#immunity buildup

[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 🫧

[melshifting]

ULTIMATE HAIR SCRIPTING PACK ―୨୧⋆

❝ Woah, how is it possible to maintain something like that…?❞

― ꒰#01꒱ Your hair doesn’t just look smooth—it feels smoother than the softest fabric you can imagine. People can’t resist running their hands through it, but it never frays or tangles, no matter how often they might do.

― ꒰#02꒱ When you wake up, your hair is never tangled. It’s perfectly arranged as though it was styled during the night by a gentle hand.

― ꒰#03꒱ You never need to use a single hair product for your curls, because they form with perfect precision. No matter the type, they follow their natural pattern in the most pristine way.

― ꒰#04꒱ Your hair has this rare ability to stay untangled for days. No matter how many activities you go through, it remains smooth, like it’s been constantly brushed through.

― ꒰#05꒱ It grows in perfect symmetry—no awkward phases, no uneven patches. It’s as if your hair knows when to grow, how much it should grow, and when to stop.

― ꒰#06꒱ Your hair always looks like it’s been professionally styled, even on the days when you’ve done nothing to it. The kind of perfect that looks effortless, almost magical.

― ꒰#07꒱ Every time you wear a new style or cut, your hair adapts to it as if it’s been that way all along. No awkward transitions nor strange “getting used to it” moments.

― ꒰#08꒱ Every time you step out of the shower, your hair naturally falls into perfect sections, no combing needed.

― ꒰#09꒱ Your scalp somehow knows when to produce just the right amount of oils, leaving your hair shiny and nourished without ever being greasy ― it's perfectly balanced.

― ꒰#10꒱ Your hair always smells beautifully, even without washing. The scent is so distinct, almost like a signature; people swear they can recognize it in a crowd, like it’s an essential part of your being.

― ꒰#11꒱ You never have to worry about hair loss—it even thickens with age, becoming more luxurious as time goes on.

― ꒰#12꒱ Any hat, hoodie, or headpiece you wear enhances your look rather than ruining your hairstyle—when you take it off, your hair falls back into place like it was never touched.

― ꒰#13꒱ Every shampoo or conditioner you try works like magic on your hair. Whether it’s drugstore or luxury, your hair always ends up softer, shinier, and more voluminous than expected.

― ꒰#14꒱ Your hair, no matter how long or short, is never flat or lifeless. Even when you sleep, your hair retains its volume and body.

― ꒰#15꒱ Your hair takes less time to dry than anyone else’s; it just knows when to stop soaking up water and begins to dry in the most flattering way possible.

― ꒰#16꒱ Split ends...? What's that? Your hair is always in its best condition without the need for unnecessary trims.

― ꒰#17꒱ No matter how much you dye or experiment with your hair, it always seems to bounce back with even more vibrancy.

― ꒰#18꒱ Dry shampoo actually works as advertised for you—no weird buildup, no residue, just instant refreshment.

― ꒰#19꒱ Hair ties, clips, and pins never snag, snap, or mysteriously disappear; they last forever, and you always have exactly what you need when you need it.

― ꒰#20꒱ Your hairbrush collects an oddly satisfying minimal amount of shed strands—just enough to let you know your hair is thriving, never enough to stress about.

― ꒰#21꒱ Every haircut, planned or impulsive, turns out exactly how you envisioned—no regrets.

― ꒰#22꒱ Your scalp is immune to every inconvenience—no itchiness, no dryness, no flakiness, just a comfortable, balanced foundation for your perfect hair.

― ꒰#23꒱ No matter how many accessories you use—scarves, headbands, clips—they never create awkward dents in your hair.

― ꒰#24꒱ Ponytails, braids, and updos never leave annoying creases when you take them down—your hair simply remembers its natural state and falls back into place.

― ꒰#25꒱ People constantly ask what your secret is to getting your hair so perfect, and it’s the simple fact that you’ve never had to do much to it. When you try, it looks even better.

[mindblowingscience]

A sequence of stress signals among specialized clean-up cells in the brain could at last reveal why some immune responses can cause significant nerve degeneration that results in the loss of memory, judgement, and awareness behind Alzheimer's disease. Blocking this pathway in mouse brains modeled on Alzheimer's prevented damage to their synapse connections and reduced the buildup of potentially toxic tau proteins – both hallmarks of the condition.

Continue Reading.

[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

[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!

[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. 🤔

[collapsedsquid]

Historically, the GOP has used the ambiguity between is he joking or is this his real position to run interference for him until it was too late to actively mobilize a response to his plans. In the run-up to the 2020 elections, GOP officials routinely characterized Trump’s refusal to accept the election results as just trolling, right up until he refused to accept the election results. It’s almost brilliant in how it works. You can socialize a policy idea and normalize the concept while simultaneously making yourself immune from criticism. If you criticize it after all you’re just being a shrill and annoying lib who can’t take a joke. You leave yourself the decision-space on whether or not to enact a particular course of action until the last possible moment, because if it never happens, well then it was just a joke. Think of it like the 2021 buildup of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border—except for political speech. Putin by engaging in an ambiguous display of military forces on the Ukrainian border under the guise of training activities gave himself the space to claim that the West was being shrill about nothing until the moment Russian troops crossed the border. He also gave himself the choice until the very last second to call the whole thing off and make it appear like the West was just a bunch of alarmists the entire time.

Makin the subtext text my stupid "Are we going to enforce english on the quebecois?" quips is an attempt to try to to transcend this rhetorical two-step but I think if you try to ask this at a Trump press conference and it did anything at all you won't get a response and won't be invited back. Asking pointless "Do you really mean it?" questions for libs to retweet will get you invited back though

[torturingpeople]

i've been thinking about how irrigo and violant work recently. so of course i had to make diagrams about it

i don't think the plaque is like a literal tangible thing like it is on your tooth or in your blood vessels, but it's more of a residue that either snaps the synapses immediately and makes it impossible to reconnect the memory or builds up over time on the synapse and makes it harder to access a memory

"with resistance" in this case refers to someone who uses or has been exposed to irrigo frequently over an extended period of time. it works in the same way as drug/antibiotic resistance does in the sense that your synapses grow more resilient to the effects of the plaque and don't just immediately break. think of it like going from dental floss to rope

i also think violant can provide resistance too - in this way it would more likely cancel out the effects of the plaque and it's like placing a casing over your synapse, but at the same time now you have both a violant casing (with violant being impossible to erase so the casing is there basically forever whether it's effective or not) and irrigo plaque on your synapses so it's not something you can do repeatedly without eventually damaging the synapse and doing something fucked up to your memory

there's also potential for the buildup of irrigo and violant causing toxic shock in the brain in the same way foreign objects do - it's only in a long-term sense and if left unchecked the body will start attacking itself and engaging an immune response to remove the buildup, which will in turn inevitably damage, weaken or break the synapse entirely

the way to treat violant+irrigo buildup is with exposure to apocyan. in essence this has the ability to remove the plaque buildup and the casing, essentially breaking it off your synapses, and can help to heal any damage caused by an immune response or the synapse being freed from the casing and plaque. in this it would return the neuron to its natural, unaffected state, and the pathway would neither have the benefits or drawbacks of using violant or irrigo

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

By Dr. Sushama R. Chaphalkar, PhD.

In a recent research paper posted to the bioRxiv preprint* server, researchers in the United States investigated the potential effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on cholesterol metabolism, focusing on the role of the viral protein open reading frame 3a (ORF3a).

They found that SARS-CoV-2 causes cholesterol sequestration in lysosomes via the ORF3a protein, which disrupts protein trafficking and reduces the levels of bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP) in the cell, enhancing viral survival.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, disrupts lipid metabolism, particularly cholesterol homeostasis, which can persist during and after infection. This is linked to disease severity and long-term complications like dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Cholesterol is crucial for cellular function and is primarily transported through lysosomes, where proteins like Niemann-Pick C1 and C2 (NPC1 and NPC2) facilitate its release. SARS-CoV-2 may exploit plasma membrane cholesterol to enhance infectivity.

Disruptions in the lysosomal cholesterol pathway can cause cholesterol buildup, impairing cellular functions, and viruses like Ebola are known to hijack this mechanism. Notably, BMP plays a dual role: it aids in cholesterol transport and contributes to viral infection by promoting viral fusion with lysosomal membranes.

In the present study, researchers investigated the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cholesterol transport in cells, focusing on the role of the viral protein ORF3a.

About the Study A variety of experimental techniques were employed, including culturing A549, HeLa, and Vero E6 cells, followed by SARS-CoV-2 infection at different multiplicities of infection. SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a-VPS39 interaction was studied using mutations at key residues (notably W193 and Y184, which were identified as critical for this interaction). Immunofluorescence, filipin staining, and confocal microscopy were used to assess cholesterol localization and vesicular dynamics, while high-content imaging quantified cell-specific responses.

Cholesterol levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and lipid species were analyzed through shotgun lipidomics. For further protein analysis, western blotting was performed to detect secreted NPC2 and cathepsin D, along with cell lysates. Data were analyzed using ImageJ and Prism 9, and statistical significance was determined by t-tests or analysis of variance.

Results and Discussion SARS-CoV-2 infection was found to increase filipin-positive puncta in lysosomes of A549-hACE2 and Vero E6 cells, indicating altered cholesterol distribution, especially in lysosomes, without affecting total cholesterol levels. Among the 28 viral proteins tested, ORF3a showed the strongest increase in filipin puncta, suggesting significant lysosomal cholesterol sequestration.

Notably, SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a localized to lysosomes and caused them to swell, whereas SARS-CoV ORF3a did not induce such effects, highlighting a distinct pathogenic strategy unique to SARS-CoV-2.

ORF3a was found to interact with VPS39, a key component of the HOPS complex involved in cholesterol egress from lysosomes. Key residues W193 and Y184 were shown to form a hydrophobic binding interface critical for this interaction, distinguishing SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a from its SARS-CoV counterpart. Mutations at W193 and Y184 disrupted this interaction, while S171 and H182 had no significant effect.

SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a expression was shown to cause cholesterol accumulation in lysosomes, which was reduced by the W193A mutation. It also led to the mislocalization of NPC2 and increased its secretion, indicating disrupted NPC2 trafficking, likely due to interference with TGN-to-endosome transport. Additionally, BMP levels were significantly reduced in infected cells, which likely exacerbates lysosomal cholesterol sequestration.

In SARS-CoV-2-infected Vero E6 cells, BMP levels were found to decrease at 12 hours post-infection, coinciding with increased cholesterol at 18 hours. In HeLa-Flp-In cells, SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a was found to reduce BMP levels by 20%, with partial rescue in the W193A mutant. Lipidomics confirmed this reduction, correlating BMP loss with cholesterol accumulation and suggesting BMP reduction may contribute to cholesterol sequestration.

SARS-CoV-2 may reduce plasma membrane cholesterol to limit secondary infections, as shown by decreased SARS-CoV-2 infection in NPC1 inhibitor-treated cells. This supports the hypothesis that the virus manipulates cholesterol distribution to optimize replication conditions. Interestingly, the virus also appears to reduce its own infectivity within a single cell, suggesting a self-regulating mechanism to prevent viral overload and ensure broader host-level spread.

Conclusion In conclusion, a novel mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 disrupts host cell lipid metabolism, specifically through cholesterol sequestration in lysosomes, has been elucidated. By uncovering the specific interaction between the viral protein ORF3a and host protein VPS39, the study highlights a critical role of lysosomal cholesterol trafficking disruption in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.

This discovery opens potential therapeutic avenues to target lipid dysregulation in COVID-19, which could help mitigate both the disease's immediate and long-term metabolic consequences, including dyslipidemia and cardiovascular complications.

Journal reference: Preliminary scientific report. Manipulation of Host Cholesterol by SARS-CoV-2. Aliza Doyle et al., bioRxiv, 2024.11.13.623299 (2024), DOI: 10.1101/2024.11.13.623299,

Study Link: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.11.13.623299v1

[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

[tinyshyteacup]

Hello love!

Loving everything so far! 💜

Could I get 🦄 with Juice and honestly writers choice. I'm down for anything 💜

• Clear Passages •

I came up with this and found it amusing, hope you can get a chuckle from it and not be grossed out ! 🙀

Tw: medical stuff ?, colon hydrotherapy discussed (not at length)

Juice had been keeping something from you.

Not in a bad way—he wasn’t hiding it.

But… well.

He just never really figured out how to bring it up.

It wasn’t like it was a secret.

It just wasn’t exactly… the kind of thing you expected from him.

It started in the kitchen.

You were making tea, humming softly, when Juice leaned against the counter, watching you.

He was fidgeting.

Which wasn’t unusual.

But this was… extra.

He kept shifting, opening his mouth like he was about to say something, then shutting it again.

Finally, you turned to him, amused.

"Juice, what is it?"

"Huh?" His head snapped up. "Nothing. I mean—no, not nothing. I just—I was thinking about something. That I should probably tell you. Not that I was keeping it from you babe. I wasn’t. But it just never really—uh—came up. So I figured—"

"Juice." You smiled, gently cutting him off with a soft peck to his lips. "Just tell me."

He took a breath.

Then—

"I own a colonic and weed shop."

You blinked.

And then—"You own a what?"

Juice nodded, dead serious.

"It’s called Clear Passages. Well, I only own like twenty percent of it, but still—it’s a good investment. Helps people. Good business model. You’d be surprised how many people wanna be, y’know, cleared out."

You just… stared at him.

Because what the hell was he talking about?

And that?

That was all the encouragement he needed to start rambling.

"See, here’s the thing," Juice started, gesturing wildly. "People don’t realize how much stuff just sits in their system. You think you’re fine, right? You eat, you digest, whatever. But, no—there’s buildup."

"Buildup?" you echoed, face scrunched up, completely lost.

"Yeah! Years of it. Just sitting there. You ever feel sluggish for no reason? Kinda bloated? That’s it. That’s the buildup. It’s just sittin’ in your guts, cloggin’ you up."

You stared.

"Juice…"

"But that’s why it's a game-changer, babe. Clears you right out. Flushes everything. You wouldn’t believe how much lighter you feel after. More energy. Better digestion. You get this whole… like, mental clarity thing, too. It’s wild."

"You’ve done it?"

"Oh, yeah. More than once. First time was kinda weird, not gonna lie, but after that? Fucking incredible."

You blinked slowly.

"You let someone…"

"Yup." He nodded, completely unfazed. "Totally worth it."

You pressed your lips together, unsure how to process this.

"And the weed?"

"Oh, yeah. We got a dispensary in there, too. Kinda makes sense, right? People get nervous about the whole thing, so, y’know, we help ‘em relax first. Plus, medicinal benefits. You ever think about trying edibles?"

"Juice, I can’t even handle a full cup of coffee."

"Okay, fair. But microdosing? Total game-changer."

You sighed, rubbing your temples.

"Let me get this straight. You—my sweet, goofy, video-game-obsessed boyfriend—own part of a colonic and weed shop?"

"Uh-huh."

"And you never thought to mention this?"

"Babe, when was I supposed to bring it up? ‘Hey, honey, how was your day? Also, have you ever considered colon hydrotherapy?’"

"…Okay, fair point." You sigh.

"Listen, I’m just saying—you should try it," Juice insisted.

You shook your head. "Not happening."

"Babe—"

"Juan Carlos."

"Okay, but think about it. Just think about it."

"I have thought about it. My answer is still no."

"But—"

"No."

He sighed dramatically, dropping his head into the crook of your neck, arms snaking around your waist.

"You’re missing out." He whispered with almost sing-song like hope.

"I think I’ll live." You deadpan.

He peeked up at you, pouting. "You sure? ‘Cause you might feel better. More energy. Clearer skin. Stronger immune system."

You gave him a look. "Juan Carlos Ortiz, do not try to sell me this  like it’s a new skincare routine."

"I’m just saying! People sleep on this stuff, but it’s legit. We got regulars."

"Good for them."

"You ever get curious, though—"

"I won’t."

"—it’s a safe space."

"Juice."

"Okay, okay." He grinned, holding his hands up. "I’ll drop it. For now."

You exhaled, relieved.

Until—

"But if you ever change your mind—"

"Juice."

He laughed. "Alright, alright. No pressure. But… y’know. Just keep it in mind."

You rolled your eyes.

Because of course your boyfriend was like this.

Of course he was.

[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 🍯🐝

[darkmaga-returns]

Garlic, ginger and green onions have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries to support immunity, balance and disease prevention. Modern research confirms their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties.

Garlic contains allicin, which helps prevent cancer (especially stomach and colorectal) and supports heart health by lowering blood pressure and preventing plaque buildup. It has antibacterial, liver-protective and digestive benefits, but excessive intake (more than 3–5 cloves daily) may irritate the eyes and lungs.

Green onions are rich in sulfur compounds that fight tumors and antibacterial properties. They help relieve constipation due to pectin content and is used in TCM to treat colds by promoting circulation and sweating.

Ginger contains gingerol and shogaol, which fight cancer by inducing cell death and preventing metastasis. It warms the stomach, aids digestion and balances cold foods—ideal for summer consumption to counteract excessive cold from air conditioning and iced drinks.

Combining garlic and ginger may enhance health benefits. Together, they offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-boosting and heart-protective effects. They may also lower blood sugar, improve cognitive health and reduce cancer risk, but high-dose supplements should be taken under medical supervision.

[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.