#my cholesterol levels are fine

[lightblueminecraftorchid]

uh oh the metaphorical doctor in my head is getting mean

[galaxymagick]

just been on Instagram and saw someone like here’s my breakfast I have 8 egg whites (and other stuff)… the yolk slander is ridiculous.. oH bUt iT coNtaINs cHoL*sTerol.. yes, but it’s the good kind and full of vitamins, stop wasting egg yolks!!!

Now it’s different if you add oils to them, like just have a boiled egg or two it’s not gonna fck u up 🙄

Unnecessary post? Maybe, but it’s annoying (esp in January) to see how ppl are still stuck on bs ways of d*ets and n*trition like can we move on and have better relationships with foods it feels like we’re constantly going backwards 😭

[iz-star]

Zayne's newest card made me tear up a little.

He truly heals that part of me that it's very much broken and still under maintenance ❤️‍🩹

CW: Adult talk about mental health issues and how Zayne's been a good unintentional therapy.

I sometimes joke about how "To sit on his lap would totally fix me" as a reference to his Hidden Motive card and basically that he loves MC to sit on his lap but you know, I think to be hug by him is what actually would hold together all the pieces of me that are about to fall. He hugs MC with such delicate touch, so much tenderness and you can see the love pouring from his touch, his gaze, his words.

I once mentioned in another post that I totally understand Zayne's trauma with nightmares because there was a time I had them constantly too. There's actually another part of that story: back in the day I was so stressed that my blood pressure was always high. The very reason I had to be taken to the psychiatric hospital was because there wasn't another medical reason for my high levels of blood pressure than stress. I got my blood pressure checked for 10 days (or was it 15? I can't remember) in order to discard hypertension, I also got some medical tests done to discard if the problem was in my thyroid, blood tests to check my levels of cholesterol and tryglicerides, I even got an echocardiogram but according to every test, my body was... fine. There was no apparent reason as to why I was shaking like a wet dog against the cool wind in the backyard.

I knew I was anxious, stressed and basically on high alert all the time but somehow I came to normalize the dizzines, the shakiness of my body, the arrhythmias and feeling extra weak all the time. I'm not going to talk about the reasons that led me up to feel that way bc they're too personal and sensitive, the point is: I was so stressed that my body started to somatize my mental state.

It was there when I had to be given antidepressants and got diagnosed with depression, panic disorder and other stuff that I prefer to omit atm. I started to sleep more because of the medicine but it wasn't a good sleep bc it was there when the nightmares would always make me feel distressed and exhausted everytime I woke up. I also used to had arrhythmias when I went to sleep.

This is another thing I love about Zayne's nagging about sleeping early that I forgot to mention in my previous post: Sleeping properly not only helps your body to regain energy and start the process of reparation and regeneration of cells, but not sleeping properly can lead not only to mental health issues but also, heart issues. Zayne, being the cardiac surgeon he is, knows what's truly best for you.

If I'm honest, even after therapy, I haven't been able to heal all what's causing me to be stressed. My panic attacks have decreased greatly but not entirely and you know what's funny about Zayne and panic attacks? Out of the four LIs he's literally the best option to help out with them: not only is he a Doctor and knows how to act in emergencies while keeping a calm and collected attitude but his evol is the best ally in these cases. Back then, whenever my panic attacks would hit me, that shit about breathing never the fuck worked with me (and I'm telling you this with all the frustration I feel just to remember) because to be aware of my breath only made me feel like it was easier to lose control over it. So I had to be given a couple of ice cubes in a bag pressed over my neck and face in order to wake up my brain from the emotional distress it was putting me into. The sudden cold sensation not only helped me to wake up but was also comforting from all the sweat you get to produce in these attcks.

So yeah, I can picture Zayne seeing that when nothing is working, he could cool off his hands to the right temperature to help you wake up from the emotional distress. His touch not only gentle but comforting, making you remember that his hands are the safest place in the world and there's no danger.

Even to these days, whenever someone touches me all of sudden, I can't help but flinch and my heart beat rises automatically, I'm not lying when I say that even for the smallest things my blood pressure rises. Around two months ago, I had to go to the Doctor bc I got sick and the nurse had to ask a few personal things that got me anxious so quickly that once we were done, my heart was running wild in my chest. The next thing the nurse did was to check on my blood pressure and guess what? It was higher than it should be. Next thing she did was to do a quick test of my blood and it was all fine, so she brushed the blood pressure as me being sick.

When I had to start therapy, the hardest part was to talk about the things that were stressing me out. It suprised me how difficult was it for me to put them into words, because the first sessions, whenever I tried to start talking, my voice trembled and my heart beat would rise, the ability to breath leaving my body with each try. The psychiatrist had to literally drug me with xanax, then rivotril just for me to calm down and be able to fucking talk lol.

I suppose this is the reason that his latest PV got me a little too emotional: he's the one who offers his heart for you to listen, he's the one who tells you that his heart holds no secrets that can't be uncovered and softly asks you to be honest. I'm sure that the topics of the card are less serious that the things I've talked about here but the point still remains; in order for you to open up, he also puts himself in a somewhat vulnerable but sincere position, making you know you're both in equal terms. You put your heart on the table, he does it too. He holds you closer for you to listen his heart, his sincerity something so soft yet endearing that I just know I'd be able to say everything.

Most of the times, to talk about these topics with a few ppl has been quite frustrating. These are things I don't talk about with my family to a certain point and my friends don't have the emotional capacity to handle such things. I know I overwhelmed them and none of them knew what to say when the topic was lying there on the table, bare and ugly. The only friend that was able to offer some support was actually someone that went through a very similar situation than me.

This is not a complaint, in life I've come to understand that most people won't feel emphaty for you unless they truly understand the meassure of what you went through and most cases, it only happens if they have experienced it by themselves. Of course, this won't stop them from trying to be kind but they probably wouldn't realize that their words could hurt you instead of helping you. My friends aren't bad, they're just rough because life has made us like that, no one in this life has been taught how to help. We learn it by experience.

That's another thing that I love about Zayne, he literally exists to help. He made it his mission in life to help. If I were to ask emotional support from him, I know he would take it as it is: a place where one is allowed to be weak. No judgments, no assumptions, just a space to feel safe to breakdown. When MC opened up to him about losing her family and how that was the reason she was having an unhealthy lifestyle lately, instead of his normal nagging, he understood her and said how she had the right to do what she could to cope with her pain but just asked her to make sure not to get injured in the process. He didn't judge her, he gave her a space to acknowledge her pain and the way she was dealing with it, and they weren't even that close back then.

I've been learning to live with this heart of mine who gets scared so easily that it's kind of funny how I came to love this fictional character whose role is to be a cardiac surgeon xD When I started to play this game nobody told me that this Doctor would literally help me heal my heart. If my body flinches when someone touches me, to see the extra care and love he touches MC with makes me feel so many things. He's been broken too many times that of course he knows how to hold something with the utmost care.

I started to play around the end of February and I'm still surprised at how Zayne's writing has checked out all the boxes in my fragile spots. He's been so therapeutic for me, and it's just surprising (and a little bit sad) how he's helped me to heal what real men (and some women) have broken in me. He's the man that has helped me the most aside from my brothers and step father who only hurt me greatly the day he decided to leave this world. It's so funny how a fictional character has done all of this to me, how his reminders about eating and sleeping properly worked for me outside of the game and how he telling me to have more confidence also helped that now I even also have a better job, (I mentioned it in another posts, but for a couple of years my mental state made it difficult for me to get a job and the jobs I was able to get later were all informal and bad paid) but I also can't help thinking that he's a man written by women after all and I wonder if some ppl in his writing team had gone through difficult situations and crafted him out of the things that helped them to heal.

Women help women at the end. I wish Zayne's writing team a long and happy life. And I wish the same for the other LI's writing teams because I know just as Zayne has helped me and other girlies to get up and keep going forward, the other guys have done the same for their girlies ❤️‍🩹

Thank you, Zayne and your writing team for making my 2024 better than the previous years and helping me to start moving in life again ❤️‍🩹

[piratecaptainscaptainpirates]

Welp, I talked with my doctor and we've decided that it's about time to admit my family's strong history of genetic cardiovascular disease is starting to catch up with me. I've known it was coming since I was a kid but I'd been hoping I could at least make it to 30 first!

I'm in my late 20s, and I know that sounds young for this kind of thing, and to clarify I'm absolutely 100% fine right now, but literally not a single man on my dad's side of the family has reached 40 without at least one heart attack. My grandpa had his first one at 26, a few years younger than I am. We've just got a very very strong genetic history of heart disease and I knew it would find me eventually. I get my blood work checked often because of this, especially knowing that being on testosterone would raise me to the risk levels of a cis guy, and we've finally decided my cholesterol is just too high.

It's just a little scary, to be on a statin to lower cholesterol at my age, and I can't help but wonder how long it's going to be until it gets more serious. My blood pressure is absolutely fine and my levels aren't even at the point where they'd usually start medicating for, they're just going ahead and doing it now given my family's history, so I'm not, like, at risk of imminent death or anything, but it's just really freaky.

[mineralsrocksandfossiltalks]

Monday Musings: Copper and Your Health

Did you know that copper is a mineral that we need in our bodies? In fact, there are several metals we need to live healthy lives. What exactly do we need copper for? A few things actually. It is needed for the normal growth and development of human fetuses, infants and children.

In adults, it is necessary for the growth, development and maintenance of bone, connective tissue, brain, heart and many other body organs.

Copper is involved in the formation of red blood cells, the absorption and utilization of iron, and the synthesis and release of life-sustaining proteins and enzymes. These enzymes produce cellular energy and regulate nerve transmission, blood clotting and oxygen transport.

Copper is also known to stimulate the immune system, help repair injured tissues and promote healing. Copper has been shown to help neutralize "free radicals," which can cause severe damage to cells.

Despite all its uses, we only need about .9 mg of copper a day. Crazy right?

Where do I get copper in my diet? Copper-rich foods include grains, nuts and seeds, organ meats such as liver and kidneys, shellfish, dried fruits, legume vegetables like string beans and potatoes, chicken and some unexpected and delightful sources such as cocoa and chocolate.

I don't know about you, but several of those are definitely in my diet.

Okay, next question, what happens if I don't get enough copper in my diet? A deficiency in copper is one factor leading to an increased risk of developing high cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease in humans. Copper deficiencies are also associated with premature births, chronic diarrhea and stomach diseases.

But of course, there are also risks if you consume too much copper too. It can cause nausea but thankfully, it's really hard to hit toxic levels of copper. Just don't go around eating copper wire and you should be fine.

The last fun fact I have for you is that there are clinical trials in effect right now to see if frequently touched surfaces and air ventilation systems in hospitals made out of copper or copper alloys can help stem bacterial infections in hospitals. Copper has some antimicrobial abilities and they are hoping it can stop infections of deadly diseases like MRSA.

Initial studies at the University of Southampton, UK, and tests subsequently performed at ATS-Labs in Eagan, Minnesota, for the EPA show that copper-base alloys containing 65% or more copper are effective against:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Staphylococcus aureus

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE)

Enterobacter aerogenes

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and

Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Wild stuff, am I right? Who knew copper could be so useful outside of conducting electricity? Hope you enjoyed today's musings. Tune in tomorrow for one last trivia on copper before December is upon us! (I can't believe it's almost December. What happened to November?) Fossilize you later!

[nurgletwh]

Hey all! You’re about to see why this got so delayed when Tumblr ate my post. >.<

Remember how I’ve previously stated “I disappeared because I had issues, but no worries!”?

Yeah.

Not so much this time. Which has only sunk in with retrospect and time. (@grumpyoldsnake is gonna be “I told you so!!!)

It still doesn’t really feel that way, because the human mind is stupendous at deemphasizing how much danger you might really be in/were in.

Some of this might be covering ground I’ve already covered here or elsewhere. However, I think having it all in one place and all sequenced together will not only help me keep things straight but give it all perspective.

With that out of the way, let’s see if I can not only keep this all the fuck straight but remember what ground I need to cover. I’m putting the rest under a cut for a couple of reasons. It’s long, and it may be triggering for some people. Please let me know if I’ve missed a tag I should have added.

October 2023

I went back to the Dr. to get my medications adjusted, as my blood sugar had gone back up. (Side note: I hadn’t been properly and regularly testing my blood sugar. I was exhausted and sleeping what felt like all the time with no energy to do much of anything at all.) For whatever reason, my blood pressure comes back rather shockingly high (164/108!!), not in line with what it’s been at all. I comment that I’ve never seen it that high, and the nurse says to have the doctor check it after I’ve been there a while.

It doesn’t happen because I’m forgetful.

My cholesterol also comes back high, but that’s been creeping up for years, so no shocker there.

Diabetes medications are adjusted, one is added for the cholesterol. By the time I get home, there’s another one for my blood pressure. I shrug and add it to my pile, since my blood pressure had never come down as far as I thought it should in the first place.

November 2023

Back for a follow-up appointment. My sugar levels haven’t changed all that much, and my blood pressure still comes back as pretty damn high, and I make a mental note to test it at home more regularly, because it doesn’t seem right.

Warning: diet talk.

———

We talk about stuff and whatnot, and decide to try Ozempic (as its original purpose was for diabetes) as the next step to get my blood sugar down.

I was aggravated as he goes on about things like how I’ll feel better for losing some weight, and I half-assed express a few concerns because I have disorganized eating habits. I already don’t eat consistently, and I firmly believe my current weight “problems” are due to my disorganized eating patterns (as well as picky eating and just not really wanting to eat in general) in my youth leaving me borderline malnourished. Most of my teen years were spent trying to get me to gain weight. FYI: being significantly underweight for a long time is a great way to have issues with being overweight later.

I go home with a prescription for Ozempic. Fine and dandy, although I’ve been getting the impression he doesn’t really listen all the time.

———

December 2023

Christmas happens, travel happens, fun happens.

January 2024

Cute cat pic, just because. :-)

Next appointment. My blood pressure still reads significantly higher than normal (156/92), and higher than it has been at home, but what with travel and all, I haven’t really been testing it to back up that assertion. The doctor tests it and gets approximately the same result.

I get another prescription for an additional blood pressure medication.

(Can you guess where this one is going?)

I woke up a few days later with a massive headache that wouldn’t go away. I didn’t connect this at the time, but based on what happened next, I think it was.

The day after that I felt a bit dizzy. When I wasn’t feeling much better by lunch, I took my blood pressure and got 94/68. I took it again and got about the same thing, so I had my coworker (who is also a volunteer EMT) test it. He got 100/54. I continued to check it throughout the day, but it wouldn’t stay consistent. I bugged out of work early, finally sending a… well, grouchy message to the doctor (after hours, unfortunately) firmly expressing my frustration that I wasn’t believed when I stated my at-home readings, pointing out I am also an EMT.

My reading was 96/74 when I went to bed.

I felt even shittier the next day. BP was 94/62 that morning; I stayed home from work. The doctor responded to my message when the office opened, discontinuing the most recently added BP med, sanctioning the choice I’d already made. :-P

Unfortunately, my BP continued to plummet throughout the afternoon and evening. I sent a message that evening and asked what to do, continuing my pattern of sending messages after the office closed. 🙄

I took my blood pressure using my automated cuff before going to bed. It errored out twice before I got this:

Lovely, eh?

(The systolic generally reads 8-10 low, but the diastolic is generally bang on.)

I took it manually; 80/54. I send a follow-up message with those readings.

I felt awful the next morning. The act of sitting up made me dizzy. I stumbled out to the living room and called in to work again; I was in no condition to drive. My heart rate was elevated to around 100-110 (it normally runs fast, about 80-90 in the morning).

By late morning, the automatic cuff wouldn’t do anything but error out. I sent another message asking at what point I should go to the ER. I didn’t get a response from the doctor, but did from one of the nurses, who told me that anything under 90 systolic with symptoms qualified.

What. The. FUCK.

I basically decided that if it got worse, I’d go in. I told a friend to check in with me regularly and stayed in my recliner, drinking water and Gatorade to at least get fluid in.

The lowest reading I got on my manual cuff was 78/52. FYI: I should have been in the hospital the day before. This is “almost died” moment number 1. I was a fucking idiot. Denial is deadly.

——

I think this needs split up; I’m gonna post this now and keep writing, because I’m going to hit some sort of character limit sooner or later. O.o

[girlnamedbug]

so i gotta redo the fasting bloodtest, too dehydrated last time

from what they could get though i need to fix my cholesterol levels

somehow my suger levels were perfectly fine? weird

also i have a lower than average amount of testosterone, which the specialist said "made sense"

[soniabigcheese]

Health Update

Had my first diabetic review at my new gp surgery and everything checked out just fine!

Cholesterol down to 3

Liver function back to normal

I just have to keep a record of my glucose levels for a week and have a phone chat to discuss my medication

So ... apart from my old complaining back and squatter .... I'm doing just great!

[merlions]

Cats, especially females, are supposed to start getting bloodwork for their kidneys and thyroids done when they turn six. Kidney and thyroid disease are extremely common, so similar to getting pap smears and cholesterol levels and other things for humans, it's just good practice to do these tests regularly starting at age six for cats, especially female cats.

So I took my cat into our vet when she turned six, and asked them to do the bloodwork. They refused, saying "we have our own schedule for doing that". Which like, ok, fine. They didn't want to give her preventative flea meds either, which was weird but...I guess I'll trust them, whatever. 👍

But recently she turned eight, and started losing hair. Like literally all of her hair on her stomach and legs. Literally nothing about her daily environment had changed, so I took her back in and asked again for bloodwork to be done. I also mentioned her history of allergies and asked again for preventative flea meds just in case.

They told me it was.....wait for it.........anxiety!! Said her household must have a lot of changes happening in it all the time (it doesn't). Said it couldn't POSSIBLY be anything else. And they wouldn't prescribe the flea meds but INSTEAD prescribed her a medication which tends to make cats really out of it. And which extremely stresses her out for me to force down her throat, increasing her anxiety tenfold at least. And said they wouldn't do any bloodwork until I gave it to her every single day for months.

As if she was a HUMAN. At a HUMAN DOCTOR

Tibby...I feel so much kinship to you and your medical gaslighting struggles. I can't believe that nasty bitch would say that to you. #solidarity

[saintbuffy]

I got my blood work results back and they did a lot!! thankfully, my iron, vitamin D and thyroid levels are all good which are all things I’ve really struggled with in the past. my cholesterol is good except I have slightly high triglyceride levels (don’t Really know what that means but eh) and I have slightly low albumin, and I’m prediabetic which isn’t surprising. so I’m kind of like, relieved to know but also not really surprised, maybe more pleasantly surprised cuz I did Not think my cholesterol or vitamin D would be fine.

[gerinurse]

🙄……

Yesterday I had some bloodwork drawn. I’ve had the requisition for ages and just never found time to go to the lab. I hadn’t had time to go in a review it when one of the clinic doctors called for an appointment I had set up for med refills, and the following conversation ensued….

Him - have you looked at your books work or reviewed with your regular doctor?

Me - I haven’t had a chance

Him - well the good news is that your cholesterol and blood sugars are down substantially so you must be doing something right but I have to ask, are you tired allot?

Me - yep, I could sleep for hours every day and have zero energy.

Him - I’m betting you have coke hands and feet, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches…are you taking any supplements?

Me - B12, magnesium and vitamin D.

Him - that explains why the numbers look like they do. The B12 would be helping somewhat. You might want to add an iron supplement to that because your iron level is very low.

Me - sitting here stunned smacking my head going “that explains why I feel so shitty all the time” 🤦🏼‍♀️.

My levels were low normal last year when I had blood work done but I increased the amount of dark leafy greens I ate and figured I’d be fine. Apparently that was not enough so off to the health food store I go to find a good supplement. One more thing to add to the ever growing list of issues my body thinks it would be fun to deal with 😞.

[navstuffs]

Chapter 1

Pairing: CEO!Ezio x GN!Reader

Summary: You finally decide to let it loose, only to discover the man you had a one-night stand with is now your CEO.

Warnings for this chapter: modern au!, self-depreciative reader, awkward reader, some smut, alcohol drinking, comedy

Author's Note: hello, this is my first project for a long fic in a very long time. im very nervous and excited and i will appreciate all feedbacks i get! thank you so much for reading and lets go!!!

You hate clubs. Loud music. None or barely any good warm food. You can barely see with those lights. Too many people in the same place, rubbing on each other. You remind yourself you were there for support: your best friend and co-worker Elena called you crying that Saturday night, sobbing her girlfriend of five years broke up with her. Elena needed to party and, for some reason, needed you there for support. Until Elena didn't anymore, finding comfort in a very tall curvy redhead lady, the two disappeared on the dance floor.

You wonder if you should go home or at least make good use of the money you spend to get into that place. When was the last time you went to a club anyway? Oh yeah, when you turned into the legal drinking age. By the way, you got drunk with two tequila shots and swore never to drink again. Ever. You have always been known to study and work a lot anyway—no time to fool around.

You find the bar on the club's second level, far from the dancing area. Happy you finally found a chair for your butt to fall into, the bartender asks what you want, and you reply, "Everyone's favorite?".The song doesn't blast as loud, and the people here seem calmer. Good.

At least if you were going down, you could have some fun. Two cups maximum. The bartender places your drink in front of you, and when you give her your card, she waves, pointing at someone.

"Gentleman over there already paid."

Blinking surprised, you turn to where she is pointing and have to hold your lips together. Man is literally a fucking Greek God. He is well dressed, wearing black social pants and a black social shirt with a few open buttons. You can see a tiny bit of his hairy chest. He has a trimmed beard and a smirk on his lips. You look down on yourself, wearing simple clothes. Could it be a prank? Maybe. What if it was roofied? You were getting drugged, and he was stealing your kidney?

Well fuck it. You said you weren't going to have fun? Having fun has its risks.

Grabbing the cup, you toast the man, and his smile grows wider. Well, he is staring at you like he is going to eat you. It has to be a prank-oh shit, he is coming your way! 

"Is this seat taken?" The man asks with a deep voice. You nod, wanting to say no. He sits by your side, requesting another drink from the bartender. "Name is Ezio. Yours?"

You tell Ezio your name, sipping your drink. Now that he is closer, you notice he is strong. He wears his hair in a ponytail and has a smile that is a lady killer. And he smells good. Unlike all the smelly people in this place, Ezio smells reeaallly good.

"Thank you for the mhm drink," You say, and Ezio waves his hands like it was nothing. "I must tell you, I am not in my best shape. I'm unhealthy. Diabetes. Cholesterol is high. I might have a heart attack at any moment now."

"You don't look sick," Ezio looks at you confused.

"Appearances, right?" You giggle awkwardly, drinking your drink at once. Ezio seems to ponder for a minute before nodding, a funny smirk on his lips.

"I am sorry for your situation. I hope you get better soon."

"Oh, I will be fine. Every time I go to the doctors, they change the prospect. Anyway, I would be a bad product in the black market."

"The black market, you say?" Ezio's voice tone is humorous. You nod excitedly, asking the bartender for another drink.

"You seem happy for someone who might die any moment now?"

"Oh, you see. It is life. I try to live every day as if my last. Because it could be."

When the bartender gives you the other drink, you swallow, this time much easier. You start hearing a loud laugh coming from Ezio. You look at him, your turn to be confused.

"What is it?"

"I am not selling your kidneys in the black market," Ezio laughs. You blink a few times, charmed by the sound.

"That, that is exactly what an organ dealer would say!" You exclaim, and Ezio laughs louder, attracting looks from nearby.

You roll your cup between your hands, looking down. Your tactic didn't work, and you weren't roofied. Maybe just a little drunk. You decide this will be your last cup of the night.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have laughed like this. Your concerns are valid," Ezio declares. "That is not the reason why I paid for your drink."

"Oh?"

"I find you attractive."

Now it is your turn to laugh. You hit his arm, murmuring right right, finishing your second cup.

"What is it?"

"You find me attractive? You? Me? Pdffttt."

Ezio gets his chair close to yours, closing the distance. That shuts you off.

"Can I not find you attractive?"

"Do you use glasses, sir? You might need them."

"Do you have a problem with people finding you attractive?"

"No, I have a problem with extremely hot people finding me attractive!"

Wellllll, shit. Your damn open mouth. Ezio smiles victoriously.

"So you find me attractive?"

"Well, duh. I mean, look at you. Then look at me."

"An attractive and desirable person?"

You shake your head. It had been a long time since someone had shown any sign of interest in you. At least, so direct like that. Indeed, Elena said people looked at you with desire left and right, you just didn't want to notice.

"Look, mhm, this was very nice and all, but it is not nice to play with someone's feelings like that," It is the alcohol. It has to be. It is what you will blame tomorrow.

"I am not playing," Ezio's tone brings a chill down your spine. He looks at you like he wants to have you right here and now. On top of the bar counter in front of you, everyone. And deep down, you would let him do it.

You first think about what you came to do here: have fun with your best friend, but she was busy with someone else. You already spent money anyway, accepted the drink from a handsome strange man, called him an organ dealer, and he is still showing interest in you.

He could have any of those other sexy people around you, but no, Ezio seems genuinely interested in you.

Getting up from the chair, decided, you pull Ezio by his shirt into a kiss. It surprises you both, but he is fast on kissing you back. When you two break apart, Ezio holds your face.

"Is this what you truly want?" His tone is serious, just making you want him more.

"If you are still interested."

-x-

Monday, 6:30 am

You wake up, your body still sore. You get up from your bed, getting a good look in the mirror. You had sex. It is screaming in your relaxed stance. You had sex with a freaking Greek god on the back of his car, had lots of orgasms, and bonus: no organs lost. Maybe except your sanity. 

You hop into the shower, remembering Ezio's hands on your back and ass. He touched you all over. He was generous, ensuring your eyes rolled numerous times during the night. You had never done it in a car before, and he was patient until you finally got comfortable. Always making sure you were feeling good. Not that stopped Ezio from pounding inside you like a madman, making the car shake. The beard scratched against your skin every time he gave you kisses. And his moans, shit, you were trembling just thinking about it.

You realize your shower is taking a little longer than it should, so you turn into cold water. After drying yourself, having breakfast, and brushing your teeth, it is time to go to work.

You work for a winery corporate office named Auditore Vinos. It had recent operations in your country, primarily based in Italy. You enter the company's building, saying morning to your co-workers until you reach your table. 

Elena comes running when she sees you, and you turn your face away, upset.

"I am sorry, okay? I am a horrible friend!" Elena apologizes, but you still have pouty lips. "I will pay for your lunch for a whole week!"

"Two weeks!"

"Deal. Seriously, I am sorry. I went crazy Saturday. Besides, if I didn't leave you alone, you wouldn't have gotten your brains fucked by—"

"Shhhhhh!" You look around but don't seem anyone else heard.

"You got to tell me! Everything! All of it!"

"I will, I will. As you as well! Leaving me all alone to make out with redhead Lady Dimitrescu."

"Word of advice? Watch out for whom you fuck. They might wake up in the morning saying I love you, marry me, can you meet my family like today?"

"Serves you right for leaving me alone."

Elena puts her hand on her heart, pretending to be insulted as you open your email. Your boss Mario Auditore has sent a meeting for the whole company at 10 am at the small reunion office. You ask Elena, but she shrugs.

"You know Mario loves those motivational speeches once in a while. To keep the moral of the team, we are his family, but we still could be doing better, blah blah blah."

At 10 am, you get together with everyone at the reunion office. Some people are whispering, and gossip has run wild since the company has fewer than fifty people. Some say Mario is finally retiring, and others say Mario will probably talk about sales. Stiles, part of the IT team, worries that Mario will fire everyone. You find Elena in the crowd, sitting in the middle of the room as she waves in your direction. 

"Oh my God, can you believe Mario has a son he never told us about?!" Elena exclaims as soon as you sit by her side.

"What?"

"I just heard that Mario has a man in his office that looks old enough to be his son. Maybe that is it. Mario will tell us he has a son! He has been hiding all these years!"

You laugh, wondering if your friend has watched too many soap operas. Finally, your boss Mario Auditore enters the room alone, and all conversation shuts down.

"Yes, yes, I know the gossip has already spread around! No, I am not dying, not I am not selling, no, no one is getting fired, Stiles!"

Stiles silently celebrate, and everyone laughs.

"I have some news this morning, sad for some and happy for others. I have to be absent from the CEO position. For a while."

The murmur of "What?" filled the room. Elena mouths, "Sickness?" and you shake your head, worried. Everyone loved Mario: he was a great boss. He had given you a chance at the company despite your lack of experience. You really liked him like so many other employees.

"I have some business I need to solve. Don't worry, everyone, I am not dying. Doctors said I need to slow down for a while, that is all. Put my feet up a bit, and enjoy some vacation time." 

You feel Elena's hand around yours, and you squeeze it back. Mario looks out of the room, nodding to someone.

"Well, while I am away, my nephew will stay in my place. He takes care of operations in Italy, so he knows the job. We also decided it was about time you got to know the crew in Italy, Ezio, please come in!"

Ezio?

EZIO?

You squeeze Elena's hand so hard you can hear her groan low with pain as the man who fucked your brains out on Saturday night enters the room. Fuck, he is wearing a fucking blue suit. You can hear your ears ringing as Ezio speaks and your friend whispering your name, worried.

Please, don't notice me, please don't notice me.

Ezio's eyes are glancing around the room. He presents himself looking at the employees' faces when he stops at a very familiar one. He loses his composure for one second, enough for his uncle to notice, but goes back on his rant. When Ezio is done, he looks anywhere but at you. The employees clap, and Mario disperses them. He pulls Ezio close to him, asking what the heck happened as they walk to the CEO's office.

"Niente, zio, niente."

Inside the reunion room, your ears are still ringing. Most people show excitement, admiring how the new boss is sexy and handsome, and start leaving. When you and Elena are alone, she asks you urgently.

"What is going on? You are scaring me."

"It is him," You whisper.

"Who?"

"Ezio. It is him."

Elena takes a second to realize who you are talking about. As she does, you can see her face going from shocked to amused to shocked again.

"The hot Italian God with a huge penis?"

"I hate you! This is all your fault. I'm going to HR. I have always wanted to be a digital nomad anyway."

"Well, if it is my fault you got the best sex in your life, then so be it. Come on, we need to get out of here before Mario, or mhm, he comes wondering why we are still here."

You jump from your seat as if electrified, Elena guides you back to your table. Your table was far from Mario's office, so you were okay. You drop into your chair, Elena still holding your hand.

"Look, breathe. Breathe. Think, he is probably as embarrassed as you are right now—"

"Worse than me? Never!"

"—well, technically, he is the boss. Our new boss, you know? He probably does not want this story to go around as much as you."

You get a sip from your water bottle. Elena was probably right. Ezio would pretend he never saw you. Maybe he would get on on his day, treating you normally since you two just fucked. It was just a casual fuck, a really, really good one that had you both utterly breathless by the end of it, staring at each other's eyes and, for some crazy reason, feeling you made a special connection to each other, but still in the end just a one night stand. No feelings attached, nothing. You were an adult. You could do this. 

"You are right. I am an adult, and it was just sex. Just that. An accident that could happen to anyone, right?"

Elena rubs your back, uncertain if she should say no, no, it doesn't, but she doesn't want to crush your spirit more.

"Sure, anyone in the world. Totally possible."

You smile back at her, thanking Elena for her support. You were going to need it.

Niente = Nothing

Zio = Uncle

[morgenlich]

i’ve joked some about not wanting to return to food service now that i paint my nails, but also it’s…interesting. to look at my lab results since shortly after i stopped working at taco bell through my most recent blood work a few months ago, because with very little conscious effort on my part (and i’m frankly much less Active now than i was then), all of my vitamin issues, cholesterol red flags, etc, started out pretty bad. and now most of those things are fine. even the ones that are still not at a healthy level (looking at you vitamin d) are much closer to being a healthy level than they were. and i just think that’s interesting

[every-captain]

I was gonna write a tag essay on my last post, but its easier to TW if I dont write it out in the tags. But anyway, my doctor told me to watch my cholesterol cuz its pretty high. Having high cholesterol actually explained a LOT of the health issues I was experiencing and so I've been pretty good about keeping an eye on it.

I'm actually really proud of myself for not getting TOO intense about it though. Usually when I "diet" i GO ON A DIET and I have tons of rules and I'm counting everything and I'm going all in. Here I am just casually keeping an eye on the cholesterol I'm consuming and its been....totally fine. No craziness. I dont feel like I'm failing or going to binge or like I've fucked up and have to start over because I ate some fried eggs today or whatever.

I work in a coffee shop and we get free food, and I eat that stuff every day. So I identified what kinds of food had lower cholesterol levels and I've been eating those. There's a vegan sandwich we have that actually slaps severely and it really hasnt been any issue to eat that or like... a carrot muffin or a vegan chocolate chip cookie, instead of a croissant or something.

I switched my cream in my coffee to oat milk which I also like. Its literally been like no big deal. And I had eggs this morning. Eggs are pretty high in cholesterol but I'm not going to live a life where I dont ever eat fried eggs and cheese on toast. Its just a matter of knowing that its a less-often kind of food instead of three mornings a week.

I dunno I feel like I developed a really good anti-diet foundation and its really helped when going into being told that I need to watch a certain aspect of my diet. I go back in August to check again on my blood work and I'm really hoping it reflects well.

My doctor didnt even tell me like "Watch your cholesterol, heres how" she literally just went "Your cholesterol is high, you're obese, go on a diet and exercise." without asking me anything about what I eat or my activity levels. SO its more or less up to me to be normal about it, since she will not be.

I HAVE lost about 15 pounds in the last month-and-change, which to me is indicating that what i'm doing is DOING something. So I'm hopeful. Because compared to other stuff I've done, like keto or being vegan, or weight watchers, or calorie counting... this is so fucking easy dude. I'm literally just eating different stuff that I also like.

[synthergy]

speaking of cholesterol, I have a hereditary gene thing that causes my liver to Not properly rid my body of cholesterol. Which, yknow, it's whatever, we're several in the family with it, I'm on meds that make my levels fine (great, actually!) it's not an actual issue. But. I hate having to even mention it bc I KNOW people will think "ah, bc ur fat and therefore unhealthy" when like. no you don't get it at 12 I had the cholesterol levels of someone with liver failure who drinks butter instead of water. If I wasn't medicated I'd die at 39 like my great grandfather no matter my lifestyle. It's a super dumb fatphobia thing that shouldn't matter and I'm mad that it makes me embarrassed.

[sivarcher-sivvie]

Another slice of life

It's me and another slice of life short story! This idea is based from S05E17 when Raymond learns Yoga from Charles he said: "My doctor tells me to be more active." So I loved to look into small details 🤣

Also Happy Lunar New Year to anyone who celebrates it by the way!

And since there are two SOL one-shot now, I combined them and posted them on AO3 as well XD If anyone want to read there, please proceed to: A day in the life of Raymond Holt & Kevin Cozner - Chapter 1 - SivArcher - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (TV) [Archive of Our Own]

---Doctor's Appointment---

Every once a year, at the summertime there is one specific day is their annual body checkup day where they will spend the whole day doing all the health screenings needed or suggested by their doctor.

"Raymond, can you help me bag these supplements that I've taken for the past year? I've forgot to keep the receipt in. " Kevin was calling the doctor to reconfirm their appointment while asking Raymond help for the supplement showcase later. Normally Kevin will be taking Iron and Vitamin D as his daily supplements because A: He had anemia that is caused by iron deficiency, and B: He rarely go outside to be under the sun, thus Vitamin D needed. On some occasions where he was sleep deprived, he will take Vitamin B as well, and every year he will be showing the doctor what kind of supplements he has in his daily life, despite the doctor already know since he's been their doctor for like 10 years.

On the contrary, Raymond does not believe in supplements needed in his daily life, he believed he can get everything he needs from daily food intake and he has been right. After all he is much more active than Kevin and being under the sun is a normal to him ever since his beat cop day.

"Dear, have you been taking these sleep aid supplement again? " Raymond found the melatonin bottle along with the other supplements and so he asked.

Kevin just finished his phone call with the doctor's receptionist and so he looked at him sheepishly: "Yes, I have. But not every day, only when I couldn't sleep. "

"How is it that I do not know this? How long has it been happening? " Raymond puts down the bottle and getting near to Kevin, almost holding him in his arms.

"It was… It was nothing, really. Just a couple of times. " Kevin looked at him in the eyes try to convince him, but he can tell his husband is lying.

"There is nearly half the bottle gone, Kevin. I am worried about you. " Raymond soften his voice so he doesn't appear to be interrogate his husband. Kevin slumps his shoulder to know that he could never deceive his husband, it has proven many times that Raymond is an exceptional detective and furthermore, he can read him like a book.

"Ever since the… Safe House incident, sometimes I will have nightmare and so I… took some of the sleeping aids. I didn't tell you because it was really just happening sometimes and I was able to sleep more normally these days, truly. " Kevin lean into him and pat him in the back to assure Raymond that he is fine, he doesn't have to worry about him.

Raymond knew that incident must have some aftermath for Kevin, it was such a traumatize experience yet he failed to notice his husband changes: "I am sorry, Kevin. You should have never been through all of that. "

Kevin shook his head and kiss him on the lips gently: "Stop apologize to me, it was not your fault. Raymond. And you have done everything you could, I am still here, aren't I? "

He looked him in the eye, the striking blues that fulfilled every moment in his life, and so he said: "Yes, you are. "

The trip to the doctor was smooth and the checkup has been performed swiftly, one week later they have another appointment where the doctor will review their screening report.

It usually went well as he and Kevin remain a pretty healthy lifestyle on their food and exercise, albeit lesser in the recent years but Raymond trust that they will have no big issue.

It was partially correct though.

"Mr Holt, your cholesterol level has been climbing up to the borderline number. " The doctor circled up the shockingly close to the unhealthy checkpoint number and said to him.

Raymond stares at his report, he could not believe it. After all, he's been eating healthily, doing exercises regularly with the fencing and squash, how had he come to this?

"As well as your liver function has been exceeding the normal number a little bit. The others have been perfectly in range and healthy! " Raymond looked at that number where it's higher by 2 points from the normal range.

To be fair, he does drink a lot more compared to before he came to the 99, mostly is they gathered at the bar a lot, and the cheap liquor has such nasty effects.

"Mr Holt, do not need to be too worried about these. At your age, your number is still very good. I wouldn't worry a lot about the cholesterol level or liver function number, but I do suggest you to be more active and less drinking if possible. " The doctor closed his report and gave his insights.

"I understand, thank you, doctor. " Raymond nods and put a mental note in his mind to be more active and he should drink less in those team gatherings at the Shaw's bar.

Or maybe he should just drink water only from now on.

"Your turn, Mr Cozner. " The doctor opens another report while Raymond and Kevin switched places on the chair. Kevin puts his hands on Raymond's shoulder to signal him comfort.

"How was your knees and throat? Are they doing okay? " Though before the doctor review the report, he asked about Kevin's current wellbeing due to Kevin had history of Osteoarthritis and Chorditis.

Kevin nodded along: "Yes, they have been improving a lot. " Raymond knows Kevin's knees has been in suboptimal state, according to doctor this is unavoidable as it was a natural degrade of his knees. That's why he never let Kevin hold any heavy object or doing any movements that require squads. And ever since couple years ago he had that Chorditis, his throat had become easily sore due to overuse them in the class.

These were old problems that Raymond hope that pain can leave Kevin alone, but to no avail and he guess it's just part of the life progress.

"That's good. Keep up with the medicine and you'll be alright. As for your screening report… " The doctor flipped on the pages of the report, from Raymond's eyesight, it seems everything is alright.

"Your result are very good! Nothing was excessive and every single number are within range. " The doctor smiled at his report and gave a clearance to him.

"That is wonderful. Thank you, doctor. " They finished their session soon after Kevin picks up his medicine from the pharmacy.

On their ride back to the house, Raymond still couldn't believe that he was not the perfect result man that he always secretly prided himself with. Even after they reached the house, he's still thinking about it.

"I could not believe that I had a red number this year. " He still stares at his report, on the sofa while Kevin is making them tea.

"It is okay, Raymond. We are getting old, and the doctor said do not worry. " Kevin puts out his tea and comfort him.

"I'll have to be more active I guess. Sadly, our squash club had been turned into a racquetball club. The audacity of those people. " Raymond picks up Kevin's report and read that it was indeed a flawless healthy report.

"I agreed. " Kevin is taking his Osteoarthritis medicine with the water, he will have his throat protection medicine after the dinner.

"I'm glad your results are good. Congratulations, Kevin. " He sips his tea while watching his husband swallowed the white pills in a weird face. His Kevin is not fond of having pills and always have it hard to swallow.

"Thank you, Raymond. Although I am the one who needs to keep having these medicine even though I have a perfect score on the screening. " Kevin pointed his medicine bag and sigh.

"You know these are two different things. And if you don't take it, your knees might be in great pain again. " Raymond hold his hand to be an emotional support, he has seen Kevin when his knees acting up, he couldn't afford to see that again, it breaks his heart.

"I know. I won't want to experience that pain again. " Kevin lies his head on his shoulder and happily sigh.

"Do you want a massage on them? " Raymond looked at Kevin's legs, it's been sometimes that he gave Kevin a massage. He normally done it to his neck and shoulder but he's very good at legs too.

"Yes I do. Thank you, Raymond. " And so Kevin moves his body to a proper position so that Raymond can massage his legs comfortably.

While Kevin looked at his man, his husband, and feeling the big warm hand from him on his knees, his eyes were soft and so he smiled.

'What a good day. ' He thought while he slowly falls asleep.

---

I normally write these in between of the long fics so I can escape to other ideas sometimes hahaha. These one-shots have not been edited though so 😅😅