#cause i will get stressed at the sudden boost

[dumb-coward]

.

[yellowjestertfs]

Just another ordinary day

Been busy working on a longer project (as in 40k+ words :0) but in the meantime decided to publish another older story of mine with revisions and images. AI was being especially tricky on me this time so the images are not quite what I pictured but good enough. If anyone has any tips for making better images or is interested in proofreading my longer story let me know!

I woke with a start, my mind still groggy from sleep my vision hazy. It was one of those sudden wake-ups that throws off your whole day, the kind usually prompted by some bad dream or loud noise. Only there had been no such occurrence; my sleep had been peaceful and from what I could remember dreamless, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling something had woken me. 

No matter the cause I was up, and judging by the daylight creeping through my shades there was no point falling back to sleep. With a groan, I lifted myself out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. The alarm on my bedside table informed me I had thirty extra minutes this morning to get ready for work. Never one to waste time I decided to have a quick wank with my extra time to try to release some of the stress my sudden wakeup had caused.

Something felt off as I pulled down my pants to reveal my dick, rock hard as it was most mornings. The type of feeling you get when you say a word over and over and it loses all meaning. Everything else seemed normal, my body was still just as average as when I went to bed, nice strong legs from a childhood of playing soccer and a slight beer belly from my time playing beer pong in college. My face looked the same as well, a generally generic face, adorned by light stubble which had grown in while I slept, and bags under my eyes from my draining corporate job. It was my dick that felt off, foreign, only that was ridiculous. It looked the same as it had since I finished puberty. Just over a foot long and proportionally thick, it was just as average as the rest of my body. Something about thinking of my third leg as average felt wrong but I chalked it up to the dregs of sleep. That was simply how men were, nothing strange about it.

Shanking myself out of my contemplative state I hopped into the shower and went about the act of washing away the sheen of sweat I had gained while I slept. I also took this time to rub one out, using the standard two-hand technique practiced by most men. My dick quickly rose to its full size, and within minutes, my tennis ball-sized balls were churning out cum. I thought back to an article I had read in high school that claimed the average male ejaculated a third a gallon of cum per climax, and judging by my admissions that seemed plausible. I supposed the amount coupled with the force accounted for the high rate of condom breakage, not that any but the bravest of women ever allowed for penetrative sex.

After maneuvering the shower head to force all the cum down the drain I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my waist, paying special care to ensure that my dick didn’t cause the cloth to come undone. Suddenly I felt a wave pass over me. I felt immediately nauseous and light-headed and a strange sensation of deja vu. I realized this was the feeling that had woken me up this morning, then just as suddenly as it had come over me the queasiness vanished as did my memory of the event. I was left only with a vague sense of unease. Powering through the strange sensation I wiped down the mirror and was confronted once again with a visage that felt somehow off. It wasn’t my average face nor the obscene bulge hidden behind my towel, both of those were normal. My body too looked just as average as ever, thick cut pecs, prominent square abs, and bulging 22’’ biceps were nothing to write home about, although I supposed my time playing soccer had given my legs an extra boost elevating them from the standard 30-inch thickness to a respectable 35. Luckily for me, men are incapable of storing fat otherwise I might have a belly from all those beers I drank in college I thought to myself absentmindedly patting my six-pack. Still, in a world where most men have 250 pounds of walking muscle, I have always felt sort of insecure about my scrawny 230-pound body. 

Quickly forgetting about the strange sensation I finished my morning routine, electing to keep my stubble in the hopes of cultivating a more rugged look on my average face. I exited the bathroom and opened my closet, greeted by the sight of several rows of various dress shirts, embarrassingly all labeled as men's adult small. Putting on underwear was easy enough as with all menswear my boxers had a special compartment for my hose-like junk. A dress shirt too buttoned easily over my cabbage-sized pecs as of course all men's shirts were created for just the task. I was just in the process of squeezing my legs into billowing trousers when I felt another wave pass over me. My already precarious balance caused me to fall, and I caught myself on the edge of my dresser, only it wasn’t a dresser. Why would I have a dresser, I wasn’t a woman what would I do with clothing? Righting myself against what I realized was a workout bench I glanced down just to reassure myself of my nakedness. I wondered absently where the thought of me owning clothing had come from, what a preposterous idea, that would be like a woman walking around naked. I would be fired on the spot if I showed up in such an offensive garment. Casting the ridiculous idea out of my mind I grabbed my bag and headed off to work. 

Saying hello to my hunky neighbor as I passed I finally emerged onto the street. Despite my strange morning, the world outside my apartment appeared the same as it always was, men on their way to work naked, of course, pecs and dick bouncing as they walked, bare feet smacking against the smooth temperature-controlled cement. I joined the throngs of men crowding the sidewalks and waited at a crosswalk as men showing flesh drove by, their cars of course made specifically large enough to hold their bulk. I became just another face in the crowd, just another man on his way to work, bodybuilder frame revealed to the wind. The eye easily passed over my foot-long dick, the instrument not nearly long enough to garner any attention. Be they young or old, rich or poor every man was at least 200 pounds of muscle with a shlong to match and of course, all of them were naked, it was simply how the world was, how it had always been. Depending on the subway station I swiped my metro card and made my way to the appropriate train. As the train pulled I was buffeted by yet another wave and was instantly wracked with an intense pulse of nausea which disappeared just as suddenly as it had arrived. 

Releasing I had fallen down, but not knowing why, I stood back up to my full 7’10” hight and saw all around me men doing the same. For a moment the doors to the subway car in front of me looked strange, almost too tall but that didn’t make any sense. They stood just as tall as ever, the standard 9 foot hight, enough to allow most men to enter without hitting their heads. I knew of course that there were rare men who would still have to duck to enter the train car but for the vast majority of men who averaged around 8’0’’, ten feet was more than sufficient. I entered the car and sat down, my bare butt brushing up against the perky ass of a blond man with a round face on one side and a woman in expertly pressed dress slacks and a matching navy blazer on the other. As the train took off another wave stuck. This one merely caused me to clutch my head as a splitting headache appeared and then vanished in a second. The woman next to me was hit harder by the instantly forgotten wave of reality-altering force. Thrown off balance she bounced into my left pec, her head cushioned by the squishy yet firm muscle. Recovering immediately and feeling somewhat confused as to how she ended up pressed against me she apologized and distracted herself by pulling out her phone and flipping to the camera app to ensure her makeup was not smudged. Though the camera was pointed at herself I could see my reflection, my head towering over hers even in my sitting position. 

I certainly wasn’t ugly by any standard but I also wasn’t some model. My chiseled wide jaw was just about as handsome as every other man on the train, although the perfect coating of square stubble that had grown in during the night did lend me a rugged edge. The rest of my features were pretty mundane, clear and pore-less skin, thick square eyebrows and a dimpled wide chin were the default for men, as evidenced by the golden-haired Adonis that sat next to me. Even so, I always liked my piercing bright eyes and high cheekbones even though they were hardly rare in the world.

The blond man sitting next to me with the perfect lantern jaw got up at the next stop. Mine was the one after that. 

I exited the car and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time to ensure I wasn’t late. My work building looked the same as it always did, with large doors to accommodate male employees and in the lobby a giant bronze statue of a man holding the earth, his body naked and extremely well muscled and hung of course for the sake of realism. Despite my relative scrawniness I still used a male-designated elevator, the female ones not made to handle my weight or height. The several other men in the elevator and I had only made it a few floors before we were subject to one final and seemingly extra powerful shockwave. The weight of the changes enacted easily caused all the men even with their rock-hard muscles to crumple and we collapsed onto each other. My hand somehow ended up gasping the long penis of a 40-year-old accountant with a perfectly maintained salt and pepper beard. For a moment I motioned to let go of his member before reality snapped back in and I remembered my manners. It would be incredibly rude for me to begin a morning grope and not bring him to completion. In fact,  I had already made a major faux pas by not kissing my coworker hello. This error in tact was quickly rectified as the rest of the elevator ride turned into a make-out session. By my floor the sexy accountant I was giving a handjob to reached completion and I took his load as my breakfast. As I left he spanked my ass and stuck his business card between my butt checks. Guess he liked my elevator pitch. 

I went straight to my boss's office as was customary and gave the 350-pound silver fox a quick blow job before he transferred his abnormally large penis into my ass and fucked me while we discussed business. Turns out the reality-warping machine he had invested in had been broken into this morning although as far as anyone could tell no damage had been done nor had the machine been used. 

“Makes sense I told him" In-between moans as he obliterated my prostate. “I imagine we would know if someone were to fuck with reality.” 

My boss clenched his superhumanly wide lantern jaw and straightened up to his full over eight-foot height, both football-sized biceps flexed behind his head. “You're right on that account kid, today is yet another ordinary day.

[fxirybun]

🥂 PAC: what is your FS currently doing at the moment ?

FS stands for "future spouse" , the person you're going to marry and create a life together. let's see as to what they're up to at this time !

this is a collective reading ! take what resonates and leave what doesn't. i cannot guarantee 100% accuracy. take the pac reading lightly ჱ̒ ｰ̀֊ｰ́ )

ෆ⸒⸒ pile one

your future spouse is either physically or metaphorically on a journey at the moment. they may be traveling , relocating , or experiencing a transition in their life. i feel that they're currently desiring some kind of movement and how they don't want to be stuck or stay in just one place. they may also want to explore different places that they have never visited before. i'm sensing that your future spouse received some kind of letter ? perhaps a news that allows them to pursue their dreams or to leave this stagnant situation that they're facing.

this opportunity could make a significant impact on their current path. "finally" is what i'm hearing from them. i can see that your future spouse would grab this opportunity and act upon it swiftly. it's like they've been waiting for this moment to happen. there's something about an event that can give this person a sudden boost of energy within them.

i'm getting that this message came from a faraway distance ? an example would be living in a province and you receive an invitation from a city. there may be a person who lives on a different side of a country who's also close to your future spouse who decided to message them. i'm getting multiple messages. "wanna grab something for a drink ?" "there's a party over here" "you should come over".

i sensed that at first , your future spouse seemed to be thrilled to hear this exciting message yet, i'm feeling some kind of confusion coming from them. "this is new to me , i do not know this place". there's something about the location that makes them feel uncertain whether they would want to join or not. i'm also getting as to how they're wary about the people and the surrounding environment.

perhaps the kind of people who are in this place are all so "new" to them , similar to a culture shock moment. i'm receiving a scene from my head wherein the people wear very revealing clothes and how your future spouse feels a bit out of place. "blind date" it's possible that their friend is secretly setting your future spouse up with someone , not letting your future spouse know about their hidden motives.

this person could be a female or someone who has feminine qualities within them. though the "female" is more prominent in this reading. their energy leans more on the sensual side , very passionate and alluring. this person may have soft and delicate features. even so , your future spouse feels skeptical about this female figure once they meet them in person. they feel that this woman is hiding something from them or that they do not know this person at all.

after a while , your future spouse may want to know the truth from their friend as to why they're being set up with someone. they just want to have some fun and peace in their lives and not get caught up or involved with someone in a romantic setting lmao. “i thought this was supposed to be a party ? not a blind date" is what i'm getting from their energy. eventually , your future spouse would brush it off and enjoy the event throughout the night.

ෆ⸒⸒ pile two

your future spouse is currently dealing with heavy burdens in their life at the moment. there seems to be a challenging situation in their partake and how they have the urge to weigh down their responsibilities. i sensed that they were worrying about what the others may say about them ? 'cause i'm getting the word "discussion" + the show "gossip girl" and how prominent it was in this reading. perhaps your future spouse is in a stressful conversation and how it makes them feel anxious.

oohh i'm getting something about "leaked information" ? this is some high school-level drama 😭 it's like someone found out some info about your future spouse and they decided to spread it publicly , possibly being blackmailed or some sort. because of it everyone who is in the same environment as your future spouse is chattering about the so-called rumor.

gurl wait a min-- it's definitely a false rumor because whatever this information was is so far-fetched as to what that leaker may thought of. surprisingly enough it seems that your future spouse was waiting for their medical / lab results ? something that's related to health and how they've been focusing on their well-being these days yet it was misinterpreted as something else to which i cannot seem to point it out.

"one night stand". it's like they thought that your future spouse got into contact with some kind of transmittable disease that is related to sexual acts but it's not 💀 either way , i can see how they're trying their best to ignore those rumors and decided to focus on dealing with their confidential paperwork matters. i'm getting heavy themes of long-term stability , spiritual , emotional , and physical healing.

i feel that they're also grounding themselves amidst the chaos that they're currently facing. "let me do my own thing" , yeah they don't really give a damn about what others may think about your future spouse because they know themselves better than anyone else. i sensed that they're seeking balance in their life at the moment. i remembered earlier how your future spouse is dealing with too much work which lead them to feel fatigued or tired.

they may want to resolve their burdens quitely and in a rational way, a lot of reflecting for this one. all they could ever wish for at the moment is to have me-time and be in tune with themselves , being in a state of tranquility. hoping that the rumor dies down soon and everything went back to normal.

ෆ⸒⸒ pile three

i feel that there's a new female presence in your future spouse's life and how she's planning to take a visit. i'm also seeing them exchanging messages , emails , or texts with one another , discussing their plans for the future. it's similar to how someone is asking you as to what you're going to do after graduation. whoever this woman is , she seems to have something in her mind that she wants to talk about to your future spouse.

there's a swift movement of news that's coming on their way. it's possible that your future spouse may receive important information or messages from this female and how it is something to look forward to. perhaps there's a given opportunity or a project that was being offered to your future spouse that they may want to pursue.

i'm also sensing how this woman is trying to comfort your future spouse and how there's no romantic connection going on between the two of them. whatever this news may be it seems to be a negative one because i feel that your future spouse is experiencing some kind of worriness upon hearing it. they seem to be also stress , it's like they have lost something dear or important to them.

i'm leaning more so on their career side , it's possible that they may have been declined or rejected by a company or job that they wished to work with. for some of you , your future spouse could also be rejected by a university they hoped to attend yet their college application didn't meet what the university is looking for in a student.

"what am i supposed to do ?" there are a lot of what-ifs that are stirring your future spouse's mind at the moment. it was a once in a lifetime moment for them and when they heard about this saddened news they felt disheartened. thinking about it is gradually eroding their peace of mind and how it causes them to feel unease. they seem to want a change in their dynamic in life.

nevertheless , despite these worries that are consuming them , there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel. for as long as they remain an optimistic outlook , your future spouse will experience positive moments that are entering their life that may bring them short-term relief or satisfaction. it's possible that in the near-yet-distant future , they'll encounter an unexpected luck that aligns with their plans.

[deadbaguette]

Some Athena thoughts and headcanons for the ‘Diomedes goes to Ithaca AU’

Headcanon that Athena moves around completely quietly (like how owls hunt). So, Telemachus meeting Athena for the first time he gets the shit scared out of him. Diomedes by now knows the tells of Athena being here (and he has the magic eyes) so he’s the one basically warning Telemachus if Athena is in proximity

Telemachus: are you even listening???

Diomedes staring intently at the dodgy looking owl (Athena) in the tree: …yeah

Athena is very much still cool aunt. But I wanna characterise her as a little more mischievous (which could be interpreted as cunning ig) than she probably is in the original mythos. She keeps a close eye on both Telemachus and Diomedes. Most specifically Telemachus! While she cannot reveal to him that Odysseus is alive directly (she cannot incur the wrath of her uncle just yet), she does help him in starting his little Telemachy. It helps boosts his confidence and helps reassure him that maybe his father is alive. HOWEVER, the sudden disappearance of Telemachus causes the stress meters of Diomedes and Penelope to exponentially rise. And Athena finds this a little funny, so she still withholds the information from them.

Telemachus: Athena… sometimes I wonder if father is dead :(

Athena in disguise clenching her fists to try not reveal anything: … he’s too stubborn to die, have a little more faith in him

Athena:

Athena: Hey, I have a great idea if you’re worried about your dad

-

Penelope stressed out of her mind: WHERE IS HE???

Diomedes equally stressed: I DON’T FUCKING KNOW?.?.????

Athena: *eating popcorn knowing she’ll make sure Telemachus is safe*

Athena is keeping this family very blessed. She is the patron goddess of both Odysseus and Diomedes, and I like to imagine maybe in a more subtle way to Penelope too (I mean… she’s smart, beautiful, AND she can weave???). She’s much closer to Telemachus in this AU than in the original Odyssey, but not like in the way of EPIC?? She keeps her distance from him nonetheless bcs she’s a god and whatnot, but him being close with Diomedes, I imagine Athena has more of an excuse to be around Telemachus growing up.

Telemachus: so.. you knew my father and Diomedes growing up?

Athena trying to act nonchalant, but she’s so proud of them both: you could say that

[samethstarrart]

My "Silver the Whenhog" design has been circulating, so I made a little ref sheet for anyone who wants to draw him. Also got some bonus lore below!

Silver's transformation is unrelated to the circumstances behind Sonic's Werehog form, so there are quite a few differences.

Silver won't explain the details to anyone, but it seems to have been caused by a time travel accident. Fixing it is his top priority and he's gradually getting more distressed about it over time.

While Silver does grow slightly, most of his additional size is fluff. His hands and feet get much larger and his tail grows longer and fluffier like a fox's. He still has quills, but they are covered in a soft, downy fuzz. This shift in proportions makes his movements more clumsy.

Silver's transformations are not affected by daylight cycles, but are instead impacted by the position of the moon. He transforms approximately every 6 hours and has some control over when it happens and can delay it for up to a couple of hours. He has a pretty good sense of when his next shift is coming and will plan around it.

Silver's emotions grow more extreme. When he's happy, it's the best day of his life, when he's sad he's completely devastated. He's more argumentative and can be impulsive, territorial, possessive, and jealous.

His powers are greatly boosted, but his focus is poor. With his PK he can handle large objects with ease, but he can't concentrate on moving multiple objects at once. He also will drop anything that moves, like people, robots... or himself.

He doesn't have complete control over his time travel ability in his Whenhog form and sudden changes in emotion will cause him to shift back to the beginning of his current 6 hour cycle. It seems more common when he's hurt, scared, or surprised. This can trap him in time loops during stressful situations.

[fhrlclln]

Could you write Miguel hates everyone but you please.

miguel o’hara x spider!gn! reader

ANONNN YESSS, the thought made my toes curl how he’d automatically go soft on you at any moment LOLLL, like his annoyance would fizzle out just one word or glance from you (basically i want him obsessed with me 🤪).

｡･:*˚:✧｡

if you knew better, you know well not to get on miguel’s nerves.

he’s a busy man, stressed and fighting his way through his mission of keeping the multiverse in-tact. lyla once said that he wasn’t all like this before, just that everything had weighed on him the moment he discovered what keeps every spider-person’s dimension stable, learning from his own personal mistake. basically, you think the spider-society’s leader is kind of… unstable? kinda, if mentally but overall, you think he just hates everyone.

it was common to see him snapping at people, mostly the ones who get on his nerves frequently. but most of the time, he’s strict and scarily assertive when it comes to normal matters that need his guidance. everyone in the spider-society don’t really care if they pissed their leader off in some way but they were aware not to push his buttons. they just kinda wished he was more fun since they deemed him as the only spiderman who isn’t ��funny.’ hell, everyone wanted to see if he’d throw that attitude away for once.

but maybe he did.

it was subtle, subtle you couldn’t even make it out.

“a new suit you’re building?” miguel’s shoulder’s tensed at the sudden boom of your voice, yet instantly he relaxes as you hop of the ceiling to stand by his side while he works on his own suit. “hope i’m not intruding.” you quickly follow up, realizing your mistake of not knocking or something.

“in the progress, yes.” miguel says, without much sarcasm or annoyance. you relax as well as miguel continued on working, not minding you were here it seems. he was quiet as you knew, you knew from observation that he liked working alone most of the time.

“that’s cool! how far are you enhancing from this suit?” you asked, utterly excited now as you gesture to his original suit. miguel seems amused, as you expected him to shut you off or ask why you were here but he merely chuckles, liking your curiosity.

“way far, trying to improve it’s durability and other things here and there, sensors, these web wings...” he gestures to the material underneath the armpits of the suit. a fine light byte material as you noticed. “and more.” he looks down to the other parts of the suit, proud.

you hummed, taking the to admire his craftsmanship. it certainly was a big change to his suit now as you can see, the color theme was changed as well, incorporating white in it but still had that usual tone. your eyes wandered, taking every little detail until one had your eyes widening.

“are those… boot jets?” you bend down to take a better look, as the suit was situated by wires, hanging a top.

“yes. for boosting flight speed mainly.” he says, grabbing one of the soles as he shows it to you. your eyes sparkled as you touched it, amazed how a booster could fit that small.

“amazing, miguel! wished my suit was capable of that.” you smiled as miguel shrugs at it, though a small smile is graced on his lips from your compliment. “what else are you innovating?”

miguel gestures to the wrist of the suit’s gloves as he picks something off the table from the side to show it to you. it was small arachnid shaped objects he presented as he demonstrates it by flinging it off way up as he shoots it with his laser webs causing a small explosion to occur, making you jump.

“explosives—“

miguel lets you take one of small explosives from his hand with astonishment as he softly explains along what they are. “prototype explosives. yeah, they’re something i’ve been—“

“what are we talking about today?! i just heard an explosion, i thought we were keeping it baby-proof here, miguel!” peter’s cheery voice suddenly took over as miguel let out a tiny exasperated sigh at the sudden intrusion. you waved in greeting as the father-daughter duo made their way towards the two of you. mayday happily napping in peter’s baby sling.

“there is no such thing of baby-proofing a lab, peter.” he grunts, resuming his antics as peter cooly dismisses his unwelcoming attitude. his face remains passive yet his tone was off, you noticed. “what do you want?”

“important matters. sorry for intruding whatever you two are doing, was it serious?” peter takes a knowing glance at you as you chuckled.

miguel rolls his eyes. “it was not—“

“it’s no big deal, peter. was just stopping by for miguel.” you smiled at him, looking back at miguel as you sensed some serious matter was going to be discussed as you excused yourself now. “i’ll be heading back now. miguel, if you have the time i’d love to hear more of the suit.”

miguel nods gently, the sudden look of annoyance dying down from his face a bit as you waved goodbye to peter, not forgetting to whispering a bye-bye to mayday as well. the two men stood in silence as peter seemed to catch something on as miguel went back to his desk, resuming his work.

“so, you really don’t hate everyone, huh?” peter starts, amused. very amused at the sudden subtle change. amused as well that he just won the bet that their leader didn’t hate everyone in fact.

“what does that have to mean?” miguel raises a brow at the assumption.

“oh, i don’t know… but, well for one, you aren’t that snappy at them than to me and maybe so on…” peter says mischievously, looking back to where you exited, chuckling as he smirks as miguel catches on with that implication and the tease. the tip of his ears heating up that as he turns his back at him.

“stop assuming things, parker.” he says defensively, peter raises his hands in defense as well, yet still not letting it go for a moment before they finally talk about the more serious matters. though, his mind yet ponders at what truth was said. it wasn’t that true that he hates everyone… everyone just annoys him but, yeah…

maybe he does like you, it seems.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

i want him fr

[letmeoutofthebasementt]

Felix Jealousy

SKZ Jealousy series pt. 6: (when they're in a serious relationship do they get jealous at all? What makes them jealous if they get jealous? How do they act in a relationship? What's their response/behavior when jealous? How do they handle it?)

Felix doesn’t get jealous he gets helpless. Like, if he sees his partner getting hit on or flirting with someone else it doesn’t invoke jealousy, it just makes him doubt his ability to be enough for them in the relationship, or even doubt their commitment to him. It just makes him lose focus on a lot of things and feel very exhausted. It’s very draining to him. And yeah his self esteem plummets a lot, though it’s probably already low. I see him as being very insecure and self critical already so that would kinda be the icing on the cake in that aspect.

I honestly think he avoids confronting it because he knows it’ll stress him out. Like he kind of just removes himself from the situation and reflects on it later to see if he was just blowing the situation out of proportion. He’s need some serious R&R after. Because it’s a hit to his pride, his self esteem, and his self worth.

He feels like he’s being taken for granted. It’s like “Why is this person entertaining others when they have me?” Type thing. But he doesn’t want to risk anything so he shuts up.

I think it’s the Libra Mercury/Venus talking. As someone who has his Venus, Mercury, and Mars I can relate to most of this in terms of mood. It probably makes him simultaneously mad and depressed. Probably cries a lot. Especially with that potential Aries moon his emotions go absolutely haywire. He probably plans out this major confrontation but never does it because he doesn’t want to rock the boat. He would with anyone else, but never his partner.

He also may feel like his partner is getting bored of him.

He’ll honestly just be suffering. Another one who could get cheated on and blame himself for it. He feels like he’s a disappointment to his partner and that’s why they’re entertaining another people. He puts himself down a lot, and again just fears that he may risk losing them if he speaks up. A lot of pain and grief here. He’d also probably experience a lot of self-pity.

Generally he may enter like a depression? Or maybe even is already depressed because like I’ve never met someone with his lineup who isn’t at least mildly so. But I dunno I’m not diagnosing shit.

Once he gets over it though…Welp.

He goes into the point of reflection. And if he realizes that…Either A, what they did is wildly disrespectful to me, B, that was basically cheating in my face, or C, this is crossing a lot of boundaries, he finally addresses it head on.

And…Well, it’s loud.

It may not start as an argument but it always ends as an argument. Because it’s blunt. It’s personal. And it’s probably right. It drives too close to home and he reads you for absolute filth, and most people can’t really handle that. So then it turns into an argument, and/or he needs to feel heard or he flies off the handle.

And he can argue. He can argue for hours, even, until the other person finally walks away from the situation or “sees reason”.

When his confidence is regained it’s boosted. Because he realizes that he’s worth more than this BS.

I also think he 100% tells everyone close to him about it. And then if it was because of actual cheating he just tells everyone about it period. Close or not, he won’t shut up about it. Because he’s very public with these matters.

He’s definitely an unconditional love type. Until you make him doubt if it should be unconditional or even love. He sees through rose colored glasses mostly, but if there’s too much eventually he snaps out of it and realizes…This is some bullshit. Everything starts adding up and the puzzle pieces start connecting. All of a sudden he’s seeing the situation for what it is.

And he drops you quick.

Cause if there’s one thing about him he’s not about to linger in an unfulfilling situation. He’s leaving, and he’s probably moving on within 10-12 business days. Not because he never loved or cared about you, but because…He moves on fast. He emotionally checks out of situations quickly. He sees past relationships fondly as something he grew from, but not fond enough that there’s this massive period of mourning it. He may vaguely miss the person occasionally, but in general he’ll be fine.

Probably the type who braces himself for these things anyways. Not in a holding back weighing on his heart way, but just in a…He knows relationships don’t always last. So while he’s in them he makes the most of every moment so he’ll never regret it once it’s gone. And it’s effective for him.

In general he’s more hurt by friendship breakups than relationship ones.

So yeah, definitely turns to his friends and probably moves onto the next fairly quickly.

If he realizes he’s right he’ll also trust himself more. And if he realizes he was wrong he’ll trust in his self worth more. Either way he’s growing from the experience.

If his partner truly hadn’t been doing anything wrong he’ll work hard to fix it, and overcome any obstacles. He’s very determined like that. And even if his partner did something wrong that could be forgiven he’d enter that state.

In general, he’s constantly growing and evolving.

Definitely a lot of inner conflict throughout all of this though. A lot of personality clashes within him. He had two very polarizing sides, which I can again relate to. They’re very different. Because inherently, he’s bold and fiery and ambitious. His rage builds rapidly but doesn’t go away so quickly. His Leo Mars is fixed. And honestly really underrated for grudge holding capability. And if he has an Aries Moon this increases things tenfold. And sure these things may be regulated by his Virgo sun, but they generally clash with his more Libran aspects.

But yeah, generally in the moment he loses faith in himself. He suppresses his feelings and blocks them off. He gets really frustrated through, and probably easy to set off because it’s simmering unresolved and bottled up, not like it’s meant to be. And there’s so, so much rage there. Like I’m talking one minor inconvenience and he’s losing his shit.

Mayhaps possibly be into like

“Jealous” intercourse

Trying to make this as clinical as possible to make this PG-13

In general gets very independent in this time. Probably shuts himself off a lot from his partner and will prefer the company of friends until things have calmed down and cooled off. Because he doesn’t want to ruin things with his potential anger.

Again, a very transformative experience.

And it also bruises his pride a lot. He’s a prideful person whether he has high self esteem or not.

Probably has a weird mix of a superiority and inferiority complex.

But yeah, definitely would use this to fuel other endeavors. He also may have a big breakthrough about the relationship as a whole during these times. In general, he’s very good at cutting to the heart of matters. And once his mind clears…

Well we’ve been over this.

[contentloadingandstuff]

Could you do more parent headcanons but with miko and ningguang

Parent Headcanons - Ningguang & Yae Miko

Genre: Fluff

Characters: Ningguang & Yae Miko

A/N: Reader is a long-lived yokai in Miko's part. Miko has a lot from a fox in her. Mentions of sex.

A/N: Thank you for the ask, anon. I hope everyone likes it! :3

Ningguang

She's always had an eye for priceless treasure. And you were possibly the best find in her life.

If Ningguang has a dream, she will pursue it. Whether it be building a new Jade Chamber, expanding Liyue Harbor or having a family, you will be there to help her, no?

Her child's gender is of no importance to her, but she does understand the challenges they would face depending on it. A son would be most likely crushed under societal expectations brought upon by his mother's status, and a daughter would be facing a tsunami of suitors, desperate to marry themselves into the goldmine that is your family. Whatever the challenges will be, Ningguang will always support her little ones.

She will likely want a single child. Not only will they have her full attention, but their upbringing will be easier to reconcile with her work.

The Tianquan will be another one to take her time with having a child. There is no need to hurry, and she wants to have everything in place beforehand. This is not a matter to take lightly.

She will certainly flaunt the ring you gave her. She could be in a meeting with some rich businessman, whose attempts at flirting are as subtle as Inazuma's fireworks, and all of a sudden she lifts her left hand to twirl her hair, showing off her occupied ring finger to the guy. Their reactions are always priceless.

The ring was enough to cause quite a sensation amongst the entire population of Liyue. Imagine what her growing belly would have done, especially that your wedding was held high in the sky, away from the public eye.

She would cut away at her work hours significantly. Important meeting past the ten hour mark? It can wait, independent of how whiny the other party is.

Ningguang had a rough childhood to say the least. She had to mature quickly, facing with the threat of poverty every waking second. Sure, it shaped her into the person she is now, but it's not what she would wish for anyone, especially her child.

Good thing she has a lot of spare money to use.

Unlike her back in the early days, they will be wearing the finest silk and eat the finest, healthiest meals money could buy.

All of this spoiling won't mean they will be free to idle around the Jade Chamber however.

Not having the privilege of education in her childhood, and having to teach herself with books bought with Mora earned through blood, sweat and tears made her value it much more than the average person, so it's only natural that she will put much weight on it. Her child will not only learn disembodied theoretical knowledge, not at all in fact. They will have to attend meetings and take lectures from her once they become old enough to get practical experience.

She won't force her heirs to assume the same role as her. All the luxury and prestige aside, it's hard and ungrateful work most of the time. You are faced with a lot of criticism on a daily basis, and not everyone has the guts to bear it. If her child doesn't feel adequate for the spot of a Qixing, she's fine with that.

Her expectations will be high, so your child will be under a lot of stress. You get that she wants only the best for them, but remind her to relax once in a while.

Bold of you to think anyone would dare to pick on her little one. She wouldn't even have to move a finger - as soon as the parents of the perpetrator get the memo, they will come crawling to her on their own, begging for forgiveness. And she will revel in their horror.

Mother Ningguang? 8/10. She is loving, but often too demanding.

Yae Miko

Most of her yokai friends are dead by this point, so finding one she actually loves, especially a fellow kitsune, will be a huge emotional boost for her.

Despite her teasing attitude and somewhat care-free nature, she is quite lonely and most likely struggling with depression. Being surrounded by people who can't really understand you, having only memories left of the people who could and being abandoned by her best friend for several centuries certainly affected Miko, regardless of her power level or status.

As such, the opportunity of having children is not one she is willing to sleep on.

Even if that means having 4 to 6 of them. It will require a huge amount of time and effort from the both of you, but it will all be worth it in the end for her.

Miko doesn't really have a say in how many children she wants to have - her biology doesn't really care about her opinion. She has no preference in their gender as well. Having 5 children of the same sex would be really unlikely. Even if that's the case, she would be more happy than not to get so lucky.

When your relationship will reach the point of you both being ready and willing to build a home for yourselves, she won't wait. Why would she? She is the Guuji, for Celestia's sake. It's as if anyone was bold enough to speak out against her, anyway.

She will, however, wait with the whole 'making of' for when her (and yours too, if you're a kitsune) heat comes in. Since she already got it back after centuries of repressing it on the account of lacking a partner, why not use it for all it's worth? Good luck getting out of your shared house for a month straight - Miko will make sure there is no way she won't be expecting children after that.

Miko will assign an acting Guuji for a whole year, most likely. A storm is coming, and it will surely use up all of her energy. Also, she doesn't care about her job enough to waste her time when a moment of this magnitude is just around the corner.

Honestly, seeing Yae Miko with her children would be the best thing ever.

The little ones will rely on their instincts to function at first - one of them being to snuggle with their mother at any opportunity given.

You'll just find a sleeping pile of kitsune in various spots around your house. When you join them, Miko will whisper in a sleepy tone about how it's the best place to be in. It's what gives her the strength to keep going.

When the kids get their walking privileges, they will be an absolute menace. They'll hang around the house, play fighting, staring out the windows at any birds flying by or just running around, destroying anything they come across in the process. Damage control will be hard with 5 little marauders to keep track of.

It will also be an opportunity to see Miko drop all of her acts. She will just be herself. No smug comments, no teasing, no sneaky plots to make you flustered. Just genuinely smiling, laughing and doing silly things.

When they grow up, Miko will join them in being a headache for you. Her mischievousness will grow exponentially, leading to a lot of small, but annoying consequences to deal with. She will never let it go too far, though. She values your patience greatly.

Pictures, pictures, pictures. Everywhere around the house. Pictures of her and her children sleeping, eating, playing, going on walks or at the beach will occupy every piece of wall you have in your house. She will never get tired of her litter. And her husband, of course.

Ei will be happy for Miko, very happy indeed. She saw Makoto interact with mortal children, and wishes to try it herself. But do not, for any reason whatsoever, leave her alone with the pink-eared creatures. She has zero babysitting skills to speak of, and her 'attempts' will most likely leave your house a smoking ruin. One child would be a lot for her to handle, but FIVE? Absolute nightmare for her.

Miko will not force her offspring into any positions or jobs. Life is meant to be fun, isn't it? She'll let them pursue whatever makes them happy, unless it involves the Shrine in any capacity.

Bullies? No. Just no.

Miko is the absolute best parent of Inazuma, and maybe even the whole Teyvat. 10/10.

Thanks for reading!

[pommpuriinn]

꧁༒☬𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪 𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓴𝓲𝓵𝓵☬༒꧂

SYNOPSIS ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚ 𝐼𝓃 𝒶 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓈𝑜 𝓆𝓊𝒾𝑒𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓅𝑒𝒶𝒸𝑒𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝒾𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒶 𝓃𝑒𝓌 𝑔𝒾𝓇𝓁 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓈𝓊𝒹𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 𝓀𝑒𝑒𝓅𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒’𝓈 𝒹𝑜𝑜𝓇𝓈.

STORY INCLUDES ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚ horror aspects, character deaths, unhealthy relationships, smut

AUTHOR’S NOTE ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚this is my first actual story so be gentle on me. I really wanted to create a horror story of txt falling sickly in love with a siren like girl, hope you find it interesting

PAIRING ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚ txtOT5 x oc

PROLOGUE

Mu Woods isn’t an innocent town nor is it a place full of crime either. It’s just a boring town with minimal history, people, and crime. The only special thing about the place is the teenagers’ drive to party on the weekends and causes a little noise to the town. They give color to Mu Woods which is usually grey. But recently the colors starts to bleed with the sudden shift in the air.

10:30pm, Saturday

It was a chilly night but that didn’t stop the loud booming bass coming from a two story house near the woods that surrounded Mu, which clearly got it’s name from. The poor house was packed with teenagers from all different grades even some who haven’t even entered the high school yet. It’s the middle of the school year everyone wanted the stress to sweat off their bodies from dancing, to drinking, and finally from lust.

That’s exactly what’s happening to Lee Jisu; the loving, innocent, girl next door Lee Jisu. Warm and sweet on the outside dirty and slutty on the inside. “Y-Yes! Don’t-mffp stop!” Jisu moaned, as a random senior was thrusting right into her swollen lips. “You’re one fucking dirty bitch.” The senior tighten his grip on Jisu’s makeshift ponytail. Doggystyle was Jisu’s favorite position since you didn’t have to see the person which means you can’t feel that bad about cheating. “I’ll make sure that piece of shit boyfriend knows exactly how much of slut you are after I cum into that pretty cunt.” He reached under Jisu and gave her pussy a good slap, earning a sweet moan. “Cum i-in me.” Jisu cried, as she lost balance with the rough thrusts burying her head into the pillow. Hearing Jisu moans boosted the senior’s ego even more. He pushed himself down onto her back and finishing himself deep inside her womp painting it with his cum. “Atta girl.” He groaned, pushing whatever he had left into her.

The two didn’t spend that much time together on the bed it was a ‘no strings attached’ type of thing for the two, plus miss sweet heart had a boyfriend downstairs starting to get curious of her disappearance. “Why are you with the kid anyway?” The senior questioned Jisu, as he watched her get dressed again. “Because he makes me look good.” Not giving good enough answer, but it didn’t bothered him. “To each their own I guess.” He shrugged, getting up from the messed up bed and making his way to the bedroom door before stopping. “Just call me whenever you want a real man to please you baby.” He winked and gave Jisu a spank on her ass before heading out first.

Jisu stopped by her boyfriend who was still talking and drinking with his little group. “Yeonjun~” she controlled her voice into a higher lighter tone one that really keeps the illusion going. “Darling!” He welcomed her with open arms and a bright smile. “I started getting worried for a second.” He wrapped his left arm around her shoulder holding her tight. Almost afraid of her leaving him again. “Sorry I was just not feeling well so I went into the bathroom and Hana came in with me. She was helping me, but then she started gossiping with me.” Just strings of lies were coming out of her mouth. Yeonjun just took it even though in the back of his head there was a bit of doubt.

Even though Jisu didn’t see it nor poor little Yeonjun there was someone lingering in the shadows that has seen Jisu’s two face ways, and wanted to help Yeonjun to set him free from his doubts. So let’s get the dead weight off his shoulders.

As the night continues and it was already the wee hours of the morning the party didn’t look like it was going to end anytime soon, so Jisu decided to get some drinks for her and Yeonjun to keep it going. Jisu went into the kitchen where all the parents’ liquor was at, “are you fucking kidding me.” Jisu whined at the sight of empty bottles all over the expensive marble counter top. Just as she was going to quickly give up she felt her phone vibrated, it was a message.

dad!: there’s some more outside in the back

Jisu: I told u to stop texting me!

If you couldn’t figure it out miss girl next door is a pretty good liar and knows how to hide secrets with code names that people wouldn’t really question.

dad!: don’t you miss me? come on jisu leave the son of bitch for a second and come with me let’s have some real fun huh?

Jisu was getting bored by the second hearing Yeonjun and his friends told about shit that didn’t interest her.

Jisu: fine. but it’s that last time ok!

dad!: don’t worry it will be the last time I promise. meet me by the lake so no one sees us

Luckily Minyeon another person in Jisu’s clique showed up in perfect timing. “Minyeon! Just the person I wanted to see.” Jisu gave Minyeon a fake smile. “Oh, Jisu-ah there you are I was wondering where you were. You’re always hiding somewhere huh?” Minyeon was clueless and was genuinely dumb to Jisu which always worked in her favor. Someone who’s beautiful and has a similar taste like Jisu, but had nothing going on inside that pretty little head of hers. Jisu giggled, “no, but what I will do is get us some drinks. I’ll be back ok.” Minyeon didn’t ask no further questions just smiled and nodded like the empty obedient girl she is.

There wasn’t much people outside since was already getting even colder than before, plus all the action was inside. The path leading to the lake was also the infamous path into the woods. Jisu didn’t know if it was the coldness of the full moon night or the eerie feeling she was starting to get that was led her goosebumps up her arms. She pushed the feeling aside as she spotted the lake that was reflecting the moonlight. “Alright I’m here.” She called out. Jisu scanned the lake and around the trees trying to see if she saw anyone. “Chanwoo! Where are you?” Jisu was getting irritated. “I don’t have all nig-”

Her phone vibrated.

dad!: come deeper I have the perfect spot love

Jisu gave one finally look at the distant house that still had her boyfriend there waiting for her. She bit her lip having a mental battle of going or not, but ultimately making her decision to meet up with Chanwoo. Again the feeling was there but Jisu was already way too into it to back out, plus to be fair she hasn’t seen Chanwoo in a couple of weeks since last time he fingered her in the movie theaters after her dinner date with Yeonjun.

“Ok I’m here.” Jisu sighed, yet no Chanwoo in sight. “Stop fucking with me Chanwoo.” Jisu furrowed her brows. A little chuckled was heard causing Jisu whipped her head around. “It’s not funny anymore!” Jisu chest started rising more frantically. The little snaps from the branches breaking caught Jisu’s eye before finally seeing a shadow. “Stop fucking around and come out!” Jisu yelled at the person. What scared her the most is that the person stopped and turned to face her. Jisu’s eyes widen at the sight of the person wearing a bunny mask that was cover with black fur and nothing else. No eyes, no mouth, no expression.

“You’re a freak.” Jisu spat out venom. “You’re mad I’m not bending you over and fucking you like a bitch.” The distorted voice spoke to Jisu. Jisu payed close attention to all the details of the person like how they wore a silky white dress with arm warmers. “You’re probably just another whore Chanwoo fucks huh? Sorry.” Jisu spoke in a fake apologetic tone. The person stepped closer to Jisu causing Jisu to start panicking, but tried not to show it. “Actually, you can keep him well…at least a part of him.” Jisu confusion was instantly replaced with horror at the sight of Chanwoo’s decapitated head that the person was just holding it by his hair. Jisu was about to let out a scream of panic, but the mysterious killer dropped the head and quickly pushed Jisu against there body covering her mouth. “Shouldn’t have been going around opening your legs and actually appreciated your soon to be ex boyfriend, but don’t worry he’ll be in safe hands.” A evil giggled was let out, causing Jisu to still try to scream but was muffled by the hand.

“Here I’ll give you something to actually scream about.” A small knife was pulled from the garter that was hiding under the silky dress. They struck Jisu’s left side of her stomach quickly pulling it out and throwing her on the dirt floor. “Let’s play a game ok? You try to run as fast as you can, and I’ll try to catch you.” They kept on taunting Jisu.

Jisu still have some fight in her and actually got up while pressing down on her wound trying to run, but the pain was soon getting to her. “Come on Jisu. You got this.” She whispered to herself. Unfortunately, she only made it to the lake the house was barely in sight. “Ah, ah, ah~” the killer pulled Jisu towards the little dock the lake had. “I see you got pretty far, but not far enough.” They crushed any hope Jisu got. Once they reached the end of the dock Jisu plead, “why? Why are you doing this to me? And who are you?”

“Well since you ask I’ll tell you.” They held on to Jisu’s hair tightly making her whimper in pain. “I want someone that you don’t deserve, and to get what I want I have to take out the one thing in my way. You.” Maybe if Jisu begged enough this will stop. “Ok then you can have Yeonjun! He’s all yours I won’t say anything or do anything I swear.” Jisu tried to find their eyes, but it was impossible with the bunny mask covering. “Just let me go.” Tears started running down her face. “Before you go I’ll answer your second question.” The killer completely ignored Jisu’s pleas and started revealing themselves to her. With what little Jisu had left since she was currently bleeding out from the stabbing she focused on the killer’s movements. They dropped the mask on the dock floor making direct eye contact with Jisu. “Y-you’re beautiful.” Jisu mumbled at the sight of the girl who had long jet black hair with bangs just above her eyebrows, black cat liner with a few moles on her face; one below her lip on the left side, one under the corner of her left eye, and finally one on her cheek bone on the right side.

“Aw, thanks.” The girl cooed, evilly smiling. “At least your last words were kind.” Before Jisu could say anything else the girl slice Jisu’s throat with the same little knife, and threw her into the water. “Did they actually care about you Jisu.” She shook her at the thought of nobody coming out to look for her. “Maybe I did you a favor.” She proceed to take out a cigarette and a lighter from her small pocket of her garter, lighting the cigarette and blowing the smoke out as she watch Jisu’s lifeless body float covered in her blood. 



[depressedbagpipe]

"Blackbird to Robin, do you copy?" (Billy Russo x ofc)

Chapter three

Words: 5286 Warnings: coffee i guess (me knowing just too much of it, btw go drink some water instead), billy being a little mafia-ish, owen being a lil shit, harper knowing too much, dana being a bit of a pain in the ass, A/N: this took way too longer than originally expected, so thank you for waiting <3 life's been getting a bit busier yet I'm learning how to manage my time better, fingers crossed that i know how to do that haha. btw i completely made up the name of the coffee shop so if it turns out it's a real place, let me know cause i don't want to be sued xd Taglist: @badasseddy, @noortsshift, @britishbassett

Series Masterlist Previous chapter &lt;;> Next chapter

Chapter three

‘Two cappuccinos for table three, please.’

‘What’s the deal with cappuccinos, anyways?’ I said while grabbing two clean mugs, and quickly putting them on the coffee machine behind me.

‘Guess you’re good at them,’ Harper winked at me as she grabbed a clean rug and dried her hands with it.

‘No, but seriously, I like cappuccinos too but like, last time I prepared thirty in a little over an hour. I mean, is that healthy? And this is coming from someone who loves coffee!’

Harper laughed at my antics. ‘It’s a nice brewage! People just like cappuccinos,’ she shrugged, disappearing through the door and into the kitchen shortly after.

‘If they only liked tipping better…’ I mumbled.

‘I heard that!’ Harper shouted from the other room.

‘Damn it.’

My hands moved automatically as I prepared the drinks, carefully decorating the foamed milk on the mug and making sure not to spill anything as I took them to the couple sitting by the door of the café.

They barely acknowledged me when I set their cappuccinos on the table, giving a short nod in my general direction without taking their eyes off each other.

Rolling my eyes, I walked back to the counter, noticing that no new customers were waiting to be attended to. I sighed deeply, looking around the bar, busying myself with cleaning anything in sight, if only to have an excuse to avoid Billy’s dark frame on the corner, directly facing me as he pretended to read a book.

His Americano had definitely gone cold long ago, but he still took careful sips, his tongue occasionally making an appearance to lick the remains on his lips. It was a true sight to behold, but every time my eyes darted to him, his were already fixed on me. He had a sixth sense of knowing when someone was looking at him.

Harper had even complimented his eyes, which would only inflate his ego more.

‘What?’ she had asked after noticing the glare I sent her. ‘Your boyfriend’s cute.’

‘He’s not my boyfriend,’

‘Well, he certainly keeps looking your way,’ the older woman winked at me.

‘Yeah, that’s not it at all,’

‘Whatever rows your boat,’ she only laughed at me as she kept counting the money at the register, making me sigh deeply.

I absolutely adored Harper. She had taken me in the second I came stumbling into her café, wet from the sudden downpour and in heavy need of a job. Despite having no experience brewing coffee, she had thrown all reason out the window and given me a safe place beside her, becoming pretty much my sole source of income. Many hours had been spent between those four cozy wooden walls, hundreds of steaming mugs passed along, and thousands of faces asking for a drink before going on with their lives. And despite the stress and the neverending shifts, and the too-sassy personality of its owner, HarpBrews Coffee had become my second home.

My phone pinged in my pocket. Discreetly grabbing it, I peered at Owen’s message, stating he would soon be walking through the door. I took a deep breath checking the hour on the big grandfather clock on the side of the café. The afternoon rush hour had already ended, yet a few customers still came for their boost drinks before heading out to the Friday nightlife they loved so much. Unfortunately for me, I still had a few papers to write, and a late shift to cover, all while the exhaustion of having slept four hours was starting to take a toll on my body. 

Putting my phone away, I caught Billy’s eyes on me again. He was slowly turning the book's page, not even bothering to pretend he hadn’t been caught. I raised my eyebrow at him but didn’t say anything. Only when he leaned his head to the side I finally walked up to him.

‘Doesn’t your butt hurt?’ I asked, grabbing his empty mug. ‘You’ve been sitting there for three hours without moving.’

‘It’s been three hours already? Wow, time does fly when you’re having fun,’ he smirked, checking his expensive wristwatch and widening his eyes.

‘You’re hilarious. You should audition for the circus, I heard they’re running out of clowns,’ I said with a shake of my head.

Billy put down his book. ‘Amazing wordplay, ten out of ten,’ he clapped slowly, but the mischief in his eyes didn’t leave.

‘Can I get you anything else?’ I asked him, hoping not to hear his comeback.

‘What’s your specialty?’

‘Cappuccinos, apparently.’

‘Sure, let’s see what the fuzz is all about,’ he said, leaning back again on his chair and picking up the book.

I sighed, walking back to the bar and preparing, yet again, his own cappuccino.

‘Please, don’t spit in it.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it, Mr. Russo,’ I called back, making sure to keep a smile on my face after noticing the many heads that turned my way. 

I internally groaned, already knowing some of them would be leaving immediately, their tips long forgotten.

Only when I grabbed the cocoa powder I stopped my hands. I held the plastic template in between shaky fingers, debating whether or not Billy deserved some cocoa design on his foam. A small part of my brain was slapping itself at my childish resentment, but an even bigger part was slapping the other for even doubting. It was Harper coming back from the kitchen and seeing me with the cocoa in my hands that made me move, carefully sprinkling the powder on the mug until it took the shape of the open book of the template. 

‘He reads too?’ she whispered when I passed her by, setting the mug on a tray, together with a clean spoon and a napkin.

My stomach grumbled right as I picked it up, the realization of not having eaten anything in a while finally catching up to me. I looked over at Billy, who hadn’t eaten anything either, but this time it did seem he was too preoccupied with his book. I glanced at the small counter displaying Harper’s baking, and with another sigh, I picked up a vanilla cookie and placed it on a small plate, bringing everything to Billy.

He raised his eyebrows once I approached his table, setting everything before him.

For the first time since I met him, he seemed genuinely surprised. 

‘Oh, thank you, Dana, you didn’t have to,’ he set the book on the other edge of the table, eyeing the latte art on his cappuccino.

I shrugged. ‘Yeah, well, you must be hungry. It’s on the house, by the way.’

Nobody said anything else, for the small bell by the door rang, and Owen’s smile greeted me as soon as I turned my head to face the sound.

‘Waddup?’ he took me in his embrace, hugging my waist tightly for a few seconds before removing his arms. He barely moved away, regardless.

‘Hey, what took you so long?’ I asked him, motioning with my head to sit on one of the empty tables nearby the counter.

Owen unloaded his bag on the table, pulled out his laptop and phone, and took a seat as he adjusted his dirty blond fringe that fell unceremoniously over his eyes after taking his beanie off.

‘Sorry about that, Mrs. Russell was on a rant about the newest councilmen appointment and we pretended to be interested in it so she would forget about last week’s assignment.’

‘You didn’t turn it in?’

‘I didn’t do it,’ he said with a shrug, laughing it off.

I shook my head at the boy, remaining silent as the coffee machine whistled behind me, brewing yet more coffee despite the late hour.

‘Latte macchiato for me, please, if I take more caffeine I’ll dig a hole in the floor from buzzing,’ Owen called, his fingers already typing on his laptop.

I laughed at his comment, knowing how many energy drinks he was capable of ingesting over a day. 

‘You sure your heart can bear more of it?’ I asked him, placing our coffees down on the table.

‘It can now that you’re here,’ he winked at me, his eyes focusing once again on the screen before him.

Rolling my eyes, I went into the back of the café to retrieve my bag, ignoring the chime of the bell at the front door.

‘Harper, I’m on my break!’ 

‘Okey dokey!’

Harper’s chirping voice was heard at the bar, welcoming whoever had nothing better to do than having a coffee so late in the evening.

I quickly unknotted my apron and hung it on its respective hanger, pulling my hair out of its bun and pulling my sweater over my shoulders, knowing the lack of movement would become a problem later.

Walking out of the kitchen, I was shocked when I saw Frank Castle sitting down next to Billy, talking in hushed voices. I didn’t fail to notice the third person sitting with them, worried concentration drawn on her beautiful face. 

I walked in hurried steps back to Owen, who was sipping on his coffee completely unaware of the rising tension on the table behind him. His back was to them, allowing me to slide on the opposite seat, getting a clear view of the three adults. 

The sound the chair made when I dragged it back caught the attention of the two ex-marines, who quickly glanced up at me. I waved inadvertently at Frank, still awkward in his presence, but he returned the gesture by silently nodding his head at me.

The moment ended as soon as Harper returned to their table with steaming mugs for the two newcomers, the little party returning to their hushed conversation as if they had been going at it for hours and not just a few minutes.

I shrugged and sat down.

‘Everything okay?’ Owen asked, his eyebrows drawn in concern at me.

I shook my head, not wanting to talk.

‘Yeah, just tired.’

‘Well, I hope you’re not too tired for this because I have no idea where to start and you’re the only one I trust enough to partner up with.’

‘Always the charmer, Owen,’ I sighed, opening a new tab on my laptop, and quickly typing down the topic of our latest academic torture.

‘Don’t get me wrong, I love working with you. But I love pissing Malcolm off even more.’

‘You guys did one project together weeks ago, you surely can’t keep the feud up.’

‘He’s an asshole. It’s his fault we failed.’

‘And now he’ll hate you forever after selling him out.’

‘He deserved it.’

‘Really rough strategy.’

‘Well, I’ll have my lawyer call his lawyer.’

‘You’re your own lawyer, Owen, this is why we’re doing this in the first place.’

Owen took a few seconds to reply, his fingers stopping over the keys while he arched one eyebrow at me. ‘Someone’s moody.’

I sighed once again, already feeling a faint thump appear at the back of my head. ‘Look, I don’t wanna mess the project up, and I barely got any sleep last night, so please, can we just… concentrate on this? So we don’t have to pull another last-minute all-nighter the day before the due date?’ 

My pleading seemed effective, for Owen raised his hands in the air and apologized before returning to the task at hand.

‘Alright, alright. Look, on the way here I read a few articles that could be helpful.’

‘Cool, text me the link, and I’ll give them a quick look.’

‘Not so fast, loca,’ he laughed to himself. ‘You gotta do something for me first.’

‘Wow, not five minutes in and you’re already blackmailing me? New record.’

I was staring at him through heavy lids, knowing his plans usually ended in disaster.

‘This one’s good, I promise.’

‘Spit it out, then.’

‘I text you the articles, and you go on a date with me tomorrow.’

The sweet taste of my mocha latte turned suddenly bitter. Loud coughs left my mouth as the liquid burned my lungs. From the rim of my eyes, I saw Billy and Frank’s eyes on me, their posture tense, ready to pounce. I shook my head, only I didn’t know who it was meant for.

‘What the actual fuck, Owen?’ I managed to ask between coughs. 

He glanced up innocently as if we had been talking about clouds.

‘What? ‘

‘You can’t be serious.’

‘I am. I’ve been meaning to ask you out for a while now but it never seemed appropriate.’

Owen was now stirring his beverage a little too nonchalantly, but the little tick in his fingers made the spoon tremble ever so slightly.

‘And you think now is appropriate?’

My voice was a little hoarse, and my throat burned slightly, but I was determined to put the boy in his place.

‘It was a joke, Dana, you don’t have to be so defensive all the time!’ he brought the screen down and rested his elbows on the table, staring into my eyes. ‘Look, maybe this wasn’t the right way to ask you out, but I promise, I’m not kidding. We work well together, and you’re pretty hot, and I think we could make a nice couple if you’d give me chance.’

I stared at him for a while, scanning his face, looking for any indication that he wasn’t being genuine. I found none.

‘Look, Owen…’ I wanted to reply, but he cut me to it.

‘Just one date. If it goes well, we’ll see what we do from then. If it goes wrong, I won’t bother you again,’ he raised his hands again. His body moved as if he were trying to appease a looming beast. His eyes, though, held a confidence I had barely seen before.

‘Just one. After we’re done with the project,’ I added as soon as his lips broke in a giant smile. They quivered slightly at the afterthought but nodded his head fervently regardless.

‘Deal.’

‘Will you send me the links now?’

‘On it.’

···

We mostly worked in silence after that, only breaking it to share a few comments here and there. Harper had thankfully filled in, going as far as allowing me to double my break so we could get some work done.

‘Alright, so I’ll keep researching this and you write the rest?’ Owen confirmed.

I nodded. ‘Yeah, it honestly won’t take me long. On Monday we can meet up again and go over the next point,’ I said, rubbing my eyes.

The little mascara I had applied in the morning had certainly worn off during the day, but I didn’t care. I was too exhausted, and I still had another hour to fill.

‘Sounds great. You going out later? Jeremy said he was throwing a party,’

‘I don’t think I’ll be alive by then,’ I said in a low voice, closing down my books and putting everything away in my bag. 

‘Honestly, I don’t know how you do it.’

‘Me either.’

‘I’ll text you tomorrow. If the summaries aren’t on the shared file in the evening, feel free to call and scream at me despite my future hangover,’ Owen said with a short hug.

‘Will probably do,’ I answered back as he waved and left, the café almost too silent with his absence.

Only the small party of three refused to leave their seats.

‘Everything alright over here? Can I get you guys anything?’ I asked them, knotting my apron behind my back with practiced expertise, and pulling my hair up once again despite the strain in my arms.

‘I could use an espresso,’ Frank said, looking at me with somewhat of a smile.

‘Me too, I’m in for a long night,’ the woman replied with a kinder tone, giving me a wide smile.

‘Dana, this is Karen Page, one of the best lawyers in town and a close friend of ours,’ Billy spoke up.

Realization dawned on me as I stared at the woman, my eyes widening.

‘Oh, my gosh, I’m a huge fan of your work,’ I shook her outstretched hand a little too enthusiastically, but she didn’t seem to care.

‘Thank you, I’ve heard a lot about you too,’ she grinned.

She stood out, sitting in front of both men, with kind eyes and sweetness of manner, despite knowing how deadly she could be in her field. She truly was someone I admired dearly and had quickly become one of my main motivators to become a lawyer. 

Going back to the bar to prepare their orders, Harper tapped me on the shoulder.

‘You’re seriously gonna date the lanky kid over that greek god?’ she whispered while she untied her apron.

I rolled my eyes at her. ‘Yeah.’

‘Did you bump your head this morning?’ she rested her hands on her waist.

‘I’m perfectly fine, thank you,’ I wasn’t looking at her anymore. ‘That greek god over there is old enough to be my father.’ 

‘But he isn’t, is he?’ she wiggled her eyebrows. ‘How am I the oldest here? You should be out having fun on a Friday night with the fine specimen that has been eyeing you the entire evening, yet you’re closing down the café,’ she threw her hands in the air, her voice a little louder.

I shushed her, noticing Billy’s eyes on us for a few seconds. 

‘Yeah, well, I’m trying to be a responsible adult,’ I shrugged, pouring the hot espresso onto two smaller mugs.

‘Hell, I’m a responsible adult and still go out,’ Harper waited for me at the bar as I brought the mugs back to Billy’s table.

‘Thank you so much, Dana!’ Karen grinned appreciatively at me, quickly bringing the mug to her lips.

‘Careful, it’s still a bit hot.’

‘It’s perfect, thank you,’ she winked at me, making me chuckle softly at her before returning to Harper’s side.

‘Look, I just want you to have fun once in a while,’ Harper went back at it. 

I looked down at my feet, wishing to escape the lecture she was about to give.

‘I know, and trust me, I do have fun,’ I said.

We were no longer whispering, but the place was too deserted for us to care.

‘Reading at home is not the kind of fun I’m talking about,’ she sent me a pointed glance.

‘Well, I’m happy being by myself, Harper. I don’t need as much social interaction as everyone seems to think I do,’ I sighed, busying myself with cleaning the coffee machine, somehow knowing no one else would be ordering anything else for the rest of my shift.

‘Dana, I know your life hasn’t been easy these past years but you still deserve to be young and have fun. Hell, I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but maybe going out on a date with Owen isn’t a bad idea. At least you’ll talk with someone your age for once,’

‘Hey, I talk to people my age all the time,’ I defended myself.

‘Your classmates don’t count. I mean friends, Dana, actual friends. Not just colleagues, or neighbors, or even me.’

‘Harper…’

‘I know, I know. You’re happy. I just worry about you, that’s all.’

‘Well, don’t. I promise there is nothing to worry about. Now off you go, I know your secret man is waiting for you,’ I gently pushed her out of the way in the direction of the main door.

Harper smiled almost shyly at me, some color going to her cheeks.

‘Alright, I’m leaving. The kitchen’s clean, all that is left is the main part,’ she said, zipping up her coat. She let her hair down, making her look even younger, and matching her lively personality. ‘Don’t burn the place down while I’m gone.’

She opened the door, not without turning the Open sign backward to show the Closed written on the other side.

‘Won’t do,’ I was basically pushing her away. At least one of us would be having fun tonight.

‘Oh, and tomorrow don’t bother coming, I’m giving you the day off. You know where the check is!’

She turned and ran to the other side of the street, expertly avoiding the cars and walking with a happy strut.

I sighed, almost relieved at her absence, basking in the silence of the café despite the still low conversation taking place at the far end. Closing the door and drawing the curtains, I walked back to the kitchen, grabbed the cleaning supplies, and walked to the front yet again.

Billy caught my actions, walking to me as I started wiping the tables and bringing the chairs on top to wipe the floor.

‘You closing already?’ he asked me directly.

The sudden sound almost startled me. Hearing him address me after hours of nonexistent conversation had left my skin bare. The pounding in my head seemed to diminish slightly.

I shook my head. ‘I’m just cleaning out. I still got another thirty minutes, you can finish whatever you guys are doing.’

He nodded unconvinced, yet walked back to his table.

My body moved automatically, my mind blank and my eyes laced with exhaustion. I noticed Billy’s table full of papers and binders, with Karen scribbling down every so often. Some part of me wondered what they were working on, but then I remembered. The less I knew the better.

Shaking my head, I did a once-over, checking everything was clean and back to its respective place. With only ten minutes to go, I whisked my phone off my pocket, mindlessly scrolling through Twitter, and wishing time would pass by faster.

‘Hi,’ Karen suddenly spoke before me. I jumped a bit in my place, not expecting to find the woman with her and Frank’s empty mugs on the counter. ‘Sorry for scaring you, I just wanted to bring you these. The coffee was amazing, by the way, the best I’ve ever had,’ she smiled at me.

I grinned back at her. ‘Aw, thank you. You don’t have to lie, though, there’s better coffee out there,’ I said, quickly washing the mugs and leaving them to dry.

She shook her head. ‘No, really, it was amazing. From now on I know where to get my daily dose,’ she winked again, her good humor instantly lifting my mood. 

‘Well, we’ll be waiting with open arms,’ I laughed softly, immediately liking the idea of seeing her around.

For a split second I wondered how she could be friends with someone like Frank and Billy, but then again, how could I be friends with someone like Harper?

‘Well, I don’t know if Billy told you, but I’m also working on your case,’ she slid her hand over mine, her warm fingers wrapping around my hand and squeezing in sweet comfort. ‘Whatever you need, you can come to me, alright?’ she looked deeply into my eyes.

I froze, not expecting her forwardness, but nodded in appreciation nonetheless.

‘Thank you, Karen.’

I didn’t know what else to say, but thankfully Frank came to my aid. Or rather, Karen’s.

He slid a hand over her waist, the lightbulb suddenly going on over my head.

‘Really good coffee, Dana.’ 

He nodded at me, always the same short bow of his head. I’d like to think it was our way of greeting each other, even though I knew I wouldn’t be seeing him again once all this was over.

‘Thank you, Frank.’

‘We should get going,’ Billy finally spoke. 

I noticed their now empty table was shining, the strong bleach smell coming from the only corner I hadn’t been able to clean due to it being occupied by them. Billy was now placing the dirty rag on the sink.

‘You cleaned it?’ I asked incredulously.

He simply shrugged. ‘It’s the least I could do. I’ve been sitting there the whole time.’

I shook my head in disbelief, opting for grabbing my things. I picked the envelope under the kitchenware cabinet, Harper’s preferred spot to hide my paycheck in case we were ever robbed. I looked at the three green bills, deflating a little despite knowing it wouldn’t be much, but I still put on a smile and raised my head, noticing the three pairs of eyes on me. 

‘You can leave already, I’m just gonna head back one second,’ I said, putting the envelope on the counter and heading to the small room we used to keep our stuff while we worked. Putting on my coat, grabbing my bag, and making sure the lights at the back were off, I returned to the three adults waiting for me.

It felt weird. I wasn’t technically friends with either of them, but the way they all stood protectively in front of me as if I were some defenseless little girl –which I technically was, almost make me long for a stronger friendship. Both men were intimidating enough, clad in dark attire and harsh demeanors, and Karen, despite her softer features, was still a force to be reckoned with. I could only aspire to become half the lawyer she was, and with the three of them in their expensive clothing, with real jobs and real lives, I was brought once again to the reality of the situation.

With a small sigh, I followed them to the door, making sure to close the establishment behind me, suddenly the prospect of going home to the peace I desperately needed broke by the realization of having Billy with me.

‘Well, gentlemen, I better be going,’ Karen said out loud. ‘Dana, it was a pleasure to meet you. I know we’ll be seeing each other soon,’ she brought me into her arms, another unexpected comforting gesture from her. 

Her presence was calming, which I thoroughly appreciated.

‘You too, Karen,’ I grinned at her.

‘I’ll walk you,’ Frank offered. His voice was still deep, and despite his offering, it almost felt like he grumbled his words.

But Karen paid no attention, sending him a warm smile, and interlocked her arm with his.

‘Goodnight, guys. Billy, behave,’ Karen glared at Billy, eliciting another chuckle from me. 

I nodded at Frank before he could, and despite catching him off-guard, he reciprocated the movement, and the two turned the other way and left, Karen laughing loudly at whatever Frank had said.

I stared at the two, warmth filling my heart at the thought of them being together. They sure made some odd couple, but there was no denying the sparkle that filled both of their eyes when they looked at each other. It felt nice, knowing even Frank had someone who could bring the sun into his dangerous life.

Billy coughed beside me, effectively snapping me from my daydream.

‘Ready to go?’

‘Yeah.’

His hand on my back guided me toward his car, thankfully parked not far away from the entrance. He opened the door for me again, his eyes looking around the dark street, before walking around and getting into the driver’s seat. 

I hissed at a particularly big thump of my skull, massaging my temples hoping the growing headache would go away.

‘You okay?’ Billy asked, briefly looking at me before returning his eyes to the road.

‘Just some tension. Hopefully, I’ll get some sleep tonight.’

I noticed the way his leg pushed the pedal a bit more, the speed of the car increasing. 

‘Then let’s get you to bed,’ he answered.

‘I wanna have dinner first, though.’

He bit his lip. ‘I may have ordered something for us already. It should be ready once we get there.’

I widened my eyes. ‘Billy, you didn’t have to.’

‘You got me a cookie earlier, this is my way of saying thanks.’

‘You can’t compare a cookie to a full dinner.’

He shrugged his shoulders. ‘For someone with a headache, you sure wanna fight.’

I scoffed, despite the truth in his words. I simply leaned back on the seat and closed my eyes. I felt the passing lights on my eyelids, but the soft roaring of the engine and the silence surrounding us helped calm my racing thoughts.

It was shortly after that Billy was parking the car, the sudden halt making me open my eyes. 

‘We’re here,’ Billy announced but made no move. ‘Am I gonna have to carry you upstairs too?’

With that, I quickly unbuckled myself, almost jumping out of the car and closing the door loudly. I wanted to believe that the warmth in my cheeks was only due to the exhaustion, and not at the thought of Billy carrying me in his arms. 

He followed me into the building, crashing into my back when I stopped abruptly right before the stairs at the sight of the old man with the nastiest scowl.

I winced. 

‘Mr. Morrison, a pleasure to see you!’ I drew a wide smile on my lips, praying that he would leave soon.

‘Miss Jones, you’re late. It’s almost Saturday,’ he glanced at his wristwatch, an almost hungry smile on his face. ‘A few more minutes and I’d have to evict you.’

I knew that’s exactly what he wanted, but I kept in my remarks. ‘And, as promised, here’s the week’s payment,’ I grabbed the envelope, opening it to grab the right amount, and noticing the fourth bill right away. 

I furrowed my eyebrows, knowing Harper hadn’t given it to me.

‘And who’s the rich kid behind you? You know you’re not allowed to bring anybody in without my permission!’ he was fuming. The old man descended the steps, taking the money from my trembling fingers without looking away from Billy.

‘I’m Billy Russo,’ he introduced himself. He didn’t make an effort to extend his hand for Mr. Morrison to shake, though. 

The old man paled instantly. His eyes widened at Billy, who sent him a harsh glare while Mr. Morrison found the right words to say.

‘Oh, it certainly is a pleasure, Mr. Russo,’ he immediately hid the money in his pocket and proceeded to adjust his shirt. ‘What can we humbly offer you on this fine night, Mr. Russo?’

‘Well, I believe you’re exploiting some of the residents in this building complex. I know rent prices went up last month, but nearly not enough to completely leave them with no income,’ he continued.

I was left speechless. I hadn’t told Billy about my ongoing feud for my rent, but as always, Billy seemed to know everything about me and my life. It only reminded me how little I knew of him. 

‘Oh, well, you see, Mr. Russo, Miss Jones here…’ but Billy cut him off.

‘Here, take this,’ Billy grabbed a sealed envelope from a pocket inside his expensive jacket. ‘And if you happen to bother Miss Jones again, I’ll make sure the finest lawyers of New York City know about the many irregularities that take place here.’

He looked at him with that stoic yet fierce glare, the same look he had used with me in the interrogation room just twenty-four hours before. It felt like a lifetime, and it once again showed the many sides to Billy Russo that I wasn’t aware of.

Mr. Morrison only shook in his place, taking the envelope with shaky hands and lowering his head, moving aside to let Billy walk by and up the stairs.

I followed after him, too stunned to say anything at first, but with too many questions swirling around.

‘Did you extort him?’

‘I bought him.’

Silence.

‘Did you leave the hundred dollar bill on my envelope at the café?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Why?

‘Just a tip.’

Silence, once again. We reached the door to my apartment, heavy silence following us into the dark entrance.

‘What were you reading earlier?’

‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’

‘How fitting.’

Next chapter

[happyhealthycats]

Hello Dear, how are you? I wonder if I could get your advice on something.

I have two male indoor-outdoor cats from the same litter. One of them is friendly, bold, snuggly, almost too trusting. His brother is his complete opposite. Shy, easily scared, skittish, wary.

We got them both from a nice lady when they were about 2-3 months and they've been with us for the past 2 years. Me and my family are extremely loving toward them; we make sure they are up to date on all their shots, have the best tick and flea protection all summer long, get tasty meals and snacks during the day, and we pet and play with them whenever possible.

However, despite never having been abused or maltreated either by us, or the lady who originally owned the litter, the smaller one remains incredibly fearful and mistrustful. He winces or runs to hide at any kind of sudden gesture or loud noise. He tolerates (and occasionally enjoys) being petted by my family and I, but steers clear of any stranger. Even when being petted, he only stands it for a short amount of time before turning restless and moving on. He absolutely does not tolerate being picked up (growling, hissing, scratching, etc.) and I don't want to detail the hell that is putting him into a carrier for a vet-trip. I also want to stress that I NEVER force my touch or closeness on him if I sense he doesn't want it, and also immediately tell my family to keep away if I notice him being uneasy.

Is there any reason for a well-kept and loved cat to act so wary toward his family? Are we doing something wrong? What steps can we take to ensure that he feels safe and cherished with us?

Thank you in advance if you decide to answer this ask, and I hope you are well and safe!

So with fearful cats, there is the issue with their confidence in their space. Meaning they need to feel safe in every aspect of their lives. The biggest and most immediate issue as that the cats go outside. You can do anything to make sure that your home is a perfect haven for your cats, and that no need goes unmet. You can offer flawless litterboxes and the highest quality food, but once the cat leaves the home unattended, they're completely at the mercy of whatever is outside - Prey animals, Predator animals (cats are both prey and predator, so they're on both ends of that), other humans that you may not know, cars and road ways, and the list goes on. Your only step is to make sure that both of your cats are indoor only. Not only will they be happier, but they will also do far less damage. I cannot recommend @catsindoors enough to give anyone all of the details on just WHY letting cats outdoors without a leash is both detrimental to the cat, and the environment - but from me, I'll stick to a strictly behavior perspective. Any time your cat is outside, it is uncontrolled, and you will not be able to interfere with anything that may be causing your cats fearful behavior. In order for cats to be confident, they need to have a controlled space, and the moment the cat goes outside, it undoes all of the work you put into making that space controlled in order to help boost their confidence.

[avatarskywalker78]

AO3 Masterpost

even if we can’t find heaven (i’ll walk through hell with you) - Part 1 of The Shieldmaiden Saga, focusing on Steph Taylor - Eddie’s childhood best friend - as she gains powers from the particle accelerator, and soon finds out she’s not the only one, gaining new friends...and discovering that the accelerator was flawed.

love, you’re not alone (cause I’m gonna stand by you) - Part 2 of The Shieldmaiden Saga and a direct sequel to the above, with Steph Taylor continuing to gather friends, help metas, and build a case against Wells as another meta starts making a name for himself in Central City.

to save the world (with a friend by my side) - Longfic for SyFy’s Krypton, where Adam Strange and his friend Ashley Tanner travel back in time to save Krypton. Currently has 8/11 chapters.

flufftober 2021 - A series of (mostly) short fics I wrote for flufftober 2021, complete at 31 stories.

emerald legacy - An AU spanning from Arrow’s S1 finale, where Oliver was the one who died saving Laurel, not Tommy. In the midst of dealing with Oliver’s death, plus the revelation that Thea’s his sister, Tommy decides to take up Oliver’s mantle. Currently has 2 parts.

of legacies and lies - Alex Thompson, Jack Thompson’s granddaughter, goes on the run after the SHIELDRA reveal, and has to deal with the fact that her entire career in SHIELD has been a lie. Meanwhile Jack and Sarah - his wife - are making sure she’s going to get a fair trial when she reaches the US.

a god’s reflection - Loki’s POV after his initial imprisonment post-Avengers as he thinks about his actions, and regrets that he’ll never really have a chance to make amends because he’ll likely be imprisoned for the rest of his life.

when one door closes (another opens) - On Earth-4 in the 22nd Century, Brianna Thawne (Eddie’s distant descendant and her generation’s Cobalt Blue) takes Sara Lance up on her offer to join the Legends.

now we have (the freedom to choose) - an AU of Legends’ S1 finale. Kendra isn’t the only one dealing with destiny, but Carter too - and since he’s the one who always remembers first, it’s unlikely he’s ever had much chance to be with other people like Kendra has. Featuring a more self-aware Carter and a heart to heart with Sara Lance.

you’ve always been (a part of me) - A Seg/Adam fic set 40 years after Krypton’s S2 finale, where they’ve been together almost as long - and Seg is hit with the realization that he’ll eventually outlive Adam.

speak (and i’ll listen) - a short MonWinn fic set in an AU of Supergirl S2 (the AU being that they’re together, and not Mon and Kara). Winn stresses over not being able to stop Music Meister. Mon does his best to comfort him.

to new beginnings - A Westhallen short fic written for Polyam Shpping Day #14, set in an alternate season 2 and featuring the three of them discussing New Year’s resolutions.

brothers (lost and found) - the first part of Cobalt Blue and The Flash, where Barry Allen and Malcolm Thawne have been best friends for six years, with Barry essentially taking on the role of big brother due to Malcolm’s estrangement from his own brother. When Malcolm gets struck by lightning while trying (and failing) to prevent Barry from suffering the same fate, he wakes up five months later with speedster powers, and unbeknownst to him this changes everything.

doubt (and the bonds of love) -  Another short MonWinn fic, set in an alternate S3 where Mon-El never left Earth. Mon-El has become distant all of a sudden and Winn is determined to find out why.

to live and rise (and hope again) - longfic about Eliana Kent, Clark and Lana’s daughter from an alternate universe, as she experiences a massive power boost, becomes a hero, and joins the DEO, while still dealing with her family’s loss and having to work with two of their counterparts.

the future (is ours) - a short Thallen fic, set in a AU where Iris is the Flash, Eobard got defeated without any casulties, and Barry and Eddie are dating - Eddie second guessing his relationship with Barry after Eobard’s manipulations.

right here (is where i’m meant to be) - A lazy morning Segdam fic set post-canon.

Cobra Kai Mini Rewrites - a series of unnconnected oneshots that are rewrites on certain scenes in the show that annoyed me. Complete at 18 stories.

bad boy (no more) - my collection of Mike Barnes redemption fics, which are all standalone, but have the consistent elements of Mike’s wife Leah and his three children, Sarah, Elaine, and Alex. Currently has 5 stories.

flufftober 2022 - my collection of stories for this year’s flufftober spanning various fandoms. Complete at 21 stories.

the truth (long overdue) - a Spider-Man 2 fix-it fic where Peter actually explains things to Harry instead of rushing off and leaving him alone, and this changes everything.

looking for america (coming through your schools) - the first part of the Nicky Connors, Cobra Adjacent series, which focuses on Nicky Connor’s friendship with the OG Cobras, particulary Johnny. This fic is set on New Year’s Eve 1983, with the six of them reflecting on the year past and being hopeful about 1984.

[actvpeople]

Why Cold Showers Are Great

Let's be honest: how many of you have heard about the benefits of cold showers but never actually tried them? For most people, the thought of cold water is genuinely terrifying—I know because I've been there myself. But if you're willing to experience a little discomfort for impressive results, this article is for you. Let's explore why cold showers deserve your attention, the pros and cons they bring, and how to start taking them properly.

Pros of Cold Showers

1. Improved Circulation

When cold water hits your skin, your blood vessels constrict. To warm up, your body works harder to improve blood flow. This not only helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to your tissues but also makes your entire circulatory system more efficient. The result? You feel more energized and healthier.

2. Boosted Immunity

Cold showers stimulate your immune system and help protect against colds. Studies show that regular cold exposure promotes the production of white blood cells, which actively fight infections and viruses.

3. Reduced Stress and Improved Mood

Cold water is not only a physical challenge but also an excellent way to cope with emotions. The shock of cold water triggers the release of norepinephrine and dopamine—hormones that help you feel happier and more at ease. Plus, if you can learn to manage discomfort under a cold shower, it becomes easier to handle stress in everyday life.

4. Boost of Energy

A cold shower is the best way to wake up in the morning! The cold makes your breathing speed up, your blood flow faster, and you get a natural burst of energy. This is especially helpful when you're lacking motivation or feeling sluggish in the morning.

5. Healthy Skin and Hair

Unlike hot water, which can dry out your skin and hair, cold water helps retain natural oils. Your skin becomes firmer, and your hair stronger and shinier. Cold showers also help tighten pores, which keeps your skin cleaner.

Cons of Cold Showers

1. Not Suitable for Everyone

Cold showers can be unsafe for people with cardiovascular issues. Sudden exposure to cold causes blood vessels to constrict, which may lead to spikes in blood pressure. If you have chronic health conditions, consult your doctor before starting cold therapy.

2. Psychological Barrier

Taking a cold shower is a real challenge. Your brain will come up with any excuse to avoid turning on the cold water. However, once you start doing it regularly, the discomfort will fade, and you'll begin to feel the benefits.

How to Start Taking Cold Showers

If you've decided to give it a try, start gradually. Begin with a comfortable temperature and then slowly decrease it. A good way to begin is with a contrast shower—alternating warm and cold water. Start with just a few seconds under cold water, gradually increasing the time to 1-2 minutes. It's important to listen to your body and not overdo it.

Conclusion

Cold showers are a great way to improve your physical and mental health. They enhance circulation, boost immunity, help manage stress, and improve the condition of your skin and hair. But remember: cold showers are not for everyone, so it's essential to consider your personal needs and listen to your body. The key is to start gradually and be consistent. This simple practice can bring you maximum benefits and energy!

[weaselle]

that's really smart. actually the physics of that thing would be easier (smoother starts and stops for your muscles, less sudden acute stress force) and it probably hits a lot harder because of the way physics and whip actions work

i once talked to a guy who made armor for reenactment fights and he said the armor held up to the weapons well -- their armor wasn't necessarily good enough to face a real sword, but it handled a padded wooden sword just fine -- but they had to outlaw flails

see, for a safe version of a flail they'd just stuck a tennis ball at the end of a short rope attached to a handle and figured it was fine.

but the way that whip action accelerates the tip, even just a tennis ball was ruining armor and causing injuries! The same armor that was getting beat full force with wooden poles couldn't handle a two ounce hollow rubber ball. Because of how it moved when you used it.

They actually couldn't find any object or material that was safe enough for their grade of armor (which wasn't actual battle ready armor, but was made of metal for the purpose of protection). That centrifugal force was just too potent.

with this hammer, you have a fair amount of that same force going on; less than the acceleration you'd get with a rope or chain of course, but trying to wield a sledge hammer head on a chain would be absolutely bonkers difficult and soooo dangerous.

So it's less bonus power than a rope or whatever, but then you add in the spring of the shaft material (i'm assuming it's a wood, but there are probably metals and plastics that could achieve the same flexibility vs resistance) so even though it's less powerful than a true flail design, it's got, like, a half an archery bow's worth of physics to boost it back up a little.

Anyway, i bet this dude and a guy with a normal sledge hammer could do the exact same job for a shift and the guy with the normal sledge would be way more tired and sore.

Not to mention the reach you get, trying to use a sledge hammer while standing on a ladder or something is. Not a recommended activity. Unsafe and hard as fuck to generate sufficient striking force.

so i think this is a genius sledge hammer.

I bet you have to replace the handle every couple of weeks tho.

Boingy smash

[fitnessaccessoriesandequipment]

The Chilling Truth: Unveiling the Remarkable Benefits of Cold Plunge Therapy

In recent years, the wellness world has been abuzz with a chilling trend: cold plunge therapy. Once a secret of elite athletes and hardy Scandinavians, cold water immersion has splashed into mainstream wellness practices. But what lies behind this frosty fascination? Is it just another wellness fad, or are there genuine benefits to be reaped from this icy endeavor?

As someone who once winced at the thought of a cold shower, I too was skeptical. However, my first foray into the world of cold plunge therapy was nothing short of transformative. The initial shock quickly gave way to a surge of vitality, leaving me both invigorated and curiously calm.

The Science Behind Cold Plunge Therapy

When you immerse your body in cold water, it's not just a test of willpower; it's a full-blown physiological and neurological event. The sudden drop in temperature causes your blood vessels to constrict, enhancing circulation as your body works to maintain its core temperature. This improved blood flow can help flush out metabolic waste and reduce inflammation.

Moreover, the shock of the cold triggers a flood of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, which can lead to a mood boost. Adrenaline is also released, heightening alertness and energy levels. The result? A refreshing jolt to both body and mind.

Major Health Benefits

Improved Circulation and Cardiovascular Health: Regular cold plunges can strengthen your cardiovascular system. The practice trains your blood vessels to be more responsive and efficient, potentially lowering the risk of heart disease.

Enhanced Recovery and Reduced Muscle Soreness: Athletes have long used ice baths to speed up recovery. Cold exposure helps in reducing muscle soreness and inflammation, making it a crucial tool for anyone engaged in regular physical training.

Boost in Mental Health and Resilience: Cold plunge therapy isn't just a physical challenge; it's a mental one. Regularly facing this challenge can fortify mental resilience, reduce stress levels, and even alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Strengthened Immune System: Studies suggest that regular exposure to cold water can boost the immune system. This is partly due to the increased production of white blood cells in response to the perceived threat of cold.

Weight Loss and Metabolism: There's emerging evidence that cold water immersion can stimulate brown fat, a type of fat that burns calories to maintain body temperature. This could potentially aid in weight loss and improve metabolic health.

Personal Experiences and Testimonials

"Before I started cold plunge therapy, I was constantly battling with fatigue and muscle aches," says Mia, a triathlete. "But after incorporating it into my routine, I've noticed a significant improvement in my recovery time and overall energy levels."

John, a software engineer who struggled with anxiety, shares a similar sentiment. "It was tough at first, but the mental clarity and calmness I feel after each cold plunge are unparalleled. It's like hitting a reset button on my stress levels."

Tips for Getting Started with Cold Plunge Therapy

If you're intrigued and want to give cold plunge therapy a try, here are a few tips to get you started:

Begin gradually. Start with a cold shower and work your way up to a full plunge.

Keep your initial sessions short, around 1-2 minutes, and gradually increase the duration as you become more accustomed.

Always listen to your body and avoid overdoing it, especially in the beginning.

Conclusion

The benefits of cold plunge therapy extend far beyond the initial thrill and challenge. From improved physical health to enhanced mental well-being, this practice offers a range of advantages that are hard to ignore. While it may not be for everyone, those willing to brave the cold often find themselves rewarded with a unique sense of vitality and resilience. So, why not take the plunge and see what benefits await you in these icy depths?

[ateleng]

My Friends and My Mental Health


These photos were taken last May 2019 (4 years ago). Let me tell you the story behind these photos. That was the day the relationship with my friends was destroyed. Maybe I was destined to be in that situation. It happened all of a sudden. It was very traumatic for me, lots of people got involved and it caused me to have suicidal thoughts. We were in a toxic situation. I admit that I had lapses and so with my friends. I decided to cut them off. It was painful for me to avoid them but It was helpful at the same time because that's my way of healing myself first. Being in that kind of situation is quite hard. You're being judged, and people think that you have this bad attitude by choosing yourself over anything else.


A certain situation made us reunite after 4 years of "not being together"- one of my friends had an accident. I reached out to them and we planned a surprise visit. Yes, we did! We bond again, we shared laughters again, and we had a moment together again. (Of course, I also meet a lot of friends apart from them.)


My anxiety and depression put me in a situation wherein I felt like I was trapped in a loop and I didn't know how to overcome it. I felt so hopeless and everything was so dark. But despite my suffering, I am still grateful because I have friends who appreciate me, listen to me without judgement, and believe in myself that I can get through this. And I thank God for giving me these kind of people (naa man sa doul o sa layo). A simple conversation helped me to ease the pain that I'm dealing with.


In this world full of struggles, you don't have to be alone most of the time- you have friends. They prevent your isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. They help you boost your happiness and reduce your stress.


May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It's a time for us all to remember that taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical and emotional health. Always remember that we are all cared and appreciated. Let our struggles be for growth. God bless us always.

#mentalhealthawareness #anxietyrelief #depressionhelp