#his constant frustration throughout their childhood

[beegomess]

They dreaming about you || Slytherin boys

Summary: The boys being surprised by hot dreams with you, even without being in a loving relationship. These dreams take them by surprise, but maybe not so much, since you had been noticing some stealthy looks from them for some time on your body. Warnings: A little spicy, +18.

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Blaise Zabini

That scene seemed too good to be true, but it was. At least in Blaise's head it was...

His body lying on the sheets with his skirt raised and legs open gave him the view of paradise. What only improved with the fact that your fingers slowly went in and out of you while your face squirmed in pleasure and your mouth spilled a few moans, from time to time, with his name.

In the dream, Blaise just looked, almost as if waiting for the right moment to touch you, and it was certainly wonderful to see you in that position.

However, Zabini's brain was awakened thanks to the roar of the bathroom door being knocked by his roommate who had just entered. His eyes opened slowly, feeling a violent frustration taking over his body followed by shame of himself. In addition to, of course, having something he had to solve in the shower before class.

At breakfast, you were there, laughing with Pansy. As soon as Blaise's brown eyes hit you, an embarrassment was felt. However, this embarrassment was soon replaced by a desire and vivid memories of his dream, which made him ignore you during the following days, because the dreams did not stop. They even happened in naps during the day. It was crazy for him, his time in the bath had to increase considerably in the last few days. Blaise didn't know what else to do with himself.

Draco Malfoy

Oh, no. Draco really didn't use to be that kind of boy. He, in fact, was used to receiving this kind of report from other girls. So when, at his sleep, he found himself dreaming of you with his lips around him, this lit an alert in his mind.

You were the sister of one of your friends, that wasn't right. He could swear that he consciously never wanted you that way, but in fact, he was only in the phase of denial by Theo's constant warnings not to look at his beautiful sister that way.

He avoided you as much as possible for the rest of the day, you two didn't really use to be very close, but you were almost always in the same places.

The attempt to avoid you during the day worked, but during dinner he couldn't do the same. What made you look the most lascivious way at your mouth while you ate dessert and talked to your friend. It was then that he realized that maybe he was not as calibrated in relation to you as he imagined.

Lorenzo Berkshire

Enzo saw you in your pajamas several times throughout your childhood, this was common among best friends. However, something seemed to have changed in you lately, he was starting to notice more about what his body looked like now. However, he thought he had stopped there, just a common physical attraction.

Good, but that's not what happened. One morning he just woke up with a big problem in his pants thanks to a dream in which you simply kissed him on his lap.

In the dream, you were wearing those very short pajamas that you loved to wear, but that Lorenzo hated because it made him look like any pervert. His body was on his lap, using the friction between the two of you to satisfy yourself in some way. His low moans muffled by his lips caused Enzo's smiles during the dream.

However, he woke up at some point with you, already dressed for class, knocking on the door of his room. His body that was hot and thirsty freezes immediately when he hears his voice calling him and he jumps out of bed in despair.

- Enzo, is everything okay? - You ask because of his delay in opening for you.

He answered anything, just to mislead you for a few hours. It was almost impossible to avoid you during the day, you surprised him, he was always with you and suddenly he was full of commitments that didn't include you.

Enzo just didn't know what to do, since whenever he saw you, he received scenes from his dream.

Mattheo Riddle

His body was beautifully folded over a table in some classroom, his hands grabbed the wood tightly while his skirt was raised and his panties were slightly dragged to the side to give him passage. Mattheo smiled as he hit his hips against his own and saw his face, pressed against the wood, writhing with the moans and sensations he gave you.

Everything was perfect, really everything. Until he simply woke up, without any interruption, his brain simply turned off the most beautiful scene he had ever seen and woke him up out of nowhere.

He opened his eyes and began to fall for himself about the dream. Why was he dreaming that about you? You didn't even talk, nor did you have friends in common besides Astoria, who was not exactly his friend, just a friend's girlfriend.

But that's okay, he did what he had to do so he didn't have to show all his tight pants and went on with his day. For him, that was unusual, but not a total astonishment. Mattheo really liked to see his body whenever he could, but he never did more than that.

Riddle's day went on normally. Girls throwing themselves at him, Draco complaining about his father, Theo agreeing and telling about his... Until you passed next to his table to yours ahead.

Coincidentally, you were wearing the skirt of that dream, the exact same skirt. All right, it was the uniform, but you were wearing that specific model, with pleats and more round and a little shorter.

Mattheo felt warm up, not with shame, but with a sudden desire. What only got worse when he realized that his dream happened in that same classroom. The class simply dragged on to Mattheo, who decided to go out in the middle of it to be able to relieve himself minimally and try to ignore you for the rest of the day, getting frustrated about the way he felt close to you from that day on.

Theodore Nott

Theodore's night had been great until he lay down, he had lost sleep and went to the Astronomy Tower to smoke, in an attempt to fall asleep again. And when he got there, he found you doing the same as him. You two talked and laughed at nonsense while smoking, something that became common over the weeks, it was something that happened coincidentally, until Theodore started going whenever you went.

He always slept better after hearing his laugh and that day was no different, he lay down and fell asleep quickly, and everything only seemed to get better when an image of him invaded his dreams: his hands leaning on Nott's chest while his breasts shook as you slid over him, his suggestive smiles and moans filled Theo's eyes, making him think he was finally in paradise for having her.

Anyway, his paradise was quickly interrupted by Mattheo's noises when leaving the dorm. Theodore was face down, but as soon as he turned around, it was visible to see his condition through the sheet itself, which made him rub his eyes in frustration, but not out of shame but out of necessity.

Theo was the kind of boy who was not ashamed of things like this, in fact, it only encouraged him to look for you, even if it meant having to deal with the insistent scenes reappearing in his mind.

Tom Riddle

You were simply stunning with your ankles hitting Tom's shoulders as he increased the pace of the beats on you. It was almost angelic for him to see you that way. The way he got lost in you in his own mind seemed like a weakness when he woke up.

Tom thought he was bewitched by you, after all, he was the one who should get into people's minds and not the other way around. So, when this happened, he was intrigued and obsessed with you. The two of you were not close, much less had already talked more than a brief question about school subjects. And that's why his obsession with you.

Even though he was a different boy, in a more focused and studious feeling than worried about girls, he can't help but perceive you in the libraries and how the dim lights contoured his body and curves perfectly. He didn't avoid you the next day, in fact, as the days went by, Tom approached you. He never ran after girls, but he seemed willing to watch you from afar whenever he could.

He felt like an idiot, futile to say the least. But he couldn't take away from himself the curiosity and the desire to see you really squirm under him.

_______________________________

xoxo, bee🫶🏼✨

[goldsbitch]

Hypochondria

The emotions and glimpses of daily life of this random girl followed Lando throughout his whole. Whenever she's sad, he knows. Her celebrations sort of become his celebrations. For him, it's like breathing - just another part of his life. That is until he meets her.

soulmate au

Lando knew the moment he saw her. And it was at that point when he thought he was truly going crazy.

For his whole life, he thought it was just some fantasy that he planted in his mind in early age and was impossible to get rid off.

He froze completely. Panicked, went into fight or flight mode, these two fighting each other so hard that he just stood there, staring like a creep. Thank god she was far away enough and probably did not notice.

His second immediate reaction was anger. Did she really not notice him? The audacity? How can she roam around his brain for his whole life and then not react when she sees him? Her being in the paddock meant that she definitely knew who he was, people don't just end up by chance there.

Except maybe she did. Her outfit gave away that she was one of the medics from the medical team. Of course she would be. Saving lives, doing something proper meaningful. Not driving around in circles and making a big deal out of it, like he did. Never in his life did he feel as selfish and sort of shameful for his choice of career.

He began to insert ideas into her head, despite not having spoken a single word to her. She was probably someone who valued intelligence, people who were book smart, humble heroes in the society who were focus on dedicating their lives to saving others.

Not those who were recklessly driving around in circles. There was no way she'd see him fit to her. That was not going to stop him. Her being one of the medics provided a great opportunity. Hypochondria? So be it.

His mind was spiraling out of control.

//

For as long as he could remember, he had dreams (and something he would not dare call visions) about this one girl. As if he was watching glimpses of her life, little moments, bits and pieces. But it was almost constant. He was so used to it at this point that he found it relaxing. It was very confusing growing up. Every adult around him was freaking out when his childhood imaginary friend phase would just not go away. So once he realized that people were thinking he's weird, he just stopped talking about it. It was also a big revelation to him when he found out that other people did not have these visions in their head so intensively. When he was 17 he had an obsession phase, where he researched the fuck out of how brains worked, but nothing seemed to match. His dreams did not provide him with anything specific, no details about place, vague signs that this person he kept seeing at least lived in the same time frame as he did. It was little things he saw and felt, as if her emotions traveled to him. He'd seen her happy, laughing with friends while she tried weed for the first time, getting nervous by her exams and debating whether to brush her teeth in the evening. Her becoming a medic now finally answered few questions. Often he would wonder why was she studying so much. His blurry dreams blocking these specifics out, just to make it all more frustrating. Observing her having a crush on someone was unnerving and eventually, seeing little things from her romantic relationship, just made him supremely mad. He was glad that was over, because at one point, it had started to seriously mess up his mood. He genuinely celebrated the break up. Incredible amounts of little moments and details were conveyed to him, but no idea on where or who she was. He just had this knowledge in his head about someone who he doubted actually existed.

And now she was probably standing right across the track. It was a lot to take in.

//

Most of the medical team traveled with them, as far as Lando was aware. Never really paid that much of attention to that department until then. So he figured he's only have few days to capture her attention, she might have been local. He was already contemplating moving here to join her life, in case she was local. That's when he decided to get a full medical check up upon request.

He complained nonstop about a pain in his stomach - vague enough for many possibilities having to be ruled out.

It quickly started feeling like playing a video game. Having to jump through levels in order to get to his "boss".

He spent an hour in the medical centre, where he was taken immediately after his first comment about his fictional pain, because everyone still had in fresh memory the saga of Carlos's appendix. "This is gonna be easy" he thought to himself, because one of the first people he saw passing by was her. He was not even trying to hide when observing her. The way her hair fell out of a messy bun. A concentrated look as she was attending one of the staff members, listening attentively and taking care of their wound. The whole place seemed to glow up by her presence. He wondered how it felt when her fingertips touched the skin of another person and was almost jealous of the person she was treating. On par with his bad luck, the drivers had a dedicated doctor on-call, so he was taken to a different private room where he had to undergo a full medical scan, with of course nothing being found. When he got out, she was no longer there. All for nothing.

//

The rest of his day was covered in a brain fog, he sort of floated through the media day, feeling like he was not really there. He let Oscar totally step up to be the main star this time. As if he could give a fuck.

Over the years of having to live with this strange connection, he managed to block it out temporarily for moment when he really need to focus. This time, he was doing the exact opposite. Trying to somehow "connect" to this personal bluetooth he had in his head.

Finally, after few hours he felt something. A light wave of anxiety, as she opened her email. Then a wave of disappointment, despair and her giving up. He was more than able to not get affected by her emotions - usually. This time it was sort of in tune with his own mix of emotions, so if he was a downer before it progressed perfectly into him shutting off completely.

//

He managed to completely forget that his latest girlfriend, if that was the right word to use, was coming over. He only realized when he saw a pair of female shoes thrown by the door of his hotel room. A wave of guilt washed over him. He was being an asshole again. As they greeted each other, he tried to kiss her as much as he could, trying to avoid unnecessary conversation. Maybe this reality check was good. He often got lost in his own head, listening sad songs to fill this strange void - or he would just party too much. Now, there was a real person standing in front of him, a super hot girl who liked him and was not annoying. He figured there was no point in drowning in his own delusions.

Letting her fuck his brains out worked, at least until the next morning.

part 2

[astrumark]

── SHE WAS LOVIN' ME, SHE WAS WANTIN' ME ★.

PAIRING: aemond targaryen x female reader.

SUMMARY: aemond is not accustomed to getting attention and you give him just that.

WARNINGS: one curse word, sexual implications, heavy make-out session, flirting.

WC: 2.9K

NOTES: i haven't written anything in two years so i'm very rusty, sorry. also english is not my native language.

Aemond has always been prideful, although this characteristic was often hidden under the circumstances of his life. But he was aware, and enjoyed a bit too much, all of his privileges as a prince, even being arrogant about it. His pride was a bit shaken when he didn't claim a dragon in his early childhood, a dragon meant a lot not only for a Targaryen but especially a male Targaryen, a symbol of their manhood. He felt more unworthy than other men in his family. When he finally claimed Vhagar, he lost his eye, an essential part of his body, and yet again, his entitlement faltered. When it was rather obvious that Aegon would become king one day, and how unfit for the role he was, Aemond was faced with the second son's burden and jealousy. Aemond was prideful, however, he never felt whole.

He was resentful because he could've had so much more. He'd sometimes dream about having the largest dragon alive, both of his eyes, and an Iron Throne to claim for himself. But reality would strike him once again and he would bury all of his anger, frustration, and envy deep in his heart and present only his well-built facet to others. Aemond felt so at fault he turned into a perfectionist. He needed to be the perfect pupil, the perfect warrior, the perfect son, brother, and one day, husband and father. To be respected, and to be feared. But no matter how much he succeed in his duties, he was never satisfied. Aemond's pride was wounded and he craved validation, even if he didn't admit it.

So yes, Aemond absolutely loved your attention.

When you first arrived at the Red Keep, your father a new member of the small council, Aemond believed your constant stare was due to your fear and disgust towards him, just as the other ladies. However, as moons went by, Aemond noticed there was something slightly different in your eyes, curiosity, perhaps? He felt your gaze on him constantly and decided to ignore it. But it certainly made him unease, such sudden interest. You even attended his training on certain afternoons, and he knew you couldn't mean anything good, which irritated him as well.

You, on the contrary, were enchanted with the prince the second you laid eyes on him. While reading a romance book, you believed that a person couldn't knock another's air out of their lungs upon a mere sight, but that's what happened. The air around you became thick and a soft gasp escaped your lips. He was the most handsome man you have ever encountered. You tried to pick on things you didn't like about him, and you found none. His tall and slim body, the typical leather attire, soft-looking silver hair, mesmerizing violet eye, and a, in your opinion, charming eyepatch. His face, you could have never imagined it in your head, unusual characteristics one would never think could end up looking so good when paired together. He was sharp but pretty, unique. Reminding you of a sculpture, to be appreciated, but better avoid touching it to not deteriorate the work.

Once knowing you would move to the Red Keep, Aemond was undoubtedly the royal you were most keen to meet in person. The mighty rider of Vhagar, such a legendary dragon. When you heard the story about the night he claimed her, you were standing on tiptoes. I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon, he supposedly said. Only a child, you admired the boy, and that admiration didn't go away as more gossip about the one-eyed would reach your ears throughout the years, how he'd become a highly educated man and one of the finest warriors in all of Westeros, how he was collected and intimidating. Your expectations were high already, and he managed to surpass them. Even when Aemond demonstrated little interest in you or your acquaintance, you could not help but drool over him. His looks, his attitude, his voice. So delightful.

It was Helaena's name day and Queen Alicent decided to throw a banquet in celebration. The great hall was loud due to conversations and the music, not many lords had been invited, to not overwhelm Princess Helaena, who preferred calmer ambiances, nonetheless, the castle was a lot more full than usual. You poured more wine to yourself, stomach already full, half engaged in the conversation with other ladies, half watching Aemond, further on the table, across his brother. Lost in your trance, you didn't connect the voices to names, but you listened to them.

"I must confess I find Prince Aegon dashingly handsome. Princess Helaena's a lucky woman."

Giggles.

"Indeed, a shame he lacks morals."

"He's truly attractive, the whores and servants that earn his attention have nothing to complain about."

"Do you think if Prince Aemond still had his other eye, he could compare?"

"Not at all, he's simply strange looking."

You scoffed. "He's very handsome. Aegon is the one who could never compare to him, even lacking an eye."

One of the ladies smirked. "You are the only one who favors Aemond, I wonder why?"

"Perhaps I just have a better taste."

There was a sound of disapproval among the inner circle you found yourself in, and you sighed, drinking more of your wine.

"There's just something about him, a fire, an unpredictability. He looks calm, yet he seems as if he could explode at any moment, doesn't he?" You pondered, looking at him again. "Seven, he rides the largest dragon alive, is that not alluring enough?"

"Careful what you say out loud, dear Y/N, if the Septa finds out where your thoughts are wandering, she will not be pleased." Lady Vivien teased and the others burst out laughing. You rolled your eyes.

Aemond was bored out of his mind, but he forced himself to stay for his sister. He watched the feast impassive, speaking only when needed and fidgeting with his cup of wine. When Helaena left to gather with a group of young ladies, where you stood, and his mom seemed too engrossed in conversation with her friends, the young prince contemplated leaving, certain his presence was no longer a necessity. That was when Aegon opened his mouth.

"Do you think it makes her look stupid? Because I do," He drank from his cup. "But stupidly sensual."

"What do you speak of?" Aemond's tone was both tedious and exasperated.

"Lady Y/N, obviously, longingly staring at you," Aegon scoffed. "If she looked at me with those eyes, I tell you, brother, there wouldn't be much left of her afterward. Basically begging you to fuck her senseless."

Aemond would never say it out loud, but his heart skipped a beat at his brother's words. A thought that never once crossed his mind, because, surely, that couldn't be possible, not someone like you. But it made sense, yes. What he could never quite read in your eyes... was it lust? Pride filled his chest with the idea, the knowledge that you may desire him.

For the first time, when he felt your eyes on him, he locked his one with yours, watching you intently, now with the same interested gaze you held, confidently analyzing your face and reaction. When your lips turned into a shy yet flirtatious smile, only to shamefully avert your eyes right after, playing with your hair and pretending to focus on the conversation around you, he knew it. Your actions were not uncommon to him, he had seen them many times but directed at Aegon, and even his younger brother, Daeron, but never him. Gods, was it pleasant. He couldn't fight the smirk off his face as he sipped on his wine, an ego boost much needed.

You have noticed the shift in Aemond's behavior towards you after that night, it was impossible not to. How he started to return your stares and smirks and acknowledge your presence with words rather than a nod, sometimes even engaging in small conversations, asking about you and your interests. Each interaction lets you with a foolish smile and a racing heart.

Managing to convince Helaena to ditch the Septa's lessons for one afternoon, you found yourself in the Dragonpit since the princess decided she desired to fly. Although there hadn't much to do whilst you waited for her return, you didn't mind in the slightest. The structure, so big and magnificent, had always amazed you, the dragon's power distinguishable in the air. And for that, you were more than thrilled to visit Rhaenys's Hill every time someone suggested it. After chatting a bit with Helaena's sworn knight, you started wandering around, lost in thought.

Your body trembled upon hearing the most loud and rasping squeak, followed by harsh flaps of wings, and you lifted your head up. You already knew who it was, no other dragon compares to her. And if carefully inspected, one could easily understand each dragon's personality and mannerisms. You rushed outside, although still hiding behind one of the huge pillars at the entrance of the Dragonpit.

Vhagar landed on the ground with a loud thud, and it was as if the sand was shaking beneath your feet. You gawked at the creature. You had already seen her, but never this close. Although stunning, Vhagar also seemed unnatural, her colossal form not settling right in the ambiance. No living or dead being should be this big. You gulped nervously, she was otherworldly, for sure.

You listened to Aemond talking with a few dragonkeepers in High Valyrian, you had studied the language for a while, but you were not fluent, especially when spoken so fast. With difficulty, you managed to understand that the prince had asked for food. Aemond petted Vhagar whilst a few workers scattered away, surprisingly, they came back not much long after, guiding two living cows and a sheep.

You were fascinated and horrified as you watched Vhagar burn one of the cows, feasting in its carbonized meat and bones. You tore your gaze from what was left of the poor animal, instead focusing on Vhagar's appearance, memorizing it, her bronze scales and big green eyes, ridiculously sharp and deadly teeth, and visible scars of ancient battles all over her body. You couldn't help but recall all of the tales, so entertained by the beast, you didn't even notice the presence of the young prince behind you.

"I must admit my utter surprise, Lady Y/N. I was not expecting such a lovely presence in here." The voice startled you and a gasp escaped your lips as your body turned around.

"Prince Aemond," You said curtsying slightly, your head also lowered in embarrassment with the flattery, and you tried to fight the satisfied smile that threatened to break in the corner of your lips. "It seems your sister also found it fit to fly this afternoon. I came as a companion."

Aemond hummed, making butterflies arise in your stomach. "The weather is nice."

"Indeed." Your body turned to Vhagar again as the she-dragon now incinerated the sheep, a burning smell invading your nostrils once more.

"You like her." It was a statement, not a question.

"She is legendary, my Prince."

"That she is."

"Isn't it hard to believe she is one of the dragons that conquered Westeros all those years ago? And still stands before us? A living piece of history itself," You rambled, watching how they brought the other cow forward. "Ancient, powerful, magic. A fragment of the Old Valyria."

Aemond stood even taller, as if it was possible, filled with pride of his dragon, a smirk plastered on his face.

"She has seen so much, more than half of the people she has known is dead for quite some time now," You continued. "Have you heard about how the wild dragon Cannibal might be even older than Vhagar? It is absurd. Amazing creatures." Your gaze returned to Aemond.

He was already looking at you, listening to your words attentively, amusement clear behind his eye.

"Well, seeing as you admire her that much, I might take you for a ride," Aemond said. "Then, you will be able to see her full glory."

You chuckled wryly, looking back at Vhagar very briefly, before laying your full attention on the prince. "I suppose there are more shameful ways of dying than falling off a dragon." You jested.

"I would not let you fall," He paused, eye surveying your body up and down. "I'd hold onto you tight." You didn't miss the flirtatious tone.

You smirked, heart pounding loudly and feeling all hot. You stared at him, absolutely entranced by his handsome face, before entering his game.

"I don't know what would be more pleasant," You took a step closer to him, whispering in seduction. "Riding the mightiest dragon alive or being pressed against you."

Your stomach tingled as Aemond's eye darkened with lust. It was something you have noticed upon admiring him for so long, that, although his body and face remained often stoic, his eye didn't really lack emotion, and through it, you should be able to read his mood.

"It would pain me not to clear your doubts, pet." His hand brushed a strand of your hair and tucked it behind your ear, making the distance between you even smaller, and your breath hitched.

"We wouldn't want that." You whispered, stepping back, only to feel the coolness of the pillar, Aemond followed you like a predator, your chests pressed.

"No, we wouldn't." His long index finger caressed your jaw, the feather-like touch making you flutter your eyes shut as the hair on the nape of your neck stirred up. "So beautiful." He whispered, now cupping your cheeks in both hands and bringing your face closer to his.

You knew you should pull away, that you were in a public space, that although hidden behind the pillar, and not seen from the front, anyone that decided to enter or leave the building, could catch you in the most inappropriate way possible with the prince. You'd be forever ruined in court and your chances of a good marriage would disappear, your parents would rightfully so doom you, because how does one even explain this situation? But you couldn't.

All you could possibly think about was Aemond, the warmth of his body, and how good it felt, his breath mingling with yours, the texture of the leather beneath your fingers as you held his waist, his scent, of dragon, but something else as well, more citric and fresh you could only guess as his bathing oils and the absolute desire in his eye. No, you couldn't pull away and you wouldn't. You would risk everything to have the littlest taste of him. Aemond smirked, nose brushing yours, and then, he kissed you.

Aemond kissed you, and you could swear you floated, all of your other senses went numb, and you could only feel his warm and soft lips on yours. You sighed in contentment, and you moved your lips against his tentatively, a hot and pleasant sensation taking over your lower belly. You gladly let him deepen the kiss, and not even if you tried you could have prevented your soft moan from slipping out of you. You met him at his pace, not slow or fast, just right, the two of you getting to know and exploring the other. Growing confident, one of your hands moved to his strong jaw, stroking it gently as you had only dreamed of, Aemond groaned in pleasure, tightening his grip on you. And you continued to kiss him, eager and tenderly, somewhere in your mind, fearing that you were showing him how much you appreciated him, how much you wished for this, longed for this, longed for him.

Aemond noticed, of course he did, and it made him feel so good. You needed him, and Aemond enjoyed being needed. His hands slided down your body, caressing and squeezing your ass as he swallowed down your moan with his lips fervently devouring your own, his hands traveled through your hips and waist, going to the swell of your breasts and gripping on it, your surprised whimper making his cock throb. Aemond's lips moved to your jaw and exposed neck, leaving open-mouthed kisses and slight biting. You pulled at his hair, bringing his face to yours again, and he could only stare at you.

Because there, panting and with swollen lips, after letting him kiss and palm you in such a dangerous place, looking at him with a look that Aemond could only identify as pure adoration, he knew he'd got you in the palm of his hands, at his complete mercy, a sheep in a dragon's claw, and that you were his. He smiled wickedly, mine, he thought, heart swelling in pride. He locked your lips with his again, but in a peck. You were blissful.

"Come," He took your hand, subtly leading you inside, towards one of the many uninhabited tunnels.

And in the dark of the cave, away from any possible prying eyes, you kissed again, for several minutes or even more, heatedly and curiously, hands excited to feel as much of the other's body as possible. You bit, sucked, and licked one another. And even if just for that brief moment, Aemond felt whole. Nothing was pledging his mind as you deluged him with so much affection he could've drowned in it, all he cared about was the feeling of your delicate lips on his, your soft skin, your addicting taste and smell, and your loveliest moans that sounded like music to his ears. Aemond had bewitched you long ago, but unknowingly to the prince, you had just bewitched him as well. You needed him, and he'd willingly oblige to your wishes.

[ddarker-dreams]

Yan Genshin Boys / Favorite Place To Kiss You.

Expanding on this post some because I cannot stop thinking about it 😌

Your Lips

Scaramouche: You can anticipate clanking teeth, aggressive tongue work, and his all-encompassing need to dominate you. He is painfully inexperienced and is working overtime to hide the fact, to mixed results. You always find yourself pressed against something when he is kissing you, whether it be a wall or a bed. The leverage serves him well and makes him feel more in control. For a few minutes, he can pretend he holds more influence over you than you do him. He parts from your lips only to mutter a few degrading statements that seem more like a way to ground himself against the mad tempest of obsession you stir within him. If he can't control it, he might as well throw caution to the wind, and take all that he can.

Kaeya: Kaeya kisses you in such a way that throughout its duration, you almost love him back. It's sensual, the way Prince Charming was depicted in the fairytales sitting around your childhood bedroom. Should you dare to open your eyes, you'll see his staring through you. Gauging. Calculating. Making constant little tweaks and adjustments so that he might fit your concept of an ideal man. He never strives to meet this paragon any other time, it is only when he holds you within his hands that he wishes for your struggling to cease. Kaeya knows what you like before you even do. Just this once, he'll match your preference, if it means he gets to taste you a little while longer. 

Your Cheek 

Kazuha: Kazuha is a romantic, a man whose head is in the clouds in all matters concerning you. He takes into account your... hesitance to accept his full affections, which he promises that he's okay with! If it's for you, he can wait. However, that doesn't mean he wants to deny himself every carnal pleasure, oh no, that'd be cruel. You wouldn't deny a man dying of thirst water, would you? For that reason, he sees no issue with stealing a peck on your cheek every now and then. How your skin blooms with warmth beneath his lips, whether it be from frustration or embarrassment, makes his life worth living. He's very content with himself for the hours that follow.

Your neck

Childe: Your pulse tells him what your lips refuse to divulge. He lives alongside secrets, and you are his favorite, ever-changing and evolving. You may turn your nose up at him and stubbornly keep your mouth shut, if you so please. Childe has his workarounds. The thrum of your pulse conveys everything left unsaid: whether it be fear, guilt, or excitement. Unraveling the mystery is part of the game for him. He almost loses himself in the sensation of lavishing your neck with his overflowing affection, it births new depravity within him. You're so soft, so pliable beneath his touch, entirely at his mercy and care. He delights himself in this knowledge, openly using it for his benefit. 

Xiao: How he can be both animalistic and painfully constrained, you have no idea. He fears harming you yet simultaneously fears missing out on you. If you only knew the degree you tempted him, you might find further revulsion for him still. Xiao just can't help himself as he presses his nose to your skin and inhales deeply. Your scent, your warmth, the little noises you make that urge him on. It doesn't matter how many hellacious battles he's survived, he'll always lose when it comes to you. His self-restraint has its limits. Still, he is easily sated, as he expects so little. A few minutes of helping himself to your neck satisfies a voracious appetite he never knew existed.

Your inner wrist

Zhongli: Within his veins flows gold, yet what flows within yours is of far more importance to him. The tips of his fangs graze against the sensitive area, never breaking skin, for he'd rather revere than desecrate you. Zhongli fights against the primal urge to leave marks in the wake of his kisses. He'll start at your forearm and work his way down, lavishing you with affection that teeters on worship. For once, his mouth is too occupied for him to lavish you with his baritone voice. If you're wearing long sleeves that obscure your wrist, it's all the better; he'll purposefully choose outfits that fit this description. The quiet intimacy of staring you in the eye as he rolls the fabric up, baring your skin to him... it's a delicacy rarely matched. 

Albedo: Your biology is a marvel to him that soon extends past innocent scientific intrigue. Is it not only natural that he would seek to better understand what he knows so little about? Well made as Albedo might be, your composition differs from his, and for him to solve the riddle left behind by his creator, he must close this gap in knowledge. The meaning of this world... surely how he's able to exercise such mastery over your heart has something to do with it? He knows what to do and say for your pulse to quicken, the tiniest tells never escape his watchful eye. There are instruments for measuring these readings, but oh well, his lips should suffice. He far prefers this method, anyway. 

Atop your hand

Diluc: A gentleman must practice restraint, and Mondstadt’s wine tycoon is nothing if not a gentleman. Or so he tells himself. Diluc is far above the immorality of the common reprobate. He constantly worries and frets over you, receiving no sweet compensation in return for his efforts. That is okay, he reassures himself. He didn't appoint himself as your protector for reimbursement. His lips lingering over the softness of your hand is not him seeking payment, it's him expressing the depths of his feelings that'd go otherwise unnoticed. He must draw attention to his love for you on the occasion, he reasons. How else will you come to view him as more than a prison warden? Yes, this little display is entirely for your benefit. He swears it.

[kingkatsuki]

Thinking about Bakugou meeting you on desk duty again.

Though Bakugou’s mellowed out exponentially in his older age, he isn’t always perfect. The temper that once plagued him throughout his childhood was now just a simmering fire in his head as he’d learned to control it over the years. The amount of destruction on the Dynamight expenses list had lessened through time, and his corporate team are now glad they don’t have to try and explain the number of totaled buildings caused by one Pro-Hero alone to the media each year— It still doesn’t mean that Bakugou has changed completely.

There are certain situations, and certain people that simply irk him. From the guy in that Asahi commercial that looks far too fucking smarmy, to the interviews his PR team pencil him in for knowing full well he doesn’t want to attend. Some may call them minor inconveniences, but to him they’re a pain.

And desk duty? Desk duty was the biggest pain of all.

It wasn’t his fault that a villain had decided to run into a newly built artisan coffee shop in the city, and it wasn’t his fault that it happened to be owned by the President of the Hero Commissions son— who was now out for Dynamight’s blood.

And it definitely wasn’t his fault that the scheduled live apology had gone pear shaped.

Bakugou would blame the arrogant asshole for that any day of the week— if the guy had just let him apologise without hurling a string of abuse at him everything would be back to normal and he wouldn’t be waiting for his computer to boot up, but the guy just had to run his fucking mouth. And of course, Bakugou wasn’t going to stand for it.

So now he found himself sipping a lukewarm coffee from the seventh floor machine, and staring at a towering pile of paperwork on his assigned desk. But on the bright side, the night shift meant the office was virtually empty and at least he didn’t have to fucking apologise.

Letting his desk chair sway side to side he aimlessly scrolled through the emails that poured in to his agency. Anything from fan mail to thanks from civilians. Grinning when he clicked on one that was obviously from a younger fan as they included a photo of themselves in full Dynamight merchandise in the email, talking about their favourite Pro-Hero and how much they wanted to be like him some day. Bakugou immediately made a mental note to get the kid a signed shirt as he saved the email into his personal inbox.

This was probably the only good thing about desk duty, other than the crippling boredom, having to file paperwork and assign sidekicks to mundane tasks like rescuing kittens from trees.

A loud sound broke his attention away from replying to an email about graffiti outside their local supermarket as he noticed a pretty woman with a headset over her head and a microphone to her cheek.

You’d been trying to get this annoying client to stop shouting at you for at least fifteen minutes, the attitude had started to become progressively worse as he complained about receiving compensation for propert destruction at the hands of Pro-Hero Dynamight and his sidekicks.

Your constant apologies landed on deaf ears as you tried to reason with the man, asking him to stop shouting at you as you felt tears of frustration begin to well in your eyes. Trying to remember to breathe as you wondered whether you’d get in trouble for simply hanging up—

Gasping in surprise when someone plucked the headset from the top of your head as you turned to look up at the Pro-Hero Dynamight standing behind you. A look of sheer annoyance on his face as he held one side of the headset to his ear to hear the man that had been shouting at you for the past ten minutes continuing to raise his voice on the line, clearly unaware that you were no longer listening to him.

“Listen, you prick. I don’t know why you think it’s acceptable to shout at my staff, but you better fix your fucking tone if you call back again.”

You heard a sound of recognition on the phone before the line went silent. You wondered whether the man had hung up out of embarrassment or sheer fear. Bakugou muttered “idiot” beneath his breath held the headpiece back to you, taking it wordlessly as he made his way back to his desk. Slumping back down into the desk chair as he began to sway in it side to side once more as he tried to avoid looking at the slow moving clock on the screen.

“You can take five minutes, you know.” Bakugou called across the room. The night shift at the agency was often quiet, when most people had gone home for the day— just how he liked it.

“I’m not sure I can with my boss watching me.” You smiled back softly, blinking back the tears that had clung to your thick lashes.

“I won’t tell if you don’t, sweetheart.” He scoffed.

Maybe desk duty wouldn’t be so bad after all.

[weirdkpopgirl]

Promise | Jaemin Imagine #8

Title: Promise

Genre: Angst

Warnings: mentions of anxiety and breakdowns

Word Count: 1.3k

Author's Note: I'm aware that anxiety often takes center stage in my stories, and yet, here's another one I've penned, this time focusing on Jaemin. Drawing from my own struggles, I aimed to portray the challenges of being close to someone dealing with mental health issues. Even with a strong support system, it doesn't guarantee that your problems will vanish miraculously. To all those who grapple with similar issues, I hope this story encourages you to seek help if possible because you deserve happiness and good health.

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

From the beginning, you and Jaemin had a fairly healthy relationship that was envied by your friends and family. Apart from the initial awkwardness (primarily on your side) during the early stages of dating, both of you treated each other with plenty of tender loving care. 

You could truthfully say that Jaemin wasn’t just your boyfriend, but also your closest confidant. Perhaps it was the fact that the two of you had been friends for a substantial period before dating. Being each other’s partners allowed a deeper understanding of one another, resulting in almost no arguments between the two of you. That being said, because he knew you so well, there was one factor that occasionally led to turbulence in your relationship.

Anxiety has been a constant companion throughout your life. It was much like a friend you recognized as toxic but still chose to spend time with. Lacking a proper support system during your childhood, coping with life as an adult became significantly more challenging. For you, anxiety has been this silent struggle you had been battling alone. However, you didn’t realize the effect it was having on your otherwise, perfect relationship.

The irony was that Jaemin was the most supportive presence in your life. However, the issue lay in your reluctance to accept his support. Whenever you were in a state of distress, you tended to distance yourself from him and withhold your true feelings. He had witnessed you break down before, and it bothered him that you pushed him away.

One evening, after returning to your apartment late, Jaemin could see in your eyes that it was more than the part-time job that was taking a toll on you. He could discern from the restrained smile on your face that you had no intention of sharing it with him. At that moment, Jaemin reached the point where he couldn't bear it any longer.

The warmth of his hand atop yours gained your attention. Gazing at you softly, he asked, “Princess, can we talk?”

“Why? Did I do something wrong?” you responded with a tinge of concern in your voice. You searched your memory for anything you might have upset him, but couldn’t think of anything specific.

After taking a deep breath, Jaemin met your eyes brewing with perplexity. You had no idea what he was about to say, which made him briefly consider retracting his words. However, he knew that he couldn’t allow anything to stop him.

“It’s about your anxiety, (Y/n),” Jaemin began to explain, using his most gentle tone. “I’ve noticed how much it’s impacting your physical and mental health. And I think that seeking help from a professional can make a difference.”

Yet no matter how delicately this subject was being brought up to you, your shoulders tensed and you withdrew your hand from his grasp.

Your eyes flashed with frustration. “Jaemin, therapy isn’t necessary—I’m fine.”

“But you don’t have to pretend you’re fine all the time. It’s okay to ask for help and lean on others. I just want what’s best for you, (Y/n),” he stressed. He could sense you retreating behind your wall, and he refused to let you block him again.

That was how this conversation escalated into the most intense argument you had ever experienced with Jaemin. He made a sincere effort to stay composed, but it proved challenging when you continued to shut him out and maintained your insistence that you could handle everything on your own. 

Nonetheless, voices were raised from both parties and the words that left your mouths stung immediately after they were said. So as quickly as the argument had started, it ended with you pushing away from him and storming out of the living room with your eyes glossed over with tears.

Guilt quickly consumed him and his previous frustration dissipated. After waiting a few minutes to give you some space, Jaemin quietly moved down the hallway in search of you. His feet stopped at the bathroom door when he saw the faint light seeping beneath it.

On the other side of the door, your shoulders shook as silent sobs wracked your body, leaving you barely able to catch your breath. 

Eventually, you heard a gentle knock on the door. “(Y/n), please let me in.”

A part of you wanted to tell him to go away and leave you alone. You could tell by the tone of his voice that he was done fighting. Yet, you couldn’t convince yourself that you deserve forgiveness. Not when the entire argument was your fault. Even though he had been nothing but patient and loving, it was you who didn’t have the courage to acknowledge your mental instability. You were the problem.

When you didn't respond, Jaemin decided to take matters into his own hands and cautiously pushed the door open. Inside, his heart ached when he found you seated across from the sink, your face buried in your knees, every part of your body trembling. He hadn’t intended for things to go this way.

Without any further hesitation, Jaemin joined you on the bathroom tiles, scooping you up into his arms. The comforting feeling of being held made you instinctively cling to him. Your tears soaked his shirt, but that was the least of Jaemin’s worries.

“I’m sorry, Princess,” he whispered, his chin resting against your forehead as he stroked your hair. “I didn’t mean to pressure you like that.”

You grimaced inwardly as your voice wavered. “I'm the one who should be apologizing. I... I know I just push you away when I’m having a hard time. But you already do so much for me, and I just don’t want to be a burden."

“You could never be a burden, (Y/n),” the tips of his fingers lifted your chin slightly, allowing you to meet his sincere gaze. “You’re my everything, and I can’t stand to see you hurting alone.”

His simple, yet sweet words made you feel so warm inside. It was that moment you realized Jaemin was never going to leave your side, even if it meant seeing you at your worst. Your wall of emotions remained resolute, refusing to crumble any time soon. However, the better half of you wanted to let Jaemin break down those barriers.

Before you could say anything, Jaemin could feel the resistance in you slowly fade away. Your hand slipped into his, intertwining your fingers as you released a light exhale. “The idea of seeking help is terrifying. But if you’re with me, I think I can do it.”

“It makes me so happy to hear you say that,” Jaemin smiled and squeezed your hand reassuringly. “And I promise, we’ll face your anxiety together.”

Your cheeks warmed when he pressed a soft kiss on the back of your hand. Then, he leaned in for a tender kiss on your lips, his fingers gently weaving through your hair. Your grip on his sweatshirt tightened as the kiss deepened, conveying all the love and understanding that words could never fully express. Jaemin's other arm remained securely wrapped around your waist as if it could shield you from all your worries.

When you finally pulled away, tears in your eyes had transformed into tears of happiness. "I love you, Jaemin."

"I love you too, Princess," he replied in a sing-song voice.

In that heartfelt moment, as he held you close, you both understood that your love had the strength to endure any storm, even the ones that threatened to tear the two of you apart. Despite the relentless assaults of your own mind, the love you shared with Jaemin served as a reassuring reminder that you could overcome it all, together.

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

[suffarustuffaru]

I love your otto brainrot. He's favorite person to gush about in this series. I also love your analysis about one of the latest chapters and regarding Otto! ust, chef's kiss.

Anyhow, I would also like to add a crack theory about why otto never talked about his dp allowing him to talk to infants too. In this moment, it very much be because, as you said, he wants Spica to be eliminated. But! We're thinking small here. My question morphs into a more general perspective; why would Otto, and tappei to an extent, keep such information about his dp under wraps for this long, way before these Spica shenanigans? And I feel like the author may want to expand on that regard. Because as far as the rest of the crew knows (and as far as I remember), they know he can only talk to animals. But that chapter states he can talk to any living being (?), which I think may hint to it being a bigger fucking deal than we may realize. Like outside the Louis development, as well as Otto's frustration development, this power in of itself can cause a ripple of what Otto's capabilities are, and to not underestimate it.

So, now I wonder, would tappei utilize this tidbit for more development about Otto's power? What do you think?

aa thank you for liking my otto stuff!! i adore him a lot and arc 8 has me even more fixated on him bc his development is so Fascinating.... and also my fictional character type has always been the weird fucked up ones with terrible morals HAH.

OK ALSO LIKE i love your crack theory to bits. i think like the idea of his capabilities being A Little More Massive than they already are hasnt really occurred to me if only bc 1. i have like one braincell at a time and 2. ottos unhinged anger and various ugly habits (ie: doing things behind his friends backs HAH) were smth i was distracted by (positive) bc its so fascinating and now Finally everyone reading rezero knows hes crazy For Sure and 3. i think like. idk ive always kind of thought that his power is like super crazy like once you think about it. like iirc theres the canonical fact that other people in the fantasy world whove had ottos dp have gone like insane from it, so hes Basically the outlier here. and also hes insane anyway but his dp absolutely has partly to do with it. not only bc it like affects so much of his life with the constant overstimulation he experienced for a big chunk of his childhood along with the other effects it had with how he was behind his peers for a while and it made him socially awkward and anxious - but also like.

animals Are insane. a lot. genuinely. and then you have a power that allows you to understand them and hear their voices all the time. (more under read more bc its Long.)

theres so many fucked up animal facts out there HAH so i suppose that could just take like a couple google searches (god.... if oceans were in the fantasy world otto might go a little insane with all those sea creatures if he ever came close...) but i always feel like ottos learned at least a bit of his ruthlessness from that. and hes Definitely seen and heard shit (dont forget stuff like livestock ahah T^TT or bug infestations or something aljsdfls or the fact that otto would probably be seeing animal friends eat other animal friends or before he even knew he had his dp he could be eating some cattle he had a convo with like twenty minutes ago and ALSO garf and fred have their meat pie recipe that they adore and its like. that meat came from an animal and otto has most likely seen them make their meat pie before). but like nature is nature. its not always. Nice. survival of the fittest and things just die sometimes (ottos made various animal friends throughout his life and Many animals have smaller lifespans than him as well + some, such as bugs, are more fragile than him) and animals take actions according to their Nature (even if its. Bad, by human moral standards.) and all that - so i think the double whammy of ottos dp and him taking on merchant ideals is very much partly why hes so insane fr HAH.

I WENT A LITTLE OFF TOPIC BUT no yeah i agree. and i just think his dp has always been such a huge factor in what makes him so dangerous - its not only helped mold him into who he is as a person (especially when you remember that the rest of his family are Normal People and he Very Much Is Not Normal) but also like you said. his dp makes him extremely dangerous especially with the new information that he understands babies. iirc otto didnt Necessarily keep that bit of info under wraps - at least not before he met the emilia camp, bc the text said something about how hed take on side jobs where he babysat infants and hed be good at it bc he can understand the intent behind their wordless "words". and i definitely think otto - and tappei - havent really said anything on his ability to talk to infants before this bc it just hasnt come up in much relevant context until now. BUT I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE A POINT bc this does open like. a bit of a can of worms. theres these 2019 tappei qnas where he talks a bit about otto understanding "intent" -

Q: Is Otto's Blessing of the Spirit of Words limited to sounds that the speaker understands? Can he translate something Subaru wrote down in Japanese, or something that someone reads out loud phonetically without understanding it's meaning?

A: He can't. It's a blessing that conveys the intent of the other person's words, so if you said something like "Honbaradaratodetta", it wouldn't mean anything. It's just that, if Subaru had been saying "Honbaradaratodetta" for years to mean "What's for dinner?", it would convey that.

Q: About the "Blessing of the Spirit of Words" that Otto has, in cases where the same word can contain different meanings, can he discern the difference? (The English word 'servant' and a servant from Fate, etc.)

A: It's not the letters, but the speaker's intent that he picks up, so he could tell the difference.

--

but no yeah like........ ottos dp is specifically about Animals and well. humans and demihumans ARE animals. so it makes sense that it carries into humans and demihumans a bit so the whole catching someones intent thing is super fascinating and i feel like he could Definitely utilize it for more of his schemes?? esp when you combine that with the usual ways he uses his dp with animals - his power is Perfect for spying on others and gathering info in general. from my understanding of his power though, animals have to agree to help him, but given he can communicate with them and hes. well hes a good talker and also a bit of a manipulative bitch (affectionate) so like getting animals to help him doesnt seem like too much of an issue usually for him. so no but yeah his power is like. Off the Charts. and now we got big confirmation in the main story that he can UNDERSTAND PEOPLES INTENT BEHIND THEIR WORDS....? no yeah i think tappei will at least utilize it for the louis-spica plot things (ie otto wants her dead so hes just not gonna say anything about how he knows her true intent isnt to actually hurt anyone).

but i feel like otto could possibly use it for plans... or accidentally catch tidbits of info he shouldnt. im not entirely sure how, but. well. roswaal still hasnt delivered on his promise to kill everyone if even one person subaru cares about dies and Now roswaal knows that 1. otto plans to continue opposing subaru and emilia and keep pulling strings and 2. subaru wants louis to stay alive because he cares about her. it seems like massive emilia camp inner conflict is bound to happen at some point hah... the current situation is a ticking time bomb T^T and thats ON TOP of otto still working on restoring the book of wisdom... it all makes me wonder if otto will overhear a convo he shouldnt and catch the true underlying intent to otherwise innocent dialogue. or something like that.... or if louis's intent fluctuates in some way which otto will be Very aware of. if that happens. or if someone else somehow figures out ottos hiding the fact that he knows louis is innocent via his dp alsdjflsjdf. or maybe roswaal hints at his genocide plan and otto figures out the intent???? everyone is at a stalemate atm fr and im fascinated to see what comes next.

though. ok given otto went insane hearing the white whale..... well you could just fling mabeasts at him and maybe he'll shut up lajsdlfj bc using his dp (especially when overusing it gives him nosebleeds and headaches and pain and etc etc) against him is a Viable strategy to stop him among many others but like. the problem with otto is that hes persistent and Will hold a grudge against you if you wrong him. like i really do feel like he will hunt you down if you do which is the big Thing with otto. T^T hes unpredictable!!! especially now with arc 8 where hes been dragged through all these dangerous situations he did not sign up for and he just wants him and his friends to be safe but said friends want to save a whole country and NOW a sin archbishop alsdjflsjd.

like i really feel that hes so tired of things happening throughout his life out of control (remember his bad luck T^T and the way his dp used to fuck him over in his childhood? yeah T^T) that hes been trying to exert more and more control over his camp. bc like. vincent asking the emilia camp for help was nudged into that direction by otto. ottos also stepped a bit out of line by being hostile to julius and anastasia bc. otto that shit was unncessary aljsdlfjd theyre your camps allies!!!! and now ottos letting his camp be sus of louis by keeping quiet about her true intent. like otto is straight up like. hes kind of possessive of his camp isnt he? bc hes so fixated on making things go the way he wants (not that he wanted to help vollachia, but he wanted to help subaru and emilia which is why he pushed things in that direction, and now he wants to kill louis). it all makes me wonder if he'll ever have to use his dp against his camp given hes. kind of already doing that by lying to them - though itd probably be difficult to use his dp more actively against them if only bc they all already know what his dp is. theres no element of surprise there, but i think with the right circumstances he could possibly use it to figure out Something at least. bc like while he Does feel guilty, there is next to nothing stopping him from doing more shit on top of the shit hes been doing so far in arc 8 HAH. his moral compass is just literally broken and pointing straight down to hell. that mixed with his stubbornness and intellect and anger is like. well anyone going against otto is pretty fucked.

like. what is stopping him from sending a little bug to spy on subaru at all times. probably the fact that subaru and co. have a high chance of maybe noticing it and noticing that ottos keeping. too close of an eye on them. which would stop otto and his new declared "i walk in darkness" goal but all of this keeps making me wonder what lines otto WONT cross. and how far hes willing to go to do what he thinks is necessary to save his camp. and also what the consequences of his decisions will be.

but also like............................................... ok time for a crack theory of my own are you ready. anyway. can you imagine if ottos dp extended into fucking mind reading or something............ HAH.

[astererer]

Aster has been updated with a new look! And a job. And an updated backstory. Putting it all under the cut because it’s fucking long lmao

First up, not actually abandoning Aster’s original design, just giving her a new one to sort out the time and place for different scenarios I draw her in :)) little diagram below of the changes she undergoes over the course of around 5 years.

The Backstory

Born and raised in Wyndon, Aster and her older brother grew up watching the city change and evolve around them at a rapid pace. This impacted both siblings in different ways — in Aster’s case she tends to find herself getting bored or frustrated if her surroundings stay the same for too long.

In childhood Aster was pretty shy, and struggled to bond with people outside of her family, preferring the company of pokemon to her classmates at school. Generally came across as a bit awkward and quiet but otherwise unassuming to her peers, while at home she could be very talkative and energetic.

Became interested in battling from a young age thanks to the general culture in Galar being very battle focussed, and used to dream of being a steel type gym leader, just like Peony watched a lot of his matches on TV throughout her childhood

Taking part in the gym challenge at 14 years old made her reassess this ambition, however. She enjoyed the battles, sure, but the extra attention gained from doing well in the challenge made her uncomfortable. Once people started recognising her in the streets she decided that no matter how far she got, she would not get involved with the league afterwards. Aster did not want to lose out on personal privacy and it made her very anxious feeling like there were eyes on her at all times. Changed her plans to using the prize money she saved over the course of the challenge for travelling.

Then she made it to the finals. And beat Leon. It was a very close match, basically a draw, but out of their respective last pokemon standing, Leon’s Charizard was the first to hit the ground. So Aster won.

Within two weeks of assuming her new role of champion, Aster quit. Giving zero notice to the league, she packed her bags and left the region for Kalos after giving her family a brief goodbye. The league was not happy with this development.

Her disappearance resulted in a bit of a media frenzy for a few weeks, and Leon got his position as champion reinstated. Chairman Rose decided to sweep things under the rug by way of claiming the championship fight was actually a tie so this was all just a big mix up, actually.

After half a year in Kalos, her next move was to visit Paldea, where she met a Naranja-Uva student named Pecha, and some of her family (belonging to @peachsodama ). The two girls became close friends and would stay in touch after Aster left the region to visit other parts of the world.

Spent the next few years exploring different regions before coming to Unova at 20 years old. After about six months seeing what the region had to offer she took a liking to Unova, and moved to Nacrene city, living with a friend she met in her travels, and getting a job at the daycare on Route 3.

Nearly a decade after leaving Galar she made her return at 22 years old to take part in the Galarian Star Tournament at Leon’s invitation.

Her personality has changed significantly over the 10 years since she left Galar. Constant travelling forced her to interact with total strangers far more frequently than if she stayed in Galar. While some interactions were negative, overall she became more comfortable with socialising. Actively enjoying it, even.

Aster’s battling style has loosened up considerably along with her personality. As she commands her pokemon she moves in time with them, as if dancing along to the rhythm of the battle. Almost got banned from Gear Station for jumping around a train car in the middle of a battle when she first arrived in Unova.

Miscellaneous info

Born into a family of flying taxi cabbies on her father’s side, at least one person every generation grows up to be one — family has a tradition of each child receiving a Rookidee as their first pokemon when they’re around 5 years old. In part so if they too become a cabbie they have a partner they trust and know inside and out, but mostly to ensure the kids in the family are used to being around pokemon and learn to treat them with respect from a young age.

The gifted Rookidee is also the offspring of the parent’s Corviknight — Aster’s family values their ties and connections to one another and having your first pokemon being connected to your parent’s is a nice sentiment.

Loves movies. While travelling, Aster would sneak into cinemas to see new movies, and once settled in Unova she got to work building a DVD collection.

Her Perrserker, Muffin, was a runt Aster found abandoned out in the wild when she first started her gym challenge. She took him to a pokemon centre, and raised him into her ace. He’s a tough little man now :))

Aster’s team has three main stays — Muffin, Mango and Goji. These are her guys who carried her through most of her gym challenge and haven’t left her side since. The other three slots in her party get rotated out often so she can give equal amounts of love to her other pokemon

The fourth party slot is usually taken up by her Carkol, Treacle, during work hours though.

Aster’s job at the daycare is primarily taking care of and hatching eggs trainers don’t want to collect, then raising the newborn pokemon until they can be released or given a new home with a suitable trainer. She also assists in handling particularly rowdy and aggressive pokemon when necessary.

Daycare wages, while consistent, are not the highest, so Aster supplements her income by visiting Black Tower on her days off when she needs the money. She makes some extra cash and her team get to battle tough opponents, they have a great time

Really dislikes using social media. Finds it super tedious, so the best way to stay in touch is just by texting her lol.

Despite loving cat pokemon of all kinds, the Kantonian and Alolan Meowth lines just rub her the wrong way. She just thinks the Galarian variety are much better cats.

Has multiple scars on her body that have accumulated over the years, most are from minor accidents during her travels or getting a bit carried away while playing with her team.

[naztrixie]

Fragments of Solitude: A Journey Through Loneliness and Despair

In the hushed corridors of my childhood, the symphony of my life lost its harmonious notes at the tender age of seven. The melody of joy shattered when my father bid farewell to this world, leaving behind a void that echoed through the tender years of my youth. The lullaby that once cradled me to sleep became a haunting tune, a constant reminder of the absence that would define my formative years. The void left by his absence echoed in the walls of our home, leaving to grapple with loneliness beyond years.

As if the universe conspired against the stability of my upbringing, at the tender age of eight, the fabric of my family further unraveled. My mother, burdened by the weight of financial responsibilities, embarked on a journey across oceans. A caretaker in a foreign land, she traded her presence for a future that promised stability. As her silhouette disappeared beyond the horizon, I clung to the fading echoes of her voice, a fragile thread connecting me to a mother whose warmth I could no longer feel.

A year later, the somber notes of loss played once again. My grandfather, a pillar of support in the absence of my parents, departed this world. His departure left a profound emptiness, and the once vibrant home became a repository of memories tinged with the scent of loss. The echoes of his laughter lingered, but the warmth of his embrace became a distant memory. The loss of the comforting figure intensified the darkness that enveloped my life. Struggling to cope with grief, I found myself adrift in a sea of emotions, unable to grasp the permanence of loss.

At eleven, the script of my life took an unexpected turn. My mother, a voice on the other side of the phone line, made a decision that would shape the contours of my adolescence. Sent to live with my grandmother, I stepped into a world where the walls seemed to close in on me. The familiar landscape of my childhood morphed into an unfamiliar terrain, and the threads of connection strained as distance became a cruel companion. Little did i know, this shift marked the beginning of a tumultuous chapter in my life. My grandmother, burdened by my own hardships, channeled her frustrations onto me, scolding me for every perceived shortcoming, and making me the scapegoat for undone chores.

The years that followed were a mosaic of misery, each piece reflecting the desolation of a child yearning for the warmth of familial love. In the heart of my grandmother's home, I became a silent protagonist in the story of my own life. The laughter of peers echoed as a distant melody, an elusive harmony that remained beyond my reach. The toxic environment at my grandmother's home took a toll on my spirit. False stories and fabricated mistakes became the daily soundtrack of my existence. The weight of unjust blame, coupled with the constant barrage of criticism, molded into a quiet, despondent figure, cloaked in the shadows of my own existence.

Loneliness, like a relentless storm, clouded every chapter of my adolescence. The mundane routine of school and chores became a monotonous drone, a backdrop to the persistent ache for parental love and care. Birthdays passed without the familiar embrace of a mother, and holidays became a poignant reminder of the absence that etched itself into the very fabric of my existence.

As I stood at the threshold of adulthood, the lingerie of longing clung to my soul. Eighteen brought with it the weight of unfulfilled dreams and the scars of a lonely journey. The mirror reflected a face marked by the passage of time, a face that yearned for a love that had been elusive throughout my formative years. The seeds of despair had firmly taken root within my self. The relentless criticism and false accusations had become the norm, ingrained in the fabric of my daily life. Yet, within this darkness, a glimmer of hope flickered – a connection to my mother, who endured separation and sacrificed proximity for the sake of my future.

My internal struggle reached a breaking point as myself contemplated the unthinkable. The darkness threatened to consume my entirely, but a distant memory of my mother's sacrifice served as a lifeline, pulling myself back from the precipice. I decided to continue living, not for myself, but for the woman who worked tirelessly abroad to secure a better life. My journey, marked by loss, loneliness, and relentless hardships, reflects the silent battles many endure. Yet, my resilience in the face of adversity shines as a testament to the strength that can emerge from the depths of despair.

While the scars of solitude remain, they are now etched into a mosaic of resilience and understanding. The lingerie of longing for parental love and care has transformed into a cloak of self-love and resilience, a testament to the human spirit's remarkable ability to endure and emerge from the darkest corners of despair.

The concluding chapters of my memoir echo with the profound realization that solitude, though challenging, can be a transformative journey. The fragments of my solitude are not mere remnants of despair but the building blocks of a resilient spirit. In the solitude, I unearthed the strength to stand tall amidst life's tempests, and the wisdom to find solace within the sanctuary of my own heart.

The memoir serves as a testament to the transformative power of embracing one's solitude. It is a narrative that transcends the boundaries of sorrow and blossoms into a celebration of inner strength. Each word written is a brushstroke on the canvas of resilience, a declaration that even in the loneliest moments, the human spirit has the capacity to bloom like a solitary flower in a vast desert.

As I close the chapters of "Fragments of Solitude," I do so not with a sense of closure but with the understanding that my journey continues. The echoes of loneliness may linger, but they now harmonize with the symphony of self-love and resilience. The memoir is not an end but a beginning—a testament to the enduring human spirit that thrives even in the most desolate landscapes.

[sequinsmile-x]

hellooooo

for the prompts: kisses 42 - kissing away tears and kisses 47 - tummy kisses

Ahh this one is cute!

Details on how to submit a prompt can be found here, along with a list of ones that have already been requested

Tomorrow is the last day you can submit a prompt! <;3

-x-

Words: 997

Warnings: Pregnancy

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

“Damn it.” 

Aaron frowns at the sound of his wife’s voice travelling through from the living room, and he makes quick work of getting them both drinks. He grabs his bottle of beer and her soda from the kitchen counter and leaves the kitchen. 

“What’s wrong?” He asks, freezing in place when she comes into view. She’s sitting on the couch, an open pizza box on her lap and an utterly devastated look on her face. She was rubbing her hand back and forth over her stomach, a sign their baby was shifting around under her skin.

“They got the pizza wrong,” she says, looking up at him with tears shining in her eyes, some already falling onto her cheeks. 

Pregnancy had utterly destroyed her ability to control her emotions. He knew it was her least favourite part of all of this. She’d taken the near-constant nausea in her stride, ginger ale and chewing gum were now always at the top of their grocery list, two things he would never dream of leaving the store without. She seemed to enjoy the changes to her body, the slight bulge in her stomach that had recently turned into a bump, her pregnancy no longer something that could be mistaken for bloating or a heavy meal. 

Her emotional control was something she’d always worn like armour. Something she’d put together piece by piece throughout her childhood, a level of protection her mother had somehow forged and knew how to pierce at the same time. It had served Emily well throughout her chosen career at Interpol and now at the FBI. Allowing her to deal with people who had the worst a person could, her ability to compartmentalise rivalling even Aaron’s. 

But it was gone. Left somewhere behind them in the weeks just before she found out she was pregnant, her fury at Derek for taking the last cookie that Penelope had brought in both disproportionate and the first sign something was different. 

“Oh sweetheart,” he says, placing the drinks down on the coffee table and sitting next to her, “It’s ok-”

“It’s not ok, Aaron,” she replies, cutting over him, wiping furiously at her cheeks, “They put pepperoni on it. I can’t eat that.” 

He looks down at the pizza in question, something she would have happily eaten 6 months ago, and then back up at her. Not only was it processed meat, something that she wasn’t supposed t to eat anyway, but the smell of it alone was enough to make her nausea increase. 

“It’s ok, baby,” he says, closing the box and taking it from her lap, placing it on the coffee table, “I can just go out and get another one.” His hope that his offer would cheer her up dies as quickly as it had appeared, her face screwing up as her tears only fall faster, “Sweetheart-”

“I’m sorry,” she cries, leaning into his side, her face buried in his shoulder, “I don’t know why I’m crying,” she pulls back, shaking her head at herself as she furiously wipes tears from her cheeks, “It’s only fucking pizza.”

“Don’t curse in front of the baby,” he replies, smiling at her as she rolls her eyes at him. He grabs her hand and links their fingers together, “Emily, you’re growing a person. You’re allowed to be emotional.”

She groans, “It’s just so stupid,” she complains, frowning at herself.

“Hey,” he says, playfully narrowing his eyes at her, “That’s the love of my life you’re calling stupid.” 

She shakes her head at him, fighting a smile as she does so. A battle she eventually loses. 

“You’re ridiculous,” she replies, wiping at her cheeks, almost growling in frustration as they get immediately replaced, “Why am I still crying?” 

Aaron leans in and kisses her cheek, tasting the salt on her skin as he kisses the tears away before moving to her other cheek. He stamps a kiss to her lips before pulling back, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. 

“Want me to go out and get some more food for you?” 

“No it’s ok, I can eat something we have in the freezer,” she says, an expression on her face that he didn’t need to be a profiler to see through. He leans in and kisses her forehead, before kissing her stomach, his hand over hers on her bump. 

“Em.”

She sighs, “Yes I would like that very much.”

“I’ll go get it now,” he says as he stands up, “Pizza again, or something else?”

“Pizza would be great, just-”

“No pepperoni,” he finishes for her, patting his pockets to see if he still had the car keys with him, before spotting them on the table. “Text me if you want anything else, I’ll let you know when I’m on the way home.” 

“Thank you, honey,” she says, clearing her throat, her eyes shining again, “I love you.” 

“I love you too. Both of you.” 

He’s out the door and barely in the car when his phone chimes in his pocket, the specific tone he had set for his wife. He pulls it out and smiles at the photo he has set as his wallpaper. It was a photo of him, Emily and Jack together with wide smiles on all their faces. 

It was exciting to think they’d be adding a new face to their family within a matter of months. He opens the text and chuckles, shaking his head at his wife. 

Baby wants ice cream too 

He moves to put his phone down, his hand reaching to turn the ignition on when it chimes again, another message appearing in the conversation with Emily. 

Don’t laugh at me.

He looks back at the house and sees his wife standing in the living room window, waving at him with a smirk on her face. He waves back and puts his phone down, determined to go and get her food.

The sooner he left, the sooner he’d be home. 

-x-

Tag list:

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[theovergrowth]

Titus Eras

(( this is mainly for thread and plotting purposes, I want to make it easier to interact with Titus throughout his life, ykno? Since I really don’t have one specific version of him in my head all the time. So I figured I’d just lay out all the options, along with each individual eras Playlist linked in the titles! ))

Titus has changed quite a bit throughout his life, certain aspects of his personality ebbing and flowing in how major or minor to how he interacts with the world around him.

Overgrown

(Ages ??-12)

Titus’ childhood, forever colored with golden sunlight, evergreen trees, vast and light blue skies against the mountain range, and later the blood of what he thought were his enemies staining his skin.

It’s human Titus living on the commune, with The Sons, with his father, hidden away from the rest of society within the sprawling mountains of Colorado.

He’s a kind and curious kid, if a bit sheltered and lonely. That rebellious spirit is alive in him however, often sending him past the boundaries of “What is Safe” set by his guardians. He believes in what his people tell him, being far more trusting here than he will be later.

(Or, if it’s a bit later in this era, it’s newly-fae Titus attempting to guide his people as The Overgrowth, tearing through people who happen to come near like a wood chipper through a misplaced hand, fueled by grief and eldritch fury after the murder of his father)

(Re)Integrate

(Ages 13-16)

Titus’ teenage years, brought to the outside world through his defeat as The Overgrowth, separated from his Brothers by people who truly only want what is best for him.

One of these people is his foster father, Gregor Daniels, who he lives with in the small mountain town of Pironbury.

He’s really embracing the rebellious side of himself now, fueled by anger, fear, and frustration both at what had already happened in his past that he couldn’t change and at what was happening now in the present that he couldn’t control.

His identity issues come forward more, as does his fear of trusting and abandonment issues, but there’s less of a fear aspect as there will be later on. This version of Titus believes that the problems facing him are innumerable, but he can get through it with viciousness and grit. Deep down though, he’s still a good kid. It’s a coming of age.

Runaway

(Ages 17-23)

The version of Titus I’ve talked the most on!

After a particularly horrible realization involving The Sons finding Titus in Pironbury, Titus abandons, taking a beat up car (which he later replaces with his van) and hitting the road, constantly on the run from his former Brothers.

Paranoia, guardedness, overwhelming fear and anxiety, pressure, constant movement, and just the crushing isolation of a life without roots are deeply ingrained factors for this period. Titus has learned that Fight doesn’t help him, so Flight kicks in.

But there’s some things that stick with him, even getting strengthened in his mind as this time goes on. Helping others is a big thing for him, as he starts to see more of the world for what it is. Partly, he does it to atone for his actions in his youth. The other part knows he would want help too, knows he’s desperate for it, even if he typically refuses it out of reawakened over-politeness.

Curiousity stays too, sending him on countless adventures as he tries to escape the endless pursuit of The Sons. He meets people, even sometimes chooses to let himself stop and talk to them, but he never allows himself to make friends. He remembers what he did to the last few before he left Pironbury.

He’ll always leave without a real goodbye.

Restart

(Ages 24-early/mid 30’s)

This is Titus when he has learned that Flight only works for so long. He was too tired, and the past just kept coming back.

Technically, Macrides coming back from death and Titus becoming The Overgrowth happen before this era. This period starts when Titus wakes up in a house in Missouri, The Overgrowth is asleep once more, and he cuts all of his hair off.

Love, growth, change, and reflection are all big factors for this period.

The early portion period allows Titus to be a semi-normal 20-something year old dude. He’s still on the road (his friends have a true crime/paranormal podcast they do on-site research for) but he feels a little more stable and free than he did. It’s a process, but he’s learning to be comfortable again.

He’s still very anxious, maybe still a bit paranoid and cagey with details at times, but he tries hard to trust and be more open. He’s seen enough now to know that there are enough good people out there to balance the bad. It’s just about deciding what he wants to be in that equation.

He wants to be better. He wants to change.

But, the past will keep coming back. This time, in a way he’s not quite ready for; the rest of Titus’ archfae ancestors, Macrides’ family, call him to his duties in the Fae Realm as The King of The High Desert.

The Deserts of the Fae Realm are a strange place, whether High or Low. His family, in the High Deserts, live a lifestyle somewhere near royalty in a fantasy novel, while the people of the Low Desert looked more… apocalyptic. And yet, both groups had a strong similarity to something straight out of a spaghetti western.

(This later part would be a bit harder to plot with just because it’s in the fae realm, but Macrides fell into an oasis and ended up in the Mortal Realm we can figure it out if we want to write Silly and/or Terrifying Fae Realm Adventures)

[retrocritter]

[REVIEW - en] Breath of Fire 4

It is certain that a very reluctant feeling is awakened when I think about playing any title from the Breath of Fire franchise. Throughout the years, we came across very harsh critiques about its fragilities, which has almost convinced me that, although having an emotional relation with the characters, they were not games worth revisiting.

The previous contacts were very erratic: small tries in childhood and pre-teenage years that were brief, both motivated by the language barrier and the intricate points of the narrative, especially in Breath of Fire 2. In that sense, the sensation of being in a repetitive cycle while trying to finish games that maybe just don't work for me is very present.

At the same time, I love an underdog. When a game or franchise is widely criticized - specially in JRPGs - being it at release or throughout time, my first impulse is always trying to see from another perspective.

This is mainly due to little belief on mainstream industry cultivated values (yes AAA, this is about you) and an understanding that we are increasingly moving away from the possibilities of experimenting games that frustrate us, do not commit to expectations built by billion-dollars teams with hundreds of people and, in particular, are imperfect, brittle and mirror learning and adaptation processes of the people that developed them.

That is the case of Breath of Fire 4 (at some level). Although more polished than its predecessor in context of the 2D - 3D transition on PS1, the game accidentally put us on unresolved graphical dilemmas on the intersection of these two paradigms.

On one hand, the 2D sprites show us the maturity of 7 years of franchise with vibrant animations, carefully selected colors and a visual identity that enhances the impressions we have of the characters and their relationship with the world.

This certainly reflects an extremely singular skill of pixel art expression, heritage of decades in which it was developed as a craft. By the same measure, it is also an omen of its shrinking to give space to 3D models in the current videogame generation at the time and the ones that would still come.

On the other hand, the 3D models of the scenario, the camera controls and the level design of the cities early in the game look like a still embryonic attempt of adequating to the industry standards, a crisis that affected other japanese giants and intensified even more throughout of the first decade of the third millennium.

This is the first duality among lots that we would find in BoF4. Divided by the affection i felt for the character design and the constant irritation with movement angles, difficulties visualizing the scenarios and the proximity of the camera without possibilities of control, the narrative at first innocent stole my attention from its lacks, until I realized I was very involved by the proposal that the game was actually putting on the table.

The story follows the pattern from the previous titles: Ryu is a silent main character with an unknown past. through his path, he meets other anthropomorphic beings that are involved in political conflicts and their encounter orbitates the search for a missing person.

Throughout the journey, a detail about Ryu emerges: he is a dragon. In this case, not only that, but he is the other half of the dragon god of the continent that antagonizes the one he is in, enemy in an intermittent and grandiose conflict.

The duality between the split-in-half dragons, separated by the prophetic time by which the dragon god would be complete, intrigued me by its political messages in subtext.

The allusions to the west and east of our world (in particular, the known historical friction between Japanese and the United States’ culture), the wars that involved them and the flexibilization of their own culture regarding political and economical power is evident. This is illustrated by the soundtrack, which refers to Indonesian music on the other continent, and to european music on the inicial continent.

The identity crisis of both sides and the lack of mutual recognition as resemblants, problems that we usually buy by the western perspective, are presented here in an intimate, vulnerable way by the side that, after using its resources to replace god, produces a misshapen quimera of the parts that represent the whole.

In opposition to the prophetic encounter of the two parts of the dragon god, the quimera is a compulsory encounter: carries within itself the feelings of domination inflamed by the war and the will of not existing, for it represents the conflict as a body.

Its persona, until then envisioned by the group while we play, now marks a painful event of a difficult choice: to recognize the changing of what we desire when the dream is distorted by the world. To Regain conscience of what the dream means in reality, but also in a broader way on the path, interlaced by the world’s destiny.

The game places us in much more passive positions when it comes to war and destiny, compared to others of the same genre (Final Fantasy in general, but particularly Tactics, Suikoden and Fire Emblem), although the main character carries within himself what would resolve the conflict. The comes and goes between the sides of the planet, as well as the conflicts that convey in the built relationships, microcosmos of an enormous disposition, affected me as I eventually noticed that the bigger events happened far from the view of the main group or right before they arrived at the destination.

In that sense, we have a masterfully built sample of the relationship between destiny and free will, the dimension of our actions in face of matters much bigger than us and the power of collective memory that disapproves selfish decisions made by greedy rulers.

Breath of Fire 4 establishes a more just fictional relation of cause and effect than the ones we live in our worlds, but could accidentally reinforce messianic beliefs out of the screen that don’t carry the same fairness. Still, it can strengthen the purpose of those who were subjected and wait the ruin of the ones who subjected them.

[brainspinemd02]

Patient Experiences: Lumbar Spine Treatment Success Stories in Orange County

Living with chronic lower back pain can be a daily struggle, severely impacting one's quality of life. For many patients in Orange County, finding effective treatment options to alleviate their lumbar spine issues has been life-changing. In this article, we'll explore the inspiring success stories of several individuals who have undergone successful Lumbar Spine Treatment in Orange County conditions in the region.

Sarah's Story: From Debilitating Pain to an Active Lifestyle

Sarah, a 45-year-old elementary school teacher, had been dealing with persistent lower back pain for nearly a decade. The discomfort had gradually worsened over the years, making it increasingly difficult for her to perform her job and engage in the active lifestyle she had always enjoyed.

"The pain was often excruciating, radiating down my legs and making it hard to stand or sit for more than a few minutes at a time," Sarah recalls. "I tried various conservative treatments, including physical therapy and pain medication, but nothing seemed to provide lasting relief."

Determined to find a solution, Sarah sought the expertise of a renowned spine specialist in Orange County. After a thorough evaluation, it was determined that she was suffering from a herniated disc in her lumbar spine. The specialist recommended a minimally invasive spinal decompression procedure, which aimed to relieve the pressure on her spinal nerves.

"I was hesitant at first, but the doctor took the time to explain the procedure in detail and address all of my concerns," Sarah says. "He really put me at ease and made me feel confident that this was the right course of action for me."

The procedure was a success, and Sarah experienced a dramatic reduction in her back pain almost immediately. "Within a few weeks, I was able to return to work and resume my normal activities without the debilitating discomfort I had experienced for so long," she says. "It's been over a year now, and I'm still pain-free and able to enjoy the active lifestyle I love."

John's Story: Finding Relief After Years of Chronic Back Pain

For John, a 55-year-old business executive, the journey to finding relief for his chronic lower back pain was a lengthy and frustrating one. "I had tried everything – physical therapy, chiropractic care, pain medication, even a few alternative treatments," he explains. "But the pain just kept coming back, and it was really starting to impact my work and personal life."

After years of trying various conservative treatments, John decided to seek the advice of a spine specialist in Orange County. Through a comprehensive evaluation, it was determined that he was suffering from spinal stenosis, a condition characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which was putting pressure on his spinal nerves.

The specialist recommended a minimally invasive procedure called a laminectomy, which would involve removing a small portion of the vertebral bone to create more space for the nerves and alleviate the pressure.

"I was a bit apprehensive about the surgery at first, but the doctor took the time to explain the procedure in detail and address all of my concerns," John says. "He really made me feel confident that this was the best course of action for my condition."

The surgery was a success, and John experienced a significant reduction in his back pain within a few weeks. "It's been about six months now, and I'm truly amazed at the difference," he says. "I'm able to focus on my work without the constant discomfort, and I'm even able to enjoy my hobbies and activities again without the fear of aggravating my back."

Emily's Story: Overcoming Scoliosis and Regaining Mobility

For Emily, a 22-year-old college student, the journey to finding relief for her spinal condition began at a young age. She had been diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and had undergone various treatments throughout her childhood and adolescence.

"Growing up with scoliosis was really challenging," Emily recalls. "I had to wear a back brace for many years, and the pain and limited mobility made it difficult to participate in physical activities and sports with my friends."

As Emily entered college, the pain and discomfort from her scoliosis continued to worsen, making it increasingly difficult for her to focus on her studies and maintain an active lifestyle.

Determined to find a solution, Emily sought the expertise of a renowned spine specialist in Orange County. After a thorough evaluation, the specialist recommended a spinal fusion procedure, which would involve fusing the affected vertebrae to correct the curvature and alleviate the pain.

"I was apprehensive about the surgery at first, but the doctor took the time to explain the procedure in detail and reassure me that it was the best course of action for my condition," Emily says.

The surgery was a success, and Emily experienced a dramatic improvement in her mobility and a significant reduction in her back pain. "It's been about a year since the procedure, and I'm truly amazed at the difference," she says. "I'm able to participate in all the activities I love, and I no longer have to worry about the constant discomfort and limitations that I faced before."

Conclusion

The inspiring stories of Sarah, John, and Emily showcase the life-changing impact that effective lumbar spine treatment can have on patients in Orange County. By seeking the expertise of skilled spine specialists and undergoing personalized, evidence-based procedures, these individuals have been able to reclaim their quality of life and pursue the active, fulfilling lifestyles they had once longed for.

These success stories highlight the importance of seeking professional medical care for chronic lower back pain and the remarkable advancements in modern spinal treatment techniques. For those struggling with similar lumbar spine conditions, these stories serve as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that effective and lasting relief is within reach.

[writer-citation-needed]

Beach Read by Emily Henry

January Andrews is quite frankly doing pretty horribly. Her father recently passed and left behind a myriad of secrets, leaving January to spend her summer cleaning out his second house which he shared with his childhood lover (an affair which seemingly everyone but January knew about). What's worse, in the house next door lives her college rival- Gus Everett, a mysterious and cold literary fiction writer who never seemed to understand why January would spend her time writing happily-ever-afters. Both facing writer's block, they agree to a bet: they'll swap genres and theoretically prove that their own viewpoint is valid. What else could go wrong?

I went into this novel incredibly optimistic, since I had read Happy Place last month and enjoyed it a lot. Because of this, my review will contain a lot of comparison between the plots of the two novels as I believe my experience with Happy Place impacted my view of Beach Read significantly. Below the cut you can find my full, long thoughts- though there will be spoilers!

The Weaknesses

Typically, I would prefer to start a review positively, but for Beach Read it makes more sense to start with the weaknesses (in my opinion) as not only do I have more to say here but my opinions will be more chronological in this order.

To begin, this story does not function well as an enemies to lovers trope. During the first third or so, I found myself so incredibly frustrated by the constant bickering of the main characters because it was not promising of a satisfying romance. See below:

In the beginning, January had absolutely no interest in learning about Gus. She assumed she knew everything she needed to know about him and nearly always made unnecessarily snarky comments because of this. Later, she gets upset that it turns out she didn't know everything about him/ he wasn't as simple as she imagined him to be.

Re:above, January thought that Gus always hated her (the way she apparently hated him if you ignore the massive crush she also harbored), this is not true and creates very annoying misunderstandings

With the second point, I think it's important to mention that I generally disliked January throughout the whole novel. She is incredibly contradictory, presumptuous and tended to misinterpret every single scenario to prevent her happiness from the very moment they met in college until Gus tells her that he doesn't want to get back together with his wife. These two only have an enemies to lovers concept if you fully believe in January's feelings from moment to moment and ignore any possibility that Gus could be a complex character until the plot demands it.

To be more specific, the line dancing scene is a great example of one of her misunderstandings. At this point, Gus is finally beginning to lighten up and expose his true self (a sign that maybe he could be the kind of person January could be in love with), but when he says, to quote, "Cheers... to your happy endings," she loses it and reverts to her belief that he looks down upon her (I swear, it took her way to long to realize that he didn't hate her). I can't find a way to imagine this as condescending given his loosening up at this event. Was is so impossible that he really was beginning to believe in happy endings?

In summarizing the weak points of this novel, I found the misunderstandings to be too frequent, too unbelievable and to have gone on far too long into the story. The relationship setup is completely disproven in the second third of the plot and is difficult to sit through.

The Comparison

Given my frustration with the enemies to lover aspect of this novel, it may surprise you to hear that I really enjoyed this trope in Happy Place. I find it strange, since the couples in both stories have similar history (both having known each other for a long time, having been interested in each other to some extent, both being very different and having to overcome those differences, both being prone to misunderstandings and poor communication). In my opinion, the enemies portion of Happy Place is more realistic because, well, they did call off their engagement. Obviously something was wrong with their relationship. Gus and January... didn't make sense as enemies, especially since she kept bringing up the intense feelings she had had for him in college.

The Strengths

This novel genuinely has a very intriguing premise! I absolutely adore both the sort of fake-dating elements that January brings for her 'lessons' and the dive into New Eden which Gus explores. The clear split of their interests leads to a very heartwarming ending with each of them having written a sort of mishmash of genre. It was really nice seeing the characters learn more about each other on their research days and support each other on their working days (again.. why did they need to be enemies?)

Generally, the last 60 pages saved this novel for me. Despite my many grievances with January, it was so sweet to see her grow as a person and expand her worldview after sorting through all the mess in her life. Her eventual acceptance of her father's cheating and associated imperfect view of love was something I didn't realize was so crucial to my enjoyment of the novel, but it really allowed her to accept her ending which I so desperately wanted her to appreciate (seriously.. for a romance author she sure made it hard for herself to believe in a second chance at love). Additionally, I was so incredibly happy that Gus ended up making a good life for himself; I actually cried when he was talking about a happy-for-now and how perfectly it coincided with January's healing process.

Since I pointed out a specific scene that frustrated me the most, it's only appropriate to mention a scene that I loved (which is also in the last 60 pages). I absolutely swooned over Gus dancing in the rain as a way to show his love for January. That was really the perfect scene to show his growth and ability to care and listen- which he struggled with in the past. So so heartwarming.

Overall Opinion

Beach Read, for me, was a beautiful general fiction book bogged down by all the annoyances of romance tropes. There was such a great look at the complexity of love, loss and forgiveness but it was only found after 200 pages of a will-they-won't-they that could have been solved at multiple points during the events of the novel had the characters communicated beyond notebook messages and brief moments of passion. Had the ending been less perfect, I would certainly have rated this read at 2 stars for frustrating me beyond belief. I do hope to read more from Emily Henry in the future!

[nelll101]

A Silent Voice

Idk if it's just me but this movie just isn't a masterpiece like a lot of people say it is and it wasn't overly sad to me but I do appreciate the themes in the movie as I think we could all relate to at least one character and it brings attention to very serious topics that need to be talked about more. This is my second time watching this, and this watch was pretty hard to go through since I already don't like this movie that much 😭. It's not a horrible movie but in my opinion, overrated.

The movie starts off extremely strong by showing Shoya's suicide attempt and then cuts back to the past showing the constant bullying Shouko received throughout her childhood. Shoya's bullying is given a bit more attention than the others but overall the kids and even the teachers ended up treating her wrong. She lost like 8-10 hearing aids and nobody did anything about it which literally makes no sense as all I was thinking watching that is how much money is going down the drain. Also, the teacher was a bit weird as he wasn't outwardly bullying her like the kids, but his actions just seemed like he literally did not even want to be there or do his job. I also liked that when they showed Shouko's different bullying scenes cut back to back, they paralleled it with Shoya's bullying scenes after he was blamed showing him being bullied the same way. In the future, they all grow up and show truly how the effects of trauma and bullying can affect the development of a child into adulthood. I feel like people don't take bullying that seriously because it can really change you which is noticed with Shouko and even Shoya. Both of them attempted suicide and both of them hated themselves. Shoya show's character development as he regretted his actions when he was a kid but I personally feel he could've gone about it better as I barely noticed a time he actually apologized to Shouko. Also, the big X's on people's faces was a pretty interesting thing they added in the movie to expand on Shouya's self isolation and social anxiety due to what he went through. When he comes to terms with himself after Shouko's suicide attempt, he realizes that he cannot keep living like this and when the X's fall off their faces, he starts crying which shows he's accomplished his goal. In the end, it is Shouko and the school to blame for this because Shouko should've never bullied a deaf girl but kids will constantly be immature, but it sucks to see him taking all the blame when other kids did the same thing yet they got no blame because the school did not take it seriously enough and ended up living regular lives.

Also, another criticism of the movie is that it kind of seems unrealistic when it shows these topics but maybe that is done to exaggerate things. Naoko's character is an example because she is a bully but the movie literally made her character's bad traits to the extreme and I didn't notice any character development which is just frustrating to watch her disgusting actions. She literally fights Shouko's mother like wdf....

Also, Miki is a pretty crazy character as she shows those types of people who literally are just fake. They lie and deny when they've done something wrong and gaslight you into thinking it never happened. Anytime someone calls her out on her bs she starts crying and denies it and one time someone called her out (I think Shoya) and she redirects the blame back to Shoya. This movie honestly does a great job of showcasing the horrible character traits that people can possess and then shows the effects of those traits on other people.

To add, Tomohiro was a good addition for Shoya as he made him realize that it's ok to have friends and open up to people. I think he was the stepping stone to Shoya being more comfortable with himself and Shouko was what sealed it.

Overall this movie did well for showing the effects of bullying on development and also bringing attention to serious topics.

[bratz-kitten]

ASTRO OBSERVATIONS PT. 7

gemini and pisces placements are similar in the sense that geminis are able to see things from all perspectives, while pisces are able to empathise with people who have all sorts of different perspectives. pisces placements... be careful with over-empathising with the people who hurt you to the point where you’re understanding why they did it and you start excusing their actions. gemini placements... be careful with seeking the multi-layers and million different perspectives in everything and everyone to the point where you’re driving your own mind insane and you don’t know what your opinion is anymore because you hyper-analyse so much. too much of a good ability becomes a curse.

people with venus-mars aspects have a talent for making people who hate them fall in love with them 💋

moon in the 11th house natives tend to attract friends who get into scandals. moon in the 10th house natives tend to be the ones who get into said scandals. it’s a PERFECT FRIENDSHIP

capricorn placements have a talent for knowing how to make things last. they want to prolong the enjoyment they get out of something for as long as possible, which is why their hobbies, friendships and relationships tend to last a lifetime... hedonistic sluts

since both the 7th house and the 11th house rule fandoms, celebrities with a 7th house or 11th house neptune can attract fans who view them as angels who can’t do nothing wrong — because of this, those celebrities rarely take accountability for their mistakes, since people keep pushing the “but they’re perfect :(“ light on them

pluto conjunct ascendant natives always come off as very serious during first impressions, no matter how approachable and inviting they strive to appear.

sun and moon in the 10th house people may feel as if they’re always exposed to the public eye, they can’t get away with keeping things secretive. others always notice whatever they want kept on the low. this can be especially frustrating if they notice that others aren’t exposed to the same kind of scrutiny that they are for simply existing

lilith in pisces bitches have a natural talent for appearing like angels even in situations where they are 100% guilty. it’s very easy for them to put on their vulnerable, lost puppy act lmfao, which triggers others’ protective instincts. they may be able to cry on cue when people call them out on their bullshit, making them feel like THEY’re the shitty ones for confronting the lilith native... it’s insane

lilith in the 12th house natives may feel as though the themes of lilith are trapped in their psyche, at the core of who they are and those themes become unavoidable for them — they’re always there, lurking in the shadows, becoming the center of their nightmares

people with mercury in the 1st house can feel veryyy threatened and defensive when someone possesses knowledge in an area that they don’t, it’s like it hits them right on their biggest fears. they often either try to “one-up” the other person in an attempt to heal their broken ego or shut down altogether in insecurity. it’s imperative that they work on developing a strong sense of self-worth because they can be extremely prone to comparing their mental skills to those of other people.

people with personal planets in the 12th house may feel as though a lot of their artistic drive is stifled by their lack of energy. like... in the mental realm there’s a lot going on and it’s incredible, but then you pick up a pen to actualize your visions and you feel exhaustion immediately overtaking you. it can feel like there’s a lot to your psyche that feels inaccessible to you not because you don’t want to explore it, but because you have yet to restore the energy to dive deep into it. this can be especially noticeable if there’s absolutely no 5th house energy in the chart

people with jupiter in an earth sign love being surrounded by greeneries in their home; they may take a lot of enjoyment out of taking care of plants, gardening, cooking and stuff of the sort. it makes them feel more grounded, independent, and even healed. they also LOVE scents that connect them to nature like the scent of grass and the ocean.

air mercuries can be very beware of strangers, they can feel offended when their friends make them socialize with someone they don’t know and it can take a hot while before they trust the person enough to lower their defences a bit. they need to know it’s safe before expressing their usual sexy eccentric selves in front of someone new. on the other hand, aries placements can also hate being introduced to new people through their friends but it’s mostly because they’re very territorial over them, and can’t stand the thought that this new person can hurt their friendship in any possible way

meanwhile, it’s probably an earth or leo/sagittarius mercury introducing new friends to the group. they’re so fucking good with people and it shows in how they make people feel welcomed so easily, it’s like they “take” the person in and adopt them into the group. they can’t stand seeing someone being treated like an outcast because they know how it sucks to feel rejected, so they’ll try their best to make you feel included

while on the subject of people who hate seeing others be treated like an outcast because they know how it feels like to be rejected: SCORPIO RISINGS. bro. people underestimate how chill they can actually be. if they see you being left out, they’ll approach you with no fucks given and do anything in their power to make you feel comfortable. they do so well in group settings.

and while on the subject of scorpio risings... i have a scorpio rising friend and he goes thru it on the daily. he often complains that people are always suspicious of him and that they seem repulsed by him, strangers on the street will stay tf away from him. and it’s so heartbreaking because his personality is so friendly and welcoming and it doesn’t at all match his intimidating appearance. scorpio risings have this energy that not many people can handle, others feel either really drawn to them or downright scared of them because of the “danger” element they seem to carry in them

i know two people who are both scorpio suns and libra moons and they look the exact same, even though they have different risings. brown, deep-set eyes, coarse dark hair, naturally tanner skin tone — and they have the same style as well, using lots of band t-shirts and dark clothing. scorpio energy is always so noticeable wherever it is i swear, it’s like it takes over the rest of the chart

gemini moons are what yall claim gemini venuses to be. like, seriously... have you ever met someone with a gemini venus? they don’t need constant stimulation or else they’ll get bored and cheat. not in the slightest; actually, they’re often incredibly loyal and crave longterm, committed relationships. if anything, they need stimulation outside of their relationship in the form of a good, exciting career and hobbies so that they don’t get too addicted to their partner and to constantly analysing every aspect of their relationship. gemini moons however, tend to have multiple partners throughout life and they often feat deep commitment. they can be huge players imo, IT’S THEM YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT!

sagittarius placements are so... tactile? like, they love to touch things. when they go to stores and stuff, they’ll start holding everything that catches their attention— it’s like they can only decide if they want to buy something after thouroughly exploring how it feels, the texture and the energy that the object gives them through touch. and they talk so much with their hands. it makes me so anxious like bitch you aren’t selena gomez, i promise you that you CAN keep your hands to yourself

taurus placements are so weird to me, i can’t understand them. it’s like they’re afraid of exploring their own depths, which in turn makes me unable to explore them. okay, how do i put this... it’s like they have this preset idea of who they are and after deciding so, they’re unwilling to let go of it. “i’m the stable friend who’s here for everyone even when i can barely take care of my own self” and then that’s who they are: the people who are a steady rock in the lives of others, taking care of everyone. and then they refuse to change even after getting hurt. and then, it’s like... well, you can’t just be that. you are a human who contains multitudes, but i don’t think you give yourself enough credit on how layered you are. that fear of changeability, that need to be the one stable thing in a world full of unpredictability will only damage you in the end, because you won’t get to fully experience life’s greatest pleasure: knowing yourself. becoming your own best friend, exploring every layer that there is to your being. i think you deny yourself of that experience because you fear that, with self-learning comes self-growth which leads to transformation. and you fear transformation because you don’t want to change for the worst. but like... transformation is necessary and with that comes adaptability + flexibility, which are things you could greatly benefit from.

scorpio venuses can be so pessimistic— and when they’re in a dark mindset, it’s so difficult to pull them out of it. it’s so difficult to get them to see the good in difficult situations, and to help them believe that it gets better. but even if you don’t believe me, i’ll keep telling you; it does get better. you’ll get through this.

jupiter in the 4th house is an indicator of food having been an amazing part of your childhood; there might’ve been a lot of feasts and you could’ve had a parent who loved to cook. being well fed might be a huge concern for you now; you might get sick easily when you’re eating fast food and non-traditional plates.

mercury square uranus is an extremely difficult aspect to have because, in your earlier years, you might’ve felt dumb or like there was something wrong with your intelligence because you might’ve found school difficult due to it’s structured nature that didn’t fit with the way you like to learn things— you need to learn in an interactive way that piques your interest. your anxiety and any traumatic experienced that you faced could’ve heavily impacted your school performance. you might’ve had an ease with learning but then, when it came to doing the written tests, you couldn’t perform to the best of your abilities. either way, school might’ve been a source of a lot of stress and difficulty.

mercury square pluto can have some weird manifestation where, like... you suspect things but you always suspect the wrong things. i’ve met a few people with this aspect and all of them were extremely suspicious of the most random things who were literally normal and innocent. this aspect can cause a lot of chaos to one’s interpersonal relationships because you might find yourself suspecting your loved ones in the weirdest circumstances due to your trust issues, which in return causes them to lose trust in you + the want to confide in you because you keep questioning everything they’re up to WHEN THEY’RE NOT UP TO ANYTHING IN THE FIRST PLACE. probably the most frustrating thing that can happen with this aspect is when you always suspect what you shouldn’t, but then, when sketchy things are actually happening that should be questioned, you don’t bat an eye to it. omfg it drives me insane

moon conjunct the ascendant can make someone have a very delicate appearance that gives others the impression that they need to handle you like fine china or else you might break. my mother has this at a very tight orb and whenever i bring people over, their first impression of her is always “she looks so frail”. the native might be extremely sensitive to every minor inconvenience which brings a lot of frustration to them, a feeling that they can’t control their reactions and inner turmoil. it can also suck when you don’t want to be depicted as the victim but then that’s the way everyone perceives you. the native might have very expressive and shiny eyes, and they can cry easily. it’s very difficult for them to hide their emotions.

your jupiter sign can signify where you feel an overflow of energy. jupiter in cancer may feel like you have an overflow of nurturing and protective energy towards your loved ones, with a lot of intuition and need for introspection. jupiter in leo can make you feel like you a talent for self-expression and dealing with others, being overly dramatic and prideful at times, and with a huge drive to have fun. jupiter in virgo can feel an overflow of perceptive qualities, with a huge amount of self-awareness and also awareness of your surroundings, ability to constantly analyse and a constant strive for perfection (which btw is impossible since perfection is unattainable and you’re a human being who makes mistakes and that’s completely fine. stop finding flaws where there aren’t none).