and as the clock starts to tick down, I am sure I will have a bigger update for you all on what I am planning, how I am feeling etc. That’s all for now! Leave me a comment with any more questions you might have. Happy to answer!

photos by Love and Water

The post PREGNANCY / WEEK 20 TO 28 appeared first on eat.sleep.wear. - Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kimberly Pesch.

from Wellness http://www.eatsleepwear.com/2018/06/20/pregnancy-week-20-to-28/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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elizabethcariasa · 7 years ago

Text

PREGNANCY / WEEK 20 TO 28

WEIGHT GAINED As of the start of week 28, I have gained 16 pounds.

HOW BIG IS BABY By week 28, Baby is the size of a large eggplant. A little over 2 lbs and about 14-15 inches.

LexyPexy Pretzel Teeth because baby toys, I just can’t help myself

I need to start planning for my hospital bag, Blake’s and Lola’s. That is high priority now as I want to be sure I am prepared for the unexpected.

photos by Love and Water

The post PREGNANCY / WEEK 20 TO 28 appeared first on eat.sleep.wear. - Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kimberly Pesch.

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