#i removed a shot of a jellyfish and some fish

[baby-prophet]

this new video piece im working on is like 20x better than the one i made for my finals

[obeyme-kaidii-writes]

Date

Mammon x poly gn!MC x Levi

Words - 2988

Content warnings - pure, unadulterated fluff. Just enjoy teasing and cuddling the boys. Maybe a little adult humor? (no smut)

Prompt/Inspiration - AO3 request, a date to the aquarium

Summary - You go on a date to the Devildom Aquarium with Mammon and Levi, your two favorite demons.

AO3

Mammon was reclining on your bed, watching you get ready, albeit somewhat impatiently. He hadn’t expected you to take this long just deciding what to wear. Yet here was, 30 minutes later, still waiting for you.

“Ya know, if you keep this up Levi and I are just gonna leave without ya.”

“Pffft. Please. Like you’d even be going there if it wasn’t for me,” you flashed Mammon a cheeky smile as you finally decided on what you were wearing, “Come help me get dressed?”

As expected, Mammon blushed to the tips of his ears. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen you naked before, but he still got a little flustered sometimes when you’d ask him things so directly when he wasn’t prepared for it. Like now, when you just casually asked him to undress you.

But who was he to say no to you?

“I find it funny how shy you get sometimes,” you teased, as you watched Mammon while he removed your shirt, careful not to touch your skin.

“Shaddup.”

“It’s so cute.”

“I said,” Mammon replied as he placed his hand on the back of your neck, pulling you forward, before kissing you, “Shut up.”

All you could do was smile at him in return. He was so fun to tease. And so predictable too. You had been with him long enough to know now what buttons to press to get him to react a certain way...like kissing you.

“Don’t forget my pants.”

Mammon’s hands hesitated now, hovering over your waist band, unsure where to touch. If this had been any other day, he wouldn’t be having this trouble. He’d  remove your pants, toss you in bed, and love you until you couldn’t think straight. But you were supposed to be going on a date today. And he was supposed to be behaving himself. And here you were teasing him like he must have unlimited reservoirs of self control.

“It’s ok, I’ll get them. Hand me my shirt?” you said with a laugh as you pointed towards the top you had picked out a moment ago, showing him some mercy.

“Uh yeah,” Mammon was thankful for the distraction and excuse to move away. Anything to get his mind off those less than gentlemanly thoughts he was having right about now.

Right as you tugged your shirt on, but before you even had a chance to pick up your new pants, your door opened and Levi walked in.

“Are you ready yet? We are going to be late at this rate.”

He was too busy looking at his DDD to notice the fact you were half dressed. And since you had so much fun teasing Mammon, you decided teasing Levi would only be fair. Don’t want the Avatar of Envy getting jealous, after all.

And so you walked up to Levi, careful not to move too quickly and spook him, and stood directly in front of him, right behind his DDD. And waited. It didn’t take long for Levi to start blushing, and even though he tried to keep his eyes glued to the screen of his DDD, you knew he had seen you.

“Wh wh what are you doing? Shouldn’t you be getting dressed?”

“I thought I could get a hug from my favorite otaku,” you teased.

“Oh...umm...ok…”

You chuckled lightly before wrapping your arms around his neck and hugging him close. Cautiously, Levi wrapped his own arms around your waist, before pulling you to him, and burying his face into your shoulder.

“You’re awful. You know that?”

You laughed again and pressed a kiss to Levi’s neck before letting him go, “But you like it don’t you?”

“....that’s besides the point…”

“Oi! Are we gonna finish gettin’ ready anytime soon? Or y’all just gonna stand there and make out?”

“Hey!! That’s not what was happening! And you know it!” Levi snapped, face still flushed with embarrassment.

“You boys ready? Or are you just going to stand around all day?”

Mammon and Levi both turned to look at you, only to find you standing by your door now, fully dressed, ready to go. Smirking at them, like you hadn’t just riled them both up on purpose. And they both had only one thought on their minds - you were a handful.

————

Today’s date to the Aquarium had been planned by you, specifically with Levi in mind. You knew Mammon would like it too, though. Because the lights would be dim, he wouldn’t need to worry about people watching him as he stole secret kisses, or when you would pat him on the ass, as you were wont to do.

When you arrived, your own excitement had started to take over. This was your first trip to a Devildom aquarium after all, and you couldn’t wait to see the unique sea life that would be on display here.

Once you had entered your first exhibit - one that appeared to house several demonic-varieties of freshwater type fish - you gently took hold of Levi’s hand and laced your fingers together. He jumped a little at the sudden contact, but you simply smiled at him before leaning over to whisper, “It's dark, no one can see.”

He took a quick look around to confirm that yes, it was in fact dark and no, there wasn’t anyone else around that could be watching. He then relaxed and gave you a soft smile in return, squeezing your hand.

Mammon slipped an arm around your waist and gave you a quick kiss to the temple, making sure you hadn’t forgotten he was there as well. And of course you hadn’t, so you gave him a smile too, one just for him, before proceeding with your visit.

After about an hour wandering around, you finally found yourselves in front of the main exhibit for the season - jellyfish. These, of course, weren’t ordinary jellyfish either. They were species unique to the Devildom. A wide range of sizes and shapes and colors could be seen in each different tank, and it was honestly mesmerizing.

“Hey, I’m gonna take a uhh, break. I’ll be right back,” Mammon whispered in your ear, before kissing your cheek and hurrying to the closest restroom.

Now alone with Levi, you snuggled closer to him as you continued walking around. One particular aquarium caught his eye, and he paused so that he could get a better look. As you stood beside him, you noticed something familiar about the jellyfish.

“Hey, these look just like the ones in your room.”

“Yeah. They are actually.”

You smiled at Levi, waiting for him to continue.

“It’s actually a deep sea kind. They are really uncommon. And it’s hard to find a lot of them because they tend to be on their own most of the time.”

“Is that why you like them? Because you can relate to them?” you asked, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

“Huh I guess so. I never thought about it much, to be honest. But it makes sense.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re not on your own.”

“...yeah,” he replied, slightly embarrassed but mostly very happy.

Before he met you, Levi had honestly given up at ever having a real relationship with an actual 3D, real life, flesh and blood sort of person. It wasn’t that he didn’t have any suitors - a lot of demons would have happily married him for his status and power alone. But whenever he went on dates, things always went horribly wrong. He’d either embarrass himself, or anger his partner, or simply be too nervous to do much of anything at all.

But you were different. You took your time getting to know him, taking an interest in the things he enjoyed, and letting him just be himself. He could actually relax around you. Of course he still got flustered, it wasn’t like he was suddenly going to be Mr. Extrovert, exuding confidence all the time. But he didn’t need to be, not with you. You were patient and supportive on those occasions when he just couldn’t quite get his brain to work right. And even though you liked to tease him, you never did it in public, and you always showered him with plenty of affection and love so there was never any room to doubt your intentions.

When you had asked him if he would be interested in a relationship with you, he was honestly confused. He knew you were already seeing Mammon. And as far as he was aware, humans were primarily monogamous these days, so he had already given up all hope of ever getting a chance to win your heart. He just couldn’t compete with all the fun you seemed to have with his brother.

But then one day there you were, holding his hand, eagerly awaiting his response, wanting him to be a part of your life too.

He had thought at first things might be awkward between him and Mammon, but nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, they were closer than before, as they had added you to the shared interests they could bond over. What better way to spend their time than planning a surprise for you?

Levi took another quick glance around the exhibit hall before leaning over and stealing a small kiss from your lips. Once you realized what was happening you were quick to pull him closer with your free hand, deepening the kiss. When he finally pulled away, even the dim blue lights of the aquarium couldn’t hide the blush on his face, which only made you smile.

“Let’s go find Mammon,” you said.

“Fine.” Levi rolled his eyes inwardly, having briefly forgotten that his brother was also with them. He couldn’t wait until the next date, when he’d get you all to himself.

Upon exiting the exhibit hall, you immediately spotted Mammon near the gift shop. It seemed he had gotten a little distracted. You couldn’t let this opportunity pass you up, so you gave Levi a mischievous grin, raising your finger up to your lips signaling for him to be quiet, while you snuck up behind Mammon.

You didn’t know it, but Mammon had already seen you. And when he noticed you trying to sneak towards him, he subtly changed his position giving you a better shot at his back. Fortunately the new position also concealed his face from you, so you couldn’t see the dopey grin he now wore. When you finally reached him, you slipped your arms around his waist from behind, pulling him into a hug and snuggling into his back.

“You saw me didn’t you?”

“Yeah,” Mammon replied with a laugh, “You're not as sneaky as ya thought.”

“So what are you looking at?”

“Thought about surprising ya with something,” he said, gently rubbing your arms that were still wrapped around his middle.

“Ooo why don’t we all do that? I’ll pick out something for you guys too.” You turned to look at Levi who was now standing besides you, checking to see if he was on board with the whole idea.

“Alright, but I’m only getting something for you,” Levi replied.

“Yeah, same.”

“Fair enough,” you laughed, giving Mammon one final squeeze before making your way deeper into the shop to pick out something special for both your boys.

It wasn’t long before a plushie display had caught your eye and you had moved to get a closer look. A light blue jellyfish plush, with neon blue highlights and detailing immediately struck you as the perfect gift for Levi. With that decided, all that was left was to find something for Mammon.

As you dug through the pile, you eventually found what could only be described as a tsundere shark plushie, that you thought was absolutely adorable. Well, at least it looked adorable to you. It still appeared “cool” enough that no one would pay much attention to it if they were to see it in his room. But also still cute enough that you just wanted to hug it. Just like Mammon, you thought.

Having picked out your gifts, you hurried to the checkout to pay. Mammon and Levi were already waiting for you at the entrance, both looking rather awkward with their gift bags in their hands. You couldn’t help but smile at the sight, and when they finally looked up and saw you approaching, they smiled back at you in a way that made your heart flutter. How had you gotten so lucky?

————

Once back at the House of Lamentation, the three of you headed for Mammon’s room to unwind. And to exchange gifts, of course. Both Levi and Mammon had blushed when they saw what you had picked out for them, before thanking you with hugs and quick pecks on the cheek.

Mammon gave you his gift first - it was a coloring book he thought you’d enjoy. He always caught you doodling on your notes in class, and he remembered how you told him art helped you relax. His thoughtfulness touched you, and you wrapped him up in a tight hug.

“Thank you. I love you,” you whispered in his ear.

“I love ya too,” he replied, his voice slightly muffled by your shoulder, but still just loud enough for you to hear.

Next was Levi, who was, not surprisingly, feeling anxious after seeing how happy Mammon’s gift had made you. You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before opening his gift - a DVD.

“It’s umm...one of those ambient sound movies. You know, the kind you just play to listen to the music and nature sounds...I know it’s kind of weird but…”

You didn’t give Levi a chance to finish that sentence before you leaned forward and kissed him on the lips, “Thank you Levi, it’s perfect.”

He blushed again, but still smiled at you in return, relieved that you seemed genuinely happy with your gift.

“Why don’t we go ahead and watch it now? It would be a good thing to have on in the background while we relax and do our own thing, right?”

“A’ight. I’ll put it on,” Mammon said, standing up from the sofa to set up his entertainment system. Levi got up to dim the lights as well, and soon the three of you were cuddled together on the couch. Mammon browsing Akuzon on his DDD while you rested your head on his shoulder; Levi laying his head in your lap while he worked on his dailies for one of the mobile games he played.

As you played with Levi’s hair you felt your eyelids growing heavier and heavier. Today had been such a great day and you were absolutely exhausted by now. Between the warmth of Mammon’s body pressed against yours and the soothing sounds of the DVD Levi had picked out for you, it wasn’t long before you had drifted off to sleep.

————

When you finally woke up, you were surprised to find that you were no longer on the sofa, but rather in Mammon’s bed. Levi was on one side of you holding one of your hands to his chest. And Mammon was somewhat behind you, his arm wrapped around your middle as he cuddled close, spooning you.

“You awake?” he whispered, feeling you stir.

“Yeah,” you replied, turning your head a bit to better see him.

The DVD from earlier was still playing in the background, and the light from the screen illuminated his face with a soft glow. You couldn’t help but think how handsome he looked, and your thoughts must have shown on your face because he soon was capturing your lips in a gentle kiss.

As Mammon finally pulled away, he was smiling at you warmly. He loved waking up next to you like this. It was the one place he really felt like he belonged. It had become home for him.

When you had first mentioned to him the idea of including Levi in your relationship, he was more than a little jealous. Who was he kidding? He was a lot jealous. And hurt too. Was he just not enough for you?

But you reassured him over and over again until he adjusted to the idea. It wasn’t like you had a finite amount of love to give, you explained. And he’d still be able to have plenty of private time with you, you promised.

And you were right. He still got to take you places often, and when he was busy he knew you were safe and cared for with Levi. In his daily life, he actually didn’t feel like things had changed all that much either, since the two of you already hung out with Levi often anyways. Only difference now was Levi would curl up next to your side instead of sitting awkwardly on the other end of the sofa while Mammon played with your hair.

Now, he honestly couldn’t imagine his life working any other way. Everything just seemed to...fit. Like things were supposed to be this way the whole time, and you were the missing piece that pulled them together. Having you here had allowed him to get closer to his brother and repair several centuries worth of hard feelings that had existed between them. And he could never thank you enough for that. You were undoubtedly the best thing to ever happen to him.

As Mammon gazed at you, he could see that you were struggling to keep your eyes open again. He pressed another kiss to your lips before telling you, “Go back to sleep.”

So you rolled further on your side, allowing Mammon to better hold you from behind and to leave gentle kisses on your neck, before he too drifted off to sleep. The last thing you remember thinking as you let sleep claim you once more was just how unbelievably loved you were to be surrounded by these two amazing demons.

[fatehbaz]

On the morning of 1 March 1954, the day of the “Bravo” shot, there was a huge, brilliant light that consumed the sky. We all ran outside our homes to see it.

The elders said another world war had begun. I remember crying.

I did not realize at the time that it was the people of Rongelap who had begun a lifelong battle for their health and a safe environment. Not long after the light from Bravo, it began to snow in Rongelap. We had heard about snow from the missionaries and other westerners who had come to our islands, but this was the first time we saw white particles fall from the sky and cover our village.  Of course, in 1954, Marshallese children and their parents did not know that the snow was radioactive fall-out from the Bravo shot. The fall-out that our bodies were exposed to caused the blisters and other sores we experienced over the weeks that followed.

Many of us lost our hair, too. The fall-out was in the air we breathed, in the fresh water we drank, and in the food we ate during the days after Bravo. Then we were told that we had to leave Rongelap. Some of us left by airplane, but most of us on a large ship. We did not take our belongings or our animals. We did not know, when we left on 3 March 1954 that we would be leaving our homes for almost three years.

In June 1957, when we did return, we saw changes on our island. Some of our food crops, such as arrowroot, completely disappeared. Makmok, or tapioca plants, stopped bearing fruit. What we did eat gave us blisters on our lips and in our mouths and we suffered terrible stomach problems and nausea. [...] These were things that had not happened before 1954. Our staple foods had never made us ill.

We brought these problems to the attention of the doctors and officials who visited us. They said we were preparing the foods incorrectly, or that we had fish poisoning. We knew that was impossible because we had been preparing and surviving from these foods for centuries without suffering from the problems that appeared after 1954.

It has always been interesting to me that even the people who were not on Rongelap in 1954, but who went there with us in 1957, began to experience the same illnesses we did in later years. Foreign doc-tors and other officials called those people the “control group” and we were told the sickness of that group proved our illnesses were common to all Marshallese. We did not believe that, and we learned only recently that the “control group” had come from areas that had also been contaminated [...]. Our illnesses got worse, and many of us died. We had to believe that our island was radioactive, and we evacuated ourselves from Rongelap in 1985. The Rongelapese have been living in exile ever since. [...]

My own health has suffered very much, as a result of radiation poisoning. I cannot have children. I have had miscarriages on seven occasions. [...]  I have also had thyroid surgery to remove nodules. [...] I have lumps in my breasts, as well as kidney and stomach problems, for which I am receiving treatment. My eyesight is blurred, and everything looks foggy to me.

We do not have Marshallese words for these kinds of babies because they were never born before the radiation came. […] Many of these women are from atolls which foreign officials have told us were not affected by radiation. We know otherwise, because the health problems are similar to ours. One woman on Likiep gave birth to a child with two heads. Her cat also gave birth to a kitten with two heads. There is a young girl on Ailuk today with no knees, three toes on each foot and a missing arm. [...] The most common birth defects on Rongelap and nearby islands have been “jellyfish” babies. These babies are born with no bones in their bodies and with transparent skin. We can see their brains and hearts beating. The babies usually live for a day or two before they stop breathing. [...]

My purpose for travelling such a great distance to appear before the Court today, is to plead with you to do what you can […] not to allow the suffering that we Marshallese have experienced to be repeated in any other community in the world. 

-----

Testimony of Lijon Eknilang to the International Court of Justice, The Hague, 14 November 1995.

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #130: Marie Antoinette (Caster)

The encores keep coming on Fate and Phantasms with today’s build, Marie Antoinette! A volleyball player in D&D is probably one of the weirder things we’ve done so far, but I’m sure we can set up something good for y’all. Charm everyone you can, and smash those you can’t in the face with your beachballs!

Check out her build breakdown below the cut, or her character sheet here!

Next up: Met a girl(s), crazy for me!

Race and Background

As a variant of Marie, you’re also a variant human, giving you +1 wisdom and charisma. You’re a bit more active than your rider counterpart, so you also get Athletics proficiency and the Fighting Initiate feat, which nets you the Thrown Weapon Fighting fighting style. Now you can grab and throw weapons in the same move, and you deal +2 damage with thrown weapons! Sadly, WoTC forgot to weaponize balls in D&D, but light hammers are the closest thing we have to work with. Yes, that does mean Tortle Antoinette is dangerously close to being a Hammer Bro.

Like always, you’re a Noble, giving you History and Persuasion proficiencies.

Ability Scores

If you know anything about Marie, you know her Charisma is pretty high. If we want to be good a sports we’ll need some Dexterity though, make that second. Your Wisdom isn’t half bad, you were a queen once. Your Constitution isn’t amazing, but hey that just gives you an excuse to order one of those umbrella drinks and relax. Your Intelligence is rather low by elimination, (again, no one wants to think in the summer,) but you’re not stupid so we’re still dumping your Strength. Surprisingly, beach balls aren’t heavy lifting.

Class Levels

1. Monk 1: Remember when I said not all of the summer servants were going to be beach ready? I’m starting to think that might not be true. As a monk, you get proficiency with Strength and Dexterity saves, as well as two monk skills. I’d grab Acrobatics for more volleyball skills and Insight for better rulings.

You also get Unarmored Defense, making your AC based on your wisdom as well as your dexterity, and Martial Arts. Now you can use dexterity instead of strength when attacking with monk weapons (light hammers are simple, so they count), and you can make an unarmed strike as a bonus action after attacking. Also, all your monk attacks do a minimum of 1d4 damage, which scales as you level up. The good news is it only gets better from here.

2. Monk 2: Second level monks get a number of Ki points each short rest equal to their monk level. They can use these to make two attacks, dodge, disengage, or dash as a bonus action. You also get Unarmored Movement, helping you get across the court thanks to an extra 10′ of movement speed that also increases as you level up.

3. Monk 3: They probably wouldn’t tell you this, but it turns out Way of the Kensei monks are super into beach volleyball. That’s why at third level you learn the Path of the Kensei, a totally not confusingly named feature that’s really four features in one. You get Kensei Weapons, a melee (Light Hammer) and ranged (Darts? It doesn’t really matter much) weapon that will be used by later features. One of those is an Agile Parry, giving you a bonus to your AC for a round when you make an unarmed attack with a kensei weapon in hand. Use the volleyballs for ranged attacks, hands for melee attacks, they’re pretty mutually exclusive. Another way to use your deadly weapons is a Kensei’s Shot, which normally doesn’t come up in these builds. Using your bonus action you can deal an extra 1d4 of damage each time you make a ranged attack that turn, effectively doubling your output. You also learn the Way of the Brush, which will be super useful when you’re stuck making manga over and over again in summer 3.

Finally, you volleyball skills come in handy by teaching you how to Deflect Missiles. Using your reaction you can set a ranged attack to deal less damage to you, and if you mitigate it entirely you can spike it back at the attacker.

4. Monk 4: Your very first Ability Score Improvement will go towards Dexterity. Being able to aim your shots helps. You can Slow Fall to reduce sandburn from those dives, and you get some Quickened Healing for a bit of that sunflower power, spending ki and an action to heal yourself.

5. Bard 1: Despite everything, you’re still you. And You is still a bard! This means you get Performance proficiency to get the crowd on your side, as well as some Spells you can cast using your Charisma. You can also give Bardic Inspiration to your allies a number of times per long rest equal to your charisma modifier. This lets them add a d6 to one of their attack rolls, saving throws, or ability checks.

Speaking of spells, Light will make you the center of attention, either creating a light source out of thin air of turning an object into a free torch. You also get Friends, Charm Person, and Animal Friendship to wrap the world around your finger, because some things never change. If you have to get a bit forceful, you can also use Command, or Cure Wounds if you’re in a more merciful mood.

6. Bard 2: Second level bards are Jacks of All Trades, adding half your proficiency bonus to checks that don’t already use it. As a queen, you have to be well-versed in just about everything. You also get a Song of Rest, adding 1d6 to healing done over short rests. Finally, your Magical Inspiration augments your bardic inspiration. It can now be added to spell damage and healing. 

Speaking of spell damage and healing, Bane does neither of those things. However, it does force a charisma save (DC 8 + proficiency + charisma modifier) on a couple creatures, and the ones that fail subtract 1d4 from all attacks and saves they make for the duration. You’re pretty distracting.

7. Bard 3: Your bard levels aren’t changing things up much from your original setup- yes, you’re still going to the College of Glamour. As a glamour bard, your Mantle of Inspiration can be built using just a use of Inspiration and your bonus action, giving a couple of friendly creatures 5 temporary hp, and the ability to react to move without causing opportunity attacks. 

You can also put on an Enthralling Performance. After you play for at least a minute, you can try to charm a couple people who saw the entire thing, basically turning them into your groupies if they fail a wisdom save. You can use this once per short rest.

Finally, you get Expertise in two skills, doubling your proficiency bonus in Acrobatics and Performance. You’re good at what you do, and even better at making it look good while you do it.

You can also cast Calm Emotions to soothe enemies or friends alike. Like Guda always says, “An enemy is just a friend that’s still trying to kill you.”

8. Bard 4: Use this ASI to bump up your Charisma for stronger spells and more inspiration.

You can also cast True Strike this level for more accurate strikes, or Enhance Ability to inspire greatness in an ally, giving them advantage on one kind of skill check for the duration.

9. Bard 5: At fifth level your bardic inspiration grows to a d8, and you become a Font of Inspiration. That means your inspiration pops back up on short rests and long ones!

Being a queen isn’t easy. Even if you’re nice you still gotta punish people sometimes. Sometimes that punishment is curses. Bestow Curse can help with that. This is one of those open-ended spells- if your DM’s cool with creativity, you can probably do some nasty stuff with this spell.

10. Bard 6: Sixth level bards can waste an action on Countercharm, giving allies advantage against being charmed or frightened for the round. Alternatively, you can use your Mantle of Majesty as a bonus action, allowing you to cast command for free each bonus action and upon use. Any creature charmed by you automatically fails the save, but this feature uses your concentration, so it’s only really useful with teamwork or your Enthralling Performance. You can use this once per long rest.

We can duplicate the effects of your noble phantasm easy, but none of these really make you a giant glass jellyfish, do they? Major Image can help with that. This creates an illusion that fits within a 20′ square, and you can move it with you too!

11. Monk 5: Bouncing back to monk for an Extra Attack each attack action. You can also make a Stunning Strike, forcing a constitution save (DC 8+proficiency+wisdom modifier) or they’re stunned for the round. (This only works on melee attacks tho, boo hiss.) 

For something more useful, Focused Aim lets you spend 1-3 ki points to add 2-6 to an attack roll. Volleyball is all about that aim.

12. Monk 6: Sixth level monks get Ki Empowered Strikes, making your unarmed attacks magical against resistances. You also become One with the Blade, which makes your kensei weapons magical against resistances, and you can use a Deft Strike to add your martial arts die to your damage once per turn.

You also get another kensei weapon, but it doesn’t really matter what you pick bc we’re still volleyballing here.

13. Monk 7: Once again, you get the super useful Evasion, halving damage from failed dex saves and removing damage from successes. You also get a Stillness of Mind, letting you spend an action to shut down frightening and charming effects.

14. Bard 7: Bouncing back to bard again for some fourth level spells, like Charm Monster. Fish love you, women love you, basically everyone loves you.

15. Bard 8: Use this ASI to bump up your Dexterity for more AC and better attacks. Turns out, monks like dexterity! Who’da thunk it. Your glass dress also gets a bit scarier at this level, turning it into a Phantasmal Killer. If your target fails a Wisdom save, they become frightened, and at the end of each turn they have to make another save or take psychic damage. Technically this makes one of their worst fears, but I bet glass chafes something awful, so I’d count it.

16. Bard 9: Ninth level bards get a stronger song of rest, and you can cast fifth level spells! Dominate Person forces a wisdom save on a creature or they get charmed. While charmed, you can issue commands to the target or take total control of them. You’re a celebrity, you do what you want. And other people do what you want too.

17. Bard 10: Tenth level bards get a d10 for their inspiration, and they get Magical Secrets, two spells from any spell list. Also a cantrip, which makes introducing the spells succinctly a pain in the ass. You get a Thunderclap if you spike the ball hard enough, but the stars of the show are Conjure Volley (yes we got it entirely for the pun) and Find Greater Steed. Horses aren’t practical on a beach, but glass horses aren’t about practicality.

You also get Expertise in athletics and persuasion to truly master volleyball and the popularity that comes with it.

18. Monk 8: Use your last ASI to bump up your Constitution for 18 free hit points.

19. Monk 9: Your unarmored movement improvement lets you literally walk on water, for those dramatic Baywatch-style shots.

20. Monk 10: Your final level gives you a Purity of Body, making you immune to disease and poison. Not the flashiest way to end a build, but I def wouldn’t complain about that right now.

Pros:

Throwing hammers around gives you a range advantage on most melee enemies, and your monk mobility gives you plenty of speed to abuse it with.

Your high dex and kensei features make your shots accurate, and your damage consistent. 

Despite trading half your bard levels for monk, you’re still charming as all hell- literally. Fighting still isn’t your strong suit, but you’ve got plenty of ways to avoid them where possible.

Cons:

YOU ARE USING LIGHT HAMMERS. There isn’t even a stereotype about them in those “what does you favorite weapon say about you” videos because NO ONE USES THEM. Even with being a monk, you still won’t be doing much damage with them. Pulling out all the stops nets you 2d6+1d4+6 Bludgeoning damage at level 20. Let the fighters take care of the fighting, you’ll be a lot happier for it.

A lot of your abilities are tied to inspiration and ki, both of which are limited resources. 

Unless you’ve got an artificer in your group or a generous dm, throwing weapons are a pain to use. You’ve either got to carry around a lot of them (which might be an issue with your dumped strength) or get used to picking them up between attacks.

[soniabigcheese]

Whumptober 2020 Day 21 - I don't feel so well ....

Infection/Excruciating Pain

I've gotten this far, can't go further. Sorry. So I'll wrap it up right here. At least I gave it a shot anyways

Fandom: Thunderbirds are go

Characters: Gordon Tracy

Whump: oh yes, I'm sorry Gordon but it was your fault

@whumptober2020

*****

Peeing on a jellyfish sting is good ... yeah?

He remembers reading or hearing or even seeing something about that on the TV. So it SHOULD work.

Gordon, still shaking from the sudden and excruciating pain shooting up his leg, quickly looked to see if anyone was around. Then, with shaking hands, he yanked down his pants ...

... and waited.

"Come on come on come on," he muttered, standing calf deep in the rock pool where he'd accidentally brushed against a stranded jellyfish.

But nope, his bladder decided that it wouldn't cooperate.

The pain was so horrific that he was squeezing his eyes shut and trying not to hold his breath.

"Gordon? Gordon!"

The sound of his brothers voices were faint to begin with, almost drowned out by the screeching, mocking caw of the seagulls circling above. But he knew they'd be appearing soon. So he had to be quick.

Those scavengers had learned how to grab easy food by bombarding people by the coast. Or flocking in large groups to stand there, intimidating tourists into giving up their fish and chips, ice cream, sandwiches. Whatever. As long as it was free ... who cares?

Anyways, despite being in horrendous pain, Gordon tracked the seagulls and knew that they were no threat. He'd eaten his food a while back before going out exploring the rock pools. He took great care not to travel too far and kept checking his watch for high tide.

But this particularly deep pool was sooo enticing. However, in order to get to it, he had to climb down some slippery rocks and vanish out of sight.

He'd never gone so far or took such a risk before. But the thoughts of finding pretty shells and maybe a fossil or two ... was too tempting.

So, after a quick glance across to his family ... who were otherwise distracted by something or other ... he carefully picked his way down the jagged rocks, slipped off his flip flops and dipped his feet into the cold water.

His teeth chattered ... as he'd expected. But then a shooting pain, like a red hot poker suddenly appeared. He bit his lip, trying not to yelp out and lifted his leg to look at his ankle.

Sure enough, there was a line of welts around the inside of his leg. Panic set in, because he knew he'd done wrong. He should have stayed close. And now look. He was paying the price.

But then he had the idea about pee and decided to try it.

So here he was, butt naked, standing in a rock pool, waiting for his bladder to 'do the thing'.

And eventually it happened. Pee started to trickle down his leg ... but it didn't do the thing that he was expecting. Instead, the pain flared up, even worse than before.

He screamed, his knees gave way and he sank into the pool.

Thankfully, at that moment, Scott and Virgil appeared over the bridge and spotted him before his head went under the water.

As they reached in to pull little Gordon out, they looked confused as to why he'd removed and discarded his pants.

Until they saw the red lacerations around his ankle. And the newer ones that were now appearing all over his legs. Sinking into the water, in a confined space like this pool, with nowhere else to go, he had pushed his weight further against this poor jellyfish.

And made things .. worse

Grandma appeared as they carried the limp figure of their little brother and gave Gordon a check over.

"We need vinegar," she said promptly, "to take the edge off. Then hospital ... stat! To remove the barbs. Hopefully he hasn't caught an infection."

The fish and chip shop were happy to give them their vinegar. It so happened that jellyfish stings were common along this particular coastline.

Gordon whimpered but his eyes remained shut tight. They carefully wrapped him in a couple of blankets and placed him in the back of the car with Virgil beside him to keep a close eye on the poor kid.

It was a sombre and strange journey. Earlier in the day, there was so much excitement about a day trip to the coast. Gordon fair climbing out of the car with his excitement and enthusiasm.

Now, it was quiet, except for a couple of sobs from Gordon ... and the soft murmurs from Virgil.

Then Gordon fell silent. They thought he'd fallen asleep. But Virgil wasn't so sure. He felt his brother's forehead and frowned.

"Grandma?" he said softly, trying not to sound too panicked, "think we'd better hurry. He's got a fever."

Ah shit. That's not good.

She gripped the steering wheel and ground her teeth as she glared at the heavy traffic in front of her. There was a temptation to yell and scream and honk her horn at the other drivers. But to what end? What would it achieve? Nothing. Just more irritated drivers honking their horns and getting annoyed.

"I'm doing my best son," she ground out, "just ... keep him comfortable okay?"

She glanced at the rear view mirror and saw Virgil nodding, curling his arms around a very clammy and pallid Gordon.

The traffic crawled along, much to everyone's dismay. But then the turn off to the hospital appeared. Grandma was in the wrong lane but she didn't have time for niceties ... or adhering to the highway code.

So she wove sharply between cars, earning irate beeps, before driving at just below the speed limit down the much quieter road.

Screeching to a halt in the ambulance bay, she hollered orders to the staff standing outside having a quick smoke.

They immediately went into action, not daring to complain about her interrupting their break time. They knew a doctor when they heard one and they were trained to respond to an emergency.

Of which, this was one.

As they bundled Gordon onto a gurney and rushed him inside, grandma threw the keys at Scott for him to park the car properly and she and Virgil followed behind the medical staff, giving them a run down of what had happened ... timeline etc.

They were told to wait in the waiting room as Gordon was whisked away.

He was quickly examined, then IV lines were fed into his veins as they administered antibiotics. One nurse spoke softly to Gordon, whilst another gently picked out the barbs.

He was lucky that the infection was caught in time. Any longer and it could have been serious. Really serious.

[m00nj311y]

All Worth It For You 1/?

Where did he go wrong?

A cloud of glimmering silver bubbles raced past him to the surface. His world, once clear and vibrant with a plethora of colors and sounds, was now darkening with the color blue, a monotonous pounding ruthlessly crashing into his head.

Steve's orders were clear. He was to infiltrate a GAIA ship and disable its communications. Incapacitate all enemies. Gather intel for SHIELD review. Leave. Debrief.

Green-gold scales filled his vision, a tail twirling and flicking with minimal effort. The vice grip on his legs grew tighter. Pain flared just above his ankles; the merman's claws dug deep into his skin, constantly slicing his flesh with each movement of his tail.

Steve expected to be intercepted at any time. It's happened before, it'll happen again. He did not expect a man to slam him over the railing of the ship and plunge in after him. Steve had lashed out with his shield, the metal slicing through the water, but it hit nothing. He kicked, again and again, but the sharp hands always returned.

The merman yanked him downwards with such force that bubbles shot out of Steve's mouth; in an instant a clawed hand wrapped itself around his throat. Pain exploded behind his eyes when the man slammed Steve's head against the sandy floor.

"You've become unbelievably annoying, Captain." The merman's voice rang clear in the blue. His name was Ross Sweinden, Steve remembered, one of GAIA's packs of muscle. They had met before, only a week ago, when Ross had nearly bested him in combat. Steve was impressed, he respected Ross's strength; the man would've made a worthy Avenger if only he wasn't so eager to use brute force. "How's about we end this?”

Steve didn't bother to reply as his fingers twitched, aching to remove the oppressive hand. His vision was darkening, a black fuzz consuming his world. Water forced itself into his mouth, down into his lungs. A tight burn in his throat chest contrasted the chill of the blue void around him.

Ross shook him. "Don't die on me, Steve!" His grip on Steve's neck tightened---and then loosened.

Steve didn't have the energy to wonder why. The black fuzz was now invading his mind, peaceful and comforting and urging him to just let go, you've lived long enough, Peggy is waiting, you've got a date. Yes, he's given his all to this era, hasn't he? He built up the Avengers, stopped an alien invasion, and found and liberated his friend. What more could the world, could SHIELD, want from him?

The Avengers will survive. They will take care of everyone.

Let go, Steve.

Blue filled his vision again, unusually bright. Although Steve's vision was blurred with pain---head injury, he had to remain awake---he saw that a face was before him. It wasn't Ross; no, a dark-haired man stared at him, a sharp-toothed but relieved smile on his face.

Steve couldn't tear his gaze from the merman's eyes. His irises and pupils were glowing the same blue that shined out from his strange metal suit. The werewolf was transfixed.

Too soon a smooth, featureless mask slid down over the merman's face. He turned to the left and, his voice hosting a mechanical undertone, clicked and whistled at a companion.

In a similar mechanical suit---this one black and silver and glowing orange---was his friend. Whether it was a machine or a merperson in a metal shell, they easily and repeatedly overpowered Ross. The GAIA agent snarled and swiped but he knew he was outmatched. When the orange merman glanced at Blue, he swung in place and bolted away.

Steve really wouldn't be surprised if Ross was the type to swear revenge.

Blue and orange, gray and black, filled his vision. Unnaturally smooth fingers and arms wrapped themselves around the joint connecting his arms to his shoulders and hoisted him up with a gentleness he only recieved from Natasha.

Above him was the moon, its form wavering erratically. Werewolves and the Moon, people thought the two had a connection. Dr. Erskine never mentioned the effects the moon had on werewolves or even human-turned-werewolves, and Steve never felt any more powerful under a full moon than he did under a crescent moon. But he prayed anyway, begging whatever---if anything---possessed the moon to heal the concussion he knew he'd have, that it wouldn't last too long, that he'd get to go back to the surface, that Natasha and the others search for him.

_____________________________________________

Tony knew his father hated humans. Something about a human male chasing him when he was a pup. So when---and it is a when, because Father had his ways of worming secrets from their holders---Tony's big Star was found...well, the young Princes will ensure he gets sent to the wealthiest quadrant in the human community.

For the sixth time in their hold, Star went limp. A concussion. Tony knew what those were like, to fall unconscious again and again, to sometimes forget what happened, to have the life sucked out of you at the mere flick of a tail---or leg, in Star's case. All he and Arno could do was swim as fast as they can to Strange's Sanctum and keep him as still as possible in their arms.

"He's different, this Star of yours," Arno warbled.

Tony nodded. Even in the water, humans had a particular scent to them. But Star's taste was warped, human but not-human. "So how deep do we need to bury this secret?" Because if Father found Star he'll know immediately that Star is in some way special, and he'll have him tested. And if there was anything Father loved more than his own sons, it was prestige and the admiration (coughjealousycough) that came with it.

"Pretend-he-doesn't-exist deep." Arno led them in a dive though a cavern filled with shrimp and spiders.

"Ah, my weakness." But Tony heard the implication in his brother's words: We should've stayed home. But that only hardened Tony's resolve to help and protect the not-human. There was something about him that lured Tony to him, something that Tony knew would be worth the hell Father will eventually put him through. As they emerged into the depths again, Tony spared Star a glance. His head was up, turning left and right as they passed swarms of bioluminescent jellyfish, but his movements were sluggish.

In the distance were the upper shelves of the Subduon, the trench Eingara was built in: the shelves of the poor, of the merchants and traders and artisans, and of the Upper Military. Piercing through the encompassing darkness were the lights, glittering and flashing red, blue, green, and yellow. The Sanctum was more attuned to the wealthy while still remaining quite a swim away; it was located right at the bottom of the trench.

"There're going to be a lot of curious fish," warned the elder of the brothers, angling them toward the bright lights. His gray face plate lifted, revealing a thoughtful frown. "Star still needs time to acclimate. If we take him down there, we'll have another flounder."

Tony nodded, lifting his own face plate. When they were young there was news of a Merrow who'd saved a human and brought them down to the depths. But even with the newfound abilities to breathe underwater and survive its bone-reaching chill, the human still had yet to adapt to the crushing depths. By the time the Merrow reached bottom of the trench, the human "looked more like a flounder."

And Tony did not want to be the traumatized owner of a flounder.

There was a human community up on the shelf, high enough that Star would not succumb to the pressure. For now, they were Star's best chance at survival. As if they were sharks on the prowl the civilians cleared the way for their princes as they swept through the city, their eyes lingering on the limp not-human in their grasp. They hummed and clicked theories to one another but none were arrogant enough to intercept them. Tony prayed that they couldn't catch Star's scent in the water, prayed that a noble adorned with peridot, gold, and/or a rainbow of pearls wouldn't be in the crowd.

The human living area was a time capsule, a timeline of trends that dominated the stonemasonry field mixed with the myriad of surface cultures. The first humans, chosen survivors from shipwrecks throughout the centuries, were dumped in towns of jagged and shoddy stonework. Generations passed, and new divisions were added, the stonework displaying floral and animal reliefs as well as strange geometric depictions.

Displaying a mixture of whale and dolphin reliefs and curving lines was the hospital, one of the largest buildings in western division. Like the Merrow civilians, the humans threw themselves out the way of the royals, signing to one another and pointing to Star.

Clusters of pillar coral lights bathed the inside of the reception area with kelp yellows and sky blues. The receptionist, an elderly woman, lifted her head as the princes swam up to her. Seeing that their load was limp, her eyes widened and she thrust herself from the desk. The woman pointed to a white-lit hallway on her right and swam off.

Tony and Arno followed.

The room the receptionist led them to was lit with a golden coral light that was growing downwards from the ceiling. The stony floor was carpeted with sea grass and the walls swayed with vibrant anemones and soft corals. To the left of the doorway was a wall-long counter, all its contents sorted into neat groups. In the middle of the room was a mechanical bed fashioned into a mussel shell, fitted with sealskin sheets. The princes lay Star down on the sheets, settling him on his belly.

Star blinked open his eyes. Those little windows to the sky searched the room before fixating on Tony. Confusion was written all over his youthful face.

"You'll be safe here, I promise," Tony assured.

[mychaoticdiary]

January, 6th, 2021

Dear Diary,

I’ve taken an edible so I can’t remember what happened first thing this morning. But my sweet senior girl looks worse than ever, her eyes are sunk in, she can’t stand for long, her meows get the attention of my other cat even though they never had in the past...I think she’s crying for help. My mom comes to me to tell me what I already know, we need to put her down. I agree, it breaks my heart. She calls the vet to get an exact quote on how much it’ll cost we were told around $200 the other night by the vet but now we’re greeted with a new number $446. My stomach falls, that’s just too high. We decline and we both just try not to cry. We call around all the quotes are $350 and up, it would leave us with no money for my other cat in case she also needs to be put down. What a nightmare. We call the Humane Society where we adopted her and just hope maybe they’ll have an answer on where to go, it turns out they do what they call ‘End Of Life Services’ it’s only $50 and we could get her ashes and a paw print for $150, it’s a life saver.  How Ironic. I still hate Alanis Morissette. But they offer something else they hear our story out and offer instead for us to surrender her, they have a vet on board that can give her all the treatment she needs, they’ve got staff to keep her company, they’ve got everything. But everything that’s too good to be true has a catch. We don’t get to know what happens, we surrender her and sign a contract that says we won’t attempt to seek her out in the future and we understand that we can never adopt her again. We both cry as we agree.  We both feel like failures but we know it’s the best option for our sweet senior girl, she could still have a few more years of life in her if she receives the right treatment, she could turn back into that happy purr machine I love so much...but I’ll never know. I’ll never be allowed to know. A selfish part of me wants her to just end with me so I can know but I shove that ugly part deep, deep down. She deserves a life if she can get one...even if I’m not in it.  It happens tomorrow, we can’t chance waiting too much longer even till tomorrow seems risky.  Me and my mom talk in circles, repeating the same words: This is the right thing to do. We’re making the right choice. This is the best option.  It seems like we’re hoping if we say it enough we can beat down the ugly part of our minds that tell us we’re failures.  She heads to work early, she needs to distract herself, I wish I had a job to do that with.  Me and my friend talk, today seems to be filled with circles. We say the same things to each other: Sorry I can’t do anything to help. I love you. Your feelings are valid. I’m here no matter what. I love you.  We both cry, we’re both so emotionally high strung, our minds can’t form any more words but we’re there for each other and we know it. We’ll make it. We always do. We have too. My good friend messages me, she’s had enough of heart break from her best friend of over a decade, she’s done with feeling ignored and pushed aside, she sends me what she wants to send her and asks me what I think. It’s angry and I see a lot of my own anger I’ve got at my own best friend in her words. It’s solid, it’s honest, it’s angry but it’s fair so I tell her to remove the swear words so her friend can’t write her off as ‘overly emotional’ and send it, she thanks me and does.  My best friend messages me, she’s ready for the phone call that’ll explain everything that’s been happening. Part of me wants to say to her what my other friend has said to her best friend, I’m ready to be angry...but I just don’t want to be, I don’t want that to be us. I call her and it starts clunky, there’s tears as I explain what’s going on and I offer her a chance to say goodbye to my sweet senior cat. She helped take care of her when I worked nights, she’d come and feed her, play with her, it only seems fair though I mainly expect to hear a ‘no’ she says ‘I’m on my way’ and it feels like the best friend I once knew.  I decide to shower, I smell and this is a good a reason as any to actually do something about that. I get in and start it only to hear a tiny thunk behind me I look over and see my senior cat, she has been in the bathtub recently for reasons unknown, I wonder if she just wants to be close and doesn’t notice that the shower is running but she walks over to the pooling water. Maybe she’s that thirsty? But she doesn’t lick up any water. I don’t want her to get wet and then get cold and get even sicker so I gently coo at her as I lift her up and out of the tub and try to start my shower again. Another soft thunk and she’s right back where she was before so I just watch and she comes back over to the pooling water and to my shock sits down and goes to lay down but I just can’t let her get that wet. I pick her back up and put her back out of the tub, I move the shower curtains to the outside to try and discourage her but it’s to no avail. I have to take her out of the bathroom and close the door, my heart breaks as I listen to her cry outside of the bathroom she just doesn’t understand but none of my soap is pet friendly and I just don’t want her to get any more hurt than she already is. The second I open the door back up she’s back in the tub, I lay down a towel and let her be, if it makes her content and comfortable I don’t want to argue with it. My best friend arrives, sometimes I forget she has a key to my apartment. Again the hello is a little clunky, we’re both a little off. But it’s good to see her none the less. We talk about the obvious and a mirage of sorry’s leave her mouth. I tell her about my friend and how she feels about her best friend, I open up and instead of approaching it angrily I simply tell her that I feel like we’re been drifting apart like that and I desperately don’t ever want to feel that way, I don’t ever want to write her an angry letter saying my heart is broken because of her and I don’t want her to write me one either. For the first time in months we open up. Both of us have been bottling things up this past year, trying not to bother the other, trying to keep things light during a heavy year. We talk about how the past month has just beaten us down and sat on us, we’re unable to get up as life laughs like a school yard bully. She had a pregnancy scare, her cyst got so bad she couldn’t go to work, two of her mice suddenly died both unfortunately violently, her boyfriends nana and cousin died days apart from each other, her bank account was empty. In short depression had eaten us both alive but we didn’t want to tell one another because we both just wanted things to be ‘good’ so bad when we saw each other. This talk feels like us. This talk is open and no guards are up. I try to find a speckle of sunshine from the darkness that is my cat leaving, at least it brought this up, at least I don’t have to lose my best friend too. I don’t like saying that but I have to find a positive in all this negative and this is a positive.  Some things are going better for her, she finally got her vacation pay after 3 years, I don’t have the heart to tell her she’s been ripped off and it wouldn’t serve a purpose so I tell her I’m just glad she got it instead of scrutinizing the amount. She says it’s okay to ask for money if I need and I ask for a $100, she’s my best friend and money has never been weird between us, she knows I’d never ask for that much if I didn’t feel like I needed it. There’s no guilt she just agrees.  She brought some art supplies for us to play with, it’s water colour brush pens. I’ve never been good at water colours but I love watching her, I make sure to shower her in praise, art should always be praised. I give it a shot after she encourages me. It’s fun and for once this is exactly what I want, this is how water colouring should be. I draw a jellyfish, a bumble bee and a koi fish. I’m going to buy myself this and I let her know, I don’t want to lie to her about where her money might go. She’s happy I like it so much and is okay with seeing her money go somewhere that makes me happy.  The visit is good, surprisingly light hearted even with the important talks, nothing gets heated it’s all just soft sincere words of love. This is what I want for this year and I tell her that, she agrees. We’ll work together on being more open with one another again. She heads home and my chest feels tight, my asthma decides it time to act up even though everything went well. I’d rip out my lungs if I could, I hate my asthma.  The rest of the night is much like the last, my heart breaks watching my senior cat struggle and I have to remind myself I’m making the best choice for her tomorrow. It’s hard to find a way to bond with her when I want to the most right now, she’s distant and usually I’d give her treats to make her happy but right now she can’t eat not even chicken can get her body to try. I settle with pats, her purrs are no longer boisterous and loud but quiet and eventually she leaves to visit her new found love of the bathtub.  My mom gets home late, I know she’s having a hard time but I still try to talk to her to help her unwind she tells me she got so mad at work she threw things and then went on break, I feel horrible, I wish she didn’t feel like she had to bottle it up and I tell her that but it’s just the way she deals with death. It’s hard on her. There’s been so much death lately. Her longtime boyfriend died 3 years ago, our neighbors wife died a few months ago, her niece and my cousin hung herself less than three months ago, her friend had a miscarriage. It’s a lot.  I do the only thing I can and just tell her I love her and that I think her best is more than good enough, I tell her I’m thankful for her. I mention my best friend’s sister gave her edibles to give to me as a sorry for everything that’s happening. I always offer her some but she never has any but tonight she says okay, it’s a small dose only 25 but I bite off 90% of it and give her 10 since she’s not used to it, she’s in bed within minutes. I want to be in bed but I told myself I’d do this so here I am at 2 AM...less then 12 hours away from handing over my sweet senior girl...this sucks but it’s the right thing to do. I realize after talking with my best friend and mom that I think I’m suffering from auditory hallucinations, I’ve always had them a little bit just when I’m trying to sleep. I sometimes think I heard a band or footsteps but I never paid much attention I just thought it was weird brain activity but the past 4 months have been more intense and this past week has been almost constant. I think I hear my mom call my name, I hear footsteps, I hear my cats meowing, I hear the tinking of their metal bowls, I hear noises beside my bed it always shocks me awake only to find out that the noises were never there. I’m going to ask my therapist if she knows what this is called and if she can point me in the right direction to get medicine for it.  God, so much happens tomorrow...today now...I don’t know how I feel, I don’t know how I’ll react. I don’t feel much typing this but a small sinking feeling in my chest. Maybe I’ll take another edible.

[pinknerdpanda]

Heaven Sent - Part 2

Word Count: 1,607

Characters: Y/n, Castiel, Dean, Sam (Mentioned)

Warnings: Snark, Heaven-Induced Insanity, Language, Angst if you squint

A/N: This is Part 2 of a mini-series I wrote for @ellen-reincarnated1967’s “Andi’s Back in the Game” challenge. Beta’d by @hannahindie and @wheresthekillswitch who also helped me to brainstorm and nail down exactly where I wanted to go. Thank you both so very much!

A/N 2: This takes place roughly midway through Season 4

Tags are at the bottom - please send me an ASK if you would like to be added (or removed).

Need to Catch up? - Series Masterlist

Heaven Sent Part 2

Dean

“What can I getcha, handsome?” the cute, red-headed bartender winks as she calls from across the wooden bar where I’ve just planted my ass for the the foreseeable future.

“Whiskey. Double,” I mumble just over the hum of noise filling the small bar. “And a beer,” I amend my order. “Please.”

“Coming right up!” She grins as she turns and stretches an arm to grab the bottle on the highest shelf. Try as I might, I can’t seem to ignore the golden patch of exposed flesh now peeking at me from above the waistband of her jeans as she strains for the liquor. Just as I’m beginning to make out the bottom half of what looks to be a small, simple flower tattoo, she cheers triumphantly and turns back around, bottle in hand to pour my drink.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I smile at her and take a swig before glancing back up to lay on the charm, but she’s gone. Figures.

I swallow the rest of my whiskey before palming my beer and heading toward one of the pool tables. Maybe I can at least scrounge up a little cash before we hit the road again. Just as I pass the end of the bar, a man with scraggly, gray hair and who looks like he’s started to take root here slumps backward on his stool in front of me. Before I can react, he lurches forward again. Confused, I look back toward the bar to find a pretty woman, at least 30 years younger than him, perched on the seat next to him. One hand clutching his shoulder, holding him in place and the other wrapped around a tumbler of golden liquid. She freezes, glass in midair, her lips forming a perfect, pretty ‘o’ as our eyes lock.

“Nice catch,” I mumble, shaking my head. I throw one last glance back at the woman before continuing toward the back of the bar. Seeing that she hasn’t moved a fraction of an inch makes me chuckle.

The next few hours are a bit hazy as the beer bottles pile up on the table next to me. This town is too easy; it’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Sometimes I almost feel guilty for taking these poor bastards’ money - almost.

“I call next,” a voice that sounds like velvet and a lifetime of bad decisions carries over the conversations around me. I turn around to find the girl from earlier standing a few feet from me. She’s stroking the tip of the pool cue lightly and her eyes rake me over a time or two. Son of a bitch.

“Table’s all yours. I was just about to head back to my hotel,” I raise an eyebrow and grin at her. “Unless you’d like to join me. I’m sure we could think of some games we could play.”

“So it’s fine for you to cheat those men out of their money, but mine’s no good?” Her eyes are like fire and I am having a hard time interpreting the rage in them.

“No, sweetheart. It’s not that, it’s just…” I study her for a moment. “Do I know you?”

“My name’s y/n, not sweetheart. If you’re just afraid to have your ass handed to you by a girl, well, I mean...I wouldn’t blame you,” she plants her free hand on her hip, her fingers ball into a tight fist, but her eyes have lightened slightly.

“Ok fine, have it your way, y/n,” I quickly reset the table and gestured toward it with a stupid little bow. What the hell is my problem? “Ladies first.”

I don’t miss the eyeroll she gives me, but she says nothing as she steps up and lines up her first shot. It all happens so fast, one minute I’m appreciating the curve of her shoulders and back as she bends over the table and the next I’m watching helplessly as she darts around the table, sinking shot after shot.

“Eight ball, left side pocket,” she winks at me. She can’t...she can’t wink at me! That’s my thing.

The sound of the ball landing in the soft, velvety lining of the left side pocket is drowned out by her loud cheering. I have never been so pissed off and so turned on at the same time. It’s all very confusing. I start to pull the wad of cash I’d accumulated from my evening’s efforts and she laughs.

“How about you show me your hotel room and we can call it even, hotrod?”

I throw a $50 bill down beside the mountain of empty bottles and practically sprint toward y/n’s swaying and rapidly retreating hips.

In my excitement, I hadn’t really considered the possibility that Sam may still be holed up in the hotel room, trying to figure out a way to keep Lilith from breaking the last of the 66 seals. I hold my breath as the door creaks open, but there’s no sign of my enormous little brother.

“Mind if I use your restroom?” She smiles warmly as she enters the room. I nod dumbly but she’s already moving in that direction.

As soon as the door closes behind her I start pacing, trying to give myself a little “You got this, man. It’s ok that she killed you at pool,” pep talk.

“Hello, Dean.”

I practically jump out of my skin and whirl to find no-one’s favorite trenchcoated angel standing awkwardly behind the door of the hotel room. “What the hell, Cas? How long have you been standing there?”

“Since you were trying to convince yourself that your masculinity is not defined by your inability to win a game of billiards against a woman,” he squints at me and I can see him fighting to keep the smile from his mouth. Asshat.

“Are you just here to cockblock me, or do you actually have a purpose?”

“Where is your brother? I was hoping that I could speak to you both at…” the sound of the bathroom door interrupts him and he glances over my shoulder. The look on his face is one I’m not sure I understand. It’s like he’s relieved, confused and terrified all at the same time. “Y/n?”

I glance between the two of them. The rage I’d seen in her eyes earlier is back, but stronger somehow.

“Of course. Of course it’s you, Castiel,” she crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head so far to one side it looks like her neck could break. “I should have known you were behind this.”

“I thought you were dead, y/n,” Cas’ voice is barely above a whisper. “They said that your cell was…” his words trail off.

“Oh, is that what they think?!” She laughs and the sound is...I can only describe it as maniacal. “I wondered why no one came to look for me.”

“Will one of you two please tell me what the hell is going on?”

“Shut up, Dean,” she barks as she brushes past me roughly to stand toe-to-toe with Cas. “So this is what all that chatter was about. What did you do, rally the troops and spring ol’ Hound Chow over here,” she throws a thumb over her shoulder in my direction. “From the bounds of Hell?”

Cas stares at her silently as her words sink in.

“Wait are you an ang…”

“Shut up, Dean,” neither of them look at me as they say it unison.

“Why are you here,” Cas studies her, disbelief still marring his face.

She cranes her neck to look into his eyes. “Funny story, I was just enjoying a drink, contemplating my life choices and trying to keep Jasper from falling off his stool and getting hurt again...you know me, old habits die hard. Occupational hazards and all...anyway...when who to my wondering eyes did appear? This asshole in all his leather and flannel glory. I was sure I was dreaming or dead or something, but I’d followed him around for long enough, it was easy to figure out it was the real Dean Winchester. The only question was how?”

“I had my orders, y/n.”

“Right. Of course. Your orders,” she nods. “That’s why you didn’t come to visit.” It’s not a question. Her voice is low and colder than ice. Cas looks away.

“You know I went insane in there, right? Did they tell you that? And this asshole,” she jerks a thumb at me again, “is the reason I was there in the first place. And now he gets to wander the Earth and live life hustling pool and screwing barflies, but I was left to rot in that cell for who knows how long. Tell me again who’s getting their fair share of punishment, Castiel.”

“I am sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” She chuckles. “I doubt that.”

From the corner of my eye I can see her right hand jerk a second before a long, pointed silver blade slides into her palm. Without thinking, I rush toward them, but Cas has already stripped her of her blade and spun, pinning her to the wall. I grab the blade from the floor, gripping it tightly in one hand and appreciating the balance and weight.

“Everyone just calm down, and I swear to Whoever’s calling plays up there, if you tell me to shut up one more time, I will stab you,” I flick the end of it between them. Cas nods and releases y/n, but doesn’t step back. “Now, y/n. Who the hell are you and why do you keep calling me an asshole?”

Read Part 3 HERE

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[winter-soldier-writer-blog]

Beach Boys

Fandom: Avengers / Marvel Rating: G  Disclaimer: I don’t own Marvel, blah legal stuff. Don't sue me, I'm poor. Songs: I’m Sexy and I Know it - LMAFO // What Does the Fox Say - Ylvis

"Did we really need to get up this early?" Bucky rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as you bounced around him and Steve, gathering all the necessities. 

"Yes. Absolutely. Yes!" Your excitement bubbled over. You had barely gotten any sleep last night, your thoughts racing thinking about your trip in the morning. Steve laughed, grabbing a bag and hauling it over his shoulder.

"C'mon Buck, aren't you excited for the beach?" Bucky huffed, clearly unimpressed with the idea. You had suggested it the second the weather got warm and hadn't stopped mentioning it since. Finally, the guys had given in and you had set the date.

The guys carried the bags and cooler to the car and you bounded behind them, keys in hand. "I call shotgun!" You yelled out, and Steve and Bucky shot glances at each other. Who was going to drive, and who was stuck riding bitch? "No way man. I always have to ride bitch," grumbled Bucky, crossing his arms. Steve shook his head, there was no way. "I know the way to the beach." "Since when?" You stood between them, waiting impatiently. You could already feel the sand between your toes. "Since I google mapped it last week." Steve held his hand out for the keys. You couldn't care less who drove and stuffed them into his palm. "C'mon, I wanna go!" The three of you piled into the car, Bucky unhappily cramming into the back. You flipped your shades over your eyes, put your bare feet on the dash and pointed forward. "Onwards boys!"

The closest beach was a solid two hours away, and about an hour into the ride the radio started to turn fuzzy. You grinned, seeing your chance to liven up the party. You grabbed the AUX cable and plugged in your phone, clicking on your music app. The first few sounds started up and you could hear Bucky start laughing in the back. "Are you serious Y/N? This song?"

When I walk on by, girls be looking like damn he fly I pimp to the beat, Walking on the street with in my new lafreak, yeah This is how I roll, animal print, pants out control, This is red foo with the big afro It's like Bruce Lee rock at the club

Girl look at that body Girl look at that body Girl look at that body

I work out

You spun in your seat, staring at Bucky over the headrest. "I'm sexy and I know it." You wriggled your eyebrows at him, making him laugh harder. God, how you loved that laugh. It was in his eyes, shining and bright, and it always lit up his face. It was contagious and left you in a fit of giggles. Even Steve was laughing in the drivers seat. You had successfully lightened the mood. Your library shuffled and the next song played. Everyone groaned, but still no one asked you to change it. You all sang along like idiots.

Dog goes woof Cat goes meow Bird goes tweet And mouse goes squeak

Cow goes moo Frog goes croak And the elephant goes toot

Ducks say quack And fish go blub And the seal goes ow, ow, ow

But there's one sound That no one knows What does the fox say?

"That song is awful," Steve said when it finally ended and the next song started up. "Then how do you know all the lyrics?" Challenged Bucky with a chuckle. Steve declined to answer. No matter how shameful the song, everyone knew it. Even Captain America.

Finally, the beach came in view and you started to squeal. It was early enough that only the locals were out, and the parking was prime. You swung into a spot close to the beach and unloaded your stuff, making way to the sand. "Here...no, over there!" You pointed to a spot several feet away. "Pick a spot Y/N!" Steve laughed at your excitement, it was adorable and contagious. You took two steps to the side, glanced at the water and nodded. Perfect. "Here!" Bucky dropped the cooler with a sigh of relief. Steve spread out the blanket while Bucky fought with the umbrella in the sand. Once your spot was claimed and set up you peeled off your shorts and t-shirt, revealing the swimsuit underneath. You were too busy slathering on sunscreen to notice Bucky looking over your frame with a dopey grin on his face. Steve elbowed him in the side, nodding in your direction. Bucky took the hint and moved towards you.

"Hey, need help?" You looked up at him and nodded. "I can't reach my back, wait, can you get sunscreen on your metal arm?" "Yeah, it's like...everything proof." He shrugged and chuckled a little, taking the bottle from you and squeezing a dollop into the palm of his human hand. You jumped a little at first, his hands were cold. "Bucky, you're taking forever. I think my back is done." "Oh, right." He removed his hand from your body quickly. "Here, let me do you." You took the bottle back from him and squeezed some into his hand. He looked back at Steve nervously, who was preoccupied with applying his own sunscreen. Before Bucky could say anything your hands were on his back, rubbing the lotion into his skin. He stiffened both at the cold and the touch of your hands. "Dude, relax." You laughed, moving to his arm. He felt himself blushing. Hopefully, he could blame it on the heat. Your touch was so soft and gentle, sending shivers down his spine. Too soon you were done and you were bounding towards Steve to help him with his back. Bucky took a few deep breaths, trying to compose himself.

Within a couple of hours, the beach filled up with various tourists and locals looking to soak in the sun. You laid out on a beach towel in the sun letting it warm your back. Bucky sat under the umbrella, thumbing through a book. He could hardly concentrate, finding his eyes wandering to you only a few inches away. He couldn't help but wander your frame, admiring the various curves of your body. You looked damn good in that swimsuit. Steve caught him staring and snickered, earning himself a punch in the shoulder.

Suddenly you sat up on your knees, stretching. "I'm hot." "Its...the beach," said Bucky confused. It's going to be hot. "Yeah, and there's an ocean. Come on." Steve stood up with a nod. "That sounds like a good idea, I'm warm myself." Bucky shook his head. No way. There were creatures in the ocean. Fish, and sharks. Nope. "Nah. I'm staying here." You pouted, making your most pathetic face at him. "Come on Bucky, please." He shook his head, adamant. "Nope." Steve looked at him and raised an eyebrow before scooping you up in his arms. "Come on Y/N, let's leave the old man behind." He grinned at Bucky and started walking towards the ocean. "Old man, you're just as old as me!" Bucky yelled, standing up and following behind you and Steve. You laughed, up until the point where Steve dropped you into the ocean. You surfaced and looked for him, intending to get him back. "Steve Rogers, you dropped me!" You yelled, finding him. He laughed, but not at you. You looked out to where he was looking and started laughing. Bucky stood ankles deep, glaring at both of you. You swam until you could walk, and made your way to him. "Come on Bucky, the ocean isn't going to hurt you." You tugged his arm, but he wouldn't move. "Aren't there sharks?" He asked, and you sighed. That's what this was about? "Yeah, but they'd never come this close to shore. It's totally safe Bucky. Plus you could punch a shark in the nose. It's okay." You tugged at him again and he walked a little farther. "What about jellyfish?" "Not at this beach, that would be further south, somewhere warmer." He seemed to relax more and he followed you deeper in. "It's safe Bucky. Come have fun with me." You urged, and that seemed to get him to forget his worries. He smiled finally, and picked you up, running you over to Steve. The three of you splashed and laughed like children. ---- The beach had started to clear when the sun started to lower in the sky, but the three of you stayed on the beach watching the sky turn orange and red. Steve sat in the beach chair, snoring, the day having worn him out. You sat on the edge of the water, a towel wrapped around you, Bucky at your side. His arm wrapped around your shoulders, and you rested your head on his shoulder. "So do you like the beach Bucky?" You asked, watching the water move in and out, kissing the beach. "I do now." You pulled your head away from his shoulder and looked at him, a smiled on your face. "I'm glad, I really wanted to share this with you." "I'm glad you did. I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else." You blushed looking away, but his hand grasped your chin, pulling you back to him. You smirked as your eyes locked with his and you both moved towards the other, lips meeting in a gentle kiss. He tasted faintly of Cola as he melded his soft lips with yours. When he pulled away you were smiling, a big dumb grin. "What?" He asked. "I've been wondering when you'd finally do that." He laughed and put his arm back around you, watching the sun set over the water.

[aardvarkcompareposts-blog]

Timor-Leste Travel Health Insurance - Country Review

Learn more about Timor-Leste Travel Health Insurance with an overview from the CDC and the US State Department. Here we cover Vaccines, Medicines and Insurance. At AardvarkCompare we can’t recommend travel insurance enough. Whether you are just traveling a few hundred miles from home to see family, or traveling to the other side of the world, travel insurance should be considered an essential part of your holiday packing. The hope is that you won’t have to use your travel insurance, and that you’ll have a fun and enjoyable trip. The following advice should help you make the most of your trip to Timor-Leste. Note: Always check that your destination country is one approved for travel by your travel insurance provider.

Timor-Leste Travel Health – CDC

All travelers You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel. Vaccines and Medicines Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. Routine vaccines Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Measles Infants (6 through 11 months old): 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as the first dose in the routine childhood vaccination series. People 12 months old or older, with no evidence of immunity or no written documentation of any doses: 2 doses of MMR vaccine before travel. The 2 doses must be given 28 days apart. People 12 months old or older who have written documentation of 1 dose and no other evidence of immunity: 1 additional dose before travel, at least 28 days after the previous dose. Most travelers Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting. Hepatitis A CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Timor-Leste, regardless of where you are eating or staying. Malaria You will need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you, and also talk to you about other steps you can take to prevent malaria. Areas of Timor-Leste with risk of malaria: Present in Oecusse District. Rare cases in other districts. See more detailed information about malaria in Timor-Leste. Typhoid You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Timor-Leste. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater. Some travelers Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US. Hepatitis B You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures. Japanese Encephalitis You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than a month, depending on where you are going in Timor-Leste and what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in Timor-Leste or will be spending a lot of time outdoors, even for trips shorter than a month. Your doctor can help you decide if this vaccine is right for you based on your travel plans. See more in-depth information on Japanese Encephalitis in Timor-Leste. Rabies Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in the Timor-Leste, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups: Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for bat bites (such as adventure travel and caving). People who will be working with or around bats (such as wildlife professionals and researchers). People who are taking long trips or moving to Timor-Leste Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck. Stay Health and Safe Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Timor-Leste, so your behaviors are important. Eat and Drink Safely Unclean food and water can cause travelers' diarrhea and other diseases. Reduce your risk by sticking to safe food and water habits. Eat Food that is cooked and served hot Hard-cooked eggs Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself Pasteurized dairy products Don't Eat Food served at room temperature Food from street vendors Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs Raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables Unpasteurized dairy products Bushmeat (monkeys, bats, or other wild game) Drink Bottled water that is sealed Water that has been disinfected Ice made with bottled or disinfected water Carbonated drinks Hot coffee or tea Pasteurized milk Don’t Drink Tap or well water Ice made with tap or well water Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice) Unpasteurized milk Take Medicine Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick. Prevent bug bites Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Timor-Leste. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites. What can I do to prevent bug bites? Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below) . Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms. Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors. What type of insect repellent should I use? FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours. FOR PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITOES ONLY: Products with one of the following active ingredients can also help prevent mosquito bites. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection. DEET Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin) Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD IR3535 Always use insect repellent as directed. What should I do if I am bitten by bugs? Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching. Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks What can I do to avoid bed bugs? Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs. For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites. Stay safe outdoors If your travel plans in Timor-Leste include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip. Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe. Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit. Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities. Heat-related illness, such as heat stroke, can be deadly. Eat and drink regularly, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit physical activity during high temperatures. If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating. Protect yourself from UV radiation: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing. Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location. Stay safe around water Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches. Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket. Do not dive into shallow water. Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor. Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick. To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste. Keep away from animals Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies. Follow these tips to protect yourself: Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know. Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth. Avoid rodents and their urine and feces. Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals. If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see. All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately: Wash the wound with soap and clean water. Go to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States. Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries. Reduce your exposure to germs Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling: Wash your hands often, especially before eating. If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol). Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care. Avoid sharing body fluids Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen. Protect yourself: Use latex condoms correctly. Do not inject drugs. Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated. Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture. If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized. Know how to get medical care while traveling Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise: Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination. Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance. Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take. Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call the Timor-Leste embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you. Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to. Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website (Joint Commission International). In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination. Malaria is a risk in some parts of Timor-Leste. If you are going to a risk area, fill your malaria prescription before you leave, and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave. Select safe transportation Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries. In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes. Walking Be smart when you are traveling on foot. Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks. Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas. Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries. Riding/Driving Choose a safe vehicle. Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses. Ride only in cars that have seatbelts. Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans. Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.) Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable. Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes. Think about the driver. Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking. Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area. Arrange payment before departing. Follow basic safety tips. Wear a seatbelt at all times. Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis. When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.) Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Timor-Leste may be poor. Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries). Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas. If you choose to drive a vehicle in Timor-Leste, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork. Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times. Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance. Flying Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft. If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections. Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather. Medical Evacuation Insurance If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons. Helpful Resources Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources. The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee. Traffic flows on the left side of the road in Timor-Leste. Always pay close attention to the flow of traffic, especially when crossing the street. LOOK RIGHT for approaching traffic. Maintain personal security Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Before you leave Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture. Monitor travel warnings and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home. Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace. While at your destination(s) Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate. Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel. Follow all local laws and social customs. Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry. Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas. If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors. Healthy Travel Packing List Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Timor-Leste for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you. Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items? It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use. After Your Trip If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling. If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history. For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel.

Timor-Leste Travel Health – The US State Department

U.S.- TIMOR-LESTE RELATIONS Timor-Leste became an independent nation in 2002, following over four hundred years of Portuguese colonization, twenty-four years of Indonesian occupation, and three years of United Nations transitional administration. The country faces the challenge of building a strong democracy and vibrant economy against a background of still-fragile institutions and limited human capital. The United States and Timor-Leste enjoy excellent bilateral relations based on shared interests and values, and the United States is committed to strengthening and deepening this partnership. U.S. Assistance to Timor-Leste The United States has a significant bilateral development assistance program and is also a major donor member to a number of multilateral agencies active in Timor-Leste such as the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. U.S. development assistance is delivered through US Agency for International Development (USAID) governance, health, and agricultural programs, year-round rotations of U.S. Navy Seabees, and a growing Peace Corps program. In December 2017, the Millennium Challenge Corporation selected Timor-Leste for compact development and aims to partner with the Timorese government to reduce key drivers of poverty and promote economic growth. U.S. assistance focuses on bolstering stability by strengthening the foundations of good governance, improving the health of the Timorese people, supporting the professionalization of the Timorese security forces, and creating jobs for the rapidly growing and youthful population by accelerating economic growth. Bilateral Economic Relations Timor-Leste remains one of the least developed countries in the world and there is little direct trade with the United States. The economy is dependent on government spending (financed by petroleum revenues) and, to a lesser extent, assistance from international donors including the United States. Private sector development has lagged due to human capital shortages, infrastructure weakness, an incomplete legal system, and an inefficient regulatory environment. The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Government of Timor-Leste have signed an Investment Incentive Agreement. The major U.S. investor in Timor-Leste is ConocoPhillips; its Bayu-Undan gas condensate development is located in the Timor Sea joint petroleum development area between Timor-Leste and Australia. The second largest export is coffee, which generates between $15 and $30 million a year. Starbucks Coffee Company is a major purchaser of Timorese coffee. Timor-Leste’s Membership in International Organizations Timor-Leste’s foreign policy places high priority on its relationships with Indonesia, Australia, other neighbors, and friendly countries and donors, most notably the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Timor-Leste began its two year presidency of the CPLP in 2014 by prioritizing economic integration between member states, as well as joint exploration and production of oil and gas. One of its top foreign policy objectives is to join ASEAN. Timor-Leste applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, but an ASEAN decision to admit the nation is still pending. In June 2018, Timor-Leste formally joined the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), the U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking among youth in Southeast Asia. Timor-Leste and the United States belong to many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Bilateral Representation Timor-Leste maintain an embassy in the United States at 4201 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (telephone: 202-966-3202). Have questions? We would love to hear from you. Send us a chat, Send us a Mail or alternatively Call Us at (650) 492-6298. Recent AardvarkCompare Travel Insurance Customer Reviews I Panicked When I Discovered I panicked when I discovered the Travel Insurance I had through Expedia had expired when I changed my flight reservation. When I went to renew I was told I couldn't. I discovered Aardvark on my AARP site and I was excited I could purchase a an even better travel plan with coverage starting with my trip departure, at a cost I could afford. I was confused with the initial site and was Mr. Breeze reached out to me for clarification. He explained the policy more thoroughly and addressed all my concerns, can't get any better then that! Thank You Aardvark and thank you Jonathan for your assistance. I can go on my trip now knowing I'll be covered for medical emergencies, and then some. Barbara Good Choices, Well Explained I liked the way insurance was explained. I had read an article your company had written explaining Expedia trip coverage versus other choices. I used this advice to make the best choice for me and my traveling companions. That choice was to take a policy that provided much better medical and evacuation primary care. Your site allowed comparisons, and I think I got the best value for my money. I don't like constant follow up emails. You could back off a bit!! Louise Read the full article

[descendantofthesparrow]

The little merman Merman!Levi x Princess!Reader -- part 3 --

The little merman Merman!Levi x Princess!Reader -- part 3 --

Part of your world

Key

(h/c)- hair color

(e/c)- eye color

(s/c)- skin color

(y/n)- your name

Authors note- Kenny is going to have a different personality in this that is all.

--narrator POV--

Isabel and Farlan were hiding behind a pillar as they watched Levi get scolded. Levi was looking at the palace floor in shame as Kuchel looked at her youngest son with disappointment

“I just don’t know what we’re going to do with you young man!!” Levi lifted his head up to face his mother “I'm sorry mom I just forgot i-” Kuchel cut him off “as a result of your careless behavior-“ Kenny, Kuchel’s brother and Levi’s uncle, cut in “ careless and reckless behavior!”

“the entire celebration was-“ Molbit cut in “ well it was ruined!!! That’s all! Completely destroyed! This concert was to be the pinnacle of my distinguished career” Molbit pointed his claw at Levi “No thanks to you! Now I am the laughing stock of the entire kingdom!!!” Isabel and Farlan looked at each other and nodded, coming out of their hiding place.

“But it wasn’t his fault!!!” Kuchel, Kenny, and Molbit looked at Isabel who blushed slightly at the attention “uh well first uh this shark chased us! Yeah- yeah! And we tried to- but we couldn’t!! and- grrr~! And-and we WHOA~! Ahh~ and then we were safe” Kenny and Kuchel looked amused by Isabel's story while Levi and Farlan hoped she wouldn’t reveal that they had been on the surface

“and then this seagull came” ‘oh crap’ is the only thought that came to Levi and Farlan’s minds “and It was like this is this and that is that~” Kuchel’s eyes widened ��seagull?!” Isabel’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth look back at Levi and Farlan who winced

“what!? You went up to the surface again didn’t you” Levi was looking at everything that wasn’t his mother, Kenny, or molbit “didn’t you!!!!”

“Nothing.happened” Kuchel face palmed “how many time must we go through this!!! You could've been seen by one of those barbarians by one of those…humans!!!”

Levi looked at his mother with a spark in his eyes “mom their not barbarians!!” “they are dangerous!! Do you think I want to see my youngest son snared by some fish eaters hook!!!” Levi pulled back “I’m 18 years old I'm not a child any-“ Kuchel's voice took to a sharp angry one “don’t you use that tone of voice with me, young man! As long as you live under my ocean you'll obey my rules!!” Levi gritted his teeth “but if you just listen!!!!” Kuchel turned her back “not another word!!! And I am never-NEVER going to hear a word about you going to the surface again IS.THAT.CLEAR!”

Levi stared at his mother for a few moments before he bolted off, with Isabel and farlan behind him.

Kuchel groaned and leaned her face into her hand.

“humpf, teenagers they think they know everything, you give them an inch they swim all over” Molbit’s voice broke the tense silence, Kuchel then spoke, “do you think I was too hard on him?” Molbit shook his head “definitely not if. Levi was my son I'd show him who's boss, none of this flitting to the surface and other such nonsense” Kuchel began to get an idea “no sir I keep him under tight control” Kuchel smiled

“You're absolutely right Molbit~!” “of course” “Levi needs constant supervision” “constant” “Someone to watch over him, someone to keep him out of trouble~” “all the time” “and YOU” Kuchel poked him in the stomach “are just the crab to do it!”

Molbit’s eyes widened “but-but” Kuchel began to swim off “good luck~!”

Molbit groaned “what have I gotten myself into”

---

Molbit mumbled to himself as he walked down the corridor when he saw Levi, Isabel, and Farlan swimming away from the palace and towards a boulder, “what are they doing?”

Levi pulled at a loose rock and revealed a secret entrance, and held it open letting Isabel and farlan enter before he let go of the rock and swam inside.

Molbit’s eyes widened and race forward and shot inside, but his legs got caught and he struggled to remove himself from the rock when he did he ricocheted forward knocked himself into an hourglass

Molbit groaned and shook his head, then he looked up and gasped as he saw a bunch of human stuff.

“big bro are you okay?” Molbit looked to the middle of the room where the three merpeople sat on a rock surrounding an odd holder thing.

“Maybe she's right,” Levi said with a dejected voice “maybe there's something wrong with me” Isabel shook her head “no there’s not there's nothing wrong with you!!!” Levi gave her a sad smile

“I just don’t see,” Levi looked up at all the human things he had collected over the years “ how a world that makes such interesting things, could be so bad”

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my collection's complete? Wouldn't you think I'm the guy

The guy who has everything?

Look at this trove, treasures untold How many wonders can one cavern hold? Looking around here, you'd think Sure, he's got everything

I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty I've got who's-its and what's-its galore You want thing-a-mabobs? I've got twenty But who cares? No big deal. I want more

I wanna be where the people are I wanna see, wanna see 'em dancin' walkin' around on those Whaddya call 'em? Oh, feet

Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far Legs are required for jumpin', dancin' Strollin' along down the What's that word again? Street Up where they walk Up where they run Up where they stay all day in the sun Wanderin' free, wish I could be Part of that world

What would I give if I could live Outta these waters? What would I pay to spend a day Warm on the sand?

Betcha on land they understand Bet they don't reprimand their sons Bright young men, sick of swimmin' Ready to stand

And ready to know what the people know Ask 'em my questions and get some answers What's a fire, and why does it What's the word? Burn

When's it my turn? Wouldn't I love? Love to explore that shore up above Out of the sea, wish I could be Part of that world

Levi lay on the floor staring up at the opening above the grotto, Isabel and farlan staring at him sadly.

“Levi!” Levi’s eyes widened and he sat up from the ground and looked towards the voice, “Molbit!!!!”

“Levi, what are you…how could you…what is all this?!” Molbit shook off a thimble from his foot, Levi wrung his hands “it's, uh. it's just uh my collection” he gave a grimace/smile, “Oh~!” Molbit chuckled “I see” he picked up a fishing hook and pretended to examine it “your collection”

Molbit dropped his happy voice and a sharp one came in place of it “IF YOUR MOTHER KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE-“ Farlan swam up to him “you're not going to tell her are you!?” Levi swam up to him and gave him a pleading look “please molbit she would never understand”

“Levi your under a lot of pressure down here” Molbit lightly grabbed Levi’s hand and began to lead him out of the grotto

“come with me ill take you home and get you something warm to drink” a shadow cast over them making Levi look up, there was something blocking the moonlight from entering the grotto

“what do you suppose…” Levi swam past Molbit and his two confused friends “Levi?” Levi swam out of the grotto and to the surface “Levi!”

As Levi swam to the surface he heard loud booms coming from the surface

As he breached the surface he saw colorful explosions coming from a large ship and he stared at them in awe, “Levi what are you-“ Farlan turned to see the colorful explosions “jumping jellyfish”

Levi couldn’t hold back anymore and he began to swim towards the ship, Molbit took note of this and called for Levi to come back

“levi?levi! please! Come back!!” as Levi swam towards the ship he began to hear music, tilting his head he began to climb up the side, reaching an open part of the ship he looked through it and his eyes widened in awe, seeing a bunch of humans playing musical instruments.

As he was looking around he didn’t notice that a fluffy thing running towards him, Levi looked to the left and jumped at the thing in front of him, it had its tongue sticking out and it was drooling, the two had a staring contest for a few moments before the thing licked Levi.

Levi recoiled and furiously wiped his cheek while the thing began sniffing him.

“(dogs name)! come over here (bud/girl)!” (dogs name) barked, turned and ran over to the voice, Levi looked to where the voice was coming from before his mouth dropped open in awe. Standing there playing with a snarfblat to entertain the fluffy thing was a human girl, a gorgeous one at that, she had shining (h/c) hair that reached her waist (a/n if it doesn't then just pretend it does), sparkling (e/c) eyes that reflected the fireworks, smooth looking (s/c) skin, and a body that even his mother would kill for.

As Levi was staring at her Hanji was circling around before noticing him, “HEY THERE SHORTY!! QUITE A SHOW EH!~” Levi glared at Hanji “quite bird brain she’ll hear you!” Levi turned back to staring at the girl, Hanji pouted before perking up “ohhh~ I gotcha I gotcha, were being all spy like WERE OUT TO DISCOVER-“

Levi grabbed Hanjis beak and made it snap closed “I've never seen a human this close before” Levi tilted his head with a small dorky smile on his face “she’s really beautiful isn't she?” Hanji rose an eyebrow looking at the fluffy thing “I don’t know she looks kinda hairy and slobbery to me” Levi rolled his eyes and pointed to the (h/c) girl “not that one!!! The one playing the snarfblat~”

A woman with short hair began to clap her hand gaining the attention of the crew “alright alright! It is now my honor and privilege to present my little sister with a very special, very expensive, very large” Yimr gestured to the huge object “birthday present”

The crew began whistling “ah Ymir you tall beanstalk you shouldn’t have~” Ymir smirked and said “ I know~” she gestured for the cloth to come off  “happy birthday (y/n)”

A crew member grabbed the cloth and ripped it off to reveal a statue of (y/n)

(y/n) made a face and (dogs name) growled at it “  Gee Ymir it's uh it's really something” Ymir smiled “ yes I commissioned it myself though I had hoped it would be a wedding present” (y/n) laughed and rolled her eyes “ ah come on Ymir, don’t start! You’re not still sore cause I didn’t fall for the prince of Shina are you?” (y/n) hopped on to the edge and turned to smirk at Ymir

“(y/n) it isn't just me the entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled down with the right man!” “Oh, he's out there somewhere I just…I just haven't found him yet”

Levi stared up at the girl apparently named (y/n) with sparkling eyes with Hanji smirking at him wriggling their eye brows before Levi smacked his hand at them blushing hard before Ymir spoke once again “perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough.”

“Oh believe me Ymir when I find him i'll know without a doubt, it'll just bam! hit me…like lightning!”

Then thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning flashed. Levi’s eyes widened and he jumped off the ship and into the waters below, and carefully watched the chaos unfold.

(y/n) hurried to tighten the mast rope but lightning struck and a fire began and the mast began to fall, (y/n)’s eyes widened and she jumped out of the way, (y/n) looked over the edge and saw that the rest of the crew were in a life boat but she didn’t see (dogs name), Ymir looked up at her at shouted “(y/n) hurry!!!” “not with out (dogs name)!!!!” (y/n) ran towards the upper part of the ship hearing (dogs name)’s barks from there, (y/n) turned and saw (dogs name) and held out her arms “come on boy/girl, you can do it come on!!!” (dogs name) whimpered and jumped into (y/n)’s arms where then she turned and raced back to where the rest of the crew were, but her foot got caught causing her to throw (dogs name) over the side and he/she landed with a splash.

“(Y/N)!” Ymir screamed, (y/n) looked behind her and saw that the fire had reached the fireworks her eyes widened but before she could free her foot it exploded

Ymir and Levi's eyes widened, and Ymir screamed “(Y/N)!!!!! NO!”

Levi began to swim towards the ship once more looking for (y/n) he twisted and turned desperately looking for the (h/c) beauty, then he heard groaning behind him, he turned and saw (y/n) on a plank about to sink into the water, Levi swam toward her and as he was she lost consciousness and sank into the sea, Levi let out a breathless gasp and dove into the water after (y/n), quickly grabbing her he swam back up to the surface and began to swim to the shore.

~~~~~~~~~

Levi laid on the shore staring at (y/n), Hanji walking around them “is-is she dead?” Hanji poked her “it's hard to say” they walked to their feet and pressed their ear to one, but heard nothing and Hanji’s shoulders sagged “I can't make out a heart beat” Levi turned when he heard breathing “no look! She's breathing!” he brushed her hair out of her face “she's so pretty”

What would I give to live where you are? What would I pay to stay here beside you? What would I do to see you smiling at me?

Molbit, Farlan, and Isabel swam up to the shore, Molbit looked up and saw Levi singing to the girl looking at her with love in his eyes and voice, and his mouth dropped open and Isabel smirked and pushed it closed

Where would we walk? Where would we run? If we could stay all day in the sun Just you and me, and I could be Part of your world

(y/n) began to wake to feel a hand on her cheek and saw a male with raven black hair and steel blue eyes leaning over her singing with the most handsome voice she had ever heard

‘huh he's handsome’ was all (y/n) thought when she saw him before barking and a voice broke through the staring contest the two were having “(Y/N)!!!!” Levi turned to see (dogs name) racing towards him and (y/n) Levi turned and jumped back into the ocean before anybody else could see him.

(y/n) was about to call for him to come back but was interrupted by (dogs name) licking her cheek, and Ymir calling out to her

“(y/n)! you’re alive!!! You really like trying to give me heart attacks don’t you!!!” Ymir helped her up as she was talking and (y/n) shook her head trying to clear it “a-a boy rescued me, h-he was singing~ he had the most amazing voice” (y/n) gave a dopy smile before tilting backward

Ymir caught her and threw her arm over her shoulder to support her “(y/n) I think you have swallowed too much sea water lets go”

Ymir called to (dogs name) who was barking at something behind the rock

“come on you dumb dog lets go”

Levi sat on the rock watching carefully as Ymir took (y/n) to where ever she was taking her, as he was molbit talked to Isabel and farlan.

“we just want to forget this whole thing ever happen the sea queen will never know, you won't tell her” Isabel and farlan nodded together “I won't tell her I will stay in one piece”

I don't know when, I don't know how But I know something's starting right now Watch and you'll see, someday I'll be Part of your world

(a/n just imagine Levi as Ariel in the part where she sings the last part of the reprise cause I don’t know how to write it)

Unknowing to Levi and the others someone was watching them

“oh no no no! I can't stand it~ it's too easy! The child has fallen in love with a human! And not just any human a princess!!!!” Zeke cackled loudly “his mommy will love that~ Queen Kuchel’s head strong, lovesick little boy would make a charming addition to my little garden~”

Zeke began to cackle in victory as he now had a plan to take over the ocean.

---to be continued---

Levi belongs to Hajime isayama

you belong to you

art in this part belongs to levichiichu

[mermaidscarlet-blog]

Русалка: Скарлет, ты права!

How to Make a Perfect Mermaid Costume

Most individuals have seen Disney's "The Little Mermaid" animated movie. But there are a number of others which are completely excellent - classics. Here they're:

My top choose for a mermaid film is "Splash". Not only is it humorous and the plot great, however there may be fairly a bit of awesome footage of Daryl Hannah mermaiding in the ocean. We won't get enough of that! Needless to say this is not a children's movie.

It was made in the '80s, and for the most part it's okay for the family to watch. However there's a little bit of nudity (when the mermaid is strolling into New York out of the ocean with nothing however her long hair to cover her) and there is some implication of what she and the Tom Hanks character are doing within the elevator, although nothing is shown. The movie is wonderful, with an ideal story and awesome mermaid footage and many laughs, in addition to a terrific romance.

My second best choice is "The Secret of Roan Inish". This is a safe, quiet film your complete household can take pleasure in. It was made in Ireland, and as such is slower and quieter than most American films. It is about a bit of Irish lady who moves to dwell together with her grandparents. While there she unwittingly stumbles upon the thriller surrounding the island the household used to reside on, called "Roan Inish" (Island of the Seals).

As she slowly solves the mystery, she brings therapeutic and unity back to the household. In this movie the legendary creature is a selkie, not a mermaid. The selkie lives in the form of a seal. On occasion she climbs up on a rock and removes her seal skin, revealing a fantastic lady. So this film is a bit of bit completely different, and you will never look at a seal the same manner once more.

My third favourite mermaid film is "Aquamarine." This one is geared to the teenager crowd. It has nothing unseemly, so the entire family can enjoy it. It is a delightfully different rendition of the traditional Little Mermaid story, with an exquisite surprise ending. The mermaid in this movie is different, more like a daily teen girl. There are several good shots of her within the water. The messages on this movie are high quality, comparable to loyalty, friendship, private confidence, selflessness and courage. And it's also very funny.

Quantity four of my prime mermaid movies is an old black and white traditional referred to as "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid." You will have a problem finding this film to watch, however VHS variations are available on the market on Amazon.com. All of the underwater footage was filmed within the well-known Weeki Wachee Springs in Weeki Wachee, Florida, only a 12 months after this underwater theater opened. Made in 1948, this movie is a couple of married couple taking a vacation in the Caribbean. The person is almost 50 and is having a mid-life disaster.

While on vacation he by accident fishes up a live mermaid from the sea! Ann Blyth performs the enchanting mermaid and you will love this excellent film. The one objections a mother or father might have is the theme of extramarital flirting, and a few funny scenes with a man trying to give up smoking.

One that is a little completely different, and which solely recently came out, is a Japanese anime Miyazaki film referred to as "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea", or just "Ponyo". In this one the fish-woman is depicted as a goldfish with a human face, which is reasonably strange. But in an uncommon twist, this 5-12 months-old fish-girl has to get the little five-12 months-old human boy to like her faithfully, or she will turn into sea foam and be no more. It is such a sweet interpretation, these small children learning to like and belief each other in such an innocent method. It is a tale of wonder and braveness and shouldn't be missed.

My choose for quantity six is Disney's "The Little Mermaid". It was the movie that received Disney back into the popular film business again in the Nineteen Eighties. The music and story are a delight. I bear in mind how enchanted I was when it first came out - it is a pleasant mermaid film, enjoyable for the entire family.

Quantity seven for me is the Russian adaptation of "The Little Mermaid." This 1976 movie exhibits plenty of wonderful mermaid footage below the ocean. Again then the swimmers had only small flippers, in order that they had to ripple their legs in a very quick motion for motion. The underwater scenes are only to start with of the movie, however they are marvelous!! (I can not determine how those swimmers may very well be in the water with all these jellyfish!!). You can find this film to rent at Netflix and it's directed by Vladimir Bychkov.

Once more, this version of Anderson's well-known story is a little bit totally different, virtually a totally new story. Be forewarned that there's nudity in a single scene, and portrayals of a witch performing magic. Apart from these the entire household will enjoy this one.

Barbie Mermaidia" is just a little-kid movie, but the plot is nice and the scenes are beautiful. I especially loved the bizarre design of Barbie's mermaid tail. On this story the main character has to make nice sacrifice, and learns some good lessons. I like this one higher than the newest Barbie mermaid film due to its great message.

There was a lot excitement this year over the new launch of "Barbie in a Mermaid Tail." This one has splendidly fun surfboarding scenes. The mermaid world of Oceana was a bit unusual - basically a mimic of our materialistic society. This made it funny but in this setting you lose the mystery and magic of legendary mermaids. That is what I call a "fluff" movie - nothing deep, just enjoyable photos and a pleasant little story.

My least favorite mermaid movie is a kid movie known as "Roxy Hunter and the Fantasy of the Mermaid." It is a few younger small-town journalist named Roxy who step by step discovers her new homeless buddy (a beautiful blond) is actually a mermaid. The movie is okay however throughout your entire movie there aren't any underwater scenes or scenes with a mermaid in a tail - none - till after the very end. Then, lastly, you see about 10 seconds of the blond mermaid swimming underwater with a gorgeous tail. The story is attention-grabbing enough, however, and children will certainly get pleasure from this film.

Have you ever ever dreamed of having a mermaid tail and skimming via the water with the fish? Of feeling and looking like a real mermaid, your hair flowing behind you as you swirl and twirl underwater?

Effectively, it's attainable as we speak to be a mermaid-although I am afraid I can't promise you'll be able to breathe beneath water!

No, I am speaking about a new pastime which is rising across the globe, and it's called mermaiding. Not just girls and women are doing it, however so are boys and males.

Many of us had been inspired by the famous international model, Hannah Fraser, often known as Hannah Mermaid. She dreamed of being a mermaid since she was 9 years old. As she got older, she began modeling. Ultimately she began crafting her own full mermaid costumes and doing underwater picture and video shoots. She Русалка: Скарлет, ты права! now has three attractive, one-of-a-variety tails and many amazing footage you may view on her website by googling "Hannah Mermaid." She has mermaided with sea turtles, dolphins, fish and whales!!! She has skilled herself to resist ocean stress down to nearly 40 feet, and she will gold her breath for two minutes.

You can even do a search on YouTube for "mermaid" and you'll find numerous people who are making and swimming in their very own mermaid tails.

So now you know about mermaiding, and you'll't wait to get began. If you know the way to stitch and have the time, you can also make your individual simple tail. Sasha Mermaid has an exquisite YouTube video tutorial on "Easy methods to Make A Mermaid Tail.

If you would like a tail however don't want to sew one, yow will discover a company which makes mermaid tails, tops and equipment. There are a number of out there, together with a few eBay sellers. Prices range from 100 dollars to over a thousand dollars.

Now that you have your tail, a matching high and maybe a seashell necklace or two, you might be ready to mermaid.

The tails use a monofin, which is a single flipper which each your feet match into. It takes a bit of getting used to, swimming together with your legs connected collectively in your tail. For those who already know the dolphin swim, this can be a great stroke to do with the tail on. However you don't need to know any special swim strokes-the tail with the monofin itself will trigger you to swim mermaid-vogue. It seems to be very lovely within the water, is quick and fun to do.

Now, to enhance your mermaiding, there are a number of abilities to master. First, you might want to swim, dive and do twirls within the water without ever holding your nose. In case you are used to holding your nose, your first step is to learn to blow out a bit of when you first go under and be taught to not hold your nose anymore. In the event you practice this loads, but find that there are occasions you'll be able to't get by with out holding your nose or too much water is available in, I suggest you get a transparent noseplug particularly for swimming. You may slip it onto the top of your nose and it will keep the water out, it doesn't matter what you do in the water. Since it is clear, it will not draw consideration to itself.

Secondly, it's essential to practice holding your breath for longer durations of time below water. Use frequent sense and warning-don't let your self get into hazard or go out. However from my analysis I've found that learning to carry your breath for lengthy periods of time simply comes with apply and learning to calm down within the water. The mermaid performers in Weeki Wachee, Florida, swim and practice every day. A few of them have learned to hold their breath up to six minutes lengthy! One other mermaid model, Mermaid Linden, hires herself out for mermaid performances and she or he has educated herself to carry her breath for 4 and a half minutes!

On New Years night time 2006, I requested to see the Angels. I closed my eyes and I clearly noticed my Guardian Angel, a lovely feminine angel, standing on a beach. She smiled at me and identified into the ocean. She mentioned "Go swimming with the Mermaids. They'll clear you of any negativity you may need amassed over the past 12 months.

So in my imaginative and prescient, I clearly saw myself walking into the ocean. I was submerged below water and I saw about 5 - 6 stunning feminine Mermaids swimming in the direction of me. They were smiling as they started to swim all around me. I knew they have been "cleansing my aura." Their fins and hair would gently contact my skin and every time that they'd "swoosh" by me I would really feel a rush of peaceable and loving energy. They then started to chuckle and their laughter seemed to name in the dolphins.

Simply then a bunch of dolphins started to swim round me, alongside the mermaids. The dolphin's energies had been very glad and lightweight.

After a couple of moments more, I thanked the Mermaids and Dolphins for their loving and therapeutic energy and returned to the seaside. My Guardian Angel was there on the seashore, smiling at me. I felt a lot "lighter and happier", and I smiled back at her, after which my vision was over.

The Mermaids can work with any of us irrespective of the place we stay. In the bodily world, the third realm, I reside in the desert in Arizona. However our consciousness is linked with the consciousness of all, and due to this fact we are capable of touring to numerous realms and areas if we so want, without moving our bodily our bodies. We often do this during our dreamstate, but we are mostly unaware of this. When we are meditating and visualizing such issues like "swimming with the Mermaids of Atlantis" part of our consciousness really does go to the depths of the Ocean the place Atlantis and the Mermaids of Atlantis reside. And we will expertise nice healings and wonderful insights once we "travel" in this manner.

What are Mermaids?

Mermaids are Water Elementals, who're like the Guardian Angels of the Sea. They appear to seem like half human, half fish creatures. The higher a part of their body, above the waist, is human-like and very beautiful. The decrease part of their body merges into a robust fish tail. Merfolk or Merpeople, as they're referred to as, can be feminine (Mermaids) or male (Mermen).

The Merfolk exist on the identical realms because the Faeries and Elementals, which are often called the Fourth and Fifth Realms. Indeed the Merpeople are Faery, as they are the protectors, guides and guardians of the Oceans (Faeries defend all of nature and there are lots of varieties of Faery beings).

Mermaids, and even the Mermen, are thought-about to be very sensual and erotic beings. They might help us to heal our beliefs and wounds regarding sexuality, the physical body and our feelings. They also resemble the therapeutic qualities of water and can help us in cleaning bodily, emotionally, mentally or spiritually.

The Merfolk exist all around the world in the Oceans and Seas. The Mermaids and Mermen of Atlantis however, are thought-about to be the "royalty" of the Merpeople. The Mermaids and Mermen of Atlantis are some of the nice protectors, alongside the Angels of Atlantis, of the therapeutic crystals and temples of Atlantis, which exists now within the depths of the Ocean near Greece.

There are also other Mermaids and Mermen who help to protect the oceans and seas, and the therapeutic crystals and temples of Atlantis. There are mermaids often known as "Mer-Angels" and some generally known as "Mer-Fairies". The Mer-Angels are Mermaids and Mermen who are just like the Archangels of the Oceans. They have fins and huge angel wings. The Mer-Fairies are smaller Mermaids and Mermen who have fins and Gossammer Wings like that of a Gossammer Winged Fairy.

[originalmermaidposts-blog]

The Original Mermaid

How to Be a Mermaid

Have you ever ever dreamed of having a mermaid tail and skimming via the water with the fish? Of looking and feeling like a real mermaid, your hair flowing behind you as you swirl and twirl underwater?

Nicely, it is doable immediately to be a mermaid-although I'm afraid I am unable to promise you'll be able to breathe underneath water!

No, I am speaking a couple of new pastime which is rising across the globe, and it is referred to as mermaiding. Not just girls and women are doing it, but so are boys and men.

Many of us were inspired by the well-known international model, Hannah Fraser, also referred to as Hannah Mermaid. She dreamed of being a mermaid since she was nine years old. As she obtained older, she started modeling. Ultimately she began crafting her personal full mermaid costumes and doing underwater picture and video shoots. She now has three beautiful, one-of-a-kind tails and many wonderful footage you can view on her web site by googling "Hannah Mermaid." She has mermaided with sea turtles, dolphins, fish and whales!!! She has trained herself to face up to ocean strain all the way down to nearly 40 toes, and she can gold her breath for 2 minutes.

It's also possible to do a search on YouTube for "mermaid" and you will find a lot of people who are making and swimming in their very own mermaid tails.

So now you already know about mermaiding, and you'll't wait to get started. If you understand how to sew and have the time, you can make your individual simple tail. Sasha Mermaid has a wonderful YouTube video tutorial on "Easy methods to Make A Mermaid Tail.

If you'd like a tail however do not want to sew one, you'll find an organization which makes mermaid tails, tops and equipment. There are several out there, including a couple of eBay sellers. Prices vary from 100 dollars to over a thousand dollars.

Now that you've got your tail, an identical prime and perhaps a seashell necklace or two, you're ready to mermaid.

The tails use a monofin, which is a single flipper which each your feet fit into. It takes a bit of getting used to, swimming together with your legs attached collectively in your tail. If you already know the dolphin swim, this is a nice stroke to do with the tail on. However you needn't know any special swim strokes-the tail with the monofin itself will cause you to swim mermaid-style. It seems to be very beautiful within the water, is quick and enjoyable to do.

Now, to boost your mermaiding, there are several abilities to master. First, it is advisable swim, dive and do twirls in the water without ever holding your nostril. If you are used to holding your nostril, your first step is to be taught to blow out slightly whenever you first go under and study to not hold your nose anymore. For those who follow this quite a bit, however find that there are occasions you'll be able to't get by without holding your nostril or too much water comes in, I suggest you get a clear noseplug particularly for swimming. You can slip it onto the highest of your nose and it will keep the water out, it doesn't matter what you do within the water. Since it's clear, it won't draw consideration to itself.

Secondly, you should observe holding your breath for longer intervals of time beneath water. Use frequent sense and warning-do not let your self get into danger or move out. However from my research I've found that learning to carry your breath for lengthy intervals of time simply comes with apply and learning to loosen up within the water. The mermaid performers in Weeki Wachee, Florida, swim and observe every single day. A few of them have realized to carry their breath up to six minutes lengthy! One other mermaid mannequin, Mermaid Linden, hires herself out for mermaid performances and she has skilled herself to carry her breath for 4 and a half minutes!

Most people have seen Disney's "The Little Mermaid" animated movie. But there are a number of others that are absolutely glorious - classics. Right here they're:

My high pick for a mermaid film is "Splash". Not solely is it funny and the plot wonderful, however mermaid necklace there's quite a bit of superior footage of Daryl Hannah mermaiding within the ocean.

We won't get enough of that! Remember the fact that this is not a children's film. It was made within the '80s, and for probably the most half it's okay for the household to observe. However there's a little little bit of nudity (when the mermaid is walking into New York out of the ocean with nothing however her long hair to cowl her) and there is some implication of what she and the Tom Hanks character are doing within the elevator, although nothing is shown. The film is wonderful, with a fantastic story and awesome mermaid footage and many laughs, as well as an important romance.

My second top choice is "The Secret of Roan Inish". It is a secure, quiet movie the complete family can enjoy. It was made in Ireland, and as such is slower and quieter than most American motion pictures. It is about a little Irish lady who moves to stay with her grandparents. While there she unwittingly stumbles upon the thriller surrounding the island the family used to dwell on, called "Roan Inish" (Island of the Seals). As she slowly solves the thriller, she brings healing and unity again to the household. In this film the mythical creature is a selkie, not a mermaid. The selkie lives in the form of a seal. Once in a while she climbs up on a rock and removes her seal skin, revealing a lovely lady. So this movie is slightly bit different, and you will by no means have a look at a seal the identical manner again.

My third favorite mermaid movie is "Aquamarine." This one is geared to the teen crowd. It has nothing unseemly, so the whole family can get pleasure from it. It's a delightfully different rendition of the traditional Little Mermaid story, with a wonderful shock ending. The mermaid in this film is different, more like an everyday teen girl. There are several good shots of her in the water. The messages on this movie are high quality, akin to loyalty, friendship, personal confidence, selflessness and courage. And it is usually very humorous.

Number four of my prime mermaid motion pictures is an old black and white basic known as "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid." You should have a challenge finding this movie to watch, however VHS variations can be found on the market on Amazon.com. All the underwater footage was filmed within the well-known Weeki Wachee Springs in Weeki Wachee, Florida, only a yr after this underwater theater opened.

Made in 1948, this film is about a married couple taking a trip in the Caribbean. The person is sort of 50 and is having a mid-life crisis. While on vacation he accidentally fishes up a stay mermaid from the sea! Ann Blyth plays the enchanting mermaid and you'll love this wonderful film. The only objections a mum or dad might have is the theme of extramarital flirting, and a few humorous scenes with a man making an attempt to surrender smoking.

One that is a little completely different, and which solely not too long ago got here out, is a Japanese anime Miyazaki film referred to as "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea", or just "Ponyo". In this one the fish-girl is depicted as a goldfish with a human face, which is moderately unusual. But in an uncommon twist, this five-year-old fish-girl has to get the little five-12 months-outdated human boy to like her faithfully, or she's going to turn into sea foam and be no more. It is such a sweet interpretation, these small children learning to love and belief each other in such an innocent means. It's a story of marvel and braveness and should not be missed.

My choose for number six is Disney's "The Little Mermaid". It was the film that received Disney back into the popular movie business again within the 1980s. The music and story are a delight. I keep in mind how enchanted I was when it first got here out - it is a delightful mermaid movie, enjoyable for the whole family.

Number seven for me is the Russian adaptation of "The Little Mermaid." This 1976 film shows plenty of wonderful mermaid footage below the sea. Back then the swimmers had solely small flippers, in order that they needed to ripple their legs in a really quick movement for motion. The underwater scenes are only at first of the film, however they're marvelous!! (I can't work out how these swimmers might be in the water with all those jellyfish!!). You can find this movie to rent at Netflix and it is directed by Vladimir Bychkov. Again, this version of Anderson's famous story is just a little totally different, nearly a very new story. Be forewarned that there's nudity in a single scene, and portrayals of a witch performing magic. Apart from these the entire household will take pleasure in this one.

"Barbie Mermaidia" is a bit of-child movie, but the plot is nice and the scenes are stunning. I particularly enjoyed the bizarre design of Barbie's mermaid tail. In this story the principle character has to make great sacrifice, and learns some good classes. I like this one higher than the most recent Barbie mermaid movie because of its great message.

There was much excitement this 12 months over the brand new launch of "Barbie in a Mermaid Tail." This one has wonderfully fun surfboarding scenes. The mermaid world of Oceana was somewhat unusual - basically a mimic of our materialistic society. This made it humorous however on this setting you lose the thriller and magic of legendary mermaids. This is what I name a "fluff" movie - nothing deep, simply enjoyable images and a pleasant little story.

My least favorite mermaid film is a child film known as "Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid." It is about a young small-city journalist named Roxy who regularly discovers her new homeless friend (a fantastic blond) is definitely a mermaid. The movie is okay but throughout all the movie there are no underwater scenes or scenes with a mermaid in a tail - none - until after the very end. Then, lastly, you see about 10 seconds of the blond mermaid swimming underwater with a beautiful tail. The story is attention-grabbing enough, however, and children will certainly enjoy this film.

The legend about mermaids dates since 1000 B.C. It is originated from the lands of the current Middle East. In response to this legend, the mother of Semiramis, the goddess Atargatis was in love with a shepherd - a normal, poor, mortal man. Unfortunately inadvertently she killed her beloved. Her despair was so big, that she threw herself right into a lake and determined to live her life as a fish. She didn't wish to preserve her normal life without her beloved shepherd. However her goddess nature did not enable her to remodel entirely and she kept the upper a part of her lady physique and the decrease was transformed right into a fish tail.

In Middle East, they used to name the mermaids "Nautical people" and other people from this part of the world believed, that mermaids are normal girls, which nevertheless might dwell and breathe under water.

There is another legend that comes from Europe. In response to it, mermaids are seducers that possess the fatalism and the cruelty of girls. This legend originated from stories of sailors and fishermen from the shore cities of Europe. They related stories of mermaids that allured males and make them soar into the cold waters of the seas.

In keeping with different stories, the mermaids were the omen of the loss of life for the ships lost within the seas. They were a sign that there isn't any cost nearby and there is no escape.

The final famous legend is the Greek one. In response to the Greek mythology mermaids were inhabitant of the seas, companion of Poseidon, all the time in assist of misplaced fishermen or ships in trouble.

The Little Mermaid

This movie is likely one of the most watched by all little girls. Ariel, aka The Little Mermaid is mischievous mermaid daughter of King Triton, the king of the mighty undersea kingdom. She is always in hassle, but utilizing her braveness and determination, manages to get out in the very last second. Her biggest dream is to be an actual human even for a little while.

Why every little lady loves Ariel?

Ariel's life is great, filled with adventure, dangers, associates, entertainment and plenty of different great issues. She has all the things that little women need - freedom, games, nice surrounding and a number of enjoyable. She is daddy's little, cute lady. Actually Ariel is reincarnation of what women dream of.

[norfolkrp]

YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED, WELCOME TO NORFOLK.

Congratulations Rhianna, you’ve been accepted to play an original character, Nathan Novak! Go ahead and set up your account, be sure to message the main from it.

Also, be sure to:

Make sure your ask and submit are open.

Follow everyone on the masterlist.

Track the tag norfolk: starter for open dash convos.

And tell us your initial reaction to Norfolk in the tag norfolk: talk!

– Lou & Rosh, Norfolk staff.

Name/Alias: Rhi Age: 22 Pronouns: she/her Timezone: PST (GMT-7:00) Personal tumblr: rhianna-jt.tumblr.com Activity level: mostly a 7/8 because I have access to a computer A LOT but on weekends or wednesdays I usually vanish for a bit. Triggers: N/A What’s the secret password?: Removed. How did you find us?: Been there done that sort of deal :3 What character are you applying for? An OC! (Nathan Novak) Anything else?: You guys are amazing and so is this rp okay? okay.

Full name: Nathan Novak

Age: 35

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Species: Witch

Claimed Power: Water Manipulation

Occupation: Owner and Manager of Norfolk Aquarium

Address: 35 Rue Ave, Edgewater

Quote: “Don’t worry so much. No matter what happens you just die at the end.”

MBTI: INFP

Positive traits (3): Adaptable, Forthright, Resourceful

Negative traits (3): Cynical, Airy, Unstable

Face claim: Chris Pine

Biography:

People would always forget about little Nate, the boy hiding behind his rather tall and bulky older brother, Preston. He wasn’t the star of anything, nor was he quite good at anything that mattered. He skated by in school with low B’s and high C’s, but didn’t make honor roll like Preston did. Nathan never minded living in his brother’s shadow, or the fact that he had two younger and rather obnoxious sisters, the twins, Beatrice and Catherine, to take care of. What he could do for his single mother, Marissa, was give her peace of mind. The last time Nathan had seen his father Howard was a Tuesday morning before he went to work. It was like any other day, until four thirty rolled around and there was no sight of their father. A call came in at around five o’ two stating there’s been a head on collision and Howard Novak had died on sight.

The deaths would not end here. Just when Nathan had settled into their little routine, Marissa sat down with her two eldest children to explain that there would be changes around the home. Unbeknownst to Nate, his brother had quietly been showing signs of something incredible, something neither of the boys knew anything about. Magic. Both their mother and father were skilled ritualistic witches, and had hid their abilities from their children for as long as they could. Death ran in the family, you see, and knowing Howard had died when he could have been saved with magic sent Marissa into a dark place. Preston began to show signs of Fire Manipulation around his eighteenth birthday, worrying the single working mother that the cycle might repeat. She spent all her time with her eldest son, breaking away from Nathan and the twins. This made Nathan resentful of his brother, breaking any bond they once shared. From then on out it was a competition, and though two years apart, they couldn’t be more different.

Be warned, that the deaths as stated before did not end with Howard Novak. It was July twenty-fourth about two months before Nathan’s senior year of high school. He’d spent the night at a friend’s house preparing for track. It was the first thing Nate was actually good at and excelled in, something he felt proud of and could be sought after for. Nathan had been walking home from his friend’s house when neighbors began running to the end of his street screaming, some crying. They pointed up at the old brick cottage on Raven’s Row, now burning to the ground. Some were shouting and pointing to an upstairs window, where Nathan fatefully saw one of his sister’s, Catherine, jump and fall to her untimely death. No one else made it out of that house alive, no one except the person who had caused the fire. Preston Novak. The nineteen year old was immediately arrested after his mumbled confession, later found hanging by his own hand in the Norfolk County Jail.

Fresh out of school and living with family friends, Nathan enlisted into the army not long after. A year of basic training past before he was shipped out to Afghanistan, not a single achievement or any loved ones at home waiting for him. He fought for seven long years before injuring his leg during battle, sending him home with not only a handicap, but  a silver star medal awarded by his commanding officer for his heroism during battle. What his commanding officer and most of his comrades did not know is that Nathan used magic to save his war mates. Without his knowledge, Nathan had always possessed such abilities but suppressed them unknowingly from his grief. Water erupted from the shores of Pakistan and rose above his enemies, drowning them almost instantaneously upon seeing a fallen friend shot in the head by an enemy soldier. When Nathan made it home, he was still in shock from his discovery of untapped potential, so much so he decided to open up a business dedicated to his training. For nine years the Norfolk Aquarium has thrived off of those who inhabit and visit Norfolk. It is known as one of the greatest attractions in town, but none can quite figure out how the owner and manager can tame these sea creatures at will. Some speculated he could speak to them, while others called it good business. Not many know the true secret behind the aquarium, and Nathan would like it to stay that way.

Writing sample:

“Ah! Hey now, that’s not very nice…” Nate scolded a rather feisty jellyfish that nearly stung his ring finger. He’d stuck his hand just a little too far into the tank to try and feed the damn thing some fish eggs, and this is the thanks he got. The jellyfish just stared at his captive, eyeless and puffed itself out largely like a loaf of bread. Though it looked rather irritated at Nathan, it did eat the food. “Yeah, there you go asshole. You’re my least favorite, I hope you know that.” Nathan’s eyes rolled as a single finger submerged into the tank, spinning the water gently. It created a light tornado effect near his least favorite jellyfish, sending it spinning the opposite direction of the fish eggs. Ha, fuck off, Nate thought, a light grin on his lips before he turned around and realized he’d been spotted by an employee.

“Uh…y-yes Nadine, can I help you?” The seventeen year old girl blinked once, then twice, her eyes widening as she looked behind Nathan at the tank. “Nad-”

“Yes, sir! Uh-uh I mean Nathan! I was just coming to tell you that a kid stuck his hand in the hermit crab exhibit and it’s stuck on his thumb.” Nathan’s hand raised to his forehead while the other stayed firmly on his hip. A rather loud and exasperated sigh left his lips almost like a hiss, his brow furrowing deeply. “Shit. Was it that fat one with the round cheeks?”

“Uh…yeah?” The sigh grew louder and sounded more like an infant angry he couldn’t have ice cream by the minute. Another minute passed where Nathan stood like this, making Nadine shift uncomfortably from the silence. Let the kid suffer and risk an angry privileged mother chewing him out while also threatening to sue him, or save him and live another day? Probably the second option. Yeah, the second option was definitely best.

Nadine coughed.  "….Nathan…“

"Alright let’s go get the damn thing off fatso’s thumb.” He concluded with a nod. Nathan was out the door before Nadine could speak, but the look on her face said it all. Do not call a kid fatso in front of an employee. Dully noted.

[aardvarkcompareposts-blog]

Tajikistan Travel Health Insurance - Country Review

Learn more about Tajikistan Travel Health Insurance with an overview from the CDC and the US State Department. Here we cover Vaccines, Medicines and Insurance. At AardvarkCompare we can’t recommend travel insurance enough. Whether you are just traveling a few hundred miles from home to see family, or traveling to the other side of the world, travel insurance should be considered an essential part of your holiday packing. The hope is that you won’t have to use your travel insurance, and that you’ll have a fun and enjoyable trip. The following advice should help you make the most of your trip to Tajikistan. Note: Always check that your destination country is one approved for travel by your travel insurance provider.

Tajikistan Travel Health – CDC

All travelers You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel. Vaccines and Medicines Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. Routine vaccines Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Measles Infants (6 through 11 months old): 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as the first dose in the routine childhood vaccination series. People 12 months old or older, with no evidence of immunity or no written documentation of any doses: 2 doses of MMR vaccine before travel. The 2 doses must be given 28 days apart. People 12 months old or older who have written documentation of 1 dose and no other evidence of immunity: 1 additional dose before travel, at least 28 days after the previous dose. Most travelers Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting. Hepatitis A CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Tajikistan, regardless of where you are eating or staying. Typhoid You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in Tajikistan. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers, especially if you are staying with friends or relatives, visiting smaller cities or rural areas, or if you are an adventurous eater. Some travelers Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US. Hepatitis B You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures. Rabies Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in the Tajikistan, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups: Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for bat bites (such as adventure travel and caving). People who will be working with or around bats (such as wildlife professionals and researchers). People who are taking long trips or moving to Tajikistan Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck. Malaria Although the risk of malaria is low in Tajikistan, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. Some travelers to certain areas who are at higher risk for complications from malaria (such as pregnant women) may need to take extra precautions, like antimalarial medicine. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while traveling. Areas of Tajikistan with risk of malaria: Rare indigenous cases. See more detailed information about malaria in Tajikistan. Stay Health and Safe Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Tajikistan, so your behaviors are important. Eat and Drink Safely Unclean food and water can cause travelers' diarrhea and other diseases. Reduce your risk by sticking to safe food and water habits. Eat Food that is cooked and served hot Hard-cooked eggs Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself Pasteurized dairy products Don't Eat Food served at room temperature Food from street vendors Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs Raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables Unpasteurized dairy products Bushmeat (monkeys, bats, or other wild game) Drink Bottled water that is sealed Water that has been disinfected Ice made with bottled or disinfected water Carbonated drinks Hot coffee or tea Pasteurized milk Don’t Drink Tap or well water Ice made with tap or well water Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice) Unpasteurized milk Take Medicine Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick. Prevent bug bites Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Tajikistan. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites. What can I do to prevent bug bites? Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below) . Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms. Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors. What type of insect repellent should I use? FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours. FOR PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITOES ONLY: Products with one of the following active ingredients can also help prevent mosquito bites. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection. DEET Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin) Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD IR3535 Always use insect repellent as directed. What should I do if I am bitten by bugs? Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching. Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks What can I do to avoid bed bugs? Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs. For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites. Stay safe outdoors If your travel plans in Tajikistan include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip. Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe. Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit. Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities. Heat-related illness, such as heat stroke, can be deadly. Eat and drink regularly, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit physical activity during high temperatures. If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating. Protect yourself from UV radiation: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing. Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location. Stay safe around water Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches. Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket. Do not dive into shallow water. Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor. Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick. To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste. Keep away from animals Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies. Follow these tips to protect yourself: Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know. Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth. Avoid rodents and their urine and feces. Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals. If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see. All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately: Wash the wound with soap and clean water. Go to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States. Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries. Reduce your exposure to germs Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling: Wash your hands often, especially before eating. If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol). Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care. Avoid sharing body fluids Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen. Protect yourself: Use latex condoms correctly. Do not inject drugs. Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated. Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture. If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized. Know how to get medical care while traveling Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise: Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination. Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance. Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take. Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call the Tajikistan embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you. Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to. Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website (Joint Commission International). In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination. Malaria is a risk in some parts of Tajikistan. If you are going to a risk area, fill your malaria prescription before you leave, and take enough with you for the entire length of your trip. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the pills; some need to be started before you leave. Select safe transportation Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries. In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes. Walking Be smart when you are traveling on foot. Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks. Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas. Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries. Riding/Driving Choose a safe vehicle. Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses. Ride only in cars that have seatbelts. Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans. Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.) Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable. Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes. Think about the driver. Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking. Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area. Arrange payment before departing. Follow basic safety tips. Wear a seatbelt at all times. Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis. When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.) Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Tajikistan may be poor. Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries). Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas. If you choose to drive a vehicle in Tajikistan, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork. Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times. Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance. Flying Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft. If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections. Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather. Medical Evacuation Insurance If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons. Helpful Resources Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources. The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee. Maintain personal security Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Before you leave Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture. Monitor travel warnings and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home. Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace. While at your destination(s) Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate. Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel. Follow all local laws and social customs. Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry. Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas. If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors. Healthy Travel Packing List Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Tajikistan for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you. Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items? It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use. After Your Trip If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling. If your doctor prescribed antimalarial medicine for your trip, keep taking the rest of your pills after you return home. If you stop taking your medicine too soon, you could still get sick. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. If you become ill with a fever either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after you return home (for up to 1 year), you should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the doctor about your travel history. For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel.

Tajikistan Travel Health – The US State Department

U.S.- TAJIKISTAN RELATIONS The United States established diplomatic relations with Tajikistan in 1992, following its independence from the Soviet Union. The United States and Tajikistan have a broad-based relationship, cooperating in such areas as counter-narcotics, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, and regional economic connectivity and security. In 2010, the United States and Tajikistan launched an annual bilateral consultation process to enhance cooperation. Tajikistan has been a strong partner to the United States and international forces in efforts to bring security and peace to Afghanistan. Stability and economic growth in Tajikistan are critical to achieving overall regional stability and to strengthening regional economic integration. Tajikistan faces many challenges, including underdeveloped border security, widespread corruption, inadequate health and education systems, and food and energy shortages. Regional threats include violent extremism, terrorism, and the trafficking of narcotics and weapons. U.S. Assistance to Tajikistan U.S. Government assistance to Tajikistan seeks to help defense and law enforcement agencies counter transnational threats, improve local governance and transparency, increase food security and public health services, and reform the education system, particularly focusing on creating opportunities for youth to contribute to society. Economic Relations Tajikistan is one of the world’s poorest countries, and it depends on remittances and commodity exports that make it vulnerable to global economic conditions. Tajikistan has signed a trade and investment framework agreement with the United States and other Central Asian countries establishing a regional forum to discuss ways to improve investment climates and expand trade within Central Asia. Tajikistan’s Membership in International Organizations Tajikistan and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Tajikistan is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Partnership for Peace. Bilateral Representation Tajikistan maintain an embassy in the United States at 1005 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037 (tel.: 202-223-6090). Have questions? We would love to hear from you. Send us a chat, Send us a Mail or alternatively Call Us at (650) 492-6298. Recent AardvarkCompare Travel Insurance Customer Reviews I Panicked When I Discovered I panicked when I discovered the Travel Insurance I had through Expedia had expired when I changed my flight reservation. When I went to renew I was told I couldn't. I discovered Aardvark on my AARP site and I was excited I could purchase a an even better travel plan with coverage starting with my trip departure, at a cost I could afford. I was confused with the initial site and was Mr. Breeze reached out to me for clarification. He explained the policy more thoroughly and addressed all my concerns, can't get any better then that! Thank You Aardvark and thank you Jonathan for your assistance. I can go on my trip now knowing I'll be covered for medical emergencies, and then some. Barbara Good Choices, Well Explained I liked the way insurance was explained. I had read an article your company had written explaining Expedia trip coverage versus other choices. I used this advice to make the best choice for me and my traveling companions. That choice was to take a policy that provided much better medical and evacuation primary care. Your site allowed comparisons, and I think I got the best value for my money. I don't like constant follow up emails. You could back off a bit!! Louise Read the full article

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Taiwan Travel Health Insurance - Country Review

Learn more about Taiwan Travel Health Insurance with an overview from the CDC and the US State Department. Here we cover Vaccines, Medicines and Insurance. At AardvarkCompare we can’t recommend travel insurance enough. Whether you are just traveling a few hundred miles from home to see family, or traveling to the other side of the world, travel insurance should be considered an essential part of your holiday packing. The hope is that you won’t have to use your travel insurance, and that you’ll have a fun and enjoyable trip. The following advice should help you make the most of your trip to Taiwan. Note: Always check that your destination country is one approved for travel by your travel insurance provider.

Taiwan Travel Health – CDC

All travelers You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccines may also be required for travel. Vaccines and Medicines Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. Routine vaccines Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. Measles Infants (6 through 11 months old): 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as the first dose in the routine childhood vaccination series. People 12 months old or older, with no evidence of immunity or no written documentation of any doses: 2 doses of MMR vaccine before travel. The 2 doses must be given 28 days apart. People 12 months old or older who have written documentation of 1 dose and no other evidence of immunity: 1 additional dose before travel, at least 28 days after the previous dose. Most travelers Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting. Hepatitis A CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Taiwan, regardless of where you are eating or staying. Some travelers Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the US. Hepatitis B You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures. Japanese Encephalitis You may need this vaccine if your trip will last more than a month, depending on where you are going in Taiwan and what time of year you are traveling. You should also consider this vaccine if you plan to visit rural areas in Taiwan or will be spending a lot of time outdoors, even for trips shorter than a month. Your doctor can help you decide if this vaccine is right for you based on your travel plans. See more in-depth information on Japanese Encephalitis in Taiwan. Rabies Rabies can be found in dogs, bats, and other mammals in the Taiwan, so CDC recommends this vaccine for the following groups: Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for bat bites (such as adventure travel and caving). People who will be working with or around bats (such as wildlife professionals and researchers). People who are taking long trips or moving to Taiwan Children, because they tend to play with animals, might not report bites, and are more likely to have animal bites on their head and neck. Stay Health and Safe Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Taiwan, so your behaviors are important. Eat and Drink Safely Unclean food and water can cause travelers' diarrhea and other diseases. Reduce your risk by sticking to safe food and water habits. Eat Food that is cooked and served hot Hard-cooked eggs Fruits and vegetables you have washed in clean water or peeled yourself Pasteurized dairy products Don't Eat Food served at room temperature Food from street vendors Raw or soft-cooked (runny) eggs Raw or undercooked (rare) meat or fish Unwashed or unpeeled raw fruits and vegetables Unpasteurized dairy products Bushmeat (monkeys, bats, or other wild game) Drink Bottled water that is sealed Water that has been disinfected Ice made with bottled or disinfected water Carbonated drinks Hot coffee or tea Pasteurized milk Don’t Drink Tap or well water Ice made with tap or well water Drinks made with tap or well water (such as reconstituted juice) Unpasteurized milk Take Medicine Talk with your doctor about taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs with you on your trip in case you get sick. Prevent bug bites Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Taiwan. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites. What can I do to prevent bug bites? Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats. Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below) . Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms. Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors. What type of insect repellent should I use? FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours. FOR PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITOES ONLY: Products with one of the following active ingredients can also help prevent mosquito bites. Higher percentages of active ingredient provide longer protection. DEET Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin) Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or PMD IR3535 Always use insect repellent as directed. What should I do if I am bitten by bugs? Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching. Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks What can I do to avoid bed bugs? Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs. For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites. Stay safe outdoors If your travel plans in Taiwan include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip. Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe. Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit. Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities. Heat-related illness, such as heat stroke, can be deadly. Eat and drink regularly, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit physical activity during high temperatures. If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating. Protect yourself from UV radiation: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing. Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location. Stay safe around water Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches. Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket. Do not dive into shallow water. Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor. Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick. To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste. Keep away from animals Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies. Follow these tips to protect yourself: Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know. Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth. Avoid rodents and their urine and feces. Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals. If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see. All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately: Wash the wound with soap and clean water. Go to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States. Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries. Reduce your exposure to germs Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling: Wash your hands often, especially before eating. If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol). Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care. Avoid sharing body fluids Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen. Protect yourself: Use latex condoms correctly. Do not inject drugs. Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated. Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture. If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized. Know how to get medical care while traveling Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise: Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination. Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance. Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take. Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call the Taiwan embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you. Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to. Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website (Joint Commission International). In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination. Select safe transportation Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries. In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes. Walking Be smart when you are traveling on foot. Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks. Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas. Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries. Riding/Driving Choose a safe vehicle. Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses. Ride only in cars that have seatbelts. Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans. Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.) Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable. Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes. Think about the driver. Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking. Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area. Arrange payment before departing. Follow basic safety tips. Wear a seatbelt at all times. Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis. When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.) Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Taiwan may be poor. Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries). Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas. If you choose to drive a vehicle in Taiwan, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork. Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times. Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance. Flying Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft. If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections. Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather. Medical Evacuation Insurance If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons. Helpful Resources Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources. The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee. Maintain personal security Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Before you leave Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture. Monitor travel warnings and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home. Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace. While at your destination(s) Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate. Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel. Follow all local laws and social customs. Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry. Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas. If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors. Healthy Travel Packing List Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Taiwan for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you. Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items? It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use. After Your Trip If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling. For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel.

Taiwan Travel Health – The US State Department

U.S.- TAIWAN RELATIONS The United States and Taiwan enjoy a robust unofficial relationship. The 1979 U.S.-P.R.C. Joint Communique switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. In the Joint Communique, the United States recognized the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, acknowledging the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. The Joint Communique also stated that the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is responsible for implementing U.S. policy toward Taiwan. The United States does not support Taiwan independence. Maintaining strong, unofficial relations with Taiwan is a major U.S. goal, in line with the U.S. desire to further peace and stability in Asia. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act provides the legal basis for the unofficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan, and enshrines the U.S. commitment to assist Taiwan in maintaining its defensive capability. The United States insists on the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait differences, opposes unilateral changes to the status quo by either side, and encourages both sides to continue their constructive dialogue on the basis of dignity and respect. U.S. Assistance to Taiwan U.S. development assistance to Taiwan in the 1950s and 1960s helped Taiwan create a more prosperous economy. Currently, the United States provides no development assistance to Taiwan. Economic Relations The United States has maintained and enhanced its commercial ties with Taiwan since 1979. Taiwan is the United States’ ninth largest trading partner, and the United States is Taiwan’s second largest trading partner. Taiwan enjoys Export-Import Bank financing, Overseas Private Investment Corporation guarantees, normal trade relations status, and ready access to U.S. markets. AIT has been engaged in a series of trade discussions that have focused on protection of intellectual property rights and market access for U.S. goods and services. The United States has a trade and investment framework agreement with Taiwan under the auspices of AIT and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States. As of 2013, companies from Taiwan employed more than 12,000 workers in the United States with total worker compensation of almost a billion dollars. People-To-People Ties People-to-people ties between the United States and Taiwan continue to grow. There are now 148 sister cities between the United States and Taiwan, connecting our two societies on a local level. Travel for business and pleasure from Taiwan to the United States has increased 50 percent since Taiwan became a member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in November 2012. Taiwan is the United States’ seventh largest source of international students, sending thousands of students to receive a high-quality education each year. The United States also sponsors study abroad opportunities in Taiwan for U.S. students from the high school to post-graduate levels. Outside of the traditional classroom, through the Fulbright Program and the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), young professionals and rising scholars from the United States and Taiwan collaborate on research and exchange best practices on a broad range of topics. Taiwan’s Role in the International Community The United States supports Taiwan’s membership in international organizations that do not require statehood as a condition of membership and encourages Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations where its membership is not possible. Taiwan and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the World Trade Organization, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and the Asian Development Bank. In June 2015, AIT and TECRO established the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, a platform for expanding U.S.-Taiwan cooperation on global and regional issues such as public health, economic development, energy, women’s rights, and disaster relief. Foreign Representation Taiwan does not maintain an embassy in the United States. However Taiwan maintains the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States at 4201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016 (tel: 202-895-1800). Have questions? We would love to hear from you. Send us a chat, Send us a Mail or alternatively Call Us at (650) 492-6298. Recent AardvarkCompare Travel Insurance Customer Reviews I Panicked When I Discovered I panicked when I discovered the Travel Insurance I had through Expedia had expired when I changed my flight reservation. When I went to renew I was told I couldn't. I discovered Aardvark on my AARP site and I was excited I could purchase a an even better travel plan with coverage starting with my trip departure, at a cost I could afford. I was confused with the initial site and was Mr. Breeze reached out to me for clarification. He explained the policy more thoroughly and addressed all my concerns, can't get any better then that! Thank You Aardvark and thank you Jonathan for your assistance. I can go on my trip now knowing I'll be covered for medical emergencies, and then some. Barbara Good Choices, Well Explained I liked the way insurance was explained. I had read an article your company had written explaining Expedia trip coverage versus other choices. I used this advice to make the best choice for me and my traveling companions. That choice was to take a policy that provided much better medical and evacuation primary care. Your site allowed comparisons, and I think I got the best value for my money. I don't like constant follow up emails. You could back off a bit!! Louise Read the full article