#id do anything for this clump of cells

[libertarian-druid-ny-separatist]

It's insane to me that some anime icon having weirdo, who's now blocked me, can accuse me of being someone else (for legalities sake I am New here) and make up something I didnt say, and then a swarm of rightoids can come out of the woodwork with anon hate again. At least you're being reasonable...

But no, your situation doesn't give more weight to anything cause anecdotes are rarely useful or relevant when giving ones opinions on public policy, especially regarding ones rights to ones own body and pregnancy from you, a man. Framing removing a brainless clump of cells as "murder" is pretty christian, to my mind, at least culturally anyway. Since most people who study the human body don't consider it murder. But thats neither here or there rn.

originally, I was speaking to a maga delulu cultist, who finds it ok to force other women to have children against their will, but shrieked and started a whole stink when I said that they should face the circumstances they so easily and casually were willing to force, legislatively, on others. Hypocrisy. From christians? par for the course, lol.

If I had been arguing at the time with someone against say, what I consider common sense gun control, I would have said "I hope you have to live through a shooting event that makes you reconsider". Or on a different track- I would hope some anti-public transit person, Id wish them nothing but traffic and exhaust fumes, because the empathy free dont realize they could be wrong or change their minds until something effects them personally.

And Im not offended when someone says to me "I hope your support for democratic socialism gets you (insert rightoid holocaust fantasy about evil denmark style socialism)" because I understand thats just words on a screen, not a "wish" or a "threat" lol. Could my wording have been better originally? Probably? Who knows or cares though?

This is only still going on cause some rightoids and neonazis keep bringing it up so they can pretend to be offended by me, as fascists do, to ignore reality. And also to pretend to defend a white chick and her virtue against a mouthy jew who sources stuff. Its all clownery and mostly from maga cultists 😂.

I can appreciate you being reasonable about it though, which is why I bothered to reply at all. Sorry for the rambling.

Okay, this is a long one, so I'm gonna kinda break it up a bit for ease of reading.

Thank you for being reasonable in return, just because we disagree doesn't mean we can't be civil, which is a thought process I wish both sides of the aisle would be more open to. There are admittedly people on both sides that agree with that sentiment, but not nearly enough.

My point is that it's still a life, snuffing out innocent life will always be murder to me, whether it's a year old, a decade old, a century old, or a second old. Every life has inherent value so long as it retains innocence. I appreciate the honesty in saying that it's because I'm a man and that your original points about rape and Christianity were more or less just repeating talking points (I know that's going to come off as sarcasm, but I assure you it isn't).

I don't tend to care much for the religious portion of the issue, if you're having unprotected sex, there can be consequences. One of those consequences can be impregnation. I can agree that being forced to carry the child of your rapist is wrong, I don't believe it should be forced, so much as deregulation of adoption so that abortion isn't the go-to solution. I think you can probably agree that despite the circumstances, the child is still innocent of their father's crimes. So while I wouldn't force it upon anyone, I would say it would be wrong to end a pregnancy, and continue to disagree with that portion of the decision. If being brainless is what makes it okay to you, then it stands to reason that upon the third gestational week, abortion should be off the table, as that's when brain tissue begins to develop. If not, feel free to correct me.

Yeah, I can agree that the phrasing could have been better, it comes off like you're wishing pro-life people would get raped in the post. And honestly, the modification to the scenarios you present isn't much better. But it also doesn't help the situation that I'm in full support of all natural rights, self defense being one of those. I actually offer to teach anyone how to shoot in a defensive manner, especially my Romani "family" and Jewish folks given the situations regarding those groups internationally and here in the US. That said, if you're more comfortable having to look your attacker in the eye while bludgeoning or stabbing them in defense, then more power to you, I can almost relate. As far as public transit goes, I support opening the market to private competition, partially to lower costs and partially to improve the services. I'd also avoid calling them "empathy free" just because they disagree. I assure you, in most cases, they're not sociopaths.

My issues with socialism arise from family history, and how many times socialist economies have failed/converted to capitalist ones. While it makes tyranny an easier goal to achieve, that's less of an inherent worry for me than the fact that it seems to fail so often. I'd hope you'd consider that it's largely only a good system on paper given how things actually work, but your views are yours to hold, and possibly change, on your own.

Can you honestly say that the people arguing against (what they view as) murder (to which you disagree) are fascists though? Is it possible that they simply don't want to have a society in which the murder of children is acceptable? I don't think the government should regulate it, so much as it should be deregulating alternatives such as adoption. If an adoptive parent wants to help take care of the child as it is developing in the womb, and then raise said child, I see no harm in that. However, there is already a wait list for adoptions, and not really much going into helping to shorten that wait. If the government should be doing anything that would actively use tax dollars, it should go towards helping out adoptions and adoptees. As someone who was adopted (I know, I've got a whole lot of skin in this) it generally works out for the best for all involved parties. That said, I understand that "generally" is different than "always" and the concern some have if it's not something with a 100% success rate. Most folks are a lot less willing to take risks than they were 20, 30, 50 years ago.

If you're interested in continuing the conversation, or if I skipped something you feel is relevant, my dms are open, asks are open, and of course, reblogs will remain available.

I ask that you use reblogs if any are applicable, but won't demand it. Just helps to keep things organized.

[vivisols]

Ash from claw at the stars raised Sun and Moon as pups, right?

How did they do that? I mean I can kind of guess, but what was it like? We know most, to all of their scars are from dealing with them, so how did they tame them? I do remember Ash trying to tame Y/N but it’s been awhile since I’ve read claw at the stars, so I still ask how, and what it was like.

Also, if they (Sun and Moon) were created as pups and raised, why were the prototypes of them adults? Did they still age even when they weren't awakened? Are the test merfolk all in a sort of man made coma? If so, what is the reason for the company to really keep them alive? I mean that’s a dark question but they can’t really use the test merfolk, unless they’re still testing them? oh god, were they trying to create more?

If I got something wrong, sorry, I reiterate it’s been awhile since I read it

yep!!! ash did :3

it was a very very VERY hard time at first. both ash + fazco were overwhelmed with the idea of “HOLY SHIT IT ACTUALLY WORKED” for the first couple months. and then it was “HOW DO WE ACTUALLY DO THIS” bc mer pups, and just mers in general, weren’t really able to be studied in depth before sun and moons creation. so fazco and ash tried to keep things as “natural” as possible in their upbringing! aka balanced diets of fish and things! (though because of how little mers had been researched up to that point they… were super off about 90% of it LMAO) it was still pretty hard tho! and very complex!

sun and moon were definitely ‘tamed’ but they still have natural feral instincts at their core. so ash got (almost) all their scars when sun and moon were young! but they pretty much ‘tamed’ them in the same way you can train a dog to not bite. as in when it happens you sharply cry in pain (like a puppy would) and then scold them in order to enforce the ‘negative’ command and teach them that it’s not a good thing to do. id say that was about ~70% effective, mostly because sun and moon were pups (as ash would say, they raised them from a clump of cells) and didn’t really know of anything else yknow?

they definitely still age when they aren’t awakened since they’re kept in the tubes! the tubes have got. a bunch of nutrients and stuff in the fluid in order to keep them alive! So yep it’s basically like a coma! all the other AEMPEP mers are kept in various stages of development for research and testing purposes :3 some genes like certain scale colors only show up later in mer development after all!

and fazco definitely wants to make more mers! sun and moon have really been the only successful ones so far, so fazco is trying to replicate that! ash has always been the one pushing to keep the other mers still alive and in the tubes, mostly because they feel a bit of a connection. they’re still their subjects after all :3

[da1lywh0r3]

okay maybe he should've told me that was an issue before i did it like all the time haha it would've been so easy for him to ask me not to wtf

[puppyluver256]

[Image Description: Two images of a feminine person sitting on a grassy hill at night. The person has light skin, short brown hair, and grey eyes. They are wearing pinkish-purple glasses, a purple shirt, a dark blue jacket with light blue accents and multicolored pins attached, blue denim capri jeans, and black Vans-style shoes with white soles. They are staring up at the sky with a smile on their face. The sky is full of billions and billions of stars. There is text on the first image, which reads as follows:

“I've heard some theists insist that atheists must believe humans are "nothing but" clumps of cells or "nothing but" atoms because we don't believe in a god, usually their specific god. And I have to ask, why is acknowledging we are cells and atoms considered a bad thing?”

“Think about it. Everything about you, from your general body structure to your concious mind, is made possible by an amazing collection of microscopic semi-organisms working together to keep you alive in the form that you take.”

“All those cells, along with everything else in the world, is made of countless atoms holding one another together with nothing more than tiny sparks of electricity.”

“Isn't that amazing? Isn't that completely badass? That we're all made up of the material ejected from an exploding star, which eventually formed into us?”

“Why does there need to be a god behind all of that for any of it to mean anything?”

The second image is the same as the first, but with no text so that the stars are unobscured. End ID.]

-----

So I found out March 23 was Atheist Day last year, and when I found out about it I didn't have the time to really do anything for it so I decided to do something for it this year instead. The specific theme here was inspired by a series of videos a specific christian did (which I admittedly only saw through responses by atheist Youtuber Logicked) in which the guy insisted that atheists believed we were "nothing but" clumps of cells or "nothing but" atoms, and honestly it just feels incredibly reductive for how AWESOME us being made of those things is. You don't need a god to marvel over how amazing your biological makeup is. It's amazing enough on its own without some special creator behind it all.

The stars in the background are a composite from various creative commons images of starry skies, I wish I could remember the specific sources for all of them but unfortunately I cannot.

(and yes, I am aware I spelled "conscious" wrong, I wrote this text in a sticky note and then transferred it to GIMP and neither program has spellcheck)

💖🐶 Check out my pinned post for ways to support my artwork, among other things! 🐶💖

~If you like, please reblog to show your friends! Likes are appreciated, but reblogs let more people see my content! If you have something to say, feel free to give feedback in tags/comments/replies as well!~

My persona and artwork © PuppyLuver Studios

[duskyskz]

- Erasure - 1

Hwang Hyunjin x Female Reader

With washed out, dyed pastel hair, sea salt and acrylic clinging to his jeans, Hwang Hyunjin expected to find himself many places that night. A jail holding cell. Under the abandoned train station bridge. Maybe even his own bedroom.

Your living room wasn't on the list.

Warnings - Some angst in later chapters, suggestive/smut, minor character death mentions, Hyunjin is an eboy and a little angsty, Changbin is doing his best as a big brother, slow burn (?)

A/N - Finally! Sorry for the delays, my head just hasn’t been with me this week;; I hope you enjoy this series as much as I am excited to write it. 

***

The steady buzzing of your speakers fills the living room as you watched Changbin scroll through the Netflix home page. Both of you settle deep into the sofa, balancing a bowl of popcorn and chocolate between your knees. 

“Endgame? Homecoming, Nightmare on Elm Street?” Binnie flicks through the suggestions, and you shake your head in distaste. “I'm not watching that octopus documentary again!”

“You only hated it because you cried at the end.”

“She died! He had to look after her little babies! Your heart is too cold, too far gone for that level of compassion.” The last part of your brother's grumbles are cut off when you throw a burnt kernel at his forehead, barely missing his ear. 

There’s nobody else home. Nobody else ever comes home, either. It's been just you and Changbin for a while, and it's not all that terrible. He’s a few years older than you, having graduated last summer and now undertaking an apprenticeship at the village police station. It doesn't pay a stellar amount, but Changbin reassures you once he passes the trainee exams he’ll treat you to a new pair of winter boots and you can finally quit the ice cream parlour to focus on college. You tell him that even if he wins the lottery tomorrow, you'll work your own job. For all the support your elder brother gives you, you like having your own thing. It makes you feel a little more involved, a little more even than jsit washing the dishes and doing his laundry on days he’s too tired to move. 

The Thursday evening is reserved for you both, to catch up on the hours together you miss during the week when Changbin doesn't get back till you're fast asleep and you don't have the chance to say good morning. 

He’s been doing that a lot more recently. 

Sighing into his coffee, shaking his head at nobody in particular. It's easy to notice the signs of stress and overwork in his face, sunken and tired even on the weekends when he finishes early. 

“Do you wanna finish Teen Wolf?” The softness in his voice when he addresses you is the same, though. “We have three episodes left of this season, if you wanna binge.”

“Sure.” You want to ask him about the circles under his eyes. What’s got him coming home later and later because nothing ever happens in this town. “I'm still waiting on Derek’s redemption arc.”

You're twenty minutes into the episode when a vibration from your coffee table catches your attention. You glance at Changbin, but he ignores his ringtone, flipping it to silent.

It rings again, no music, but harsh vibrations drumming against the polished wood. 

And again.

Knowing he’s not picking up to make a point of it, you pause the show, nodding at the mobile he’s avoiding glancing at. “Go on. Pick up, it might be an emergency.”

“If it's an emergency they don't need an intern there.” Despite his words, Changbin shifts his position and you know he’s growing hesitant. 

“If it's an emergency all the more reason for you to be there and learn.” You state with more force behind your tone. “Why have your grades been dropping? You're coming home so late but your exams keep getting delayed -”

“My grades are fine!” Changbin never snaps at you, but the frustration in his voice is evident. “I'm fine. There's just - Just one case we're working on and I'm nearly there, I just need time.”

You shut your mouth, letting him speak.

“There’s this kid who keeps tagging the beach houses on Dawning Lane, and that shit  was expensive to put up last year. Some stupid, bored child that thinks a few cans of spraypaint and lung cancer are a good excuse for your adolescence. He’s not even that good… Just scribbles.”

His lips pout in a frustrated whine at the last phrase, and you know he’s more frustrated at the situation than he is at you or himself.

A beat of silence, interrupted by another ringtone - you almost reach for it yourself to check the caller ID and force him to pick up, before Changbin’s arm shoots out past you to snatch the device, slinking out the door and into the hallway. 

You aren't surprised when a few moments later, your brother’s head pokes nervously out the door frame - He's already got his coat on, waving his phone at you as an awkward goodbye. 

“I’ll see you in the morning, y/n.”

“Yeah, see ya.” You salute back, smiling to ease the tension in his shoulders, and it works a minimum. You won’t see him till the late evening at best.

The door clicks shut as soon as he turns around, leaving you surrounded by popcorn and empty space. You really aren't surprised - but it'd be pointless to deny you weren't hurt by another night alone with Teen Wolf playing idly through your TV speakers. Cold popcorn only did so much to soothe your heart, and the distance wedging itself recently between your sibling bond was hard to brush over, between missed calls and texts too often left unanswered. 

You just really miss your big brother.

 You commit yourself to Stiles Stilinsky instead, sighing into the blanket around your shoulders. Autumn rolls in quick by the seaside, making your calves prickle with goosebumps. It's nearing 11pm, you realise, picking up the -

Thump!

Your fingers freeze, hovering over the TV remote. Changbin wouldn’t be back yet, he never comes home the same night he leaves. 

“Bin?” You try it anyway, calling tentatively into the hallway. It’s still entirely black, void of disruption.

Clang!

That definitely came from your kitchen.

Armed with a half empty popcorn bowl and nerves of steel, you tiptoe into the other room. There’s a lump of something or someone crouched behind the dining table, and your grip around the glass dish tightens marginally despite the quivering of your knees, fumbling for the lightswitch without taking your eyes off the rising dark mass as it straightens its back. 

“S-Stay down! I have corn and I know how to use it!” You don’t have a fully formed plan yet, but you’re sure the sharp kernels will be of some importance. Fluorescent white light floods the kitchen, momentarily blinding both you and the intruder who now stands at full height. A steady 12 inches above you. 

“Ouch! Calm down, I’m not going to rob you!” He says, sounding almost exasperated at your defense of your own property. He still has his hands raised in defense, keeping the table between himself and you, and you’re grateful he hasn’t tried to knock your legs out from under you, yet. “I’m not here to steal your stuff.”

“What are you here for, then?” You lower the popcorn bowl, but don’t let it fall out of your grasp. He doesn’t seem dangerous - He doesn’t seem like he could manage clambering through the window you always leave ajar either, but here he clearly is. There’s something sticky and pink in his blonde hair, stains following down his shoulder blades all the way down the cuffs of his jeans. If anything, he looks...a little lost.

“It’s the address on the post-it note.” Your confusion must have been plainly obvious, because the boy elaborates, pulling a crumpled neon-green paper from his jacket. “The post-it note that man gave me. That’s what Changbin gave me.”

Perhaps you lack self preservation instincts, but there’s an uncertain vibration in his voice that makes you give up your weapon and attitude. 

“You know my brother?” 

“He told me if I really need to go somewhere, I can come here.” You watch slim fingers tug at the sleeves of his jacket as he measures with a weight akin to a glare. “He didn’t tell me it was his house, or that somebody else was living here.” 

Bold of him to accuse you of ruining his night plans. 

It really did only click in your head when you looked closer at his tangled hair, dried paint clumping it together at the ends of bleached blonde strands. The  artistic menace haunting your sea-side town was standing right on your tiled kitchen floor, and he looked downright miserable. 

And Changbin had invited him. 

Biting down the discomfort at realising how little Changbin had been telling you recently,  you set the popcorn down on the table, you take in the threat currently three feet before you. A tall, lanky boy, with odd shoelaces and a sharpie sticking out of his trouser pocket. His hair hasn’t been cut in a while, and probably brushed either - it’d be generous to say he ran more than a stressed hand through it anytime recently. Though chapped, his full lips and wide eyes made him look far too innocent for his own good, and you blamed your soft heart for finding the boy kinda cute. 

He did have a leaf stuck above his ear, though. 

You almost reached up to remove it.

“Do you wanna watch Teen Wolf?”  You break the quiet that settled, already shuffling your feet out into the living room. You sincerely hoped he’d follow. You weren’t sure what you could do apart from leaving him standing on cold tile, and he already looked freezing from the night chill. 

Luckily for you, with a hesitant step, your impromptu companion takes after you to the couch where your Netflix and remove still await instruction. Changbin might grumble at you tomorrow at finishing the season without him, but you needed something to lure the boy into comfort. 

“I’m y/n, by the way.” You mention. The boy sits stiffly, clasping his hands in his lap with parted lips, avoiding the decorative pillows. 

“Hyunjin.” Now that he’s actually inside your house, Hyunjin’s confidence seems to have evaporated. The thrill of the break-in, if you can even call is that, has worn off, giving way to the nerves. He’s suddenly too conscious of the paint on his clothes, of sandy shoes still on his feet, of the smudges still on his cheeks. Should he take his jacket off? Or wipe his shoes? 

You press resume, watching him relax after a few minutes as his brain finally has something else to focus on to let his worries ease. Hyunjin doesn't seem to mind you already being halfway through the episode, and you let yourself admit it’s nice having someone around this late at night. 

“How do you know Changbin?” You ask while the topic is still fresh.

“I don’t.” Hyunjin bumps his knees together, fiddling with a loose string on his jeans as he shrugs. “I don’t really know him, he just...saw me around a few times, and I guess he figured I could use a place to crash. So he gave me your address.”

“You’re the mystery kid painting the beach houses, right? On Dawning Lane.” 

At the accusation, Hyunjin’s lips part, flipping to face you with wide, blinking eyes., knowing he’s in no place to try and deny it. You blink back, observing his reactions, in case he suddenly changes his mind about staying. “Are you gonna turn me in?...” 

“No.” You shake your head after a moment of thought, and he visibly untenses. “For whatever reason Changbin didn’t, so I won’t either. If he trusts you then I do too.” 

You’ll never know if it was the murmurs of the TV, or if Hyunjin did whisper a thank you, and you won’t ask. There’s a lot of things you do want to ask, but a tug in your heart tells you now is not the time. Hyunjin looks exhausted, eyes drooping with every slow blink as he does his best to focus on the screen, hands previously tugging at his jeans now still and flat on his lap, slouched forward as if any moment he’ll drift off sitting on your pillows. Flurries of fluorescent light flicker on his cheeks, over barely scrubbed paint smudges and faint cuts from running too fast, you guess. In the delicate, dimmed light of your floor lamp, it’s hard to imagine Hyunjin as a bad kid. Prickly, maybe. On edge is a better word for it, tension clinging to his shoulders like stubborn dust bunnies. Curse your naive little heart, you tell yourself, building up your courage to speak.

“Hyunjin?” He hums in response, straightening his back. “Do you want to sleep here tonight?”

All you’ve been taught in life sent alarm bells through your skull when you asked a complete stranger (who just two hours ago, broke in through your kitchen window) to sleep in your living room overnight, but Hyunjin didn’t feel  like a stranger. Changbin trusted him enough to lead him right to your house, so that must count for something, right? And no matter how much you tried to keep your guard up around the boy, watching him struggle to stay upright instead of letting his tall, lanky body fall backward and rest comfortably only made you worry a little about him, not the other way around. 

Well, he did say he’s not going to rob you. 

“You can sleep on the couch if you want, I’ll bring you some blankets.” You prompt him again when he doesn’t respond. “Changbin won’t be back for a while still.” 

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?” There’s a lilt of doubt in his voice, but he sincerely hopes you’re serious. This couch is warmer than anything he’s slept on in months and he really doesn’t want to crawl outside again with the rain pattering against your roof. 

“Sure, you haven’t tried to stab me yet.” You shrug, getting up to fetch a duvet and looking him over.

“Ah, you probably want to wash your hair from all...that,” Hyunjin’s hand flies to his hair, patting out the tangles as if it’s the first time he’s noticed them. “You can use the bathroom upstairs, there’s towels by the shower already.”

He nods, following your directions with a ‘thank you’. Once his footsteps disappear up the landing, you set about pulling out the couch into a flatbed, rearranging the pillows at its base. Lugging the duvet down from Changbin’s room had been a feat, but you’re determined to make the space welcoming. Satisfied with the cushioned bundle you created, you run back upstairs. 

You invade your brother’s room for the second time that day, tugging open his drawers in search for something acceptably pijama-like. 

“Hyunjin?” You knock tentatively on the bathroom door as the shower head turns off and the shuffling ceases. “I’m leaving some clothes for you to change into outside, okay? Come downstairs when you’re ready.”

You scroll through your timeline as you wait, catching up on the last few hours’ events from your friends until a shuffling to your left prompts you to raise your head. 

Your brother’s sweats hang a little loosely around Hyunjin’s hips, ending just above his ankles, bare feet sliding over the wooden floor of your living room, sinking into the rug as he steps closer to where you sit. His own clothing cradled in his arms close to his chest, you can’t stop your thoughts drifting momentarily to the damp mess of sunshine coloured hair. With his jacket on earlier, it was hard to make out his build under layers of fabric, but now it’s proving a challenge to not focus on the lines of his arms or the curves of his large hands gripping his clothes. Luckily for your dignity, your nerves of steel allow you to drag your gaze away from the collarbones peeking out from under thin white cotton higher to meet his eyes instead and find your voice again.

“I brought down some pillows for you, these are a bit too hard to sleep on.” You note, pointing to the decorative cushions you moved onto the lounge chair. “My room is right opposite the bathroom if you need anything, I’m a light sleeper.” 

“M’okay.” Hyunjin towers above you, yet you’ve never seen a boy so dainty. There really is no other way to describe the delicate line of his nose bridge or the rosy tint of his lips when his tongue pokes out to lick them as he mulls over your words, settling down on the makeshift bed. 

The proximity now feels different than the air between you when Teen Wolf still blared through your speakers, warm quiet heavy on your tongue with dim golden glow tumbling over his cheekbones that’s too much for your heart to take unprepared.

“Goodnight then!” You bounce up from the couch waving Hyunjin a quick goodbye, but a soft hand wrapping around your wrist pauses you. 

“Wait,” Hyunjin brushes his thumb over your palm softly, and you hope he doesn't notice the goosebumps on your skin at the contact. “Thanks for not kicking me out...or calling the police. Y’know, as most people would for a break in.” 

The smile he flashes you is almost teasing, but you can tell he means the words sincerely. You lay your other hand on top of his, patting in what you hope is a reassuring motion.

“Sure, Jinnie. It’s okay.”

[mintchocolateleaves]

On The Nature of Daylight (2/3)

Summary: Years ago, he should have asked for an answer, but he didn’t. And now they’re here – Shinichi crashing on Ran’s sofa, the night of their best friend’s wedding, and everything is horrible because he can’t stop thinking.

A/N: Wow! Look, I uploaded it when I said I would. I feel really powerful with the update schedule. I hope you all enjoy part two!

[Part One]

Shinichi can’t stop thinking about it.

He returns to work, tries to focus on the case but finds that his mind is blank. He can’t figure out a murder when he’s this focused on Ran – on how he’s ruined everything, how she’s probably never going to talk to him again, let alone consider being with him.

“Oh man,” Hattori says, when he notices Shinichi come back in, “you two so busy that ya forgot my coffee?”

“We didn’t get any coffee,” he says, and his voice sounds strange to his ears, almost hollow. Strange, considering how only seconds ago, when he’d been kissing Ran, he’d felt full.

He should have better control over his emotions. Now, he feels vulnerable, and Shinichi’s never quite understood how people like Hattori and Ran can allow themselves to be open to feeling… everything.

“Too busy for that, eh?” Hattori says, with a wink. Insinuating.

God, Shinichi hates that insinuation. He almost wishes that he could fall into a happy mood, that he could go along with it, as if that’ll make it real but… Shinichi can’t.

“Nothing happened, Hattori.” Shinichi says instead. He straightens his expression, into something stern, something less amicable, something that says he doesn’t want to talk, not if it’s about this, not if it’s about anything but their case.

Hattori sees the barrier go up and blinks. His own expression turns sour and he says, “Sure, whatever.”

“If you want coffee,” Shinichi continues, “then there’s the breakroom. Or you can go on your own break.”

“Right,” Hattori bites, and Shinichi should feel guilty for lashing out, but he doesn’t.

All he can focus on is the taste of Ran against his lips, how tiny her voice had been as she’d said everything is okay and he can’t…

Shinichi doesn’t really want to think of anything else.

-

Perhaps it’s a testament to how much of a good guy Hattori is, but he doesn’t hold it against him. Hattori goes for his break and when he comes back, he’s leaving coffee at Shinichi’s desk, and offers a sympathetic shrug.

Shinichi cannot do much else but mutter a thanks and feel like more of a dick.

They work in silence for a while after that, wracking up hours, only really saying anything when Shinichi voices a theory, or when Hattori asks for clarification on a bit of evidence.

It’s almost the end of the work day when Shinichi says, “I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

Hattori lifts his eyes from his monitor, stares at Shinichi and offers a half-hearted shrug. He says, “I knew you were a dick the minute we became friends. It’s alright.”

Alright, so he kind of deserved that. Shinichi’s not about to get offended by it. Instead, he sighs and looks back down to his monitor. He says, “I can’t think straight, so I think I’m gonna head home for the day.”

“Shouldn’t have even been here in th’ first place,” Hattori says. Then, “Yeah, I think it’s ‘bout time to call it a day, too. Want me t’ drive ya back?”

Shinichi shakes his head. He doesn’t want to go home, not really, not when he’ll only be left alone with his thoughts. He says, “I… I know we’ve just got work again tomorrow but, you want to stop for drinks before we head back?”

The Osakan sizes him up, takes a moment to consider the question and then offers a small nod. He says, “Somewhere we can eat, I’m starvin’.”

Shinichi supposes that’s reasonable. He’s not exactly eaten much today, either. “Sounds good.”

-

Hattori drives them. There’s a place, he says, nearby the hotel he’s staying in, so he drives them there in his rental and they walk the rest of the way.

They’re on their second beer, Shinichi still picking at his food, even though Hattori’s practically devoured his own in a manner of minutes, when the Osakan finally says, “So what’s eatin’ at ya?”

Shinichi doesn’t know if he wants to go into it, but Hattori is his best friend, and he’s also the kind of person who’ll keep nosing around until he gets an answer.

“Nothing,” Shinichi starts to say, and then, stopping himself, tries again: “I dunno, I just – Fucked things up, I guess. With Ran.”

He pushes more food around with his chopsticks, picks up a clump of rice and chews. It feels like he’s forcing himself to swallow.

“How’d ya manage that?” Hattori says.

Shinichi squirms in his seat, takes a large gulp of beer. Then, he gulps down another mouthful, wary of Hattori’s gaze on him. He sighs, “I may have – Well I – I kissed her, I guess.”

“Ya guess?”

Shinichi shrugs, because well, Hattori knows what he means. He finishes his beer, signals for another and looks down at his bowl. He pushes it away, clearly done with it.

“Okay, so ya kissed nee-chan…” Hattori’s obviously trying to figure out why this is such a bad thing. He’s always worn his heart on his sleeve, it’s how every argument between him and Kazuha managed to resolve itself. He’s never been scared to say what he wants. “I don’t see how this is a bad thing?”

Shinichi mumbles into his empty glass.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing,” he glances away, “doesn’t matter. Drop it Hattori.”

“No, really,” Hattori continues, “I don’t get it. You’ve been wanting to kiss her for years. Like – you’ve been in love with her for years, and now, ya finally kiss. And this is bad?”

The waitress replaces the empty glass with a filled one. Shinichi glares down at foam, at the beer beneath the frothy layer. He hates that he’s been wanting this for years, hates that he can’t move on, can’t think properly when Ran is around, and how now, he can’t think because she’s gone.

“Hattori–”

“Is it really all that bad?”

Shinichi’s voice wavers as he says, “It wasn’t exactly, erm, the right time. She wasn’t expecting it, I guess.”

Hattori watches him for a moment, weighs the words up and thinks it over. He’s quiet, abnormally so, as if trying to decipher the words and then, then, he finally seems to get it because his eyes cloud over ever so slightly and he says, “Oh.”

A half shrug is all Shinichi can offer him. He frowns into his beer and offers Hattori a short look that he hopes translates roughly into ‘what a fucking mess, right?’

“Do I uh,” – now, Hattori looks uncomfortable, uncertain – “on nee-chan’s behalf, do I need to punch you? Or something?”

Shinichi, who would rather not be punched, shakes his head ‘no’. Because while Hattori might be able to kick well, he can punch much better.

“I’m – no,” Shinichi shakes his head, “Ran reserves the right to that.”

He wishes Ran had hit him or gotten angry. Her voice, as tiny as it had been, sends chills down his spine, lingers with him more than any punch could.

“Maybe ya should talk it through with her,” Hattori says. The idea sounds reasonable, Shinichi knows it’s reasonable, but he doesn’t… No. He’s already broken down the wall, the hidden cell keeping all his wants for Ran hidden and now…

Now Shinichi wants.

He wants to be with Ran. He wants to please her, to take her out – he wants to be greedy and let his hands roam all over her. He wants every inch of her, wants to claim her as his, in a million different ways and…

He sighs.

“That,” Shinichi says, because he doesn’t exactly want to get into the myriad of reasons why he can’t be near Ran again, “is a smart idea.”

It’s just not one he’s going to take.

-

He doesn’t see Ran again, and it’s frustrating.

The week drags on, and Shinichi’s certain that she’s avoiding him just as much as he’s avoiding her. Which would be great, fine, except maybe Hattori’s sort of right. Maybe they should be talking about this.

Get the rejection, the dismissal over with and Shinichi can pretend that he’ll move on.

Shinichi throws himself into his work, not that it helps. He’s far too distracted, and everything seems to remind him of Ran. The station? Oh, he’s just imagining when she used to pick him up after cases. Murders? They used to frequent them together a lot.

Everything leads back to Ran, and it would be easier, if she was at the end of the rabbit trail.

The days go on, and Shinichi watches his phone to see if she’ll ever phone. She doesn’t, and soon the week is over with, and they have to start anew. There’s a tense radio silence with his best friend, and Shinichi has never felt more out of it.

It continues.

And just when it feels like it’s going to last forever, Sonoko returns from her honeymoon and their tension cracks again.

-

Shinichi doesn’t actually know that Sonoko’s back from her honeymoon until he’s answering his phone, half-asleep, from where he’s practically collapsed against his desk.

He jumps up, ignores Hattori’s small laugh – they’ve all been there, serial killer cases are rough – and grabs his phone.

He doesn’t even look at the caller id, simply presses answer and hopes that whatever phone call he’s receiving will be quick at least.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Sonoko asks, after a fairly sleepy ‘hello?’. Shinichi is mid-stretch when she asks, and his shoulder clicks as he brings it down.

“Welcome back to Tokyo, Sonoko.” Shinichi says in response, because how else is he supposed to answer? “Did you enjoy your honeymoon?”

Sonoko harrumphs on the other side of the phone, lets out a small hiss and says, “It was magnificent actually. Both Makoto and I had a brilliant time in Hawaii, those restaurants you suggested, begrudgingly, I admit they were lovely. Past that, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

Ah, so eloquent.

“You know,” Shinichi says, “some people say that those who swear only have little vocabularies.”

“Shinichi,” Sonoko says, voice low, “if you keep pushing me, I will strangle you.”

He doesn’t doubt it. Not that he thinks Sonoko would actually succeed in strangling him, but well – the intent is there at least.

“Is this about Ran?” He sighs.

“Of course, it’s–” He can practically see the way she pinches the bridge of her nose. “You’ve done something, and I swear, I’ll strangle you if you don’t tell me what you’ve done to–”

“Jeez,” Shinichi huffs, “Sonoko, chill out.”

By the sound of her indignant spluttering, his words don’t exactly do much to help her calm down. If anything, they frustrate her more. Shinichi can practically hear the gritting of her teeth.

“Just tell me what you did,” Sonoko says.

He considers briefly telling Sonoko to butt out, but it’s Sonoko. Firstly, she’ll never back off when it’s including Ran, the two have always considered each other sisters. Secondly, Sonoko is too stubborn to just drop an issue when it’s right in front of her.

“Nothing,” Shinichi says. He stumbles over the word, and of course Sonoko picks up on it, she’s not stupid, she’s a business woman, trained to pick up on people’s reactions and work them to her own ideals.

“Shinichi, I swear–”

“Ugh, fine. We may have, uh,” – he avoids Hattori at the other desk – “kissed. It was stupid, I won’t do it again.”

Sonoko huffs on the other side. She’s not satisfied with his answer.

“We’re going to talk about this,” Sonoko says. “Six o’clock. I’ll send you the address in a minute. If you don’t show up, I’ll get Makoto to hunt you down.”

Shinichi groans, but minutes later, when he receives a text message with the address, he figures out the route there.

It seems there’s no reason for him to stay late at the station now.

-

Shinichi makes it to the restaurant with seconds to spare. He’s not late, but he’s not early like he’d wanted to be. Still, he wanders inside, feels underdressed in his work clothes and glances around for Sonoko.

He can’t see her – she must be sat upstairs instead.

“Can I help you?” A waiter asks, popping up from nowhere. Shinichi rattles off Sonoko’s name, states she’s the one who’s reserved their table and within a few seconds, the waiter nods, pointing to the next floor.

He leads Shinichi up the stairs and towards a table by the window outside. A table, where Sonoko is most certainly not sat.

Shinichi freezes.

Ran turns at the sound of footsteps heading towards the table, blinks as she notices Shinichi. Then, she flushes a bright red, something that Shinichi would take enjoyment in, if things weren’t so tense, if his cheeks weren’t the same colour.

“You’re not Sonoko,” Shinichi says.

“No.” Ran takes a moment to look down at her phone, as if wondering whether it will light up and explain the situation. “Oh, I can’t believe her.”

Shinichi squirms at the exasperation. Then, he says, “Well, I’m – yeah, just gonna–”

He wants to turn away, to run and leave but his feet are like concrete. Because, really, that’s not what he wants to do at all.

Shinichi wants to sit down and have dinner. He wants to listen to Ran tell him about her day, wants to hear her every interest, to listen to whatever secrets she wants to share.

He wants to take her hand across the table, wants to brush her hair out of her face, loop it behind her ear.

Shinichi realises he’s selfish, all he does is want.

“Oh jeez – don’t just stand there,” Ran sighs. The exasperation is back, “Sit down Shinichi, we need to – we obviously need to talk.”

Obviously.

Yes, this is a conversation Shinichi has been dreading.

“Right,” Shinichi says, stiffening up, and moving towards the chair opposite Ran as if he’s a marionette. He sits, pulls his chair in and waits. He opens his mouth to say something, but the waiter seems to appear before he can get into the crux of why they’re here.

“Can I get any drinks for you?” The waiter asks.

Ran seems to send him a look that says he should go first. So, Shinichi does the first thing he thinks of, looks up at the waiter, and says, “A glass of wine. Red.”

Ran lets out a visible sigh of relief. She says, “I’ll have the same.”

Fuck it, Shinichi thinks, why not make it a bottle?

He says as such to the waiter. Ran looks positively scandalised, as if Shinichi acting weird is so outside the norm. It’s almost as if she’s forgotten how his acting weird got them into this situation in the first place.

“A bottle of wine got us into this,” Shinichi mutters after a second, “might as well see if it can’t get us out of it.”

-

They order before the break into the conversation. It’s the only time Ran gives him to prepare, and it’s not nearly long enough.

“The other day,” she starts, “when you – when we…”

Kissed, Shinichi wants to say. When you made me feel complete.

“Yeah,” he says instead, like the amazing wordsmith he is.

“I don’t… you never implied… Shinichi, what was that meant to mean?” Ran says. “You don’t just kiss people in the street.”

Shinichi wants to argue that they were having a moment, or that it wasn’t people in the street, just Ran, only Ran, but it seems like a moot point. Like he’s just grappling for excuses.

“I know,” Shinichi says. He swirls the wine in his glass, stares at it, remembers the way it had stained Ran’s lips and closes his eyes. He’s not sure what his expression must be, but when he glances back to Ran, she’s frowning.

He supposes that maybe he looked pained. As if he was remembering something he didn’t want to.

“Do you,” Ran asks, “because I don’t. I don’t know Shinichi, and I just – if you do, then, God, can’t you explain this to me, because I’ve never been more confused.”

More wine. Shinichi says, “There’s only one explanation Ran, it’s not difficult to figure it out.”

Ran’s eyes widen. It’s as if he’s watching the neurons fire the realisation through her mind, synapses jittery as they scream, finally, that Shinichi is – and always has been – inexcusably in love with her.

“But you’ve never… You never indicated that you were interested, Shinichi.”

Or maybe not.

Shinichi squints, tries to release the tension in his shoulders. It’s impossible, the muscle is taut, aching. He says, “I literally… Ran, I confessed to you in London.”

Ran flushes red again. Then, she says, “You showed interest once, and that was… Shinichi, that was seven years ago.”

Admittedly, Shinichi shouldn’t be expecting the same confession from years before to apply now, but it does. His feelings haven’t changed, so the confession still stands.

“You never responded to it, so I left it.” Shinichi tears his gaze from her to his wine glass, swishes it around to watch something rather than her. “It doesn’t matter, I get it. I shouldn’t have–”

“It’s been years, how was I supposed to know the confession was still…” she lets out a strangled noise, as if she can’t find the words she’s after, “…in effect.”

“I dunno,” Shinichi mumbles, “but it is. Sorry if that’s awkward for you.”

Ran kicks him under the table. He barely feels it, and part of him registers that it’s not a violent one, but rather one that’s designed to capture his attention. It’s almost playful, but he doesn’t let himself admit to that.

“You’re such an idiot,” Ran sighs. “Why didn’t you just say? I would have said yes.”

Shinichi hardly registers the second half. It’s almost as if his brain can’t comprehend the idea of having his feelings returned and so he focuses on the first part of her words.

“Why didn’t I say?” Shinichi echoes. “Why couldn’t you have just responded? I confessed and you never answered me at all.”

Ran frowns. She says, “You’re blaming me?”

“Well, it’s not my fault.”

“Why are you being so defensive,” Ran hisses, “I just said I liked you, you fucking nerd.”

Shinichi pauses.

He takes a moment to consider her words and says, under his breath, “Oh.”

Then, he squirms in his seat again because fuck, now he has an answer, and it’s almost like he’s been given permission to want what he does.

Ran lets out a small laugh, as if she enjoys watching him realise. And then, she blushes, overwhelmed because Shinichi throws his best smile her way, overjoyed.

“So, I–” He pauses, tries to think about how to say it without sounding like a dorky teenager. He wants to sound like the adult he is. “So, I guess we… do we – Fuck, I don’t want to sound like a teenager.”

Ran rolls her eyes. Something about the way she shakes her head at him screams that he’s doomed to fall into the role anyway.

“A date,” Shinichi says finally, “let me take you on a date.”

Ran’s gaze flickers around the restaurant. She purses her lips and raises a hand, as if to say, ‘why else are we here?’

He scowls, “One that doesn’t exist because Sonoko likes to meddle. Let me take you on a… a date. An official one.”

Ran dips her head into a nod. She says, “alright.”

-

They keep drinking the wine.

This time, Shinichi doesn’t feel so guilty about letting his gaze linger on Ran’s lips when it stains her lips. He considers leaning forward, kissing her, running his tongue against her lips, tasting the mix of Ran and the wine, but they’re in public.

He shouldn’t.

But still, he wants to.

-

“I’ve got more wine,” Ran says at the end of their meal, once they’ve paid the bill. They’re heading toward the subway station, and Shinichi wants to lean over and grab her hand, but still, he’s hesitant. “If you want to…”

They head down the stairs towards their train, and the station seems… dead. It lacks any form of life but them, and the random stragglers at the other end of the platform.

Shinichi reaches forward, takes Ran’s hand and pulls her towards him. He stares down at the bridge of her nose, smiles and breathes, “yeah?”

“If you want to, uh–”

“I can go for more wine,” Shinichi says, since she’s bright red. He pauses, gaze flickering from her nose, to her lips, then back up to her eyes. “Can I...?”

Ran offers a small smile, and instead of saying anything, tiptoes up to face him, bringing a hand up and weaving it through his hair, pulling him down to her. Shinichi wraps an arm around her waist, pulls her closer and smiles against her lips.

The sound of the train behind in his ears sounds almost distant, far away. He supposes that maybe they should be turning, boarding the train before it leaves, but Shinichi is too wrapped up in Ran to even consider moving.

It’s alright, Shinichi thinks, they can always catch the next one.

------

(A side note: If you’re not the type for mature content. This is where the fic ends! If not: [Part Three])

[zaney-hacknslash]

Death Note - Void Pt2

Ide

               Lunch rush packed the restaurant; customers clumped in the lobby so deep and thick, I could hardly elbow my way through to ask how long the wait might be. Servers and hosts flurried around with menus and congenial smiles, careful, always, to bow and greet everyone who came through the door, despite the fact that the grating sound of the doorbell sounded off every few seconds.

             Thirty minute wait. I checked my watch.

             Lunch rush hadn’t been part of this equation, honestly. I’d thought I could come sit down, alone, with Matsuda, for a handful of minutes, ask him a couple questions, and get back to headquarters in less than an hour. The time of day had never occurred to me.

             This was his favorite place right now, loud and hopping. Pop music blasted, the chairs were too close together, even on a slow day, and it always seemed just a degree or so to cold.

             Beside me, moody Matsuda stood glaring at the floor with his arms folded, like a little kid who’d gotten dragged against his will into an adult dinner party. Once or twice, I heard him sigh, a bit heavily, but the usual enthusiasm that swept him through his day-to-day life showed no sign of reemerging.

             If he hadn’t been so upset, I might have turned around and walked right out to find somewhere quieter to eat.

             I tried, several times, to say something to him, opening my mouth, and then immediately glancing at the other guests jammed in at my shoulder. Matsuda had no filter when it came to expressing himself, so I doubted the presence of strangers mattered, but I’d purposely brought him here to get a little privacy. I kept thinking he’d say something, even if it was just to complain about how long it was taking to get a seat, but he hardly looked up.

             “I didn’t expect it to be so crowded,” I admitted, at last.

             “It’s lunch time, Ide,” he muttered, more than used to my pickiness.

             “Yes, but I had no idea this place was so popular.” At least, I didn’t understand it. The furniture was garish and cheap, and imitation art of American movies stars from decades gone by cluttered the wall, along with vintage knick knacks. One or two photos of Elvis Presley and a single replica of Marylin Monroe’s famous white dress would have done the trick. This place tried entirely too hard to look like an American diner from the 1950’s.

             “This was your idea,” he reminded me.

             Even so, if we left now and went down the street to a place I liked better, he might not be as comfortable. He might not find anything on the menu he wanted to eat. Getting lunch with me might turn out to be something that merely added to his frustration, when all was said and done, especially since I’d more or less forced him to come along when he didn’t want to in the first place.

             Besides, anywhere else might be just as crowded, and if we had to start our wait all over again, not only would Matsuda be annoyed, everyone at headquarters could get mad at me.

             “It’s fine,” I assured coolly, though the doorbell going off over and over was getting on my nerves, like a bad song I couldn’t turn off, and the gentleman at my shoulder kept accidentally brushing against me and muttering, “Sumimasen,” right in my ear. He had bad breath.

             “Normally…” I pressed closer to Matsuda, trying to get away from my neighbor, “we eat kind of early.”

             Normally, he couldn’t stand to sit at headquarters past ten, so there was usually a break to get him coffee or some kind of snack. Either way, he always started whining about being hungry an hour later.

             That hadn’t happened all week, though. I’d barely seen Matsuda eat at all, in addition to hardly talking. Hopelessly, I stared around at the wild, uncomfortable atmosphere, struggling to tune out the door bell and the man coughing on the back of my neck, skeptical that such an unsettling environment could possibly restore Matsuda’s good cheer.

             Finally, a fresh-faced kid jaunted up to us, bowing. “Gentlemen, so sorry for the wait. If you would, follow me, please,” and then he hustled us through the crowded dining room, to a small table set for two, where he turned to smile at us. “Here we are. I hope this suits you.”

             In my opinion, he’d chosen the worst possible location for us, jammed at a tiny square at the center of the room, surrounded by a sea of people, but without Matsuda to assure him everything was perfect and thank the man, it was up to me to muddle through the polite talk.

             The host promised we’d receive timely service, and ran off again. Matsuda threw himself down in one of the chairs, grabbing up his plastic menu to immediately hide his face behind it; I barely got a glimpse of his slanted brows and down-turned mouth.

             I sat down too. The table wobbled, and the vase of flowers at the center was too big, crowding in on my space. The woman seated behind me was so close, I might as well have sat down in her lap, and the doorbell buzzed again and again.

             “You like this place, right?” I asked, lighting a cigarette and studying him.

             “Yeah. It’s my favorite.” The music was just loud enough to make it hard to hear him. That was new, too. Matsuda was normally so loud, he would have just screamed over the noise to make himself heard.

             Shuichi and the others seemed quite committed to letting him be, hoping his issues would resolve themselves, but I couldn’t bear to keep sitting by and watch him be unhappy. I’d do anything to relieve it.

             Just this once, I told myself, and then I never had to eat here again.

             “What’s good?” I wondered, finally picking up my menu. The food sounded just as bad as the atmosphere, the lunch menu cluttered with things like the Elvis Favorite, Marylin Monroe Patty Melt, and James Dean Fries. Absolutely ridiculous. Most of it was hamburgers anyway, but, at the very bottom they’d crammed in a few traditional Japanese dishes, for the old timers who got dragged in here by their kids.

             Although he’d normally rattle off for five minutes, issuing an exhaustive list of everything that looked good and everything that sounded gross, making recommendations, Matsuda just shrugged and sighed, like food had become an annoyance.

             Just once, I reminded myself again, and tried to focus on what I’d come for.

             I’d never seen him this way.

             Even before I really knew him, he’d always been that guy. The one who smiled all the time and greeted everyone he passed, never forgetting his honorifics, never remembering anyone’s name, the guy who always looked like he was about to blow a brain cell every time he had to sit down, be quiet, and do actual work for a minute or two. Back when he first joined the department, some people had sneeringly nicknamed him Nikko-san, partly after his uncle, who’d gotten him the job, and partly because he was Mr. Sunshine, but definitely not out of affection.

             After Chief Yagami and the others left to work with L, plenty of those same people had laughed good and hard about how lucky the task force was to have Mr. Sunshine working with them.

             When I rejoined the task force, I hadn’t been surprised at all to find Matsuda acting just as unprofessional and ridiculous as ever. I’d even asked Aizawa, “How have you dealt with that kid for so long? He’s driving me crazy already.”

             My old friend had frowned, almost as if the words had offended him, and he’d taken his time to answer, much more carefully than I’d expected, “Well…he’s not as bad as he seems.”

             The response had floored me. Here I’d been expecting Aizawa to grumble at least a little about what a pain Matsuda was—we were friends, after all, and pretty used to bitching to each other—but based on his reaction, it had seemed like the kid must have gotten under his skin, and I’d even detected a slight thread of protectiveness in his tone, or at least some disapproval of my talking bad about Matsuda.

             “I’m thinking about taking a day off,” I announced, laying my menu aside. “If I can.”

             Matsuda didn’t bite.

             “Yeah. You know. It’s been a long time since I had so much as an uninterrupted weekend.”

             Normally, he’d be all over that, more than ready to whine about working himself to death, eventually coming around to how important the case was, how we had to do what we could, and then back to how tragic it was to be young and single, carefree and restless without the time to sow his oats.

             Today, he simply muttered, “Yeah.”

             Behind him, I noticed a baseball bat hanging on the wall, supposedly signed by Babe Ruth himself, and steeped in a million vinyl records that had been plastered against the wallpaper. These people couldn’t actually think that enthusiasts of retro American culture would find this charming. They certainly couldn’t believe an American tourist would ever even miss home so much that he’d stumble through the door.

             “I think I’ll catch a ball game. The season’s almost over, and the Swallows are playing the Giants.” I dragged on my cigarette, hopelessly waiting for him to pick up his end of the conversation, if only to save me from the torturous sounds around me.

             He didn’t really like baseball, I remembered, or rather, he didn’t understand it. It moved too slow, he said, and he got bored fast, but I knew he enjoyed the novelty of garbing himself in home team colors, filing into the stadium with all the rabid fans, drinking a beer, eating a hot dog—like a “real American”—having a blast with old friends, and making new ones out of the people sitting near him. I liked going with him myself, because he always screamed loudest about the things he didn’t understand and got himself into interesting situations, or he hung off my every word when I explained, for the umpteenth time, how the game worked.

             “I doubt that workaholic Aizawa will want to go.” Even if Shuichi allowed himself to do something as sporadic as take a day off, he’d prefer to spend it with his family than with me at the ballpark, arguing about which team was better this season. “Wanna tag along?”

             Matsuda never answered, leaving me to sit there like an idiot, wondering why this new attitude of his bothered me so much.

             It hadn’t taken long for me to see how he’d gotten past Shuichi’s angry bear exterior to his cuddly teddy center. Matsuda had a likeable way about him, and where most of the detectives I’d met tended to be taciturn, cynical, and even pompous, his bubbly way of thinking out loud, laughing in the face of difficulty, and admiration for the rest of us made him a breath of fresh air.

             So, he’d gotten under my skin too. And, over the last couple years, he’d accomplished even more than that, becoming part of my life, effortlessly—my lunch mate, my drinking buddy, my sparring partner, my weird, little friend. Sure, he teased me endlessly about my love life and drove me crazy with his goofiness, but he never forgot my birthday, and when I had a bad day, he could tell. Even if I never told him anything very personal or serious, he had this way of reminding me things would work out any time I started to feel like they might not. Before long, I started to understand why even the chief let him tag along everywhere and overlooked so much of his silliness, because Matsuda was honest, simple, and even though none of us would ever say so to his face, really sweet.

             Seeing him so unhappy for so many days in a row was beginning to have an adverse effect on the team: Shuichi was getting worried, and even Mogi seemed distracted, I’d noticed Light becoming frustrated. Long-suffering Chief Yagami alone proceeded with his work unbothered, but he had to be that way, as the boss.

             All of it really rubbed me the wrong way.

             “Well, anyway.” I squinted at the menu again. The lights were too bright and stark, and I wanted to order soon so we could get out of here. “I doubt Light will let two of us take off at once.”

             “Sorry about that,” Matsuda muttered, probably just for the sake of being polite. He must know he was acting weird, even if he didn’t realize it bugged me so much.

             I never planned on any of this, and I barely knew how my relationship with Matsuda had segued so seamlessly from coworkers to actual friends, I just knew that right after I came back to the task force, while the others were busy, he’d taken it upon himself to tell me the whole story of every crazy thing that had happened since I walked away from them outside the station that night. A lot of what he’d said hadn’t been particularly relevant to the investigation, but he’d been so familiar and laidback, like we’d known each other forever, I’d gotten caught up in my astonishment at how cavalierly he was treating me—me, Dai Kaze, the guy no one had ever liked, since at least middle school—like it was just no big deal at all to sit down and have a chat with asshole Hideki Ide.

             By the time he’d finished, I hadn’t really known what to say, but there’d been a few questions to ask, and a few comments to make—routine responses—and I’d never forget the bright interest that had gleamed in his eyes as we talked back and forth, like maybe he couldn’t believe it either, that he was talking so casually with a guy like me, let alone that I’d talk back.

             After being around grumpy, old Shuichi, and Mogi, who sometimes seemed incapable of holding a conversation, it was probably pretty refreshing for him, and he’d chatted with me a lot since then, any time he felt bored or wanted to say something out loud. Over time, I’d been able to intuit that he appreciated how closely I listened, and that, even if I didn’t always have something nice to say, I made him feel important by acknowledging that he had thoughts and ideas and feelings.

             The damn feelings had honestly annoyed me at first, and there’d been times when I’d gone so far as to suggest he keep a diary instead of bothering me. I didn’t like snapping at him like that. I didn’t want him to think I was an asshole and stop associating with me. None of it fazed him, though, he kept talking about whatever came into his head, and, in time, I just got used to it.

             Anymore, I assumed I had the most personal relationship with him, which made me the one he’d feel most comfortable talking to in this state of obvious depression, but it still shocked me that I’d come to care about him enough that I’d take time out of my day to actively try to get to the bottom of Matsuda’s deep well of sentiments.

             “Hey, Matsu-kun. Wanna tell me what’s wrong lately?”

             He sat slouched, now, cheek resting on his fist, staring disinterestedly at the centerpiece, and from the reluctant glance he slid at me, I gathered he’d been hoping I wouldn’t bring it up. But Matsuda wasn’t a liar, so he asked, “Really? You want to know?”

             “You said Sumi…”

             Wincing, he stared all the harder at the flowers.

             “…I’ve never seen you take a break up so hard.”

             Involved in a case as extensive as ours, there wasn’t much time for dating, but Matsuda had a tendency to fall into the clutches of beautiful but shallow women, the kind who just wanted to have fun. They saw a good-looking guy in a nice car, didn’t know enough about the NPA to realize a corporal detective didn’t make much money, and ran the kid around, buying crap with his credit card and saddling him with the bags, like a pack horse.

             It was a trap I’d gotten into a lot back when I was younger—there were a lot of things about Matsuda that reminded me of myself—it had made me cynical about women, and it pissed me off to watch it happening to him.

             But Matsu didn’t have much capacity for cynicism, and, usually, breaking up with a girl didn’t do much more than dampen his spirits for a day or two.

             “Did you really think she was the one?”

             Matsuda suddenly sat up and took a long look around the restaurant. “Where the hell is the server? Hey!” He banged his fork on the wobbly table. Water sloshed from his glass, and I jerked my elbows back into my lap. “We’re ready to order over here!”

             “Geez,” I hissed, mortified, and watched as a frazzled-looking girl ran over, apologizing and jotting down his order. She turned to me.

             “Ah, sorry about that,” I muttered, feeling like the music might drown my voice out anyway. I couldn’t understand why they’d be playing pop instead of American oldies, unless they just didn’t honestly know anything about that era. “I’ll just have…” I’d never decided, because none of it had sounded any good. “Soup, and a salad.” I shot a quick glance at Matsuda, and then at her. “Sorry, really. He’s not normally so… Well, we’re in a hurry, that’s all.”

             “Not at all, sir!” she beamed. “I apologize things are so slow today.”

             She took off, and he settled his cheek back on his fist, glaring at the centerpiece again. “You don’t have to be sorry, Ide,” he announced. “It’s their job to serve us, and we’ve been sitting here forever.”

             “Even Aizawa doesn’t bang his fork when he shouts at the staff,” I muttered.

             With a small shrug, he reached out to rearrange some of the flowers, and I tried to find a way to change the subject to something more lighthearted.

             “These flowers drive me crazy,” he admitted in a moment, listlessly, though.

             They were the only even slightly nice thing in the restaurant, but I asked, “Oh, yeah?”

             “Yellow and purple carnations?” He wrinkled his nose. “What are they thinking?”

             I glanced at the flowers myself. “What if they were pink and orange?” We’d been guessing for a while that the dork might be colorblind, but he got extremely offended any time someone so much as asked about it. “Would that make more sense?”

             Matsuda suddenly scanned the room, eyebrows tilting toward his hairline, as if he’d just realized none of the color scheme in here made sense to him. “Pink and orange,” he echoed. And then, evidently blind to the glaring palette of crimson, chrome orange, and hot pink in the room, he frowned at me. “Why are you being such a jerk today?”

             “I just asked if you’d like that better,” I corrected.

             Instead of arguing, he fell back into the maddening silence.

             “Come on, seriously,” I prompted, after a couple minutes. “Are you really in this bad of mood over a girl?”

             Eyes fixed on the bobbing ice, Matsuda turned his glass around and around on the table, a sure sign of disquiet.

             “Or is there something else?”

             He picked an orange flower out of the centerpiece and stared hard at it, like he was trying to understand why I’d lie to him about its color.

             “It might be a good thing, Matsuda. At least now you’re not wasting time with the wrong person—”

             “That’s all great, coming from a guy who hasn’t been laid in the last decade.”

             I cut off mid-sentence to frown mildly at him, but Matsuda just stuck the orange flower into his water glass and glowered at it.

             “Is that your problem?” I demanded, a little sharply. “You’re not getting any now, so you’re turning into a cranky bitch?”

             “That’s what happens, right? Everyone says that’s what your problem is.”

             I rolled my eyes. “Shit, Matsuda. With a mouth like that, how have you made it through life without getting your face busted in?”

             He just frowned at his flower.

             “Didn’t your parents spend hundreds of millions of yen on your damn teeth? I’d watch who you pop off to.”

             Obviously, he had no intention of answering, so I sat back and studied him a while longer. Once or twice, he’d crept up to that line of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person, but he had to be tremendously irritated, and that just didn’t happen all that often. I couldn’t believe he’d say something so crass to me, a superior.

             The fact that I’d brought him to lunch as a friend rather than a subordinate made for a tricky situation. I probably should throw a fit, box his ears, and write him up, but I’d started this by getting so personal.

             That’s exactly why Aizawa and the others have been trying to handle this so professionally.

             Stupid ass me just had to go screw it up.

             Even being here as friends, it probably wouldn’t be out of the question to rescind my offer to buy lunch, get up, and go back to HQ without him. That’s probably even what he expected. For all I knew, he’d intentionally pushed my buttons to get me to leave him alone.

             Then again, what he’d said didn’t actually bother me that much; for one thing, it wasn’t true, and for another, it was the sort of thing I’d gotten used to, growing up with three brothers. I decided to forget about it.

             Besides, overly emotional Matsuda didn’t know shit about putting up walls.

             “Who do you want relationship advice from?” I wondered. “Light? Kinda weird, getting tips about women from a kid fresh out of college.”

             Matsuda’s scowl deepened, and I knew my insult hit its mark.

             “Aizawa? His marriage it apt to fall apart any second now.” I checked my watch. “I’ll bet Eriko’s filing divorce papers as we speak. That guy sucks at love.”

             The next glare was so fierce and disapproving, I knew he really didn’t like me picking on his hero.

             “The deputy director?” I suggested. “Now there’s a guy who hasn’t been laid in a long time, Matsu.”

             At once, the frown fell completely apart, giving way to a gaping, shocked mouth and popping, horrified eyes. He checked over both shoulders, like Deputy Director Yagami might be listening in, and I knew he’d forgotten all about his wall of sugar glass. “Ide,” he hissed, “you don’t just say stuff like that.”

             “No?” It was my turn to shrug. “Well, my bad, I guess. I’m just saying, not a lot of great options. If you’re gonna tell anybody what the deal is, it might as well be me.”

             “Oh, yeah right,” he barked, suddenly, in an acidic tone. “At least the others won’t make fun of me.”

             I blinked at him. “What? Why would I make fun of you?”

             His hard eyes glared at me, like he couldn’t believe I had the audacity to ask that. “Trying to trick me into thinking I’m colorblind—”

             “I think you actually might be—”

             “Dissing on my music—”

             “Not everybody likes—”

             “Acting like it’s ridiculous for me to get upset after Sumi cheated on me.”

             Bingo.

             Go figure, all it took was to get him talking a little, and the truth spilled.

             I had to work very hard not to allow a satisfied smirk to pass my lips. Instead, I pretended to be bothered, fumbling with my cigarettes and mumbling, “I didn’t know all that annoyed you so much.”

             Matsuda glared at me, quiet again, probably realizing he’d said something without meaning to.

             “So…” I lit my cigarette. “She cheated on you, huh?”

             “Yeah,” he sputtered, “yeah, she did. With some…loser biboi she met in a trashy club. I don’t think she was even drunk, she was just done with me because I’m so boring, working all the time, not paying enough attention to her, even after I’ve spent every yen I earned last year on her. She didn’t even bother to lie about it, just showed up one day to give back the key to my apartment and laugh at me.”

             Calmly, I ashed my cigarette. Wasn’t that the story of my life?

             “Go ahead and laugh, Ide,” he dared. “Tell me I’m stupid, I should have seen it coming, and my taste in women is terrible, like you always do. Tell me it was dumb to think she was the one, and all women suck, and that you told me, months ago, she was just using me. Because you did, and you love being right.”

             I’d never seen him explode like that, half-shouting, drawing the attention of everyone on our side of the room, face burning with shame, eyes fierce with outrage. I never would have guessed the kid had such a temper hidden beneath all the manners and cheer.

             “Settle down, Matsu,” I advised, lowly. “What are you, nine?”

             Outrage turned immediately to rage. “You—”

             “Knock it off,” I snapped. “I didn’t say any of that.”

             He threw himself back in his chair, seething, and probably the only thing that kept him from all-out screaming at me was the fact that I was higher ranked than him.

             “Jeez,” I muttered, when I’d given him a few moments to get himself together. “I’d hate to see you get really mad about something.”

             “I am really mad!” he professed.

             “Right. Look.” I put my cigarette out, not wanting the rest, and glanced around for our food, thinking it would be nice to have a distraction right now. “What do you think this is? Some victory lunch? Like I brought you here just to rub it in your face that your girlfriend cheated on you? Damn. Here I thought we were friends.”

             His breath hitched, and his eyebrows tilted up in a sulky expression. I guess I’d never called him my friend out loud before, but it wasn’t exactly the time for a big, stupid grin and a victory dance.

             “I just wanted to know what’s got your panties in a bunch. I wasn’t trying to make fun of you—you’re the one being a little prick, talking about the last time I got laid and saying I’m bitchy because I don’t get enough sex.”

             Shame colored his face.

             “So, could you just take it down a notch?”

             Matsuda scowled at the table, and I thought I heard him mutter, “Sorry.”

             “Yeah.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t really care.” And then I looked around for the food again, but I was just about to give up and go somewhere else. “I’m just saying being a jerk doesn’t look so good on you.”

             Slightly, he nodded.

             “It’s fine if you’re upset,” I told him, after another moment. “What she did to you was really shitty. But I don’t like to think that you’ve been pouting because you think nobody would care.”

             “No,” he murmured, “It’s just not work talk.”

             “Nothing you ever say is work talk. Anyway, you could have at least told me. I know a lot about dishonest, heartless women.”

             A hint of sympathy shaded his eyes.

             “That’s why I said you shouldn’t let it bother you so much. Girls like that are cheap—you can pick one up anywhere—and they’re not very creative. Cheating with losers, bringing back the key just to laugh at you…” I shrugged. “They aren’t worth the trouble. They definitely aren’t worth ruining a perfectly good lunch your buddy buys just to cheer your ass up.”

             Bewildered, he finally met my gaze again.

             “So, come on.” I smirked at him. “If you’re gonna be pissed off and sad, let’s order some whiskey.”

             Whiskey helped a little. After the first round, he’d started talking a little more normally about the usual nonsense that occupied his mind, and then the food came, so he was quiet a while. Mine wasn’t very good—the soup was thin and the salad was gritty, so I mostly talked and smoked, trying to keep him distracted. Regardless, his expression showed me he still was unhappy.

             After the second whiskey, we left the restaurant. It was a relief to be out of the noise and harsh lights of the diner, but Matsuda seemed content with lunch at least. In a few blocks, he started joking with me, so I knew the anger had burned out fast.

             I doubted anyone would believe me if I told them about it.

             Outside the headquarters, he hesitated, staring up at the building to sigh, and then he admitted, slowly, “I know you’re right…but…I really liked her, Ide. I…I loved her.”

             He did have terrible tastes in women.

             “Yeah.” I squeezed his shoulder. “That’s how it goes sometimes, kid. Sometimes, you really love somebody, and they just don’t feel that way back.” That, too, was the story of my life. Suppressing a sigh, I gazed up at the building too, with all its sparkling windows and the roof that tried to vanish in the clouds. “It’s not your fault,” I murmured. “There’s only so much you can do.”

             “I guess not,” he whispered.

             “You can find someone else, though.”

             Swallowing hard, he nodded.

             “Just don’t get cynical about it, okay? They’re not all like that.” I said the words, but the only reason I could so much as bother to think it was because of Shuichi and Eriko. She’d stood by him through everything, possibly the most loyal and genuine woman I’d ever met.

             I’d just gotten incredibly unlucky.

             “You’re not gonna wind up like me,” I assured him. “It’s impossible.”

             “How can you be so sure?” he asked, quietly.

             So many reasons, some he might not ever understand, some I didn’t think I could ever bring myself to tell him.

             At last, I teased, “’Cause you’re so damn cute,” and slung my arm around his neck. “If I were as cute as you, I might have a chance, but I got screwed in personality and looks.”

             Matsuda smiled a little. “I don’t know, Taniki-tan. Your personality’s not that bad.”

[theknittingdiscourse]

If you are that worried you should seek a removal of the uterus and tissues once you are able. A... HISterectomy as someone might put it. Now onto the discussion.

What is the chance that you are willing to take. Say you are playing a casino game, and there is a 30% chance you will win the big jackpot. Would you take it? Probably right? Its 30% precent.

What about 50?

What about 99?

Heck yes! That is definitely a winning pot right?

Not to some pro-abortion people. There are people who are willing and WANTING to allow abortions up to the mother id GIVING BIRTH. Not just compilcations. Not just a malformed fetus. A 100% healthy baby who otherwise would be alive. (Side note do you support born alive?)

There is a guy who Gloated, GLOATED about performing abortions at 8.5 months. At that time, that is a baby. You and I know that is a baby. But to other people that still is just a THING. it is a thing and by god let them kill the thing because it is a thing. And not anything worthy of anything but death and disememberment, hopefully in that order. And hopefully just the death and misscarriage.

But that is the point I am making. At what point are we going to stop and say 'that is a baby' or 'just a clump of cells'. 10% viability? 5%? 99.99%? I mean I am pro-life. I am prolife solely and utterly until 8moth and beyond bills are not allowed. 45%? Are we going to think it is still a thing at 45%? At what point does a fetus, become a baby? That is the question I am asking.

At what point is it a baby and not a thing? Lets talk about this. Lets create a line where everyone can say hey, that is a baby and not a thing. And then go from there on whether or not abortion should happen at any term.

Oh and I already know: those are the vast utter minority! No one gets those! If no one gets them, then why did that man BRAG about doing it?

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: Any Pro-Lifer who argues that they just want to ‘save babies’ but makes an exception in rape cases is lying.

If they were truly against abortion because they believe that a fetus is entitled to full rights, enough to deny the bodily autonomy of the person carrying it; if they truly believe that the fetus has a soul and is a baby or however they say it: then they wouldn’t make exceptions for rape. 

A pregnancy created through sexual assault would not make that fetus less human. It wouldn’t make it “not a baby.” Being conceived through rape wouldn’t make that fetus not have a soul. Either a fetus has a soul, is a human, is a precious baby, or it isn’t. 

What the “rape exception” means is that they want to control women. That women who have consensual sex should be punished, should “have consequences” for having consensual sex, for not being “responsible” enough when they have sex. It says “You are a woman who had consensual sex, and to punish you we will take control of your body away from you.” They HATE that women can have sex for recreation, and want to take that away from us. 

You see that bullshit argument? You call them on it. Don’t let the point go. If they make an exception for rape- ask them why. Make them explain the logic. (They know how fucking awful it sounds when they don’t make an exception for rape too. There’s no moral high ground for them there.) 

[iris-writes-things]

A Day At The Races chapter 4: Jailhouse Rock

Read on AO3, FF.net or under the cut, or read the illustrated version on my Patreon!

This fan fiction contains internalized racism, internalized homophobia and heavily prejudiced characters. If you are sensitive to any of the above, proceed with caution or not at all.

After seemingly getting revenge on his bully, Keith wakes up in a cold jail cell. To make matters worse, his father cuts him off from his friends, his phone, his cigarettes. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Red is being put up for auction.

As always, things have to get worse before they can get better.

Chapter 4 of 6 Completed 1407 words Romance/historical

When Keith woke again, it was on a moldy smelling cot in a cold jail cell at the local police station. He huddled into his jacket for warmth. His feet felt like clumps of ice inside his beat up sneakers, as did pretty much the rest of his body, the cotton jacket did very little to relieve him from the cold. Instead, he sat up. Rubbing the heels of his hands into his crusty eyes before running his fingers through what could be considered the worst bed head he ever had.

In short, last night hadn’t treated him well. Last night had shown him all he could have had, all he wanted to have, before stripping all of it away from him, just to remind him that the universe had it out for him.

The vivid memory of the look on Lance’s face when Keith was torn away from him, bent over his car as his rival’s dad cuffed him and read him his rights haunted him. He remembered how Lance stayed behind to get answers, even after everyone else had fled the scene. Only to be told to stay away from him. It all left a sour taste in Keith’s mouth. He tried to swallow it down along with the bile he felt rising up his throat.

Jimmy must have known he was going to lose, he must have been the one who tipped off his dad, he was the reason Keith was in a jail cell, freezing his toes off for what could have been easily solved with a hefty speeding ticket. Keith’s eyes snapped upwards when he heard a rattling sound; it was Jimmy’s dad unlocking the door.

“You’re lucky, kid. Your dad just paid the bail.” Officer Parker told him.

Keith, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure that meant he was lucky. Already dreading the ride home, Keith got to his feet and walked over to Officer Parker, who brought him to his father. Keith’s dad gripped his arm tightly, with an almost bruising force as he thanked Officer Parker before practically dragging Keith out of the police station. Keith all but whimpered as his father shoved him into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. When his dad got into the driver’s seat and started the engine, Keith spoke up weakly. “Dad, I’m sorry about the racing, but I only—”

He was cut off by a loud, barking laugh from his father. “The races?! You think I’m mad about the races?!”

“Well, aren’t you?” Keith asked, slightly taken aback. If his dad wasn’t mad about the races, what was he mad about?

“Of course I am, but sometimes a dad has to prioritize. What the Hell did you think you were doing making out with that boy?!”

“It was only a kiss, we didn’t go any—” Keith recoiled and shut himself up upon his father’s glare. “Honestly, I don’t think I was thinking at all…” Keith mumbled, looking down, cramming a bent cigarette between his lips and lighting it with shaking hands. However, it wasn’t long until his dad snatched it away to take a drag from it himself. “Hey!”

“Son, for the next month, you’re grounded. No telephone, no television, no friends and last but not least, no smoking. I’ve already called Mr. Shirogane and Mr. Holt to send you home the second they see you anywhere near the diner and the garage.”

Keith huffed, crossing his arms and glaring out the window. All this trouble just because he kissed a boy. It didn’t seem worth the fuss.

“I should have seen it coming. Should have nipped it right in the bud when you decided to grow your hair out. I swear to God, all I ever asked for was a son, but now it’s looking more and more like I got a daughter instead.”

***

The following day, Keith was confronted with stares from everyone at school. Keith Cogain, the rebel without a cause, showed up with his hair trimmed short, neatly parted on the right side of his head and drenched in hair gel. Not a single one of his unruly hairs would fall out of place. It felt like a damn helmet when it dried. He was outfitted in a stark white button up shirt, tucked into neatly pressed pants.

“Thanks, mom.” He sarcastically mumbled under his breath. Keith loved his mother, he really did, but this was pushing it. This was humiliating. This was putting a sign on his back that screamed ‘Please beat me up, I’m an easy target!’ and Keith hated every second of it.

The stares were soon replaced by whispers, which were, in turn, replaced by laughter and Keith could feel the ‘tough guy’ image he spent years building crumbling under his feet. No more façade to hide behind. There was only the short, scrawny Asian kid who just happened to know how to be really, really fast.

He was about to bolt out of there when a hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him into a nearby classroom.

“Oh my God, Keith, I had to see it to believe it…” Katie stared up at him in awe. She had barely even recognized him in the hallway, but as the only colored kid left in this school, Keith tended to stand out.

“Would you stop staring at me like that?!” Keith snapped, his frustration finally getting to him. A pang of guilt struck him when he saw the girl recoil from his outburst. “I’m sorry…” he whispered.

“Hey, it’s okay. I would be on edge too if I were in your situation.” Katie said, rubbing his arm reassuringly. “Word on the street is that the police are auctioning off Red sometime next week.”

“For real? That’s soon.” Keith said, deep in thought. They had gotten cheap cars from the police department auctions before, but those had all been impounded for at least a year before they were sold. “Katie, I can’t go to that auction myself. My dad will actually kill me if I set foot outside the house. You’ve got all my money, I need you to win that car back for me.”

“Yeah, about that…” Katie whispered. “Word on the street is also that Jimmy wants it as well. I promise, I’ll give it all I’ve got, but we’ve got tough competition.”

Keith smiled sadly as he pulled Katie into a tight hug. “You’ve got this. I believe in you, champ.”

***

“Keith, buddy, I’m really not sure I should be helping you skip school.” Hunk weakly protested as the younger boy hopped into the passenger seat of his pick-up.

“Come on man, it’s just a ride to Carlsbad. You’re the only one who can get me back here before my dad shows up and won’t rat me out.” Keith said as he quickly counted a hundred dollars off a large wad of cash, before stuffing the money back into his jacket.

“Seriously, why don’t you just put everything in your account at once?”

“Because an eighteen year old turning in two thousand dollars once every other week would be a little suspicious, wouldn’t it?”

“And the reason you don’t use the bank here...?”

“Also too suspicious. The tellers in Carlsbad catching on to a pattern is okay. They don’t know my parents. But tellers at our bank, the one my parents use, catching on to a pattern is not okay, because they can and will tell my parents and I would be grounded for the rest of my life.”

“Eh, fair enough.”

***

“Good afternoon, sir, how can I help you?” The teller asked, her tone sugary sweet. She was young, fresh out of high school from the looks of it. Cute, even, had she been Keith’s type.

“I’d like to make a deposit, please.” Keith placed his $100 on the counter and managed to force a smile. “K. Cogain.”

“I’m going to need to see some ID.”

Keith nodded, flashing his driver’s license.

“Wow, Mr. Cogain, I wouldn’t have recognized you! You sure clean up nicely. Are you seeing anyone by any chance?” The teller smiled up at him, more flirtatious than anything else this time.

Blood rushed to his face, coloring his cheeks and ears a bright red. “N-no… But there is someone I’d like to date.” He stammered nervously.

The girl behind the counter only smiled wider. “She’s a very lucky girl, you know?”

‘Yeah… Lucky girl...’ 

[webmuch]

Hair Tips

When it comes to us women, our long and thick hair add all the beauty our personality. Almost any woman around the world are pretty crazy about her hair and consider them a prized possession. Whether you have dry or oily hair, rough or smooth hair, curly or straight hair, looking after them is a must. Some people are very lucky to have strong and healthy hair where they do not need to spend a lot of time to maintain is however in general your hair does need care. There are certain hair tips that one needs to follow in order to maintain the beauty and shine of the hair. Following these hair tips can also give you stronger and longer hair if that is what you are always worried about. When it comes to hair, there will be so many different tips you will get to hear, some will say to put oil in your hair regularly, while your hairdresser will recommend you to go for a hair spa every now and then. But before you pick the choice of your treatment, there are few things that you must know about them all. Whatever people might say for us we think the most important hair tips all come down to your DIET, which includes the intake of Iron and Protein.

Well very few of us are blessed with natural healthy hair while others are unfortunately not. Whatever your hair texture, type or length we are here with all the best hair tips and guidelines. We will discuss everything from different hairstyles for every hair type, hair-cuts for every face type, the best hair coloring techniques that you must go for and some general guidelines for your hair. If some of you are having troubles with major hair loss, scroll right to the bottom where we have discussed a few hair loss treatments for you. We hope the list of hair trips we have pointed out for you help in making your hair stand out look healthy.

Hairstyles To Copy

We know how difficult it is to look perfect with the all these new hairstyles popping up every season. But this does not mean that you should shy away from them and try and be bold. The only thing you need is confidence and some attitude to carry out these hairstyles. So let’s break our style routine and stop wearing the same hairstyle every day. Mix it up and energize yourself with these simple yet cool hairstyles. Just like our complexion and features each of us has a unique style and texture of hair. The texture and type of hair usually depend on our hereditary factors but that doesn’t mean we don’t have the freedom to style our hair. It’s not fun to have the same look every day anyway, so change it up in just seconds and look your best every day.

From statement making crops to tousled bobs and long layers we have rounded up a set of hairstyles that are not only simple to do but will also hold up the hottest days of summer. Most of these hairstyles turn out to be the best hair tips for the summer that will keep you feeling cool.

Smooth Low Ponytail

While ponytails are often considered the “go-to” hairstyle for many women, ponytails can be a very versatile style that will suit a wide variety of occasions and event. You can have a sporty to elegant look from a smooth low ponytail.

For any season a low ponytail is like an essential hairstyle but we love it more when done in a smooth and polished way. It helps us on the most humid days of our lives.They can get us out of any bad hair day in just about 3 seconds flat and there are tons of ways to spice up this look. Smooth low ponytails are considered classy for a reason.  Such an easy hairstyle like this is one of the simple hair tips to follow to make us look good so fast.

Quick tip: Shampooing removes dead skin cells that would otherwise clump up and fall off as dandruff. Wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner duo like Pantene Pro V`Smooth and Sleek which will not only make your hair smooth but will help you to fight against damaged hairs.

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Chunky Top Knot

A tight knot bun is a great way to highlight your face features. The slightly messy texture of the bun just makes it look stylish and new. To pull off this look you can use larger bobby pins as the smaller ones tend to move around. a lot. You can complete your look by putting some spray on your hair. Women with long hair have the better option to play around with the look – it can be either tight or loose or high or low. On casual days, a chunky top knot will look effortlessly sexy. This is one of the best hairstyles that you can do without any hairstylist and if you want to show off your sexy collarbone this is the best option for you. Now that the weather is pretty hot here, beating the heat can be easy by lifting all that hair away from your skin!

For all hair types Luminous hairspray is strong yet formulated with Argon Oil. This workable and lightweight hairspray offers a long lasting and flexible hold to your top knot bun. It will always give your hair a fine look. Hair tips for hairspray: don’t use such products in your day to day life, they should be used in a limit.

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Tousled Pixie

Women with natural good texture in their hair can sport a pixie cut hairstyle and this should definitely be your go to look if you love and have short hair. The longer layers enhance the waves so the style feels effortless. Simply just lift up your hair with your fingers as you blow dry it. Smooth out your bangs with a flat brush and then you can apply a dab of paste through your hair for a hold and definition and you are ready to go. This haircut is timeless as well as stylish.

Create that extra lift from your roots with Shu Uemura art of hair shape paste. It is neither creamy or sticky and it offers leaves your hair with a subtle shine.

Shape Paste is one of the most powerful design tools, that helps to protect your hair from heat and humidity.

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70`S HALF UP-DO

The internet is full of these gorgeous 70`s up-do tutorials which are feasible for every hair type. The strict, smooth center part is the key to this retro-inspired look. Pull your hair back on either side of the head but before you secure it with crisscross bobby pins on the back of the head make sure to cover your ears properly.

Twisted Bun

This hairstyle is chic and elegant for any time of the day. Twisted hair buns are just perfect and go well with almost every outfit. All you have to do is roll back the strands along with your hairline just like you do with a simple braid and then wrap these two twists into a bun and secure it with some bobby pins. This style isn’t meant to look spic and span so don’t worry about it looking a little messy. It can very well save a super bad hair day.

FRENCH BRAIDS

Our favourite braid has to be the french braid and amongst all of them it looks the prettiest. This hairstyle is considered a timely classic and is picture perfect for every type of occasion. From relaxed days to classy evenings french braids will compliment  every outfit. Nothing will up your weekend hair game like a chic french braid.

To add some extra strength to your hair to give your braid the strength to stay in place all day, we suggest using Klorane Dry Shampoo with nettle oil control before braiding it. This will add extra grip and hold your hair well. Klorane offers a wide variety of plant-based shampoo options designed to address every kind of hair type from mango butter for dry hair to nettle for oily hair.

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SWINGY BOB

That moment when you feel like making a big change with your hair, the first cut that comes to mind is always one that is completely opposite to your current hair. For girls with long hair this usually means they do give a thought if chopping off their hair into a stylish bob, whether they go ahead with it or not that depends on how confident they feel in that moment. There is nothing more different than this hair cut though especially if you have never had anything like it. A swingy bob is just a stylish bob cut that adds some shape to your face and gives you a very fashionable look. Some hair tips for people thinking of getting this cut would be to try and keep your hair straight with this style as that is when you can really see the shape of it. If your hair is straight it will also make them feel very light and help you stay cool and fresh for humid days.

To get an effortlessly chic hairstyle we suggest you to try OUAI wave spray and Christopher Robin instant voluminous mist to give an extra volume to your hair. It makes your hair fuller and thicker.

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WAVY BOB

Wavy hair give off a very soft and feminine look to a person, and wavy texture and medium length hair seem to be a favorite amongst many right now. This hairstyle works great for your everyday look and gives you an edge on a special occasion. The main point is that the hair is supposed to look a bit messy—so don’t expect to spend hours with the curling iron. Instead, sleep with two braids and tame the waves with texturizing spray and one sweep of the flat iron.

Elevate your natural curl pattern with texturising R+Co’s Cactus Shampoo and leave it for air dry. This shampoo is formulated with texture building particles to bring out your natural waves. It’s designed with a mix of “texture-building particles” along with an ingredient which adds grip.

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Pulled-Back Curls

The best part about this look is that it’s the perfect way to flaunt your personality. You just can’t go wrong with this hairstyle even on a bad hair day. Just pin some of your curls from the front to the back of your head and you’re free to roam around with beautiful hair that won’t come in your way. 

If you are working with your natural texture then your curls need some hydration. Keep your hair hydrated and well defined with a mist like Dry Bar’s hair- spray which is firm with a long-lasting finish.

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Super-Slick

The super slick hairstyle definitely made a a major comeback last year, we some them on almost every red carpet event, on runway models and a huge number of celebrities. Bella Hadid’s slick back hair became quite famous during that time! We know messy and tousled hair are certainly trending but it also seems that Super-Slick hairstyle is not going anywhere. It is the easiest way to hide your locks that won’t cooperate whenever you are in a hurry. The trick is to make your hair look wet while actually, it’s not wet. Use a palmful of mousse and strong hold gel to get this look.

We suggest you to use LIVING PROOF FULL THICKENING MOUSSE as it has a flexible hold for all hair types especially for flat hair. It makes fine hair look and feel thicker and helps in providing light hold.

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Looped Ponytail 

This style is a mix between a bun and a ponytail, it’s a loop. Loops are new and they are totally trendy but we have been seeing them for several seasons now. This is the best upgrade to your average ponytail. Knot and pin the length of the tail into the series of loop and then tie it up with a clear elastic.

Messy High Ponytail 

Another alternative to your regular ponytail is this messy one. This look can suit all face types, lengths and textures. It’s great that you can create this look with your long or short hair. Simply spoof all your hair with or without a comb and put it high up into a ponytail. Bind it with an elastic and take few strands at the hairline out to complete the look. By doing a high messy ponytail you don’t have to waste your time in hair-styling. One of the best hair tips we can give is that if your in a rush and want it to look like you have spent some time doing your hair then you should go for this style.

Romantic Bun

The perfect look for the evening or a hot summer day when you are wearing a pretty day dress. This bun is a very romantic bun and a super feminine, give this look a try this season and trust us you will feel like a princess. This look is very easy to pull off as you just have to pull all your wavy hair into a bun and leave those few loose strands in the front for a slender effect. 

The Ballerina Bun 

Another bun look but this one is famous amongst ballerinas. It might look easy to make but it’s not, to get the bun in the right place in the right way it might take you a couple of tries. A bun looks polished and cool no matter what the weather is. You can go for this look anytime of the year and looks absolutely beautiful with an evening gown.

To keep your strands looking shiny, style it with a PANTENE PRO-V strong hair gel as it helps to control your frizzy hair.

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Bouncy Blowout

There are certain tricks and hair tips every woman should know about their hair and how to handle them in the best way. The ability to turn any bad hair day into a style moment is one of them. Big bouncy and effortless hair is the total look for the moment. The key to a bouncy blowout is the wavy ends so spend some time with your hair dryer and brush on the ends because once they stick out perfectly it will help you look amazing throughout the day.

Apply a root boosting spray such as RED-KEN TRIPLE TAKE 32 EXTREME HIGH-HOLD HAIRSPRAY beneath the top layers of your hair which is suitable for all hair types. It gives hair roots volume and provides a natural feel and texture. It also has a long lasting high hold.

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Half Bun, Half Ponytail

This is something very different, for a lot of us, we might do this hairstyle several times during the day while you need a break from your hair being open or when your just chilling at home. We bet you that no one really thinks of it as an actual hairstyle to walk out with, but it is now! This means you should always stay comfortable and if you are doing this while you are at home then just walk out with it and stay comfortable all day long. We understand the struggle of styling the hair every morning. So coming up with a new and a funky hairstyle every single day is impossible. All you need to do is pull your ponytail through the elastic twice, then the third time pass your ponytail halfway through the elastic to achieve this look.

The Low Bun 

We know everyone loves a good low bun as it’s quick, easy and makes our hair look tip-top. This hairstyle goes well with every kind of an outfit. For this you need to make a low ponytail at the nape of your neck and once you have tied the ponytail just twist it around the base to make a smooth low bun. And there you go, you have a super smart look.

Top Knot A Braided Twist

The best combination of a braid and a bun, it looks like you have spent a lot of time on it but it doesn’t actually take so long. The hairstyle looks complicated which is the best part as in just minutes you upgrade your regular braid and regular bun. You can have multiple different looks with this hairstyle ad you can play around with the type of braid you want as well as the finish of the bun can be changed around a lot.

To make a braided top knot just make a high ponytail and divide your pony into two sections while braiding each pony. Twist these braids at the base and one by one secure these braids with bobby pins to achieve this braided updo.

High Braid

Just like how the bun and braid were combined now you can also try putting together your ponytail with a braid. Braided ponytails will also work for every occasion. Tie your hair into a high ponytail, braid loosely and secure it with an elastic. If you have very heavy and thick hair then the best hair tips for you would be to go for this hairstyle. When you tie the ponytail it will still have a lot of volume and turning it into a braid reduces the volume and this also creates a beautiful big braid.

Hair Coloring Techniques For Every Hair Type 

Hair color is directly linked to your identity and personality. If you change it, it’s very visible and you could like a completely different person. Obviously, it depends on how much of your hair you are getting colored, in which color and in what style. There are also several reasons why one may want to change their hair color. The reasons can range from wanting a new look to being bored with your natural color to wanting to cover your gray hair. We talked all about hairstyles above and how changing it around gives you new looks everyday, now imagining changing your hair color and then trying those styles. Hair color is also a great way to add textures to your hair, for example highlighting makes the hair look more voluminous as the texture gives a delusion of more hair. You might not be aware of the several hair color styling techniques that exist such as Ombre, Balayage, Global and many more.

Below we have listed the best hair tips of coloring your hair along with the different styling techniques that exist. Look at the references carefully to get a good idea of how the color would look and then make your decision based on the look you want to achieve.

Highlights

Highlights are the strands of the hair which are usually lighter than that of the base color on which they are being layered upon. People often think highlights is equal to blonde but that really isn’t the case. Highlights are actually a color that is not as dark as the base strands. Highlights don’t look exactly the same, they differ from person to person and it actually depends on a number of things like the look you want, the kind of hair you have or how light you wish to go. The size of the highlights, the level of lightness, and the placement would all be decided with you and your hair stylist. There are also several different types of highlights, keep reading below to know more.

Natural Thin Highlights

In this type of the highlights, the fine strips of hair are highlighted. This type of hair highlights is suitable for fine hair or hair that creates a natural effect. This kind of highlights are done by dying thin strips of hair near the front section and the color used is usually just a shade or two darker to get the perfect natural kind of look. People will tell you a list of hair tips for your highlighted hair but you don’t really need to do so much, just use a good shampoo.

Chunky Highlights

Chunky highlights are more suitable for thick hair or when the texture of the hair is coarse. In this, the highlights, streaks or bold section of your hair can be up to an inch and are highlighted with couple of shades lighter than the base color. This technique can be done in a creative way and done according to the shape of your face. Some people prefer to keep the color more natural, with very little contrast to their natural color, and others want a bolder look, with brightly colored or richly contrasting highlights. Adding chunky highlights to your hair can create a dramatic look that can compliment a new haircut or style very well.

Peek A Boo Highlights

Peek-a-boo, a new highlighting method that offers more than what people expect to see. Peek A Boo Highlights are best for people who wish for a subtle change and nothing too obvious or dramatic. There are no limits when it comes to styling with peek-a-boo because if you have dark hair then the highlight color you would choose would also be in a dark shade in order to just get that tint. This means colors like, dark blue, purple, green etc. Most of the thin strands are hidden under the hair but are shown through the mid length of the hair around the shoulders. If you are looking for something bright then you can also try neon hues for that extra pop of color. There isn’t any need for additional, expensive shampoos or periodic treatments. Using a hair conditioner at home just once a week is enough. This is one of the finest hair tips for your highlights.

Textured Highlights

The whole point behind textured highlights is to make your hair look fuller and add volume to it. Usually, at least 3 colors are used to achieve this look. The primary idea behind the textured highlights is to make the hair look fuller. Textured highlights are usually done with at least 3 colors. One of the best hair tips we can give you if you want to get this kind of highlights done would be to get a layered haircut first. By doing this it will help accentuate the volume of the hair and all the shades look beautiful like this. Go on and get your hair textured and have a fabulous look.

Foils

Foil highlights involve the sectioning of hair and weaving strands which can either be thick or thin depending on the look that you are going for. The target strands are painted with bleach or any color and are wrapped in pieces of foil. Wrapping the hair in foil serves two purposes, one it keeps the lightening agent from getting on the surrounding hair and two it keeps your hair moist so it doesn’t dry up.

Ombré

The Ombré hair coloring technique is where your hair gradually blends from one color to another color. Ombré comes from the French word which means “shadow” or “shade.” The choice of an Ombré would usually involve colors t shades lighter than your hair. The choice of colors for Ombré is determined by your skin undertone or by your natural hair color hue. However it is not necessary to stick to the shades of your hair, if you have black hair you can even get an Ombré look by using brown and blonde. Last year grey ombré hair was a super hot trend and it is still going strong even now. Check it out here.

Balayage

The word Balayage means to “sweep” in French. So the hair color is literally painted or is swept onto the sections of your hair to give highlights that are few shades lighter than your natural hair color. Although the highlights are not placed symmetrically, the final look is very flattering as the highlights turn out to be softer and look very natural.

GLOBAL

Now finally to the last style and the most obvious and common one, Global hair color. This means to color your hair entirely! The overall color will add life to your hair and leave a glossy finish to it which will make it look super healthy and gorgeous. Global hair color is the best option for someone who doesn’t want anything extra going on and is also looking for a change. Trust us if you change the color of your entire head thats a big enough change as well.

Haircuts For Every Face Type

We all know how a perfect haircut is important for us and as discussed before it can change our whole personality. But before getting a haircut done, it is important for you to determine your face shape so you know what works the best for you. This way you won’t regret chopping off your hair after your haircut, understand what you getting yourself into first. It is not a big challenge to find out what the shape of your face is and many of us make it out in seconds. Just look at yourself in the mirror and you will get a good idea of your face type. If you have an oval face then the widths of your brow, cheekbones, and jaws are almost equal and for a round face type the jaws are curving at the corners and you have a long and a wide forehead. Girls with a heart shaped face tend to have wide forehead and narrow chin and if you have a square face shape then you have a narrow jaw and the length and width of your face are equal. No matter what your face shape is there are haircuts that look best on you and there are few that aren’t so flattering.

So here we are providing you with a list of hairstyles and hair tips that are suitable for every face shape.

Round Face 

If you have short hair and a round face then think of going short all the way. This little pixie downplays roundness in a big way. The choppy pieces add heights and help to lengthen your face to accentuate your eyes more. You can even try curls around the crown to create some height but never near the cheeks.

Thin and medium length hair is one of the most common hair types found. There are so many different hairstyles you can explore no matter on much you wish you had thicker hair. If you have a round face and medium hair length, a skimming bob cut with slender pieces around the neck will work perfectly for you. So just go a few inches longer than your chin in order to balance the roundness of your face.

If you have long hair and have plenty of layers in your cut it is one of the simplest hairstyles to have and it looks fantastic too. If you are lucky to have long hair yet you feel unsure about how to style it, layers will work just right for your jawline. These layers are an easy choice for your face type and they will help to stop the curls from blimping around your cheeks. The scattered layers will also help to keep the volume away from the sides and will focus more on the ends. 

Heart Shaped Face

Since a heart-shaped face is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, a wavy or curly hairstyle will beautifully balance the facial features. A bob is the best option for a heart shaped face because it balances off the facial shape. A haircut that is heavy around the chin is perfect for creating some balance. Chin-length bobs would be a preferred option for you, just make sure the ends are a bit tapered. Side-swept bangs are also beautiful on this face shape.

If you have medium hair length, opt for longer layers to keep your look balanced. You should avoid face-framing layers and bands to the widest point on the face. This will draw the eyes away from the chin area along with adding balance to your face.

As we said bangs look georgeous on this face shape and this haircut is very easy to pull off. The full bangs will offset your flashy jaw and gently taper the layers to prevent them from falling flat. While they may be full, the fringe is soft with movement rather than blunt.

Long/Oval Face

An angular bob cut with short and chin hugging layers go well with an oval face. This haircut is compelling as it emphasises more on your face shape while the side parting lifts up the choppy layers. If you have stick-straight hair that’s also thin, this is a great hairstyle for you. What makes this work: It’s sleek, sophisticated and short.

A sleek blowout with layers that hit the shoulders works best for the medium length hair. The subtle variations in length keep those locks away from lying flat against your head. Keep those uneven layers around your face so your hair looks full. If you want long hair, cut it in long layers. The shortest layer should hit at your chin.

Technically you shouldn’t have really long hair if you have a long/over face however, if you like long hair then add in long layers and bangs to downplay a large forehead. The bangs really help visually shorten the length of the face. Long hair on a long face is tricky though!

Square Face

A short layered bob cut with slight bangs will help you to put emphasis on your cheekbones, rather than that of your jaw. If you have bangs make sure the outside corners of your fringe is about an inch longer than the centre of the bangs. This creates a framing effect and moves the attention away from your wide face.

For someone with medium length hair, feathery layers with subtle bangs work best for your face type. Layers that turn inward help from the face and the layers cut the broadness of the jawline and wide cheekbones.

Edgeless layers with strands that hit right at your cheekbone goes well for your strong and long hair. These airy fringes and light scattering of layers will help to soften your entire face from top to bottom.

Hair Tips to take care of your hair

We all know that when we are having a good hair day it makes us feel beautiful and super confident! However, on a bad hair day, it really messes with you and puts you in an irritating mood. We all wish for strong and shiny hair which is why taking care of your hair is so important and must be an essential part of your daily beauty regime. If you are lucky to have beautiful strong hair this doesn’t mean you should forget about taking care of them, in fact in order to keep them like that you need to give it some time too. Lack of proper hair care ensures that you suffer from hair fall, oily, dry or unhealthy looking hair. It’s not necessary to indulge in all sorts of shampoos, conditioners and spa treatments to get healthy hair. There are so many other things you can do to take care of them, plus every season has a different effect on our hair. Regional climate conditions may expose hair to extreme hot or cold. In summers the sun bleaches the pigments in our hair and leaves the hair to be dull and lifeless, so it’s important for us to know about UV hair protection. During winters living in heated rooms also creates a problem to the health of our hair, as dry heated air leaves the hair to be dry and brittle.

Along with climate issues, in today’s day having white hair problems is something every other person is going through. It’s become the biggest challenge for women and it is all because of our lifestyle, what we eat and the stressful lives we live. There are a lot of things that can cause white hair, it could also be hereditary but the main cause is probably our lifestyle and our food habits. Some of the best hair tips we can give for people suffering from white hair products is to use natural and organic products as much as possible. We had tested out Kama Ayurveda’s natural and organic henna powder and indigo powder last year and since then are very happy with the results as they really are the best natural products to cover your white hair. The products are prepared with the purest ingredients and are created through Ayurvedic methods. It is the ideal treatment to color your white hair to almost your natural hair in the most organic way staying away from harmful color dyes. Read all about our experience and step-by-step guide here!

{Kama Ayurveda Solves White Hair Problems – Posherry}

              Have a look at these basic hair tips which seems foundational but can affect the health of your hair. 

Sleep On Silk

A lot of the damage is caused to our hair while sleeping due to the hair being tangled or being touched to a rough surface. This is why sleeping on a silk pillow will help give your hair a lustrous surface and will avoid excess friction which results in styling and brushing your hair more than required. One of the first hair tips we are giving you is to switch to a soft silky pillow and see the difference. Sleeping on a silk pillow also makes your blow-dry last longer. 

Use A Quick Drying Towel

We understand how difficult it becomes to style your hair every day during our busy lives. So one of the best hair tips to cut your styling time is to wrap your hair in a quick dry towel directly after washing your hair. This will help to reduce the frizz and will make your hair more manageable. 

Dry Shampoo The Right Way

One of the best hair tips that we can provide you with is using the dry shampoo in a right way . Dry shampoo is like every lazy girl`s favorite hair care product. Although everyone uses a dry shampoo but very few people apply it properly.The right way to use a dry shampoo is to apply it thoroughly on the roots and then blow it out with a dryer. This will help you to get rid of the excess dirt and oils.

We recommend you to use living proof PHD dry shampoo which will make your hair look, feel and smell clean or use Klorane dry shampoo for last minute plans as it adds texture and volume to your roots. It’s great choice for all hair colors, leaving virtually no visible residue or powdery buildup behind. It absorbs and removes oil, sweat and odor, all these are the essential hair tips when finding the right product.

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Eat Well

Good nutrition is essential for good and healthy hair. The best hair tips and probably the most healthy can for you in general and your hair can be just eating right. Eating good and clean with a good amount of protein and iron will help your hair grow well and help treat hair loss. Eating healthy food is definitely a solution for so many of our problems.

Protect Hair While Swimming

While you may be tempted to spend as much time in the water as possible during the summer months, chlorine or salt can have damaging effects on your hair.The foremost hair tips can be protecting our hair from water. So we should Always protect our hair from the damaging effects of chlorine by wetting and conditioning hair before swimming. Wear a tight fitting swim cap and use a specially formulated swimmers shampoo and a deep conditioner after swimming to replace the lost moisture.

Try ION SUMMERS`S LEAVE IN CONDITIONER which protects from sun damage and water or PAUL MITCHELL CLARIFYING SHAMPOO that helps in deep cleansing and removes chlorine from the hair. This is the amazing hair tips for summers to prevent your hair.

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Daily Night Hair Care Routine

Before you go to sleep , Spend few minutes in front of your mirror and brush your hair gently. These Hair  tips will help you to get rid of tangles and knots that have piled up during the day . For short hair there’s no cause for worry but for long hair ,after brushing tie your hair into a loose ponytail in order to prevent tangles while you sleep.

Protein Rich Hair Mask

A weekly hot oil conditioning treatment and a high protein hair mask is one of the best hair tips for the dull and frizzy hair . Add some life to your hair with PAPYRUS MILK HAIR MASK BY KLORANE which not only provides deep nutrition to restore the hair fiber but also smoothens the frizz or try RAHUA OMEGA 9 HAIR MASK which repairs your hair and rejuvenate the dull and damaged hair.

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You can also make your own hair mask at home by mixing the yolks of two eggs with some lukewarm water also you can use some mashed avocado , coconut or mayonnaise. Massage well with your natural hair mask into your hair and wrap your head in a towel then leave it for an hour before you wash it out again. Doing massage is one of the best hair tips which helps alot in keeping them healthy. 

Deep Condition Once A Week

If you give your hair a deep conditioning treatment once a week then your hair will be much more manageable and shiny . So warm up your favorite oils like olive ,coconut ,linseed and almond oil and massage well into your hair . After applying the oil wrap your head in a towel and leave it for an hour or so. Rinse it again with warm water and shampoo. These simple hair tips will make your hair feel refreshing and bouncy. Effective deep conditioning can truly provide essential protection against hair chemical treatments and colors.

We recommend you to try KIEHL’S SINCE OLIVE FRUIT OIL NOURISHING CONDITIONER which is ideal for damaged hair and will help to rebuild the hair strength and elasticity or try MIELLE ORGANICS MINT ALMOND OIL which helps to protect the hair and add shine to it .

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Keep Your Brushes Clean

It is believed that sleazy hair brushes that are covered in hair or oil are the breeding grounds for bacteria . So these hair tips are all about cleaning  your hairbrushes at least once a month with a mixture of baking soda and a lukewarm water. To make sure that your hairbrush lasts remove all the hair which is stuck into the brush with the help of a toothbrush that will help you get into those tiny bristles.  Brushes are like any other beauty tool, get dirty over time. If your brush is getting a little messy, it may be time for a good cleaning.

Don’t Over-wash Colored Hair

The biggest mistake we make is over washing our colored hair  which can loose its sheen quickly. Buying a good quality of shampoo and use styling products in between to keep your hair looking fresh. So Shampoo your hair once or twice a week and then just rinse and condition the hair every other day as shampoo can wash out the color. These hair tips can keep your colored hair last for a long time.

We recommend you to try KIEHL’S SUNFLOWER COLOR PRESERVING SHAMPOO as it helps to protect the color treated hair and gently cleans it without striping its color.

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Don’t Wash Your Hair Frequently

Oil is very essential for the health of your hair as we all know how  over washing can strip out  the natural oil of your hair. So one of the best hair  tips can be washing your hair less often which will help you to regain your hair’s natural luster and body. Just wash your hair after every 2-3 days for proper regulation of natural hair oils.

Avoid Hot Water

This is like one of the most obvious hair tips , avoiding a hot water shower. As the hot water will only make our hair dry and weak. Hot water showers strip out those protective natural oils which are necessary for our hair .so always prefer a water temperature which is little warmer than your body temperature.

Hair Polisher and Shiner

We know how excessive dryness can make your hair tender and breakable to having split ends. If you are the type of a person who cant say no to blow dryers and hair irons .Then we believe we have a smart idea for you to routinely apply petroleum jelly at the ends of your tresses and will keep your ends hydrated and will help to avoid those nasty split ends. Even they will give your hair a wonderful shine. And here also you get to know the hair tips if you can not resist yourself from using heat.

The Latest in Celebrity Hair Transformations

For this year let’s take a look at our favorite celebrities hair transformations. As our stars love to switch up their look , from hair dyes to cool haircuts these are the best celeb makeovers of this season.

Here are the latest transformation of A- listers to inspire you to change your hair and color for this season. Here are some hair tips to change your appearance like they had done to have an amazing look. 

Former model Hailey Baldwin goes back to classic blonde after going for a darker hair color.Here comes another risk-taking beauty look: gelled, wet-look hair. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Hailey. She looks more flawless than ever. 

Actress Emma Roberts goes for  cayenne spice red from blonde hair. One minute she’s a blonde, then she’s a redhead, and now there’s another new color in town! Emma Roberts is the queen of hair transformations.

Kerry Washington traded her long pony tail and bangs with short sleek bob cut. Although her style has evolved from movie to movie, one thing remains the same: She’s a classic beauty that stuns every-single-time she hits the red carpet. So, naturally she jumped at the opportunity to find out what it really takes to get her hair ready for the cameras.

Singer Katy Perry ditches her love for bob cut and has switched  to pixie haircut.Her amazing hair color transformations charted right from the very start.

Actress Kristen Stewart goes bold with her shaved head and beachy blonde hair color. And she look so good in her new look.

Demi Lovato ditched her long extensions and opted out for short wavy hair. The “Body Say” singer premiered her asymmetric bob with copper highlights. Sometimes we get very good hair tips from celebs like this time her transformation is the best. 

Selena Gomez has debuted a bob haircut for this year.Evidently, people thought she cut her hair real short, but it’s still the same…it’s a little chop.” And those who look short hair should definitely try this amazing look.

Bella Hadid has opted for lobs this year. Instead of stripping the hair of its natural color, hairstylist Eugene Souleiman coated Bella Hadid‘s hair with gold glitter to transform her brunette bob into a blond sensation. The color runs from the roots down to mid-shaft, creating a sort of ombre effect. With a middle part, her hair is slightly weighted by product, reminding us of growing wet look trend.

    Taraji P. Henderson has debuted a new blond hair color look for this year. We’ve seen Taraji P. Henson rock her fair share of hair cuts, styles and colors. But her latest switch-up might just be our favorite one yet. And while she’s used to experimenting with wigs, her fresh cut is 100 percent her own, natural hair. “Absolutely, it’s real!

 This year Salma Hayek decided to stay away from her natural black strands as this year the actress chose rose golden short hair. Salma Hayek has adopted the cropped style with a brand new lob that she debuted at Cannes Film Festival. And to add to the excitement, she completely changed her hair color, too.

  Hair Loss Treatment

There is nothing more attractive than a thick head of hair that blossoms with natural health. But Hair loss is a problem that many people suffer from.There can be several factors behind hair loss such as aging , too much stress, environmental effects, smoking ,genetic factors, scalp infections, usage of wrong enriched hair products or medical condition like thyroid, autoimmune diseases, iron deficiency or anemia. How some people may treat their hair loss will depend on the cause.Some people may decide not to treat hair loss if it doesn’t bother them to an extent. While some people choose to treat hair loss with medicines or by some hair transplant surgery , while other people may choose some hair tips like to wear hairpieces -wigs,caps or may use different method of hair styling. It is believed that if a disease ,stress or a medicine is the cause then treating the disease, managing the stress or changing your routine medicines may stop the hair loss. Hair loss treatment can be best provided after a comprehensive diagnosis of the condition. once it is diagnosed , medical and surgical treatments which are specifically designed for individual patients can be recommended by the effectual dermatologist.The doctors will ask about your medical history to diagnose the cause of hair fall and will evaluate your condition to prescribe the most relevant treatment for you. An efficient hair loss solution can easily be availed.The patterns of baldness depends upon the root cause and the area of the hair loss.

The implantation of grafts can be technically stimulating as grafts have to be held gently with fine forceps.They are inserted automatically into holes which are made in bald areas.This requires special skills and patience as it is cynical to place the grafts closely without damaging the tissue. For that very reason it is considered to be the most technical aspect for hair loss treatment.  

Follicular Unit Transplant

Follicular unit transplant also known as FUT is a technique for hair loss treatment which is used in certain cases. Usually mega sessions for over more than 5000 grafts are possible with this technique. People with a very high degree of baldness may require to opt for the combination of this technique .There are clinics with a team of highly professional hair doctors who are known for their dedication and contribution to hair restoration industries.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

Platelet rich plasma also known as PRP is known as an effective treatment for hair loss and also to restore the natural healthy hair.This hair restoration is suitable for all. It is an inject-able method of using patient’s own blood and is processed further so that only enriched cells are injected into the scalp. All these medications are FDA approved and can help to stop the hair loss in patients.This treatment contains essential proteins that are stimulated for natural hair growth. This procedure is simple and is non surgical. It is safe and gives positive results and above all it gives extremely natural looking end results.

Surgical Treatments

A hair transplant is the most common surgical treatment for a hair loss today. Hair restoration surgery is a major decision for many people as it will permanently change the appearance to a more youthful look. Follicular unit extraction and direct hair transplant are the techniques for hair transplant. These procedures once adopted for the hair loss progress will be irreversible and patients will need an aesthetic improvement. Cosmetic outcomes have improved steadily with experience and advanced instructions. these surgical treatments are considered to be the best approach as it will direct the choice of hair loss treatment to one or more options.

Natural Home Remedies

Treatment for hair loss may help you feel better about how you look but there are some medicines which may have harmful side effects and some surgeries that may carry certain risks. Hair Fall, damage, split ends and dandruff are some of the common hair problems which is faced by everyone. In today’s hectic lifestyles and work related stress hair fall is becoming prominent. In order to control your hair loss naturally try these simple home remedies for hair growth that are safe and very effective.

You don’t have to compromise on your beauty time so just scroll through the end and find out some of the natural home remedies .

Hair Oil Massage

One of the most conventional hair care tips to reduce the hair loss.Just massage your scalp with the most suitable hair oil .The proper scalp massage will help to increase the flow of your blood and will enhance the strength of your hair roots. You can use hair oil like Coconut , Almond, Castor, olive or Amla oil as it gives relaxation and reduce the feelings of stress and tension. Doing massage with these oils is the best hair tips.

To get the better and faster results add a few drops of PAI RICE PLANT AND ROSEMARY BIO-AFFINITY cleanser to the base of the oil. This will help you in growing your hairs faster and have a great shiny hairs.

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Gooseberry

If you are losing your hair at an alarming rate then try this aromatic seasonal fruit. Gooseberry also known as Amla can turn out to be your real savior. You can use different ways to include Amla in your daily hair care routine for reducing frequent hair fall and to get beautiful shiny hair. It is very much rich in vitamin C which helps you to give natural and faster hair growth.

 Fenugreek 

Fenugreek seeds contain hormonal  antecedents that enhances hair growth and helps to rebuild the hair follicles. Fenugreek is also known as methi, contains proteins and nicotinic acids that helps to stimulate hair growth. By soaking few seeds of fenugreek overnight , make a paste of it  in the morning and then apply it to your hair.after about 30-40 minutes rinse your hair. Follow this remedy every day to get the better and  faster results.  To make your hair look shiny and glossy, try using a fenugreek hair mask. 

 Onion Juice + Aloevera Gel

Onion juice helps to treat the hair loss well due to its high sulfur content. It helps to improve the blood circulation to the hair follicles and regenerates them by reducing inflammation. These antibacterial properties of onion juice helps to kill germs , parasites and treat scalp infections.

Aloevera gel contains enzymes that promotes healthy hair growth. Its alkalizing properties helps to bring the pH balance to a desirable level .Both aloevera gel and onion juice can help to relieve scalp itching and reduce the scalp redness and inflammation.

  Licorice Root 

Licorice root is another herb which helps to prevent the hair loss and further damage to the hair. It is said to be very soothing for dry and irritated skin .As most of the properties found in licorice roots are able to soothe the scalp and helps to get rid of irritations such as of dandruff and scabs. The tranquilizing properties of licorice roots helps to open pores and are great for the hair shaft.The use of this root has been found effective in promoting hair growth.Products with licorice as a base are used to treat a dry scalp. It helps the hair to grow stronger and thicker. It is strongly believed that licorice helps in reducing hair loss both through topical and oral application.

Chinese Hibiscus

The Chinese Hibiscus is a flower that has many natural properties which helps to treat the hair loss.This flower not only helps to treat hair loss but also cures dandruff , prevents split ends , thickens hair ,and prevents premature graying.This removes excess hair oil, cures scalp infection and nourishes hair.

Beetroot

Out of all the hair tips Beetroot is considered to be the most effective treatment for a hair loss. It is because Beetroot juice contains carbohydrates, proteins, potassium, phosphorus,calcium and vitamins B and C and we all know how these nutrients are essential for the healthy growth of the hair.

  Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are a rich source of omega – 3 fatty acids that helps to prevent the further hair loss and encourages the hair growth.To manage your hair loss apply flax seed oil regularly as it not only prevents hair loss but it also helps to strengthen your hair. It prevents Hair Breakage and reduces dandruff:

  coconut Milk

Coconut milk is one of the world’s healthiest foods.It is considered as a rarity liquid because it boosts the body’s immunity levels.There are many benefits of coconut milk. You can use coconut milk for hair growth ,conditioning and also for silky smooth hair. Coconut milk is rich in protein and essential fats which promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss. When applied to the hair, coconut milk provides quick results.

The post Hair Tips appeared first on Posherry.

from Hair Tips

[badbackgroundscience]

You know what happens to a cobra when it’s struck by lightning?

The same thing that happens to everything else.

Yes, I have just used that infamous line from the first X-Men movie. No, Thor does not actually electrocute his baddie of the week. But I was really wishing he would do something akin to wiping the proverbial floor with a man who was merely bitten by a radioactive cobra yet claims he’s more powerful than a Norse god.

You heard that right - The Cobra got his powers from getting bit by a radioactive cobra* (And like Spider-Man, he appears to only get wall-crawling and agility out of it; he has to make his own venom darts). His real name is Klaus - an ex-con who kills his employer because the scientist might one day get all the credit for the discovery of a universal snakebite antivenom. Klaus makes one of their captive snakes bite both of them, so it appears an accident, using all the available antitoxin on himself.

Thor, by pure coincidence, is in town and finds (his former mentor) Professor Shecktor before he dies, which allows the old man to exposit:

As I’ve said in many a post, all living things are radioactive. So if you’ve ever been bitten by any living thing - a snake, a spider, Mike Tyson - you were just bitten by something radioactive (Notice that you haven’t gained superpowers...yet...).  But I’m going to ignore this and simply move on to talk a little about cobras.

Cobras are a group of snakes belonging to the taxonomic genus Naja.** However, there are also false cobras, including the world’s longest venomous snake, the King Cobra (genus Ophiophagus). As of 2009, there are 28 species of ‘true’ cobra - we’ll assume it was one of those that was used to kill Shecktor. Each is capable of delivering a fatal dose of venom to a human, but not all venom works the same. Many cobra venoms are neurotoxic (which attack the nervous system, naturally, and cause paralysis) but some are also cytotoxic (which attacks cells, leading to swelling and necrosis), hemotoxic (blood), or cardiotoxic. Some venoms have crazy coagulant properties, turning your blood into what resembles a clump of jelly.*** In general, if you’re bitten by a cobra you die from being unable to breathe - your diaphragm can become paralyzed in as little as half an hour. (As for the Professor, he’s just lying in a bed - we’re not even told through narration that he actually dies after Thor leaves to confront the baddie.)

Proteins are responsible for all this damage; venoms can have hundreds if not thousands of different proteins in them, each having slightly different effects, but not all are toxic.**** That’s why research into snake venom is not simply to develop cures for snakebites, but for hunting among these proteins for ones that have other medicinal properties. For example, peptides (basically smaller versions of proteins) in black mamba***** venom have been shown to possess analgesic properties as strong as morphine - at least in mice - but has potentially fewer side effects.

Cobras don’t just bite you - some species have special holes in their fangs that allow them to squirt, or “spit”, their venom at a target.`* That’s a purely defensive move. The toxin can’t kill you from the outside, but if it gets in your eyes (That’s where they’re gonna aim) - it can cause chemical burns and, yes, blindness.

If I had to ID the species of our cobra culprit, Stan & Co. probably picked Naja naja - the Indian Cobra. It’s the classic “That’s a cobra!” species, though apparently, there’s only a ~25% mortality rate among untreated victims,`** as opposed to the most venomous cobra, Naja oxiana, the Caspian cobra (at 70-75%). We must also ignore the fact that the snake probably wouldn’t have attacked the professor, and instead merely slithered away, or only bitten Klaus for being the man actually bothering him. Indian cobras are one the “Big Four” species responsible for snakebites in India (presumably they aren’t all snake charming accidents) - but Naja isn’t a genus actively looking for a fight. Neither are most snakes, really...

Thor issues forth a “typhoon” to travel from Shecktor’s deathbed to Cobra’s reported location (which is, quite unhelpfully, simply “America”). Typhoons are tropical cyclones that form over the North Pacific (as opposed to hurricanes, which form in the Atlantic/NE Pacific). Thor merely looks to be making a windy cloud...

...and by sheer coincidence lands in the exact same location the Cobra has. Our baddie’s trying to get some chemical plant employees to give him control of the facility, so that he can make a bunch of “cobra serum to create a vast army of others like [himself] - to do [his] bidding and serve [him] without question” so he can take over the world (I’m getting a feeling of deja vu...). He threatens them merely by sliding along the middle of the ceiling and boasting,

Another vocab lesson - “stings”, while capable of delivering venom, aren’t the same as “bites”. Or so you’d think, right? Arthropods sting; jellyfish sting; male platypuses sting. None of these involve mouths. But apparently, the Oxford English Dictionary does have an old definition that says, “Applied also to the fang or venom-tooth (and erroneously to the forked tongue) of a poisonous serpent.” I’m not comfortable calling a snakebite a “sting”; maybe you are. We’ll have to agree to disagree. Except on the part where the definition says “poisonous serpents” - that’s mistaking poison for venom and I won’t be having any of that.`***

This definition dilemma continues when the Cobra throws a bunch of capsules that vaporize his “cobra venom into a dense, fast-spreading vapor” - if you want to be accurate (And maybe you don’t, but why?) you can’t call it a venom if it’s not directly injected into a victim. It’s a poison.

During their battle, the Cobra ends up dumping the entire load of a random chemical vat onto our Norse god - however, I can’t make any sense of his technobabble (”This valve...activates the flow of a liquid chemical force-blast pipe”) - and Thor becomes doused in an “acid-base formula”.

As acids and bases neutralize each other when combined, I can only assume Thor was just hit with salty water.

The definition of ‘acid’ and ‘base’ has varied over time, but you generally walk away from a high school chemistry class learning maybe 3 that stick with you for some length of time:

Acids are proton donors, bases proton acceptors

Acids have an ‘H’ at the front, bases have an ‘OH’ at the end

Acids have a pH less than 7, bases have a pH greater than 7. Water is neutral, which is 7.

You probably forget these in the order I introduced them. (The second one isn’t entirely true, because bases don’t have to have a hydroxide on the end (see: ammonia, NH3).) Basically, when an acid/base is put into water, some fraction of its molecules break up - or, dissociate - into its constituent ions. For example, sulfuric acid - H2SO4 - first breaks up into an H+ and HSO4-, and then H+, H+, and SO42- ions. Because a large percentage of molecules do this, we call sulfuric acid a “strong acid”. Acetic acid (i.e. what they dilute to make vinegar) is a “weak acid” because far fewer of its CH3COOH molecules dissociate into H+ and CH3COO-.`**** The free-floating H+ ions, which are literally just protons, bond with nearby water molecules and make H3O+ (”hydronium”).

Water, which is equal parts H and OH, also dissociates, with some protons deciding to pop off and form a hydronium with a nearby undissociated water molecule. The “equal parts” bit is why water’s considered neutral. An acid has more hydronium than water - which we represent by giving it a pH lower than 7 - and a base has less hydronium than water, so the pH is higher than 7.

If you mix a strong acid and a strong base together, the protons from the acid will bond with the hydroxide from the base to make new water molecules. The remaining ions (e.g. the sulfate from the sulfuric acid) just hang around not doing anything. Since they’re ions that would bond with each other outside of the water (i.e. the one from the acid’s got a negative charge and the one from the base’s got a positive charge, but the water keeps them dissociated) we say that the other product of an acid-base reaction is a ‘salt’. Assuming the ratios were correct given the exact acid and base species, the solution is completely neutral in pH. If the ratios aren’t, it’s either still acidic or basic. It can’t be both.`*****

Unless, of course, they meant the compound was acid-based. 

Cobra evades Thor and shows up at Donald Blake’s rival’s practice, demanding this random doctor give him the “serums from [his] medicine cabinet”. The man quickly caves - much to the annoyance of Jane Foster (She left Blake to go work for Andrews. Long story...), who catches Thor’s attention as he flies by, by throwing a large volumetric flask through a closed window. Cobra’s not happy about that, and drops Jane out another window for Thor to catch while he makes his escape. Jane quits Andrew’s practice immediately after being rescued and goes to find Blake to beg for her old job back, and the Cobra goes Odin knows where.

And he leaves without making a single snake pun or slurring his “s”-words. (How dare he!)

* Okay, fine - it’s explained that it was the antivenom he took in response to the snake bite that gave him the powers...but what does a dying professor know?

**Cobras are in the taxonomic family elapidae, as opposed to the other main venomous family viperidae. Elapids venom is typically neurotoxic and Vipers hemotoxic, but there are exceptions.

*** Watch here (it’s Russell’s Viper venom - not cobra)

**** The first venomous reptile appears to have lived about 170 million years ago, and all extant venomous squamates (Hey - I talked about those last week!) descend from this creature.

***** Dendroaspis polylepis, an elapid (So, same family as Naja). The black mamba isn’t actually black - more of a grey to dark brown - except for the insides of their mouths.

`* Though given the definition of ‘venom’ it isn’t technically venom if it’s not injected into you. It’s just a toxin.

`** This is what Wikipedia tells me, citing a source behind a paywall, so believe at your own risk. But it’s definitely lower than 100%, which goes against Klaus’s claim in a later panel:

`*** The Japanese Grass Snake, for example, is poisonous. But, by far and away, most snakes are not.

`**** Note that acid/base strength is not the same as concentration. A single drop of sulfuric acid into a pool of water will not hurt you in the slightest, but it’s a “strong” acid. Meanwhile, the stuff used to dissolve a dead body in those first however many episodes of Breaking Bad was the “weak” Hydrofluoric acid.

`***** If you mix a weak acid and a weak base, you can’t neutralize the solution 100% because not all of the acid and base molecules dissociated. But the overall pH will still be a single value, again depending on the initial ratios of the specific acid and base. 

Journey Into Mystery #98 - Writer: Stan Lee, Art: Don Heck

Photo Credit:

Indian cobra By Saleem Hameed, CC BY 2.5