#nail Cere

[laquenailbarofficial]

Laque Nail Bar and Beauty Spa - What You Should Know About Nail Hygiene

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Signs of Poor Nail Hygiene

Yellowing or discoloration

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Foul odor around nails

Redness or swelling in the surrounding skin

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Best Practices for Nail Hygiene

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Final Thoughts

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[a-titty-ninja]

「Fauna」 by Shuuzo | Twitter

๑ Permission to reprint was given by the artist ✔.

[aroacegundamalex]

[ID: digital art of Elan Ceres from Gundam: the Witch from Mercury grinning at the viewer as he adjusts his tie. Blue light shines behind him. The lineart is thin and sketchy, with messy colors. End ID.]

[breakfastteatime]

Today's Fallen Order request is 'Dig' for @pennflinn

Dawn arrives cold and dull. Cere steps into the galley and finds Greez and Merrin staring at the caf pot bubbling away. Cal and BD are noticeably absent. Swallowing a sigh and adding her caf mug to the line, Cere asks the obvious question. “Still digging?”

“Still digging,” Greez says.

“The rain did not stop him,” Merrin says.

“Rain? The kid lived on Bracca for five years. Rain would never stop him,” Greez says. “Nah, it’s nightfall that didn’t stop him.”

Cere wills the caf maker to speed up. She grabs Cal’s mug and puts it next to hers. “I’ll talk to him.”

“You tried last night,” Merrin says. “You did not succeed.”

Greez can’t hold in his laughter, and it comes out in a short, sharp bark. He’s worried. Cere knows all the signs.

And Merrin isn’t finished either. “They never came back last night.”

“How can you tell?” Cere asks.

“Cal’s bed was not covered in mud and water as expected, and BD hasn’t recharged.”

“Thank you, Detective Merrin,” Greez says, pouring caf for all. “I was up a few hours ago, found him on the lakeside. Got some food and a hot drink into him. Tried to talk him into stopping, that he doesn’t stand a chance of digging up anything. He very politely said no. BD shrugged because he’s already given up trying to stop him.”

Cere suspected as much yesterday when they arrived in the crumbling town with a tragic story. A terrible storm had washed most of the town away, leaving just a handful of buildings and survivors behind. After a speaking with the townsfolk, Cal found a single echo, and since then he’s single-handedly digging his way into a sunken village. He hasn’t told them what he saw in the echo, but whatever it is, it’s driven him nonstop. The Force reveals nothing, Cal isn’t in any danger, which is why Cere hasn’t pushed too hard, but the idea that he’s been at the bottom of a lake for an entire night is a real worry.

Cere tugs on a coat, throws the hood over her hair and grabs caf for herself and Cal. “Get some towels and a few blankets ready,” she calls over her shoulder on her way to the ramp. “I’ll bring him back as soon as I can.”

“See you tonight then,” Greez mutters.

“I’ll take that bet,” Merrin says.

Outside, the surviving half of the town stirs in the dull morning light. Ahead, floodwater laps at what was once a road. Umbrella over her head, drinking caf and holding another, Cere waits. It’s not long before Cal emerges from the lake, waterlogged and weary. BD is on his back. Cal has something clutched in one pale hand. The Force gathers around him, calm and quiet because he has no energy left.

Cere steps up to him and holds out the caf. Cal takes it with a water-wrinkled hand. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

She sips her caf, waiting him out. While she does, she looks at the item in his hand. It’s a large, silt-covered crystal. Not kyber, and yet it simmers with an energy. She swears she can hear it sing.

“It’s full of memories,” Cal says, voice hoarse with weariness. “Almost as though the town itself was alive, watching over its people.” He hands it over to Cere. She catches sight of his torn skin and muddy, ragged nails. He really had spent the whole night digging underwater. No wonder he looks so weary. She reaches out to steady him when he weaves on his feet. “Can you give it back to the mayor? I think it’ll be better coming from you.” He waves a hand at her, and Cere figures he means ‘someone who isn’t soaked through, shivering, about ready to pass out and very, very muddy.’

“Of course.” Taking it, Cere looks at him, nudging at his shields. He pulls them closer like the towels and blankets he so desperately needs to be draped in. “You’re exhausted.”

He smiles faintly. “Yeah. Hard digging at the bottom of a lake. Glad my rebreather held out that long.”

She wants to know what drove him to push so hard where it was, to her mind, so unnecessary. Even with the crystal’s hum brushing against her mind, there’s more to this than she understands. “Go on,” she says, nudging gently through the Force. “Take a shower, put something warm and dry on, and get some sleep.”

He drinks the caf in three rapid gulps, returns Cere’s gentle Force nudge with one of his own, and retreats aboard the ship with BD in his wake. Greez and Merrin’s voices waft toward Cere. She waits until silence falls once more before finishing her caf, leaving her mug on the ramp, and heading into the town. She catches the mayor on her way into the village hall. She looks at Cere, then catches sight of the crystal in her hand.

“He found it?” The mayor takes it when Cere is close enough to hand it over. Her eyes swim, her voice trembling. “I never thought it possible.”

“Please, forgive my ignorance,” Cere says. “What is its significance?”

“We called it the Memory Stone. For centuries it watched over our village, a guardian of sorts.” The mayor gives a self-deprecating smile. “I know, it’s almost childish. Legend says it was given to us by the ancient Jedi, a symbol of light against the encroaching darkness. They say the Sith took particular interest in this world during those ancient wars. The Jedi reminded us that there is always hope. We lost that hope last year when the floods came.” She holds the crystal close to her chest. “And now, the hope is restored.”

A light in the dark, a reminder of hope. A reminder of what the Jedi had once been – to this world and the galaxy as a whole. Cere smiles. “Cal will be glad to know he helped.”

“Give him our best. It must have been hard work rescuing this from the old town hall.”

Cere returns to the Mantis, grabbing her abandoned mug off the ramp, pouring the rainwater out before she boars the ship. Still in the galley, Greez is now baking while Merrin licks a spoon coated in sugar-sparkled dough.

“Cal’s asleep and BD’s charging,” Greez announces, rolling the dough flat, a selection of cookie cutters beside him. “Here’s hoping they spend the entire day that way.”

Several hours later, Cal reappears, sleep-stained and wrapped in his blankets, BD riding in his usual spot. Greez hands over cookies and tea. BD hops down to scan the rest of Greez’s baked goods. Merrin points Cal in the direction of the couch. Cere meets him there, giving him a nudge. He reciprocates by letting his head drop onto her shoulder.

And that’s all they need to say.

[doodleduck]

Slightly dried off but still soggy

I will never get over how stupid birds look when their wet, I just gave mine a bath and he looks like a soddened rat

[rubeau-art]

I just wanted to nail some things down for Tanner, even though she won’t be relevant for a while.

Tanner is Jax, Ceres, and Monroe’s daughter! She was born with major spinal and leg issues and spent most of her childhood and teen years in a wheelchair (the Atlas Rising world and design is supposed to be entirely accessible, I am still learning about things though) or used various temporary prosthetics when she started to get interested in soccer and zero-G kickboxing.

When she got older, she opted for the spinal implants and her dad built her cool new legs.

Something else she got from her dad was his ability to shift, and with none of the brain melting!

Fun fact: Though Atlas Rising, Jax tinkers with an illegal android project as a side thing. That android later becomes Tanner’s older brother.

[wrencatte]

I’m going to die here…

I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die!

Please someone put me out of my misery.

Someone save me.

          Let me die. Let me die. Please let me die.

Rotting. Rotting. Under – under my skin – crawling – eating – under, under, skin –

I didn’t do anything. Please. Please.

                                                I’m so hungry.

The walls – the walls – stop – stop –

                                                                                                Water…water –

He’s missing for only a few hours before they find him.

This is a few hours too many.

Curled up in a tiny ball, legs tucked under his poncho protectively, he almost blends in with the shadows. If it weren’t for the undercurrent of despair in his signature like a homing beacon in the Force, Cere thinks she would’ve missed him completely. It’s a far cry from the laughter in the Mantis this morning.

Cere drops into the little room from above. Her landing is loud in the tiny space, yet Cal doesn’t react. He doesn’t even twitch. She shines her torch somewhere near his face, whispering his name – and gets nothing. She ducks down to check for consciousness though the Force is subdued and muted, not that streaking fire that Cal normally is, and her stomach sinks at the sight of a dull, listless stare.

“Oh, Cal,” she breathes.

She brushes his hair from his face, tucking it behind his ears. It’s getting long, she notes. There’s a massive bruise in the middle of his forehead, black-dark already. His lips are red with blood, speckling his chin. She checks under his poncho for more injuries, using the Force to aid her when her eyes fail in the dim light, and finds nothing life-threatening she can sense, so she pinches her torch between her knees and gathers his hands in hers.

They’re cold.

Cere cradles them carefully, inspecting the damage. More blood, caked into his nail beds and under them, glistening on the tips where the skin is rubbed raw. He’s missing nails on his pinky and ring fingers. She glances down and finds smears of red – and white scores in the stonework, and a fingernail laying there oh-so innocently. Her heart aches. What happened to you?

She squeezes his hands rhythmically, partly to keep him warm and partly, partly because this is just something they do, when they’re able, when Cal gets caught up in a drawn-out echo. He likes the anchor to the present, he told them. He never feels it when he’s actually in the echo itself, but it’s always the first thing he’s aware of when he comes out of it. It makes him feel safer, knowing he’s not alone.

This doesn’t look like an echo, but even after all these months she’s nowhere near an expert on psychometry.

“Come back, Cal,” she whispers anyway, his hands so cold and his gaze so empty.

He doesn’t respond.

“Cere,” Merrin hisses from above. “The system will auto-boot soon. The droid cannot stop this one.”

“I’ve got him,” she calls back. Merrin says nothing more, but she sees the Nightsister hover at the edge of the ceiling door, peering down at them with barely hidden anxiety.

Cere is gentle as she gathers Cal into her arms, the Force helping her bear the weight. She doesn’t want to let him go, but she pulls her power close and raises him slowly until he’s high enough for Merrin to take. She double checks that nothing was left behind then follows them up with a Force assisted jump.

Merrin cradles Cal in her arms like he’s something precious, her expression pained and horrified. His eyes are still open, thin slivers of dull green between his eyelashes. His head falls over the crook of Merrin’s arm, exposing his throat in a way that makes Cere swallow thickly. Merrin nudges him until his temple is resting on her shoulder instead, curled up smaller than either of them have ever seen.

“What did they do to you?” Merrin asks, voice low and dangerous, the air sparking green around her. “I will kill them.”

Cere lays a hand on her shoulder. “We take care of Cal first,” she says. Merrin glares at her for a long moment before she reluctantly nods then climbs to her feet. “BeeDee! We have him!”

The droid dashes out of the shadows, whirl-clicking quietly, and clambers up Merrin to perch on her shoulder. His optics flash as he tries to start up his scanner, but they’re too damaged. He bwoops almost silently. It sounds wretched through his ruined speakers.

Cere taps his chassis in reassurance before they're off, alarm blaring loudly behind them. It's too late though. They rush into the Mantis just as the guards mobilize, shouts starting up when they find the guards around the cellblock Cal was in already taken care of.

[ophernelia]

Rory Oaklow

Age: 24

Birthday: April 7th

Hometown: Sulani

Species: Shapeshifter // Lycan (Alpha)

Sexuality: Pansexual

Current Status: Alive

Partner(s): Ceres Durham, Kaila Brice

Originally from Ohan’ ali, Sulani, Rory is the eldest daughter in her family. Growing up she spent most of her time on the islands and in the water. She was often joined by her father, as they had a great relationship prior to puberty hitting for her. Her relationship with her father became turbulent after Rory’s first shift and has remained strained since. He abhorred how she carried herself as a young lycan and often thought her behavior to be uncivilized. She maintained a great relationship with her mother, grandmother, and younger brother. After an unpleasant childhood, Rory took a more nomadic route and decided to travel the world. Only traveling home on occasion to visit her family, father excluded. She often stayed in the nearest lycan compound or the cheapest hotel she could find. Upon her many visits to Copperdale for the summer season, Rory met her fated mate, Ceres. After a brief trip back to her hometown, Rory decided to live in Copperdale permanently with her mate Ceres. Though, he soon left to travel Tartosa as Ceres had no plans of staying in one place for long. Rory often hopped from one job and place of residence to another, from one pack to another, never staying in one place for too long. In an effort to help the other lycans she’d come across in Copperdale, Rory took over the old abandoned campsite on the outskirts of town. There, she provided a safe haven and resting place for any young lycans coming through town.

Fun facts:

Rory makes a good effort to stay fit and healthy. She works out regularly.

Rory loves having her nails done. She often opts for black stiletto nails that mimic her claws.

Rory is incredibly hardworking and often sims to excel at whatever job she does.

Rory is extremely competitive and headstrong. She will not settle for anything less than what she wants.

Rory’s style fluctuates. She often shuffles between masculine and feminine clothing. Her style depends on her mood at the time.

[nieded]

what are Ezira and AJ like on a long road trip? Which car from their garage would they take? What snacks do they bring? Which one gets pulled over for going eighty in a thirty?

aj and ezira did go on a road trip across california when they were first starting out as a couple! though of course, it would have taken a lot of work to import a car to the states, and so they had a rental. if they could have taken one of their cars, they would have settled on the la ferrari, which could handle the switchbacks of the serria nevada.

maybe someday they will take the road trip that newt and ligur talked about from montpellier to cologne.

the actual reality is that they would take the gti, if they had a choice from their own garage. hypercars are notoriously unreliable. they are not meant for road trips. they aren't really meant to be driven, honestly. replacing brakes on a la ferrari (which is a common maintenance item!!!) costs 40k. the SO works next door to an italian repair shop that exclusively does ferraris, lambos, alfas, and fiats. they have had a lamborghini aventador sitting in the shop for months because it requires a new set of special tires, which they only release every couple of years. so it's just waiting for a random shipment that may or may not come in the next year. the lifespan on hypercars for maintenance items like oil changes and brakes are much much shorter than the average car.

also, where would their luggage go? they will definitely need boot space. crowley's a pain to fly with because he always has extra luggage for stuff: skincare, haircare, nail polish, nail polish remover, extra hats that he will not wear, extra shoes that he will also not wear, but he has them just in case they do the beach or a hike. (and still, he wears his boots.) chargers for his electronics and back up batteries just in case. and weed. road trips are excellent when transporting the goods.

but crowley has no opinion on snacks. thankfully, ezira has all the opinions on snacks. healthy choices such as snacking peppers and carrots and seaweed chips to just cake. lots of biscuits. he has a kettle in the back so they can make periodic petrol stops to boil hot water. and should they stop and pick up more ice for the cooler? just in case? and in the end, they only eat half of it because every four hours, he's on google maps researching local restaurants and cafes for nibbles.

and realistically, neither of them will get pulled over for speeding, but if one of them had to, it'd be crowley. ezira hates driving around civilians. it's much safer to be going 190 on a race track. but average joes are unpredictable. get off your phone! use the indicator (to the beemer, i'm looking at you). oops you missed your exit and are now crossing six lanes of interstate... everybody's out here being lance stroll. ezira absolutely hates it, and if you spend 15 minutes on r/idiotsincars, you will too. there's very little ezira sticks his nose up at, but civilians. *shudders*

but they wouldn't drive over the speed limit, not too much. that's for work. crowley will take it slow through the alps so ezira can take pictures of the clear blue lakes and snow-capped mountains. they'll take turns with the bluetooth, donna summer and pink floyd for crowley, abba and death cab for ezira, and they'll talk about the race season and the spots they want to revisit in america and italy and japan. they'll wonder what ceres has destroyed at marnie and lili's and what the nibling is up to. if she's crawling yet because that means she's almost walking and if she's running they can stick her in a go kart.

but the silence would be good too at night, windows down, one of crowley's feet out the window when it's ezira's turn to drive (less people, more deer, but he will take his chances). and they'll stop on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere between two cities and look up and up and up at the sky, stars twinkling above. and crowley will think about how he's crossed finish lines filled with fireworks, stood on the platform in monza once upon a time when the tifosi flooded the track, sat in the cockpits of wheeled rocketships, unbelievable feats of engineering from mankind, and think nothing could compare to the darkest night in the quiet with his beloved.

it's not about going fast. it's about drawing it out, sitting in the cabin with each other and no one else, as if they could sneak one more minute, one more hour together before they're pulled across the globe in opposite directions. they love it. they love the racing and the adrenaline and the fireworks (but not the jet lag and missed calls and wondering if the other is sleeping ok). they love that feeling of peeling their racing gloves off after hours of sweating and swearing, the long drink of water after a long drive. but. but they love each other more.

[akuna-fanclub]

The thing about Bode is, you don’t have to forgive him for what happened—but you can find yourself *understanding* why he did it. Ultimately, I think choosing the Empire felt like his only hope. His wife had been k*lled by an inquisitor, because of his force sensitivity, and now he was on the run, with a little kid by his side. By working for the enemy, Denvik promised him that Kata would be safe if he quote, “stayed useful”. I feel like at that point, he was so far into it, it was easier to keep doing his bidding, while knowing that Kata was safe.

The first time we see Bode, Cal, and Kata interact—Bode feels genuine here. He’s trying to explain to Cal why he did what he did, and Cal doesn’t get it. That’s why when Bode says that he doesn’t understand what it’s like to be a father, I feel like that’s super important for the next game. Because Cal will essentially sort of have to play parent for Kata, and now he’ll see firsthand. Personally I think that line resonates a lot more than we realize, that whole scene in general. At the end, on Tanalorr, it’s clear that they would’ve been willing to Give Bode a Chance, but at that point we see a VERY different Bode than we saw back on the imperial station. I feel like this is the first time we actually see Bode as any sort of “villain” vs someone who was just struggling, and it’s interesting to see why it took so long, but I feel like it’s super telling.

Especially when in all the force echos, we see how much regret he has for what he’s doing to the Mantis crew. You can see it in the cutscene before Cordova dies too, when the imperials attack, Bode looks up, then closes his eyes as if indicating that he’s regretting what’s about to come. Especially because he worked so closely with Cordova for a bit. And he WAS a Jedi!!! I don’t think it’s so much that Bode is anti republic/Jedi, but mostly that he’s so beyond desperate to keep his daughter safe that he’s done some things that he regrets. And THAT is why he’s one of my alltime favorite characters. Like they built sooo much into this one character, and managed to pull it off flawlessly in ONE game??? Incredible. Ate and left no crumbs.

Also, we have to remember, in one of the force echos, he literally tells Denvik that he promised to share which inquisitor killed his wife, if he turned in Cere’s location. Denvik of course goes back on this, and Bode rightfully gets upset—but can’t do anything. There’s so much pain, and regret behind Bode’s character, and his voice actor and the entire crew just *chefs kiss*, nailed it.

[a-titty-ninja]

「セレス・ファウナ」 by Easonx | Twitter

๑ Permission to reprint was given by the artist ✔.

[dexthtoyounglings]

I'm Headed To The Mountains

Cal Kestis x Reader Fluff

Summary: You need to rebuild your life. The Empire temporarily stunted it, but they didn't stop it.

GIF NOT MINE!!

•--•

It was one of those nights again. One of those nights where everything seemed beautiful. When the stars shined a little bit brighter and you could see where the sky started to blend into the sun.

You had shuffled on a thick sweater and slipped on one of Cal's ponchos, finding your way on the Bogano grass. It was soft, healthy here. Sure, it often overflowed and was muddy, the water table rarely low. But today, the ground was hard, a sweet Bogano winter where it was never cold enough for snow but cold enough for the ground to chill and the air to dry out.

And the sun setting. Oh, that was your favorite part of the day. The part of the day that told you that you've survived another. Away from the Empire. Away from the corrupt hands of those who snatched your future from the tips of your fingers. You were barely skimming it, the day you had finally won a duel with your master. He was going soft on you--that you had understood. But you had smiled so wide at finally winning.

You realized now that maybe your fingertips hadn't even touched your future as a Jedi, and maybe your nails had grazed it. Before you started biting at them.

Now you fought for your life, the one you weren't supposed to have. Though you, you'd made one of your own. One that neither the Empire nor the Jedi Order would have allowed.

The same life that allowed Cal to sit down next to you, his leg crossing over the other and his hands planting themselves into the hardened dirt behind him.

The same life that allowed your eyes to sparkle when you turned to look at him.

"Maybe we should stay here for the winter," he spoke, head also turning. You never liked the color green too much. But Cal easily changed that for you. He made eye contact with you, and the black of his pupils shed some of the green off his irises while dilating. Maker, his pupils dilated when he saw you. And the way his hair fell into them, tickling his freckles and making his eyebrows twitch in a wince as the tips poked at his eyes momentarily.

You felt out of breath. Like you couldn't speak. Like his beauty was so intense it had snipped your vocal cords and left you a mess, left your lips parted as you stared at him.

"Why?" you asked, voice soft. But if you spoke louder, you might ruin the moment. You might scare him away or blow out the stars that were finally starting to peek through the veil of blue.

The ends of his mouth quirked, crinkling the pale skin beside them. The pink of his lips teased you and poked at your brain in the most endearing way possible.

"Well, I know you like sitting out here and watching the sun set," he pointed out, eyes never leaving yours.

This was your moment. Sure, you had these often, but they belonged to you. The way his eyes smiled belonged to you. The way his lips smiled belonged to you.

You let the silence consume you both. You had no words in return, knowing that Cal didn't mind your quiet. Maker, he wouldn't mind if you never spoke a word to him as long as you kept staring at him like he blended the colors in the sky, like he painted every star, like he set the wind into such a slow motion. He couldn't help it, the way he got so lost in you, and he never seemed to find his way out.

Some days you both were thankful for the Empire. If you weren't allowed to feel this sort of love, you wouldn't be able to handle your hardships as easy. You couldn't imagine a life that didn't allow you to take in his beautiful features like this and feel the tension seep from your body and into the dirt.

You also thanked Cere and Greez for these moments. After a while, it had become apparent that the night started to belong to the both of you. No matter how many times you both meditated and found peace in your minds, Cere could feel the the eye of the storm was found in the bond you shared.

"We could settle down."

Cal's eyes perked at your words. He didn't look any less happy with you, just... shocked. He turned his head to glance at the fading sky. The pink started the disperse into the orange, and at certain angles, the orange melted away.

You cleared your throat softly, "I mean, one day. One day we can find a planet where we can settle down. And we can watch the sunset every night."

Cal looked at you again. And it was silent, but he spoke to you. He spoke through your mind, wordless. You had a force connection, an undeniable one, but even then his words never echoed through your mind. But you knew behind his look, they way his eyes twinkled and the way his body seemed to lean into yours in the slightest.

And we can get married.

•--•

Masterlist

[seafoamreadings]

week of may 28th, 2023

aries: this week's full moon is a useful vibrant flame of energy for you in a recently stuffy period, and mercury finally emerging from the shadow of its retrograde gives you a little financial clarity as well.

taurus: first mercury exits the shadow zone of its recent retrograde, then it finally perfects its conjunction with your long-term transiting uranus. a brilliant flash of insight is likely, or at minimum other people will see you as knowing mysterious and brilliant things, unexpectedly and suddenly.

gemini: this week's full moon occurs across the axis of your self and your relationships with others. if all goes well, it's a nice commitment of sorts from someone you love/admire. if not, it's a declaration of war from an enemy (one you already know about - this has probably been a long time coming.)

cancerians: venus in your sign makes a zesty little sextile with ceres. if you've been trying to have children, start a garden, or get an art or business project off the ground, just a smidge of elbow grease gets it a sparkly head start now, so go for it. there's also a sagittarius full moon, shining on your daily rituals. you reap what you sow, so take care of your body and emotions.

leo: this full moon has the potential to be one of the funnest times of your year. if you can be out with friends, do so. i don't mean like two friends on a game night, i mean be out in the world. if you can't, at least go walk around in the park and see what you can see, or get your hair and nails done or something!

virgo: this week is just a series of great aspects for virgoans. especially if you are trying to sort out a strange partnership, maintain social connections, or focus on studies or spirituality. and if you're not already immersed in any of that, at least try to go spend some time under a tree, in a garden, or having a picnic with a friend.

libra: the air is thin, but be that as it may it's a richly venusian time. you probably don't notice the low oxygen levels over the pastels and sparkles. proceed with just a bit of caution, but not so much you don't enjoy the surreal beauty all around.

scorpio: this watery week is rejuvenating to you, and even the fiery full moon affects you in more energizing ways than it does the other water signs. the focuses are your money and your partnerships. but the money needs to be your own, don't get into any deals that weren't already in the works.

sagittarius: you're not known to be a particularly lunar/sentimental creature but when the full moon is in your sign as it is this week, you become just a little mushier. in a good way, don't be embarrassed about it! your freedom from shame liberates others from shame.

capricorn: it's good to spend this week in some kind of service if possible; help at a hospital, a soup kitchen, a shelter. do so with all the love you can muster, and with no expectations. if you don't have the time or energy, at least make a donation or perform some kind act for a stranger.

aquarius: troubles around house and home lighten up this week, and/or a family of origin conflict may be resolved. then a development in your social circle occurs. it's good to be connecting. if you're feeling aloof, do so from a distance, online or something, but don't keep too much to yourself this week.

pisces: venus trine neptune is a fairly quick transit but you feel it longer than most. your rosey view of the world and romanticization of everything will be annoying to some, but don't let them get you down. the world has seldom needed your power to make miracles of the mundane so much as it does now.

[gemprincess10]

Villainy

-Life Accounts

Pink: So big brother what did grandmother tell you?

Blue: Well... I don't know else to say it, but she just told me that I am a reincarnation of some magical girl that she knew in her younger years. Pink: Wait, the same one grandma said that helped her career choice into super villainy?

Blue: Eyup. Turns out it wasn't hard for Grandma to figure out that I was the magical woman's reincarnation once G'ma saw me slinging magic. Guess it's something similar to how a artist has a particular drawing style.

Pink: How does that make you feel bro?

Blue: Honestly kinda, no, very stoked! This was something I was looking for in my life but couldn't quite nail down before. Me, this super magical boy the whole time! I get to be powerful and pretty at the same time. I am gonna get to do so much and it's gonna be helpful to protect my buddy Jasper.

Pink: Does this mean you outrank Grandma? Blue: Outrank her in terms of what exactly? Pink: I don't know, your previous life mentored her, figure that counts for something.

Blue: I am not sure if it does.

Pink: Can you promise me one thing big brother? Blue: What is it Pink?

Pink: Promise me you that you will keep yourself safe as much as possible? I want you to enjoy your being a magical boy, but I still to be in your life as much as possible before your next cycle. Blue's voice starting to break: Oh... Pink.

Blue Picks up Pink and snuggles her. Blue: I will try to keep that promise sis, luckily my friend, Cere, wants to be my team partner and Enchant is willing to help me understand my powers and figure out stuff. Does that help your concerns?

Pink: It does make me feel a little better. *yawns*

Blue: Sounds you are getting sleepy, want to go to bed? Pink: Yes please.

Blue: Alrighty to dreamland we go!

Blue proceeds to carry Pink down to her bedroom. Pink in a sleepy voice: Blue Blue: Yes?

Pink: Your the recent incarnation of a princess right?

Blue: Yep.

Pink: Does that make me a princess by being your sister? I always wanted to be one. Blue: *Chuckles* yes it very much does make you a princess.

Pink: *yawns* Sweet, I'm a princess, my brother is a Princess and he is gonna look cute while kicking everyone's butts. Blue puts Pink down in her bed and tucks her in. Blue kisses Pink on the forehead.

Blue: Goodnight sis, love you very much.

Pink: Sweet dreams Brother, hope you enjoy fighting and taking names *yawns*

Pink falls asleep.

[boytickler35]

Jedi Fallen Order: Return of the Ticklish Padawan

As Greez pulls his head out of the duct that he’s working in, a strange sound reaches his ears. With a frown he grabs one of his heavier wrenches and moves silently through the ship. Cere is off on a supply run so he and Cal are alone on the Mantis right now, and the kid is supposed to be sleeping.

When he approaches the sleeping quarters though, the sound grows louder and more distinct, coming from Cal’s room. Part of him is tempted to march in and demand to know what the kid is doing cause he’s supposed to be sleeping as in resting. The other part of him though is confused cause the sound is laughter, more freely than he’s ever heard from Cal before. He stands outside for a moment before nudging the door open.

Inside, the red head is laying out on his bed while the little oil leaker pokes and nudges at the kid’s sides emphatically while Cal lays and giggles, occasionally punctuated by a laugh when the droid hits a sensitive spot. Tickling. All of this racket caused by some tickling. He really never would have guessed that Cal, always stoic and somber in true Jedi fashion, would be ticklish. Come to think of it, he doesn’t remember ever hearing the young man’s laugh. Greez decides he likes the sound; it’s sweet, and genuinely happy, and clearly Cal’s enjoying this.

He lingers at the door debating what to do. The kid really should be sleeping after his fight with one of those Inquisitors but-he’s happy.

Finally he clears his throat.

The boy turns a pretty shade of red to match his hair and doesn’t say anything.

“You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Guarded. He doesn’t blame the kid, being hunted for so many years would make anyone tense. It does sting a little, but he pushes that aside and continues the conversation.

“And this helps?”

He sort of gets a shrug, still standoffish and guarded and embarrassed.

“Well if it does, clearly your little buddy isn’t cutting it,” he advances on the bed menacingly, pulling the greasy, oil stained gloves off his hands, all four of them, and cracking his knuckles. He knows that if Cal really doesn’t want this, he’s more than able to stop it so he doesn’t feel bad.

His hands find the socked feet first, one sticking out from under the covers, the other not far from it. It’s easy when he gets close enough to pin both ankles and tickle with his other hands.

Cal yelps and laughs, more of the same happy sound mixed with a plea...or demand he can’t really tell, “GrHEhEhEhZE! SHthahAhAhAhAP!” The kid tugs his ankles back but not hard, not really even trying as far as he can tell.

“Nope, you made your bed, now lay in it.”

The socks are thick, good considering all the cold places he goes running off too, but wow. It’s impressive how ticklish he is with them still on. Greez scratches several nails against both feet and is pretty pleased with the reaction.

“KnOHahAocKIHehEHeheheITohAhoFF!”

He’s less pleased when the kid almost kicks him but hey, hazards of the job.

“Maybe I should move on up?”

Without waiting for an answer he grabs at the kid’s knees finding a new trove of nerves to exploit and continues bringing out the bubbling laughter and a lot of squirms as Cal rolls from side to side trying, maybe, to get away. With one hand he reaches up and pokes the kid’s belly, keeping the other three squeezing his legs. It takes a bit of leaning but he manages it and is rewarded by Cal trying to suck his tummy in as far as it’ll go and still not getting away.

By now the kid’s face is nearly as red as his hair but he’s smiling with glee not just from getting tickled but Greez stops anyway partly to give him a breather and partly cause the disappointed pout that spreads across his face is cute. It makes him look like the kid he is and not some solemn Jedi of the past.

“Done already?”

He almost laughs at the kid’s voice, trying to sound teasing and not disappointed but only partly succeeding, he doesn’t need the Force to know Cal is hoping for more. “I don’t have to be.”

“I mean-you can continue if you want.”

It’s sort of endearing how the kid won’t meet his eyes and he moves up again, now in prime position to attack both sides and both armpits and judging by the look on Cal’s face, he realizes as much.

It might be a little mean of him but he doesn’t give the kid an opportunity to back out and digs in. His fingers are pretty strong from years of working with picky, delicate machines and when he starts kneading the boy’s sides, the response is electric, thrashing and laughing wildly. Working Cal up is easy enough but he decides to wait until he’s got the kid good and squirming before getting into his armpits at the same time and that’s when he gets some real belly laughs.

“This what you were looking for kid?”

“GREhAheAHehAHss!”

“That’s my name.”

The best part about this is he can go as far as he wants, Cal is more than capable of stopping him if it gets too much.

He continues to drill the kid’s armpits and knead his sides, and occasionally when he feels like really getting him, he goes for the belly button. All told he works the kid over pretty hard.

“STAhAhAhAP!”

“Aww, what’s wrong I thought you liked this.”

He does though and gets a few more giggles that mingle with hiccups.

“Tired out yet?”

A surprisingly cocky smirk, “Not even close, old man.”

He huffs, feigning annoyance, “Bold words from a ticklish little pup. Let’s see how you handle it when I do this~”

In a smooth motion he strips both socks off. “Still feeling confident kid?”

“Maybe a little less?”

He lets out a chuckle and digs into the now bare feet and Cal’s laughter quickly overtakes his own. He wasn’t wrong when he thought the socks must be protecting some really ticklish feet because Cal lifts things with the Force several times involuntarily while getting tickled. It isn’t hard to see why either, despite the last ten or so years on the run, the feet are soft and sensitive.

Kid's lucky he’s a merciful man and doesn’t just focus on the toes because it’s obvious pretty quick those are his worst spots. The pad of each one is like a thermal detonator waiting to go off and he flicks at them here and there but not too often, only when he thinks Cal is getting used to the tickling. Other than them the rest of the kid’s feet are fair game, he scratches at Cal’s heels and the balls of his feet and pokes at the arches, earning a steady stream of laughter and squirming but never pulling away.

Cal isn’t even smart enough to keep his mouth shut and provokes him to new heights and he finds he really has no problem dishing out as much tickling as he can, moving up and down the kid’s body from his feet to his neck. In fact it isn’t until Cal yawns during his revisit to the terrible ticklish toe pads, one so powerful it overtakes his laughter and causes Greez to stop. He glances at the boy and Cal looks...probably tired enough to hibernate. Letting go of the kid’s feet he rubs a hand over the back of his neck and says awkwardly, “Sorry about that kid I guess I got carried away.”

He gets a hoarse chuckle, “You could say that.”

He hesitantly reaches out and smooths some of the silky reddish hair. He decides not to comment when Cal leans against his hand ever so slightly. “Well I’ll just see myself out, you’d better actually sleep now.”

The grin lingers, “I don’t think I'll have a problem with that thanks to you.”

He nods approvingly and goes to leave, but as he does Cal speaks again.

“Hey Greez?”

“Yeah?” He half turns to face the kid who’s now laying back, propped up on his elbows with an expression half thoughtful and half shy.

“You’re not as mean as you look.”

He reaches out and tweaks the kid’s big toe and replies, “You’re not as tough as you look kid, now I’m serious, go to bed or the metal monster and I will pin you down and make you.”

BD gives a pleased sound beep but hops over to Cal and snuggles up against his chest. Cal lays down fully and with a sigh Greez fixes the blanket over them. Gentle snores fill the room as he’s closing the door. He didn’t expect the kid to be so ticklish, much less get so much enjoyment out of it. It-well it’s kind of cute actually the way he let down his guards and looked like a blasted kid for a bit. He could get used to the Mantis being filled with that laughter too. It might be nice.

[dominimoonbeam]

Bite to Bruise - 30

This work is mine and I do not give consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted without my permission. I am sharing chapters as I work on this story but it is copyrighted material that I plan to rework and publish when completed.

story tags: modern-fantasy mashup, werewolves, witches, monsters, romance, learning to trust, hurt/comfort, blood, violence, explicit sex, explicit language

The earlier parts can be found under the tag or over on patreon. <3

BITE TO BRUISE - CHAPTER 30

Bellamy had told herself she’d never go back to Ceres, not after spilling her blood in her apartment that night she saved Oscar from the iron curse.

She hadn’t stepped across the portal she’d held for Ever and his pack the night they took Kai’s territory in the city and told herself that that counted as steering clear—that she wasn’t compromising her own safety for them.

She was a liar, of course.

She’d been compromising her safety when she took Piper’s form and let herself get kidnapped by shades.

She’d been compromising her safety when she returned to that pack, trusting that they wouldn’t rip her to pieces and still trusting that none of them would put two and two together and sell her back to Baron.

And now, here she was, on the Ceres side of her new doorway to ground the anchor on this side.

She was back in the city she’d told herself she’d told herself she’d never step foot in again. And she had a list of reasons why it was suddenly okay.

Surely anyone on her trail would think she’d left town. No one would think she would be stupid enough to go back. And even if they did come looking for her in Ceres, she would be gone in a few hours.

The doorway flickered between this one, leading from the warehouse office into a coat closet, to Sunny’s childhood bedroom in Ever’s house.

Ever had followed her over, adding to that sense of safety she wasn’t sure she should be relying so heavily on. She knew he would protect her as long as he could, but she had Baron out there looking for her and he had Florian Blackwell pushing at his territory lines.

Sense told her to run, for herself and for him.

Ever might be able to take on Blackwell and win, but Blackwell and Baron?

And what about her? She’d spent her whole life honing her skills to escape, not fight.

She scratched a black nail against the doorframe, leaving no mark that could be seen.

-

Sunny leaned against another door, watching her work over his brother’s shoulder.

He couldn’t tell what she was doing, but whatever it was, it seemed to be stabilizing that connection between the two places, the flickering image in the doorway steadily holding longer and longer as his room in the valley rather than the dark closet.

He wrinkled his nose, fighting the urge to sneeze at the thick, irritating scent of magic. How did Ever put up with it?

He rolled his shoulders and stepped away.

The streets outside were snow laden and bright. Leigh and Oakley were jogging trails on the streets, keeping guard as their witch worked. The goal was not to let anyone else realize she was there or had ever been there. They’d portaled directly into the warehouse, just like last time.

There was a hum of fear and alarm in the streets as the residents realized the wolves were back. It had been a quiet storm with no pack in this stretch of the city for long weeks.

Sunny walked on two legs up the street. He had already noticed damage that hadn’t been done during their take of the territory. Downed street signs, broken windows, and graffiti.

It had been a sort of punishment to leave the territory unguarded for the start of winter, but he was surprised how much those acts of vandalism bothered him. It was his territory and he had left it to decay. The mess was his now.

Already he knew he wouldn’t be leaving when the witch was done with her door.

He couldn’t leave this part of Ceres unprotected anymore.

A howl sounded blocks away, toward the heart of the city and the streets where his territory butted up against Royal’s.

Sunny shifted to close the distance and then shifted back when he reached Leigh, boots kicking snow and hands in his pockets when he stepped off the sidewalk to meet the other alpha at that invisible border.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come back,” Royal said, something curious in his voice. He hadn’t realized they were coming this time, just like he hadn’t realized last time.

Sunny smiled easily. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Royal was a big man, somehow befitting of his name. Sunny wasn’t sure if he fit his name or if it would even be flattering if he did. “It’s a lot of territory,” Royal said, more concern than threat in his voice.

Leigh growled lowly but Sunny didn’t bat an eye. He looked around, as if considering the size of this new piece of Hayes territory. “The valley is bigger,” he countered, even though that was only true in size, not number of residents.

“So, you’ll be the one holding these streets?” Royal clarified, somehow managing not to say “kid” even though they both heard it like an echo of all their past conversations.

Sunny grinned. “Looks like it. I guess that makes us neighbors.”

The other alpha nodded slowly, looking Sunny over as casually as possible. When it became obvious they were not going to present Royal with Ever, he nodded again and looked around at the stretch of Hayes streets he could see from his side of that felt but not seen line. “I’m not your enemy,” the other man said clearly. “If you need help, or you want to talk about this, I’m here.”

Sunny wondered for the first real time in his life if he trusted Royal. He’d never really had to think about who he did and did not trust before. He had trusted Ever and that was all he’d needed. Was that how Leigh and Oakley would feel about him? Would they any other wolf he took to his territory just trust him and let that be enough?

The weight of that was new but not unwelcome. He thought he could bear it.

Royal huffed and took a step back before turning, shifting into a fenrir and stalking down his streets with ease, no fear at showing Sunny his back.

Sunny liked that because he didn’t want Royal to fear him. He hoped to trust him.

-

Bellamy got the anchor finished in a matter of hours. It wasn’t what she’d call a rushed job. It had been done right, she had just done it as quickly as she could to get back out of Ceres.

It ended up not mattering because when she returned to the house ahead of Ever, rubbing the headache through her temple and stomping down the hall toward the kitchen, she felt something off changed in the valley.

It was infinitesimal, but like a tiny thorn caught in the fibers of a clothes, scraping at her skin.

She forgot her search for a drink of water and walked instead to the back door, pushing it open. The snow had stopped falling and Ever had shoveled the walkways. There were deep tracks in the valley from fenrir bodies.

She took another step out, collecting snow on her boots and staring at the woods. It was the direction of her meadow and her home. Another step and she saw the figure stepping out of the trees to mirror her from afar.

The sun was low and the sky smeared in vivid purples and pinks.

Oscar met her gaze even at that distance and Bellamy felt a cold that had nothing to do with the snow.

He was a finder of lost things, just like her. Only that wasn’t true. Oscar really was a seeker, where she had been a seeker and a liar, hiding in plain sight.

Bellamy took another step toward him, her breath shaking out of her.

He knew where she was.

He knew.

And if he knew…

Another figure stepped out of the woods and at first she was confused, because why would one of the pack so casually walk past this stranger?

Bellamy shook her head as the fenrir was joined by a second, both loping through the snow toward her. She didn’t recognize them because she had never seen them before.

A howl ripped through the valley from the other side, from one of the houses as they realized there were rogues on their territory.