#immunity buildup

[timdrake-yumm]

A Tim who has a little bottle of Lazarus water. The lid has one of those pipette dropper things attached to it like some of those medicine bottles do. I’m talking pre-Robin Tim too. He uses it on all the injuries he doesn’t want people asking about that he can’t cover up some other way. It’s used very sparingly so he still has it as Red Robin (though perhaps he got it refilled when he was with the LoA). Where did he get it from? Who knows, but since he only uses so little, the side effects are harder to recognize. His eyes use to be such an icy blue, but now they look kinda teal? Not nearly as much as Jason’s of course, and they don’t glow yet. And he’s accidentally given himself some kind of pit madness immunity/resistance (like you would do with poisons) so that if he were put all the way, completely immersed in a Lazarus pit, he’d be much more in control of his thoughts and actions than Jason was. Is he still crazy? Absolutely, no sane person tries to clone their best friend almost a hundred times, but once people learn of the Lazarus water (if they ever do) they can’t be sure if that’s just Tim or if the water has been effecting him that way.

[poorly-drawn-monhun]

If you're taking requests, gore magala or vaal hazak 🥺?

as a pierce ammo gunner, i am immune to frenzy actually ~ Modzutsune 🫧

[starrysymphonies]

I’m watching the older ii3 episodes and UGHH there was SO MUCH good buildup between Balloon and Nickel being friends and it seemed like such a GENUINE friendship where they really did care about eachother (episode 6 always will be my favorite example of their friendship)

And the fact that was all scorned and scorched in the most recent eps for just like?? Drama??? When they could’ve been an actually good duo (even trio with Bot!!) that stuck by eachothers sides through the merge (and tbh eventually got picked off by the other alliances). Which would’ve been a lot more interesting considering Nickel’s development through the season

Instead it felt like they took two steps forward in Nickel’s arc and then like, 10 steps back! I get change isnt linear but he!! Literally apologized in episode 5 for being overprotective towards box and devaluing the sinkers!!! That’s a step in the right direction!!!

In later eps he could possibly struggle with working up the courage to apologize to Balloon for s2 and that could’ve been a finality to his arc and it would’ve been decent!! He could’ve gotten eliminated some time after that too, and then there could’ve been a cut to indefinite island at the end of the Ep (like there usually is) where Nickel decides on leaving the island, remarking that “there’s someone else I have to say sorry to”

But no apparently not!! Apparently Nickel believes that what he did wasn’t so bad and Balloon and Suitcase should just get over it!! It’s just so frustrating bcs there was a lot of build up for nothing

[capricorn-0mnikorn]

Full Transcript at the link; 3-minute listen.

Quote:

By taking biopsies from long COVID patients before and after exercising, scientists in the Netherlands constructed a startling picture of widespread abnormalities in muscle tissue that may explain this severe reaction to physical activity.

Among the most striking findings were clear signs that the cellular power plants, the mitochondria, are compromised and the tissue starved for energy.

"We saw this immediately and it's very profound," says Braeden Charlton, one of the study's authors at Vrije University in Amsterdam.

The tissue samples from long COVID patients also revealed severe muscle damage, a disturbed immune response, and a buildup of microclots.

"This is a very real disease," says Charlton. "We see this at basically every parameter that we measure."

[afrodonisrevo]

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[shower-racoon]

day 8 of trying to teach the pikmin video games. the yellows are very efficient at making video games. the reds are now doing 10 idle games at once. no idea if they're being efficient, but they can understand what they're doing, so it doesn't matter.

the other pikmin have moved on to online games: blues have chosen Sea of Thieves, purples have chosen Team Fortress 2, and whites have chosen Call of Duty. I believe this is because of the blues' water fixation, the purple's ability to carry, and the whites' immunity to toxicity, respectively

day 1 of trying to teach the pikmin video games. I'm out $200,000 on tiny laptops because they destroyed the first hundred on accident. turns out "tiny guy who only knows how to follow orders, attack anything that moves, and carry objects" doesn't make the smoothest transition to "gamer". will try leading by example tomorrow

[reasonsforhope]

Pairing frogs and toads together might conjure memories of Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters — dressed to the nines in caramel coats and polyester — biking off toward adventure. 

But in the animal world, frogs and toads on nearly every continent are facing a much more harrowing adventure: a decades-long fight against a mysterious fungal virus that has afflicted over 500 amphibian species. 

Since the 1990s, scientists estimate that the chytridiomycosis disease caused by the fungal pathogen Bd (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has led to the extinction of 90 amphibians. One of the lost species includes the Panamanian golden frog, which hasn’t been spotted in the wild since 2009. 

Fortunately, a new research study has finally pinpointed the virus that has been infecting fungal genomes for decades. 

“Bd is a generalist pathogen and is associated with the decline of over 500 amphibian species…here, we describe the discovery of a novel DNA mycovirus of Bd,” wrote Mark Yacoub — the lead author of the study and a microbiology doctoral student at the University of California, Riverside. 

In an interview with UC Riverside News, Yacoub said that he and microbiology professor Jason Stajich observed the viral genome while studying the broader population genetics of mycovirus (viruses of fungi). 

The discovery will undoubtedly have monumental impacts on future amphibian conservation efforts. This includes the possible launching of new research studies into fungal species strains, the practice of cloning and observing spores, and engineering a solution to the virus. 

But Yacoub cautioned that this is only the beginning. 

“We don’t know how the virus infects the fungus, how it gets into the cells,” Yacoub said. “If we’re going to engineer the virus to help amphibians, we need answers to questions like these.”

Still, as scientists strengthen conservation efforts to save frogs and toads (and salamanders too!) they also appear to be saving themselves. Yacoub pointed out several amphibian species around the world have begun exhibiting resistance to Bd. 

“Like with COVID, there is a slow buildup of immunity,” Yacoub explained. “We are hoping to assist nature in taking its course.”

Pictured: A Golden poison frog — one of the many species endangered by chytridiomycosis — in captivity.

Why are frogs and toads so important?

From the get go, every amphibian species plays an important role in their local ecosystem. Not only are they prey for a slew of animals like lizards, snakes, otters, birds, and more, but in an eat-or-be-eaten world, frogs and toads benefit the food chain by doing both. 

Even freshly hatched tadpoles — no bigger than a button — can reduce contamination in their surrounding pond water by nibbling on algae blooms. 

As they grow bigger (and leggier), amphibians snack on whatever insect comes their way, greatly reducing the population of harmful pests and making a considerable dent in the transmission malaria, dengue, and Zika fever by eating mosquito larvae. 

“Frogs control bad insects, crop pests, and mosquitoes,” Yacoub said. “If their populations all over the world collapse, it could be devastating.” 

Yacoub also pointed out that amphibians are the “canary in the coal mine of climate change,” because they are an indicator species. Frogs and toads have permeable skin, making them sensitive to changes in their environment, and they also rely on freshwater. 

When amphibians vanish from an ecosystem, it’s a symptom of greater environmental issues...

Herpetologist Maureen Donnelly echoed Yacoub’s sentiments in an interview with Phys Org, noting that when it comes to food chains, biodiversity, and environmental impact, the role of frogs and toads should not be overlooked. 

“Conservation must be a global team effort,” Donnelly said. “We are the stewards of the planet and are responsible for all living creatures.”

-via GoodGoodGood, April 22, 2024

[reality-detective]

Let’s make natural antibiotic for cough and sore throat! 🍯

🌿 Natural healing for immunity, respiratory health, and relief from seasonal ailments! 🌿 This garlic-anise-Ceylon cinnamon honey blend combines nature’s powerful allies for combating coughs, sore throats, and respiratory inflammation.

�� 9 cloves Garlic – Known as a natural antibiotic, garlic is rich in allicin, which helps fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi, strengthening the body’s defenses.

⭐️ 1 tsp Anise – With its expectorant properties, anise helps clear the airways, soothing stubborn coughs and aiding in the removal of mucus buildup.

🍯 ½ tsp Ceylon Cinnamon – Known for its mild, warming qualities, Ceylon cinnamon is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich, further boosting immunity and overall respiratory health.

Mix with 1 cup of pure honey. One tbsp every 4-6 hours.

This blend supports your respiratory system, provides protection for the mucous membranes, and adds a natural immunity boost to your wellness routine. 🤔

[pinkaditty]

Who's Passing NNN? Tokyo Debunker Pt 6

ohhhhh my god im almost done. writing this one actually had me in a chokehold 4 rui im ngl

a/n: sorry this one took me a while :(( but im back at long last! at long last! rui kinda admittedly has had me feeling some kinda way... hmm...

quick disclaimer that i write these under the assumption the tokyo debunker boys are at least 18 years old. they appear to be present at a university considering there are professors and a chancellor. not to mention the boys drink, smoke, gamble, and refer to themselves as adults.

summary: pt 6 of "Who's Passing NNN?" tokyo debunker thing ykyk we've been through this

cw: men... with dicks... and they jerk off!!?!? MINORS DNI!!!!!!!!!!! not ever proofread pls enjoy my brain slop

Frostheim || Vagastrom || Jabberwock || Sinostra || Hotarubi || Obscuary || Mortkranken

(MORTKRANKEN NEXT I CAN'T WAIT 2 WRITE YURI JORKING IT!!!!!)

Obscuary:

Edward Hart: Fail

A pity. He could have lasted if he’d wanted, but it really is that simple - he didn’t care to!

He never makes quick work of himself. He loves to drag it out, make it as painfully long as possible before his orgasm washes over him, his sticky cum spurting from his lower body and his lips parting in a whiny moan. Partially because he is lazy, but also because he values slow buildups. He believes it makes the climax all that sweeter. This is why he’s laid on his back in his room, rubbing himself to the thoughts of former sexual partners after a boner had caught him by surprise.

Steadily, gently, he rubs soft strokes along the shaft of his half-hard cock, shivering as he does. The sensation is close to electric, wincing as his arousal peaks, creating a familiar twinge in his lower body. He sighs blissfully, still moving his hand languidly up and down his shaft. Already, precum builds at the tip. He groans at the sight of it, and slows his pace, gently dragging his hand up and down his length. He considers pausing his minstrations, writhing in pleasure as he watches his cock twitch eagerly for release. He decides against it, instead ging painfully slowly, squeezing his cock as he strokes upwards, putting some pressure on his tip. He moans, feeling his body shake with pleasure. He gasps as his cock throbs in his hands, and he knows he’s getting close. He sighs in pleasure, picking up his pace again, sliding his hand up and down his length. He watches as more pre-cum drips down his length, and he parts his lips in a pleased mewl, feeling himself getting closer, and closer, and closer…

A knock at his door. His eyes snap wide open. He hardly has time to stuff himself back in his pants and pull the sheets over him for good measure before Rui prances in, carrying a laundry basket, complaining about Ed having left his clothes on the floor again. Internally, Ed sighs with relief, watching Rui trail around his room. His cock twitches in his pants, and Ed rolls his lip between his teeth. He might have to wait before he gets off. 

Rui Mizuki: Fail

Damn! Now Romeo gets free drinks for two weeks. Rui doesn’t feel all that bad about losing though, as he wasn’t taking the bet that seriously. He knew he would probably lose, but after hearing about a mistake with the mission documents and how it was all that “BTH’s” fault, Rui thought he needed a pick-me-up. 

The ringing in his ears just doesn’t seem to go away, no matter what he does. His knuckle-whitening grip on the counter of the bar was only making things worse. His bangs were beginning to stick to his forehead and his face was becoming quite flushed. He hadn’t had a single sip of any drink, not while on the job. He was rock hard, and he had been all day. It was thanks to some dream… Rui didn’t usually have horny dreams, but he wasn’t immune to them. This one was especially potent because it had been quite a long time since he’d had any true physical contact. 

Romeo sat chattering in front of him, talking his and Haru’s ears off about the “BTH” and the latest screw up he’d caused. The words flowed in one ear and out the other, with occasional nods and “Oh, really?” and other pitying phrases and hums of agreement slipping from Rui’s lips. Haru was responding similarly, cheeks also flushed, but Rui assumed it was from the alcohol. Rui found himself very quickly becoming warmer as he reminisced on the dream, remembering how smooth the stranger’s touch was on his bare skin, how real it all felt. He swallowed deeply, loosening and tightening his grip on the counter, trying to ground himself somehow. His mind swims with fantasies of real contact; fingertips tracing patterns on his bare skin, nails scraping the skin of his back and neck, palms squeezing his waist or hips, a pair of lips and a tongue idly marking territory via bites and hickeys across his body. Rui suppresses a low groan, instead straightening his posture, trying to take his mind off the way his cock twitched and hardened in his pants. He was certain his arousal showed on his face. His easy smile had slipped away at some point, instead replaced by a focused, somewhat irritable one. His face had to be flushed what with how warm he was, the redness spreading to his ears and creeping down his neck. He ran his hands through his hair and noted it was damp to the touch. He sighs, listening still as Romeo rambles on. 

He didn’t know if he could take this much longer. His cock continued to press angrily against his pants, as though demanding attention. Rui squeezed his thighs together as he stood, wiping down glasses and listening to Romeo’s endless drivel. The action made him shudder, sending pleasure and warmth coursing through his body again. He didn’t think it was possible to get harder than he was at this point. It was becoming painful, keeping his cock tucked away against his leg. He could feel it throbbing, growing impatient. He closes his eyes, sighing again. He leans forward on the counter, trying to refocus on Romeo’s rant. His cock twitches again. He just had to wait… a little bit longer…

Lyca Colt: Pass

He knows what this is but hardly does it himself. Doesn’t feel arousal often and when he does it makes him unbearable to be around. He gnashes his teeth like hell and digs his claws into his legs as though to will it away. It works sometimes, but not all the time…

Lyca dragged his sleep-robbed body to the room you typically slept in when you stayed over at Obscuary, his pillow dragging on the floor behind him. He’d had enough. It was impossible to sleep in his room tonight, for whatever reason. He just couldn’t… relax. A strange buzzing feeling seemed to keep him awake, permeating in his mind and hanging heavy near his groin. His cock would twitch every time he moved or thought of something in particular, irritating him to no end. He knew there was no chance of calming down while sleeping in there. And he didn’t feel like resisting it tonight. 

When he arrived at the room, he immediately pushed the door open, and was quick to lock it behind him. He didn’t want the blonde gigolo or moth-eaten Casanova to interrupt his sleep. Plus, he didn’t want them to come in here and ruin it. He sniffs the air of the room, feeling his lower body stir. It still smelled like you. He feels anticipation rise in his chest as he makes a beeline for the bed, ripping back the sheets and searching for any remaining traces of you, hoping the last wash Rui had done hadn’t wiped it all out. Thankfully, he still caught rather potent traces of your scent in the pillows and comforter. He sighed with relief, tossing his pillow to the side and grabbing one of the ones in the room, holding it against his face, taking in a deep inhale. He groans as the scent fills his nostrils, feeling his heart pound excitedly and his cock twitch again, half-hard from his anticipation and excitement. He exhales, bringing the pillow away from his face, glancing down at his hardening length. No escaping it now. 

He slides himself under the covers, placing the pillow under hie head, fully surrounding himself with your scent. It was faint on it’s own, but when surrounded with the bedsheets and comforter and pillows, it became quite potent. It was dizzying to Lyca, and he found himself eagerly gripping his cock before he could even think. A single stroke has him keening, soft moans slipping from his lips. To prevent making much more, he bites down on the pillow, gnawing at it repeatedly as he begins to touch himself. He growls into the pillow as he teases the head, his toes curling in further anticipation. His whole body shudders. He dives right in, wrapping his hand around his cock and pumping his length faster, loud moans and growls muffled by the pillow that smelled like you. He keeps gnawing at the pillow’s edge repeatedly, his legs shaking with pleasure as he approaches his peak. His free hand curls into the sheets and he begins to thrust his hips forward into his hand, his growls getting louder. 

At last he bursts, and a loud moan that quickly devolves into a whine escapes his lips as he frees the pillow from his jaws. He bites his lip, peeking underneath the sheets at the mess he’d made. Rui would have to wash these again. But, maybe he could get away with not saying anything… Who knows, maybe you’d come to stay again, and find the bed smelling just like Lyca.

a/n: *is visibly vibrating with excitement* IT'S NEARLY DONE! i can't wait 2 write yuri jerking off he's a fucking wet blanket it will be so much fun 2 write a pathetic nerd boyfailure jerk himself off

tagging @cupcakesmoothie bc this is ur fav house and ik u've been waiting patiently... which i deeply appreciate...

ALSO. PLEASE. I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH IT AND NOW HAVE THREE NEW FIC IDEAS:

“LEASHED” LEO (directly inspired by @/aayakashii’s fic im not even shy abt it): it’s been a long day and leo’s annoying you. he wants to use your power again to enhance his stigma to spy on some people. you don’t wanna. he pesters you so bad that you start thinking maybe his tie could be put to better use….

BUTLER RP WITH RUI: established couple maybe? idk rui mentions he’s still fucked up over the butler experience so you decided to give him better memories working as a butler for you. 

7 MINUTES IN HIDING: you and haku are fucking in a closet and trying really hard not to get caught. haku is very loud.

i wanna write these so bad. foaming at the mouth. vote 4 which one i should write first if u feel like it. if not, amen.

note that i appreciate likes, comments, and reblogs!! please, tell me how much you enjoyed this work!! it means a lot to me to know you like it! until next time!

[swampgallows]

Now we know how COVID attacks your heart

Even patients with mild COVID symptoms could face a higher risk of developing heart disease and stroke

By Sanjay Mishra Nov 07, 2023 04:08 PM 5 min. read

Scientists have noticed that COVID-19 can trigger serious cardiovascular problems, especially among older people who have a buildup of fatty material in their blood vessels. But now a new study has revealed why and shown that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, directly infects the arteries of the heart.

The study also found that the virus can survive and grow inside the cells that form plaque—the buildup of fat-filled cells that narrow and stiffen the arteries leading to atherosclerosis. If the plaque breaks, it can block blood flow and cause a heart attack or a stroke. The SARS-CoV-2 infection makes the situation worse by inflaming the plaque and increasing the chance that it breaks free.

This can explain long-term cardiovascular effects seen in some, if not all, COVID-19 patients.

SARS-CoV-2 virus has already been found to infect many organs outside the respiratory system. But until now it hadn't been shown to attack the arteries.

"No one was really looking if there was a direct effect of the virus on the arterial wall," says Chiara Giannarelli, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, in New York, who led the study. Giannarelli noted that her team detected viral RNA—the genetic material in the virus—in the coronary arteries. “You would not expect to see [this] several months after recovering from COVID.”

Mounting evidence now shows that SARS-CoV-2 is not only a respiratory virus, but it can also affect the heart and many other organ systems, says Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis. Al-Aly's research has shown that the risk of developing heart and cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, cardiac arrest, and blood clots increases two to five times within a year of COVID-19, even when the person wasn't hospitalized.

"This important study links, for the first time, directly the SARS-CoV-2 virus with atherosclerotic plaque inflammation," says Charalambos Antoniades, chair of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Virus triggers the inflammation in plaque

A recent study of more than 800,000 people led by Fabio Angeli, a cardiologist at University of Insubria in Varese, Italy, has shown that COVID-19 patients develop high blood pressure twice as often as others. More worrying is that the risk of cardiac diseases can also rise for patients who suffered only mild COVID symptoms.

"I saw a patient who now has a defibrillator, and she didn't even have a severe [COVID] illness," says Bernard Gersh, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Wondering whether the cardiovascular damage during COVID was due to the virus directly attacking the blood vessels, the NYU team analyzed autopsied tissue from the coronary arteries and plaque of older people who had died from COVID-19. They found the virus was present in the arteries regardless of whether the fatty plaques were big or small.

"The original finding in this study is that the virus was convincingly found in the plaque in the coronary artery," says Juan Carlos Kaski, a cardiovascular specialist at St George's, University of London, who was not involved in the study.

The NYU team found that in the arteries, the virus predominantly colonized the white blood cells called macrophages. Macrophages are immune cells that are mobilized to fight off an infection, but these same cells also absorb excess fats—including cholesterol from blood. When microphages load too much fat, they change into foam cells, which can increase plaque formation.

To confirm that the virus was indeed infecting and growing in the cells of the blood vessels, scientists obtained arterial and plaque cells—including macrophages and foam cells—from healthy volunteers. Then they grew these cells in the lab in petri dishes and infected them with SARS-CoV-2.

Giannarelli found that although virus infected macrophages at a higher rate than other arterial cells, it did not replicate in them to form new infectious particles. But when the macrophages had become loaded with cholesterol and transformed into foam cells, the virus could grow, replicate, and survive longer.

"We found that the virus tended to persist longer in foam cells," says Giannarelli. That suggests that foam cells might act as a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2. Since more fatty buildup would mean a greater number of foam cells, plaque can increase the persistence of the virus or the severity of COVID-19.

Scientists found that when macrophages and foam cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 they released a surge of small proteins known as cytokines, which signal the immune system to mount a response against a bacterial or viral infection. In arteries, however, cytokines boost inflammation and formation of even more plaque.

"We saw that there was a degree of inflammation [caused] by the virus that could aggravate atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events," says Giannarelli.

These findings also confirm previous reports that measuring inflammation in the blood vessel wall can diagnose the extent of long-term cardiovascular complications after COVID-19, says Antoniades.

"What this study has found is that plaque rupture can be accelerated and magnified by the presence of the virus," says Kaski.

Understanding heart diseases after COVID

While this new research clearly shows that SARS-CoV-2 can infect, grow, and persist in the macrophages of plaques and arterial cells, more studies are needed to fully understand the many ways COVID-19 can alter cardiac health.

"The NYU study identifies one potential mechanism, especially the viral reservoir, to explain the possible effects" says Gersh. "But It's not going to be the only mechanism."

This study only analyzed 27 samples from eight elderly deceased patients, all of whom already had coronary artery disease and were infected with the original strains of virus. So, the results of this study do not necessarily apply to younger people without coronary artery disease; or to new variants of the virus, which cause somewhat milder disease, says Angeli.

"We do not know if this will happen in people who have been vaccinated," says Kaski. "There are lots of unknowns."

It is also not clear whether and to what extent the high inflammatory reaction observed in the arteries of patients within six months after the infection, as shown in the new study, will last long-enough to trigger new plaque formation. "New studies are needed to show the time-course of the resolution of vascular inflammation after the infection," says Antoniades.

COVID patients should watch for any new incidence of shortness of breath with exertion, chest discomfort, usually with exertion, palpitations, loss of consciousness; and talk to their physician about possible heart disease.

[mya-valentine]

hello! i love your shigaraki hcs so would you mind making an hc of shigaraki with an s/o that’s sassy & bitchy? they’ve known other for 6-7 years. it’s an intp x intj dynamic. they are too comfortable with each other.

(i’m okay with nsfw.) 💕

Headcannon: Tomura Shigaraki With a Sassy & Bitchy S/O

A/N: Love the concept. Love the art. Love a bitchy S/O. I definitely got a little carried away with this one. I'm so glad you like my work. I tried to get a little suggestive with this. I'm not tooooo confident in it, but I don't think it's the worst thing I ever wrote, but I hope you enjoy this.

Your relationship with Shigaraki is filled with biting sarcasm and snarky comebacks. It’s like a second language between the two of you, with each of you pushing the other’s buttons in a way that no one else could dare. While others might take your sass as disrespect, Shigaraki loves it—it’s your unique way of showing affection, after all.

Your back-and-forth sarcasm often leads to a buildup of tension between you and Shigaraki. What starts as playful insults and teasing turns into heated eye contact, the room suddenly feeling smaller as you inch closer to each other. You’ll mutter something snarky, and he’ll respond with a low growl, “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” His eyes darken as he pulls you against him, the sarcasm in your voice melting away as the heat between you two builds.

Sometimes when you’re mid-argument, you find yourselves standing way too close—your chest almost brushing his. The heat from the bickering shifts into something more when you realize just how close you are. His breath will ghost over your lips, and there’s a silent dare in his eyes, challenging you to push him away or lean into him. You don’t back down easily, though, leaning in with a smirk, “Is this your way of surrendering?”

You don’t let Shigaraki get away with anything. He could be mid-rant about something trivial, and you’ll roll your eyes, muttering, “And you think I’m dramatic?” He’ll scowl at you, but deep down, he enjoys that you’re not afraid to speak your mind.

Your INTP-INTJ dynamic means you both thrive on deep, analytical conversations, though they often lead to debates. Whether it’s about strategy, philosophy, or something mundane like which game is better, you’re always challenging each other’s viewpoints. Sometimes the debates get heated, but that’s what keeps things interesting.

There are moments when Shigaraki will catch you completely off-guard. In the middle of a debate or when you’re being particularly sassy, he’ll cut you off by pulling you into a heated kiss, fingers digging into your hips as if to remind you that you might outwit him verbally, but he knows how to make you crumble. It’s a game of dominance between you two, and you both know exactly how to push the right buttons.

You’re brutally honest with each other, and it works. If Shigaraki’s plan is reckless, you’ll tell him without sugarcoating. In return, he’ll give you the same treatment, often responding with a deadpan, “You’re so annoying,” but he never wants you to change. He finds your bluntness refreshing, knowing there’s no pretense between you.

Shigaraki’s love language may be unconventional, but physical touch is his way of connecting with you. After an argument or playful exchange, he’ll make sure to leave you breathless. His hands, scarred and rough, know exactly where to touch you, whether it’s to calm you down or rile you up. He has a habit of wrapping his fingers around your waist possessively, pulling you into his lap and reminding you exactly who’s in charge.

When Shigaraki’s in one of his brooding moods around the League, you’re the only one who dares to make fun of him. “Wow, someone’s cranky. Did you run out of gamer snacks or something?” His glare is ice-cold, but you’re immune to it by now. The League members either laugh awkwardly or stay silent, completely in awe of how you handle him.

In quieter, more intimate moments, when the League is out of the way, you two find solace in your private space. The banter becomes softer, more of a game between you two. You’ll push his buttons just enough to get a rise out of him, knowing he enjoys it when you push boundaries. Shigaraki’s hands will find your hips, pulling you against him with that smirk on his face, loving how much you get under his skin.

Despite being sassy and bitchy, you’re fiercely protective of Shigaraki. If anyone in the League even thinks of undermining him, you’re the first to step up with a biting retort. “Didn’t know we were taking opinions from people who barely contribute. Sit down.”

Shigaraki can get a little possessive after intense moments between you two. He likes to remind you, in his own way, that you’re his—whether that’s by leaving subtle marks on your skin or keeping a hand on you in public to ward off anyone else. He might not say it outright, but you can feel the intensity in his gaze every time you challenge him, knowing that the fire between you two will always burn brightly.

You both roast each other constantly, and it’s always in good fun. If he’s slouching more than usual or complaining about something ridiculous, you’ll quip, “You look like a disgruntled noodle.” And when you’re being overly analytical or distant, he’ll hit back with, “You’re thinking so hard I can hear the gears grinding from here.”

Sometimes, your playful bickering takes an intense turn. You’ll have one of your usual snappy exchanges, and suddenly Shigaraki’s hands are in your hair, his lips crashing against yours to silence whatever snarky remark you were about to make. He knows you can’t resist matching his energy, and that only fuels the fire between you two.

Shigaraki loves to take advantage of your sassiness during more intimate moments. After you’ve had a particularly witty comeback, he’ll pin you to the wall, his lips trailing along your jaw as he murmurs, “You talk too much.” He knows how to make you squirm with the lightest touches, his fingers brushing over sensitive spots while teasing you about how you always have something to say—until now.

After particularly heated arguments (or heated moments), you’ll both lie there, tangled up in each other, the tension still lingering in the air. You’ll make some sassy remark, still unable to resist, and Shigaraki will respond with a smug grin, pulling you closer. “You like pushing me, don’t you?” he’ll murmur into your ear, his voice low and full of challenge. The post-argument glow only fuels the fire between you two, and it won’t be long before things heat up again.

For all your sass and bickering, you and Shigaraki share an unspoken bond that allows you to sit in silence comfortably. After an exhausting day, you’ll both retreat to your corners, him gaming, and you doing your own thing. No words are needed, but the presence of each other is more than enough.

Your energy matches perfectly—both of you can be cynical and detached from the world, but when you’re together, there’s a sense of camaraderie. Shigaraki never has to explain himself to you, and you don’t have to tone down your sass. You’ve both learned how to exist in each other’s space with an effortless flow that baffles outsiders.

The unspoken tension between you two is what keeps the relationship exciting. Even in the middle of a crowd, when you’re throwing snarky comments his way, there’s always that underlying desire simmering just beneath the surface. No one else understands the way you and Shigaraki communicate—both verbally and physically—but you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Your affection for Shigaraki manifests in playful insults rather than mushy sentiments. “Wow, you’re actually kind of cute when you’re not trying to destroy everything,” you’ll tease, and Shigaraki’s lips will twitch with a rare, fond smile. He responds in kind with his own version of affection: “You’re insufferable, but I guess you’re tolerable.”

Your sense of humor lines up with Shigaraki’s dark and twisted one, even if he doesn’t laugh easily. Your dry, sarcastic comments always get a smirk out of him, and he secretly loves how sharp-witted you are. Whenever the two of you witness someone being overly dramatic or incompetent, you’ll exchange a knowing glance that says it all.

When Shigaraki’s feeling down, you don’t sugarcoat things or coddle him. Instead, you’ll give him a swift kick in the ass (metaphorically speaking) with some tough love. “Quit moping, you’ll figure it out. You always do.” He appreciates that you don’t treat him like he’s fragile; you understand his strength and push him forward.

Despite the sass, you both have soft spots for each other. Shigaraki won’t admit it outright, but when he sees you working late on something, he’ll silently drop a drink or snack next to you. And while you may not laugh at his jokes or offer compliments, the little things you do—like adjusting his hoodie when he’s not paying attention—reveal how much you care.

Your relationship almost feels like a rivalry at times, with each of you trying to outwit the other. But it’s less about actual competition and more about mutual respect. You know exactly how to challenge Shigaraki, and he thrives on that tension, knowing you’re the only person who can keep up with him mentally.

Beneath the layers of sass, there’s a genuine understanding between you two. You push each other to be better—not just in terms of strategy or intellect, but emotionally as well. Shigaraki has softened slightly around you, allowing himself to feel more vulnerable, and you’ve learned to be more open, trusting him with sides of yourself that no one else gets to see.

.

.

.

Masterlist

[theambitiouswoman]

Honeycombs help with your immune system, digestion & heart. They also help keep your skin glowing & young by fighting free radicals, providing hydration & reducing inflammation. Chewing honeycombs helps with oral health by reducing bacteria, minimizing plaque buildup & cleaning teeth surfaces with its beeswax 🍯🐝

[macgyvermedical]

Medical History Question, Little Women edition: everyone seems to think having scarlet fever confers immunity (Amy gets sent away because she hasn't had it, but no one's concerned about Meg and Jo catching it because they've had it before). But if it's a streptococcus infection wouldn't it be possible to get it again? Thanks so much for your fascinating blog, and best wishes for finding a new job.

You can absolutely get scarlet fever more than once, though it's less common than getting strep throat more than once. This is because while what is actually being spread between people is group A strep bacteria, the thing causing the rash in scarlet fever is actually a reaction to a toxin produced by the bacteria. You can build up an immunity to the toxin, even if you can't build up an immunity to the bacteria themselves.

You can "catch" it as strep throat or as impetigo (a strep skin infection). You then get scarlet fever later when the toxin starts forming. Of people who get it at least once, about 10% will have it twice or more in their lifetimes.

My oldest medical text that mentions scarlet fever is from 1900, about 30-40 years after Little Women was set and written. It talks about an understanding, by then fairly well known, that one should isolate anyone sick with fever of any kind to avoid spread- including sending children away so they wouldn't catch it.

In this text, scarlet fever was mentioned as a childhood disease in the same conversation as measles and whooping cough. So it was possible that it was understood as "just one of the childhood diseases you got once as a kid and then never again" for a while in history.

Tangent:

In 1924, scientists came up with a way of testing if someone was sensitive to the toxin produced by group A strep (would get scarlet fever if they got infected with group A strep). This was called the Dick test.

To do the Dick test, a clinician would place a small amount of the toxin produced by group A strep under the skin of the patient with a needle. If, within 24 hours there was a small area of rash around where the toxin had been injected, the patient was susceptible.

In 1969, a study was carried out among elementary school children in 4 schools, where they were looking to track scarlet fever susceptibility across race, age, and socioeconomic status. In the poorest school, about 43% of students were susceptible to scarlet fever, while at the richest, nearly 90% were. This means, essentially, that poorer students were getting exposed to strep more frequently than their more affluent peers, and developing more immunity to the toxin.

Another finding was that while race had little impact on susceptibility rates, age really did. The older the student was, the less likely they were to be susceptible, meaning that there genuinely was some buildup of immunity from multiple strep infections. However, about 2/3 of children who had already scarlet fever were still susceptible to getting it again.

All that to say- there is some immunity that can be built up from the toxin, so they weren't completely wrong, but having it once does not full immunity make.

[myreygn]

YOUR LEE ENMU FIC WAS AMAZING AND I LOVED IT SO MUCH IT WAS WONDERFUL

I gotta ask,,,, if you're up for it, could you write something with ler!Douma and lee!Akaza cuz I just know Douma is a master tickle monster and poor Akaza is so ticklish sosjjsjdhdbd thank u in advance *smooches on the cheek*

Cracks

summary: It's not often that there's room for fooling around and goofing off amongst Lord Muzan's elite troup, but every now and then, Douma likes to have a little fun. Every now and then, Akaza likes to indulge him.

an: this took me way too long and i'm really really sorry about that - i hope you like it anyway and you had wonderful holidays!

wordcount: 1705

taglist: @giggly-squiggily, @rachi-roo

¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸¸♫·¯·♪¸¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

Douma was not easily entertained. Most of the things the average person would deem exciting were prone to boring him to death and more often than not he found himself zoning out during the most random times, because he was surrounded by such a lack of stimulation that it was truly astounding all by itself.

However, there were a few things that were amusing to him. Humans could be very entertaining from time to time; desperate humans and scared humans were his favorite kind. Waterfalls, waterfalls were really pretty. Bumblebees. The sheer concept of bumblebees was hysterical. His very favorite thing in the entire world though was cracking. Cracking horrible jokes. Cracking heads. Cracking his fellow Upper Moons.

Well, not all of them. There was a huge difference between making someone crack and making someone crumble, that difference mainly being who he was working with.

For example, making Kokushibo crack wasnʼt as fun as making him crumble. Kokushibo was stoic, emotionless and reserved. Seeing him explode into anger, laughter, tears, or anything of the like all of a sudden was interesting, sure, but it wasn’t fun because the buildup was too subtle to notice (even for Douma). But if you made him crumble, the slow process of Kokushibo’s walls being brought down became visible - bit by bit, brick by brick.

And then, there was the other end of the spectrum.

Douma almost felt giddy with excitement as he shuffled around in his place, watching the door with impatience. Any minute now, any minute… aha!

“Urgh, what are you doing here?” Akaza rolled his eyes the second they met Douma’s gaze, but Upper Moon Two didn’t waste any time feeling attacked by that. Within the blink of an eye he was at the shorter demon’s side, throwing an arm around his shoulders and putting his entire weight onto him. He knew Akaza could handle it, he just wanted to invade his personal space a little. Invading the personal space of others was another thing that made immortality worthwhile.

“Why, I’m here for the meeting of course. We’re both early birds today, aren’t we?”

“Do not call me that.”

Oh oh oh, Akaza was playing grumpy again. Emphasis on playing; if he were truly not in the mood for shenanigans, he would’ve pushed him away by now, or taken his head off at the very least. Douma smirked. He had a playful Akaza on his hands, what a lucky lucky day it was.

“What do you want me to call you then?”

If looks could kill… well, he’d be no more dead than before, but Akaza was certainly trying his best. Adorable.

“If you could just stop talking to me, that would be great, thanks.”

What a perfect setup. It was almost like Akaza wanted this to happen.

“Alright, let’s stop talking.”

A thing that only very very few people knew: Akaza was not immune to tomfoolery. Douma had caught him goofing around with Rui, Kaigaku and even Daki and Gyutaro several times and on rare occasions, he had even indulged in Douma’s own jabs and jokes instead of blowing up immediately.

Because blowing up, yes, that was what Akaza was known for the most amongst them, wasn’t it. And watching him blow up was charming, sure, but what Douma loved most was the thing right before the big explosion. That moment of realization when Akaza became aware of the incoming explosion and tried to stop it. The way he gave everything to not let it happen and the way it was never enough. Delicious.

Akaza flinched and his hands shot down to grab Douma’s wrists. “Don’t.”

“I’m not doing anything, Akaza-dono.” It wasn’t even a lie. Alright, maybe he had curled his fingers into the lower ranked demon’s waist just a moment ago, but right now he wasn’t doing anything. Just resting his fingers on Akaza’s sides. And despite the vice grip on his wrists, they weren’t being pulled off. Hm-hm.

A full body spasm nearly had Upper Three slip away from him when he curled his fingers again, but Douma was very skilled in using a lot of strength and making it look like nothing. In other words, holding Akaza secure with just his fingers had the added fun bonus of infuriating him. “Douma, if you don’t stop that-”

“Stop what? You’ll need to be more specific- oh, this?” He smirked when a soft yelp slipped out of Akaza’s mouth.  “Surely that’s nothing to you, Akaza-dono. I’m just stretching my hands.”

Douma carefully increased the pressure of his fingers digging into the pale flesh of his subordinate. Even though Akaza was facing away from him, his back pressed against Douma’s chest with no way to hide his trembles and flinches, Douma had a good idea what his expression looked like. He could see Akaza’s flushed neck and ears, the way he bit his cheek. And now, he just had to-

“EAH!”

Ah, yes, there it was. The crack. Akaza had such a temper, cracking him with a few cleverly, and even not so cleverly, placed comments was easy. But it also got boring very quickly and besides, this was by far the best way to make him crack. 

Douma smirked to himself as he clawed on one of his very favorite spots on Akaza’s body. Stomach never disappoints… “What is it, Akaza-dono? Too ticklish?”

“YOHOU KNOW IHIT IS- DOUMAHAHAH!”

Hell yeah he knew that. Upper Two allowed himself to giggle in glee - not that Akaza could hear him with his booming laughter filling the Infinity Castle. He wrapped an arm around the smaller demon’s torso when his struggling got too intense to hold back with just his fingers and used his free hand to continue the tickling of his stomach. Delightful.

“DOHOHOUMAHAHAHAHAH, NAHAHAHAT- TOO MUHUHUHUCH!”

“Alright, alright.” Douma carefully guided the hysterical demon to the ground when his knees got weak and took a seat on his thighs to secure him, then he immediately latched his wiggling fingers onto Akaza’s ribs so he wouldn’t get a chance to recover and slip away. The reaction was instant.

“Yohohou piece ohof- nahahahah!”

“Oh but you can handle it, can’t you?” Douma grinned down at his victim’s flushed face, making sure to give the spaces in between his ribs extra attention. Once the cracking was complete, once the dam had broken, it was nearly impossible for Akaza to compose himself or hold himself back in any way.

That applied to movement as well. Douma let out a grunt when he got kneed in the back; he actually had to put in effort to hold Akaza down, that wasn’t often the case. Maybe his tickling was just especially good today. Judging by the way Akaza was howling when he moved his hands upwards to scratch at the space between his ribs and armpits, that was the case.

“Nahahahahat thehehehere! Yohou ahahahahass!”

“I don’t think you want to insult me right now.” Douma smirked and grabbed one of Akaza’s wrists, surprising him enough to pull it up and dig into his armpit. “I know thinking can be a hard thing to do for you, but that’s really not smart.”

Akaza shrieked and nearly threw Douma off with how hard he was bucking. “GEAHAHAHAH- GEHEHEHEHET OHOUT OF THEHEHEHERE! NAHAHAHAT THERE, DOHOUMAHAHAHAH!”

“Man, you’re really difficult today.” Douma mock-sighed and stayed at the spot a little longer before scribbling Akaza’s stomach and quickly moved on to squeeze his hips instead when the trapped demon let out a sound close to a sob. “Not here, not there… how about here?”

The hips still had Akaza giggling like crazy, but he was not nearly as hysterical as he had been before. Douma couldn’t help but smile a bit. “You look nice like this, Akaza-dono. With your face so flushed.”

The blush only intensified and Akaza even tried to hide his face - unsuccessful. “Sh-shuhuhut uhu- EEK!”

“Was that a squeak?” Douma let out an evil chuckle. “Then I guess that’s my sign.”

“Yohour sign to wha- Douma, no, nononono, do nAHAHAHAHAH- DOUMAHAHAHAHAH, FUHUHUHUCKIHING HEHEHELL!” Hysterical couldn’t even begin to describe it. Akaza threw his head back, cackling and howling and squealing all at once, even a snort breaking throw here and there; his back arched and he twisted around to try and avoid the horribly ticklish fingers scribbling over his stripes with the lightness of a feather. 

Upper Two smirked - he was barely touching Akaza, yet had him in stitches anyway. He had been avoiding the tattoos, these absolute platinum tickle spots on his subordinate’s already sensitive body, as much as possible to save the best for last. And the best it truly was. He watched in awe how tears of laughter spilled down Akaza’s flushed cheeks. That meant he would soon-

“DOHOHOUMAHAHAHAH, PLEHEHEHEHEASE!”

Yup, there it was. Playful or not, if he started begging it meant that Akaza had truly reached his limits. Douma gave the stripe he was tormenting one last scratch, then he took his hands off and stood up, giving him some space to recover.

Being a demon and all, that recovery only took Akaza about two seconds and Douma couldn’t even react when the smaller demon jumped up and pounced on him, glaring down at him from where he was crouched on Douma’s chest. “You!”

“Me?” Upper Two didn’t let the sudden attack wash off his smile. It was a genuine smile for once - this little encounter had significantly heightened his mood and despite the scowl on Akaza’s face, he could tell he felt the same.

The sound of Nakime’s biwa in the distance and the following bickering of two voices from next door notified them of the arrival of Daki and Gyutaro and Akaza seemed to consider his next move for a moment, then he snarled and got up. “I’ll get you back, jerk.”

Douma only grinned at the threat and sat up when the siblings entered the room so as to not tip them off that something unusual had happened. If he was feeling a little excited at the prospect of more goofing around with Akaza, that was their business alone, and if he caught Akaza cracking a smile as he turned away, no one needed to know.

[puppsworld]

omg hi i saw you said you wanted to be asked about ghoul hc's and I love your ideas so I have questions >:3

i hope its ok that im asking about something related to like . whats admittedly my guilty pleasure headcanon bc it lets me project onto the ghouls sobs but . i know chronically ill zeph + occasionally rain and phantom is a common hc, but is that something you have ideas for ? bc I've seen some neat ideas about how chronic illnesses manifest for ghouls vs humans, so I was curious :3

GRABS YOU. GRABS YOU. I HAVE A *LIST* OF GHOUL MEDICAL THINGS HOLD ON

ok so, here is ^^ my list of ghouls and some of the medical stuff i hc them with: (big list,,, ish. so imma put it under tha cut ^^)

Omega: - Hip Dysplasia (Uses a Cane) Delta: - Ménière’s disease: a balance disorder. It’s caused by an abnormality in part of the inner ear called the labyrinth. Fluid buildup here can cause a severe spinning feeling (vertigo) and affect the hearing. (Due to balance problems he requires crutches) - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Extreme fatigue that can't be explained by an underlying medical condition. - Acquired Immune Deficiency: Immune system weakened due to elemental transition Aether: - Rheumatoid arthritis Phantom: - Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) - Stomach / Digestive issues caused by his hEDS Aurora: - Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) - Heartburn caused by her hEDS Zephyr: - Idiopathic Scoliosis - Sciatica - Chronic Pain - Fatigue Dewdrop: - Acquired Immune Deficiency: Immune system weakened due to elemental transition

:)

[anti-katsuki-lounge]

Is it me or was the single quirk theory randomly dropped into the story to justify power ups? No buildup to it… and then BAM! Have an exposition dump before everyone gets power ups for some reason. The idea of quirks evolving makes sense, but I hate how it was introduced mainly to make Tomura immune to Eraserhead’s quirk and to completely change Katsuki’s quirk/give him more plot armor.