#if its wet you want to wear wool cause its one of the few fabrics that still keeps you warm in the wet

[bigolechompers]

as someone who has grown up in weather on the slightly colder side i have a pretty good idea what one might want to wear when it gets cold as fuck and what sort of things someone who lives in a cold as fuck area might wear

but i have no idea what constitutes as sensible wear in a hoot as fuck area like what the hell do you wear and why??

[sophiejo]

Choosing the Best Cashmere Hat For Your Winter Wardrobe

The colder months of the year bring out cosy garments like sweaters and hats. Cashmere is one of the best winter hat materials, which has a luxurious feel and offers superior warmth. Whether you need a winter cap to keep your ears warm or an extra touch of elegance for your cold-weather wardrobe, choosing the right cashmere hat is essential. Here's what you need to consider when selecting the perfect cashmere winter hat: 

Consider Practicality Versus Style 

When weighing up which type of cashmere hat to buy, consider how often and in what situations you expect to wear it. Will you wear it more as an accessory or purely as practical gear? If the style is essential to you, look for patterns or detailing that complement the item already in your wardrobe; if protection against extreme temperatures is critical, choose something thicker or insulated with synthetic or polar fleece lining inside the brim or crown of the cap if needed. 

Check for Quality

Cashmere fabric is notorious for its softness and high quality, but it can be difficult to tell from appearance alone. Before buying any item made from cashmere wool, take a moment to research who made it and where it was produced. It would help if you also looked at customer reviews and ratings, where other people have shared their experiences with this product. Doing your due diligence ahead of time will save you time and money in the long run by ensuring that you buy only quality products. 

Look for Comfortable Fitting

When shopping for a new cashmere cap, make sure that you try on different styles and sizes before making a purchase. A comfortable fit is essential because it will ensure your head stays warm during harsh winter conditions without feeling too tight or loose around the head and facial features. Your apparel should not restrain your movement as this can reduce overall comfort levels. 

Balance Price Versus Quality 

High-quality items generally come with a higher price tag – but this doesn't doesn't mean that all expensive hats are naturally better than budget versions. Take into account both price points depending on what's available within your budget; given proper care, even mid-priced options might prove just as good as overpriced ones when used regularly throughout multiple seasons (which usually involves hand washing). Also, remember that most retailers offer discounted prices around seasonal times, so keep an eye out for promotional deals!

Cashmere Care

Cashmere wool hats are a hot and stylish option for any winter wardrobe. But if you want to keep your cashmere hat looking good, it's essential to take the time to clean and care for it properly. To help you out, here are some tips on how to clean and care for your cashmere hat:

Spot Clean or Hand Wash

You should only spot clean, or hand wash your cashmere hat. To spot clean:

Use a damp cloth with a bit of soap or mild detergent.

For hand washing, fill a sink with cool to lukewarm water and add a few drops of gentle detergents, such as baby shampoo.

Gently submerge the hat into the soapy water and rub it together in small circles.

Rinse thoroughly before removing from the sink — never wring out your cashmere hat!

Air Dry Your Cashmere Hat

After hand-washing your cashmere hat, make sure to lay it flat and away from direct sunlight while it air-dries on a towel. Don'tDon't hang up your wet cashmere hat, as this may cause it to stretch out of shape. 

Brush Out After Washing and Drying 

Once the cashmere hat has been washed and dried flat on a towel, use a soft-bristled brush designed especially for delicates to brush out any tangles in the fibres after each wash (this should happen with every other wear too). When brushing through, always go along with the grain of fabric instead of against it. 

Use Protection When Wearing 

If you want to stay extra safe, just be sure not to wear any products with solid alcohols, as this may inadvertently damage your woollen pieces over time when worn repeatedly without proper protection from these chemicals. Treating them with a stain-repellent spray helps protect against dirt and spills. However, natural oils can still penetrate if left unchecked for long enough, so make sure you take preventative measures by pre-treating or spraying regularly near areas that see more dirt/dust exposure (dress shirt collars are common contact points). Doing all this will help prolong its fresh look for years to come!

Takeaway

Check for Quality

Look for Comfortable Fitting

Consider Practicality Versus Style 

Balance Price Versus Quality 

Spot Clean or Hand Wash

Air Dry Your Cashmere Hat

Brush Out After Washing and Drying 

Use Protection When Wearing 

[brokestminimalist]

Broke Laundry: updated 2021

For the time being, let's skip talking about how almost all of us have too many clothes.   The clothes that you have get dirty, and must be washed.  I am going to assume you have access to a modern washing machine, either at your house or a laundromat. We'll call step one sorting:

Sorting: Ain’t nobody got time for this.  This is an extra chore that is 99% not necessary.  Unless you have specialty fabrics or are particular about how white your whites are, it’s just added  stress and a waste of time.  I don't actually own any white clothes anymore, but if I did I'd run a load of whites with a cup of bleach once a month. I do not own things that can’t survive the washing machine, either.  No delicates, no dry cleaning.  I wash towels with clothes, and sheets together with bedspreads. Cleaning rags and towels have their own basket and get washed when it gets full.

Laundry Detergent: Avoid the very cheapest for the sake of your darks, but there is no need to spring for the most expensive thing on the shelf.  In fact, I make laundry detergent from one part washing soda, one part Borax, and one part soap. A double batch is enough detergent to last three months for a single person. Good recipes can be had all over the internet, so go forth and find yourself one.  If you’re washing in cold water and your tap water is very cold, such as in the winter, you may find it necessary to stir your homemade detergent into a cup of hot water before putting it into the machine. Out of detergent?  A spoonful of dish soap will do in a pinch.  Regardless of whether you’re using store bought or homemade, don’t use too much detergent; it’s bad for the machine, the environment, and your clothes.  We do not want to buy new clothes until we absolutely have to, right?  Right.

Fabric Softener: I recently saw a headline about how Millennials are killing the fabric softener industry.  The truth is, they are prioritizing groceries and lights over luxuries like Downy.  If you must have it and can afford it, go ahead.  Measure carefully but don’t dilute unless the package says so.  Fabric softener sheets are a good alternative, if you are using a dryer.  Here at Brokest Minimalist, we use a Downy ball with white vinegar in it.  The vinegar cuts soap residue, softens most fabrics, and is much cheaper.  Plus it’s versatile enough to be used for cleaning as well.  An added bonus is that it doesn’t reduce the absorbency of your towels like regular fabric softener does.

Water:  Set your washer on Tap Cold. Yes, really.  Unless your clothes are very greasy, almost anything can be washed in cold water and will get just as clean.  It isn’t so much the temperature of the water or even the detergent that does the washing, as much as it is the action of the clothes rubbing against each other inside the machine.  Anything that’s machine washable can be washed in cold water, period.

Settings: On our machine at home, clothes go on “casual” and sheets/bedspreads on “heavy duty”. Don’t stress too much about this.  Choose a water level that is appropriate to how full the machine is, add your stuff, and go ahead.

Drying:  Here at Brokest Minimalist, we don’t dry anything in the dryer.  Why?  Because air dries stuff for free, that’s why.  Clothes dryers are one of the most frivolous uses of electricity in the modern world.  They are also one of the number one causes of fire in the United States, after candles and cooking fires.  Unless you are in a huge hurry, hang your clothes to dry. Outdoors if possible, as sun dried clothing smells much better than any fabric softener does.  You don’t even have to spend all afternoon pinning stuff to a clothesline like your great-grandma did, either! Our system is beautiful in its simplicity.  We take our clothes out of the washing machine, hang them on clothes hangers, and then hang the hangers on the clothesline.  If you have a smooth line, tie knots in it or use clothespins to keep stuff from sliding back and forth in the breeze.  If you don’t have a line, put one up or buy a portable or retractable one. In summer your clothes will be dry within an hour in direct sunlight, which is a comparable time to many dryers.  If it’s raining, you can hang them indoors over curtain rods, from your mantel, or on your shower curtain rod.  Even if it’s freezing outside, in direct sunlight your clothes will dry within a few hours. For free.  No kidding.  And UV light is a great sanitizer if you’re worried about germs! Here we hang our and towels and unmentionables on racks purchased from Amazon, such as this and this.  Another tidbit we have figured out, is that there is no need to wait until daylight to hang your clothes. In the old days it was nigh unheard of, but there’s no harm.  The morning dew won’t make your wet clothes wetter.   Do you work nights?  Do a load of laundry after you get home from work and hang it out to dry, even if it’s midnight.  It will be dry by lunchtime tomorrow.   This saves wear and tear on your clothes, it saves electricity, it won’t create extra static like the dryer, and hanging stuff is kind of a nice, meditative way to spend a few minutes. Take some deep breaths of fresh air, reflect on your day, let go of some anxiety.

Does all of this sound too complicated? Written down it’s a lot, but let us take you through a load of laundry we just did.  For the record, it is currently one o'clock in the morning.  It’s 31 degrees outside.

1) Put clothes in washer.  Not sorted, just all the clothes in the hamper or off your floordrobe, dumped into the washing machine.

2) It’s cold out, so put a tablespoon of detergent into a cup of hot water and stir.  Pour in washer. Put white vinegar in Downy ball, toss in washer.

3) Push start button and go do something else.  Read, take a nap, cook, clean bathroom. Write a long-winded Tumblr post.  Whatever.

4) When load is done, hang everything on hangers/racks still wet.  This is the longest part, and it takes 5-7 minutes, max. You can do it while watching tv or listening to music.

5) Carry your hung up clothes outdoors to the clothesline and hang them up, or to whatever indoor location you have deemed fit if it is raining.

These will be dry in a few hours except for very heavy things like thing hoodies or jeans, those may take longer.  Yes, even if it’s cool outside.  As long as there is direct sunlight, they will dry.  When you’re ready, bring them in. All the clothes are already on hangers, so just stick them in your closet.

Once upon a time we had a lot of drama about laundry.  We had fights over whose turn it was, how much Tide to put in, and who was going to clean the lint trap.  When the dryer broke, I absolutely agonized over the three hundred dollars it would take to buy a new one.  That three hundred dollars meant going without cable for two months, it meant scrimping for groceries and paying a late fee on the phone bill.  It was more than an entire paycheck, just to dry clothes!

Today that same dryer is sitting in our laundry room in disuse.  We have it, for emergencies.  A drink spilled on a work shirt, perhaps, that needs to be worn in 30 minutes.  It’s good for fluffing up pillows, on the no-heat setting. It wasn’t worth the stress or the tears or the three hundred dollars we put into it all those years ago.  It’s basically a glorified shelf for our detergent now:

So today, I challenge you, broke person.  Don’t wear those grungy jeans for one more day.   Do a load of laundry, as frugally as you can.  Measure your detergent carefully, hang your clothes to dry.  Your clothes will last longer, your utility bill will be lower, and you will have a few minutes of peace and quiet outside.  It’s less wear and tear, less electricity, and less stress, and that’s a minimalist win.

If you do choose to dry your clothes in a dryer, beware of over-drying as that can cause static and extra wear and tear on your clothes.  Clean out your lint trap, it will make your clothes dry faster and reduce the risk of fire.  If you are too broke to have dryer sheets, wool dryer balls are pretty cheap and effective for fabric softening and reducing static.  We have also heard that you could use tennis balls or a couple balls of wadded up aluminum foil for this purpose.

Happy washing!

Some links: homemade detergent at TSD, and Mr. Electricity’s opinion on dryers.

[arlome]

Drabble Me This

Okay, friends, here be all the prompts I owe you! I apologize in advance, they’re not what I usually provide you with - in order to actually fill them all out I opted for drabble/drabble-adjacent form. I hope you’re happy with them, nonetheless!

 For @bluecityrose:

1. Casual touch, bed, a distraction (Phrack):

There’s blood in his lungs, there’s mud in his eyes, there’s death in his heart. A scream rises in his belly – deep, deep down, pressing on his kidneys, treading on his spleen – and spills as dying gurgles from the ashes of his throat. It goes on and on, he’s shaking, trembling; there’s pressure on his left side, hot, burning –

He wakes gasping to find her pressed to him, her eyes wet and fingers gentle. She touches his arm, she touches his ribs, she kisses his shoulder.

“You’re safe, Jack,” she mumbles into his neck. “You’re safe, darling.”

He lets her distract him.

 2. Bumping shoulders together, piano bench, fun (Phrack):

The number he’s playing is nothing short of bewitching. His fingers are flying on the keys – caressing, kissing, making love to the blacks, romancing the whites – masterful strokes by masterful hands.

She slides onto the bench next to him as his hands still, bumps her shoulder against his.

“What sort of witchcraft is this, Inspector Robinson?” she asks, beyond charmed.

He flushes rather prettily and smiles self-deprecatingly at the keys.

“It’s called “The Crave”,” he says, giving the keys a little wobble. “By Jelly-Roll Morton. My brother and I heard it played by someone who met Jelly-Roll in Chicago last year. And, well, I picked it up.”

Clever, clever man.

She leans into him, her red lips pressed to the spot below his ear.

“Well, I know a little something about craving.”

He smiles.

 3. Speaking against skin, bathroom, happiness (Rosie/Jack):

He stands before the basin wearing nothing but his trousers, the blade gliding down his sharp cheek with immaculate precision. There’s steam rising from the water, clouding the mirror; she can hear the clink of the razor hitting the ceramic bowl as he rinses it out.

Her eyes half-masted, she lounges in bed, still warm from his caresses, but the strong lines of his back beckon.  He’s a masterpiece of strong arms and broad shoulder, of lean musculature and wiry sinews. And the way he moves between her thighs –

She hides her blush between his shoulder blades, wraps her arms around his slender hips. The blade halts in its descent.  

“I’d have you spend the rest of the day in my bed, Constable Robinson,” she sighs against his skin.

He drops the razor in the water and turns in her embrace. Only one side of his face is clean-shaven.

“Time and crime wait for no man, Mrs Robinson,” he replies cheekily, and she rolls her eyes at him. That man and his puns.

But ever the generous lover, he leans to press kisses to her lips, her nose, her ear.

“I shall die in thy lap tonight, Rosie,” he rasps, and the promise sinks low in her belly.

It’s only after he’s gone for the day that she realises there’s shaving cream on the tip of her nose.

 For @whopooh :

4. Tracing fingers over skin, friends or relative’s house, as a distraction (Rosie/Jack):

She’d never thought she’d lose her virginity against the door of her father’s study - during her own engagement party, no less – but here they are.

It all starts innocently enough -she touches his wrist; he’s got his hand on the small of her back – it’s nothing short of chaste and above-board, and she – the epitome of virtue and chastity.  

Until she isn’t.

It takes but a minute to drag him down the corridor when no-one’s looking, another to start fumbling with his crisp suit. And bless him - he tries to be noble - but she burns, and burns for him; she has no use for men of God or magistrates. She’s his and he is hers, and the door is a good place as any to affirm the connection.  

He’s pressing into her with all the eagerness of a man in love and kisses her with tenderness tenfold. And afterwards, they giggle and blush, sharing his now thoroughly soiled handkerchief, and kiss with teeth.

There’re specks of dried blood on her inner thighs for the rest of the evening. She doesn’t give a jot.

 For Anon no’ 1:

5. Scratching back/scalp, kitchen, no reason at all (Phrack):

Mr Butler rises early, even on Sundays. It’s not because of his job – he’s always been an early riser, even in his youth – but rather because he doesn’t like missing time. Besides, Mrs Butler had always been especially fond of mornings.

He enters the kitchen at half-past-six and starts on the eggs; he’s got a feeling they’d be in high demand soon. As will be a pot of tea, and some toast, no doubt. Better add some biscuits, and Dorothy’s scrumptious nut loaf, too; they’d never go to waste.

Sure enough, at quarter-to-seven, he can hear the tell-tale groan of the stairs, and a following “good morning, Mr Butler,” mumbled in a familiar, deep voice, still raspy with sleep. He turns around, smiling amicably, and gestures towards one of the chairs.

“Good morning, Inspector,” he greats the immaculately dressed man. “Would you care for some eggs, and the paper?”

Something lights up behind the still slumbering eyes of the younger man when Mr Butler starts plating the eggs and toast.

“Thank you, Mr Butler,” he says gratefully, and takes a sip of tea, sighing in content at the warmth.

“Is it to the station today, Inspector?” the older man asks, in genuine curiosity. “On a Sunday?”

The man colours a little and lowers his toast.

“I took Detective Herrington’s shift,” he explains, clearing his throat. “His wife is unwell, and I don’t mind, really.”

Mr Butler smiles pleasantly and nods. He really is quite fond of the Inspector.

He excuses himself to his duties after a while - the silver needs a good polish – and retreats to the pantry, to give the younger man his space. He’s right in the midst of polishing a rather stubborn knife when the stairs creak again; a discreet, inquisitive peak reveals Miss Fisher, still sleep-tussled, entering the kitchen.

The paper doesn’t move as she draws closer, but the smile on her face indicates that the reader has noticed her arrival.  She reaches the Inspector’s chair, and leans over his shoulder, stroking her fingers into his coiffed hair and causing him to groan in protest. Her laughter is low and husky and is all too endearing to the man in the chair, if the lowered paper and the soft smile on his face are any indications. When he reaches for Miss Fisher and pulls her into his lap, causing his teacup to rattle on the table, Mr Butler averts his gaze, smiling.

After all, the silver needs a good polish.

 For @firesign23 :

6. Hooking chin over shoulder, hospital, writer’s own idea (Phrack):

There’s a raid and it’s ugly, as these things often tend to be. He knows it, Collins knows it – hell, even Mrs Collins knows is – and yet…

Phryne comes up from behind him, hugs his waist and hooks her chin over his shoulder.

“I ordered Dot to go home and rest,” she murmurs softly, kissing the wool of his suit jacket; he can feel the pressure of her lips through the fabric. “She shouldn’t be running around so close to her time, no matter the circumstances.”

He nods absent-mindedly, his eyes glued to the immobile figure on the bed. This should never have happened. He should never have –

“Jack,” Phryne’s voice is tender and gentle, and he has to physically restrain himself – he mustn’t flinch, he mustn’t – “this isn’t your fault.”

He nods mutely again.

Then why does it feel like it is?

  For @aurora-australis-tumbles:

7. Hooking chin over shoulder, floor, habit (Rosie/Jack):

They lie on the rug before the hearth, sated and bested.

He’s flat on his belly, eyes closed, and she traces the scars on his back in heart-breaking finality, her fingers trembling over the puckered flesh.

It cannot go on, she knows it, and she suspects he does, as well. This – the frenzied joining of bodies, the heated kissing of skin – is all they have left of their crumbling marriage; nothing to show for but a quiet house and a few fleeting moments of ecstasy.

“Jack,” her voice shakes as she presses a kiss to his shoulder. “I want a divorce.”

He stiffens, doesn’t turn, but his voice is soft and tender when he answers, “whatever you want, Rosie.”

She hooks her chin over his shoulder, years of habit coming to her aid, and kisses his cheek. She’s not the least bit surprised to find it as wet as hers.

“I love you still,” she mutters against his jawline, feels the slight spasm in the muscles.

“And I, you, Rosie,” he answers, his voice hoarse with feeling. “Always.”

They lie entwined for hours until the night is out.

 8. Playing with hair, sofa, for the first time (Phrack):

The bottle of Italian wine is consumed rather swiftly, followed by two cocktails and quite a few tumblers of her best single malt. Jack and Phryne, a little past tipsy, abandon all pretence at properness and decorum, and sit so close on the chase, that they all but appear fused together.

His hand traces the strands of her raven hair very softly, and she wonders whether he’s aware of the action at all.

“Do you regret it, Jack?”

He turns to look at her upturned face. Her eyes are a little moist and worried, the clear emotion shining through; her intoxicated mind is bringing down the walls, brick by brick.

His lips still tingle from that kiss, from being pressed to foreign lips, from tasting a mouth that wasn’t hers. He knows his own heart now; there’s no more doubt.

“Not a thing,” he vows, fingers dancing down the nape of her neck.

She sighs into his shoulder, finally at ease.

 For @thewillowbends:

9. Holding hands, train compartment, nostalgia (Phrack):

The train ride is as uneventful as they come, which – frankly – comes as quite the shock.

She flips the pages of her book in clear boredom, not paying the slightest attention to the words.

From across the table, her partner glances at her fondly over his newspaper.

“Getting bored with the quiet life, Miss Fisher?” he asks cheekily, to which she sighs quite dramatically and harrumphs in a rather unladylike manner.

“You’d think they’d at least supply us with a juicy murder or two!”

“I wasn’t aware the option was included in the train fare,” he deadpans and folds the paper.

She rolls her eyes at him, supposedly unimpressed, but the slight curl of her lips tells a different story.

He reaches for her hands.

“Do you remember our previous train ride together, Miss Fisher?”

“I remember there wasn’t much riding involved, Inspector.”

The glint in his eyes borders on wicked.

“I reckon it’s high time we remedied that.”

She can’t discard her book fast enough.

 For @dssculpture:

10. Sitting close enough to press knees together, work, no reason at all (Phrack):

There’s a case, and there’s supper.

They sit to a feast of succulent duck and very good wine. Mr Butler has outdone himself once more.

They talk and laugh and flirt as they discuss the case. There’s light in her eyes, and freedom in his.

Once the food is cleared away, they spread papers and files and evidence all over the dining room table, and huddle close to inspect the facts.

The hours pass, the whisky flows, and facts turn a little blurry. He can smell the sharp scent of her perfume, underlined with just a tinge of sweat; she can feel his warm breath on her neck. Their knees press together.

There’s too much whisky, and too much everything else. He rises to excuse himself; she follows to escort him to the door. The files are left scattered on her table.

He walks home to clear his head.

 11.Tracing fingers over skin, Aunt P’s, Mischief (Phrack):

He’s being wicked again.

Hand slipping under her dress, fingers dancing over sensitive skin – up, up, up; just above her garter, tracing the borders of her French silk – stroke after stroke after stroke. When one daft finger decides to declare war on France, she nearly chokes on the Asparagus Aunt P is so fond of serving at luncheon.

It’s another dreadfully dull affair at the old battle-axe’s – fundraising for this or that cause; she’s there solely to charm – and the poor Inspector is amusing himself in a way that should frankly lead to his arrest. And hers as well, for that matter. She casts a glance in his direction and finds him thoroughly engrossed in his food; below the desk, his finger traces her clit.

She clamps her thighs hard on his hand.

He lifts his head from the plate and raises his eyebrows in challenge.

Why, the smug bastard!

She turns to her aunt in false brightness, determined to take him down a peg.

“Aunt P,” she calls across the table, “did you know, Jack here is eager to hear all about your collection of miniature zebras! About each and every one of them, in fact!”

To her left, she hears Jack try to stifle a horrified groan unsuccessfully, and she smirks in triumph.

After all, two can play this game.

 For Anon no’ 2:

12. Rub arms/back for warmth, rain, stubbornness (Phrack):

The police car breaks down just a few kilometres shy of Melbourne. The rain begins to fall quite heavily precisely four minutes after. Inside the car, the rather miffed pair of passengers sit with their arms crossed and their brows furrowed.

“This wouldn’t have happened if we took my car, Jack!” protests the lady of the two. Her clothes are elegant and expertly tailored, but hardly right for being stranded in the middle of nowhere with a storm brewing.

“On police business, I drive the police motorcar, Miss Fisher,” mutters the man called ‘Jack’, his tone indicating that this is an often-repeated mantra of his. “Besides, none of this would have happened, if – “

“If what, Inspector?”

“You know what, Miss Fisher!”

“Oh! So this is all somehow my fault?”

Thunderous silence descends upon the vehicle in a manner quite resembling the storm outside, and the pair turn to their respective windows. The unwelcome reticence yawns and stretches, engulfing many minutes and impatient little huffs, until it is disturbed by the faint sound of chattering teeth.

The man turns from the window.

“Are you cold, Phryne?” he asks, and his deep voice is now layers softer than it was. There’s caring in that voice, and not a small amount of longing.

“…no.”

“I can hear your teeth chattering, Miss Fisher, and your fingernails are turning blue. Here, take my coat.”

“I don’t need your coat, Jack. I’m perfectly fine as I am.”

“Of course you are,” he answers indulgently, “but take it anyway.”

“I told you, I don’t –“

“Just take the bloody coat, Phryne!”

“…..”

“…..”

“…Jack?”

“Yes, Miss Fisher?”

“I’m still cold.”

He reaches out and rubs her back with great care. She glides closer, huddling for warmth.

“Better?”

“Better.”

Outside, the storm rages.

[arcane-nonsense]

Asra using magic to obscure himself and the apprentice from others views, and teasing them enough to work up to public sex in a moderately busy area.

The Game- Asra x F!Reader

You’re really quite good at bringing out the absolute filthiest in me and I adore you for that.

1.8k words, most of it smut (and don’t worry I’ve got some male/NB action lined up too my dears).

  “Asra, what about these?” You ask, fingers caressing the light yellow silk cloth bolt. “It feels pure enough.”    “Wrong aura.” Asra glanced over at you and the cloth you had in your hands. “But it would look delightful on you. Buy it anyways.” You blush, but tuck the bolt under your arm anyways. You were in the market trying to get the right cloth to construct some new casting clothes, a particularly tricky venture as the clothes only allowed as much flexibility in casting as the fabric inherently permitted with its quality and traits.    “What about this?” Red cotton, light but vibrant. Asra tilted their head from side to side, then shook it.    “Too loud.”    “This?” Grey wool. Another no. Over a dozen suggestions, each shot down. Finally, you were fed up. “What exactly am I looking for? I’ve tried just about everything- I might as well give up and cast naked.” You pout, fiddling with the yellow silk under your arm and eyeing the rest of the stall’s contents.    “I fail to see an issue with that.” They reply, lavender eyes twinkling with mischief and a healthy dose of lust as they look you up and down. “Now that you say it-“    “Asraaa.” You whine. “Don’t play with me, I’m trying to actually get something done today.” Still, your cheeks glow pink as you dig through a barrel of ribbons. Asra comes up behind you, one hand barely brushing your hip as they move past, toward another stall. You buy the yellow silk, then run to catch up. Your skin tingles from the almost-contact as you scan the market for their familiar face and white curls. The next stall is empty, but the one after has a lingering spark of their magic. You duck in under the curtains, casting half a glance at the display, and bump right into a bare chest. “Ooh- sorry-“ you straighten up, and almost fall over backwards with a surprised yelp.    “It’s quite alright,” Asra replies, quickly snaking a hand around your waist to steady you. “What do you think?” Between the time you’d last seen them and now, they’d managed to strip out of their day clothes and into a new outfit, much like the ones on the mannequins around the pair of you- it was more a fancy loincloth than anything else. And- you swallowed- slightly translucent.    “You- you’d go out wearing that?” You ask, quickly averting your eyes. The heat was pooling in your cheeks and… elsewhere. The urge to sneak another glance was almost overwhelming.    “What if I did, hmm?” Asra chuckled. “What would you do about it?” You could feel their eyes on you, mischievous and tempting.    “What about this one?” You deflect, turning around and grabbing another similarly skimpy piece, barely more than a few woven threads in the vague shape of a dress.    “For me?” Asra raised an eyebrow, studying it. “Hmm-“    “No, for me.” You reply, eyeing the pink chiffon with a studious expression. “I am a bit hot in this-“    “Don’t tempt me, my dear.” Asra snatches it out of your hands, hastily tucking it back onto the rack. “It’s bad enough as it is having you walking around looking like you already are, for everyone to see.” Cool hands cup the sides of your waist as they whisper the latter phrase into the back of your neck.    “Eep-“ you feel the soft lips brushing the sensitive skin of your nape and flinch away unsuspectingly. “Asra!”    “What?” They chuckle pulling away, leaving you feeling cold despite the heat of the day.    “We’re in public!” You gesture at the crowd just beyond the stall curtain.    “All the better, maybe they’ll finally stop staring quite so hungrily at you if they see me laying my claim on you right in front of them.”    You were not blushing lightly anymore, and you whirled around to meet Asra’s intense gaze with mouth agape. “Asra-“ your words were cut off as their lips crashed down onto yours, before just as quickly being pulled away. Asra tossed a coin into the dish and grabbed your wrist, leading you out the back of the stall and into the square.    “C’mon, lets- ah, fuck.” They curse, pulling you to the side and pressing your back to the stone wall of the building. “Should have known I had no chance of making it.”    “Asra, what-“ a finger on your lips hushes you as you start to protest. They were still wearing the loincloth from the stall and nothing else, everything was practically on display. You feel your master’s magic wash over you a moment later, quickly followed by their mouth capturing your own once again. Confused, but eager nonetheless, you return the gesture. After several hungry seconds, Asra pulls away for air. “Asra, what did you do-“    “Nothing you didn’t force me to do, love.” They reply with a smirk, nimble fingers hooking in the collar of your dress and starting to pull it off your shoulders.    “Asra- there are people-“    “They can’t see us.” Your master replies casually, peppering kisses down your now exposed collarbone. “You left me no choice, you know- waltzing around, looking good enough to eat, oblivious of the effect you had on me-“ they press forward, and you feel something hard press between your legs.    “Oh-“ your eyes go wide as you glance around the crowded square, watching the people pass by on their business, looking right through the pair of you. “Asra what are you planning-“    “I was going to try and make it back to the shop.” They replied between biting hickeys into your skin. “But, well- where’s the fun in that? So we’re going to play a game, love.”    “ A game?” You ask, brow furrowing in confusion. Asra dips down without warning, breath suddenly hot at the hem of your dress- “Asra-“ you squeal.    “Careful, love- they can still hear you.” They flash you a wicked grin before pressing a melee of kisses slowly trailing up your inner thigh. Their hands work up your sides, lifting your dress- Asra takes your panties in their teeth and tugs, hard- you bite your tongue to avoid crying out as they fall apart and leave you bare. You move your hands to cover up, to tug your dress back down, or to do anything at all- but his hands grab your wrists and stop you. “Mm-mm, I don’t think so…” Asra teases, letting go. “That’s not the rules of the game, love.”    “Asr-“ you bite your tongue again as a couple pairs of eyes dart in your direction at the whine that escaped your mouth.    “Tsk tsk, what did I say about being quiet?” Their mouth is right next to your ear, whispering words in heated breaths as it peppers the side of your neck with kisses. “You’ll break the spell if you’re not careful, love.”    “Then we should go back to the shop?” You whisper back. Asra chuckles.    “Now where’s the fun in that.” They lean forward again, and you can feel their excitement physically manifesting in something long and hard pressing at your exposed core through that very thin loincloth. “No fun at all, I think. No, the game must go on.” Hands gripping your hips, Asra twirls you around and pulls you flush against their bare chest, tugging you along as they back up, bracing themselves against a wedge in the wall. Your bare ass is pressed against his crotch, and you feel very keenly exactly where this is going.    “But-“    “Love, don’t pretend you don’t want this. I can feel your arousal, how wet you are.” A hand snakes down and teases the edge of your folds, causing you to wriggle in surprise. Asra wasn’t wrong… “I’m terribly curious.” They whisper in your ear, jutting their hips up a little. “You’ve always been mouthy, will you be able to hold yourself back or will you scream my name just as loudly as you always do?” They chuckle, shortly before the loincloth is discarded. “Curious indeed…”    You gasp sharply as you feel the head of their cock align with the entrance to your pussy, allowing yourself to be pulled back onto their lap as they slowly, agonizingly, guide themselves inside you. The urge to cry out, to moan- it burns hot in your throat as you let Asra guide your hips, rocking you as they thrust into you. Damn you and your creative, mystical, flexible ways. You think as you ride Asra’s cock, doing your best to ignore all the people walking past where you were, hidden by your silence and not much else.    Asra chuckled as you grunted, giving you an extra-deep thrust as an extra challenge. “You do perform well under duress.” They murmur, nibbling at the crook of your neck as you clench your jaw, going red with the effort of not crying out in response. You feel them moving inside you, feel pressure building- Asra was far from an unskilled lover, guiding you expertly as you rode their cock up and down, stuck on their lap with nothing to do but try and keep your moans from spilling out of your treacherous mouth as you came closer and closer to climax.    “Asra-“ you finally squeak out and are rewarded with a sharp bite on your shoulder.    “Hmm, what’s that love? You want to raise the stakes?” One hand leaves your hip, travelling down and forward- Asra’s middle finger brushes up against your clit and you can’t help but throw your head back as your core explodes in a burst of sparks.    “Asra, I-“    “The game, love.” They whisper wickedly in your ear. “We’re playing for keeps, aren’t we?” A fingernail grazes your sensitive nub before being assaulted by Asra’s skilful fingers, working their absolute magic as you unravel in their arms.    “Oh-“ the climax comes no matter how hard you fought it, crashing over you like a tidal wave as you feel Asra release into you, groaning in your ear. You follow a moment behind as you almost bite your tongue in two, failing to suppress your cry. Asra’s free hand grips your throat, cutting off your scream just before it escapes, allowing you to ride the orgasm as stars burst in front of your eyes and you lean back into their warm and welcoming chest, shaking from the release.    “Tsk- you were so close to winning, my love.” Asra murmurs as they pull out, careful to still support you as both of your limbs shake with the aftermath. “Still, with practice-“ they tug your dress down, barely enough to cover the mess that was left. Asra chuckled, picking up the discarded garment.    “A worthy purchase, I think.” They say, watching you with a twinkle in their eye as they wrap it around their waist once more. “Now- shall we continue shopping or would you prefer to head back to the shop and practice some more?”

[littlewalken]

Citrus free Husbands, Aziraphale/Brother Frances comes to the rescue when Crowley/Nanny’s duties to Warlock cause him some distress, woe be them if they are caught in a compromising position!

GOOD OMENS (I couldn’t figure out a title)

“Master Warlock I have told you to stay away from that pond! The ice is much too thin!” 

Aziraphale, in his guise of the gardener Brother Francis, hated scolding the boy, even if he was the Antichrist, but safety was safety, and he had heard the terrible sound of the ice breaking followed by a frantic splashing. 

I shall have to have a word with Nanny Ashtoreth about this, any excuse to see Crowley-eh? he chuckled to himself. “How about you make a snow fort? I’ll show you how…”

As Aziraphel neared the duck pond he saw Warlock and his friends running away from it. All for the better if you don’t want a scolding from your nanny! Where was she? Something was wrong.

At first the ice of the duck pond looked undisturbed. Then he saw the remote controlled vehicle Warlock had got for Christmas. Then he saw the umbrella.

“Oh help! Do help!” Aziraphale called as he made his way out on to the ice. “Someone help! The nanny’s fallen through the ice!”

Now, you should know there are a great many snakes who can swim. There are a great many demons who can swim. None of them however swim in icy water because none of them are the least bit built for the cold. For if you had taken any sort of notice in wildlife documentaries you would have noticed all the creatures of the arctic or antarctic are rather plump with a great covering of blubber. And if you were any sort of noticer of Crowley’s forms the words “plump” and “blubber” would not in the least bit apply to him.

It was by any and all means that Aziraphael managed to pull Crowley out of the icy water. “Oh! Poor nanny!” Aziraphael sighed, just in case anyone was watching. “You’ll catch your death a cold if you’re not warmed up!” 

The house was too far to take a human in wet quickly turning to ice clothes. The gardening supply shed was closer. Yes, get Crowley in there, put on the electric kettle, get him out of these wet things! So may wet things!

Aziraphale set Crowley on a pile of seed sacks in the gardening shed and plugged in the electric kettle. 

“Smudge pot,” he told himself. “I’ll light up a smidge pot!” Yes, even though that would be outside the door it would still put out a good amount of heat. “And then we’ll have to do something with getting you out of those wet clothes!” 

Always the angel was looking to see if someone else was coming, if anyone had heard his cries for help. How awful, just down right awful would it be to have the gardener be caught undressing the nanny!

Now you should assume two things about all of Crowley’s clothes, even in his guise of Nanny Ashtoreth. First they are all black, unless noted otherwise, and they are all made of artificial fabrics. That is, if they were made of natural fabrics such as wool, silk, cotton, or linen, their natural wicking motion might not have left the situation so cold and damp. 

To peel off the layers of the onion that made up Nanny Ashtoreth it was best to start with the outermost first. I hope we don’t have far to go, Aziraphale readied himself for the task ahead. First in removing all of Crowley’s wet things was the furry black muff with its red satin lining. This was hung up to dry. Finding a place to hang things up would soon become a problem of its own. 

Next came a felt cap, which didn’t look like a butter bowl, and a knitted scarf with just the slightest hint of red. The scarf was so wet it could be wrung out. Now it was time for the cloak with its little slits for one’s hands to poke through. The buttons for this were quite large and it seemed like each took a dreadfully long time. On being hung up upon a rake to dry the cloak began to drip as if it were going to worm a pond of its own.

“Here, now, miss Ashtoreth, have a nice warm cuppa.” Aziraphale said as he made a cup of instant tea for Crowley. He looked out the door at the flaming smudge pot. Oh please someone come and help me get her to the warmth of her bed. He put the cup in Crowley’s hand but the demon failed to grab it and the tea spilled to the floor.

The shoes had to come off. Leave it to Crowley to chose boots with countless eyes! The laces were quite frozen over and the boots were so tight the laces had to be pulled completely out to get them free and expose Crowley’s tosey-woseys clad in their stockings. 

One by one the fingers of the gloves were tugged on, loosening them up just enough so they could be removed. The removal of gloves could be a very sensual thing if done right. Done in a hurry they were bunched and pulled and dropped to the floor with a distinct splosh sound.

They were down to the winter version of the suit Nanny Ashtoreth always wore. Aziraphile liked the cut of the jacket, the slightly puffed sleeves, the wide cuffs, the little peplum in the back. It too was sopping wet. Fussing with the buttons the angel wondered if it was time to perform a miracle yet. 

Now it was time for the skirt. The cut of this Aziraphale didn’t like. It was too tight here, too full there, and the drape didn’t do any favors. Like the fasteners, who ever thought that a skirt needed a buckle? 

This would be the perfect time for someone to come upon us! Here is the gardener with the nanny bent over him as he fiddled with the zipper of her skirt! It would be nice if you could come to and help, dear Crowley. 

We must be nearing the end, the angel thought, how could you possibly be wearing much more? But Crowley was still wearing more. For being a demon and used to the fires of Hell he liked being warm and had been told the best way to keep a human body warm was to wear many layers. 

Aziraphale’s fingers went to the red silken bow of the scarf at Crowley’s neck. This was allowed to flutter to the floor because the blouse its self, wet, thin, see-through, and clinging to every inch of what lay underneath it, gave the impression of being real silk. 

“This I must be careful with,” the angel told himself as he cast a glance outside but no one except the smudge pot was watching. But by the third button he could tell the blouse wasn’t real silk and he allowed himself to rush along. 

By this time Nanny Ashtoreth was quite undressed but not completely. She sat on the pile of sacks, eyes presumably closed, looking half dead in a shimmering full length slip and stockings. If circumstances were different one might have found themselves distracted by the sight, admiring the human form that God had created in her own image. But a nearly naked and wet demon was turning a shade of blue that was not becoming to him. 

What few clothes that remained on Crowley’s body were somehow still soaking wet. The slip had to come off over his head, one of the satin ribbon straps was starting to fray, it would need to be replaced, that could be done tonight, nice and new by the morning. 

And still Crowley was wearing more! Under the slip there was a full and sensible brassiere and then some sort of girdle looking garment with suspenders that kept the stockings up. 

Knickers, were there knickers? Did Crowley even wear knickers? 

Yes, all these things seemed to be wet too but not as wet as the outer layers. These would have to remain on. As tempting as it would be to fuss with all the brassiere hooks and all the little clips holding up the stockings this layer of dainty underthings would have to remain.

Aziraphale quickly found a piece of burlap to wrap around Crowley. He thought he heard someone coming. If they were they’d find him outside at the smudge pot trying to dry his smock.

“How are you doing in there, miss Ashtoreth, feeling warmer yet?”

Warlock’s mother had come looking cold and quite worried, “Warlock said nanny Ashtoreth fell through the ice.”

“Oh, it’s not quite as bad as that but I’m afraid she’s quite cold,” Aziraphale said. “She should get promptly to bed though. I’ve been trying to warm her up, but slowly mind you, too fast might cause shock.”

***

Nanny Ashtoreth lay in her bed wearing a flannel nightgown under many layers of blankets. 

Brother Francis came in with a bouquet of winter flowers. “Feeling better are we, Miss Ashtoreth?”

“Yes, much warmer.” 

“I saw your clothes to the laundry for you.”

“Thank you, brother Francis.” 

Aziraphael looked around to see that they were indeed alone and leaned close to Crowley to whisper, “You could have lent us a hand with a few things there.”

“And deny you of all that fun?”

[dudleyguildford]

Fluff #8 robron 👀 bonus points if it reminds you of our Hogwarts au

you know the way to my heart @robertisbisexual​ 💖

“okay, where are all my jumpers?”

It starts with a Quidditch game.

Robert’s been boxed in on both sides by two bastard Gryffindor chasers and they won’t let up. It doesn’t help that he can’t see anything because of the sodding rain whipping at his face and eyes, bruised clouds roiling above him like a tidal wave. He can hear his team mate screaming at him to ditch the mutts but they have him pinned, the pair of them grinning eagerly. He forces his broom down, attempting to extricate himself, but they follow at his heels, refusing to let him slip away. He weaves and twists, yelling obscenities at them, but still they crush in, laughing all the while. 

And then he sees one of the pillar’s up ahead, takes a calculated risk, and heads straight for it. It’s a game of chicken, daring them to follow him when he’s going to plough head-first into solid wood. But they’re Gryffindors through and through, pride is sort of their thing, so they speed up to match his pace, the three of them shooting forwards, just waiting for the moment one of them breaks.

Later, he’ll be smug at the fact that he didn’t swerve. The chasers double back at the last possible second, but Robert doesn’t have the time to do the same, and careers through the bright red fabric billowing in the rain and smacks off the timber behind. 

He wakes on the wet sand, broom somehow in tact but his nose most definitely not. Blood pools warm and overly-sweet in his mouth and he groans, curling into himself as his team rush around him. Someone asks if he’s dead and he mutters a mangled, bitter retort, head ringing. He wipes a hand across his face, wincing, and then winces again when he realises the sleeve of his jumper is now stained scarlet. The Slytherin badge across his heart has taken a similar battering, smattered with blood, and he sits up, using the falling rain water to try and wipe it clean. 

A hand appears in front of him to haul him upright and he takes it without thinking, realising too late who it belongs to. Aaron Dingle stands before him, dark hair almost black from the rain and agonisingly windswept, those muscular arms barely concealed by his fiery red cloak. 

“Game’s over,” he says matter-of-factly. “You should get cleaned up.” 

He’s gone before Robert can answer with a biting, sarcastic remark, flanked by his ever-loyal friends. Robert shrugs off the help of his own team, refusing to let any of them in, and stalks off to the changing room. It’s only once he’s washed the blood off his face and stripped out of his ruined clothes that he realises he’s been left something. A red and gold jumper, the letter ‘A’ scrawled onto the label inside, is sat waiting for him. A note is stuck onto the collar: You never know. Might suit you.

Robert only picks it up for a moment, just a second to know how the thick wool feels in his hands, before throwing it back onto the bench where he hopes it will be discarded with the rest of the rubbish.

The next time it happens, a potion’s just blown up in his face. Literally.

Priya rolls her eyes at his utter stupidity, immediately requesting a partner who actually knows what they’re doing, while Robert attempts to wipe whatever substance is coated in his hair and down his front. Professor Pollard looks on with mild amusement, which Robert makes a mental note of so that he can complain yet again about the man’s lack of professionalism, before asking if anyone has any spare clothes Robert might be able to borrow.

Despite the Quidditch incident, he’s still surprised when Aaron steps forward to offer the jumper he’s currently got slung over the back of his chair. 

“I’m not wearing that!” Robert exclaims, nose wrinkling at the very idea.

“Like any of us want you wearing our colours,” chimes in Adam Barton, who Robert dislikes for a number of reasons, the primary one being his attachment to Robert’s younger sister. 

Aaron, on the other hand, looks unfazed by Robert’s outburst, still holding out the jumper. “You want it or not?” he asks, gaze intent, and Robert finds himself unable to speak. Professor Pollard eventually answers for him.

“Put it on, Robert, and then try your Draught of Peace again. This time following the instructions.” 

His hands curl around the offending garment and Aaron returns his focus back on the work in front of him, leaving Robert to silently wonder what is going on, before reluctantly pulling the jumper over his head. It smells a little of pine needles and earth and sweat, and despite Aaron being a few inches shorter than him, the jumper fits well on the sleeves, which only leaves Robert to assume that on Aaron his hands must disappear completely. It’s an oddly endearing idea, and one which is confirmed when Robert’s thumb grazes the loose threads which have come undone at the cuff from having been pulled repeatedly over Aaron’s knuckles. 

It’s such a small detail but it feels like an intrusion all the same, like a secret only Aaron, and now Robert, know anything about. Something just for them alone. Robert carries the knowledge of it with him all lesson, and is so distracted by the image of Aaron, lion-hearted and brave as he is, with his hands permanently covered by the folds of his jumper, that he almost causes his new draught to explode in much the same way as the last.

Professor Pollard shouts at him to pay attention for once, and when Robert huffs a sigh, he’s sure he sees Aaron give him what very much looks like an encouraging smile.

When Christmas hits, Robert finds himself wandering the abandoned corridors of Hogwarts alone. His father had naturally written to say he expected him home – not wanted of course, just expected – and Vic had practically dragged him towards the carriage in a bid to get him on the train, but in the end he had dug his heels in. 

“I have my exams soon. I need to stay here to study,” he had argued, which was only partly a lie. He did need to focus on his work, especially if he wanted to get decent grades in a bid to find himself a generously-paid career… and some much-needed freedom. But mostly he had no intention of returning home to the place where his mother had tragically lost her life only a few years ago. Andy, ironically, had never seemed to let it bother him, and had ushered Vic away with the promise that Christmas would likely be easier all round if Robert stayed where he was.

The school had been kind enough to put on a generous spread for those children who had no family, or whose families had no interest in their children. He had sat at the Slytherin table with a handful of other students, refusing to chat and instead eating his dinner quickly and in silence before making a hasty retreat. 

The boys had set up a small Christmas tree in the common room before they all left for home, and Robert sits on Christmas Eve, watching the candles flicker against the pine needles, and opens up the few, small presents which Jack had sent through. It amounts to no more than a few textbooks, a wand cleaner and a new quill. The tags attached are blunt and to the point, talking about the practicalities of each item without displaying any kind of warmth. Robert hadn’t expected anything else.

And now he finds himself wandering the halls in the dark, the portraits of various historical figures and long-dead professors chatting to each other as he heads back along to Slytherin’s quarters. They hiss as the light from his wand blinds them, asking him to put it out immediately, and he ignores each of them in turn, much to their annoyance. 

The chambers, which have always been a place of refuge for him, feel strangely eerie on his own. The green water laps at his window and in the distance he sees the murky shadow of the lake’s Giant Squid darting down into the freezing depths. He drifts off imagining himself floating into the darkness as well, only to wake with a start what feels like moments later, even though it’s now bright outside.

He foregoes breakfast, instead staying in bed to languish while his cat, Cassie, pads on his stomach before curling, warm and content, on his lap. Her charcoal fur is soft beneath his fingers and he spends an hour or so just staring at the wall opposite, remembering Christmases past when his mother was still alive. 

By the time he shuffles along to the Common Room, it’s gone twelve. His feet are a little chilly and he sets the fire alight with his wand before sitting by its flames. Cassie follows him, circling the Christmas tree and batting at some of the decorations with a mischievous paw. She settles eventually next to a parcel wrapped in gaudy, gold paper that’s been tucked close to the trunk. Robert sighs, wondering which of his fellow Slytherins has forgotten to take it with them, but startles when he reads his own name on the tag.

The parcel is soft and pliant and Robert squeezes it, wondering if it might be some kind of hexed cushion that will attack him, but after several seconds of waiting, his curiosity wins out. He almost laughs once the paper is ripped off. The Gryffindor jumper is new, unlike the one which had been offered to him a few weeks earlier, and on the label, rather than the familiar letter ‘A’ is in fact a similarly written ‘R’. He strokes a thumb across it, and Cassie, equally curious, rubs her head against the Gryffindor crest before meowing. 

“You’re supposed to be on my side,” he mutters, snorting a laugh when she rubs her head again against the scarlet and gold wool, her approval evident. Since you like mine so much, the scrawled note says. Robert smirks. It wouldn’t hurt, he supposes, and with absolutely no one to see him and therefore judge, he doesn’t have much to lose.

He wears it for the whole of Christmas day, hiding it beneath his cloak when he attends lunch and dinner, and doesn’t think too deeply about why he finds himself suddenly chatting to the students at his table or apologising to the portraits for disturbing them when he does a little midnight tour of the halls again. And if he happens to fall asleep with the jumper still on… well, it’s only because he was feeling the chill.

One minute Robert’s being shoved back against a timber beam and the next he has a tongue down his throat. He’s not complaining. Given the choice between a punch to the jaw and a breath-stealing kiss, he will always choose the latter, but still. This isn’t entirely what he had expected.

Aaron’s got hands everywhere, so much so that Robert almost wants to make some kind of squid-inspired joke, but frankly his head is no longer in the driving seat and he doesn’t have the wherewithal to string together a sentence, let alone attempt to make Aaron laugh.

The match had ended a good twenty minutes earlier – Slytherin’s scraping into the lead at the last minute with a less-than-legal point which had naturally sent their opposing side into a tailspin. Aaron had been the most aggressive, even threatening to hit one of Robert’s teammates for daring to smile about the outcome. Possibly if Robert had kept his mouth shut, they wouldn’t be where they are now, and he’s never been more glad at his lack of reason and logic when it comes to arguments. 

“Off,” Aaron growls, already tugging at Robert’s jumper. He lifts his arms so Aaron can pull it over his head before doing the same with his own. It’s February, not far off Valentine’s Day, and Robert’s skin recoils at the wind’s knife-edge sharpness which cuts him to the quick. But then Aaron’s hands are back on him, burning through to the bone, and he shivers for a different reason entirely.

He’s never been kissed like this. There’s been plenty of touching and far too many sloppy mouths and desperate moans all screaming inexperience, but there’s never been anything like this. Robert gives himself willingly, happy for Aaron to control the pace which feels, right now, like a runaway train. He bucks his hips when Aaron’s hand finds his arse, gasping into each other’s open mouths. It’s not enough and too much all at once, and Robert’s head is spinning with the feel of Aaron all around him. 

It takes a little more concentrated effort when it comes to their trousers. Buttons and zips have to be fumbled with, and the sight of Aaron’s erection almost does for Robert right there and then. They go still, no longer panting, barely even breathing, as Robert takes them both in his hand. He knows what he likes, but it takes him a couple of strokes to realise that Aaron likes things a little looser, a little faster. He’s more impatient than Robert would have imagined, and it builds to a crescendo without warning, the pair of them spilling over before either have properly gotten time to savour it. 

In the ensuing embarrassment, Aaron’s cheeks flaming and Robert’s eyes darting everywhere but at the boy in front of him, they don’t focus on who is wearing what. They agree to leave separately, avoid any potential questions. Robert heads straight for the Slytherin chambers, glaring at the curious and confused looks he gets as he marches down the corridor. It’s only once he’s safely back in his room that he realises why everyone had been so pointedly staring at him.

It’s barely dawn and his stomach is growling, but he’s truly never felt happier.

Aaron is a furnace curled against his side, one palm splayed flat across Robert’s heart while the other is lodged somewhere under the pillow. He’s snuffling in his dreams, quiet little huffs of air which make Robert grin, and every now and again he’ll press himself even closer as if trying to fuse their bodies into one. 

It’s the first time Robert has slept in this bed. Aaron’s bed. It sends a thrill up his spine, thinking about them hastily casting silencing charms around the four poster, legs getting tangled in the sheets as they discarded their clothes. It had been building for months now. Longer, really, if Robert was being honest. It had been years of harsh words and bitter remarks, the push and pull of two hearts yearning without knowing it, before eventually all that anger and frustration had melted into careful glances and coy smiles and tentative, but hopeful touches. 

And now they’re here. Lying together with the curtains drawn, light just filtering in through the cracks, as the Gryffindor boys sleep soundly, blissfully unaware of Robert and Aaron’s late night… activities.

He thinks of his mother, of her gentle eyes and her supportive words, thinks of her hand on his shoulder telling him things would be all right. And he can’t help but think of his father too, what he’ll have to say about it all. You always said Gryffindor was the only good house, Robert thinks, and turns to press a kiss against Aaron’s forehead. Maybe Jack will be happy his son has found himself someone noble to love, someone brave and bold and fierce just like Jack had always hoped Robert would be. Of course, the fact that that person happens to be a boy… 

He turns back to the morning light, refusing to let today be spoiled. It feels like the beginning of something huge and terrifying, a new era of sorts. He can almost feel the seismic shift of the world beneath him, as if the planet itself has realised the monumental journey he and Aaron have been on to reach this moment, and is equally as shaken by it. 

He lets his fingers trail down the ridges of Aaron’s spine, feels the hollow dips at the base which make Aaron squirm and groan against Robert’s shoulder.

“Morning,” he whispers, and grins because he always thought Aaron was the sort of madman who rose with the sun, but in actual fact he’s the complete opposite, fighting tooth and nail for an extra few minutes of sleep. His hair, normally styled with some kind of product which Aaron’s muggle cousin had gave him, is now manic and utterly beautiful. It’s a cloud on top of his head, pure fluff, and Robert buries his face in it, the curls tickling his nose and cheeks.

“Ger’off,” he hears Aaron mumble but Robert can see the corner of a smile mostly hidden by the duvet and knows he's secretly enjoying every second of it.

He kisses his temple, then his cheek, then his nose, until eventually Aaron disintegrates into uncontrollable laughter, a giggling mass that Robert wraps himself around. His mouth aches from smiling so much but he won’t force it down, not this morning. 

They stay curled around each other under the covers for a good ten minutes or so, staring into each other’s eyes, not saying a word. Occasionally Aaron lifts his chin and Robert answers with a kiss, or a brush of noses, or just a simple smile that Aaron is only too happy to reciprocate. But eventually the cold April air finds them and Aaron shivers, rubbing at his bare arms and sliding out of the bed to get something warm to pull on.

He sits hunched on the floor, pulling out various garments, before eventually whispering: “Okay, where are all my jumpers?”

Robert watches with amusement, knowing the answer but wary of saying it aloud. He waits until Aaron has almost taken every item of clothing he owns and dumped it on the floor, then finally says: “I don’t think they’re in there.”

Aaron huffs a sigh and looks up at him from where he’s kneeling by the bed. “They’ve got to be.”

Robert fights a grin but loses badly. “They’re really not.”

“Do you know summat I don’t?” 

He laughs into a pillow, currently picturing his own chest of drawers with the rather generous pile of red and gold jumpers all folded inside, and says: “I think they might all be in my room.”

There’s a beat of silence where Aaron just sits and digests this information, before he finally answers with an incredulous: “You what?”

“Well you did keep giving them to me,” Robert argues, but he breaks into laughter again almost immediately. He can’t help it, what with Aaron’s eyebrows practically reaching his hairline.

“Are you telling me you’ve got all my jumpers stashed in your room?” he clarifies, and Robert presses his lips together, nodding.

“Pretty much.”

Aaron stares at him, stunned, but thankfully after another few seconds his own smile creeps back. “I knew you liked them.”

Robert thinks about all those nights spent alone, pining for a boy he wasn’t sure liked him back, sat in his boxers and a Gryffindor jumper, the sleeves tugged over his hands just like Aaron. Thinks about the mornings, before his roommates had woken, stood in front of the mirror and imagining what his life might have been like if he’s been sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin. He thinks of the weekends and holidays without his family, and finding comfort in Cassie’s fur and his collection of Aaron’s jumpers which still smelt of him if Robert buried his face deep enough. 

“Maybe,” he answers, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He’s still not good with vulnerability, and every confession he gives Aaron exposes him a little further, opens him up more to rejection. So it’s a relief when he feels the bed dip with Aaron’s weight, and feels a hand at the side of his neck, warm and heavy.

“Say it,” Aaron murmurs, but it’s not a demand. It’s a plea. “Say it.”

He looks up, those blue eyes ensnaring him like a honey trap, and he gets so lost that his mouth moves before he can think. “I like them,” he admits quietly, and because he’s already too far down the hole, says: “I like them ‘cause they’re yours.”

Aaron’s expression flickers like an old reel of film, smarting a little at the honesty. Robert’s learned not to be afraid of it, learned that Aaron’s just as scared of all this as he is. 

“Soft.” It’s the gentlest of accusations and Robert chances a smile. Aaron catches it, returns one of his own, and the warmth of it blooms sweet and true inside his chest.

“Want me to stop?”

Aaron hums his disagreement, stretching to draw the curtain back over and plunge them back into darkness. “Not just yet,” he whispers, seeking out Robert’s lips and pulling the duvet over their heads.

[wemcgeevintage]

(More) Sustainable Laundry Care for your Everyday (Vintage) Wardrobe

-as you build and refresh your sustainably sourced wardrobe focus on natural fibers-

Every time we wash and dry our clothes millions of micro fibers are shed and released into either the water or the air. Best for those fibers to be cotton, linen, wool, silk, hemp, etc. rather than plastic (synthetics like polyester, nylon, anything with stretch) which doesn’t biodegrade and will eventually make its way into our food or water supply chain.

read more about microfiber pollution here!

-wash less often-

kind of obvious, but always good to remember that washing garments less saves water, electricity, and prolongs the life of the garment itself. In our home only athletic gear, undergarments and babywear get washed after one use. Jeans, blouses, sweaters, office wear, everything else can usually be re-worn at least a few times.

hot tip: when it comes to extending your tops and dresses for 2-3 wears before washing, finding a natural deodorant that works for you (I love the Weleda spray) and wearing natural fibers will help reduce stinky sweat production and prevent creepy antiperspirant related staining. I’m also a big proponent of sourcing everyday pieces that have a loose fit through the armscye (the place where your shoulder turns into your arm) for ease of movement but also breathability.

a little guide to healthiest deodorant products via EWG

hotter tip: if you frequently like to wear fitted retro styles, I know a lot of women like underarm protectors, which can be pinned or tacked in and can help avoid anxiety-inducing wet washing of vintage fabrics or extra trips to the dry cleaner.

-dry less often-

when you do a load of wash, consider what items can be hung to dry. I use a folding rack and for garments that aren’t heavy/don’t stretch, hangers on the shower curtain rod. Some items *do* benefit from a little fluff in the dryer to soften and de-wrinkle them a bit. I suggest letting them mostly air dry then popping them in the dryer for a quick 15 minute finish. Once again, saves electricity, reduces fiber shedding and prolongs the life of garments. Outdoor lines are awesome too, especially on breezy sunny days. if you have the outdoor space to set one up you should def go for it. Ours is retractable so it doesn’t get in the way of other yard activities when not in use.

-wash with cold water-

Most of our clothes do not need hot water to clean them. Use a cold cycle to save hot water and prolong clothing life. Generally in garment care, exposure to high direct heat should be avoided where possible. less heat = longer life. We generally use warm/hot water only for kitchen/bath linens, gym wear, and soiled baby clothes.

-use an EWG highly rated laundry detergent-

probably the easiest step we can take towards a more sustainable laundry practice is finding a healthier detergent. There are so many eco-friendly, “natural” detergent options out there. I love the Environmental Working Group’s list of rated products. It will help you find one that works for you and that you can easily pick up at one of your local retailers. Generally avoid fragrance (fragrance = chemicals) or any kind of deodorizing, anti bacterial, anti wrinkle, products. These all have more chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic (aka cancer causing) or endocrine disrupting (aka fuck with your hormones + reproductive health). 

access the EWG Laundry List here!

Hot tip: if you want to get real real with it you can make your own detergent using a handful of natural ingredients. There are tons of tutorials online. This one has only 3 ingredients! If you are already using homemade detergent and love it, let me know what you’re doing! It’s on my “To Try” list!!

-avoid dryer sheets and fabric softener-

I’ve used pretty neutral language so far, but dryer sheets are basically cancer causing/endocrine-disrupting chemical delivery systems. LOL. But seriously, they are loaded with fabric softener which is loaded with chemicals you do not need or want on or near your body, in your home, or released into the environment. not only that, they aren’t great for your clothes! 

but you don’t have to take my word for it:

“Not only does fabric softener not do what it promises, but it also prevents the fabrics from functioning the way they’re designed. With regular use of fabric softeners or dryer sheets, activewear becomes less breathable, children’s clothing becomes less flame-retardant, and towels become less absorbent.” 

full (and very compelling) article from apartment therapy here!

Wool dryer balls are a good natural alternative. They can last up to a year, help fluff your clothes, speed the drying process, and have naturally occurring lanolin which is nature’s conditioner. I haven’t done it myself, but I think you can even use essential oil with them to add a little natural scent to the laundry cycle, now that you’ve cut out all those nasty artificial fragrances.

dryer balls can be found at more holistic grocers (even Wholefoods) or local co-ops and farmers markets. there’s also always good ole amazon in a pinch.

-avoid dry cleaning when possible (it is often possible)-

Dry cleaning is a process that involves a lot of chemicals that are harmful to you and the environment. Conventional dry cleaning also requires exposing garments to high heat, which can stress fabrics over time, and be particularly harmful to older garments.

As you have probably noted, many garments made in the past 50 years include care instructions, and many of them simply say “dry clean only”. There is an industry regulation reason for this:  

“Under the law, if either washing or dry cleaning can be used on the product, the label needs to state only one of these instructions—and which one ultimately appears on the label is up to the manufacturer. An expert in textiles who asked that her name not be used for this article revealed to us that “clothing manufacturers tend to opt for as few instructions on the label as is legally required.” Given a a choice between “wash” and “dry clean,” manufacturers tend to choose the latter because it is more likely to lead to the consumer leaving the care of the item to professionals, and professional cleaning can reduce the manufacturer’s risk of of return by the consumer who mishandles the item with home-cleaning.”

More on what dry cleaning means here!

I successfully machine or hand wash many many many pieces for myself and for the shop with dry clean only tags- this includes rayons, linens, silks, woolens and cashmeres oh my. You can too!

hot tip: if you have a newer washer dryer (like in the past 20 years), make sure you’re making the best use of the settings to be as economical as possible, and not just going with the auto settings. For me this means making sure its set to a cold cycle, and that the soil setting is appropriate (sometimes its lighter than “normal”). Delicate and handwash cycles are a great option for those “dry clean only” labeled pieces you’re nervous about wet washing.

-practice general garment maintenance-

doing things like treating stains, mending small seam pops or holes before they grow, and proper storage in conjunction with conscientious laundering practice will help prolong the life of your garments, and delay the need to purchase replacements. Being a better mender is a goal of mine (my pile of personal mending is ever-growing). As a preventative measure against pests and storage “musk”, I add lavender sachets to my drawers and closets. Dr. Bronners soap bars (in the paper wrappers) are great for this too!  I also use a fast evaporating alcohol-based homemade lavender spritz for the same purpose (not just for refreshing clothes, but also bedding, drapes, etc). And remember: friends don’t let friends use Febreze.

 The great news about all these changes is that they really don’t make more work for you, and they are good for your clothes, YOU, and the environment! Nothing like a win-win-win.

[roversbook]

Hiking Gear for Women : Do’s and Don’ts

Hiking Gear for Women : Do’s and Don’ts

Hiking is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the outdoors. Transported by your own two feet and carrying only what you need for the day on your back, you can discover the beauty of nature at whatever pace you’re comfortable with. And, with a little planning and preparation, it’s an activity that almost anyone can do. 

So Ladies, one of the wonderful things about hiking is that you don’t need a bunch of high-tech gear to get out there. With a few essential items for the trail and a sense of adventure, you’re ready to head into the wilderness.

  What should Female Hikers wear? 

A great hiking outfit for women is all about what makes you comfortable in the great outdoors. Hiking clothes that are practical, lightweight, and durable can make the difference between a great day out and an okay day out. Here are the few things-

Hiking Pants or leggings

Not only are leggings a comfortable and multi-functional piece of clothing, but they’re also super flattering and work well for almost every activity. Hiking Pants or Leggings are a must for your trip. Make sure these are not too loose or tight!

              Base Layer

A base layer is needed when you hike in a cold conditions. This piece of clothing covers your neck and chest and protects you from falling ill. 

            Mid Layer or Down Jacket

Mid-layer or Down Jacket is only needed if you hike in snow or freezing zone. Down jackets pack up light and small, so there is no reason NOT to have one in your bag. Seriously it could save your life in a bad situation. 

        Hiking Shell Jacket

If you are camping during your hike, these shell jackets will help you to have a good night’s sleep. Avoid these jackets if the area’s condition is not that freezing. 

        Woolen Socks

Yes, the best hiking clothes for women involve socks. Wool socks helps you to keep your feet nice and dry while you walk around. Most importantly, wool socks stay fresh for several days as they have natural antimicrobial properties.

        Sports Bra

A good sports bra is pretty much an essential hiking gear for women. Of course, it’s completely up to you, but you’ll want something light, nonconstricting, moisture-wicking, and will hold your breasts in when you’re hiking. 

        Hiking Underwear

Good underwear is a women’s hiking apparel staple. Women have specific hygiene needs in the backcountry. To prevent bacterial infections, it’s important to avoid wearing cotton underwear. In general, you have two synthetic options or wool. 

      Hat for Sun Protection

A hat is key for being comfortable when hiking on sunny days. It will also prevent your face from tanning. 

          Sunglasses

Sunglasses always protect your eyes from the sun or heavy reflections. Also, it looks good during a photo sessions! 

          Trail Runners or Hiking Boots

Hiking boots give your ankle support. As hiking means traveling through rough roads, therefore, a good pair of boots are extremely necessary. 

        Warm Gloves

Gloves help to keep your hands warm during the cold session. So if your plan is to hike in the snow don’t forget your gloves

        Hiking Shorts

If you’re looking for women’s summer hiking clothes, you have to consider shorts

          What You Should Not Wear While Hiking

Women make some common mistakes while packing their hiking clothes. These clothing choice mistakes can either add discomfort or can even be potentially dangerous. Here are the top 10 wrong choices- 

Denim Clothing

The reason denim is not ideal for hiking is that it absorbs moisture really easily. This means sweat, rain, or even river water will be soaked up. Having a material that collects water versus wicking water can be potentially dangerous, depending on the area’s current weather.

Cotton Clothing

Cotton is an absorbent material, so if you get wet from sweat or rain, it will soak it all up and won’t dry very fast, either. In hot weather, cotton will leave you feeling sweaty all day, and in cold weather, it will make you cold quite quickly.

Silk Clothing

So, silk isn’t as bad as cotton or denim, but it generally doesn’t do well during strenuous hiking. Basically, if you plan to sweat a lot, avoid silk! It has a modest amount of moisture-wicking ability, but unless it is chemically treated, it will usually hold on to moisture. 

No-Show Socks

No-show or ankle socks may work for some folks, but the type of socks you wear is a big deal when you hike. You want a sock that will not work its way down and bunch up in your shoe. This leaves the back of your foot exposed and rubbing against the inside of your shoe as you walk. 

Flimsy Shoes or Heels

Since hiking is essentially walking in the woods or on a trail in the wilderness, you want a shoe that will support you all the way. Most hiking trails have a fair share of rocks, river crossings, or sharp plants like cacti. In those conditions, you need a shoe that can protect you from the elements around you during the entirety of your hike.

Bras with Claps

Appropriate bras should be worn while hiking. It is best to avoid cotton bras, but you should also avoid bras with clasps. These could be metal or plastic clasps, but either way, you don’t want them. It can cause irritation to your skin out of sweat and heat. 

Brunchy or Bulky Clothes

Clothing that is too heavy or too loose can be potentially problematic on a hike. Try to avoid clothes that are too loose or too heavy. All in all, you want clothing that fits you properly. Avoid anything too heavy or clothes that shift around too much.

Stiff or Too Thin Fabric

Having clothing materials that move with your body is all about comfort and functionality. There have been so many instances on hikes where you have to scramble over rocks, maneuver through a tight canyon, or do a high step-up over a fallen tree. All of these movements require clothing that will move with the flexibility of your body. Having materials that are too stiff will impede your movement. While on the other hand, materials that are too thin and stretchy can easily rip. 

Body Sprays or Floral Perfumes

Some perfumes also don’t mix well with sweat and can cause skin irritations, especially in hot weather or with extensive sun exposure. Perhaps it is best to leave the body sprays for a night out on the town, and leave them off the trail.

Only One Layer of Clothing

Layering depends upon the area’s climate. If you are hiking in an extreme cold situation, one layer can be dangerous. It is a good rule of thumb to keep up with current weather conditions, and then you can gauge your clothes off of that.

  Women’s Backpacking Gear List

Women have different needs than men when it comes to backpacking and hiking gear. They have different hygiene habits, may run colder (or hotter) than their male counterparts, and obviously have very different body types. It’s important that you find great women’s hiking gear that works best for you. So here is the list- 

Tent- In case you want to do outdoor camping rather than lodging in.   

Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Mat- Necessary for the tent.

Hiking Clothes- List of all the necessary hiking clothes are cited above.  

Hiking Footwear- Don’t forget your boots!

Sunglasses

Sun Hates- This Will save you from face tanning. 

Water Bottles- Make sure your water bottle has a carrying capacity for almost 2 liters of water

Light Snacks- A light snack of some chocolate or brownies might help you in case of emergency!

Raincoat or an Umbrella- You never know when a storm or a light drizzle will knock in. Be prepared! 

Trekking Poles- This will add years to the life of your knees. 

Period Kit: Tampons, ibuprofen, menstrual cup, baby wipes, extra zip lock for trash.  Pack this trash out in a separate trash bag; don’t bury it!

Sandals: nice to give your feet a break from those hiking boots

Toothbrush, Toothpaste (travel-sized), Floss

A very small amount of soap for washing hands. 3 oz is plenty. 

Toilet Papers- Make sure you have enough of this for your entire journey. 

Tissues and Wet Towels

Sanitizers- Extremely necessary to clean your hiking hands! 

Mug for coffee or warm drinks

Headlamp (w/extra batteries.) or a Torch 

Medication and an emergency first aid tool kit. 

Map and Compass- When your GPS battery dies, this will help you to find your way!

Hairbrush, Sunscreen, and other essentials

Cellphone and the adapter. Although laptop and Ipads are not recommendable, you can carry if you wish. 

Passport, Identity card, or any other valid document

A small notebook and a pen

A Bluetooth Speaker or a guitar for some entertainment. Novels and Magazines can also be included.  

Gear Recommendations 

Hiking Gears are very difficult to choose from one brand. Amazon USA provides you the best product for your adventure. Here is the list- 

Best Reviewed Hiking Gear for Women

ProductDescriptionLearn More on Amazon

18 in 1 Emergency Survival KitCheck on Amazon

Pee Funnel for WomenCheck on Amazon

Lightweight Trekking PolesCheck on Amazon

Pee rag for WomenCheck on Amazon

Mini Compact First Aid KitCheck on Amazon

K2-Peak – Survival Bracelets with Embedded Compass, Fire Starter, Emergency Knife & Whistle Check on Amazon

The post Hiking Gear for Women : Do’s and Don’ts appeared first on Rover's Book.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/w8tbsl2sIUoYe2rT0teE9173JvHO5WiqXfDjz9OyGeSC9hqWf9rom6kie96dAzdsL8ZxjdTA3suhXFkIT8v0wF__JimRRqc4ge3unpyFrfNmglm0xFu4JxDBuIGGWSeeqdndcFXi https://roversbook.com/hiking-gear-for-women-dos-and-donts/

[copperbora]

A Lesson in Layering: Suffering Scotland’s Spite

Also called ‘that time I was an idiot and got drenched hiking beside bonny Loch Lomond.’ (Or: ‘A Story about Hypothermia.’)

Layering: it’s an art form, which I always think that I am starting to get somewhat good at until I fail spectacularly. The first time this happened, I contracted hypothermia, but thanks to the (mostly) proper action which I took, I didn’t die from my mistake. On this glorious day in Scotland, trekking the beautiful West Highland Way, I made a mistake which could have killed me.

What is ‘layering,’ you non-hikers/outdoorsy people ask? It’s the art of dressing in layers according to circumstances of weather and temperature. The idea is to wear just the right clothing for the current situation which you exist in so that you are neither too hot nor too cold so that you not only stay happy, but you don’t die because your body is too cold (hypothermia) or too hot (hyperthermia/heat stroke.) Again, both conditions can kill you, so it’s important to take care of yourself and get your layering right if you’re in the backcountry where you may be far from help should something go wrong. 

Intimidated? The main rules of layering for outdoorsy pursuits are simple - NEVER wear cotton (once cotton is wet it stays wet - Search and Rescue calls it ‘the death cloth’ and there’s a saying ‘cotton kills’ for a reason - it loses 95% of its insulating value when wet, at which point it also conducts crucial body heat away from you) and choose layers which either dry quickly (such as synthetic fibres like polyester,) or retain their thermal properties when wet (i.e. merino wool.) Wet clothing chills your skin, making you cold - in fact, a primary goal of layering is to avoid sweating, since sweat, like any other liquid when chilled, can cause your internal body temperature to drop, thus giving you hypothermia. And don’t think you’re safe just because of summer as more people fall prey to exposure in summertime than in winter because of a lack of preparedness.

And don’t ever get cocky - for example, just because I have a lifetime of backcountry experience, it doesn’t mean that I am safe from mistakes. Don’t ever dare believe that you’re invincible from peril just because of experience, no matter how impressive, because Mother Nature likes to reward such bravado with hard knocks - or death.

My layering on a day when I used my brain - note the saturated face fabric of my Gore-Tex waterproof shell and my sopping wet hair - it was very wet out! I was significantly less clever on the day of my mishap.

Imagine the lush green forests of Loch Lomond - actually, don’t, here’s a picture to set the scene, from the day I screwed up:

Just a nice cruise along the quiet northern end of Loch Lomond. 

It had been sort of spritzing all day and the temperature was mild. Fellow hikers all claimed that it was going to really rain at some point, but none of them could agree about what time that it would. With how every other spritz of rain had passed, I turned decidedly derisive of the truth of any forecast. Scotland had already proved that it did whatever the hell it pleased in terms of weather, so I was just going with the flow, but it was about to prove its derision even more. It was on this day that I learned: Scotland doesn’t care about what the weatherman has to say, but occasionally, it does (sort of) do what is predicted, but only on its own terms. 

So, it had basically been overcast all day and it didn’t really look like it was going to do much more, despite the small instances of spritzing. I was focused on slaying kilometres and getting to a certain spot on my map, a hill called Cnap Mor, which lays at the very end of Loch Lomond. I didn’t want to waste time by layering up - and this, folks, could be a fatal mistake. It’s always worth your time to take time layering up or down - better to lose a bit of time putting your pack cover on than have wet gear. But, of course, I was trying to slay kilometres, right? I had a long way to go - I was on Day 3, and I needed to get my butt to Fort William, which was still a vast number of kilometres away.

Definitely the right kind of weather for incomplete rain gear. Definitely.

It was near Ardleish, at the top tip of Loch Lomond that I began to fail myself. Here, on the last shore of the loch on the trail the wind started gusting and the rain started pouring. I donned my Gore-Tex jacket and put on my pack cover; believing that the rain would pass, I didn’t don my rain pants or gaiters, and this is where I fucked up. I thought about it, considered it, then didn’t do it.

I’m very conscious that I could have died because of this slip up. I’m very lucky that I was in Scotland, and not some place like the Rockies, where the temperature would have dropped much lower. Scotland’s temps in April were wonderfully mild - ranging most of the trip around 11 °C - but back in the Canadian Rockies where I most often hike, temperatures regularly drop below freezing at night, even in the heat of summer. Even so, I still could have died in Scotland’s mild weather - most people who meet their maker because of hypothermia do it in mild temperatures which are well above freezing, just like what I experienced that evening in beside Loch Lomond.

Not seen: the wind blasting in my face. And the sheep.

So, like an idiot, I hiked on, wanting to slay more kilometres. I didn’t understand that I should have stopped there - it would have been a good place to camp. I remember thinking all day as well as the one before how nice it would be to maybe camp beside the loch, and this would have been the smart thing, but nope, I decided to hike on. 

Very quickly, within the hour, I realized that this was a bad idea, but I refused to turn back, wanting to destroy more distance. Water began running over the trail and I started consciously hunting for a place to stop for the night, but there weren’t any good campsites to be found. I dismissed the one likely candidate I found (while still not donning rain pants or gaiters,) due to fears of nearby widowmakers (dead trees or ones looking likely to fall,) which was probably a wise decision, but I was already making a really bad one. So, I hiked.

And so the trail slowly became a shallow river.

And hiked. The day grew old, but I couldn’t find a place to stop and there were no other hikers left on the trail, the Way completely deserted apart from me. I prospected a few more maybe camping stops, but I was getting very tired, I was soaked to the bone, and the only thing keeping me warm was my continued movement. The water running over the trail was three centimetres deep; it was so wet that even my waterproof socks were saturated - something which wouldn’t have happened had I been wearing my rain pants and gaiters. Everything I was wearing was soaked.

The view of tiny Dubh Lochan from the hillside where I eventually managed to make camp. It was the flattest and driest piece of ground which I could find, which wasn’t saying much. Everywhere else the ground was soaked, and it was soaked there too.

Eventually, I thought that I saw a faint trail leading up from the Way and I clambered up the hillside where I found a somewhat flat piece of ground which was to be my sanctuary. I set my tent up in the pouring rain then clambered inside with my Packtowel to mop it dry of the literal puddles which had gathered inside of it during its pitching. Thankfully, my synthetic sleeping bag was fine, as was my Neoair Xlite mat - so were both of my heavier midlayers and my hiking dress. I slowly peeled off my soaked clothes, blessing the fact that the temperature was actually warm enough for me not to instantly freeze despite being in a state of undress, and snuggled into my sleeping bag.

Then, to add insult to injury, my matches and piezo igniter were also soaked, so I couldn’t cook in my tent’s vestibule as I had planned. A hot meal would have been just the thing after so much suffering, but alas, it was not to be. I ate Cliff Bars and hard cheese for dinner instead, with some mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for dessert. I made sure that I ate at least five hundred calories, then, as my brain slowly relaxed out of survival mode and I finally fully confirmed that I was safe from hypothermia, my body dry and warm again, I finally let myself sleep.

Scotland’s creeks and rivers are very well fed.

The next morning, all my clothing which I had worn the day before was still extremely wet. Thus, I donned what would become my leg wear for the entire rest of the trail - my rain pants and gaiters. I never again hiked without them - in this environment, it just wasn’t worth it to have another mishap. That night I intelligently took a hostel room in Tyndrum to dry out my gear and I continued the trail as a much smarter person. I’d learned from my mistake, and I never underestimated Scotland again - from then on, I changed my layering as needed. I eventually just started keeping my Gore-Tex jacket around my waist rather than bothering removing my pack to stow it when I didn’t need it (there were precious few good places on trail to do this,) and I learned how to change my upper layers without taking off my backpack at all. Thus, I kept my layering system quick, and I didn’t get soaked again. I almost never removed my pack cover; I kept myself and my gear dry.

Properly layered and comfortable on the second to last day, at the windy top of the Devil’s Staircase between Glencoe and Kinlochleven.

That night by Dubh Lochan, had I not had a dry shelter, sleeping bag and midlayers the night before, hypothermia could have taken me out - and the most important thing you need to know about hypothermia is that it’s a quiet killer. As your core body temperature drops, your body begins to shiver as it desperately tries to bring its temperature back up - but if your temperature continues to plunge, you eventually stop shivering, stop talking (if you can’t speak it is seriously bad news,) and eventually... you just fall asleep - and without intervention, you never get back up. The human body is incapable of tolerating temperature fluctuations of more than a few degrees, so once its internal temperature wavers, things can go south pretty fast.

The moral of the story - layer your clothing, follow your instincts (I repeatedly thought that I should layer up but didn’t,) and change your layers according to circumstance. I failed to layer up and I paid the price - literally - since my mistake necessitated my unplanned stop in Tyndrum to dry my gear so that I could continue my hike. But, an unplanned stop in Tyndrum was much superior to my unplanned demise (and I ended up eating something other than dehydrated hiker chow for supper in Tyndrum at its divine Real Food Cafe, plus I bought a small delicious hoard of Snickers and Scottish chocolate bars. I also bought new socks, which I promptly got soaked within ten minutes the next day. I digress.)

My sanctuary in Tyndrum; I had this entire room all to myself - it was wondrous! (Not seen: my gear spread absolutely everywhere.)

Thank you for teaching me an apparently much needed lesson about layering, Scotland.

[wjrnow]

Essential Gears for Walking, Jogging, or Running

Aerobic exercise is one of the most popular ways to stay fit and lose weight. The reason behind the popularity of aerobic exercise is its relative ease in comparison to other forms of exercise. Aerobic exercises include any move that makes use of the larger groups of muscles in the body, including walking, jogging, running, dancing, swimming, cycling, and using the treadmill. Beginners starting to exercise for the first time are advised to start with aerobics. Even if the person is not trying to lose weight, aerobics make the body flexible and agile and also improve the health of the heart and the lungs. Walking, jogging, and running are three of the simplest aerobic exercises for anyone. Walking is something everyone does every moment of their lives. To be able to move, we need to walk. In fact, walking is so commonplace that it��s not considered exercise at all. However, walking is one of the easiest but also most effective aerobic exercises that anyone can take up at any age. Even those with weak joints and bad knees can easily walk a few minutes a day without any strain. Jogging and running are natural progressions of walking. When you walk at a very fast pace, the body automatically switches gears and takes to jogging. The same applies to jog at a very high pace when the body automatically switches to running. Walking and jogging are two of the easiest exercises for beginners. Over time they also help in weight loss because they have the capability to burn a few thousand calories a week if done consistently.

But just like any other exercise, walking, jogging, or running must be started on the right foot. Most people underestimate the necessity of the right clothing, shoes, and accessories when starting walking jogging or running regimen. Workout gear isn’t limited to the gym. You need the right clothing and shoes, even if you are just running out on the street. Most beginners assume that their old, worn-out pair of sneakers is capable of protecting their feet from impact. Unfortunately, such wrong assumptions lead to severe injuries. If your feet are injured right when you are starting to run your entire workout regimen is hampered. Injuries sustained because of the wrong running shoes can take several months or even years to heal. Along with shoes, you also need comfortable clothing. If you are serious about running for weight loss and fitness, you should be entirely prepared by arming yourself with all the essentials. The gear that you will need can be classified as essential items and helpful items. Essential items are absolutely necessary, while helpful items are optional but great to have nevertheless. Let’s begin.

Running Shoes

The indispensable item in the list of essential gear is a quality pair of sturdy running shoes. The focus is on “sturdy” here because you cannot afford to buy a new pair of running shoes every week. The pair you buy should last you for the longest time. As already discussed, do not take the easy way out when it comes to running shoes because some of the most common running injuries are caused by the wrong footwear. There are hundreds of options in running shoes, so much so that the beginning runner is likely to get overwhelmed and confused. To make the process easier, all you need to do is head to the nearest running specialty store and have your feet evaluated by professionals. This is necessary because size alone isn’t the criterion to choose running shoes. The shape of your feet and any orthopedic problems should also be taken into account. There are no separate shoes for walking or jogging, so you can use running shoes for both of them. Your style of running must also be considered when buying running shoes. Will you run at a slow, steady pace, or will you sprint? Will you run uphill or on even ground? The experts at a running specialty store will be able to guide you in the right direction by measuring your feet, asking you to run on a treadmill, and evaluating your gait.

People often tend to get swayed by a particular brand, color, or design. When buying running shoes, your focus should be on the right fit and quality. The fit should be snug without being too tight or too loose. The shoe must be cushioned, and shock absorbent and not make your feet sweat. You do not need to buy the most expensive pair but try to keep it reasonable. Cheap running shoes are often low quality and will wear out in a short while. It is recommended that you invest in a branded pair that is comfortable and long-lasting. Also, make sure to ask questions about the shoe’s features. If you do not feel comfortable when trying on the pair, let the SA know and ask for a different pair. Don’t settle until you find the right fit. This process only needs to be followed when buying running shoes for the first time. Once you know the type of shoe that fits you well, you can get easily by replacement pairs without going through this entire process again.

Special Socks for Running

While the attention is entirely on running shoes, people often neglect the item that goes hand in hand with the shoes – performance socks. Even if you can, you shouldn’t wear your running shoes without socks. The friction of the shoes against your feet while running will definitely give you blisters. The right pair of socks will prevent this. Ideally, running socks should be made of cotton, polyester, or a wool nylon blend should be moisture-wicking, hypoallergenic, and odor assistant. The right pair of socks will keep your feet comfortable, dry, and protect against sores and blisters. Instead of any regular sock, choose one specifically made for running. Most running socks cost above Rs 900 a pair, but if you want to be comfortable while running, it’s worth the price. A beginner could be wondering about the difference between a regular sock and a running sock. The major difference is that running socks come with cushioning and are tight around the heel but roomy for the toes. The heel pocket of the socks should cup your heel in a snug fit. Running socks should always be made of technical, high-performance moisture-wicking materials. The length of the sock depends on your personal preference.

Essential Clothing Items for Running

You don’t need to go all out and get yourself a whole new wardrobe just because you’re starting to jog or run. You only need to make sure that the clothes you wear while jogging or running are comfortable and moisture-wicking. Cotton is the first material that comes to mind when you think of running clothes, but it is one of those materials that you should not wear when running. This is because cotton is not moisture-wicking; it is absorbent. So if it gets wet, it takes a long time to dry. Instead, you should be looking for technical fabrics that are moisture-wicking and dry easily even they get wet. Besides keeping you dry and comfortable technical fabrics also automatically regulate temperature, keeping your feet cool in warm weather and warm in cold weather. Some of the most popular technical fabrics are Thinsulate, DryFit, CoolMax, Thermax, polypropylene, or silk blends. When buying running clothes, do not forget to include a sports bra. The bra should fit you snug and not stretch out; you should always try the bra on at the store by jogging or jumping up and down. It is recommended that you buy a sports bra only from a store and not online, for a perfect fit.

Helpful (Optional) Items

The essential items are what every beginning runner needs. Once you have all the essentials that you need to begin jogging or running, you can consider getting some of the optional items. An insulated stainless steel water bottle or sipper is one of those items you could consider including in your running gear. While running, you will get thirsty and taking small sips of water will keep you from getting dehydrated. If you’re running a short distance, you don’t need a running belt, but you can still consider having one, especially if you plan to carry essentials like money, ID cards, and medicines. If you are a running enthusiast and want to get your hands on all the latest accessories meant for runners, there is no reason why you shouldn’t or cannot. Fitness accessories are often known to motivate people to exercise more and stay in shape. In fact, that is the primary reason why fitness accessories are made besides the fact that they are pretty cool to own. Keep in mind that as a beginner, once you start splurging on running accessories and gadgets, the list can soon become very long, and you will keep spending money buying things instead of exercising more. Starting with one or two gadgets is what beginners should do and then progress to more as they become adept at running. The following are some of the accessories that you could consider to make running more exciting:

Fitness Band: A fitness band is essential for today’s urban runners. It not only keeps track of your workout, but it also plays the music you like, can make or receive calls, and yes, tell you time. Accompany this with a nice set of headphones, and you are all set.

Run Sensor: This is a sensor device that can be fixed to the back of your pants for tracking every running stat. It has seven sensors, including a vibration sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope, and weighs only 25 grams.

Smart Shoes: Your feet take the maximum impact when you run, and these smart shoes are designed to record every move you make with the lightweight pressure sensors built-in. From how your stride changes to the amount of impact you’re taking to the changes in elevation, the shoes record the data and store it on the smartphone app they come with. They even provide you with live coaching tips to help improve your running speed and style.

Now that you know the walking, jogging, or running gear you should get, you can easily prepare to start. Make sure that you replace the shoes and clothes once they get worn out and lose shape because old shoes or clothing are not capable of providing comfort or support during exercise.

[brokestminimalist]

Broke Laundry

We will, for the time being, skip talking about how almost all of us have too many clothes.  This is a related topic, but one that deserves its own discussion.  The clothes that you have get dirty, and must be washed.  We are going to assume you have access to a modern washing machine, either at your house or a laundromat. We're going to call step one sorting.

Sorting: Look, ain’t nobody got time for this.  This is an extra chore that is 99% not necessary.  Unless you have specialty fabrics or are particular about how white your whites are, it's just added  stress and a waste of time.  We run a load of whites with a cup of bleach once a month to keep them pretty, but otherwise we do not separate colors.  We do not own things that can’t survive the washing machine, either.  No delicates, no dry cleaning.  We wash towels with our clothes, and sheets together with bedspreads. Done and done.

Laundry Detergent: We would avoid the very cheapest for the sake of our darks, but you also do not need to spring for the most expensive thing on the shelf.  In fact, we make our own laundry detergent here from one part washing soda, one part Borax, and one part soap. A double batch is enough detergent to last three months here. Good recipes can be had all over the internet, so go forth and find yourself one.  If you're washing in cold water and your tap water is very cold, such as in the winter, you may find it necessary to stir your homemade detergent into a cup of hot water before putting it into the machine. Out of detergent?  A spoonful of dish soap will do in a pinch.  Regardless of whether you're using store bought or homemade, don't use too much detergent; it's bad for the machine, the environment, and your clothes.  We do not want to buy new clothes until we absolutely have to, right?  Right.

Fabric Softener: I recently saw a headline about how Millennials are killing the fabric softener industry.  I think the truth is, they are prioritizing groceries and lights over luxuries like Downy.  If you must have it and can afford it, go ahead.  Measure carefully but don't dilute unless the package says so.  Fabric softener sheets are a good alternative, if you are using a dryer.  Here at Brokest Minimalist, we use a Downy ball with white vinegar in it.  The vinegar cuts soap residue, softens most fabrics, and is much cheaper.  Plus it's versatile enough to be used for cleaning as well.  An added bonus is that it doesn't reduce the absorbency of your towels like regular fabric softener does.  Our towels soak up ALL THE WATERS, no questions asked.

Water:  Set your washer on Tap Cold. Yes, really.  Unless your clothes are very greasy, almost anything can be washed in cold water and will get just as clean.  It isn't so much the temperature of the water or even the detergent that does the washing, as much as it is the action of the clothes rubbing against each other inside the machine.  Anything that's machine washable can be washed in cold water, period.

Settings: On our machine at home, clothes go on “casual” and sheets/bedspreads on “heavy duty”. Don't stress too much about this.  Choose a water level that is appropriate to how full the machine is, add your stuff, and go ahead.

Drying:  Here at Brokest Minimalist, we don't dry anything in the dryer.  Why?  Because air dries stuff for free, that's why.  Clothes dryers are one of the most frivolous uses of electricity in the modern world.  They are also one of the number one causes of fire in the United States, after candles and cooking fires.  Unless you are in a huge hurry, hang your clothes to dry. Outdoors if possible, as sun dried clothing smells much better than any fabric softener does.  You don't even have to spend all afternoon pinning stuff to a clothesline like your great-grandma did, either! Our system is beautiful in its simplicity.  We take our clothes out of the washing machine, hang them on clothes hangers, and then hang the hangers on the clothesline.  If you have a smooth line, tie knots in it or use clothespins to keep stuff from sliding back and forth in the breeze.  If you don’t have a line, put one up or buy a portable or retractable one. In summer your clothes will be dry within an hour in direct sunlight, which is a comparable time to many dryers.  If it's raining, you can hang them indoors over curtain rods, from your mantel, or on your shower curtain rod.  Even if it's freezing outside, in direct sunlight your clothes will dry within a few hours. For free.  No kidding.  And UV light is a great sanitizer if you're worried about germs! Here we hang our and towels and unmentionables on racks purchased from Amazon, such as this and this.  Another tidbit we have figured out, is that there is no need to wait until daylight to hang your clothes. In the old days it was nigh unheard of, but there's no harm.  The morning dew won't make your wet clothes wetter.   Do you work nights?  Do a load of laundry after you get home from work and hang it out to dry, even if it's midnight.  It will be dry by lunchtime tomorrow.   This saves wear and tear on your clothes, it saves electricity, it won't create extra static like the dryer, and hanging stuff is kind of a nice, meditative way to spend a few minutes. Take some deep breaths of fresh air, reflect on your day, let go of some anxiety.

Does all of this sound too complicated? Written down it's a lot, but let us take you through a load of laundry we just did.  For the record, it is currently one o'clock in the morning.  It's 31 degrees outside.

1) Put clothes in washer.  Not sorted, just all the clothes in the hamper or off your floordrobe, dumped into the washing machine.

2) It's cold out, so put a tablespoon of detergent into a cup of hot water and stir.  Pour in washer. Put white vinegar in Downy ball, toss in washer.

3) Push start button and go do something else.  Read, take a nap, cook, clean bathroom. Write a long-winded Tumblr post.  Whatever.

4) When load is done, hang shirts and pants on hangers, towels on a rack, and underwear/socks on one of these things.  This is the longest part, and it takes 5-7 minutes, max. You can do it while watching tv or listening to music.

5) Carry your hung up clothes outdoors to the clothesline and hang them up, or to whatever indoor location you have deemed fit if it is raining.  Stick the towel rack outside too, if you like.

These will be dry in a few hours except for very heavy things like thing hoodies or jeans, those may take longer.  Yes, even if it's cool outside.  As long as there is direct sunlight, they will dry.  When you're ready, bring them in. All the clothes are already on hangers, so just stick them in your closet.

Once upon a time we had a lot of drama about laundry.  We had fights over whose turn it was, how much Tide to put in, and who was going to clean the lint trap.  When the dryer broke, we agonized over the three hundred dollars it would take to buy a new one.  That three hundred dollars meant going without cable for two months, it meant scrimping for groceries and paying a late fee on our phone bill.  It was more than an entire paycheck, just to dry our clothes!

Today that same dryer is sitting in our laundry room in disuse.  We have it, for emergencies.  A drink spilled on a work shirt, perhaps, that needs to be worn in 30 minutes.  It's good for fluffing up pillows, on the no-heat setting. It wasn't worth the stress or the tears or the three hundred dollars we put into it all those years ago.  It’s basically a glorified shelf for our detergent now:

So today, I challenge you, broke person.  Don't wear those grungy jeans for one more day.   Do a load of laundry, as frugally as you can.  Measure your detergent carefully, hang your clothes to dry.  Your clothes will last longer, your utility bill will be lower, and you will have a few minutes of peace and quiet outside.  It's less wear and tear, less electricity, and less stress, and that's a minimalist win.

If you do choose to dry your clothes in a dryer, beware of over-drying as that can cause static and extra wear and tear on your clothes.  Clean out your lint trap, it will make your clothes dry faster and reduce the risk of fire.  If you are too broke to have dryer sheets, wool dryer balls are pretty cheap and effective for fabric softening and reducing static.  We have also heard that you could use tennis balls or a couple balls of wadded up aluminum foil for this purpose.

Happy washing!

Some links: homemade detergent at TSD, and Mr. Electricity's opinion on dryers.

[myselfinserts]

“Look at the sky! The lightning is insane.”

The taste of static in the air clung tightly around her and burned at her throat as the carriage bobbed slowly along the cobble stoned streets. While she would normally be grateful for the lack of excess metal on her person in such conditions, Marianne couldn’t help but wish she were in shackles. At the very least, the chain would have been more effective in trying to strangle anyone who came near her. No, she had the misfortune of being tied with rope. A strong, irritating material that bit into her wrists with an unapologetic coil. 

The light from the oil lamps quickly started to flicker and die as the winds became stronger. Soon, the rain would come, and the storm would take its share into the deep into the dark of night. 

Perhaps if she prayed, it would sweep her away as well. 

“I know you didn’t do it.”

Marianne let out a sigh. She’d completely forgotten about her fellow criminal and carriage companion. She glanced at the seat across from her, staring at a tired, yet incredibly determined and handsome young man. He’d been stripped of most of his fineries, left with nothing but the shirt and trousers he’d been wearing beneath. His boots weren’t laced properly, no doubt done by a guard with little regard for their well being. It almost made her glad she’d been allowed to dress herself. 

A pity. She was itching itching for a reason to stab someone with a scalpel.

Wait. They confiscated that. 

“And what makes you so sure?” she asked. “That I didn’t do it?”

Étienne shrugged. “You Gladstones have a lot of traits in common, despite how different the three of you are. Loving your siblings stubbornly is one of them.” He glanced out the window, eyes narrowed at where cloud and smoke mixed and mingled into one. “Besides, you were prepared to kill me when we first met simply because I looked in her direction. Tanith is far too precious to you. You aren’t the type to suddenly turn around and dispose of her.”

“I guess you’re right. Regi always said you were the smart one.” Marianne leaned back in her seat, watching as the small flashes of light began to make their way through the skies. “If it’s any consolation...I know you’re innocent as well.”

“And what makes you think that?”

“Because you loved him too much.”

“...I don’t think you know what you’re saying.”

Marianne smiled softly. “Relax. I’m not going to go around spreading the news about you being secretly gentle or anything.” She let out a sigh, her head finally coming to rest against the window. “We loved him too. Miss him a lot.”

Étienne said nothing, continuing to watch the skies as the lights around them finally started to go out. 

The rest of the ride was left in silence. The only noise coming from the weather, the horses, and the conversation of the guards stationed on top of the carriage. Time simply ticked away, buried in ash and rain. 

Soon, I’ll be taken with Allard to the train. Then the train will take us to our executions. With any luck, I’ll last just a little longer. Doctors tend to be a hot commodity, so....so....

She hoped they’d never make it to the station.

“Look at the sky! The lightning is insane.”

A playful smirk on her face as she watched the rain bathe everything in a deep, dreary black. The only moments of shine coming from the lightning and the lights within the station. They bounced and glimmered in a way reminiscent of a setting sun.

“How much longer do we have to wait?” her partner asked. “Like, what’s the signal?”

She turned to him, a playful giggle coating her words. “My dear, isn’t it obvious? The explosion is the signal.”

“Alright, get moving.”

Marianne sighed as she and Allard were forcefully pulled from the carriage and dragged up the steps of train station. The warm glow of the gold seeping through the windows caused them both to shine like gold. Étienne was constantly rubbing his wrists together, trying hard to slip them from the ropes. His face contorted into a vile grimace at the movement. 

“Stop it,” Marianne whispered. “You want to get in trouble.”

“They least they could have done is used shackles,” Étienne grumbled. “This rope feels like a thousand fire ants.”

They entered the station swiftly, the sound of heels clacking on the pavement with a soft tap, tap, tap barely heard above the pelting of the torrents on the glass ceiling above them. The only thing louder than the rain was the ticking of the master clock over by the station master’s office on the far side. 

So this is it. This is the end. 

“Halt! Who goes there?!

“Who are you?!”

Marianne looked up, eyes widening as she saw someone standing on the platform. A tall man in a black coat with a tall hat and long, woven scarf obscuring his face. On his back was a metal pack with a long wire attached, slinking around his waist and through the top few buttons of the coat. 

“We’ll ask again,” the guard called warningly. “Who are you?! And why are you in this area. It’s restricted.”

The man simply shrugged. 

“....You can just call me a contractor.”

The mysterious person pulled a gun from their coat, and aimed it at the guards. The prisoners braced themselves as they were pulled in front of the guards, no doubt as human shields. They waited for the bullets. The feeling of lead piercing flesh. 

But instead, they were met with a fog of smoke. A sickly shade of green that caused the officers around them to start hacking and coughing, obscuring their view of the intruder. 

Without waiting for another moment, Marianne stomped her heel on the toe of the guard holding her, nudging her elbow back into his gut so he fell to the floor. Étienne followed suit, using his size against his captor to throw him over his shoulder and down to the ground with a hard thud. The two ran in the direction of the mysterious man, trying hard not to let the smoke get to them as well. 

“Smart prisoners,” the man snickered. He pulled out a knife and quickly cut their bindings before tossing them a thick, wool blanket. “I suggest you take cover. Glassy skies aren’t exactly safe to view.”

“Glassy skies?” Étienne scoffed. “Prima donna.” 

“You know him?” Marianne asked, taking the knife from their uninvited guest. 

“Of course not. I’m simply not in the mood to die until I find out what happened to my cat.” The two quickly hurried over to one of the offices, covering themselves with the blanket under one of the desks. “And just so we’re clear-”

Marianne rolled her eyes. “I know you hate my guts, Allard. I hate you too.”

“Glad we can agree on something.”

Barely ten seconds after they had hidden away, the entire building began to shake. The sounds of explosions, screams, and shattering glass filled the air. The scent of smoke and blood washing away as quickly as it appeared. Marianne took this opportunity to cut away at her skirt, removing enough fabric so as to be able to run and jump. No doubt, this would probably be the next step. She didn’t know who this person was. But it was clear what the objective had to be.

So she’d play along for now. 

Étienne tossed the blanket off of them and crawled out from under the desk once the dust had settled. Marianne followed not long after, eyes widening as she saw the blimp hovering just over the tracks. A ladder hung from it, with two people in dark cloaks hanging off near the bottom, a hand each outstretched. The mystery contractor was busy dispatching of remaining officers, laughing manically at the thrill of the fight. 

“Good evening!” said the one closer to the top. Her mask was as pale as moonlight over a lack, reflecting everything off of it. “I’m sorry, but the train has been delayed.”

“Care for a lift?” asked the other, whose poncho billowed helplessly around their figure. 

Marianne didn’t have to think twice. She dropped the knife and ran to them, jumping with all her might and reaching out to grasp one of the hands. Marianne was pulled up as the ladder swung, helped along until she was able to start climbing up to the ship. 

Once all four of them were inside, the ladder was pulled in, and the doors closed.

“Get us the blazes out of here!” the poncho person bellowed. 

“Roger that!” 

Wait, Marianne thought. That couldn’t be-

“Reginald?” Étienne went over to the door to the cockpit, glancing into the window to see someone at the helm. “What the fuck-”

“Can’t talk!” Regi said. “We’re leaving!” The aircraft rose higher and higher into the sky, moving far from the decimated train station and off towards the night. 

“It’s that’s Regi at the helm,” stammered Marianne, “then the rest-”

“Would you expect anyone else?” 

The two prisoners looked back at their rescuers, a wave of relief as Luci’s face appeared from beneath their mask and hood. 

“Adaire,” greeted Étienne. “Princess. I hope you realize just how badly this will end for all of us.”

“We’re all well aware of the risks,” L assured him. “Now, let’s get you out of those wet rags and into something befitting people of your caliber, no? Then you can rest. We’ll be at the safehouse by morning.”

Marianne felt she could cry. 

But she wouldn’t. 

Now wasn’t the time.

[cosmicevila]

Merry Christmas, @losttostardust! I am your Secret Santa for the @jjba-secret-santa swap! I’m sorry for getting this to you so close to the deadline, but December ended up being ridiculously busy! I hope you like the fic! Best wishes to you in 2018!

Edit: Fixed the GARBAGE formatting that I got with trying to post this via mobile, and added a readmore link.  Also, if you click on the title of the fic, you’ll find the song that inspired me a little, Joni Mitchell’s Come in from the Cold.

Title: Come in from the Cold

Pairing: Gappy Higashikata/Yasuho Hirose

Rating: PG

Summary: Yasuho finds Gappy alone in the snow on Christmas Eve.

The snow always fell long and hard upon Morioh in the winter, ushered in by cold winds blowing in from over the sea.  It was beautiful to look at, no doubt, but the way it buried the city and dampened its hustle and bustle made Yasuho feel at once refreshed and terribly lonely. She spent a lot of time holed up in her room in the winter, ignoring her mother as hard as possible when she did bother to check in.  However, today was a day when she just couldn’t stand being shut away any longer, and so she pulled on all of the warm clothing she could handle and set out for a walk.

Yasuho only meant to take a short walk around her block to shake off her cabin fever, but Paisley Park woke up the moment she stepped outside, and Yasuho couldn’t ignore her Stand’s call.  Her heart beat a little faster as she followed Paisley Park’s directions further and further from town, because her Stand so often led her to Josuke, and if Josuke was in trouble, then Yasuho needed to go to him.  (And if he wasn’t in trouble, well, then Yasuho needed to go to him then, too – she would never pass up a chance to see the boy she cared about so deeply.)

The snow grew deeper and the roads and sidewalks messier the further she ventured from the city, and the wind rushing in from the ocean stung her cheeks and nose.  Her eyes watered, making it difficult to see, and she pulled her jacket’s hood closer around her face to try to block some of the gale.  She sped up, hoping to find out where Paisley Park was taking her as soon as possible – and before she realized it, she had reached the Wall Eyes.  The land they surrounded was eerily quiet, and Yasuho realized that it was slightly warmer there because the strange structures blocked some of the wind.  But the tradeoff was the disquieting feeling of being watched by something that wasn’t quite human, and that chilled Yasuho right to her bones.  Still, she wandered closer at the insistence of her Stand, and suddenly she noticed a familiar tassel peeking over a snowbank.

“Josuke~?” she called, and trudged through the deep snow to the valley beyond.  And there he was, sitting on the ground without a single thread of winter clothing on, his canvas sneakers almost hidden by the snow.  She called his name again, but he still didn’t answer her.  His lips were tinged with blue, and she would have assumed that he had found a new shade of lipstick if she’d found him in any other weather.

“Josuke!  Josuke, it’s me, Yasuho!” she yelled as she finally reached him, dropping to her knees in front of him and taking his face in her wool-glove-warmed hands.  “Are you okay?”

Josuke blinked, and his lips silently formed her name.

“Yes, it’s me, Yasuho!” she cried, voice shrill with panic.  She gently shook his head and said, “What are you doing out here without a coat or anything on?  You need to get inside!”

“Yasuho-chan,” he murmured, and hot tears spilled onto his cheeks.  “It’s good to see you.”  Yasuho pulled him into a fierce hug, vigorously rubbing his back, his arms, anything.  “I had a feeling I’d see you today.”

“What?  It’s good to see you, too, but it’d be nicer if we were inside,” Yasuho stuttered, the chill from the snow she was kneeling in finally seeping through her jeans.  “You know, I had a feeling I would see you, too…  Paisley Park led me here.”  Keeping one hand over his heart, she moved on to trying to rub some warmth back into his legs.  The fabric of his sailor suit was thicker than she realized, which was a slight relief, but only a very slight one. 

Josuke dropped his head against her shoulder.  “It was so strange,” he murmured.  “The Wall Eyes were calling me, pulling my heart here, and I just walked here without a second thought.  And when I realized how cold it was and where I was, I thought, well, Yasuho-chan always finds me here, and I waited for you.  And here you are.”

“I always find you here?  What do you mean?  Paisley Park did all of the work.”

“This is where I’m from…  Where you found me.  Where I was born from the ground…”  Josuke trailed off, and Yasuho looked around.  They were sitting on the exact spot on the coastline where Yasuho had originally found Josuke, naked, alone, and unknowing; where Yasuho’s tiny world had expanded more than she’d ever dreamed it would.  And they were both called here again on this day… 

Suddenly, Yasuho’s breath left her in a gasp.  “It’s Christmas Eve,” she whispered.  She’d completely forgotten.  She didn’t have any plans – she and her friends had exchanged gifts earlier in December, and she certainly didn’t plan to give anything to her mother, even if her mother gave something to her.  Her mother would probably just leave money on the kotatsu before she went on another all-night bender with some strange, dangerous man.  That was her Christmas Eve tradition.

Christmas Eve was supposed to be a day that you spent with the ones you love.  Yasuho hadn’t celebrated it properly since she was a child because her mother’s addiction trumped whatever love she had left for her daughter.  And today, on this Christmas Eve, both she and Josuke were drawn to the same place, together.  The place where they met for the very first time.

At least the blush covering Yasuho’s face made her feel a little warmer.

“Come on, Josuke,” she said, unwinding her scarf and wrapping it around his neck, making sure that every inch of his always-exposed collarbone was covered up.  “Let’s go back to my house, where it’s warm.  I’m surprised that you haven’t already frozen solid!”  She tugged on his elbow and guided him into a standing position.

“It’s not that bad.  Soft and Wet keeps taking my cold away,” Josuke said, and, right on cue, a familiar robotic hand appeared from behind Josuke’s shoulder and touched a star-marked bubble to his cheek.  Yasuho hadn’t noticed them earlier because their translucency caused them to nearly blend in with the snow, but Josuke’s Stand’s bubbles were littered all over the snowbank.  She sighed in relief.

“Thank God for Soft and Wet,” she said.  “But this is no place to spend such a special day!  Come back to my house, warm up, and then maybe we can get dinner later.”  She tugged on his elbow again, and Josuke followed her gladly as they climbed the snowbank.

“Can we get fries?” Josuke said, a hopeful lilt to his voice.

Yasuho giggled.  “Whatever you want,” she said.  They walked along at a happy clip, humming Josuke’s large fries jingle all the way.

*****

Her house was empty, just as Yasuho suspected and hoped.  She ushered Josuke through the doorway, and, as they toed off their shoes, said, “I’ll plug in the kotatsu in a second after I get you a blanket.  I’ll warm some water for tea, too – or would you rather have coffee?”

Josuke hummed and then said, “Coffee, please.  What’s… a kotatsu?”

Yasuho blinked.  “You don’t know?  Do they not have one at the Higashikatas?”

“If they do, they haven’t said anything about it.”

“Well, here.  It’s so~ good.”  Yasuho led him by the elbow – as she’d been doing this whole time, she realized with a bit of embarrassment – into the living room, where her family’s kotatsu was set up.  Its pink flowered blanket and round black tabletop were looking worse for wear, but the heater worked just fine, and that was the important thing.  She lifted up the blanket and arranged one of the pillows, and motioned for Josuke to sit down.  “Here, sit down, and arrange the blanket however you like.  I’ll plug it in…”  Josuke settled himself underneath the blanket, and as soon as Yasuho plugged the kotatsu in, he let out a cry of surprise.  Yasuho giggled.

“It’s a warm table?!” Josuke said, sticking his hands underneath the blanket as well, and then scooting up until his forearms were covered, too.  “This is amazing~!”

“I know, right?” Yasuho said with a smile.  “Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll make it even better.”

Yasuho rushed to the kitchen to start the coffee pot, and then to her room to grab some blankets, because she’d hoarded all of them for those days when her mother was using the kotatsu and those cold, cold winter nights alone.  On her way back to the living room, she pulled a couple of oranges from the fridge, peeled them, and grabbed some napkins.  When she returned to the living room, Josuke was nowhere to be found.

Yasuho frowned.  “Josuke?” she called – but then she noticed the blanket around the kotatsu bulging strangely, and, after setting the oranges on the table and the blankets on the floor, she lifted it to find Josuke curled up underneath it.

“’S warmer under here,” Josuke mumbled. 

“I guess Soft and Wet wasn’t doing as good of a job of taking the chill away as you thought, huh?” Yasuho said.  “You should come out.  I don’t want you to burn yourself on the heater.  I have blankets for you.”

Josuke slid out from underneath the kotatsu, pouting, and as soon as he sat up, Yasuho piled every blanket she brought on his shoulders.  He pulled them around himself and retreated into them like a turtle going back into its shell, until only his sailor hat and a little bit of his curly hair was visible.  Yasuho couldn’t resist giving his shoulders a little squeeze.  “That’s better, right?” she said.  “I’ll be back – I need to pour the coffee.  Have an orange, too, if you want.  That’s also something you do at the kotatsu.”

A few minutes later, Yasuho returned with two steaming mugs of coffee and cream, and the Josuke bundle hadn’t budged.  “I’m back~” she said, and, placing one mug of coffee in front of him, sat down next to him – not too close, but not too far away.  Just the right distance for a friend to sit next to another friend.

But Josuke had other plans, and suddenly Yasuho was absorbed into the blanket pile.  She felt like her face was probably steaming with how hot it got from Josuke’s arms wrapping around her middle and his head tucked under her chin.  For one of Josuke’s impromptu hugs that he was prone to giving, it felt impossible intimate with the added layers of warmth.

“Josuke…?” she stammered, her voice barely above a squeak.

“Yasuho-chan,” he said, his voice muffled by the blankets and Yasuho’s sweater, “you’re always there when I need you the most, even when I don’t know that I need you.”

“Oh,” she breathed.  Did she?  Well, this was the second time she’d found him at the Wall Eyes, and she did come to him when he was in trouble, but…  She’d never felt like she was truly that helpful to Josuke.  Maybe she was doing better than she thought. 

She placed her hands on the arms that surrounded her, and stroked them gently with her thumbs.  “Well, I just want to help you,” she murmured.  “No matter what, I want to help you.” 

“No matter what,” Josuke murmured in reply.  “I always want to help you, too.”

Tears pricked the corners of Yasuho’s eyes, and she shifted so she was full-on holding Josuke.  “Do you want to stay with me tonight?” she blurted, and the tears suddenly fell, regret immediately replacing the sudden surge of feeling in her heart that prompted the question.  “I mean – I don’t mean like that, just – we can watch TV, we can just talk, we can play a game –”

But Josuke hugged her tighter, and laughed.  “Yeah,” he said, “I wanna stay here with you.  I want to eat oranges and sit under this amazing table all night.”

“Well, if you get tired, you can sleep between the mattresses on my bed,” she said.

“Or you can just lay on top of me right here,” Josuke mumbled, and he giggled when Yasuho choked and fell back.  Josuke snaked an arm out from underneath his cocoon, picked an orange slice, and popped it into his mouth – and when orange juice squirted from the gap between his two front teeth, Yasuho collapsed onto the floor with laughter. 

Merry Christmas, she thought.  I don’t wanna spend it with anyone but you.

[facebeautyhq]

Our Best And Easiest Skin Care Tips

Your skin shows your age. You can dress young and act young, but your skin tells the story of your life. Taking care of your skin is vital. The only way to keep your skin looking young is by creating a skin care plan and sticking to it.

Avoid wearing too much makeup when you suffer from acne. This may cause or even worsen existing acne. Try to not use makeup until the problem worse. Do not try to hide your pimples behind a toner or concealer.

You can improve your skin quality by using a homemade masks for you face that will give you glowing skin. Also ground orange peel in the mix. Apply to the face for 15 minutes.

Never go to bed with any makeup as this will ruin your skin. Your skin needs time to repair and rejuvenate from the rigors of the day. When you sleep without removing your makeup, you prevent your skin from breathing and cause clogged pores and other problems. Take it off before heading to bed.

Baking soda and other items in your home can be used for skin care needs. Make a paste by mixing it with water and apply to pimples overnight, or use it to moisturize your skin. You can also make a styling gel to use on your scalp.

Avoid wearing socks or gloves. Wet socks or gloves will cause your eczema to flare by causing skin irritation, itching and cracking.

Tanning booths are a mistake if you long-term problems. People think tanning makes them look younger, but it can eventually do the opposite. Tanning leads to skin and even premature aging.

Before you can get rid of your skin problems, you need to know your skin type. If are not aware of the type of skin you have, you will not be able to choose the best products that will help your skin look its best. Understand your skin before you start treating it.

The following are some great ideas for alleviating the symptoms of eczema. Do not use any detergents or lotions that contain a strong perfumed scent. Wearing clothes made of cotton is one more helpful tip. Synthetic fabrics or wool actually make eczema worse. Use make up that contain no artificial dyes or additives. By using these tips, you can dodge eczema flare-ups and protect your skin from irritation.

Vitamin H can be very beneficial for your skin care. Your skin will glow if your Vitamin H.

It is best to choose skin care products with only a few ingredients as possible. If you have sensitive skin, additional ingredients may be counterproductive. The product might cause irritation and redness. The worst that it can cause breakouts.

Always apply lotion to your hands and reapply your moisturizing cream. This will keep your hands remain smooth and soft.

Vitamin B3 creams are extremely useful in eliminating red blotchy skin. This vitamin locks the skin's ability to keep moisture into your skin and aids in protection from irritants. You should notice results after using B3 for a couple weeks of use.

It is always best to stick with powder foundations when you have skin is on the oily side. These foundations will soak up oil from your skin. Be wary of liquid foundations if your skin is oily, as many of these products will make oily skin worse.

Mix sunscreen into your liquid foundation.A lot of different make-up brands are already have SPF protection. Just add a couple drops of plain sunscreen to your foundation bottle and mix it in.

Excessive exposure to sun can cause wrinkles and spots, as well as cancer and other serious skin ailments. Wear enough sunscreen as you can to limit your chances of dealing with these problems.

A good way to help prevent essential oil loss from your skin is not bathe and shower excessively each week. Try to shower every other day if you want your skin maintain its essential oils.

If you'd like to look younger, be sure and maintain proper skin care. This article has gone over tips that should help you when you're trying to have skin that's flawless and vibrant. Regardless of what you choose to do, make sure you do something each and every day.

[andeansummitadventure]

The clothes for mountaineering in Ecuador

A great mountaineering experience requires great clothes. Without the right shoes, jacket and underwear you will have troubles enjoying your tour. However, finding the right products can be challenging. You often feel lost in the overwhelming flood of information and offers. We will discuss what aspects are important when choosing your equipment and present you our favourite products.

Clothes are a key factor for your tour

Why are the right clothes that important? Mainly for two reasons: The first one is comfort. Imagine you are going up the glacier of Cotopaxi. Although the view is amazing you feel a sense of unease and distraction. Your feet hurt because the badly manufactured seam of your shoes rub on your skin. The socks form wrinkles that make it even worse. Your wool underwear scratches on your legs. You sweat because your jacket doesn't breathe. Stop! That is not what you want your tour to be like. You can prevent that by choosing the right equipment. Feeling comfortable in your clothes is the basis for a great mountaineering experience. Secondly, you need proper clothing to protect yourself against the cold, the wind and the dirt. That is where good quality differs from poor quality. The conditions in the high mountains can be challenging. That's why you should make sure to get a good jacket and high quality boots that shield you against wind and water and underwear that keeps you warm. How much should you pay for the clothes? Inadequate garments can inhibit you from enjoying your mountaineering experience. Thus, we think that paying a bit more money for good quality is absolutely worth it! Additionally, this is a long-term investment. High quality gear will accompany you several years or even decades. You can use it over and over again. Nevertheless, let's be clear about something: A high price doesn't necessarily indicate high quality. There is often a correlation, but not always! The list of products below will help you to find good quality for an adequate price. Though, you can save some money by planning ahead. Normally, if you need a certain product very fast - especially in the main season - you pay a high price. However, if you know you will need mountaineering clothes next year you should check several providers in the off season where demand is lower and prices are often discounted.  

© Andean Summit Adventure  

Ecuadorian glaciers are more humid

All glaciers are cold. However, there is something special about Ecuadorian glaciers: They are generally more humid because of the tropical climate near the equator. That can influence your choice of equipment. In Ecuador it is important that your clothes breathe well. In a humid environment badly breathing clothes will cause you to sweat heavily. Your water-proof jacket doesn't really help you if it only protects you against rain from the outside but causes you to sweat and thus become wet from the inside.  

Mountaineering boots

The boots are the centerpiece of your mountaineering outfit. You will walk several hours on difficult terrain with them. Thus, they have to be comfortable and technically adequate. Finding a good pair of shoes is probably the most crucial part of putting together the equipment. For high mountains the boots have to be warm, stable, water-proof and compatible with crampons. Additionally, they should fit your feet. Every foot is different and that influences the choice of the shoes. The only way you can test that is by trying them out in a store. Feel into your foot, it will tell you if it likes the shoe. Moreover, you should buy them in a taller size than normal shoes. First, that’s because you have to wear one or two thick pairs of socks under it. Second, you need more space at your toes when descending. Besides, have a look on the fabrication of the inner material. Is everything smooth? Poorly made seams can rub on the skin. After buying the boots make sure to break them in. Going on a walk around your town with heavy mountaineering boots might feel weird, but it prevents you from getting blisters on the mountain. Our pick: For women: La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX Women For men: La Sportiva Nepal EVO GTX  

© Andean Summit Adventure  

Approach shoes

The mountaineering boots give you the necessary stability for the difficult terrain but they can be stiff on the long run. That's why you can get an additional pair of approach shoes that you use for the first part of the tour where the terrain is still flat and easy. On the one hand, they give you more comfort until you reach the first hut or camp. On the other hand, they cause you to carry a bit more weight. Using approach shoes is optional. It depends on your personal preferences. For the approach you can use normal trail running shoes. It's important that they feel comfortable to you. Otherwise, they don't fulfill their purpose and are unnecessary additional weight. Moreover, they should be lightweight and breathing well. Our pick: For women: La Sportiva TX4 Approach shoes – Women´s Salewa Women's Firetail 3 Approach Shoes For men: La Sportiva TX4 Approach Shoes - Men's Salewa Men's Mountain Trainer Gtx Hiking Shoe  

Outer jacket

The outer jacket is your shield against the harsh conditions in the high mountains. It mainly protects you against water and wind. In addition it helps to keep you warm. However, note that only one jacket isn't enough to save you from the cold. You need multiple layers. Normally for the upper body that includes underwear, one or more isolation layers depending on conditions and the outer jacket. Two features are essential regarding the outer jacket: It has to be water-proof and breathable. Both will protect you against becoming wet. First from the outside through rain and snow and second from the inside through sweat. In addition, you can have a look at the pack size. The smaller you can crumple the jacket up the better. Hardshell-jackets generally do a good job in all of these features. Our pick: For women: Arcteryx Alpha AR Women's Dynafit Radical GTX Jacket Women's For men: Mammut Nordwand Advanced Dynafit Radical GTX Jacket Men's  

© Andean Summit Adventure  

Isolation layer: Down jacket

A down jacket is perfect to keep you warm in the high mountains. The natural fibre isolates warmth very effectively. Besides, it has a good pack size. The disadvantage of down is its sensitivity to moisture. However, with a good outer jacket that normally isn't a problem. When buying a down jacket you should pay attention to the product´s "cuin". That is a number which describes the jacket´s ability to bounce back and extend again after being compressed. The higher the number, the wider the down expands. Thus, the cuin is an indicator of the down´s quality. It can range from about 300 to 900 cuin. Most commonly the products have about 500 cuin. 650 cuin are considered as a very good rating, 800 is excellent. Why is this number important? Because the down has to be extended to isolate warmth. If it isn't able to bounce back after compression, it fails to keep you warm. Please note that cuin is measured differently in the USA and Europe. Our pick: For women: The North Face Summit L3 Hoody Women's Dynafit FT Down Jacket Women's For men: The North Face Summit L3 Hoody Men's Dynafit FT Down Jacket Men's  

Isolation layer: Soft-shell jacket

As an alternative or additionally to down, all depending on conditions, you can also use a soft-shell jacket. In contrast to hard-shell, soft-shell jackets aren't waterproof. However, they are far more breathable, elastic and comfortable. When buying a soft-shell jacket there are a few things you have to consider. First, it has to fit well to your body. You should feel comfortable wearing it and have enough range of motion. Pick a size that allows you to wear other layers (underwear and one or two shirts) under the jacket. Second, look at the technical features. Does the jacket have practical pockets? Adjustable hems? A good wrist closure? Our pick: For women: Arc´teryx Gamma LT Hoody Women's For men: Arc´teryx Gamma LT Hoody Men's  

Underwear: Merino

Like the other isolation layers the underwear helps you to stay warm. The experience of our team has shown that the natural fibre Merino wool is very comfortable on the skin. Moreover, it is breathable, quick drying and it doesn't smell bad too fast. Merino products are generally labeled with the fibre´s diameter. This figure provides information about the smoothness of the wool. It ranges from 17 to 24 microns. The lower the number the softer the underwear. Furthermore, pay attention to buying Merino underwear with a thick density for the high mountains. About 200g / m^2 are adequate. Our pick: For women and men: Icebreaker Oasis Longsleeve Crewe  

© Andean Summit Adventure  

Maintenance and storage

To make sure that your clothes have a long life span you have to maintain them. That saves you a lot of money. Therefore, remove all the rough dirt and debris from your hiking clothes after a tour. Next, wash them according to the guidelines on the etiquette. Remove any excess detergent since it can harm the material. You often find instructions for drying on the product tag. If not, hang or line dry is the best option. Regarding your mountaineering boots you should also clean them according to the information on the product tag. Normally, it’s best to remove the laces and insoles, wash the shoes by hand and then let them air dry away from direct sunlight. After that you can add caring products to keep your boots waterproof. Double check if the product is suitable for your hiking boots. Eventually, store your hiking clothes and shoes in a cool and dry area. There they wait for you. And for the next adventure. Read the full article