#doing the shark equivalent of T posing

[youngmasterwisdomperson]

If I were to design an oc that was a new kind of biblical angel it would be a shark. Just a great white shark that floats in mid air ominously, and like any other angel shouts “BE NOT AFRAID” but it’s also just a shark. Just a floating shark. It just hovers there. MENACINGLY.

[siren-theories]

Do Sirens have body hair?

TL, DR.: Females seem to consistently not have body hair, for males it is more complicated and seems to be a genetic choice between having body hair or facial hair. 

All images are taken from the PG-13 show Siren on Freeform. 

When I first saw the question by the very talented @imaginejolls (go read their Siren fanfic on Ao3 it is awesome) my initial answer would have been an (overconfident) "of course they do have body hair". This was based on a simple assumption: 

Sirens are biologically very close to humans, so close in fact that they can mate with humans and produce fertile offspring. This is a big deal as it means that Sirens are more closely related to humans than donkeys are to horses or zebras are to horses (different species that can produce infertile offspring with each other). So therefore it stands to reason that in everything (except for those things the show explicitly tells us are different) Sirens are generally replicating the human baseline. We see this for example with their diets - while they prefer fish, they are biologically speaking omnivores (Cami and Ryn for example ate fruit and digested it with no problem at all). So based on that I would have confidently claimed that they would have body hair.

I soon however realized that a more measured approach needs to be taken. For example, while things work the same or may even look the same on the outside there are several cases in the show where they are not the same. Take for example the reproductive system of the mermaids, which definitely is not human in structure even though it has human elements, works like a human reproductive system and is compatible with a human reproductive system. Another example of "similar looking, same function but different" would be the bones and muscles of our mermaids which are way denser and stronger than their human equivalents. So while I still think the general argument that they are very close to humans is a correct one there needs to be a case-by-case study being done to see if we can find evidence in the show itself for questions such as the one that is being posed here. 

Let's dive deep into the visual evidence of the show for body hair. I apologize in advance if pictures of armpits and male chests are not your thing. 

Part A: Females

We certainly never see as much as a hint of body hair on Ryn or any other female mermaid. The most exposed we see Ryn is in a backshot (Episode 102), her undressing on the boat (in 201) and the transformation scene in 210. She does not have any visible body hair in those scenes.

Ryn in 102 - notice the abscence of any body hair, especially in the armpit area.

Ryn in 201. At this time she has spent enough time out of the water that we would expect her to exhibit some signs of body hair.

What about the lower body areas? Ryn's legs are smooth and hairless.

Ryn’s (and Maddie’s)  legs from 209 (there also are plenty of leg shots in 205 when she was on land a lot longer but these suffer from bad lighting or lack of focus. Suffice to say they too do not depict any body hair).

Now it might be the case that Ryn decided to adopt human customs and started shaving her armpits and legs. I highly doubt this to be the case though as Ryn is quite possibly the person most comfortable with her body on the show. Everytime her body comes up in conversation she is very proud of it (except when one compares it to sharks). There is no indication at all that she would conform to human beauty standards or even feels the need to change anything about her body. After all, if she does not care a lot about what clothes she wears what are the odds that she suddenly cares about how much (hypothetical) body hair she is showing? And I cannot imagine any situation in Season 1 where Ben or Maddie or Helen would have decided to teach Ryn how to shave her body hair, nor can I imagine any situation where something this intimate and something this unimportant to the issues facing our protagonists in those episodes would even have been discussed. Considering Ryn reacted almost violently to slight pressure on her arm during an attempt by Ben to measure blood pressure in episode 103 it seems highly unlikely anybody would have even tried bringing a razor blade near her body.

Therefore, it seems most likely that Ryn at no point shaved her body hair and therefore it seems most likely she never had any body hair on her legs or armpits in the first place.

Due to this not being some HBO fleshfest no visual evidence exists for the genital areas (and thank god for that because that would not fit the tone of this show or the respect with which the show treats its characters). However I find it very unlikely that Ryn or other female sirens would have body hair in the genital area if their entire body is missing body hair elsewhere. Body hair in that particular area would also cause problems with transformation as said area is covered by layers of additional flesh and muscle in the water form. Having hair covered by flesh and muscle is not a good thing biologically speaking (if you want a horror show google "ingrown hair"). Given how Ryn's skin is also more insulating than human skin as shown in 208 there would not be a need to have body hair in the first place.

Furthermore, we have no indication that for the females forming body hair is even an option to form during their transformation.

Ryn's immediate post-transformation body in 210 shows no sign of any body hair (neatly sidestepping the whole ingrown hair issues).

The same seems to be true for the other female sirens who never exhibit any sign of body hair, not even when in states of light dress or undress (various scenes in Helen's shop or in the forest from the first half of Season 2 come to mind.)

Convincing any of those apex predators to start shaving seems out of character for any of the humans that interacted with them (they had a lot more important things to do) and in any case I cannot imagine that any attempt to convince an apex predator to let a sharp blade come anywhere near vulnerable body areas would have gone over well. In fact, it would have been downright stupid and suicidal to even attempt such a thing.

Therefore I have no other option but to conclude that female Sirens do not have body hair in human form.

Part B: Males

But what about the Males? After all, body hair does differ in humans as well according to their respective sex. 

Frank's body exhibits facial hair but otherwise is devoid of body hair, as seen in 205 before he jumps into the water.

This is also several days after his first transition, so if he has the capacity to grow body hair in those areas we would expect it to be shown there. As there definitely is nobody who has ever taught Frank to shave his body I would therefore argue male Sirens also have no body hair.

So case closed. No body hair whatsoever.

And then it got complicated, because there is one male Siren who constantly exhibits body hair.

Levi in Episode 108 (the first time he comes on land) has chest chair in human form. We get a closeup of his chest in Episode 201 when Ben drains the fluid from his lungs, this also shows clear chest hair despite him only having transformed a short time ago.

Levi in 108 and 201. 

However Levi is also an aberration in that he has no facial hair at all (and does not grow any during his time on land) but has body hair at the time of his transformation. Truth be told I do not know how to classify Levi. Is he the one exception that prove the rule? Is he the rare case where the recessive genes (body hair) triumph over the dominant genes (no body hair) in the males? Or did the writers and directors forget to be consistent here?

Assuming that Levi is not special in the genetic category the conclusion must be that for male Sirens you either have facial hair but no body hair (Frank) or you have body hair but no facial hair (Levi).

I tried to get a tiebreaker in the form of the walking sperm bank of Episode 214 but the lightning in his scenes prevented me from getitng any good evidence either way. I also wish I had more than two examples to base this analysis on - I am in general much less certain when it comes to the males than when it comes to the females as we have many more examples of the former than the latter. 

So after examining all visual evidence and the case for and against body hair, I have to conclude that my earlier assumption of them having body hair was wrong for the females and at least partly wrong for the males. It seems females have no body hair at all and males seem to either have facial hair or body hair - but not both.

Thank you for reading this long post about a (seemingly) trivial issue. I look forward to any criticism or additional information you might have, feel free to drop them via reply or message anytime.

TL, DR.: Females seem to consistently not have body hair, for males it is more complicated and seems to be a genetic choice between having body hair or facial hair.

(Oh and here is an imgur link for bigger versions of the pictures in case you have trouble viewing them in the low resolution I used for the article) 

[filmfanatic82]

The Long Game - Chapter 11: Chosen Family

AO3 Link (HERE)

Chapter 11: Chosen Family

“Dibs!” Zack makes a beeline for Billy and Jason’s oversized, plush couch and launches himself onto it. He lands with a less than graceful thud and then lets out a sigh of exhaustion. “For two dudes, you guys sure know how to pick good furniture.”

Kim, Jason, Billy, and Trini all file into the house, haphazardly dropping their bonfire supplies anywhere they can, each one looking just as exhausted as Zack.

“You did not just say that,” Trini mutters under her breath.

“What?”

“Zack…”

“I just meant for two ‘dude’ like dudes. Ya know, like--”

“Just stop,” Trini cuts Zack off as she pinches the bridge of her nose in utter annoyance.

Unlike Trini, though, both Kim and Jason can’t seem to hide their smirks of amusements.

“Oh yeah. We’re ‘dude’ type of dudes,” Jason responds with a bit of a snicker.

Billy’s eyes ping-pong between the other rangers, clearly trying to piece together what their conversation is actually about. “Jason picks out most of our furniture since there was this one time that I bought us a coffee table that looked like the Death Star. Not the Death Star in Last Hope. But the one in Return of the Jedi. It’s hyper realistic looking--”

“But not exactly practical,” Jason finishes Billy’s sentence.

“Right. Not practical. So we put it in the den. But I still don’t get why being male would mean that one can’t pick out furniture.”

“See what you started?” Trini grabs a nearby throw pillow and playfully chucks it at Zack’s head.

But Zack’s ranger reflexes kick in and before the pillow can reach his head, he catches it and tosses it right back at Trini. “Nice try, Short Round.”

“Zack was making reference to the fact that we are masculine and gay, baby.” Jason gives Billy a loving smile laced with the utmost patience.

“Oh!” Billy’s eyes widen with the sudden look of realization. “Right. Because of the common stereotype that gay men are naturally good at decorating. Except we aren’t gay. You’re bisexual and I’m demisexual. Is there a bisexual equivalent to that stereotype?”

Now it’s Zack’s turn to let a light chuckle out. “Maybe it just means their ‘half’ as good at it?”

“Ugh!” Trini chucks the pillow once again at Zack’s head and this time it makes contact with the lengthy boy’s face.

Kim can’t help but ever so slightly smile at the scene unfolding before her. This feels right. The kind of right she’s been desperately craving over the last eight years. All five of them, simply existing in each other’s presence, as if they’ve grown up with with each other.

As if they are family…

“We should probably do a sweep of the house. Maybe put up the storm shutters?” Jason asks Billy as his hand subconsciously rubs the back of his neck. Telltale sign that his mind has switched over to “leader” mode.

“Yes. And… Oh! I can tweak the alarm system to be extra sensitive as well.” Billy responds as he starts to wander out of the living room and down the hallway, already lost in his own thoughts.

Jason watches Billy disappear out of sight and then turns his attention back at Kim, Trini, and Zack. “Billy tricked out this place a few years ago after watching a Doomsday Preppers marathon. It’s like Fort Knox now. We should be safe. At least for the night.”

“Good. We could all use a decent night’s sleep.” Kim plops herself down on a nearby accent chair, kicking off her boots in the process.

“Thoughts on dinner?” Jason asks the three of them as he joins Kim and Zack, finding a decently comfy seat on the floor, back pressed up against the couch. “I could order pizza maybe, or--”

“I’m on it,” Trini cuts Jason off. She starts to head towards the kitchen but suddenly stops short before reaching the doorway. Trini looks back at Kim, eyes locking in a comforting warmth. “You still like enchiladas?”

Kim’s thrown off guard for a moment, not fully sure why Trini’s asking her about enchiladas and then it clicks…

Oh god, how it clicks.

Enchiladas. Trini’s enchiladas. The signature dish that she made for Kim on their first official date. The one that became their Tuesday night ritual, along with sharing a pint of salt caramel swirl ice cream while binge watching Netflix until usually Trini would pass out on Kim’s lap.

It was their thing… until one day it wasn’t.

“Yeah. Never stopped,” Kim replies, staring back at Trini with a hint of a foreshadowing smile.

Trini gives a simple nod and then disappears into the kitchen without another word, leaving Kim sitting there in silence with Jason and Zack.

A moment passes and then--

“Enchiladas?” Zack raises an eyebrow as he shoots an all knowing smirk in Kim’s direction.

“What?” Kim tries to play it off, but it’s hopeless. The shared looks of pure, brotherly amusement on both Zack and Jason says it all. They also haven’t forgotten.

“Enchiladas.” Jason shakes his head, matching Zack’s smile. “Some things never change.”

Not sure how to respond, Kim picks up a nearby throw pillow and chucks it in the direction of Jason and Zack. She misses by a good five feet, but gets her point cross nonetheless.

“It’s nothing.”

“Suuure.” Zack draws out his word for added effect while Jason just continues to smile. “Whatever you say, Kimmy.”

Kim curls herself up into the chair a bit more, slightly turning her back on the boys, not willing to give them any more satisfaction than she already has. Deep down, she knows they are right, but isn’t fully ready to admit it just yet.

The sheer hope that it is indeed something, is just too terrifying to grapple with.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Where we going?” Trini huffs out in slight annoyance as she readjusts her makeshift blindfold for the twentieth time since they started driving.

“You’ll see,” Kimberly hums in response.

“Guessing school isn’t the surprise.”

“Nope.” Kimberly pops the ‘p’ for added effect as a noticeable coy smirk crawls across her lips.

“So we’re ditchin’?”

“Yup.”

“And our bio test test?”

“Not important.”

“Sure, if we don’t care about graduating, Princess.”

Kimberly sinks her teeth into her bottom lip and is suddenly grateful she made Trini wear a blindfold so that smaller girl can’t see her face. Graduation, along with all of the other upcoming teenaged milestones are simply longer in the cards for her. No cap and gown. No posing for cheesy photos with her family. No post-ceremony celebration with her fellow rangers. None of it.  

Kimberly swallows down the lump of regret and sadness residing in the back of her throat and then turns her attention back to the road ahead.

“One day won’t hurt,” Kimberly responds, trying to hide the insincerity in her voice. “Besides, I already had Billy call in sick for both of us.”

“Do I even want to know how he managed that?”

“Nope.” Kimberly pops her “p” once again, just to get under Trini’s skin.

“You’re lucky I love you.”

“Yup.” Kim pulls off the main road and into a semi-hidden, abandoned lot that overlooks a secluded inlet of the bay. “Okay. We’re here.”

Trini eagerly rips off her blindfold and takes a long, hard look at where they’re at. Her face lights up like a kid on christmas morning. “Good call, Hart.”

Kimberly can’t help but match Trini’s smile. “Figured we could use an escape.”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“No.”

“No? But look at that deck? It’s massive,” Kimberly replies, motioning towards a house across the bay. She shifts her weight back onto her elbows, stretching her legs over Trini’s in the process. The two lounge comfortably on an oversized picnic blanket on the ground, bodies entwined, as they both gaze out onto the array of picturesque houses dotting the shoreline of the inlet.

“Not the one.” Trini shakes her head with her signature cocky grin plastered across her face.

“Okay. I give up. Which one is it?”

Trini takes a moment, scanning the houses and then points to an adorable looking cottage, tucked away in a remote corner of the inlet. “That one.”

“That one?” Kimberly eyes the cottage with a slight disbelief.

“That’s the one.”

Kimberly straightens herself up a bit while giving the cottage a second look. “Not seeing it. There’s like at least ten other houses that are way more impressive.”

“I’m tellin’ you, Princess. That’s the one.”

“Really?”

“Yup.”

“How do you know?”

Trini tucks a loose strand of her ombre locks behind her ear and gives a simple shrug of her shoulders. “Just do.”

“And?”

“And I might’ve stalked it on Zillow.” Trini digs into her pocket, unlocks her phone, and hands it to Kimberly. “Four bedroom, three bath with a finished basement and a killer kitchen.”

Kimberly slowly swipes through the photos one by one, studying each and every one. And for the briefest of moments, a look of genuine happiness crosses over her face. “Wow.”

“Yeah.” Trini takes back her phone and then lets out a lengthy sigh. “Too bad it’s like almost three million.”

“Okay. But say we had that kinda money—“

“Kimberly…”

“You know the rules to this game. Nothing’s impossible.”

“Right. But there’s fantasies and then there’s delusions. And us affording a three million dollar house is a delusion.”

“Just humor me.”

“Fine.” Trini huffs with a hard exhale of air. “You took up money laundering after college.”

“No. Card shark.”

Trini shoots an eyebrow in Kimberly’s direction. “You? A card shark?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

Trini lets a chuckle slip through her lips. “Fine, Princess. You take up gambling and hit the motherload one day in a high stakes game of poker. Better?”

“Much,” Kimberly replies as she rests her head on Trini’s shoulder. “Now continue.”

“We say we aren’t gonna go crazy decorating but of course that doesn’t happen and we spend a shit ton on tasteful but comfy furniture.”

“Leather couches, right? The ones we saw that day in Restoration Hardware. The distressed ones.”

“Yeah. That’s the first thing we buy.”

“And we adopt two dogs.”

“We do?”

Kimberly nods her head in response. “Yup. We go to the shelter with the intend of just getting one dog, but you fall in love with two and then twist my arm to adopt both.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh you so would.” Kimberly reaches up and ever so gently traces the outline of Trini’s jaw with her fingertips. They dance along her skin in a rhythmic pattern. Almost taunting the smaller girl. “In fact I think you would try and attempt to convince me to adopt half of the shelter but I would talk you down to just two.”

“We’d do family dinners with the boys. Every Friday night.”

“Enchiladas?”

“Sometimes. Depends on what I’ll feel in the mood to cook.”

“But Tuesdays--”

“Would still be our enchiladas night. Promise.”

A comfortable silence falls between Kimberly and Trini as the two look out onto the water, just merely existing in each other’s presence. And it’s in this moment that Kimberly is suddenly hit with the desperate desire to freeze time. Right then and there. So the two of them can live forever within the lingering thoughts of future “what ifs”.

“Hey baby. Mind reaching into the pocket of my coat? There’s something in there that I need.” Kimberly tilts her head over towards her leather jacket resting on the blanket besides Trini.  

“Cryptic much?”

Kimberly gives Trini a coy smirk. “Maybe.”

Trini rolls her eyes at Kimberly, stretches her arm, shoves her hand into the coat, and suddenly a look of shock sweeps across Trini’s face. “Kimberly…”

“It’s not what you think,” Kimberly responds with a small nod. “Go on and pull it out.”

But Trini can’t seem to will her arm to move. A hint of tears automatically start to well up in her eyes as she searches for her voice.

Sensing Trini’s trepidation, Kimberly reaches over, places her hand within the pocket as well, and slowly guides Trini’s hand back out, revealing a small black jewelry box. She carefully takes it from Trini and opens it. Inside resides a thin silver necklace with a ornate sabertooth tiger pendant.

“Baby, I…” Trini trails off, at a complete and utter loss for words. Her fingers trace the pendant, almost too afraid to fully touch it. Almost as if she isn’t sure it’s real.

“Look. I know it isn’t a ring. We both agreed that we’re too young for that. But I still wanted to get you something. Something that signifies what you mean to me.” Kimberly takes the necklace out of the box, unclasps it and then gently places it around Trini’s neck. “Trinity Marie Gomez. I’ve known since the very first moment that I laid eyes on you, that you’re it. My end game. There will never be anyone else. At least not for me.”

Another silence falls between the two of them as Trini simply stares at the pendant around her neck, unable to speak, let alone move.

Kimberly compulsively runs her hands through her hand and she lets out a shaky breath of air. Her skin crawls with each and every passing second. Maybe, the necklace is too much, too soon. Maybe Trini doesn’t feel the same--

“God I love you.” The words come out as barely more than a whisper but there’s a conviction to them, that’s undeniable. As if no truer words have ever been spoken before.

Two singular tears roll down Kimberly’s cheeks as a smile crawls across her lips. She wraps her around her girlfriend, pulling her inwards, their bodies becoming one. “I love you too, T. More than you’ll ever know.”

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Need help?” Kim asks, leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen.

Trini pauses for a moment from manning the array of pans on the stove to give Kim a skeptical once over. “From you? No thanks, Princess.”

“What? I can cook.”

Trini doesn’t even humor Kim with a response. She simply lets out a light, playful scoff and turns back around.

Kim makes her way into the kitchen and hops up on a free space on countertop near the stove. “I’m not that bad.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Really.”

“Last time I let you help, you almost burnt down my parents kitchen.”

“That was not my fault.”

Trini shoots an eyebrow in Kim’s direction.

“It wasn’t.”

“You left the dish towel directly next to an open flame.”

“Okay. Maybe I did that.”

“And you then tried to put out the fire with the pan.”

Kim laughs as the faded memory washes back over her. “Fine. You’re right.”

“What was that?” Trini cups her hand around her ear, overly miming the classic sign that she didn’t hear Kim.

“You’re right, Tiny.” Kim smirks knowing that the name will get a rise out of the smaller latina.

Without a second of hesitation, Trini grabs the dish towel off of her shoulder and snaps it at Kim’s arm. “Pain in my ass.”

As Trini goes back to cooking, Kim lets her eyes wander around their surroundings, fully taking in all of the little details and nuances. It’s not a massive kitchen in size, but none the less, is impressive by everything it holds within it. No expense has been spared when it comes to state of the art kitchen appliances and gadgets. And interspersed throughout are touches of Billy and Jason’s themselves, both as individuals and as a couple. Nasa apron hanging from a nearby hook. The Angel Grove football schedule tacked up in the dead center of the over cluttered cork message board. Last year’s holiday card featuring Billy and Jason in matching tacky Christmas sweaters stuck up on the side of the fridge.

Kim can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy mixed with regret. This could easily be her and Trini’s lives. If only…

“Here. Taste,” Trini says snapping Kim out of her thoughts.  She carefully dips a wooden spoon into the sauce and brings it to Kim’s lips.

Kim takes a taste and instantly releases a heavy moan in utter and absolute bliss. “Fuck.”

“Good?”

Kim nods as she goes about licking the spoon clean. “So fucking good.”

“Glad to know I’ve still got it. Haven’t cooks these since high school.”

Kim hands Trini back the spoon and shoots her a quizzical look. “You haven’t?”

“Nope.”

“But you love cooking. Especially enchiladas.”

Trini gives light shrug of her shoulders as she continues to concentrate on stirring the sauce. “Just didn’t feel right.”

Kim sits on that response for a moment or two, allowing the words to linger between the two of them. Then--

“And now?”

Trini pauses stirring and slowly brings her chocolate brown eyes up to meet Kim’s. There’s a sudden warmth behind them that’s been lacking up until this point in time. An unspoken understanding. “And now it does.”

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Stop hogging the enchiladas, man.” Zack doesn’t even wait for Jason to finish scooping out an enchilada onto his plate, before he snatches the serving dish out of Jason’s hands.

“Dude, you’ve already had two helpings.” Jason responds.

“I’m a growing boy,” Zack spits out with a mouthful of enchiladas.

The five of them sit around Jason and Billy’s dining room table, in the full swing of an actual, sit down style dinner.

A family dinner.

And for once it feels right. As if for a few brief moments, they can push aside all that has transpired between the five of them and just be together. Enjoying each other’s presence. As a family -- chosen family -- tends to do.

God, how Kim as missed this.

“What you smilin’ about, Princess?” Trini quietly asks, catching Kim’s eyes from across the table.

“Nothing important,” Kim responses as a bit of a chuckle escapes her lips.

“Riiight,” Zack playfully mumbles in between bites of enchiladas causing Trini to reach over and suck punch the lengthy boy in the bicep.

“I hate you.”

“Nah. You love me, Short Round. But maybe not as much as you love--”

“Finish that sentence and it’ll be your last, Taylor,” Trini cuts him off with a death stare. But Zack just laughs it off with a lovable grin and continues to inhale the contents of his plate.

“So, I was thinking we should go check out Krispy Kreme,” Jason says, grabbing the attention of everyone else around the table. “Just to make sure that everything’s safe and secure.”

“Now?” Zack asks, voice laced with confusion.

“No. In the morning. When they’re open.”

“But Zordon told us to stay put,” Billy pipes up. He stops eating mid bite and rests his fork at a perfect 90 degree angle on his plate. “He wouldn’t give us those orders if there wasn’t a reason for it.”

“I vote we hit it up. What’s the worst that could happen?” Zack chimes in, helping himself to yet another enchilada.”

“Let see. How about death and destruction for starters. We don’t even fully know what the hell is going on, but sure, let’s go throw ourselves into yet another insanely dangerous situation for the hell of it,” Trini fires back.

“What if we all don’t go? One or two of us can go and scope it out while the rest stay here in case something goes wrong,” Jason offer up to the group.

“And how would we know if something happened?” Trini asks. “It’s not like we can fully sense each other like we used to.”

“Oh! I’ve got something. I’ve been working on this tracker system for the past few years. It’s part gsp and part… well, it’s kinda hard to explain, but it should allow us to keep full tabs on whoever goes. And it’s rigged with a panic button.” Billy glances around the table with an ear to ear grin, waiting for everyone else to share in his excitement, but is only met with a mixture of confusion and apprehension.  

Jason matches Billy’s smile, gives his husband a loving squeeze on the shoulder, and then with a slightly sudden shift in emotions, locks eyes with Kim. There’s more that he isn’t saying. Another reason for the impromptu outing… and Kim knows it.

“Perfect. Kim and I will go first thing in the morning and you guys can keep tabs on us using Billy’s tracker,” Jason responds with a finality in his voice. One that he only saves for when he needs to step up to the plate and be a leader.

“Kim…” Trini shoots a look of concern over at Kim, but is only met with an emotionless stare in return. Kim refuses to reveal her cards.

“It’s okay. I’ll go,” Kim flatly states not breaking her gaze with Jason. There’s an underlying tension there, sitting between the two of them. Not fully healed wounds of past emotional injuries. But it’s not the time nor the place to address it.

Not yet.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////  

“Are we gonna talk about what happened back there?” Trini asks as she shuts the door to the guest bedroom.

Kim takes a seat on the edge of the bed and lets out a weighed sigh. “You’re not going to give me a choice, are you?”

Trini doesn’t respond. She doesn’t have to. Kim already knows the answer.

“Jason doesn’t trust me,” Kim quietly states. “That’s why he wants me to go with him. It’s a test. He wants to see what I’m going to do when I get into that close of proximity to the Zeo Crystal.”

Without a word, Trini crosses the room and sits herself down next to Kim. She rests her hand gingerly on Kim’s thigh and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t owe him anything.”

“Trini…”

“Kim. Look at me.”

Kim feels Trini’s fingers gently brush against the side of her cheek, tucking a loose strand of her short, messy locks behind her ear. She take a long, sobering breath of air and then brings her eyes to upwards to meet Trini’s. “I do. I owe you all an expla--”

“No, Princess. You don’t. You’re here now and that’s all that matters.”

And suddenly, with those words, all of Kim’s sense of restraint melts away, leaving only her impulses in control. She knows what she wants…

She wants Trini.

Kim leans forward, closing the distance between the two of them and pulls Trini into a searing kiss. It’s raw and laced with an underlying need, eight years in the making, that simply no words can fully describe.

Hands move at a fanatic pace, pawing at buttons, zippers, and edges of clothing. There’s no need to discuss. They both know where this kiss is heading.

Trini grips the bottom of Kim’s shirt and without fully breaking their kiss, rips it over her head and tosses it across the room. Her lips move downwards, marking path along Kim’s skin as she goes. Jawline. Neck. Clavicle. And then--

Trini pulls away, sitting back on her heels for a moment, eyes locked in on the edges of a tattoo poking out just above Kim’s calvin klein bra. “Lets see it, Hart.”

“Fine. But don’t laugh.” Kim lets out a playful sigh and then carefully pulls her bra off to reveal the full tattoo.  It’s a slightly crude, hand drawn crown with the singular word “princess” written just below it on her chest, directly above her heart.

Trini stares at the tattoo as a look of pure disbelief washes over her face.

“I know, it’s--”

“It’s my handwriting,” Trini responds in nothing more than a whisper.

“Yeah.” Kim nervously runs her hands through her hair, suddenly feeling a bit more exposed than her liking. “I saved a pic on my phone of one of your old doodles. The ones you used to draw on my bio notes. You’re not the only one who’s ever found themselves drunk and in a tattoo parlor.”

Trini ever so gingerly traces the outline of the crown with her fingertips, committing every line of the design to memory and then plants a loving kiss on Kim’s chest. “It’s beautiful.”

“Stealing my lines, Gomez?” Kim wraps her arms around the small latina and in one swift motion, lays them down on the bed, straddling Trini in the process. She delivers another short passionate kiss, this time biting down on Trini’s bottom lip as she pulls away.

Trini lets out a deep moan, further fueling the insatiable want, pulsing deep within Kim’s core. Kim trails her hands along Trini’s skin, passing over her breasts, then abs, but hesitates to cross the definitive boundary of Trini’s leggings.

“Are you sure?”

Trini looks up into Kim’s yes and gives the slightest of nods. “I trust you.”

And in that moment, Kim’s heart floods with a love that’s been absent since the day she boarded a bus and left her entire world behind. A love that she wasn’t sure she’s ever have the chance to feel again.

Kim’s finally home.

[bulkmentor]

Alpha X Boost Review: Is It Worth the Hype?

Alpha X Boost is a popular testosterone booster that promises a host of benefits when coupled with a healthy diet and workout routine. You may have even heard of the Alpha X Boost on Shark Tank.

This dietary supplement claims to support your body’s natural testosterone production to help you build lean muscle mass, increase your sex drive, increase fat burning, and more.

There are so many testosterone boosting products on the market. And with plenty of contradicting Alpha X Boost reviews, it’s not easy to come to a consensus about this product. Does it really work?

In this comprehensive review, we’ll help you understand this product by giving you all the facts about its ingredients, claims, and intended usage.

How Does It Work?

Alpha X is a testosterone booster with a formula that is packed with what they call some of the most potent testosterone boosting ingredients. These ingredients are supposed to encourage testosterone production and allow it to increase naturally over time. This is safer than introducing synthetic testosterone into your body.

Ingredients

Here is a breakdown of the primary ingredients in X Alpha pills and their proposed role in the formula:

Horny Goat Weed Extract

This herbal extract is used in Asia as an aphrodisiac and to treat erectile dysfunction. It helps improve your stamina and energy levels so you can optimize your gym and bedroom performance.

Horny goat weed extract is sought after because it is thought to be a natural alternative to erectile dysfunction medications.

Tongkat Ali Extract

Tongkat Ali is an exotic plant that is also known to enhance libido and sexual pleasure. Not only that, but it helps reduce stress levels so you can use your energy for other aspects of your life. The extract is also believed to increase sperm quantity.

Saw Palmetto Extract

This palm berry extract is often used as a treatment for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. In addition to improving prostate health, it can reduce inflammation, prevent hair loss, and increase testosterone levels.

Orchic Substance

Orchic comes from the testicles of a bull. The substance can increase your testosterone levels and sperm count.

Wild Yam Extract

This substance also enhances your libido and increases energy levels. It is commonly used in estrogen replacement therapy. The reason it is in this product is because estrogen can trap free testosterone.

Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla is a herb known for its hormone balancing and aphrodisiac properties. If you are dealing with a testosterone deficit, this substance can help your body return to its natural rate of testosterone production.

Nettle Extract

Nettle Extract helps block out testosterone restraining sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). It also helps you maintain good prostate health.

Boron

Boron is a mineral that increases levels of free testosterone. It is also used for building strong bones, treating osteoarthritis, and increasing lean muscle mass. Additionally, it can improve your cognitive abilities.

Calcium

Calcium is another mineral that improves bone health. Some people think that a combination of calcium and weight training is a way to boost testosterone levels.

What Increased Testosterone Can Do for You

Testosterone has many functions. It is involved in many healthy processes of the body. Here are some of the ways that higher testosterone levels can improve your health:

Nitric Oxide Production

This process increases blood flow, which is important for healthy erectile function. Testosterone plays a supporting role in this process, which makes it essential for penis health.

Fat Oxidation

An increase in testosterone can help you lose weight by making it easier to burn body fat. Increased T-levels will regulate insulin and encourage your body to break down fat.

Nitrogen Retention/Protein Synthesis

Testosterone and anabolism go hand in hand. To build muscle and preserve that muscle, testosterone speeds up the process of protein synthesis and increases nitrogen retention.

Who Can Use It?

The Alpha X testosterone booster is a product made for people who are looking for a natural testosterone enhancement supplement. It is meant for bodybuilders who want to supplement their workout routine and improve their performance in the gym.

It is also marketed toward people who want to build lean muscle and burn fat quicker. If you are having difficulty focusing and want improved mental clarity, you may benefit from this product as well. That being said…

Who Cannot Use it?

This product should not be used by males who are under 18. If you are not a frequent gym-goer, you won’t see the maximum benefit from this product because t-boosters require physical activity.

Is It Safe?

Because the X Alpha testosterone booster is composed of natural ingredients, it is entirely safe. The potent blend of natural ingredients supplements your body’s natural processes rather than introducing foreign substances. However, you must follow the usage instructions to ensure you get the most out of this product.

However, most of the claims made by the company are not backed by the FDA. While this product shouldn’t pose any health risks, it’s difficult to say whether you’ll really see any benefits from using this supplement.

How to Use It

One bottle of Alpha X Boost contains 60 capsules, which is the equivalent of 30 servings. It is recommended that you take two capsules per day, preferably with a meal.

The bottle suggests that you consult your physician before taking this product if you are currently on any other medications.

There isn’t any information online about when the best time to take the supplement is, so the choice is up to you. Many people enjoy taking supplements early in the day as part of their morning routine. Others prefer taking their supplements before bed. You can do whichever depending on your preference.

Benefits

Alpha X Boost promises many desirable benefits. Here are the top product claims:

Natural increase in testosterone

Increased libido

Improved mental clarity

Faster recovery

Greater stamina

Improved fat burning

Improved muscle mass

Enhanced motivation and mood

Everyone’s experience with the product is different, so results may vary. As always, the effectiveness of a product also depends on how you take it. Follow the usage instructions on the packaging to ensure that you experience the benefits and not any of the unwanted side effects.

A lot of people reported that they only experienced some of these benefits if any. Many purchasers said that none of the claims was accurate and this did nothing to them.

Side Effects

The brand doesn’t say that users will experience any side effects while they are on the Alpha X supplement, but there are some reported side effects associated with the supplement’s ingredients.

Saw palmetto can cause an upset stomach

Horny goat weed extract can cause irritability, increased heart rate, and fever.

If many of the ingredients in this product have potential side effects, taking a combination of those ingredients may not be the best bet. And, you could potentially be allergic to some of the ingredients.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Available for purchase online

Uses natural ingredients

Cons

Not a lot of evidence to back the claims

Many reviewers say this product isn’t effective

High price

Testimonials

Here are some Alpha X Boost reviews:

“I have been on Alpha X Boost for over 30 day’s and cannot feel any difference in energy or anything else that it promises. I told myself that I would give it 60 days. If I feel the same I will not change my rating.” -Bill Zarak

“Total joke, don’t waste your money!!!” -David Connelly

“To be honest I did not feel or see a change. But I also did not get any side effects so that is why it is 3 stars. Just because it really didn’t do anything.” -T. Krycek

FAQs

How much does the Alpha Boost cost?

The cost of this supplement varies depending on where you purchase it from. The official Alpha X Boost website charges $93.78 for their monthly membership. Amazon is the best place to purchase this supplement because you can get a 30-day supply for $37.97.

Does it really work?

Alpha X is carefully formulated using what the company claims to be some of the most powerful, natural ingredients out there. The formula is designed to support your body’s natural testosterone production.

When used in conjunction with a healthy diet and vigorous workout routine, you are supposed to see results. However, the claims can be hard to trust considering how many people call this a scam.

Are there any guarantees?

The website does list a returns policy that credits you one returned, unopened product per customer so long as you get it back to them within 30 days.

How long does it take to see results?

There isn’t much information circulating online about how long this product takes to work, but some reviewers say they noticed results in as little as two weeks. Others say they noticed results on day 5 of taking the supplement. Although, many people said that the results never came

Where to Buy the X Alpha Boost?

You can purchase Alpha X Boost on their website or on eBay, but the best place to purchase the supplement is on Amazon. You can not purchase Alpha X Boost in GNC or any other brick and mortar stores.

On their official website and on eBay, you’ll find that the prices have been marked up quite a bit. Click here to take a further look at the supplement on Amazon.

CHECK CURRENT PRICE

Final Thoughts

Alpha X Boost claims to be a powerful testosterone boosting supplement that can give you a host of desirable benefits. These benefits include increased fat burning, enhanced libido, increased lean muscle mass, improved cognitive ability, and more.

All of these effects are supposedly derived from the carefully selected ingredient list that is full of 100% natural ingredients. These substances are meant to work together to encourage testosterone production in your body in order to increase levels naturally.

While Alpha X Boost is a much safer alternative to synthetic forms of testosterone that can negatively impact your health, there’s little information to support the claims that this company makes. To discover some other testosterone boosting products that will actually deliver results, click here.

from Bulk Mentor https://bulkmentor.com/alpha-x-boost-reviews/