#animal flow benefits

[ancientroyalblood]

Animal Flow Training: A Breakdown of Exercises to Improve Mobility, Strength, and Coordination

Animal Flow is a dynamic and engaging form of bodyweight training that draws inspiration from animal movements, focusing on mobility, strength, and coordination. This unique style of training blends elements of yoga, calisthenics, and martial arts to create a full-body workout that enhances functional fitness. Whether you’re an athlete looking to improve performance or a fitness enthusiast aiming…

[green-hill-haven]

Hear me out. Sally x Amy. Sally seems like she needs someone loyal and committed, and Amy MORE than delivers that. They both share this kind of can-do sensibility as well. And I feel like Sally can help keep Amy's temper in check with her reasonable attitude.

[no1ryomafan]

My beloved bf gifted me mario wonder for my bday and while this isn’t my first mario game bc I had the one on the ds-just sucked at it lol-im having a blast going through it since I always like playing other plaformers then my usual even if I’m always comfy with Mega Man. However, playing this along with other platformers made me realize mega man misses a common aspect in most platformers: collectibles tied to progression/general items to pick up in stages that aren’t upgrades.

Mega Man does have its fair share of items to pick up but almost always it’s a health or power upgrade. The general structure of Mega Man is less of jumping on enemies like others and more so being strong enough you can take down your enemies with your weapons, the usual challenge comes from fighting bosses without their weakness or tight platforming segments. Not to mention, the entire appeal of Mega Man’s structure is you can do bosses in any order, so having stuff like collecting a object for progression just to access the next stage or area would ruin that freedom. (Also in terms of if mega man would collect coins or rings or gems I’m not sure if that would fit either given he’s a robot… What would a robot collect unless it’s like stated it’s apart of his energy source or something? Or maybe screws? Even though that’s the currency in classic for just buying stuff)

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing since it gives mega man it’s own unique appeal and some people may not like other platformers compared to it-even if I say the challenge universally sticks so others are worth checking out, especially when in other games it’s waaaay easier to die despite how brutal mega man is with lives and Insta kill stuff-but it’s something I noticed when playing Mario and other platformers so I’m definitely gonna be rotating this for awhile.

[reasonsforhope]

"Many people know about the Yellowstone wolf miracle. After wolves were reintroduced to the national park in the mid-1990s, streamside bushes that had been grazed to stubble by out-of-control elk populations started bouncing back. Streambank erosion decreased. Creatures such as songbirds that favor greenery along creeks returned. Nearby aspens flourished.

While there is debate about how much of this stemmed from the wolves shrinking the elk population and how much was a subtle shift in elk behavior, the overall change was dramatic. People were captivated by the idea that a single charismatic predator’s return could ripple through an entire ecosystem. The result was trumpeted in publications such as National Geographic.

But have you heard about the sea otters and the salt marshes? Probably not.

It turns out these sleek coastal mammals, hunted nearly to extinction for their plush pelts, can play a wolf-like role in rapidly disappearing salt marshes, according to new research. The findings highlight the transformative power of a top predator, and the potential ecosystem benefits from their return.

“It begs the question: In how many other ecosystems worldwide could the reintroduction of a former top predator yield similar benefits?” said Brian Silliman, a Duke University ecologist involved in the research.

The work focused on Elk Slough, a tidal estuary at the edge of California’s Monterey Bay. The salt marsh lining the slough’s banks has been shrinking for decades. Between 1956 and 2003, the area lost 50% of its salt marshes.

Such tidal marshes are critical to keeping shorelines from eroding into the sea, and they are in decline around the world. The damage is often blamed on a combination of human’s altering coastal water flows, rising seas and nutrient pollution that weakens the roots of marsh plants.

But in Elk Slough, a return of sea otters hinted that their earlier disappearance might have been a factor as well. As many as 300,000 sea otters once swam in the coastal waters of western North America, from Baja California north to the Aleutian Islands. But a fur trade begun by Europeans in the 1700s nearly wiped out the animals, reducing their numbers to just a few thousand by the early 1900s. Southern sea otters, which lived on the California coast, were thought to be extinct until a handful were found in the early 1900s.

In the late 1900s, conservation organizations and government agencies embarked on an effort to revive the southern sea otters, which remain protected under the Endangered Species Act. In Monterey Bay, the Monterey Bay Aquarium selected Elk Slough as a prime place to release orphaned young sea otters taken in by the aquarium.

As the otter numbers grew, the dynamics within the salt marsh changed. Between 2008 and 2018, erosion of tidal creeks in the estuary fell by around 70% as otter numbers recovered from just 11 animals to nearly 120 following a population crash tied to an intense El Niño climate cycle.

While suggestive, those results are hardly bulletproof evidence of a link between otters and erosion. Nor does it explain how that might work.

To get a more detailed picture, the researchers visited 5 small tidal creeks feeding into the main slough. At each one, they enclosed some of the marsh with fencing to keep out otters, while other spots were left open. Over three years, they monitored the diverging fates of the different patches.

The results showed that otter presence made a dramatic difference in the condition of the marsh. They also helped illuminate why this was happening. It comes down to the otters’ appetite for small burrowing crabs that live in the marsh.

Adult otters need to eat around 25% of their body weight every day to endure the cold Pacific Ocean waters, the equivalent of 20 to 25 pounds. And crabs are one of their favorite meals. After three years, crab densities were 68% higher in fenced areas beyond the reach of otters. The number of crab burrows was also higher. At the same time, marsh grasses inside the fences fared worse, with 48% less mass of leaves and stems and 15% less root mass, a critical feature for capturing sediment that could otherwise wash away, the scientists reported in late January in Nature.

The results point to the crabs as a culprit in the decline of the marshes, as they excavate their holes and feed on the plant roots. It also shows the returning otters’ potential as a marsh savior, even in the face of rising sea levels and continued pollution. In tidal creeks with high numbers of otters, creek erosion was just 5 centimeters per year, 69% lower than in creeks with fewer otters and a far cry from earlier erosion of as much as 30 centimeters per year.  

“The return of the sea otters didn’t reverse the losses, but it did slow them to a point that these systems could restabilize despite all the other pressures they are subject to,” said Brent Hughes, a biology professor at Sonoma State University and former postdoctoral researcher in Silliman’s Duke lab.

The findings raise the question of whether other coastal ecosystems might benefit from a return of top predators. The scientists note that a number of these places were once filled with such toothy creatures as bears, crocodiles, sharks, wolves, lions and dolphins. Sea otters are still largely absent along much of the West Coast.

As people wrestle to hold back the seas and revive their ailing coasts, a predator revival could offer relatively cheap and effective assistance. “It would cost millions of dollars for humans to rebuild these creek banks and restore these marshes,” Silliman said of Elk Slough. “The sea otters are stabilizing them for free in exchange for an all-you-can-eat crab feast.”"

-via Anthropocene Magazine, February 7, 2024

[bestgyminkolkata]

Combining The Best of Animal Flow Training at Stark Fitness Studio!

Go totally primal and equipment free with the best of animal flow exercises offered here! Learn to go back to the basics with just some unique forms and build your strength.

Should I Search For Animal Flow Training Near Me?

To answer this question, let us first list the benefits of animal flow training. But before that, what is this form of exercise? You must have guessed a bit by the name of it. Animal flow is a non-equipment, ground based fun but challenging and extremely effective form of exercise.

It improves strength, flexibility and coordination of your body. You need to stay fixed at a point in the ground and push or pull your body in a certain way - and this is where the trainer's role comes to show you how it's done. Animal flow training can be both graceful and gritty!

As a fitness enthusiast, even if you're a beginner or an advanced gymmer - animal flow exercises can bring attractive results. This training isn't just one kind of set forms and motions, it also combines meditation and yoga in a perfect blend.

Is Animal Flow Training Goofy?

Well, this depends on how you tackle your moves. Even the same exercise routine, when done more than once and with different intensity, can give you a different level of satisfaction. But with animal flow training, you've got to move like never before.

It is a bit unconventional so it might seem goofy at first, but don't let that fool you. Some of these moves are extremely challenging and gradually mastering them can make you feel like an apex predator! Just like any other workout session, your endurance will be tested here.

Therefore, you'll need to approach this training in the similar way as if it was any other form of conventional cardio. With proper sets and breaks in between, you'll get the hang of animal flow training in no time at all!

Women and Animal Flow Training

Stark Fitness Studio is one of the best fitness centers in Highland park and women's fitness classes are a priority here. As mentioned above, animal flow training can combine medication and yoga with physical exercises. And for this, the best yoga center is here.

Once you get the hang of everything, you'll realize this training happens in a flow of smooth motion. From warm ups to cardio to relaxing in the end with a breath in and a breath out, animal flow training will help you connect with your inner self. Irrespective of your gender, this is something everyone should explore and discover!

[queers-gambit]

Commander

prompt: ( requested ) being on opposite sides of the Rings eventually sends your husband back into your arms, and between your legs. haha, nice.

pairing: Elrond x female!wife!reader

fandom masterlist: The Rings of Power

word count: 4.6k+

note: it is NOT said (that i've heard) that Elrond wears his father's cloak - that's just author being sentimental.

warnings: not edited, some obvious angst, mostly hurt and comfort, romance, established relationship, small relationship angst, smut, is this a Commander kink? i'm not sure. small spoilers, sibling reader.

bonus

The trees of Lindon glimmered gold and winked in the sunlight as vibrant veins of restored Light flowed through them all. It was a gorgeous sight; one you were happy to bask in after nearly losing it to the dark depths of evil corrupting Middle-earth. The only reason you had this glorious sight of twinkling beauty was because you had alined yourself with Galadriel and Celebrimbor about the distribution and use of the Elven Rings of Power - though you did not wish to claim one.

You merely desired the salvation of your people on this Middle-earth the Valar gifted The Children of Ilúvatar.

In order to support the Rings, you had to oppose the only person you had ever loved unconditionally, and nothing hurt like that. Despite the pain, disruption, turmoil, the angst it put you and Elrond through, you did not waver in your opinion - but he did not relent in his stance, either.

That was usually a quality you adored in your husband; how stubborn, strong, enduring, passionate, educated, and unrelenting he was. Yet for this, you were beyond frustrated.

You remembered the look of utter betrayal in his eyes when he stormed away the day the Rings were all claimed by Círdan, Gil-Galad, and Galadriel. He couldn't look at you, on those stairs, opposing him and defending the Rings. So, he fled the scene - unable to hide how displeased, unhappy, and horrified he felt.

After that, the two of you began to bicker over simple, common, mundane, marital situations; he instigated fights, prolonged arguments, even lit purposeful fires to force you into verbal altercations. You argued endlessly, needlessly, heatedly about things that voices didn't need raised for. Tension followed you everywhere, filled every room, and after just a few nights... Elrond decided he couldn't sleep in your shared chambers any longer.

You had returned from duty to find him sending several cases of his personal belongings away, freezing when he realized you had caught him. He looked akin to a startled animal. "I did not mean for you to see this," he offered stiffly as if embarrassed, "I-I thought you were on patrol."

"I was switched to the nightshift," you explained meekly, watching servants stream from the room with their arms full of his desired effects. "W-What's going on? What're you doing?"

Elrond sighed, unable to meet your eyes for several long minutes. Then, he licked his lips, nodded, and told you, "I just figured, considering the state of affairs, we'd benefit - "

"Our marriage isn't an 'affair', Elrond!" You snapped, tears filling your eyes. "We're just in a strange state, couples are allowed to disagree, there's a lot unknown - "

"I can't stay here anymore, love, and watch how much I'm hurting you," his head shook. "You think you're silent, but I hear your weeping. I know you avoid coming to bed because I'm there first. You used to pin my robes in the morning, and now, I'm lucky if I even catch a glimpse of your skirt as you rush out the door as I wake. We're not happy anymore, Y/N..."

You froze, lungs shriveling into nothing, shock pumping into your system. "Yo-You're not happy?" You stuttered, stumbling back a couple steps as if he had brandished a sword.

Elrond just stared at you, asking, "Are you? Truly?"

"Generally, yes! I am certainly not so unhappy that I want us apart! This is just a difficult position we're in, but we will get past it, Elrond, we always do!"

"This isn't just a difficult position," he snapped, shocking you back another single step. "We're at odds, starshine, and I hate to admit it. But this is bigger than us, than our love - this is fundamental - "

"And about more than us! Yes! That's what I'm thinking of, Elrond, our people!"

"And what of Sauron? What of his influence upon the Rings!?"

"What of the good they've done? What of the connection?"

"What do you mean - "

"Galadriel!" You snapped. "The obvious connection the Ring amplifies within her! There is a grave new sense she and the other Ringer Bearers have. She can use this Ring to-to-to sense evil, perhaps even see ahead of the enemy! It might be his influence, but aren't we stronger? Stronger than him, together?"

"Those who wear the Rings - "

"You speak of your former mentor, the Elven High King, and your greatest friend. Which of them will you predict to fall?"

"After Galadriel’s already fallen prey - "

"But she is the wiser, the stronger for it! She is thrice as determined before! Why must these Rings divide us, Elrond? Why can we not simply say we leave all politics at the door when we are together?"

Sadly, slowly, he shuffled closer and reached out to caress your cheek. "I love you, my star," he reminded, "but in knowing your stance, I cannot allow us to continue being so destructive to each other. Support the Rings, my love," he lowered his forehead to yours, "but I cannot stand at your side while you do so... Not when I know of Sauron's influence..."

You pulled back, sniffling down the tears that surfaced to nod with a sarcastic smile. "I thought when we took our vows of matrimony, we'd hold true... But I can see, you do not intend to see us through this bog."

"That's where you're wrong," he snarled, stepping closer to hold both of your upper arms and jostle you slightly, "don't you see? Don't you understand? We need the space or we'll keep hurting one another, and I don't know if there's a way for us to heal after that. As of now, we stand a chance, but only if we curate distance - so we need to proceed individually as we need best."

His reasoning was logical, but you were beyond hurt by his departure. Perhaps it was for the best; especially when the High King decided to send a scouting party after Sauron, anointing Elrond as Commander, and upon the news, you panicked. Like, fully broke down in worried tears, alone. Yet you did not go to him, you did not speak out, you just accepted the High King's command and gathered in the courtyard with any other loved ones wishing the company safe travels.

Yet Elrond just looked at you sadly and lifted his hand in parting before turning to lead his comrades out of Lindon.

You shed a single tear as High King Gil-galad was felt at your flank, slowly entering your peripheral. "They have passed out of my sight," you informed him, voice trembling.

"I know of the strife between you and Commander Elrond..." the King trailed off, "But I would like to commend you for remaining a pillar in your belief. These Rings," he showed his, "are a power and force we do not yet understand in full."

"Perhaps, in time," you agreed, sniffling. "If you would excuse me, my King."

He agreed, letting you go; and all you could do was return to your chambers and throw yourself into your pillows for a good cry. After a single day or moping, you got up and got back to work; working with the other trusted advisors to devise battle strategies, evacuation plans, and whatever else you could do preemptively. You didn't know how long Elrond was gone for because after leaving your chambers, you scarcely saw him - something you suspect was on purpose. All you knew was that he was gone and you missed him.

"Sister!"

You looked up when Tinnriel, or Tinnie, rushed into the council room. "What's wrong?" You asked in alarm, straightening up to take her in arms.

"I-I saw - I saw Elrond - he's on his way here - "

"Slow down," you pleaded.

"Something's wrong!" She sneered at you, pushing your arms down. "I've been telling you for weeks! But you do not listen! To myself or your husband!"

"Oh, not this again, Tinnie, I've told you - "

"That it is paranoia, yes, I've heard you, but you and Elrond are at odds! That's not my paranoia! You two never feud, he's been gone days and now returns, looking worse for wear!"

"High King, I apologize for my sister's interruption - "

"She's not wrong," Gil-galad muttered, making you pause.

"My King?"

"You are not wrong, Tinnie," He addressed your sister, finding her eyes and holding her hostage by a single look, "for I have felt the darkness, too. There is something amiss, I will agree, but..."

"It is the Rings!" She insisted.

"Oh, not this again!" You snarled, seizing her upper arm. "Out! Now! You will still your tongue before the King!"

"High King!" You heard Elrond calling, rushing down the hall you were surging up. He spoke your name, "Where are you going?"

"To have a word - "

"This is much more important. Trust me, please! With me, now!" He breezed past you, but caught your free arm in his hold - pulling you after him and forcing you to release Tinnie. "High King," Elrond addressed as he lead you back into the room, your younger sister lingering in the doorway to listen, "the Orcs are not in Mordor."

"Elrond, our reports - "

"We've encountered them!" Elrond cut you off, making you silence yourself out of sheer curiosity; not accustomed to seeing him so disheveled and manic... So authoritative. "A legion of them are headed for Eregion." He pulled out Nenya, showing the King, "My wife and Galadriel were right! They were right! You must send the army to Eregion this moment."

Your head bowed in disappointment, wishing beyond wishful thought that you had been gifted with foresight - then you could've seen this, withheld the Elven Armies from marching to Mordor, been better prepared. Elrond noted your silence first, ready to question you, when the High King stiffly informed, "That will not be possible. I have reason to believe that Sauron is the architect of all this."

Choosing his words carefully, Elrond argued slightly, "High King, Eregion is the very jewel of Elvendom. If it were to fall, it would be a mortal blow for all in Middle-earth. You must send aid!"

"Our armies cannot defeat both Adar and Sauron. Not alone."

Something clicked in your mind, straightening up and taking hold of Elrond's arm. You bowed your head in agreement, "Of course, High King, we understand. Allow me the day to catch my husband up on recent events, we might reconvene later - "

"I shall send for you when a decision has been made," Gil-galad waved off, you all but shoving Elrond from the room; almost tripping over Tinnie.

"Go, go, go, just go," you muttered to the two in Sindarin, releasing Elrond's arm - surprise coloring your features when he snatched your hand into his. Yet you did not comment. At the end of the hall, you halted them both, being aware of the stationed guards, keeping your voice low, "Tinnie, go attend to the rest of Commander Elrond's company. I imagine they'll need food, rest, perhaps aid?"

"Camnir was shot with an arrow..." Elrond muttered, "But Galadriel healed him."

"How?" Tinnie squeaked.

"Nenya... I saw it myself..."

You sighed, "Tinnie, please?"

She nodded, "Shall I speak to them?"

"They will want to give their account, please take record for the King," you instructed, Elrond's hand tightening in yours almost unconsciously.

"What're you going to do?"

"Speak with my husband," you sighed.

"No, I mean... If you and Galadriel were right, if the Orcs are marching on Eregion... What're you going to do?"

"We have much to discuss before a decision can be made," Elrond told her, tone hardened, "now, please, Tinnie, go."

Tinnie noticed the darker, deeper baritone to his voice and instantly nodded and scurried away towards the front gates. "How far back did you leave your company?" You asked softly, watching the last of Tinnie's skirts sweep around the corner.

"Far enough. Come," he directed, turning to start down the pathway; leading you towards the quarters you once shared. Yet before you could enter, you reared back; yanking his hand, his concerned expression turning down in gentle aggravation. "What's the matter?" He asked.

"You don't live here anymore."

Elrond heaved a great sigh, turning to you, "Truly? You wish to do this now?"

"For weeks, you've picked arguments. You've been combative, irritable, spiteful. You... You chose a ring over me - "

"That's not true - "

"How would you phrase it then!?"

"I chose ethics! Morality! You chose a Ring of Power, not just a ring!" He barked at you, both cracking under the pressure the Ring had subjected your marriage to.

"And look where it lead! You come storming in, declaring Galadriel and I are right to the High King, and now... Now it sounds as if you still defend your decision!"

"I do."

You shook off his grip, "Then perhaps we might find somewhere more neutral to discuss matters?"

Elrond heaved a sigh, "What's wrong with our rooms - your rooms? What's wrong with your rooms?"

"Exactly that, they're mine. Not ours. It seems, no matter where I look, I am reminded that my husband didn't love me enough - "

"Don't you ever say that again!" Elrond snarled, leering over you; back to a bannister, bending you back slightly as you refused to back down - keeping him in front of you. He was heaving for breath, body trembling; proximity allowing you to count the pores clogged by dirt, blood, and grime. "You may hold all the anger you wish, but never accuse me of something so heinous, impossible, untrue. So unfathomable."

"Then prove me wrong!" You fired back, shoving at his abdomen to force him back a step so you could righten yourself off the bannister. "You proved to me your anger, now prove your love! Your remorse! Show me an apology, do not just say it! You looked at me with such hate, Elrond, and you left our rooms, you left me - over a matter of opinion! Do you know what that felt like? What pain that caused? You swore to me - "

"I know what our vows were!" He snapped, tears tinging his eyes red; the air hot between your mouths as you both seethed in anger. "I know what we promised, but never did I think Sauron would return, let alone offer such threat!"

"I am beginning to think you are angry about something else! Is it Galadriel - "

"It's me!"

You were startled into silence, his voice echoing down the hall as his facial expression turned angry. Elrond turned from you to pace himself in a semi-circle, and for whatever reason, you softly questioned, "Where's your cloak?"

"What?" Elrond scoffed, having created distance that you closed to lay your hand on his bicep.

"Your father's cloak, Elrond, where is it?"

"I do not know - I don't..." His head shook, looking annoyed with himself. So, you sighed and nodded, dropped your hand to his and laced your fingers together before leading him into your quarters. "Don't - "

"Just come in," you nudged his shoulder, encouraging him into the room as you shut the doors and drew all curtains to keep your conversation private. You locked the main doors.

"You rearranged?" He noted, stalking around the room; slotting himself between furniture as he silently judged it all.

"Just trying something new, I can't sleep most nights and need something to occupy my mind," you explained, shutting the balcony doors, too. With a sigh, you spun on the spot and implored, "What did you mean, Elrond, when I questioned what you were angry about and said it's you? Please, talk to me. We did not talk about Nenya, and now..." You sighed deeply.

Elrond seemingly remembered he still had the Ring, looking at it in his flat palm with what you could only describe as terror. His eyes lifted to yours, asking, "Do you have a chain?"

With a nod, you ventured to your personal jewelry box and located a glittering braided chain; approaching him to gently drop it in a coiled pile beside Nenya. His hand shook, hating the feeling of the Ring... So, you gently took his hand to steady it and asked, "Tell me what you meant."

Elrond watched you thread the Ring onto the chain. "You're right, thinking my anger is sourced elsewhere... It's not Galadriel, per se - though, I am angry, for varying reasons. But it's me - I'm angry at myself."

"Why?"

"I did not see..."

You lifted the two ends of the chain slowly to his chest, but when he flinched, you reminded, "Galadriel entrusted it to you, nobody else should keep it." He nodded in acceptance, so, you lifted the necklace again, asking, "What didn't you see, Elrond?"

"Halbrand... While in Eregion, making the Rings, he helped Lord Celebrimbor and I, it was... He was there the whole time... So very present, innocent - feigning a King of Men - "

"Halbrand is Sauron."

"He is," Elrond confirmed, "and I did not see it."

"You are angry Sauron the Deceiver deceived you!?" You gaped, hooking the chain and retracting your arms. "Elrond, do you hear yourself? You are victim, none of you knew!"

"But the Rings - they work! You were right!"

"Elrond - "

"It's why I'm angry," he admitted, "because the Rings work, I've seen it, but also because I did not see Sauron for who he was."

"None of us did," you whispered, seeing the struggle behind his eyes.

"I couldn't protect them, either."

"Who?"

"Well, now, none of us - but Lord Celebrimbor and Galadriel specifically; they were with us, with Sauron. I..." He sighed deeply, "I did not see, now we all suffer - "

"We do not suffer, we are fighting back," you cut him off now, his sad eyes finding yours. "And you, our Commander, because you alone feel responsible for our entire salvation. You will lead us, Elrond," his head shook in refusal, making you insist, "no, listen - hear my words. You will lead our people, command legions of Elves, because you have proven strong and determined enough. Since you realized the truth of Sauron, you have fought tooth and nail for the rest of us - even me, you fought me - to see the truth. We have all been blinded, deceived, and now, we all must fight, but trust that the Rings... With the darkness they bring, they must also bring light - it is not just Sauron alone in them, but you all. Which means, in the grandest scheme, all your good overpowers Sauron's bad - proven by the Light of the Valar returning. By Camnir's rescue."

"I fought..." He whispered, reaching for your face - neither of you moving away, wanting the comfort, "At a time my words were needed most. And now, it's too late."

"It's never too late, Elrond, or have you not been paying attention?" You chortled lightly, sighing as you pet over his tunic; manicured nails gently fiddling with Nenya in admiration as it glimmered in the candlelight. "I... Had an idea I want your opinion on. Born of the High King's decision to send he army to Morodor..."

He nodded, stepping closer so his hand fully caressed your cheek and slid to hold the back of your neck. "Speak it," he whispered, "tell your Commander."

You could not repress the shiver of attraction even if you tried. He leered over you, holding you tenderly, close, pressing you closer as his eyes dared you to lose your train of thought. "We seek help... From the Dwarves, from Prince Durin," you whispered, "for they hold Sauron's Rings, they will need our aid in time - we just need theirs first."

"You would have me go above our King?"

"I would have you lead us, Commander."

Elrond smirked slightly, free arm coiling around your waist to hoist you into his embrace. "Something sounds as if you... Like this new position of mine?"

"It suits you - authority, I mean."

"Oh?"

"Being decisive," you listed as Elrond moved forward, walking you backward, "assertive, argumentative... It's a good look."

"Then are you ready to listen to your Commander?"

"At once, sir."

He paused you, lips hovering over yours; demanding of your ears only, "Strip."

"My Lord - "

"Aht," he tutted, pulling back; leaving you cemented in place.

"Commander," you amended, watching him nod subtly. Slowly, your hands lifted to start unlacing your corset; his eyes dark and concentrated, watching each movement you made. Elrond stood with his shoulders squared, hands clasped in front of him, feet spread apart; ensuring you were operating to his level of completion.

"All of it," he told you when down to your small clothes; pausing your venture onto the bed behind you.

So, you stripped those off, too. He nodded in approval, watching you teasingly turn to crawl onto the bed and settle in the middle of the mattress - facing him. Elrond's eyes locked with yours, only straying when your legs slowly spread to reveal your sweetest point for his viewing pleasure. His shoulders heaved upward as he drew in breath, lifting his chin, eyes darting around to note the speckling of honey collecting between your legs.

"Touch yourself," Elrond demanded, reaching for his weapons belt and unhooking it.

"Where, Commander?"

He smirked and simply repeated, "Touch. Yourself. If you can't take direction..."

You didn't question him again, watching him slowly unlatch the belts and hooks of his uniform; deft fingers rubbing through your wetness as others came up to pinch your nipple and roll the bud. Elrond shed his boots, discarding them to the side; tunics yanked from his bare torso, leaving the glittering jewelry around his neck. A moan escaped as you dipped your fingers within your cunt as Elrond ripped his trousers open - then paused. He admired the sight of you splayed out, both hands at work, watching him undress.

In Sindarin, Elrond questioned, "Are we still at odds, my starlight?"

You whined, replying, "If you're not inside me in the next minute, Commander, we will be."

Elrond chuckled and shucked his trousers from his hips, down his thighs, then stepping out of them. "Do you forgive me, my star?"

"Nothing to forgive."

"Don't feed me that," he reprimanded, stepping up to mount the bed; his own hand beginning to fondle his reddening cock, stroking himself to straining life. "I have wronged you and your Commander intends to show he is remorseful. Tell him how."

"Move back in," you pleaded, reaching for him as he allowed himself to hover over you, "and do not leave me - not again."

His breath exhaled against your lips, settling to lay against you while a single leg bent to secure his hips on yours. "Never," Elrond agreed, "but I'll need to hear you say it."

"Is that a command?"

Elrond smirked and lined himself up to notch his cockhead at your cunt's mouth; sinking in as he answered, "Of course, it is." You gasped and slapped a hand up to hold his flushing neck, mouth wide at the familiar sting; public hair grinding together as his balls pinned between you, cock fully sheathed. "You've been given a command, my star," he grunted in your ear, "don't disappoint your Commander now."

Like all Elves, your ears had increased sensitivity; creating a legion of goose flesh to shoot across your flesh. Without breath, you affirmed in his ear, "I-I forgive you - fuck - I forgive you, my love. Don't leave me," you whimpered, "and I forgive you."

"What side do you remain?"

You whined, "Yours, yours, my husband, I remain on your side, Commander."

"And will you obey your Commander?"

"Until the end," you nodded, his lips finally findings yours. A sharp whimper ripped from your lungs as Elrond retracted his hips, thrusting into you at his own set, even pace; lips messily sliding against each other from tongues and spit. "You were gone too long," you managed to whisper.

"We won't be apart that long again," he grit, grunting as he held your thigh in a bruising-grip, "I swear it - "

"You can't - "

"I swear it," he gnashed your bottom lip between his teeth, making you gasp in pain and shock before moaning when he suckled at the mark. Softly, he released your lips, whispering, "I promise, we won't be. We go together from now on."

Nenya dangled between you, tracing around your chest from his aggressive thrusting; you agreeing with a nod, "Together."

"Now," Elrond grunted, "'M not gonna last, pet, gonna need you t'cum with me - together."

"Yes, Commander," you moaned, seeing the way his eyes fluttered; cheeks, neck, and ears blushing bright as his orgasm mounted, trying in vain to hold back. Seeing the almost involuntary reaction your words caused, your hand found Elrond's cheek and directed his eyes to yours, encouraging, "I'm so close, Commander, you make me feel so good, so full, it's been so long - too long! I'm right there, my love, my Commander, please - "

"Ah," Elrond hissed through his teeth, "yes, love, I'm there, too; right there, right there - "

"Cum in me... That's a command, Commander," you demanded in his ear, and it was all that was wrote. Elrond bucked wildly his last few thrusts, pinning you to the mattress; your own orgasm triggered by the flooding of warmth filling your too-empty womb.

"O-Oh," he stuttered, humping into you in languid thrusts before slowing to a shivering halt. You watched Elrond try to regulate his breathing, wrapping your arms around him in an instant to bring him in close; resting him on your chest while your one arm wrapped around him, the other threading into his curls. "I love you," he whispered into your flesh.

"I love you, too," you affirmed. Then, while toying with the sweat-curled ringlets of his hair, you mused softly, "You need a cut."

"You told me for years to grow it out, now you want me to cut it?"

"No, I don't want you to; I just know, you prefer a cleaner crop."

"I've... Grown fond of the look."

You smirked, "That is relieving to hear."

Elrond sighed and slowly lifted off you; only enough to help maneuver you so he didn't have to pullout of your cunt but could still hold you as the big spoon. "So... Prince Durin, is it?" He asked in your ear.

You smirked, "Why not? He is a friend, his father wields a Ring of Power... He would more incentive to help than others. And the Dwarves are formidable in battle, it could help turn the tides, by uniting the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. Elf, Dwarf, Man..."

"What alliance of Men would - "

"We do not speak of Men, we speak of Prince Durin," you reminded him; his face nuzzling into your neck. "I think you should go in person. To plead the severity of our situation, how dire the need for aid is. To convey our desperation."

"The High King - "

"Leave him to me," you insisted, holding his arms around you. "I know we just agreed to not part ways, but you need to parlay with Prince Durin and I will keep Gil-galad at bay. When Durin agrees to march to our aid in Eregion, we march our remaining forces against Adar and meet the Dwarves on the field."

"It sounds good..."

"But?"

"Is it possible?"

"We will have to work in tandem, but I would assume the King would not argue asking for aid. I'll inform him of your departure and intention after you've left."

His arms tightened, "We can speak of it more later. I just want to feel you in my arms - it's been too long."

"You will hear no such complaints from me."

After a moment, where you both spent it resettling and nuzzling into the peaceful silence, Elrond asked, "Do you... Do you think one of the company managed to find and grab my cloak?"

In amusement, you replied, "Oh, I'm sure."

"And that Tinnie would have it?"

"Knowing her, by now, surely," you mused, reaching up to pet his cheek; requesting, "now, I have gone too long without the feeling of you beside me and wish to rest."

"As you command, my love."

requesting rules and masterlist

TROP masterlist

[sukioyakio]

“Use me then”- R. 𝐒𝐔𝐊𝐔𝐍𝐀

PART TWO IS OUT

Sukuna hadn’t been the best person in your life,he was a dumb fuck and he knew that.He knew he shouldn’t have left you alone when you needed him the most.

When you were pregnant with his baby girl.He knew he fucked up.Moreover his whole life has been fucked up,finding his parents died in a young age and how he knew that violence was the thing that bring him a long way.

Foster home wasn’t just hell but a free for all,only those who are willing to make a name out of themselves will get to see a future themselves.He would have to learn that having feeling is just a useless thing.

After being heartbroken by someone he thought he could love,after being someone punching bag for entertainment and being beaten almost to death.Scars all over him with each of them being a reminder of how bad it was for him.

He didn’t get to live a normal life when he was younger constantly fighting for himself.He became more cruel and more cold,no longer giving a fuck about anyone else.

He knew that nothing he could make up for his own mistakes for treating like you did anything to deserve it.

You both knew each other from college but that not when you guys started dating,you started to date after a one and a half year later.

You fell for him despite of his frigid behavior.You wanted to prove that you would be the best girlfriend.You were just a hopeless romantic and you didn’t care about his cold behavior.

And he just accepted it to only used you for his benefits.

But no matter what you did he’ll just blocked you out and constantly being used.And when you guys did it,he forgot to put the condom on and so a week later you had called him when he was flirting with some other girl at a bar.

he just told you that he’ll come later.

While he was cheating with you with someone else,you were excited about it,to tell him about the future you had thought about.And how you couldn’t wait to be a mother.

But when you had open the front doors to your apartment,something in your gut told you that you weren’t going to like this talk but you were love sick idiot for him and completely ignored that feeling.

When you were talking about how your day went,being animated and all.He nonchalantly told you just to get to the point.

You had such a big smile on when you announced it. “I’m pregnant! Sukuna I’m having your baby,we’ll be parents”

You looked at him with warm smile to only see his eyebrows furrowed down in an utter disbelief.You said it again guessing that he didn’t hear you correctly but his face made a unreadable expression as he started to walk towards the door.

All in that moment you could almost hear the tearing sound of your heart being broken into pieces and it hurt.

“Sukuna?”

“Sukuna?”

“Sukuna!?”

“SUKUNA?!?”

You yelled at him while running after him grabbing his wrists pleading with him,cause you didnt know if you’ll be okay with just yourself supporting a baby.Your lips were trembling and your every breath was like it was venom had token your lungs.

Tears were flowing down your cheeks.And he just stood there with complete silence.You began to beg for him to talk,for you guys to talk about it together.

“Please don’t l-leave me , p-please” you choke on your tears.Red optics eye bore into her widened,watering eyes.Finally saying something to you.

“I think it just better to break up” He says that and nothing more and then snatched off his hand now walking away leaving you alone with hot painful tears flowing down your cheeks.

The only thing you heard was the sounds of his Shoes slowly getting quieter until it was just silence.Your heart right there summer in the depths of your chest broken by your vision of love.

It was a vast expanse of emptiness,where even the smallest sound wouldn’t dare not tread the silence. [*]

A few years later Sukuna was now more stable than before,Having a big success with his company.

Making collaboration with other big brands and marketers.Having multiple modeling teams to make sure of his presence is well known and that only made a fan base of him.He was making multiple big deals that people would only dream off.

He was particularly smart at making sure that his company wouldn’t go down anything time soon.Even after all this success in Japan he would still have much more work to accomplish in others countries but he doesn’t have to worry about that right now.

He now had everything that he never had when he was young and everything he’ll need.Every decision he made was to make it all work in the end.

Right?

But some wounds weren’t meant to heal and some will eventually hurt you more than others.

When he left you he thought that he would be the best for him and for you too.He didn’t want any of unavoidable feeling of love,it wouldn’t do anything but drag him. He already knew at some point he was going to break up with you sometime soon.

But your voice of pain still rings throughout his head after all these years.Sometimes even coming back as nightmares or some sorts.

He thought that maybe if he just have nights stands he would get over it.It irritated him for some reason.He didn’t need some extra feelings of you.

But nothing worked,and now he’s sit in his office at random point of time thinking about what was the gender of his baby.

But now he knows that he is the worst father ever to have.And he didn’t have to hear those words from anyone else to tell him that.The better thing to do is just to move forward and forget about it.

It was just a normal day walking around the city without the need of being followed or being bothered by the paparazzi or whatever the case would be.

The sun light shining the city with a bright golden glow making the city warm.And with the sun shining it’s companion with the wind breeze keeping citizens of Tokyo from dying from the heat.In perfect sense it was a great day to go out and enjoy the day off.

Multiple citizens walked through the streets of Tokyo the streets were filled with lifeness sparkling with color all around and people walking with a smile or with a sense of urgent need to get to a certain place.While Sukuna didn’t have any place to go to so he just walked throughout the city even the high crime rates part of Tokyo.

The only reason he wasn’t getting bothered was because he had a black washable dye and it work wonders and having his tattoos covered by makeup. No one recognize him.

Now he made his way towards a park,to get away from the crowd of people.His body walking down the entrance of it.Completely in his head space enjoying the scenery.Not minding the children running around with their sequels.

Until he heard a voice in the group of parents with their children who were playing or watching their children play.

A distant Laughter came through the group there;A laugh he knew too well.His legs taking him towards that voice without even noticing his actions. His large figure making it way to move around,his eyes looking around in such an intense manner.

His body froze,his mind going silent.As his almost blood like eyes widened.His heart slowly beating against his chest.

He spotted a child with striking pink long hair with such a radiant laughter,a young girl that is made his heart began to filled with warmth.

Something that he thought was meaningless.

Sukuna’s heart raced with uncertainty as he faced the unknowingly future.

He just stood there watching the girl with an urge to ask the girl question.Whether if the girl dyed the hair pink or did she ever get to see her dad or-And then you showed In his view.

“There you are,you little troll” you spoke with a playful voice,grabbing your daughter and swinging her around in the air.You were smiling so care carefullyfree,with the little spawn of joy giggling wildly.

“PffhaHahhaha!!Stop it mom!Your gonna get me dizzy if uou continue” The young girl says as her laughter danced through the air like a soft melody.

The world blurs itself out as he watches you.when he sees you he immediately knows that you were something that shouldn’t have been token so dryly;all the nights were you were there for him,all the love you spent on him and what did he gave you in return.

Nothing,nothing not even a small amount of time of love to you.You have every right to hate him for that.

There a lot of ‘what if’s’ in his mind but one thing is certain that he would’ve had a family.

He probably didnt know that he was looking at you guys to long.That was until your eyes meet his making eye contact.

Their stares remained interlocked, neither of them making a move to look away.It you could tell who is his even with all the disguise.Your eyes widened with disbelief as Your face turned into an icy expression.You turned your head now forcing yourself to walk forward paying attention to your daughter that was in your arms.

Sukuna soul felt burdened with the echoes of her sorrows.

“It doesn’t matter now,at least that their better without me” Sukuna spoke in his mind,but he’s heart felt heavy like it knew that if he thinks by walking away from all this is going to make it better then he wrong.

Blinded by his own heart he walks after you,keeping his composure straight and stern.As he reaches his hand to lay his hand on your shoulder,getting your attention and your daughter as well.

Your head turned around to see his body but you stare up to see his ironic red eyes the same one you have nightmares about,the same one that broke your heart a thousand times.

The same blood like eyes that you fall in love with.

Your heart sting with dreadful pain just from looking at him,you knew it was him even if he’s hide his most dominant features.

Your daughter looks at you with concern that you don’t mistake it for sadness.

You place her down on the ground and whipser her something softly,to not her pretty face worry about it.You told her simply to wait and sit in the grass until she come back then they will get ice cream after and which she does.

Now paying mind to him as you changed your expression to the same icy expression.

“What do you want” You said straight to the point as you won’t allow yourself to break down again infront of him.

Nothing come out,because he didn’t know what to say to you,Nothing came out of his mouth.He usually always had something to say.

You couldn’t take it,you hated the man that stand in front of you.

”I doubt you’ll forgive me for all of this-

you instantly interrupted him.

“it too late for apologize Sukuna,you already showed me that I’ll have to be guarded when it comes to giving people my heart.”

You said heartlessly,almost with coming out hurt.But you didn't stop there,all the suspense emotions were coming out.

“God I hate you! I hate you for leaving me!!A simple Fucking sorry ISNT going to make up for the things you made me go through! You-tears falling down your cheeks rapidly-… I fucking hate you.I hate that I fell for you,g-Gave you my heart for what?”

You wipe off your tears.Your voice rising in pitch as your eyes brow knitting together in frustration and hands clenching tightly in a ball into fist.

“B-but I’ll n-never . . Hate you for her,for g-giving me a beautiful g-girl”

you said with a sad smile that quickly removed from your face,Your chest rising up and down.As you could hear the voices of the kids giggling in the background.

The tension between you and him was unpalatable,the air was so thick that it felt like he was going to suffocate.

A pair of warm hands warp around you pulling you into a warm embrace.

“I-I -a heavy sigh came out of his mouth- . . . Sorry,I don’t -no I know that you won’t forgive me.You have every reason to yell at me, . . tell me that I’m shit for everything.” His voice swiftly He felt your hands were pushing him away but he continued on his embrace.He could fell your tears dampen his clothes.

“L-let go of me . . . I Don’t h-have time for you-u,i don’t need you anymore in my life,Sukuna.So it better if we just don’t talk.”

His throat felt so dry like as if he didn’t drink any water.He fucked up so badly.A wound that would never heal.You politely removed your body from his embrace and wipe your face with your hands wiping off the tears.Now walking away from him and towards where your daughter was.

The wind blows gently through your body as you see your daughter playing around with a boy with black hair;smiling with joy, making you form a small smile.

You felt a hand on your shoulder immediately knowing it was Sukuna,you brushed off his hand off your shoulder.Before you could even get anything out your mouth.

“Use me then”

A shiver ran down her spine as his voice took on an eerie, otherworldly quality of vulnerability.That made her question if it was the wind that was playing with her mind or it just herself thinking that she heard him in such a state.

”what” You said with disbelief lancing your voice,Your uncertainty was reflected in your hesitant movements and furrowed brow.

You tilted your head in confusion,your eyes trying to discern the almost-too-serious expression on Sukuna face.Just for Sukuna repeat his words.

“Use me then” He said in a serious manner,His red eyes looking straight at you.He knew what he was saying was stupid and wouldn’t cure anything but it worth trying.

Your eyes widens lanced with disbelief.you let out a huff out laugh as you ran your finger though your hair.

“What . . No Sukuna,I-a deep shaky sigh gets out of your lungs- I told you I want nothing to deal with you” You said with a bit of raspiness to your voice from the crying and yelling.You eyes finally looking at Sukuna’s eyes.His eyes usually showed a stern cold expression but right now it soften and regretful glazes upon his blood like eyes.

“Use me then, Use me for money,for paying your bills,driving you and her placing,Use me for anything,it doesn’t matter” He said as you just notice how close he got to you.You could hear it now,it wasn’t your mind playing tricks on you;you could hear that vulnerability in his voice so much clearer.

You didn’t know what to say or respond to him,your mouth was shut and like it sealed up.That until you felt a strong hit towards your knee,to only see your daughter squealing.

“MOMM!! Hahah-HELp me!!Before Cole Comes and get me!!” Your daughter says with A loud giggle as She let go of your legs and runs a distance away from you and Sukuna to get playfully tackled by a boy with black hair and purple eyes.

You hadn’t completely forgotten his offer,You take a deep breath before looking at your phone to see how much time as pass.

His eyes were dead set on you but You can see that he’s eyes had a bit of amusement in them.To you you could recognize him even if he had black hair or hide his tattoos on his face and body,you could still tell it him from his red ironic eyes.His body cast a shadow over you.

“I-ill think about this later” You said,now completely walking towards your daughter.With head now full of thoughts now.As you smiling see your daughter ‘Nova ryomen’ Tackling the boy down with a playful smirk on her soft cheek.

You told her that it time to go home and to say goodbye to the boy,which she kinda refused to do having a big sad pout of your cute little face.But she eventually did,as you hold her hand in and then taking her to a ice cream shop for her.You order with a genuine smile on your lips as you watched her eat her ice cream while you guys were walking towards the house.

“use me then”

his words were repeated in your head like a curse.You don’t need him anyway right?You just gotta keep moving forward even if life isn’t the best for you but it could be and will be better for nova.That night you had received a text from a unknown person but you ignore it went to sleep.

Credits to my lovely editor(my bestie) who I made her read this 🫶.

tag list: @10yo-anonnie @scoobysnakz @lynxslokley @kenntolog

+anyone want to be tagged in part2

@mononijikayu

Made by @sukioyakio

reblogs, likes and shares are always welcome and appreciated

If anyone has any comments of suggestion of part two then be my guest

PART TWO IS OUT NOW!!

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: Christmas tree worm

Merry Christmas from the ocean! For this festive occasion, I’ve chosen to cover an animal that certainly has the spirit of the season. The Christmas tree worm is the person who keeps their Christmas lights up all year of the sea and today we’re going to see what makes them tick.

(Image: the crown of a Christmas tree worm. It appears as two stalks emerging from amongst coral polyps. Small feathery, appendages emerge from the stalks in a spiral formation going up them. They are yellow, with brown tips. A smaller, round structure is near the base of the trees. End ID)

The Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) is a polychaete worm of the tube-building fan worm clade Sabellida. While they are called giganteus, that’s only relative to other fan worms as they max out at about 3.8 cm (1.5 in) long. Being tube worms, they build a tube of calcium carbonate that they live in. This tube provides protection for the worm, who can retreat into it if threatened by predators. Polychaetes are defined by the paired bristle-like chaetes on each body segment, which are often used for locomotion. Tube worms like the Christmas tree worm lack these kind of locomotive appendages as they spend their entire lives in their tubes.

I couldn't find a full-body picture of a Christmas tree worm outside of its tube, so this is the best you get. (Image: Serpula vermicularis, a member of the same family of tube worms as the Christmas tree worm, removed from its tube. It is a short, segmented worm with a plug on a stalk and a crown consisting of long, feathery tentacles arranged differently than those of a Christmas tree worm. End ID)

The feature that gives these worms their common name is a pair of feathery, spiraling structures that emerge from the head and look quite a bit like tiny, colorful fir trees. These structures, called crowns, are heavily modified version of mouth appendages called prostomial palps. The feathery bits are tentacles called radioles. The crown is usually the only part of the worm visible, with the rest of its body safely in the tube. The crown is used both for feeding and respiration, as it can perform gas exchange with the water like gills. Christmas tree worms, like other fan worms, are filter feeders. They expose their crows to the water and wait for edible plankton and bits or organic detritus to get caught by the radioles. Cilia then transports the food down to the mouth. Christmas tree worms have a modified radiole called an operculum that acts like a lid to the front of the tube, closing it off when the worm retreats. The crown also has light-sensing structures, allowing it to detect light and shadow. The visual capabilities of these eye spots is poorly studied. The crown makes up about a third of the body length and can come in a wide variety of colors. It can regenerate if damaged.

(Image: a blue-crowned Christmas tree worm emerging from yellow coral. End ID)

Christmas tree worms are found across most of the world, from the Caribbean to the Indo-Pacific, in tropical waters. They are coral reef dwellers who live in burrows built into had corals. Brain coral species are their preferred hosts, but they can live on other corals and have been reported living in sponges and on giant clams. Christmas tree worms certainly have a symbiotic relationship with the corals, it's debatable whether that relationship is parasitic, commensal, or mutualistic. They may damage nearby polyps and could spread harmful algae (that seems to be an open question), but I found sources suggesting they improve water flow around the coral, which could benefit it. When they sense a threat, the worms will rapidly retract into their tubes. Some time later (which can be seconds to minutes), they will cautiously emerge again. Worms living on crowded corals seem to be more timid, taking longer to emerge again. Christmas tree worms are broadcast spawners who release their gametes into the water. Fertilized eggs hatch quickly into larvae who must find their way to a coral and start their burrow. Christmas tree worms can live up to 30 years.

(GIF: a bright yellow Christmas tree worm retracting into its tube. The full retraction takes less than a second and leaves only a hole covered by the operculum. End ID)

Christmas tree worms are considered to have a stable population, but as they are dependent on corals, threats to reefs are threats to them. Thus, global climate change is a major threat to their survival. Predators of the worms include fish, starfish, and other worms. They are not of commercial interest to humans, but are popular among divers and have entered the aquarium trade.

(Image: multiple Christmas tree worms of various colors emerging from a coral. End ID)

[sir-davey]

King Saul’s evil spirit, also known as the Ruach Ra’ah

I want to show some of the characters from my Saul retelling, The Book of Saul, and one of the major ones that take part of Saul’s life is Ze’ev, who is King Saul’s evil spirit but personified as a spirit always taking the form of a wolf in Saul’s visions.

I have yet to properly introduce him, but I will now lol.

I draw him frequently with Saul and I have a lot planned for him. He’s his own character instead of simply being the vaguely mentioned evil spirit that attacks Saul in the Bible lol. In the story, there’s some heavy lore that Ze’ev carries, and when he first actively interacts with Saul (right after being rejected as king), he becomes Saul’s conscience, and a guide, as he twists truths for his own benefit and amusement.

To summarize Ze’ev’s character, Ze’ev can be interpreted in many ways. He is basically the essence of Saul’s subconscious containing his deepest fears and regrets. Saul’s mentality will be reflected on Ze’ev who guides Saul, seeking truths he desperately yearns for, through 7 seven visions. No matter how hard Saul tries, he cannot escape the spirit always appearing before him. And also, those 7 visions are basically Saul’s hell with different truths revealed to him. Ze’ev finds so much joy in watching him suffer, yet he is able to have Saul always running back to him for help. Ze’ev knows very well that Saul has absolutely no one to turn to as he takes advantage of his helplessness.

As for Ze’ev’s appearance, he is usually a wolf, and there are two reasons why Ze’ev appears as a wolf. One being the tribe symbol for Benjamin, the tribe Saul’s from, which is represented with a wolf, and in the past I had called Ze’ev the “Wolf of Benjamin”, but I ended up changing his name lol. But the second reason resonates with Saul more deeply, where in the story, Saul is terrified of wolves due to traumatic experiences with them, and it comes off basically as a phobia Saul has (I believe the phobia for wolves is called “lupophobia”, that’s what Saul would have oof). But ironically, Saul is from Benjamin, and he’d be surrounded by wolf symbols as a benjaminite king ruling the place. And plus, Ze’ev is almost always a wolf, and if you recall what I’ve said, Ze’ev is the essence of Saul’s mind made up of his darkest fears and regrets while appearing in Saul’s visions.

I could literally go on and on about the evil spirit Ze’ev, but I would be crossing spoiler territory if I do loll.

But some small things about him: Ze’ev shapeshifts a lot, and his form is always moving in place. And he has a HUGE tail that constantly flows.

But lastly, this one means a lot to me lmaoo, but hear me out on this. When it comes to Ze’ev’s voice, I usually either have him speak with both a male and a female voice that intermingles at the same time (for reference, it’s just like Satan’s voice from that creepy Mark Twain clay animation movie. Look it up if you’re curious lol). Or, Ze’ev speaks as a distorted version of Saul’s voice.

Butttt, I can’t help but headcanon his voice as Will Wood when it comes to visualizing him in my head. Ze’ev sings as well (he sometimes sings to lure Saul), and whenever he sings, all I can hear is Will Wood. Ack, Will Wood!!! 🔥 And I know I’m being biased because I LOVE Will Wood (pls if you’re a Will Wood fan you gotta let me know 😭). But outside of the book, I imagine Ze’ev’s voice as Will Wood’s lolllll.

I already have a bunch of Saul and Ze’ev animatics planned, but if I do make an animatic/animation with Ze’ev, it’s going to be a Will Wood song.

[cerastes]

Today is Day 9 Of Me Playing Girls' Frontline 2.

Like any other gacha, the start is braindead because they need even the most non-sentient of creatures to be able to clear. This is nothing new, but it really stuck out like a sore thumb in this particular case because this game heavily uses the XCOM formula as its inspiration. For the uninitiated, the original 1994 X-COM: UFO Defense starts incredibly brutal and only gets harder as you advance. The 2012 reboot, XCOM: Enemy Unknown starts reasonably brutal and scales pretty harshly and always demanding you really, really are learning what your tools can do and what the game mechanics are as you basically fight an asymmetrical Civilization III game against an opponent that 1) outguns you most of the way and 2) fights you with the hatefulness one only reserves for someone that has fucked one's wife. GFL2 starts you off against enemies that require absolutely no tactical acumen whatsoever, that do not use cover, and that deal pitiful amounts of damage even if you yourself don't use cover. This lasts a little too long for comfort but again it's industry standard. Once you get to parts of the game that require sentience, it's fun to see how they've gone about the flow of combat: You're basically pitting your characters with their own special conditions, specialties and passives against many enemies that initially are simple as hell (they just move and shoot) but steadily become more complex and nuanced (enemies that target an area for bombardment at the end of their turn, enemies that can counter in specific circumstance, enemies that trap your enemies with overwatch fire, reaction intereceptions, AoE, etc). The system definitely has potential. I've yet to truly find anything actually challenging that wasn't me fighting enemies 10-20 levels higher than my units, but the fundamentals of cover and risk-reward are there even on-level; if you get shot at completely exposed, you are going to take hefty damage (unless you are rocking a Suomi shield).

The biggest departure from XCOM proper is that there is no accuracy: All attacks will always hit, unless certain abilities outright deny the damage -- like certain enemy Medics that can use the Anesthesia skill to negate one instance of damage -- and the game really favors a more aggressive style for both the player and the enemy through the Stability System: All units have a Stability counter, which decreases by certain amounts depending on the attack received. Once it's depleted, units can only benefit from the most bare and basic defensive effects of cover, which are not very good. Stability Break also may have additional special effects on certain enemies, chiefly bosses, resulting in extra damage taken, reduced attack power, changing forms, losing certain active or passive skills, etc. As a huge fan of systems like this, I Enjoy.

The game is gorgeous looking: The environments are highly detailed, the character models are incredibly well made, the guns are lovingly sculpted. I know the overarching meme is that it's got the best anime girl feet in the industry -- and it's true, they put more love into rendering and modelling these girls' feet, stockings and socks that I've seen parents put into raising their children -- but the model quality is truly overarching, they spared no effort in any obvious area, it's a really gorgeous looking game. The sound design and the music are all fine and have not wowed me in any special way, really, but visually, good lord, the game truly does go hard. Another thing the game does really well is video cutscenes, the action and choreography of actually very decently lengthy cutscenes they show pretty often go very hard, with good explosions, good gunplay, fluid and good looking motions, etc. The animation direction in GFL2 is really, really good, something I wasn't expecting given they've not really delved on this area particularly in previous games. They probably hired a really good studio for this-slash-got themselves some very talented and skilled personnel for it.

The game economy is Post-Mihoyo style: There's a set cast of Max Rarity characters, called Elites in the game's nomenclature, that inhabit a Standard Banner with absolutely fucking horrendous rates. 0.6% chance of rolling anything Max Rarity, 0.3% of an Elite Doll, 0.3% of an Elite Weapon. Besides this, there's the Limited Banners, which is every banner ever, meaning post-launch Elites are all Limited with a Limited Signature Weapon. In other words, shit sucks. The only saving grace is that the game, in thankfully true XCOM fashion, is much less about having Strong Individual Units, and much more about having a team with good synergy, and there's plenty of great non-Elites you'll have plenty of copies of. Gameplaywise, you won't get shafted by not having the Newest Woman With A Broken Kit, which is good. Signature Weapons so far from what I've seen are very nice to have but no functionality is tied to them and no character feels incomplete without their Signature Weapon or without multiples dupes, which is really good practice and a deal breaker for me if it's present. About the only stupidly broken character I can think off right this second is definitely Suomi, who supports so incredibly well that she lets you Not Play XCOM. She's seriously and hilariously busted and futureproofed.

The writing is pretty damn stiff. This is nothing new with Sunborn. The thing with Sunborn is that when it hits highs, they are VERY high, but the trip to those highs is clunky and stiff, with an overabundance of nothingburger technobabble and tacticool filler dialogue that, were this a megahit the way One Piece is, would definitely inspire a dogged group of fans to make a website that tells you exactly where to read and where to skip to avoid all the meaningless filler. Even if you like some tacticool, it's just SO much of it that serves no purpose. The characters are... Unfortunately, not super fun. Our old friend Oats, ahem, Groza (OTs-14) is there, and she's fun, but the rest of the characters have not done a good job to endear me to them: Colphne I'm pretty ok with, Nemesis and Krolik really have exhausted the fucks I can give for them by this point (I'm in Chapter 4). This is particularly painful in the case of Nemesis for me, a character whose design I really, really love and who I was looking forward to a lot. Nemesis' whole thing is that she literally cannot speak normally and has to communicate entirely in cryptic theater kid ramblings, and Krolik conversely only exists as the only person that can somehow accurately decipher what the fuck it is she's saying. This is charming for all of three cutscenes before it becomes very old and basically filler: Nemesis says "The embers of starlight long forgotten by statues lingers in the fingertips of the deaf" and Krolik replies with "Hah!? Who are you calling a coward?! I'll beat you up!" because Nemesis shittalks Krolik a lot, and that's the crux of both of their personalities. I know they are building Nemesis for something else but good lord it's torturous and stale. There's a Super Powered Child that I don't care about and she's the main plot device. Mayling is funny and endearing, and I like her. We meet characters from Ye Olde GFL 1 days and so far it's been pretty nice every time: Suomi, Lenna (UMP9), Kalina, Leva (UMP45), always a good time hanging with them. I particularly enjoy how divorced Commander and Kalina are. Oh, the Commander (your character) is an actual character, fully voiced and all, I like that a lot, and I like them. You can choose a male or female Commander, with fully 3D rendered distinct non-obscured, non-masked models and that's pretty damn cool. Still, can't help but miss the bangers that were ST AR-15, RO635, DEFY, and others from GFL1.

There's plenty of stuff to do without using Stamina, especially event stuff, but I fear that once you run out of it, you enter that weird limbo of "logging in, autoclearing the RNG drops mode, logging out". I'm not there yet but I dread reaching it. I know they just launched the game here (1 year old in CN) but, I guess I've been immensely spoiled by Arknights' several replayable game modes, this game, being XCOM in nature, would ROCK a roguelite mode or some sort of replayable game mode so much.

Overall, it's been a pretty nice time, as someone who dropped but nonetheless greatly enjoyed GFL, it's great seeing the Old Friends better than ever. My friend Suomi and my friend Tololo (CHILE MENTIONED 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱) are there for me and I'm glad to hang out with them again. I wish my friend Sabrina would also join me sooner than later :'). Color me surprised that so far, the gameplay seems both fun and has potential, but we'll see how it goes from here. Overall: Good first impression.

Say something nice about my friend Tololo

[cmyk-anaglyph-honeycomb]

Helluva Boss S2 E11

(this is mostly in order but not really. I have a lot of thoughts and its 1am) How did stella know about the 'break up' in the first place? Was she also at the party or did someone she know go? Did she hear it through the grapevine of imps she defiantly talks too? So that on the run shit was just for the trailer huh? Actually thought this was going to get interesting, my mistake. I should've known better. Luna being muzzled is decent world building on how she is just viewed as an animal. But also her character does so little outside of being blitzo's daughter or a hazard to Moxxie that she could have just been an actual dog with aggression issues. Why is Andrealphus focused on pointing the blame on Blitzo and not Stolas? The book was getting miss-used either way and Stolas was his actual aim, so why try to write him off? Also, why is he so against stolas. At this point it can't just be for Stella because it doesn't seem like he likes her. At this point I'm waiting for it to be a thing where Andrealphus arranged for Stella and Stolas's marriage to gain power from his family or something. He is putting in too much effort for it just to be out of pettiness. Who is Vassago and why is he here? Dude is a prop not a character. If Andrealphus (god I hate his name) would have just had Stolas on trial at first and the imps were just witnesses that would flow better. [sidenote: It could have been a thing where IMP would have greatly benefited from condemning stolas and Blitzo choses to tell the truth and cost to himself to help Stolas out. It would show stolas that Blitzo actually cared.] Not a fan of how the other deadly sins are just dropped on us without much fan fair. They were kinda the one thing I was looking forward too. It really felt like the musical part was crafted first and everything else was written around it. What was the point of satan singing about how he is the top boss and all that? No one was saying how they are the mastermind of hell or anything, just this one collection of bullshit. We get it big man, you're in charge. (Sidenote: I do like his design, its kinda basic for a satan character, but still good. I love his voice when speaking and singing. The song he sings is good, the point of it is not.) So there are zero stakes in this show. None. Kinda makes it hard to care about the outcome if everything has a soft ending. Stolas loses his powers, that we rarely see him use. He can't see his daughter, that we barely see him around. He loses nothing that we see him show any interest or care given too. Stella's evil smile means nothing either. She is a nothing character to make Stolas look better. At this point she shouldn't be in the show she does so little. Why was this trial about Andrealphus and not her? If stella was supposed to be this super evil and manipulative character why is she so far on the back burner for her own plan? Would have been a great time to have a woman character actually do something out of their own desire shitty or not, instead of just helping out some man but okay. Andrealphus should've just been Stolas's shit brother who wanted his power instead of wasting our time with Stella. *That's all I got in me for right now. Again its 1am after black friday and my ass works retail so I'm done thinking for now. Might come back to this later.*

[creature-wizard]

A Brief Introduction to Energy Work

Energy work as most of us know it was heavily influenced by certain beliefs that the body's health depended on a healthy flow or balance of vital force, and that said force could be manipulated through certain practices. The whole concept of qi energy and qigong were pretty big influences here. Other influences included persistent European beliefs in vitalism, the concept of animal magnetism, and a rising awareness of electricity and radiation, which to many people seemed to provide justification for many old paranormal and metaphysical beliefs.

Now of course, we now know that vitalism just isn't a thing and that flickering lights in your house have more to do with bad wiring than ghosts, but energy work itself continues to persist. (Although these days, it's often justified with terrible misunderstandings of quantum physics.)

I also feel that I'd be irresponsible not to mention that there is no evidence that energy healing can be relied upon to heal serious medical issues, and that many people offering energy healing sessions for sale are basically just scammers. If you ever find yourself in a position where you have to choose between paying for an energy healing service and paying for evidence-based medicine, put your money on evidence-based medicine.

With that out of the way, I do believe that energy work can have benefits. Like in my own experience, energy work can't cure chronic depression, but it can sometimes lift some of those heavy feelings. It might not completely cure your flu, but it can most probably help you relax, which will help your immune system work better. And I really can't argue with the efficacy of energy shielding so far as warding goes.

So with all that out of the way, how does one practice energy work?

Energy work is often practiced by visualizing energy moving and converging wherever you need it, often using your hands, fingers, or something like a wand to focus it. Let's say for example that you feel a sense of tightness or heaviness in your sternum area. You might place your fingers over it and visualize a white light clearing away the tension.

Energy work can also include drawing symbols. My go-to for banishing that sense of heaviness is to trace my finger over my sternum in a sun shape (a regular old circle with rays, much like this one 🌞), visualizing the lines in a bright sunny yellow.

It can also include breathwork. Here's one possible personal shielding technique using this: Take a deep inhale while visualizing protective energy from the earth coming up into your body and filling your core. Then exhale while imagining this energy pushing out of your body and forming a protective shield.

Also, while many energy work techniques involve using energy from positive emotions, you don't have to limit yourself to them. You can put your shitty emotions to good use. For example, if you're warding your space by tracing protective symbols on your walls, you might channel aggressive feelings into them to give them some bite.

Now of course, these aren't all the things you can do with energy work, or all the ways you can practice energy work. This is just a quick intro. But if you combine even just this basic comprehension with a broader comprehension of color correspondences and symbology, you'll find that it's pretty versatile.

Happy witchin'!

[wolfofcelestia]

One of my last reblogs got me thinking about this so here is

How all four Zaynes + Sylus would treat you for low iron

Warnings: mentions of hunting, blood, suspicious food and drink. Everything aside from Doctor Zayne's section is not rooted in reality so don't take this as medical advice. If you feel tired all the time, go ask your doctor about it and get a blood test. Trust me, you're not supposed to be tired all the time.

Doctor Zayne

By the book treatments. You'll get iron pills and recommendations for iron-rich foods. If your stomach can't handle the pills, he might recommend iron infusions, all supervised by medical personnel. On his free nights, he'd take you out to dinner or cook for you to make sure you eat iron-rich foods, even if it's only in his presence

Dawnbreaker

He'd repeatedly remind you to rely on him. Just stay in bed, he'll take care of the rest

In his world, everything you need to live is packaged in nutrient drinks or in pills, so he'd gather all these less than tasty nutrient drinks and pills but he'd also go to the outskirts of town, where the wild animals have taken over a part of a forest. They don't entirely live in harmony with the wanderers there. Some say they're no longer animals, but meat is meat, and only fresh meat will do for his beloved, especially when she's sick

He'd come home with freshly butchered meat, and the blood from the meat in large bottles, hoping she'd be able to get some benefit from drinking such a valuable and rare fluid

Foreseer

He wouldn't treat you. You don't belong in the tower. You'll only get sicker here.

"Go back to your people. Only they can help you. I have no means or the experience to cure you here."

But you won't leave. Stubborn, even in the face of an illness that makes you weaker and weaker by the day. But you've experienced this before. It's nothing new

Soon, you and Jas annoy him enough to convince him wild game is actually high in iron and, with his powers, he'd easily be able to hunt one near the tower

It would be his first meal with someone. A warm, hearty meal with the girl he's seen his other selves eat with so many times before

Master of Fate

"Close your eyes and hold my hands. Imagine my energy flowing out of my body, crossing over our hands like a bridge, and being absorbed into your body. Take as much as you need."

The Master of Fate is also a master of ancient energy magic, so something like mana or energy transfer would be easy for him if you're ill or need a boost

This won't fix the cause of your low energy of course, but this would be a start to get you on your feet

Once you have enough energy to travel down the mountain, he'd bring you to a healer, someone who works with and sells all sorts of dried herbs and Chinese medicines

Protest all you want but these bitter, smelly concoctions are going into your mouth one way or another. He'd laugh at your reaction and call you a child for making a fuss about taking your medicine, and he'd promise you a sugary treat if you take it like a good girl

Sylus

"Are you ignoring Zayne's advice again? You're really putting him through his paces, huh? I'd have my own personal doctor take a look at you but I have a feeling you'd listen to him even less. Well, if it's iron you need, then tonight we'll have steak. And we'll have steak for as many nights as you like after that. I'll have the chef work on a meal plan with you."

With your steak dinners, he'd offer you a particular red wine. It tastes a little sharper, a little richer... The way he watches so carefully when you take a drink, and the way he smiles at you when you swallow... You'd be suspicious about it, if it weren't for the fact that you did in fact feel much better after each meal

[astra-ravana]

On Types Of Spirits And The Genius Loci

Working with diverse spirits, particularly genius loci, enriches a witch's practice in profound ways. These spirits, the guardians of places, offer unique insights and power. By connecting with them, witches gain a deeper understanding of the land, its history, and the energies that flow within it. This connection enhances spellwork, divination, and healing practices, allowing for more potent and tailored magick. Moreover, forging relationships with genius loci fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the natural world, strengthening the witch's connection to the earth and its cycles.

Spirits Exist in Many Forms

Most are aware one form of spirit is that of the deceased; both human and animal. Regarding human spirits, those a witch may work with are divided into three main groups. Most common are the Beloved Dead and Mighty Dead. The Beloved Dead are those connected to the practitioner through blood and family ties. They are biological and familial ancestors, remnants of the past that live on through the witch. The Mighty Dead include spiritual ancestors, practitioners of the past, and even major figures (ie: Crowley, Merlin, John Dee, Gardner, Dukante, etc). These spirits can be approached for communication and aid. The final group is that of the Dark Dead, or shades, which are mainly approached by necromancers for baneful purposes. These spirits can carry negative energy, act violently, and pose other risks, so the utmost caution is recommended in regards to them.

The spirits of deceased animals are another type of spirit commonly worked with. They can be approached in either an archetypal form (ie: coyote is a trickster, crow/raven is a spiritual messenger, turtles are psychopomps) or as the spirit of a specific dead animal such as a deceased pet, or a dead animal found on the road, in the woods, etc. Working and communicating with animal spirits is surprisingly, as many things within witchcraft are once you learn to navigate and move the energies involved. It can be a very rewarding and worthy addition to any witch's practice.

While some higher spirits have lived human livea, the majority of spirits have never been corporeal, that is, they've never existed in a physical body or a physical plane. They are purely energetic, some existing primarily in the Otherworld, yet interacting with (and within) the physical plane, while others float about between the worlds, existing comfortably in both. These spirits are more complicated and diverse, existing in as many patterns and forms as physical creatures do. There are some that are unable to really communicate, existing more mechanically with one purpose, similar to created spirits (ie: thoughtforms, servitors, egregores, etc.) only existing naturally. Some of these are regularly encountered, though they are more of an annoyance than anything, as they are often parasitic, feeding off specific energies. However, they can be gotten rid of and kept away through warding and other methods.

There are spirits that bare a remarkable similarity to us, though they may not be humanoid in the slightest. They are fully sentient, intelligent, and have their own agendas, although some do take interest in humans, and may help or harm us based on their morality. Just as with humans, they are generally more willing to help if the interaction benefits them in some way, and some are just, well, complete assholes.

The Overlooked Spirits

But the spirits that are worked with most by witches are the ones whose status of 'spirit' is often overlooked. The most obvious is the case of deities. Gods and goddesses are approached with a high degree of sincerity and respect, as they and all spirits should be, but this doesn't change the fact that, on the spectrum of entities, they are just another type of spirit with great complexity and power behind them. It helps to consider that many deities were originally genius loci, that is, local spirits of a place that were important to the people who lived in that area. As that spirit proved helpful to people, people responded with more praise and offerings, strengthening the spirit. This made them not only more likely to help, but better able to. As time passed, this spirit would gain more power and reach as people interacted with each other, sharing the knowledge and experience of this spirit. No culture exists within a vacuum and mutual sharing across cultures was and is commonplace. Gods were shared, various gods would grow in power while others were subsumed in the worship of another god, strengthening that god further.

The spirits of plants are a very common, yet often unsung, part of witchcraft. Plants are worked with similarly to animals in that they are approached archtypally (ie: rosemary is protection, mugwort is dream work, saffron is success, etc.) or individually as in your personal flower garden or the big tree in your yard. However, plant spirits tend to be more impermanent than animal spirits. A plant can be approached, beseeched, you can take a bit for a working, but the essence of the plant's spirit will be gone once it is used. With animals the spirit can easily exist tied to its bones for years.

The elements (elementals) are another type of spirit often overlooked, although they are very prominent in modern witchcraft. They tend to be archetypal in nature, though individual elemental spirits definitely exist. They are easily approached and worked with as they are primarily neutral in nature.

The Genius Loci or Local Spirits

As previously mentioned, some spirits inhabit a certain location, sometimes tied to a natural feature such as a river, mountain, rock formation, spring, cave, forest, etc. These spirits are the genius loci, or genii locus, the spirits of a particular place. There are really no rules to what local spirits can be tied to, sometimes it's just the general area. These spirits may manifest, allowing people to witness them, however, they usually spend their time in a pure, energetic form, invisible to the naked eye, though not necessarily undetectable to a knowledgeable practitioner.

There are numerous reports within folklore from around the world of these such spirits, with the Fae, or Fair Folk, being the most commonly acknowledged, though not the only type. These spirits are unsurprisingly, very protective of where they live and can be standoffish and difficult to work with initially. They can also be hostile, especially in areas that have been damaged by humans (ie: deforestation, development, littering, vandalism, etc.) However, as a witch or a spirit-worker, it only makes sense to approach the resident spirits where we live. They are our neighbors, sharing our home with us, with mutual interest in preserving that place. Once a relationship is established that spirit could prove to be quite beneficial. Local spirits know the area in which they live better than any living creature ever could. They can help you find particular plants, stones, lost objects, or naturally occurring gateways to the Otherworld. The genius loci can truly become allies and friends.

Tips for Working with the Genius Loci

• Actually spend time outside in your local area. This will allow spirits to become comfortable with your presence.

• Eat meals outside and 'share' by leaving offerings to the spirits.

• Clean up litter and garbage to earn trust.

• Listen to them, and remember they speak through more than words.

• Always be respectful, considerate, and kind.

• Perform witchcraft outdoors.

• Learn the local folklore. Visit nearby sacred or haunted places.

There is much more than what can be said about working with the genius loci, but the best way to learn about and interact with them is to just make an attempt. They are a generally east class of spirit to honor and work with. Regardless of where you are, they are there too. Take care.

[seafoamreadings]

week of september 8th, 2024

these are written predominantly for the *rising* signs but they are also intuitively "channeled" enough that they should work for any dominant energy you have! (try your sun if you don't know rising, or more advanced readers can try moon, anywhere you have a stellium, etc and see what works best for you!)

aries: a little bit of gentle mars energy helps you do what needs to be done without overexerting yourself too much. indeed, maybe some helpful person (or spirit?) just handles matters for you and lets you rest, if that's what you need. or they clear things up enough for you that you can vigorously pursue the things *you* want to do.

taurus: truly it's not a bad week to be a taurean. some welcome support arises from people and things that you enjoy - especially if there is some budding romance. and by the end of the week the airy trine of benefics is lucky for you and may provide some good resources and an elevation of your routine.

gemini: although you may face some sort of challenge to your ego this week, try to handle it with grace. give the benefit of the doubt wherever it is possible. when it is not possible, do your best to let it go. a benefic trine between venus and jupiter, in your sign, can repay you plus interest for your endless patience and understanding this week. but it doesn't work quite as well if you blow up.

cancerians: ideally this week has you doing two things: making a stable, pleasant home base for yourself where your subconscious can really feel and be safe and happy, and secondly being out in your community engaging with local (LOCAL!) plants, animals, and people. bonus points if you are helping out somehow. more introverted cancerians may prefer to pick up some trash or care for some plants rather than the more extroverted activities that are also auspicious now like volunteering at a shelter or with children or the elderly.

leo: this may be a somewhat trying time for your sign but it shouldn't be *horribly* grueling, and it should be quite temporary. by next week you'll be in the flow a little more comfortably. for now just keep your finances in order and your ducks overall in a row to the best of your ability. treats are all well and good but overindulging is not doing you favors at this time.

virgo: mercury moves into your sign, sextiles mars, and then trines ceres (your modern/co-ruling planet.) it's an excellent week for getting things done and going after unmet needs, and even potentially beginning or rekindling a pleasant and nurturing romance.

libra: venus trine jupiter later this week is a huge lucky trine for you if you are hoping to bring in money, love, academic success, or any kind of helpful people. accept gifts and compliments with grace and poise but don't neglect to be grateful, even delighted.

scorpio: this may not appeal to all scorpionic people, but it's a fantastic time to do magic. if that's not your thing, do some psychology on yourself. a little shadow work, a little deep analysis (especially with the help of a qualified professional!), a little bit of changing your scenery to change the whole vibe.

sagittarius: toughing out some tedious or otherwise agitating tasks or circumstances at the beginning of the week will be worth it. that's because by the end of the week a trine of the two benefic planets benefits you hugely - especially in relationships and friendships.

capricorn: mercurial themes benefit you tremendously all week. think like a virgo, if you can. spreadsheets, detail-orientation, impeccable cleanliness, and so on. these things are good for your health and good for your money!

aquarius: much like your sign's fixed cousin scorpio, this is a week to be doing magic or at least spicy psychology. and for you in particular, the ceremonial, drawn out kind is likely to serve you better for now than folksy or chaotic versions. the end of the week has a lovely air-sign trine which may bring many such works to fruition.

pisces: have any talks with your partner or friends that you've been putting off sometime in the next couple of weeks. and nurture your friendships and support system carefully especially this week! it's always important to have a good social support system to fall back on in hard times. and you may have the opportunity to be that for others as well.

[noisynaia]

Santi telling you to “put your hands on the headboard and hold tight” 🙈 I feel like this could definitely apply to him having you sit on his face or for doggystyle but I can’t decide on one or the other

𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

Thank you so much for the (very hot!😮‍💨🥵) request. I had so much fun writing for Santi! 💕

summary: You and Santiago's friendship took a turn a few months back when you decided to start being friends with benefits, resulting in you now having the best sex of your life on a regular basis. The only problem with this otherwise perfect arrangement is that you have been deeply and utterly in love with him for years.

pairing: Santiago "Pope" Garcia x afab!reader

word count: 4.7k 

note: Explicit (18+). Drinking. Established friends with benefits. Vaginal fingering, cunnilingus, squirting, unprotected P in V (with use of contraception), creampie. Love confessions. Friends with benefits to lovers. No use of (y/n). Writer's first time writing for the character. This has not been beta or proofread and English is not my native language.

It’s a Friday night and you and the guys are sitting at your usual table in your usual dive bar, the stale air is thick with cigarette smoke and the loud sound of happy bar goers is roaming through the room, deafening out the sound of whatever song that’s being played from the speakers. It really is a perfect night. The beers are cold, the conversation is flowing and spirits are high.    

Frankie, Benny and Will are in the middle of an animated conversation. Benny is telling about something that had happened to him earlier in the week, it’s filled with much laughter and you try your best to look like you’re invested in the story, trying to laugh when the others are laughing and nod when it feels appropriate, it must be interesting cause Will and Frankie seem to be greatly entertained by whatever it is Benny is saying, but you just can’t focus on what’s being said - not when Santi is sitting right across from you. You can feel his hot gaze burning you, his jaw slightly clenched and his dark eyes aflame whenever you sneak a glance at him.  

The low, warm light of the bar is highlighting the handsome features of his face, the light sometimes catching his dark eyes just right, giving them a golden hue that sends a warm rush through you. His fingers tapping at the neck of his beer.   

You have always been fascinated by his hands, always felt drawn in by them. And now that they have drawn your attention you can’t help but focus on them, the way his fingers wrap around the beer bottle, fingertips leaving marks on the condensation of the cold glass. You are even more aware of them now that you know how they feel on your naked skin, how they feel as they push into you. You take a swig of your beer, suddenly feeling very, very hot even though the only thing that’s covering you is the short sleeveless dress you’re wearing, a dress that you wouldn’t normally wear for a casual night out with the guys. You would never admit it, but you had had Santi in mind earlier when you put it on before he had came to pick you up. 

Frankie had nonchalantly mentioned that Santi has been picking you up a lot lately which isn’t untrue, the comment just a simple observation but the it had made you nervous nevertheless. You don’t want the other guys to get the wrong idea - or more like the right idea actually. You and Santi are fucking, it had started a few months back. 

Santiago had driven you home after one of Will’s bbqs. You had been sitting in his car outside of your house, something in the air felt different that night, you couldn’t figure out at the time if it was just your tipsy mind that had made it up or what. You still don’t know which of you had been the first to lean in. But no matter who it was that started it you had ended up kissing

That first kiss had turned into a heated makeout session which had ended with you pulling him with you inside your hours and into your bedroom.  

You and Santi are now having sex on a regular basis and it is the best sex you’ve ever had. You had been a little scared in the beginning that it would ruin your friendship or make things awkward, but nothing of the sort has happened yet and it does really seem like the perfect arrangement, and in many ways it is, the only problem is the fact that you are deeply and utterly in love with him. The fear of you accidentally spilling this deep secured secret is always nagging in the back of your head. You are sure that he doesn’t feel the same way, why should he? He has never given any indications that he is having those types of feelings for you. 

You have promised yourself that you will ignore your feelings, even though it’s tough. You will rather have him as a friend and fuck buddy than not have him at all. So you just try to enjoy the thing you have going for as long as possible.

You are happy when Santi exclaims that he is going to leave, turning to you. 

“Are you okay with that? I’m sure you can drive with Will or Frankie if you don’t want to leave yet.” He says, knowing damn well that you are more than okay with going with him.

“No, no, I’m going with you. My house is just on the way for you, much easier.” You try to sound as casual as possible, but probably failing, the guys know exactly where your house is. 

You say your goodbyes to the guys before turning to the door to leave with Santi not able to see how the three remaining men at the table are chuckling at how obvious the two of you are.        

–

The drive back to Santi’s place is passing mostly in silence. His hand is firmly planted on your thigh, the hem of your short dress not doing much to cover you, his fingers spread wide as they gently dig into your exposed skin. His touch is making a hot shiver run through your body. He keeps sneaking glances at you every chance he gets, his lips slightly parted as he lets himself enjoy the view of your near desperate state before he again brings his eyes back on the road. You can’t help but squeeze your thighs tightly together, squirming slightly in your seat as the warm throbbing of your cunt increases.

You barely make it inside the door before Santi’s hands are on you again, his lips crashing onto yours. You sneak your arms around him, your fingers grabbing the curly locks at the back of his head.   

Your entire body is feeling like it’s aflame as Santi’s warm hands are roaming you. His hot kisses are overwhelming in the best way possible and so very addictive. You feel like your senses are on overload, the intoxicating smell of his cologne is hitting your nostrils, it’s deep, musky and delicious. Your body is feeling ultra sensitive to his touch, and you are now afraid that no one else’s touch will ever be able to compare.  

He tightens his grip on you slightly. You let out a little whine as your core gets pressed a little firmer against him, the feeling of the hard cock under his jeans is making your stomach do a flip from excited anticipation. You feel how the throbbing in your cunt intensifies as he begins to slightly grind against you, your panties already soaked with your need for him.   

“Bedroom… Please.” You gasp against his lips before gently nibbling down on his shoulder.

“Of course, hermosa.” He groans, before connecting your lips again in a desperate kiss like his tongue is on a mission to explore every corner of your mouth, his voice a little huskier than normally, clearly, he is as fired up as you are.   

You both kick off your shoes before stumbling out of the hallway, managing to make it through his bungalow without breaking the kiss until you reach his bedroom door on the other end of the house. 

He finally breaks the kiss as he pushes the door open, looking at you through heavy lids, pupils blown wide with lust and his mouth slightly agape as he gasps for air, his eyes fixating on your lips as you let your tongue glide over them. You love the way he looks at you like you are the only person in the world and you probably look the same way at him, but you can’t help it.           

You are just finding him so fucking attractive. His strong sculpted brows and sharp jaw that is adorned by his short salt and pepper beard, in stark contrast to the immense gentleness of his dark eyes. You are so captivated by him. You connect your lips again in a needy, hungry kiss, bringing your hands to the zipper of your dress, impatiently yanking it down and sliding the thin straps off your shoulders, making the garment fall from your body,  landing around your ankles and making you stand in only your panties and bra. You shiver as his warm calloused hands explore your exposed skin. His fingers sliding over your bare arms and up your spine before bringing them behind your back, ghosting over the clasp of your bra. 

“Can I?” He whispers against your lips, making you hum an ‘of course’ into his mouth. 

He unclasps it and you let the straps fall from your shoulder, making the item fall from your body. Santi breaks the kiss, stepping back a little to look at you.    

“Geez, you’re so fucking gorgeous.” He lets out as he cups one of your now exposed tits, gently squeezing at the plump flesh as he bows his head down to your collarbone, his mouth sucking down before gently gracing your skin with his teeth. He lets go of your breast with his hand to instead move his mouth from your shoulder down to your hardened nipple. You let out a weak moan as he takes it in his mouth, sucking hard while pinching your other nipple between his fingers. His actions are making you let out the most desperate sounds and you know how much it amuse him when he makes you whine and whimper.  

He detaches his mouth from your tit with a pop of his lips, locking eyes with you, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Come on, hermosa.” He says, guiding you backwards towards his beds until the back of your knees hits the side of the mattress. “Lay back for me.” He tells you, with a mixture of command and amusement.

You do as he says, laying yourself down on your back as he follows you, crawling onto the bed as he places a hand on each side of your head, hovering over you while smirking down at you. His dark brown eyes that you love so much are burning you from the intensity of his gaze. 

“Fuck, baby, you have me all riled up, teasing me all night with that short little dress. Couldn’t even concentrate on anything the guys said, not when you looked so good.” 

“I wore it for you.” You admit, your voice is low and a little shaky.  

“Really?” He grins down at you, and a mix of amusement and pure filthy lust flickers over his eyes. 

“Yeah.” You confess with a little nod, too fired up to feel ashamed by it.

“Shit… You did that on purpose, wanted me to sit there with a hard-on in front of our friends?” He hisses. 

You squirm a little at his words, a little proud that you had that effect on him. He plants his hands on your thighs, gently massaging the soft skin. 

“Want to taste you, baby.” He says, looking deep into your eyes. “Can I?” He echoes his own words from earlier. 

“Mhm.” You hum, nodding desperately at his proposals which makes him smile.   

He positions himself between your legs, burying his face between your thighs and inhaling deeply as he nuzzles his nose against your soaked panties, rubbing your clit through the delicate fabric which makes you let out a little whine.

He turns his head, his stubbles prickling against the sensitive skin of your inner thigh, sending a hot shiver through your body and a gasp escape from your parted lips. He licks the soft skin before leaving a sloppy kiss, sucking at your inner thigh before he crawls up and leaves another kiss to your lips.   

He offers you a sly smile as he pulls away from your mouth, moving back down, prompting himself up on his hands to hover over your lower body, he locks his eyes with yours as he lowers his face over your clothed pussy. He is still making intense eye contact as you feel his warm breath against your needy cunt. He slowly leans in closer until he is only a few centimeters from the waistband of your panties before he delicately takes the lace between his teeth. He starts to slowly, painfully slowly, slide the fabric down your legs. He is not breaking the eye contact for even a second. 

You can’t help but emit a series of near pitiful sounds, whining desperately by the sight of him, he is out of this world. He lets out a deep groan through his clenched teeth as he brings the panties further and further down your legs until you finally can slide your feet through them. He sits back on his calves, the panties still in his mouth smiling down at you as the lace hangs from his lips. He lets out a playful groan before spitting them out in his hand. 

“I think I’m gonna keep these.” He says with a cocky smile on his lips, slipping your underwear into the back pocket of his jeans, and fuck it’s so hot!

He leans back down as you spread your legs even wider. He buries his face between your thighs once again, this time with no barrier between you, giving him full access to your exposed pussy, glistening and dripping from your arousal and he digs in with a hunger and a neediness that makes your legs shake. He licks a broad stripe through your folds, lapping hungrily into you before taking your clit between his lips, sucking at it with an almost furious strength that has you whining from pleasure. He keeps working his magic, switching between licking into you and sucking down at your sensitive clit. 

He has you soaked. His saliva and your arousal mix into a wet mess at your entrance, which starts to drip down your thighs. He hums into your pussy, the vibration making you moan. He keeps working his tongue on you, beginning to solely focus on sucking on your clit as he brings one of his thick fingers to your entrance, making sure to coat it with your wetness before he slips it into you, slowly pumping it in and out before adding another, making tangle your own fingers in his hair, which only riles him up even more. He is now pumping his fingers at a savage pace, still operating his skillful mouth on your nub.

It is all too much, too good, your eyes are squeezed tightly shut as you whimper. The strong pleasure in your core is reaching a new high, the intense stimulation of his tongue on your clit along with his skillful fingers are making you see stars and suddenly without any warning hot liquid gushes out of you, drenching Santi’s hand and face. It’s dripping down your ass, forming a wet stain on his bedsheet, but he just keeps going. Your squirting only makes him even more devoted to your pleasure and an overwhelming orgasm is approaching you.

“Fuck, Santi!” You wail.  

He detaches his mouth from your pussy with a wet sloppy sound, wanting to see you as you come, but he keeps pumping his fingers into you as your cunt clenches around them. Your body fills with bliss as your climax washes over you in hot waves. His fingers riding you through it.  

“Fucking hell, baby. You always taste so good, I can’t get enough of you.” He smiles at you as you come down from your high. “And what a pretty little mess you made.” He almost coos as he plants a hand on the wet spot on the bed. 

“Yeah, sorry about that.” You say, as you catch your breath, but you know how much he loves when you squirt for him, so you aren’t really sorry. 

“No, no.” He says while shaking his head. “None of that, you know how hot I think it is.” He says, making you giggle a little at the predicted answer.

His face is soaked, beard glistening with your juices and you just have to kiss him. You prop yourself up on one of your elbows, stretching your other arm out for him, cupping the back of his neck to guide him down to kiss you which he happily does, making you taste yourself on his soft lips.         

“Want me to suck you off?” You ask in between kisses, but he shakes his head. 

“Nah, I just want to be inside you, hermosa. Almost came in my pants from that sweet pussy of yours.”

“Then get out of them and fuck me, Santiago.” You purr in a low voice. “And I don’t want you to hold back.”

Your  need for him is big, making you want it rough . But there is a little more to it, it’s easier when it is rough, it makes it all feel a little more distant which is something you need if you want to continue this thing you have going on with him. You can not let your true emotions show and risk ruining everything between you, not just your little arrangement, but your friendship too.      

“As you wish.” He groans, biting down on your lower lip before letting go of to get off the bed. He is pulling off his shirt, throwing it carelessly through the room without ever breaking eye contact with you, unbuckling his belt and wanking off his pants and underwear, groaning with relief as his cock finally gets free from the tight enclosure of his jeans. 

The sight of his cock sends a warm rush through your body, already feeling ready for him again. His thick shaft is throbbing and dripping with precum.   

“How do you want me?”

“On your knees” He answers. “Want to look at that perfect ass as I fuck you, hermosa”

His words make you squirm. You turn around, getting on your knees and plant the palms of your hands on the mattress to get in position. Santi lets out a low groan from the view of you, on all four, ready for him to take you. He crawls back onto the bed, placing himself behind you. 

He plants a hand on your waist, his thumb stroking back and forth over your warm skin, with his other hand, he gives your ass a teasing slap, the sound hitting your ears and makes you excited for what’s about to happen. You whine out a pleased ‘fuck…’ as you feel the soft flesh of your ass jiggle slightly.

He leans in over you, his broad chest pressing against your back as he plants a series of kisses at the top of your spine and your left shoulder blade.  

“Hands on the headboard, baby.” He whispers into your ear, taking one of your hands in his and guiding it to the headboard of his bed before biting softly down on your earlobe “Hold on tight for me, muñeca, you said I shouldn’t hold back, remember?” He grins as he sneaks an arm around your torso, cupping one of your tits, squeezing it with his broad hand. His mouth is moving down to your shoulder again, his teeth teasingly scraping over the skin.  

He is lining himself up against your entrance, teasingly rubbing his cock against you as he coats himself in your juices.

“Please, Santi, need you inside of me.” You whine out impatiently. 

“Fuck, baby, then you shall have me.” He hisses and gets ready to slide inside of you. 

You moan loudly as he slips his cock into you, filling you to the brim before slowly sliding out of you again only to slam back into you again. He begins with a slow and steady pace, every thrust deep and precise, but he is soon picking up his pace, making your toes curl and biting down on your lower lip. His rhythm soon turning downright savage.   

Santi’s hips slam loudly against your ass as he fucks you. Your knees are being pushed deeper into the soft mattress with each of his savage thrust. The feeling of Santi’s cock filling you is so amazing it has tears prickling at the corner of your eyes. You are so worked up, the angle he’s hitting you with is utter perfection. Every strong thrust hits deep and purposefully, hitting your g spot and making you whine with pleasure. Santi is groaning behind you, hissing filthy praise about how tight you are and how well you take his cock. 

“You like that, huh, baby? Like being stretched out by my cock?” Santi groans through gritted teeth, pulling almost all the way out of you before slamming right back into you. 

“Yes, Santi! Fucking, love it!” You cry out, your grip on the headboard so tight that it almost hurts. 

“Love being in you. Love being the one to make you feel good.”  He hisses.    

His hands are firmly squeezing your hips, fingers digging into your skin as he is pushing you back on him everytime he thrust into you, the sound of your skin slapping against his reverberates loudly through the room, mixing with his groans and your whines and moans as well as the loud creaking of the bed that shakes violently under you. 

The warm pool of pleasure in your lower stomach is reaching a new high, the feeling is making your head go dizzy. He is bringing you closer and closer with each of his strong thrust.You feel your second orgasm approaching. 

“Hermosa, I-I don’t think we sh-” Santi pants out. But he doesn’t get to finish his sentence as your climax rushes over you, making your cunt clamp tightly around him, squeezing his cock which was the last string that needed to be cut for his own overwhelming climax. You moan out from hot pleasure as you feel his warm release coating your walls, loving the feeling of being filled to the brim. Your clenching cunt milking every drop of his cum as he keeps thrusting into you, pushing it deep inside you.

Both of you, riding out your orgasms until you physically can’t anymore. Santi rests his forehead on your shoulder blade as he collapses, sneaking his arms tightly around before rolling over on his back and taking you with him so you lay on top of him, your back is being pressed firmly against his chest, his softening cock still inside of you. The two of you lay like this for a while, Santi nuzzling his face against the side of your neck, his soft curls tickling you and you let out a faint chuckle as you regain your composure. 

You can feel his heartbeat against your bare back and you feel so at home with his strong arms wrapped around you, like you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. It is a little scary actually.      

“What were you gonna say?” You don’t even know why you’re asking, it was probably nothing, just simple sex talk, for some reason you feel like you have to ask. You feel him stiffening a little under you as you ask and a sudden nervous rush goes through you. You don’t know what it is but the atmosphere has very suddenly seemed to change. 

Oh, no, is he going to tell you that he doesn’t want to have sex anymore? that this is going to be the last time? Maybe he is interested in someone and he wants to go back to just being friends, with no added benefits. 

You have known that this arrangement couldn’t last forever, but you had hoped that it wouldn’t end this soon, especially since you have known from the beginning that it would end up hurting you considering the fact that you are deeply and hopelessly in love with him… 

It has always been your own little secret, watching him flirt with every girl he came across while wishing that he someday would feel the same for you. You haven’t even told any of the other guys or any of your other friends about your feelings for him. It had been amazing when you had started to have sex, but it had been made clear from the beginning that it was going to be a friends with benefits relationship and nothing more, you had almost felt more relief than disappointment from this, at least you then was sure that there weren’t any feelings involved, meaning that the only person that could break your heart was yourself and that you didn’t have to lay awake at night wondering if there might be a change that he felt the same as you, because, of course, he doesn't feel the same as you, you have been in love with him for years and he has never tried to make a move on you before that fateful night in his car.       

You take a shaky breath as you wait for his answer, getting ready to act like you are completely okay with his decision about ending things.   

“I… I was.” He begins, sounding nothing like his regular confident self. “I was going to tell you that I don’t think we can continue this.” 

There it is. You feel your stomach drop, and you’re suddenly feeling sick. Nothing about the way the night had started had given you a clue about this happening now. You sit up, covering yourself with his sheets, suddenly feeling way too exposed in front of him even though he was fucking you only a short moment ago. 

“I guess I’ll leave then…” You mutter, feeling that you might begin to cry. You knew that it would be hard to hear but you had not expected it to hurt this much and you don’t want him to see just how much it is affecting you.

“No, wait, that is not… Fuck.” He says, sliding a hand over his face, clearly frustrated. “I’m sorry I’m not better at this.” He sighs, removing his hand from his face before turning so he is fully facing you. “I can’t keep doing this with you, not when I feel what I do about you.”

“What are you saying..?”  

He speaks your name softly, he doesn’t seem to be able to look you directly in the eyes, focusing on a wrinkle in the sheets between you, like the bare look of you are making him nervous, this is so unlike him. “I love you, okay? Like, I’m in love with you, I have been for a long time actually… I don’t expect you to feel the same, but I just can’t keep this going with you any longer, not when I keep wishing it was the real thing and-”  

“Wait...” You interrupt him before he can continue, your head is spinning and you can barely believe what you heard is true. “You are in love with me?”

“Yeah, I am.” He confirms, sounding almost apologetically.

You let out a chuckle, you don’t even know why, you’re just so relieved and happy and absolutely dumbfounded, having a hard time processing that this really is happening.

“I guess it is pretty laughable, huh?” He says, trying to smile but the hurt is clear in his eyes, making you stop immediately.

“No, no, Santi it’s not.” You start but you don’t even know how to express how happy you are with words so instead of trying you yank your body forward crashing your lips onto his. He lets out a surprised gasp against your mouth, but he is soon kissing you back with a sweetness and a firmness that makes your heart flutter. His arms are sliding around you, holding you close and you’re deepening the kiss, pouring all of your emotions into it, feeling tears of happiness starting to form behind your closed eyelids.     

“I love you too.” You whisper against his lips, as the two of you finally break for air.

“Really?” He whispers, cupping your cheek as he looks into your eyes, a dopey smile spreading on his face as you nod at him. 

“Yeah.” As a wide smile of your own spreads on your face.  

“Fuck.” He chuckles. “I never thought you felt the same.” 

“I have loved you for a long time.” You confess and his smile widens even more, making the dimple on his left cheek appear.  

“Have we both been this oblivious for this long?” He says, shaking his head slightly.

“I guess we have.” You giggle. 

You truly can’t believe this. He loves you… Santiago Garcia loves you! 

“I love you so much, Santi.” You grin before leaning in to connect your lips again, melting into another love-filled kiss.

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