#nauseous to know so surely that so many people are okay with what these candidates represent

[oh-a-very-toxic-octopus]

The way results day dread has become such a familiar feeling

[erectionsandtea]

Poly party summer fun headcanons, part 2 ! 😀 (this got way too long so I’m posting it as it is, and if I get more ideas, or if you guys want to send me anything 😉, I’ll either reblog this post or make a new one.) Enjoy!

(part 1 can be found here)

Amusement park: (these are based on amusement parks I have been to since they're all I know, lol)

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER

- they go early so they can do everything (twice) but they also stay until it gets dark bc El wants to see all the lights

- one of her favorite rides is the big ship that swings back and forth because it feels like flying

- Max, Lucas, and Dustin take El on her first roller coaster ride, and it's super scary but she also loves it (Robin and Nancy go, too)

Lucas and Dustin scream like little girls on the roller coaster and become the butt of many jokes about it (most of them from Max)

Max and Lucas would totally try to kiss for the roller coaster camera (idk why okay, stop me) but the photo would look absolutely ridiculous and Max’s hair is fuckin EvERYWHERE

El uses some of her money to buy a copy of the photo (she buys a copy of their photo from every ride, it's a lot of money, but the others help her out with it), and when she gets home, Will helps her make a collage of all the photos that she puts up in her room

- El also wants caricatures, but they don't have enough money for everyone (so she just gets one of herself). Will watches the artist, who gives him tips on how to do it so he can draw some for El later (and he totes does bc good brother vibes)

- they do the ferris wheel last bc it is super romantic (even more so at night), and everyone wants to go with everyone else. Max wants to go up every time someone else does bc she wants to try to spy on them, lol

Groups, in order from side to other side (sitting, not riding order):

for her very first time: Max/El/Mike (her two bffs, aka her bf and gf)

Mike/Will

Max/Lucas

Dustin/Suzie

El/Max/Lucas

El/Mike/Will

El/Mike

El/Max

the guy running the ferris wheel is just like “you kids again???” bc they keep just getting off the ride and going straight to the back of the line to go up again, but eventually they have to stop bc the park is literally about to close and they’ll be kicked out

- there's also a haunted house ride and El absolutely has to ride with Mike bc when she is scared or feels like she's in danger, he's always been the best at making her feel okay again. She clings to him throughout the ride, but ends up laughing at how cheesy not-scary most of the effects are.

- as exhilarating as the drop rides are, El doesn’t like going on them too much but she can do it like, once. maybe twice.

- Lucas and Max, and Dustin and Will, like that ride that’s like the ferris wheel except you’re in a cage and you can manipulate the cage (by spinning it and stuff) to take you upside down. Dustin and Max do it too much, like to an extreme, and Will and Lucas are like “stop, the world is literally spinning” and they’re very disoriented when they get off

- there’s a rapids ride, and since the rafts are big enough to hold 8 people, the whole party is able to go together in one, and then the teens can go together in another one. they totally get sprayed by bystanders. 

- there's a shooting game (like where you go through a tunnel on a track, and targets pop up and you shoot them)

Lucas is the best and El rides with him bc the best should introduce the newbie, and she has so much fun, it's nothing like the guns she's experienced in her previous (lab) life.

Max and Dustin fight really hard to be second best.

Mike and Will go together and compared to the others, they suck, but that's okay they have fun anyway, and they joke about their own terribleness.

- Dustin buys those deep-fried snacks (you know the ones I mean) and he is literally the only person in the group that likes them (okay, not true, Robin can handle them, too)

El, against the advice of the others, wants to try those snacks bc she’s never heard of anything like that before, and the first time she takes a bite, her face goes through a range of like 10 emotions bc she’s being assaulted by flavors-

but after she manages to swallow it, she’s like “wow, that was amazing” and the others are like “...you serious??”

Mike is just like “that is disgusting and I’m not kissing you after that lol” and El is just like “but...why?” (he totes does tho, he doesn’t give a f, he’s kissing his gf bc he just can’t resist the cuteness)

Nancy, even though she doesn’t necessarily like it, can totally handle taking a bite and finishing it (like that beer from season 1) and Robin is like “that’s impressive, band geek” and Nancy’s just like “I’m not in band” (idk lol)

- El wanting to try EVERY food but the others have to cut her off bc it’s so expensive and she will get so sick

- Mike being a good bf and holding souvenirs bought by his bf and gf (Will totally buying a sweet little something for his awesome mom) (El totally doing the same thing to remind herself of Hopper, but she keeps it in her room instead)

- Lucas also being a good bf for the same reason but complaining about it, lol

- everyone goes on the log ride (you might know it as the flume) bc there isn’t a person on earth who doesn’t like that ride, and even tho she knows about the impending splash, El is still super surprised when it happens

Groups, in order (front to back):

El, Mike, Max, and Lucas (Max is explaining to El over Mike’s shoulder that “you absolutely HAVE TO be in the front, it’s the best way”)

Suzie, Dustin, Steve, and Robin (irrelevant but don’t tell me Robin sits in front of Steve, there’s no fuckin way, she’s not his gf, also Steve and Dustin just have to sit together bruh)

Will, Dustin (bc obvsly he goes on again), Nancy, and Jonathan

Mike has his arms around El like he thinks he’s going to protect her from the huge spray of water (but his skinny arms won’t protect shit lol) and he somehow manages to make a decent photo come out of him kissing her cheek while she is simultaneously screaming (good screaming)

- everyone loves the bumper cars (Jonathan and Suzie hang back tho, to hold everyone’s stuff and cheer from the side)

Max, as the only one (sans teens) who has actually driven a car before, rides with El so she can teach her how to do it

her and Lucas (with his passenger Will) are automatically in competition with one another (”you’re going down!” “no, YOU’RE going down!”)

Robin, riding by herself, goes after Steve and driver Nancy (who’s surprisingly good at this)

and Dustin (passenger Mike) gangs up with Robin to take on Steve and Nancy, which makes Nancy even more determined now to destroy both of them

Steve’s a little afraid of Nancy when she’s like this, lol

eventually Dustin and Robin are like “okay okay, we’ll stop! jesuschrist, how did you get so good at this??” (but also they are just in total awe of Nancy) and they just go after each other instead

- El doesn’t like spinning rides (too dizzy and they totally make her tummy “feel weird, like there’s a storm in it” “uh oh, you’re nauseous, El” “naw-shus?” “yeah, like sick, here, sit down for a minute”), but Will loves them and he’s there for her

- the sky ride (the one that takes you from end of the park to the other), groups:

Mike and Will on one side, Max and El on the other (the seats are basically little cabins, seats for 4 people)

Lucas and Dustin on one side, Jonathan and Steve on the other

Robin on one side (she totally takes up the whole double space, putting her leg up), Nancy and Suzie on the other

- carousel ride! (during the day)

El wants the prettiest horse

Max gets the most badass thing which is like...a wolf??

Lucas and Dustin ride only bc there’s a game where you can try to throw rings into a hole while going around (they each get one in by pure luck but otherwise suck). they don’t really care what animals they get, they just need ones that move up and down. Dustin gets a cat with a fish in his mouth, and Lucas ends up just picking a rabbit before everything is taken and he doesn’t have a choice anymore. The others fuckin laugh at the image of Lucas riding a rabbit

Suzie gets another horse

Will gets a lion which doesn’t move up and down but he’s okay with that, he’s kinda just going bc everyone else is

Mike gets stuck with a horse bc he was at the back of the group and by the time he gets there, every other non-horse animal is taken (but they joke about how he should have gotten the non-moving giraffe, taken by Steve, bc it’s so tall and gangly like him lol)

Nancy gets a horse

Robin takes the wild boar bc “dude that is the most badass animal on a carousel I have ever seen!”

Jonathan stays behind, no matter how much the others beg, but he takes lots of really good pictures (including the one time Dustin gets the ring in the hole and then cheering, then also him and Lucas high-fiving, and the various couples exchanging really cute looks, and El having the best time ever bc she’s never been on one of these before)

they go on the carousel one more time near the end of the night and this time Jonathan gives in and rides with them, but he sits in one of the benches that’s just there for the parents), and he still takes pictures as best he can without getting up and moving

- photo booth photos! (I’ll leave the silly face ones up to your imagination)

El and Max (one super close hug with faces pressed together, one kiss, one silly faces, and one smiles)

Will and Mike, but Max and El totally burst in for like, the last 1.5 pictures, it doesn’t ruin them tho, Mike and Will just ignore them (one nice smiles bc they’re like “what do we do??”, one hug, one kiss being interrupted by the girls in the background, one candid laughing while the girls wave at the camera)

Will and Mike again (one candid of Mike holding the curtain shut to make sure no interruptions and Will laughing, one kiss (non-interrupted), one silly faces, one just being super cute and close together and leaning on each other)

Max and Lucas (one smiles, one kiss, one of her pretending to look tough by putting him in a headlock or putting a fist next to his face like a punch, one that was supposed to be funny faces but instead is her looking off to the side where Mike has opened the curtain and stuck his head (with his tongue out) in as revenge and Lucas with that look of “dude, really??” on his face)

Dustin and Suzie (one kiss, one smiles, one nose-to-nose, one super close together leaning on each other cute)

Mike and El (one smiles, one kiss, one of him like surprise-trying to pull her into his lap kind of thing idk and her just looking super surprised but happy but also Max is in the background ruining YET ANOTHER picture, and one candid of them giggling about the previous picture with their foreheads pressed together almost nose-to-nose)

Mike and El again bc she wants non-interrupted photos (one with her actually sitting in his lap this time (she did this beforehand so he wouldn’t scare her again with the surprise-pulling thing), one of them pretending to look all hoity-toity like super models, one with her arms around his neck and his arms around her waist and they’re all close and cute sort of candid, and one just like the last one except they’re looking at the camera and smiling)

Will and Mike and El (one with Mike in the middle while his gf and bf give him a kiss on each cheek, one with El hanging over Mike’s shoulders in sort of a half-piggyback and he and Will are laughing, one with Mike and Will kissing while El makes a funny face at the camera, one of them all making funny faces at the camera)

Max and El and Mike (one with El in the middle, Max’s arms are around her waist almost dipping her backwards, her legs are up in the air (as far up as they can go in the tiny booth) and her head is tilting back onto Mike’s shoulder with his arms around her shoulders and he’s pressing a kiss to her hair, one with El kissing Mike’s cheek while he and Max make funny faces, one with Max behind them and her arms over both of their shoulders pulling them all close and their faces squished together with this super big cheesy grin while Mike is laughing at El’s funny face, one with Mike and El kissing and Max sitting next to them making the 👌🏻 symbol and winking at the camera, bc she just has to get sassy)

Bonus, more teens:

- Robin takes Steve on all the crazy rides (aka drags him, makes him go, etc.) They both get a little sick, but for her it's totally worth it (for him...not so much)

- Dustin and Robin get along hella bc he joins them on the crazy rides and is just @steve like “what are you, a pussy?”

- Nancy has to remind Jonathan that the kids will be FINE, and they don't need to hover around them all evening, "let's go enjoy ourselves"

- Nancy likes roller coasters, CHAnGE mY MInD

- Steve and Robin totally scream when they go on the drop ride together, except Robin’s scream is more “holy shit, exhilarating and so exciting! whooooo!” while Steve’s is more “this is fun but also I’m totally gonna die!!”

- Steve is a boss at those games where you have to throw something at/into/onto a target and he wins a stuffed animal

- Robin is p decent at those games too, but she’s not a match for the king (she comes close though, they actually turn it into a competition to see who can win more stuff)

- Nancy kicks butt at that game where you shoot a spray of water and make the target thing rise to the top or race or whatever (any shooting game, really), you know what I mean (Jonathan fucking fails, sorry Jonathan)

- Steve totally wins that game where you swing a mallet and try to ring the bell. Robin doesn’t win but she gets way closer than they thought she would and Steve’s “wtf”. Dustin is also stronger than he looks, and even tho he doesn't win, he can at least lift the (smaller) mallet, which is more than any of the others can do.

- Robin HAS to do that game where you try to climb the flat, almost horizontal rope ladder to the end and she doesn’t even make it halfway before she falls, but it’s hilarious

- Nancy also tries that game after some goading from the others, and she makes it farther than Robin (about halfway) but still fails fantastically. And then she takes a bow.

[wakatvshi]

could you do a really long and sad angsty one shot with colt where the reader dies and we just see him sobbing holding her in his arms after? i love angst lol

request: could you do a really long and sad angsty one shot with colt where the reader dies and we just see him sobbing holding her in his arms after? i love angst lol

warnings: MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH (reader). gore, obviously season 4 spoilers.

word count: 1951

authors note: so i’ve never really written major character death before so I hope this is good and if it’s not please feel free to tell me! also I don’t know if someone can survive like they do in my fic but... it’s fanfiction and I’m not a doctor. But please tell me what you think about this! Sorry if it’s not exactly “long’ 

taglist for this fic: @sashaisangel​

Colt covered his ears when another explosion shook the ground, he had to ignore the sounds of the screaming people around him. He needed to find Gabi and Falco. He’d already lost two of the kids, Udo and Zofia. He’d failed them. They died and he wasn’t able to do anything, if he’d been faster maybe he could have gotten to Udo, if he’d been one of the actual warriors he could have made him listen. If he was stronger he’d have been able to make Gabi stay with him. All four of them were gone or missing and Colt had been the one who was left with them. He was supposed to protect them. Porco would be the next War Cheif and Colt would be his second. How was he supposed to be worthy enough to inherit the Beast Titan if he couldn’t even keep those kids safe?

But he couldn’t focus on those things, not right now. He had to find Falco and Gabi. He needed to keep them safe, he had to try at least. He’d never forgive himself if he didn’t try to look for them and if he couldn’t find Falco his parents would never forgive him either. But where was he even supposed to look? He’d not seen Falco sine he went off with Reiner and Gabi… maybe she went back towards where Eren Yeager was fighting. And then Y/N. 

“Shit.” Colt swore under his breath when he realized he’d not even thought about you. He’d been so caught up in thinking about the kids that he’d not even thought about you. You’d prefer that though, you were probably helping people right now too. The two of you were supposed to meet after the announcement by Willy Tybur and now… now this was happening. Liberio was falling apart in front of his eyes. If there was one thing he knew about you it was that you’d never let anyone be hurt if you could help it. 

That was why he had to find Falco and Gabi first. You were smart, you could get yourself out of situations and knew what to do. Even if Falco and Gabi were warrior candidates they were still kids. Stubborn and strong but kids. There was no way he was going to leave them alone. It wasn’t possible for him to do that. He would do anything to save those kids, he had to. 

Quickly he walked away from the hospital, the sounds of crying and screaming following him as he forced his way through the crowds of people. He’d find Gabi and Falco and then his way to you. He’d make sure that everyone he cared about was safe. If he could do that then he’d be less of a failure. There were three people who he could still save and that was what he’d have to do. No it was what he had to do. 

He had to go through different streets on his way back towards the now battlefield his home had been turned into. Every time he passed another broken building he felt himself grow nauseous. How many people had died tonight? How many innocent people died, how many children were dead? There were already the bodies of two children on his own hands. No matter what anyone might say to him he  would never be able to believe it was anything other than his fault. If he’d been quicker, stronger? They could still be alive. 

Shaking his head Colt pushed himself forward, he couldn’t think about that. Later he’d mourn Zofia and Udo. Right now he had to focus on finding his brother and Gabi. He’d seen the direction Gabi had ran off in, Falco had been with Reiner and that was the only thing that was keeping him from totally losing his mind. Colt knew that Reiner would do anything to keep Falco safe. Which was why he had to do the same for Gabi. 

“Colt!” He heard his name and almost kept running, he couldn’t stop for them. He had to find the kids. He couldn’t stop to help everyone who called his name. Maybe it was selfish of him, he couldn’t help it though. Falco was his brother. They would just have to understand. “Colt please!” Coming to a halt he stared at the street in front of him. Just move. Just move and ignore them. They didn’t need him, Falco needed him. Gabi needed him. These people could help themselves. Right? 

No. No they couldn’t and he knew that. These were civilians and he couldn’t leave them helpless like this. If he did that he couldn’t call himself a soldier. He wouldn’t be fit to inherit anything if abandoned civilians when they needed him. Covering his face Colt wiped his face, his hand coming back wet. When did he start crying? Wiping away the rest of the tears he turned back towards the two people who’d been calling out to him. 

There was rubble all over the place, he could see blood on the rocks and people desperately trying to move the rocks away. The sight put the fresh memory of Zofia right back in front of his mind. He couldn’t save her but maybe he could save someone else. Maybe he could do something right tonight. Reiner was with Falco. Gabi ran back to where Commander Magath was. He had to tell himself they were safe, at least for now. Put that aside for the moment, put his duty as a soldier before his duty as a brother. 

“Mrs. Weber.” Colt was out of breath when he finally got to the small crowd of people, he’d been running since he left the hospital and this was the first time he’d stopped since then. “How can I help?” Looking towards the rubble again he felt his heart stop. “Y/N?” Your name left his lips as he stared down at you. At your blood covered face and eyes filled with tears as you laid on the ground under the rubble.

This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t. He’d wake up in his bed and this would be a nightmare and none of this would be real. Falco would run in his room and wake him up any second now. He just had to wait for it. He’d be awake in just a second. He’d wake up and none of this would be real. This was just a nightmare. It had to be. 

He saw you open your mouth to speak but quickly shook his head, “No. No don’t say anything.” Pushing on the rubble he tried to move it but it wouldn’t budge. “Help me move this!” He cried out at the people who were now just standing there. They’d called him over to help and now they weren’t helping. “We have to move this off of her!” He was frantic now, pushing at the rock he felt his hands scrape against the jagged edge of the destroyed building. “Just… you’ll be okay. I promise.” Colt wasn’t sure if he was trying to make you believe it or himself. He just had to keep pushing. 

When another pair of hands joined his he pushed again, harder, putting all of his weight into it but it still didn’t move. “Come on!” He kept pushing, trying to get it off of you. Tears were now streaming down his face and blood stains covered the rock where his hands had been, still he pushed. He had to. He’d get this off of you and he’d be able to take you to the hospital. He had to. 

Feeling something on his leg he looked down to see your hand weakly holding onto his pant leg. “Colt.” When you spoke more blood came from your mouth, a short cough shaking your body. 

“I said not to talk! You need to save your strength okay? Just focus on—” A sob tore through your throat, cutting him off. “Please just try not to move.” Colt’s voice was shaking and his eyes were blurry with tears but he wasn’t giving up on you. 

Your hand on his pants tugged again, this time harder. “It’s okay.” You were smiling at him, the same soft smile you’d had when he first told you he loved you. Colt shook his head again trying to stop you but you spoke first. “Just… hold me. Please.” The words were broken, coming out between coughs and blood but you were still looking at him like he hung the stars. 

Falling to his knees next to you he moved his hand to your cheek, you were so cold. “We can get you help. I know we can.” The tears were falling freely now, he couldn’t stop them if he tried. As much as he wanted to be strong for you he couldn’t stop the tears. “You just have to hold on.” 

Moving your hand up to his you laced your fingers together, a sob shaking his body when your hand went limp against his. “I’ll hold onto you.” Your voice was quiet, and the coughing had stopped. He couldn’t tell if more blood was coming from your mouth or if it was just the blood that was already there. “You’ll keep me warm.” 

“Of course I will.” He didn’t want to admit how much his voice was shaking as he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against yours. “I told you I’d always be there for you. As soon as I’m an honorary Marleyan we’ll get married. We’ll have a good wedding too. Not one of the ones they throw together in the internment zone. I’ll get the beast titan and then people will respect us. I’ll make a good life for both of us.” As the words left his lips he wasn’t sure he believed them anymore. Everything under your chest was crushed and your face was turning a sickly white. 

You nodded at his words, “Yeah. Yeah I want that. I’ll be Mrs. Colt Grice.” leaning back Colt nodded, neither of you had ever mentioned marriage before. But right now… right now he’d say anything to keep you hanging on. Your eyes went from his face to the sky, the stars still shining despite the hell happening under them. The soft smile slowly slid off your face and with a new-found strength you held onto his hand. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Your voice was so quiet now. If he wasn’t so close to you he wouldn’t have heard it. A small whimper left you and he grabbed your face gently, making you look at him. “I’m scared Colt.” 

He heard a sob behind him but he ignored it. Pressing a kiss to your bloody cheek he smiled at you. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be scared. I’m right here, there’s nothing to be scared of when I’m here.” He felt you nod, “You just focus on me okay? Just listen to my voice and you’ll be fine.” Colt squeezed your hand and pressed another kiss to your cold cheek. “I love you. You know that right?” You didn’t say anything. “Y/N I love you.” He said it again. “I love you.” His hands shook as he waited for you to say something. Anything. He couldn’t pull away, he couldn’t. He couldn’t face what he knew. He wasn’t strong enough. 

“Son….” A large hand was on his shoulder but he pushed it away, sobs wracking his body. He knew what he was going to say and he couldn’t let them. He didn’t want to hear it. 

“I love you.” He said again, his lips pressed into your hair. “I love you.”

[oss-crime]

Chapter 2-Project “Ma” –Eve–; Scene 6

Original Sin Story: Crime, pages 56-69

One of the cities that made up the Twelve Royal Capitals was the city of Asmouse.

This town, managed by senate member Ceci Vaju, was the place where the historical backing of the Twelve Royal Capitals was most pronounced.

The people who had once began the excavation of the god’s legacy in this area—Senator Vaju was a descendant of theirs, and he was also a very passionate researcher of artifacts.

Fumbling for a way to more effectively utilize these artifacts, Senator Vaju founded the Royal Research Institute in Asmouse with permission from the previous queen. He entrusted the position of first director to a friend who shared his passion, Horus Solntse.

As their initial goal implied, the Royal Research Institute’s research wound up contributing greatly to the development of Leviantan engineering, weaponry, and living wares. The artifacts could be made to work with magical power, but Horus and the other researchers progressively discovered more effective operating procedures, and brought yet more glory to the Magic Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Senator Vaju and Horus also used the institute to pursue a different avenue of research.

That was “to deliberately create people who have strong magical abilities”. In other words, it was to make a candidate for the next queen be born under the domain of Senator Vaju, and was also necessary research for him to obtain the position of the next senate head.

But that research had proved to be much rougher going than anticipated, and Horus had passed away from illness before they could achieve any results.

Horus had an adopted son named Adam, and he was, too, a skilled scientist. For that reason he was hired on by Senator Vaju as the new head of the institute, and he also inherited their research—the “Next Queen Project”.

--That “Next Queen Project” had now changed its name to “Project Ma”, and was proceeding under the supervision of Head Senator Miroku.

.

…Most of that was inconsequential to Eve.

The important thing was the fact that Eve was, at present, the strongest candidate they had for “Ma”.

Not having much interest in science herself, Eve could only conclude that the Royal Research Institute was a cold, unappealing place.

“Wish I could have had a more comfortable chair.”

Adam gave a slightly troubled smile at Eve’s complaint, handing her a cup with a liquid in it.

“We’ll give that a fix the next time we’re making a device to test magical ability. But for right now this is all we’ve got…Well, anyway, give this is a drink if you like.”

“…What’s this?”

“It’s a drink called coffee. It’s not spread much outside the capital, so it’s understandable if you’ve never heard of it.”

With Eve’s mood souring more under the impression that she was being made fun of as a country hick, she brought the brown liquid to her lips.

“—It smells good. But it’s a little bitter.”

“It’s got a lot of milk and sugar in it. Drinking it should help you calm down a bit.”

“I think I’d be a lot calmer if I could get these wires off my arms and legs.”

“We need them to get an accurate reading of your magic. …It’ll take a little bit of time, so please try to be patient.”

The measuring device they’d used in the village of Nemu was a simpler, portable model.

Though, it wasn’t the fault of that device that they hadn’t gotten an accurate result back then.

“That spoon…is also extremely curious to me, as a scientist,” Adam said, brandishing the blue spoon that Eve used instead of a staff.

“At a glance it looks like a normal, bland item….But it can increase or decrease the magical ability of its owner at will. In other words it can amplify magic and also temporarily put a seal on it—”

“My mother gave it to me.”

“Did she make it?”

“I don’t know. I never learned that.”

“This might also be a legacy piece…Well, we’ll deal with that later.”

Adam set the spoon on a nearby table, and then drew closer to a large box that was next to the chair Eve was sitting in.

“Well, let’s get started.”

He pushed up a lever that was attached to the box.

Suddenly feeling slightly dizzy, Eve fell back a bit in the chair.

“I’m…a bit nauseous.”

“It’ll go away. We have to check to see if that powerful spell you used in the forest…was because of the spoon, or your own magical ability.”

“How…long will it take?”

“Hmm…About an hour, I think.”

“That long!?”

“It’s not like you have to keep perfectly still the whole time. Though you can’t leave the chair. You can drink coffee, or if you’re hungry I can bring you something to eat.”

“Then—” After looking up at the ceiling for a moment, Eve continued, “Can I talk?”

“With me? …Of course, I don’t mind.”

“Then…I want you to tell me something.”

“What is it?”

“About the ‘Witch of Merrigod’.”

Adam’s expression stiffened. “Why would you want to—”

“She’s the one who murdered the father who raised me. Isn’t it only natural that I would want to know about her?”

“What will you do with this information?”

“…Not sure.”

Eve herself didn’t know the answer to that question.

But—

“I can’t just go on not knowing.”

“…”

“Assuming I’ll become queen someday, I mean.”

“…I see. Yes, perhaps…so.” After gazing fixedly at Eve’s face, Adam steeled himself and then started to talk. “The ‘Witch of Merrigod’—Meta Salmhofer was originally an ‘Ma’ candidate.”

“You told me that earlier. But you said she was discarded for being cruel?”

“Yes. If you go southeast of the capital—far, far further east than the village of Nemu where you live, there is a place called Merrigod Plateau. That area is a dangerous region, used as a stronghold by a certain group.”

“…You mean the ‘red devotees’?”

“No, to be accurate those are little more than a single unit of this group. The name for them as a whole—is ‘Apocalypse’. There are some people who say they’re a simple crew of bandits, and there are others who caution that they’re an anti-social organization that seeks to overthrow the kingdom.”

According to Adam, not even the royal capital’s information bureau knew the true situation.

“What we do know is that the leader of Apocalypse is named ‘Pale Noel’. And that he and Meta are lovers.”

“Pale Noel…”

“His age, his appearance…all of it is unknown. Actually, we don’t even know if he’s really a man. Whatever the case, she’s this person’s girlfriend. We needed to exercise extreme caution even to go see them.”

At the time, Adam, Seth, and a few other researchers had gone to Merrigod Plateau with a peacekeeping force led by Gammon following along.

“But…that was a mistake.”

Adam heaved a great sigh.

“We just ended up provoking them. As a result…a small war broke out on Merrigod Plateau. Though that wasn’t what we scientists had intended at all.”

“But that wasn’t the case with the peacekeeping force and Apocalypse…Right?”

“Indeed. Gammon is always looking for glory. It’s like he’s a big bundle of ambition. Even more so after he became the head of the peacekeeping forces. He likely figured he could use his position as bodyguard to crush Apocalypse.”

But his plan ended in failure.

“Meta is an ‘Inheritor of Gilles’. She controlled the soldiers of the peacekeeping force with her power, and they all started firing at each other. Even us researchers, who they were supposed to be guarding, got caught up in it….We had heavy losses. That’s why the institute is still completely understaffed.”

Eve had come along to the institute with Adam, but now that he mentioned it she realized that she hadn’t seen anyone else up to coming to this room.

“How…many scientists survived?”

Adam spread his arms in a grandiose gesture and replied, “Don’t be surprised. Just me and Seth! Though this facility wasn’t very heavily staffed to begin with.”

“I see…How awful.”

Eve had the home where she’d lived destroyed by Meta.

But Adam too had had his friends murdered.

“Yes…Some of them I got along with quite well, and some I frankly didn’t much care for. But none of them deserved to die like that.”

On seeing Adam’s bitter expression, Eve was reminded of her own grief.

“Hey…Just what is an ‘Inheritor of Gilles’ exactly?” she asked, trying to change the mood.

“R-right…An ‘inheritor’ is, well…To put it simply, it’s someone with ‘supernatural powers’.”

“’Supernatural powers’? Unlike magic?”

“In this country there are people who possess ‘special powers’ different from magical power. For example…the white army. We know from our reports that clan has the power of ‘Inheritors of Salem’, able to wield fire.”

“I see…So that was it.”

Eve had always thought that the white army’s usage of fire was through magic, but it appeared this wasn’t the case.

“Among the white army there are people who are magically impotent—that is, they were born without any ability to use magic at all. And yet despite that they are able to use their fire powers just the same as their fellows. …Though I’ve heard that research into the fundamental theory behind it hasn’t progressed very far at present.”

“Is that research conducted here?”

“No. Research into ‘inheritors’ is the purview of Lighwatch Temple. Sir Yegor Asayev, the head priest, is the expert on it.”

“Wow…”

“So, honestly I don’t actually know that much about ‘Inheritors’. Just that they’re divided up into categories by ability, like ‘Gilles’ and ‘Salem’, and that those are based on the names of the god kin—”

At that moment, the box set next to Eve—the magical ability measuring device, started to faintly shake.

“Hey…Is this working okay?”

Eve pointed to the box.

“Hm? …Oh, that’s fine,” Adam replied, gazing at the symbols that popped up onto the box’s screen. “Would you like some more coffee?” he asked her, turning around and noticing that Eve’s cup was empty.

It was a peculiar drink; Eve didn’t find it all that tasty, and yet she kept bringing it to her lips for some reason.

“Yes, please…But before that, one more question.”

“What is it?”

“…Why did Meta go after my father?”

“…That I don’t know.”

His eyes looked somewhat shifty.

Still, Eve couldn’t tell if Adam was playing dumb or not.

“Well then, a different question.”

“You’ve quite a lot of those. I actually have a lot of things I want to ask you, you know.”

“What does the royal capital…or rather, the military, plan to do about Apocalypse?”

“What do you me—”

“They’ve killed a lot of people, right? The people of the village of Nemu, and the people from this institute…’Sin must be punished’…Even I know the laws of this country.”

“…”

Adam took the cup from Eve and left the room without a word.

--In hardly any time at all, he had returned once more with a cup full of fresh coffee.

“Here you go. I put in more milk than last time.”

“Thanks.”

“…They are to keep careful watch over Apocalypse—That is what the military…or rather, the senate, decided.”

“--! Why!?”

“At present, Apocalypse has done no damage to the Twelve Royal Capitals. For the kingdom, the white army and the others are little more than barbarians at their border. The capital’s protection would be imperiled if they moved their security forces against them any further than they have.”

“So you’re saying that as long as the royal capital is alright, it doesn’t matter what happens to the others?”

“…I’m just a mere scientist. What I’ve told you now is just what I’ve heard from Gammon.”

Even if he was involved in a project of great importance to the country, he wasn’t in any position to say much more on the government outside of that—That’s likely what he meant.

Eve could tell that.

She could, but…

“That’s unreasonable. The ruler of a country needs to understand the suffering of its people…I think now I understand why my father hated politics,” Eve muttered, frustrated.

“…”

Adam looked upon Eve in silence for a short while, but eventually he shifted his gaze to the measuring device.            

Then he took up the piece of paper and quill set on the desk and started to write something down.

--Midway through his work, Adam said, still not looking at Eve, “In that case…You should become the ruler.”

“…”

“It seems you have the qualifications for it.”

“So you mean…I can become queen? Has it come up with a result?”

“No, it’s still measuring, but…At this point I’m already seeing some impressive numbers. I think…your magical ability is much higher than that of your father.”

Even so.

No matter how gifted she was, Eve was still just a simple girl who knew nothing of governance.

Would anything change by someone like her becoming queen?

--Appearing to sense her anxiety, Adam set down the paper and quill and drew close to her.

“It’ll be fine, I know it.”

“…”

“I’m sure you can do it.”

“Can I do anything alone?”

“You’re not alone.”

“My father is dead. And the people of my village are gone. I don’t have anyone—"

“—You have me.”

Adam clasped Eve’s hands in his own.

…She couldn’t bring herself to brush aside the warmth in them.

“Do you dislike me?” Adam asked.

“…If I did, I wouldn’t be cooperating with all this…But, what about you?”

Adam had gotten close with Eve just because she might have had strong magic.

She was just a candidate for queen to him.

That was surely the reason for him being so kind to her like this—

“I wouldn’t be trying to have someone I disliked selected as queen,” Adam said plainly. “You’re an enchanting woman. I’ve thought so since the first time I met you.”

“…Didn’t you stab at me with a sword at first?”

Adam burst out laughing at Eve’s reply. “Pfff…Ah haha, that’s true. Please forgive me for that. I was desperate back then.”

“Are you good with a sword?”

“I’ve only learned enough to defend myself…Ah yes, speaking of swords.”

Adam shifted his gaze to a sword that sat in the corner of the room.

“We ended up bringing that over here.”

It was Raisa’s sword, the one that Gammon had thrown to him in the forest.

“It’s an unusual shape…Its current owner is currently in prison. Not much point in returning it.”

“Raisa is…alive?”

“Just barely. Though even if her wounds are healed, thinking on what she’s done…She’s not likely to avoid an execution.”

“…”

It wasn’t just Raisa.

The Witch of Merrigod Meta, and Pale Noel.

In this world, so much—

Evil had spread.

Even if Eve continued to fire lightning as the “Witch of the Forest”, she could never get rid of it all.

It was impossible for one person.

She would need—much more power.

And for that…

Eve chewed her lip.

.

--As though to mock the resolve that had begun to sprout in Eve’s heart, several days later something happened.

Raisa, the white fiend of Jakoku, escaped from prison.

There was no way that she could have accomplished this herself, being near death.

It was likely that an outside person with influence had pulled some strings.

.

Meanwhile, the magical potential measurement result…was suitable for queen candidacy, just as Adam had predicted.

Her M count was over 350…Eve didn’t know how much exactly, but at the very least it was more than enough to secure the agreement of both Adam and the senate.

And with that result, Eve could smoothly become queen—or so she had thought.

<<prev------directory------next>>

[naomisimagines]

I absolutely love your writing. I always enjoy seeing your posts come up in my notifications 😊 Could I make request be any chance? Leon and Raihan reacting to seeing their S/O being rushed to the hospital after the S/O fought and captured Eternatus? (I'm convinced there's no way you could have gotten away from that fight without some major injuries. That was a seriously dangerous pokemon)

Not Naomi but I hope you will enjoy it nonetheless! Also, angst!

Leon

Leon’s heart beat rapidly in his chest as he stared at the pokeball that laid on the ground in front of him. That Pokemon, that Eternatus… It was really something else. It was strong, fierce and cruel. He could feel all its rage as it battled against the ball. 

“Please…” he whispered; his stomach tied into a tight knot. Usually, he loved battles and the greater the challenge, the greater the fun he had. But that time was different. 

His little brother and s/o were there, the two people he loved the most… He had to protect them no matter what. 

The pokeball jerked sharply and, immediately, he knew what was about to happen. 

“Charizard!” was all he was able to say before the pokeball broke, unleashing a devastating force that blasted him against the wall. 

With a painful groan, Leon raised his throbbing head just long enough to see Hop and s/o safe and sound behind his Charizard. 

“Run!” he tried to yell but, before he could make a sound, he passed out, blood trickling down on his purple hair. 

When he came to, the room was silent as the grave. He sat up, nauseous, and looked around. 

The white walls and the intense, stingy smell of disinfectant made him quickly realise that he wasn’t at the Tower Summit anymore. 

Suddenly, a shiver ran down his spine. Hop, his Charizard and his beloved s/o… If he was there… Where… Where were they? Where was the Eternatus? 

His heart started to race in his chest, making the machines next to him beep angrily. 

He needed to get up, he needed to find his family, he needed-… 

“No no no, you need to lay down!” a strong voice interrupted the storm that was rising in his mind, and, when he looked up, Leon found a doctor staring down at him. “You took quite the hit. I know you’re the Unbeatable Champion but please, for the love of whatever is holy, do not get up!”

The younger man stared at him, scared and yet dumbfounded. “Where… Where…” he asked, tears threatening to escape his golden eyes. 

The doctor sighed and placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to soothe him. “It’s okay, take it easy. I need you to take several deep breaths and calm down, or I’ll have to give you a sedative.”

Leon shut his eyes close and hid his face in his hands, forcing himself to do what the man told him. It took him some long, endless minutes but in the end he was able to calm himself enough to be reasonable. 

“My brother and… and s/o…” his voice shook as he spoke, too afraid to look the doctor in the eye. 

“Hop is okay.” The man reassured him but he couldn’t help another sigh. “Regarding s/o… Look, Leon, I’m not going to lie to you but I need you to promise me that you won’t panic again.” He said, and that was enough for the champion’s heart to start racing again. 

“I promise.” He lied. “Just tell me what happened to them. Where are they? Are they okay?”

The doctor scratched the back of his head, then he took a deep breath and told him the truth. “S/o… They’re stable now. That Pokemon did a number on them though, so we had to put them into a medically induced coma. But don’t worry; we took great care of them. They’re gonna be alright.”

Tears rolled down Leon’s cheeks and he didn’t even try to hide them. He lowered his head, trying his best to listen to the doctor and believe that they were okay, that they saved them, that he would soon hold them in his arms again. But it was hard to think about that in that moment, it was hard to see the light. 

“Easy, easy…” the doctor murmured, patting his shoulder. “Would seeing them make you feel any better?”

Leon’s eyes shot open and stared at the man in front of him in disbelief. Could that really be arranged? 

“Look, we’re going to wake them up later today. If, and only if, their vitals are all in the clear, I can allow you to stay in the room with them as they come to.”

Leon nodded at his words and, not even an hour later, he was sitting beside his s/o. They looked terrible; their whole body was covered in scratches and bruises and he could see stitches creep out from their collar. But the doctors were hopeful and believed they would quickly make a full recovery. They had worked their magic and Leon was glad for the opportunity to be there when the sedatives wore off. 

Gently, the champion took his beloved’s hand in his and placed a feather-like kiss on their knuckles. 

“Ain’t you a sight for sore eyes.” Their low, hoarse voice made him flinch in surprise. But, after a moment of insecurity, he smiled at them.

“So are you.” He replied with a wink, which made them chuckle and, subsequently, caused them a coughing fit. 

“Easy, love.” he soothed them, his smile now apologetical. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m beyond happy.” S/o laughed again and, again, they started coughing. “I saved you. And Hop. And I captured the Eternatus.”

Leon laughed with them then, once his brain processed their words, he froze. “You what?” 

“I did it. I caught it.” They repeated, their voice now soft and sleepy. “It put up a hell of a fight but I… I… got… it…” they tried to say but tiredness had the better of them.

The championed smiled and kissed their forehead gently. “You got it.” He whispered against their skin. “Now you need to get some rest, too.”

 Raihan

Whatever was happening in that tower; it must’ve been bad, Raihan realised as the ground of Hammerlocke’s plaza shook beneath him. 

Worried, his eyes darted up to the crimson clouds that covered the sky. Could that mess really be caused by a single Pokemon? Had he known, he would’ve never let s/o follow Leon. 

As the ground shook again, he cursed out loud. He should’ve gone too. But now, it was too late. 

Suddenly, the earthquake stopped and the sky became clear again. Confused, the gym leader looked around, meeting the eyes of several other people that were just as incredulous as he was. 

And then he heard them; the sirens. There were plenty of them and before he could realise why, the whole plaza was filled with ambulances and police cars and an officer was ordering him to step back. 

Raihan obeyed, his heart racing faster and faster. Why were there so many paramedics? And why was the police there?

Was… Was s/o okay? They had to be… They were tough and they were with the Unbeatable Champion… There was no way they were hurt. 

But then he saw a group of paramedics rush out of the tower, pushing a stretcher and shouting things that he didn’t really understand. They seemed panicked though, and when the officer moved, he realised that it was Leon that was being carried away, unconscious. 

His heart dropped and all colour drained from his face. If Leon was down, then… S/o, his beautiful, gentle, caring beloved s/o…

Fear started taking the best of him and, before he could realise what he was doing, he shoved the officer aside and ran to the ambulances, frenetically looking for his lover. 

“Make way, make way!” he heard someone shout and, as he turned around, he caught a glimpse of another stretcher coming through. 

The person on it had an oxygen mask on their nose and mouth and was bleeding copiously, drenching the candid gloves and sleeves of the paramedics that were attending to them.

If it weren’t for their bracelet, Raihan would’ve never recognized them. His s/o. 

The realisation hit him like a dagger through the heart and he felt his knees shake. 

“S/o!” he yelled, panicked, then he juggled the officer and made a run for the ambulance that they had been taken to, jumping onto it as well. 

“Who the hell…- F- it, there’s no time.“ the paramedic cursed as she saw him, then, she just shook her head and moved her attention back to the patient. “Family, press, I don’t care. Sit down, don’t touch anything and let us do our job.” She ordered as the ambulance sped away but Raihan didn’t even hear her. His blue eyes were scanning s/o from head to toe, looking for something, anything that could tell him that they were alright. 

Then, amidst the chaos, the faintest voice could be heard. “I won.” 

Raihan’s eyes darted up and met those of his beloved s/o. They were smiling, he noticed. How could they smile in a moment like that? 

“I won.” They repeated and, before a paramedic could stop them, they placed a hand in his own. “Don’t lose it.”

The gym leader blinked at them, confused, then he looked down at what they had just given him. 

A Pokeball. Well, an Ultraball, actually. 

Raihan’s brows furrowed at the sight but before he could ask any questions, S/o had passed out again. 

A long time passed before they woke up again but, when they did, Raihan was still at their side, his head down against their mattress. 

S/o smiled at the sight and weakly ran a hand through his dark hair.

“S/o?” he murmured, his voice tired and sour. Slowly, he turned his head, flashing them the warmest smile. “You woke up!” 

“Did I?” they replied with a smile of their own. “Because this very much feels like a dream. Or more like a nightmare that turned into a dream, actually.”

Raihan sat up and took their hand in both of his. “How are you feeling?” he asked as he placed a kiss on their open palm. 

“For someone who battled a legendary pokemon… Pretty good, actually.” they replied with a smirk. “By the way, did I tell you that I won?”

Raihain let out a breathy laugh and nodded. “Several times, before passing out, yes.” He assured them, then he pointed at their nightstand with a nod of his head. “I take it that the Ultraball you gave me…”

“It’s the Eternatus.” They finished the sentence for him, a spark in their eyes. “Now I’m a ‘tamer of dragons’ too!”

The gym leader laughed again. “You sure are.” He said and, as he looked at them, he couldn’t hide an ironic smile. “I can’t wait to see the two of you against good old Leon.” 

S/o chuckled some, then they shook their head. “Wouldn’t it be cheating?”

Raihan seemed to think about it, then he just shrugged and took out his Rotom Phone, eager to show them all the support their fans had given them while they were out.

~~

Masterlist

[forever-rogue]

Romantic Getaway

Request: Hiddles x y/n where he surprises her with trip to Paris please.

A/N: I see y’all are thirsty for some Tom lately, eh? I have no problem with that! I hope you guys all enjoy this fluff fest :)

Pairing: (Non Actor) Tom Hiddleston x Reader

Word Count: 2.1k

Warning: Fluff!

MASTERLIST

Y/N groaned as pushed her laptop away and and laid her head down at her desk. She was tired, hungry, and all out of inspiration. Deciding that the article she was in the middle of writing could wait, she closed the computer and got up to go to the cafeteria to get a snack. It was getting to be later in the afternoon, but Y/N figured a little snack wouldn't hurt.

Stepping out of her office, she was immediately flagged down by the receptionist, "Y/N! Y/N!"

"Calm down there, Sayara," Y/N chuckled at her, "what's up?"

"Tom," she said nervously, "your husband is here to see you."

"Yes, I'm aware Tom is my husband," Y/N winked at the younger girl, "you can show him into my office - I'm just going to grab a snack real quick."

"Of course," she replied as she headed back down the hall to fetch Tom, "is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No, it's quite alright." she smiled at her fondly, as Sayara ducked around the corner to fetch Tom. Y/N fished in her pocket for some change, hope she had enough with her.

Entering the small cafeteria she stared at the vending machine, only to find that it was out of order - unlit and depressing. Y/N walked over to, thumping it gently with the palm of her hand, willing to come back to operating condition so it provide her with some sort of sustenance. After a few moments of trying, she gave up, walking back to her office, but deciding she would leave soon so she could get in a proper meal.

Y/N sighed as she shuffled down the hall, walking back into her office with a small frown on her face. Tom couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight, not wasting a moment before he wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head gently, “what’s wrong my love?”

“There’s no snacks,” she said sadly, pulling away and plopping back down into her chair, “I’m so hungry and the vending machine is out of order!”

“It’s good timing then,” he said as he set a small lunch pail onto her desk, causing her face to immediately light up, “I thought you might have been hungry. You’ve been getting that way around this time of day lately. I know you’ve had a busy week, so I thought the two of you might enjoy this.”

“Oh my goodness, Thomas,” she said thankfully as she wasted no time in opening the bag and pulled out the apples and caramel sauce that Tom remembered she had been craving, “you’re the absolute best. A true Godsend.”

“I think you might be being a little dramatic, don’t you?” he chuckled fondly at her, “but I’ll take it none the less. How are you feeling today?”

“Feeling as nauseous and gross as ever,” she sighed as she took a bit of crunchy apple, “how do people do this for a whole nine months? Some people make it look so easy. It’s only been five and I’m ready to call it quits.”

“I’m sorry you still aren’t feeling better,” he said as he took her hand in his, “we can always go back to the doctor and see if they can do anything else for you.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright,” she said thankfully, “I think they’ve pretty much done everything they can at this point, and hopefully it’ll subside later on. For now, I’ll just keep blaming your son for this.”

“My son?” he asked as he put up his hands, “he’s also yours!”

“Ughhh,” she sighed, “I keep forgetting that part. Now tell me, darling, what brings you to the office on this lovely afternoon?”

“Can’t a loving husband just show up to surprise his wife?” he gave her his most dazzling smile, but she just rolled her eyes and shook her head, causing his him to admit his bluff, “fine, if you must know. I come baring a surprise.”

“What’s the surprise?” she asked eagerly, leaning forward, ‘I hope it’s something good!”

“I suppose that depends on what you define as good,” he surmised, “but how does a week in Paris sound?”

“Paris!?” she exclaimed as he nodded with a smile on his face, “oh Thomas, you’re so wonderful! What’s the occasion?”

“Nothing, other than why not and I thought you might enjoy,” he explained, “we’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

“That’s so wonderful! I’m so excited,” she stepped around her desk and kissed him gently, “why are you the best? I’m so lucky to have you.”

“I could say the same thing,” he smiled as he placed his hand on her small bump, “I love you, darlings. Now why don’t you pack up, and we’ll head out?”

Y/N groaned when she felt bright light hit her closed eyes. Rolling over, she pulled the blankets up and tried covered her eyes, murmuring something about five more minutes. Hearing a light chuckle, she opened one eye, only to see Tom standing by their hotel room’s window, a smirk on his face.

“Five more minutes?” he asked and she nodded her head lightly, “darling, we’re in Paris. We have to embrace the day!”

“Embrace it with five more minutes?” she asked shyly, “I’m pregnant, I need time. It’s hard to move fast.”

“Mhmm, whatever you say,” he joked as he walked closer to her and gave her a small kiss, “take all the time you need, darling. The city is not going anyway.”

“Fine, fine, you really do know how to make someone feel guilty,” she gave in and crawled out from under the covers, “I’ll be ready to go in a little bit, just let me shower first.”

“I’ll be here, ready and waiting. Take all the time you need,” he beamed at her. She got up and stretched, enjoying the feeling of cracking in her bones. Subconsciously, she placed her hand on her stomach, happy at the small growing bump. Tom came up behind her and put his arm around her, and kissed her shoulder, his beard gently scratching her shoulder, “I love you so much, darling.”

“Thomas, if you keep being this sweet, we’re never going to get anywhere,” she sighed as she leaned into his body, “I’ll be quick.”

“Okay,” he agreed and reluctantly let her go. She smiled fondly at him before heading to the shower and giving him a wink before getting into the shower.

Tom linked his fingers through Y/N’s, softly stroking the back of her hand, enjoying the cool breeze of downtown Paris after fresh rains. They were headed to the Louvre, both of them excited to the see treasures it held.

“Are you ready to see the sights and splendors that this historic place has to offer!?” Y/N asked eagerly as they got in line. This was her first trip to the city and the museum, and she couldn’t imagine spending the time with anyone else.

“I think I am,” he said as he raised his eyebrow at her, “are you sure you’re okay with waiting in the line? You don’t need anything?”

“I’m fine, Thomas, really. You’re so doting, it almost makes me sick,” she said as she playfully pushed him, “stop being so damn adorable.”

“I just want to make my two favorite people are okay,” he said as they neared the front of the line and he started to pull out his wallet, “can you blame me for being a wonderful husband and father-to-be?”

“Shut up, Hiddleston,” she stuck her tongue at him and shook her head un amusement.

“I could say the same to you, Hiddleston,” he jilted at her, before smiling at the woman in the ticketing booth. He lapsed into perfect French as he bought tickets for them. Y/N watched him, a small smile on her face as she listened to soft voice.  He gave her a curious look as he put his wallet away, catching her staring at him, “what? Why are you staring?”

“Nothing,” she said as they headed deeper into the museum, “it’s just your face.”

“What about my face?”

“I like it,” she said as he shook his head with silent laughter, “it’s my favorite.”

Y/N stifled a yawn as the two of them exiting the Egyptian exhibit. She had been wanting to see the exhibit for many years, having focused years of her studies on Egypt. She could barely contain her excitement, spending copious amounts of time looking over everything. She knew Tom wasn’t as interested in this type of stuff as she was, but she never once felt like he was bored or she was holding him back.

“Getting tired, sleepyhead?” he asked as she defiantly shook her head. He chuckled to himself and put his arm around her shoulders, “we could take a break, if you need to.”

“Hmm,” she sighed as she realized her feet were starting to get pretty tired, “yeah, that might be a good idea. I didn’t realize this place was so big.”

“Indeed it is,” he said as they took a took a seat on one of the benches that lined the large hallway filled with statutes from throughout the renaissance period, “take as long as you need.”

“This whole place is amazing,” she said as she looked over one of the statues, gently running a hand over one of them, “so much history. All in one place - it really makes you realize how small and insignificant we really. It’s unlikely we’ll ever be remembered hundreds of years from now, but these people will live on forever, immortalized in marble.”

She noticed after a few moments that he hadn’t responded to her and she looked around before spying him sitting across the hall, a small sketchbook in his hands. She stuck her tongue out at him and he just shook his head.

“Stay there for a moment love,” he called back at her as he continued to work rapidly in his little book. She rolled her eyes at him, but she loved when he got lost in his sketching. He worked in silence for a bit more as she got up and inspected some more of the statues.

“Are you almost done?” she asked as she waved at him to get his attention. He nodded in response as he closed his book and tucked it back into his coat pocket. He pulled out his phone and snapped a quick, candid picture of Y/N, saving it and quickly posting it to Instagram as he walked back over to her, “what were you doing?”

“Nothing,” he said innocently, shrugging his shoulder as Y/N felt her phone vibrate. She pulled it out and saw a notification from Tom, opening it and smiling when she saw the picture and his caption.

“You really are something else,” she shook her head, a huge grin on her face, “thanks for making me look good though.”

“It doesn’t take much with your beauty,” he said as he kissed the top of her head. She hugged him and tried to reach into his pocket to grab his book, but he pulled away, shaking his head at her, “I don’t think so, missy.”

“Oh come on, please let me see!” she begged and gave him the best puppy dog eyes she could muster. He reluctantly gave in, and pulled it out and showed it to her. Her jaw almost dropped as she looked at the beautiful picture of her, “Thomas, this is lovely.”

“You really like it?” he asked, almost worried that shouldn’t have liked it at all.

“Of course,” she smiled as she pulled him in for a hug, “this is wonderful. Thank you, you’re the best. Always making me look good. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too. More than you’ll ever know,” he said as she snuggled tighter against him, separated only by her small belly. They shared a laugh before he reached down and touched her belly, pausing to kiss her forehead.

“You’re such a romantic,” she laughed at him, “don’t ever change.”

“Don’t worry darling,” he promised, “I’ll be like this for you forever.”

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[storyteller15]

Chapter Five: The Prince and The Mage

My heart wouldn’t stop beating so fast, and I can’t blame it.

After all, I’m the one that’s going to be in deep trouble if I don’t find a way to get back up to the tree branch to retrieve my irreplaceable picture. What’s worse? My crush is down there, aware of my presence. Damn, all this trouble for my picture? I asked myself.

“I-I’m fine, Your Majesty,” I managed to answer him, even though I just stuttered. “Just ‘hanging’ around, loving the view up here.”

I hear Asriel laugh at my dumb pun. “Ah, so I guess I wasn’t wrong when I heard something up there.”

“Nope, you guessed correctly.” I try my best to pull myself up slowly, but it only made it worse by making my fingers loosen their grip.

“Do you need any help, miss?” He asks, filled with concern. “I can come up there and help if you want.”

I felt my cheeks flushed red, I'm surprised my magic didn't even spin out of control.

"I think I'm good, I'm only three feet away from getting it."

I can't believe this is happening, but this is definitely wrong. I wasn't suppose to see him until tomorrow. Great, another rule I've broken so far. What could be worse?

"Well then, I guess I have no choice but to stay here then." He says, with a hint of humor in his voice.

Oh crap! I changed my mind, that’s MORE worse.

"Wait what?! Oh, no, no, no! You don't need to do that, Your Majesty!" I felt my stomach flipped in different angles.

He chuckled at my response, hearing the grass rustle under me. “I have a name you know, you can at least call me Asriel.”

“But I can’t do that,” I moved my arms upwards, still holding on as I moved my legs up too. “It’s not my place to even call you by your normal name. Especially for a commoner like myself.”

“Well, if you can’t do that, then I’ll have no choice but to climb up there and help.”

“Okay, okay! I’ll call you Asriel! Just don’t come up here!” I said, giving up already.

“As you wish, Miss.”

I sighed softly in relief, thank goodness. To be honest, I’m actually surprised that Asriel didn’t bother asking for my name or who I am. Perhaps it’s best if he doesn’t. Once this is over, I'm going to call Bryn sometime tomorrow about my encounter with Asriel. She'd be thrilled about it, telling me that it's 'fate'. I shook my head giggling about the idea on how fate can be so unexpecting.

"Not to sound too nosy, but what are you doing out here in this windy night?" Asriel asks, filled with curiosity.

I was hesitant to respond at first, but he will find out eventually. “The wind blew away my picture, and I wanted to get it back.”

“A picture?”

“It’s made by a polaroid camera. You know, the ones that can print your pictures out faster, turning it into an instant picture. I’m actually fond of those kinds of pictures.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this kind of camera that can print out an instant picture before, why not save it in your--”

“Phone? Yeah, I know I can, But . . .” My words trailed off, feeling my eyes well up with tears.

“But this instant picture is something you can hold and cherish forever, while a phone can easily break and lose your data forever?”

I chuckled softly, wiping my tears away with my free hand. “Yes. And let me guess, you’re going to explain on how much of a weird person I am to feel this way over a picture.”

“No!” My body flinches from his loud sudden outburst.

“You’re not weird at all for feeling this way. And besides, I would do the same if my picture really meant so much to me. And judging the way you sounded about your picture, I’m a hundred percent sure that this picture is irreplaceable.” He says, suddenly sounding a little sad as I heard his body shift against the tree.

I felt so moved from his words, it’s no wonder I adore Asriel. The sounds of the night started to make me feel uneasy. I continued to concentrate as I inch my way towards my picture, but with Asriel no longer talking is now making me feel distracted. I think for a moment to find something else for us discuss, until I found the right question to ask him.

“What about you, Your Maj-- I mean Asriel,” I quickly corrected myself. “What brought you out here?”

There was a long terrifying pause, before he finally answered me.

“I came out here for a walk. To clear away the things that were clouding my mind. You see, this is the first time that I’m experiencing my own Selection. And with thirty-five young ladies staying in my home, it suddenly made me overthink with terrifying thoughts.”

“Like what?” I asked, suddenly afraid of what he will say.

“Wondering if I’m ready to go through my Selection,” He confesses, hearing him let out a harsh breath. “Don’t get me wrong, I do want to go through it, it’s just . . . It’s just . . .”

“Overwhelming?” I asked, finishing his sentence for him.

“Y-yeah, exactly.”

I gasped softly, surprised that he too was overwhelmed about the Selection; his Selection. And to think I was the only one that doubted myself of being worthy of competing. I guess Asriel is a little afraid of going through something that carries a lot of responsibilities. And I can’t blame him, picking one potential girl out of thirty-four is a big decision to make.

“I guess that makes two of us.” I breathed, closing my eyes.

“Huh? Did you say something, Miss?”

My eyes shot open, realizing what I just uttered. “N-nothing, it’s nothing.”

Suddenly, I felt nauseous. Perhaps I’ve been hanging upside down for too long. If I don’t get my picture quickly, the only outcome I’ll ever get is falling.

“What I meant to say was, that it’s okay to feel nervous,” I began to speak again, hoping it’ll ease Asriel’s worries. “Everyone gets nervous over something that carries a lot of responsibilities. So, it’s okay to feel this way. Try to think of The Selection as if you’re making new friends.”

“Making friends?” Asriel asks, his voice sounding puzzled.

“Yup, that’s right. Your Selection is about choosing your bride right? And because your worries are clouding your judgment, you’re a little afraid of finding the right girl among them. The one thing you can actually do to make things easier for yourself, is to get to know your Selection candidates. That way, you can at least find out if you’re into girls that likes eating snails, reading books, or maybe the ones that love to venture out in nature.”

“Huh, I never thought of it that way,” He responds as if he’s thinking about it. “That actually makes a lot of sense. I guess I forgot about something like this. Thank you, Miss. Your advice helped me eased my anxiety away.”

I paused myself, feeling my cheeks flushed red. I’m so lucky I’m at least sixteen feet up high, with the beautiful leaves concealing me away from Asriel. My heart was skipping a few beats again, feeling my stomach flutter.

“Anytime, Your Majesty.” I said, earnestly.

“Ahem,” I hear him clearing his throat. “I thought I told you to call me Asriel, remember?”

“Sorry! It’s a force of habit!” I giggled happily, feeling my sadness disappear as if it never existed.

“That’s a lovely sound.”

“Huh? What sound?”

Asriel chuckled as if I was a naive child. “Your laugh, it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard in my entire life. It’s full of life and happiness; it’s very contagious.”

My entire face heated up from his comment, feeling my heart race faster than before. “Hey now, is this what you say to all the ladies that you meet?”

“W-what?! No! I don’t at all, I actually mean--”

“Asriel, I was just ‘kidding’ you around.” I cut him off, teasingly.

“Hey! ‘Wood’ you mind if you stop using your puns? I’m feeling a little ‘stumped’ about it!”

We both ended up howling in laughter, at our dumb puns. I quickly took note that Asriel loves jokes and puns. Nanny used to tell me that his mother really loves to tell jokes and puns. I guess that’s where he gets his puns from. To be honest, I don’t use puns at all because not many people find mine funny.

Just then, I realized that I was one foot away from reaching my photo. Yes! I’m almost there! I thought to myself. Just a few more inches, and I should get it at arms reach.

“You really are a funny girl, Miss,” He comments me, hearing him sigh in relief after laughing too much. “But there’s something that’s been bugging me this whole time.”

“Oh, what is it?” I asked as I crept closer enough for me to try and reach for my picture.

Come on, just a little further! I thought to myself. I scooted my body upwards a little, with my arm stretched out. The corner of my picture brushed against my fingertips, trying so hard to grip on it.

"About earlier," Asriel says, his voice sounding puzzled.

"Yes?" I placed my other hand over a sturdy twig, keeping my legs crossed around the branch.

Fuck, come on! I growled under my breath, stretching my arms more. The wind blowing my hair onto my face isn't helping at all. I just need to reach just a little more.

"Since you know my name, I've been very rude for not asking yours in return. So, may I ask your name?"

"Oh, it's Zaf--”

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blows against my face. The twig I was hanging on to snaps apart from the wind’s force, feeling my body fall as I screamed loudly. All I saw were blurry visions of the tree and leaves. I tumbled against a branch and leaves, feeling the vines coiled part of my body and feet tightly. Feeling lightheaded, I groaned in pain as the adrenaline pumps throughout my body again.

As I opened my eyes, I gasped, finding myself hanging six feet upside down, a few inches close to Asriel. He was just as I remembered him, looking handsome like the first sunlight of spring. He was wearing a light green sweater with yellow stripes and black pants. Around his neck is his treasured gold heart shaped locket; his eyes glimmering emerald green under the moonlight, looking surprised.

“H-howdy.” Asriel says, his voice shaking a bit.

“H-hi there,” I replied, even if I’m upside down.

He chuckled, looking at me in the eyes. “Are you alright? You’re not hurt or anything?”

I shook my head giggling. “I’m fine, Your Majesty.”

Asriel frowns at my response, sending cold chills deep into my bones. “I’m sorry, I mean Asriel.”

“That’s not what I’m upset about,” He gestures with his head, showing that I’m wrapped in the tree’s vines. “The vines; they look pretty painful coiling around your body like that.”

I chuckled nervously, trying my best to break free from the vines, but they refused to shatter. “I-I can’t move, they won’t budge. Will it be any trouble if I asked for your assistance?”

“I would, but I can’t.” He smirks at me.

“Wha?! Why?!”

“Isn’t it obvious, Miss?”

I stared at him feeling puzzled, making him chuckle once more. “You never gave me your name.”

“Why does it matter?” I narrowed my eyes.

“It matters, because I want to know the name of the human girl with exquisite lavender eyes that I’m about to save.” His green eyes sparkled like the stars above, staring at me intently.

I blushed from his response and gave him a gentle smile. Just as I was about to answer, the sudden wave of dizziness begins to take its toll on me. I moaned, feeling lightheaded as my vision becomes blurry. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. How embarrassing, I thought to myself. I’m about to pass out in front of Asriel.

I hear Asriel gasp, quickly summoning his fire magic above his hands. Just like his parents, they glowed in an orangey gold color; beautiful and dangerous. I gasped and squeezed my eyes shut, hearing the flames crackle against the vines that held me captive. I felt so weak, forcing my body to prepare for the impact of my fall. Instead, I fall into a pair of strong arms as my head leaned against their chest.

I opened my eyes slowly, looking at Asriel through half lidded eyes.

“Zafrina, Zafrina Alban,” I answered, my voice sounding tired. “But everyone calls me Zefie.”

“Zefie, Zefie.” He repeats my name as if he liked the way it rolled over his tongue.

I sighed heavily, placing my hand weakly over his chest. “You can set me down, Your Majesty.”

He shook his head again. “I won’t do it.”

“Why?”

“The vines left an abrasion over your left ankle, you’re bleeding, Zefie,” His voice was stern, making me close my mouth. “I have to take you back to your room, your maids must be worried sick. And I can’t let you walk in an injury like this when you meet me and my family tomorrow.”

My eyes shot open, finding his head towering over mine. What the? How the hell did I end up being carried by Asriel?! Panic ran throughout my body, feeling embarrassed about the fact that I’m wearing a tank top and shorts, exposing my bare arms and legs. What’s worse? I can feel his soft white fur tickling against my skin. I just want to cry and crawl under a rock to hide and live there forever.

“H-how did you know--?”

“Did you really think that I didn’t hear you say ‘that makes two of us?'” He chuckles, holding me close as he began to walk away from the tree. “What gave your appearance away immediately was the strange fact that you knew who I was from the sound of my voice; you didn’t bother a quick glance at me to know if I was the real deal.”

I gaped at him, covering my face with my hands. Was I really that obvious? I didn’t think he could hear me. Now I know that I’ll be in so much trouble. My lips quivered, swallowing hard to keep myself from crying.

“I’m so sorry. I disobeyed the rules just to get my picture back . . . And I’m sure you’ll send me home right away once I’m escorted back to my room.” I croaked.

“Now why would I do such a thing? There’s no reason for me to send you home.” Asriel responds as he continued to walk slowly.

“B-but I--”

He tuts me, looking deep into my eyes. “Don’t worry about it, I’m the Prince. And I am pardoning you for leaving the second floor. After All, you did what you had to do, going after something that no other valuable things in the world can replace.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but I was at a loss for words. My head still felt nauseous as it bobbed side to side. I need to rest my head.

“Your Maj--”

“Use my name, Zefie.” He teases, cutting me off.

“Err . . . Asriel, do you mind if I lay my head over your chest? I still feel lightheaded after being upside down for who knows how long.”

He raises his eyebrow at me as if I just asked him for the moon. “N-no? I don’t mind at all. Go ahead and rest, I’ll let you know when we reach the back doors of the palace.”

I leaned my head on the crook of his neck, trying to not mind the soft prickly ends of his fur brushing over my ear. Shit, shit, shit! I cursed to myself as I felt my cheeks flushing red again. I took a few deep breaths, closing my eyes.

In the background, I can hear the wind blowing against us while the crickets continued to chirp. The grass rustling under Asriel’s feet was starting to make me question myself on why it was taking so long to get to the palace. Could he be walking slow on purpose . . ? No, I doubt it, why would he?

“I don’t mean to bother you at all, but may I ask where you came from?” I opened my eyes, finding Asriel looking at me, waiting for my response.

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you until tomorrow.”

“That’s a fair answer.”

The pain on my ankle was starting to throb, making me feel uneasy as it burned painfully. “You feel it, don’t you?” He asks, noticing the way my body winced against him.

“Y-yes.” I confessed.

“Don’t worry, I happen to know a guard around here who can perform healing magic. He’s actually on duty right now.”

My entire body went still, a guard? “W-what? Who?”

Just then, Asriel stopped walking as we hear footsteps approaching us. I turned my head slowly and gasped, finding the same skeleton who was working at the sentry post. Like earlier, he was wearing his blue zip-up hoodie over his white shirt, though he seemed a wee bit shorter compared to Asriel. He’s got a wide grin spread across his skull-- err, face.

“That would be me, kid.” His voice was low and raspy, making my body flinch against Asriel’s hold on me.

“It’s okay, he’s laid-back.” Asriel reassures me.

The skeleton examines my ankle, letting out a whistle. “Geez, kid, you injured yourself pretty badly. How’d ya get that?”

“I-I fell off the tree, and I guess the vines held on to me too hard.”

“Heh, can’t blame them for being too clingy,” He joked, watching the lights from his eye sockets focusing on me. “Don’t worry, I’ll heal ya. Just need your permission before I touch you. I know humans like you are sensitive.”

“N-no, go ahead.”

Suddenly his left eye began to glow in a rather cool, but terrifying electric blue color before his bony hand laid over my wound. I can only gasp, feeling how warm his magic was against my skin. It didn’t take him long, before he moved his hand away.

“That should do it, try wiggling your ankle around, kid. I wanna make sure that you didn’t hurt yourself on the inside.”

I do as he says, moving my feet up and down, then sideways and around. “No, nothing seems broken. Thank you.”

“No problem, kid,” He shrugs his shoulders, grinning at me.

“Thank you, Sans.” Asriel says, feeling relieved.

Just then, I realized that Asriel was still holding on to me. Oh.

“Okay, I’m healed up now. You can put me down now.” I turned to face Asriel.

“O-oh, y-yeah sure of course.” He stuttered, watching his cheeks flushed red over his fur before he sets me down on my feet.

For some reason, my heart throbbed painfully when he did. Deep down, I wished that I didn’t ask him to. No, I won’t be the clingy type. I won’t take advantage of him, just because he was kind to me.

I turned to find Sans standing in front of me. “Hey now, don’t you know how to greet a new pal?” He extends his arm out, waiting for me to shake his hand.

“O-oh, I’m sorry! Hello there, my name’s--” I stopped talking, hearing a rather loud farting sound escape when I placed my hand over his.

I couldn’t help but make a blank expression, flabbergasted from the prank the skeleton just pulled on me. From behind, I can hear Asriel snickering, trying his best to not laugh. He failed miserably as I can hear him fall over to the ground, howling with laughter.

“Uhh . . .”

The skeleton was laughing too, before he spoke again. “Ah, the old whoopie cushion in the hand trick. It’s Always funny.”

“Pffft, that was pretty good,” I said, laughing my ass off. “You really got me.”

“Heh, I like your attitude, kid. Anyway I’m Sans, Sans the skeleton.”

“Zafrina Alban, but you can call me Zefie.”

Out of breath, Asriel got up and chuckled nervously. “Sorry Zefie, I forgot to tell you that Sans is very good at pranking everyone.”

“Now you tell me,” we laughed again, straightening my hair. “It’s getting late. And I think it’s time that I head upstairs.”

“Oh, yes. That’s right.” Asriel scratched the back of his head nervously.

“So, hey, what I said about your Selection; I mean it. Start off slow, get to know your candidates. And since I’m the first candidate to have met you, even though we weren’t supposed to, well . . . Maybe we can start off as friends?”

“Y-yeah, I’d love that very much,” He smiles at me, getting all flustered all of a sudden. “Hopefully our friendship grows into something better, like the golden flowers my father planted.”

we smiled at each other before Asriel spoke again.

“Oh! Uhm, Zefie?”

“Hm?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, will you promise me that you won’t mention this to any of the girls about our encounter? I know it’s a lot to ask, but I don’t want them being upset about it, thinking it’s unfair. I don’t want them to be angry at you for it.”

I looked at him, pretending to think about it. “Of course. I promise, Your Majesty.”

“Call me ‘Your Majesty’ again, and I will make you the first person to go on a date with me. First thing tomorrow.”

My face went pale, feeling speechless about his teasing threat. I didn’t think he was that serious on having me call him by his name instead of being formal to him. In fact, I didn’t think his threat was going to be a date with him!

“You can be formal with me around everyone. But if we’re alone, I expect you to call me Asriel. Are we clear, Zefie?” He spoke again, smirking at me teasingly.

I groaned, putting my hands over my face. “Okay.”

“Good. Now then, Sans?”

“Way ahead of you,” Sans turned to face me. “Come on ,kiddo, I’ll escort you back to your room. I know a shortcut.”

I felt puzzled from his response. Shortcut? How is he going to get me there without being noticed?

“Zefie?” Asriel calls out again.

“Yes?”

He gave me a warm smile, his fangs visibly showing. “Goodnight, I hope to see you soon again.”

If it weren’t for the strong breeze pushing the clouds to cover the moon, he would have seen how red my cheeks really are.

“G-goodnight to you too, Asriel. I will see you again; pretty soon.” I promised, smiling genuinely at him.

Finally, I turned away from Asriel painfully, following after Sans. The shortcut he was leading me to was confusing. We walked towards the far end of the palace, hearing the crickets chirping again and the sound of the grass rustling under our feet.

“You might want to hang on to me, kid,” Sans extended his arm out for me.

“W-what for?”

“Just trust me, the shortcut we’re about to head to will only make you dizzier than before.”

I quickly held his arm as we continued to walk until we suddenly appeared into my room again.

I gasped, putting my hands over my mouth. He can teleport? For a monster that has the ability to do that are considered pretty strong. Possibly stronger than King Asgore himself.

“My lady?!” Lesley cries out.

“Ah, Lesley, h-hi.”

“Where have you been?! We were so worried that you got lost!” Barbara runs towards me, wrapping her arms around me.

“I’m so sorry,”

“Ah, don’t worry about her, guys. I took care of her.” Sans spoke, reassuring my maids.

“Oh! Sans! I didn’t know you were on night duty.” Lesley was surprised, noticing Sans’ appearance.

“Eh, I had to. Paps insisted that I have to.”

“'Paps?' You mean Papyrus?” I asked him.

“Wait, you know my brother?” Sans turned his gaze towards me.

“Y-yes, I do. We met this morning when I came to the palace. He was the one that helped me get to the room where the other girls needed to go. He was very helpful and I was glad to meet a nice guard like him.”

“Yeah, he really is. He goes far and beyond to help anyone out. I’m sure you made his day kid.”

“Well, thank you for escorting Zefie back, Sans. We appreciate it.”  Barbara says to him gratefully.

“No problem, jus’ doing my job,” He shrugs before begins to walk away. “Welp, see ya later, kid.” He winks at me before he vanishes in a blink of an eye.

“Goodness! He sure has a funny way of exiting the room.” Lesley spoke, getting my attention

“I agree.” Barbara nodded her head, preparing my bed for me.

Suddenly, my whole body went still. My picture! I forgot to pick it up when I fell off the tree! All this trouble for nothing. No, not troubling, it was more of a good and bad kind of trouble. I ended up meeting Prince Asriel too early even though I was supposed to meet him tomorrow.

“Are you alright, my lady? You look like you just saw a ghost.” Lesley analyzes my face, using her white handkerchief to wipe off the smudge off my face.

“I’m fine, Lesley, don’t worry.” I reassured her.

“Not to be so nosy, my lady, but what were you doing out in the palace grounds?”

I uttered a small sound, deciding to either tell my maids the truth or to not say anything. I promised to not tell any of the Selected girls about my "accidental" meet-up with Asriel. But, my maids don’t count, right?

Finally, we all sat over my bed, discussing about it. I told them that my picture flew away and I somewhat fell off the balcony and landed on the bed of golden flowers, then I explained about me climbing the tree that stood near the corner of the palace grounds, nearly falling off when I heard Asriel hearing the noises that I was making.

Barbara and Lesley leaned a bit closer, intrigued about my story as I continued to discuss the part about Asriel using his fire to burn the vines away to get me down. They both giggled as their cheeks flushed rosy-red, fanning themselves when I told them the part when he pardoned me for leaving the second floor, until we had to part just for tonight.

“Wow . . .” Barbara places her hands over her cheeks, giggling like a schoolgirl. “That’s so romantic of him~!”

“I agree,” Lesley sighs, tutting to herself.

I nodded, stretching my arms out yawning. All of what just happened to me earlier has made me all tuckered out.

“Oh! Goodness me, you should get to bed, my lady. You wouldn’t want to meet the prince again in your tired state.”

“Lesley’s right,” Barbara gets up, tucking me into bed. “A goodnight’s sleep is all you need to freshen you up first thing tomorrow.”

“You’re both right, thank you for your concern.”

Lesley walks over to my bed table, switching my lamp off before she joins Barbara at the door. “Sleep well, my lady. If you need anything, just press the yellow button on the left side of your bed and we’ll come to you right away.”

“I will, but please promise me you won’t tell anybody about this?”

They smiled at me before Barbara answered me.

“Not a single soul or monster.” She winks at me as she closed the door.

I sighed in relief, placing my arm over my eyes. This was the bookend to my day. I watched the curtains of my balcony doors flowed up and down from the wind’s gentle breeze. I smiled and giggled to myself as I fluttered my eyes slowly, letting my sleep take me into a peaceful rest.

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Moving on the other side, how many offers are you getting? A person know on what many might be moving into any given period, one month, one quarter, one year? Do website visitor stays if a small position gets more action than other positions? Do you know cause? Do you determine if a particular industry becomes more action, a particular client? An individual know which client generates the most offers? Are you know which person in the client company generates the most offers?  Normally I would say offers translate into placements. Does your Recruitment Agency Chicago have the right offer to placement relation? What is a fine offer to placement facteur?

I am certain that the end of this story for Ted a few additional find him happier and other fulfilled than he has ever been in life when he found helps make this service him happy at the videos . of his being.

No. Can be one of the biggest myths about resume submitting. Actually, it is quite annoying to acquire cover letter because you need to scroll right down to see the applicant's keep on. When submitting a resume in order to a company, they are planning to expect it, so you should definitely do and. Improve your probability of having it read, perform the cover letter in bullet points.

And Parker isn't really a man who lost his wife, issue what he tells Michelle. He is living a double-life, deceiving people too, mainly Michelle together with his wife, Gina. He supplies Michelle with lavish gifts and says all the particular things support keep her in and around. When Michelle begs to meet his children, he has always an explanation for not letting that materialise. She's in at a real surprise when the truth is posted. Is that nauseous feeling end result of something she ate the previous night or luxury ? carrying his baby?

Finally, firmly know which don't know and that's the okay. Should you were alter majors, an individual think lowering the be quick cash person on the internet to accomplish that? Yes, try not to do it too much as it will cost a ton of money, but college must be fun. Finally, enjoy yourself.

 For More Information:https://www.alliancerecruitmentagency.com/

  Video Source:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgemlCuKWf8

[eyestethickunica]

Thank u, next.

It will end here.

This journey started six months ago.

Before ending up with this job, I had four applications. First, I applied in a known large company located in Bonifacio Global City. It was epic. For a first time job hunter, I really had the guts to apply there knowing it was miles away from home. Since the location is BGC, many people applied there coming from different places and universities. It was horrifying, I mean the interview itself. There were two monsters, ahem, ladies I mean who were smiling but you know deep inside, they were not satisfied with the girl in front of them.

But that moment, I felt independency at first hand.

My second application was in UPS in Clark Development Corporation. It was actually my worst application ever. The heartache when I went home from UPS is worse than Citi’s. The only thing that made my application a failure when I mentioned I had a breakdown back in college. It was a naive move, certainly. I shouldn’t have mentioned it but it was a blessing a disguise on my part though. The job position was a customer service representative and my family would surely disapproved if I were to work there.

After that fiasco, I tried applying in TaskUs. TaskUs is a known call center agency in Clark with a colorful buidling and enthusiatic friendly company that is located in front of Medical City, Clark Global City. I asked my mom if it is okay with her for me to work in that kind of job, being a call center agent. No offense meant to those working in call center, it is just that, I graduated with a 4-year course related to Marketing yet I will end up working as an agent. It was kind of a taboo, I guess. (Kudos to them though!) But then, my mom agreed. It was a nice place she said and the experience may help me to improve my English communication skills since we’re planning to go to United States.

So early in the morning, I went to TaskUs and had my first step: Initial interview. The questions asked were the same from my last two interviews so it went easy and along the interview, the recruiter asked my hobbies so I told her that I’m fond of writing. I do watch a lot of movies locally and internationally. I also mentioned that I was a journalist back in high school so the interview shifted into something different. She said (in non-verbatim), “We actually have another account here in TaskUs for someone like you. This account is quite different. You need not to speak, however, you will use your mind. This account is MediaMax wherein you create headlines and no worries, that team were full of nerds so I think you fit in there.” At that point, I was really amazed. Like “Wow! Lord, I applied for the position of a call center agent yet you given me this opportunity.”

“So this will be the process: In the next step, you will take an exam for MediaMax. If you passed, you will have two final interviews. An interview for MediaMax and for non-voice account. So if you passed MediaMax, you have the choice of which account do you want to go.” she added. So I did the exam. On the first take, I did few mistakes but the recruiter gave me another chance and I passed it. She talked to me personally right after the exam and told me to come back later at night for the final interview. I went back around 8pm and had my interview. And damn! It was the most interesting interview I ever had! It was as if that team leader and I were just talking about things we have in common. She said that to be in the MediaMax, we’re using our brain cells to the fullest. We need to be aware anything related to Netflix and other known magazines since we’re making headlines and saving articles from those and there, she mentioned that she wasn’t sure when would I start since there will be a single slot available and they’re expecting two other candidates to be interviewed but I was the first candidate she interviewed and if the other two failed or passed, I will be the first option to be hired.

After that, the HR staff gave me the requirements and everything. He said that once the slot is available and open, I can start immediately. So I did everything but the downside was that, I waited for two months. It was like a week or two before I ended with my job right now, they called to inform me that the slot is already open and they will just call me again for the contract signing. I was really excited of course! But they called me again days after saying that the lady who was supposed to leave cancelled her resignation so I just need to wait again.

On my third application, it was simple and lighthearted kind of interview. I made a mistake though. After the initial interview with the HR executive, I need to be in front of a camera for a video application that is intended to be sent to the CEO (she was in Australia at that time) so that she has the idea who the candidate is. To be fair, I was just really excited to work in Resourcefull so what happened was that, I looked like I auditioned for PBB House. I was really enthusiastic (LOL). After the interview, Ma’am Mika (If I remember it correctly) told us (I’m with a friend) that she will just call or text us for an update. After a week, she texted us and we went there. My friend passed the position we applied for but she needs to wait for two months for the training while on my end, I was actually hired to be part in HR Department. The sad part, I rejected it as well as my friend. HR Department has really a lot of works compare in other clerical jobs, that’s why I declined it. I kinda regret it though even as of the moment.

Few days after that, I had another interview and fortunately, I landed on my current job. By God’s grace, I’m working for six months now but I needed to end this. This was not part of the plan though. I planned to leave Pampanga after a year of my employment and pursue my career in Manila. I really want to go back in Citi or somewhere in BGC. As of now, I’m experiencing UTI. My kidneys are not functioning well. I tend to be nauseous and vomits once in a while so I had another checkups, lab tests and even ultrasound. The results are not worse so I’m thankful for that, however, my UTI is still there and the ultrasound shows that my liver grown bigger than normal so I really need to lessen my intake of cholesterol and fatty foods, condiments, alcohol and softdrinks. Just water.

It saddens me but I really need to leave.

[24hourchampagnediet-blog1]

Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

New Post has been published on https://bestrawfoodrecipes.com/is-intermittent-fasting-bad-for-you-pros-and-cons-to-consider/

Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

Let’s be honest: The word “fasting” doesn’t exactly bring up delicious thoughts and positive vibes. For plenty of people, it probably conjures up images of starvation and deprivation and makes their stomach start growling.

Yet, intermittent fasting has so many folks going wild right now, raving about how the strict-and-scheduled eating plans helped them lose weight and improve their health. So there must be *some* good in the health and weight-loss fad, right?

Charlie Seltzer, MD, weight-loss physician and certified personal trainer, points out that what most people are doing nowadays isn’t “true” fasting (in other words, eating only one meal per day or nothing at all in a day’s period). Instead, they’re intermittent fasting (duh), meaning they’re taking an approach to eating that involves restricting calorie consumption to a certain window of time each day, like only from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (so you fast for 16 hours, a.k.a. a 16:8 diet).

The logic behind periodic fasting as a weight-loss approach: “Since you need to have a calorie deficit to lose weight, eating within a window makes it easier to eat less and hit your designated calories,” Dr. Seltzer explains.

Intermittent fasting has some pros beyond weight loss, too, says Dr. Seltzer. It works with a lot of people’s lifestyles, allowing them to skip meals during the day when they’re busy or not super hungry and might otherwise just eat out of obligation. What’s more, following a 5:2 fasting schedule may even improve your heart health; fasting can lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, according to Cleveland HeartLab.

“True fasting has a large variety of health benefits beyond those that occur with calorie restriction,” Dr. Seltzer adds. “It can cause something called cellular autophagy, where our cells eat themselves [to destroy damaged cells and make way for new, healthy ones].”

That said, intermittent fasting shouldn’t be attempted without some thought as to whether it’s really a good idea for your personality and lifestyle—and not just because it could be challenging to stick to, but because it could be downright bad for some groups of people.

Registered dietitian Barbie Boules of Barbie Boules Longevity Nutrition says the people who should not consider intermittent fasting are:

Folks with diabetes or other metabolic disorders

People taking medications that require food

Anyone with a history of disordered eating

Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive

Children and teenagers

But honestly, anyone who requires a consistent, healthy input of calories throughout the day to be healthy (physically *and* emotionally!) isn’t the ideal candidate to try intermittent fasting. If you’re unsure where you stand, it’s always wise to speak with a medical professional first.

Here are eight potential disadvantages, side effects, and straight-up warnings about intermittent fasting to keep in mind if you’re a healthy adult and thinking about trying it yourself.

1. You might feel way hungrier.

Surprise, surprise: Not eating for 16 hours a day could make you ravenously hungry, at least while you’re in an adjustment period.

In theory, says Dr. Seltzer, intense hunger shouldn’t happen while intermittent fasting using a plan such as the 16:8 method; if you’re fasting correctly by filling up on protein at the end of the day, you shouldn’t be hungry first thing in the morning. (Your appetite wouldn’t kick in until later on the following day.)

In reality, though, this might take some getting used to. “The main worry is setting off binge-eating behavior, because you are so hungry you’re eating 5,000 calories [and going way over your daily amount],” Dr. Seltzer explains.

In other words, only eating within a short window is not a free pass to set up camp at the all-you-can-eat buffet for eight hours, which would defeat the purpose of fasting. And this can be a huge challenge for many people who are used to eating much more regularly and who may not be totally in tune with their body’s hunger cues.

2. It might make you feel sick or fatigued in the morning, especially if you work out first thing.

Committed to your 6 a.m. workout? Intermittent fasting might not be a great choice. “I think it’s a terrible idea to exercise on an empty stomach,” says Boules. “We benefit from a little glucose before and some protein after.”

If you’re interested in experimenting with fasting periods and workout a ton, consider talking to a sports nutritionist or MD to assess your workout schedule and level of rigor. You might be okay fasting for a specific amount of time on days you don’t exercise, for instance. But if you’re, say, training for an endurance event, fueling your body around the clock and getting substantial calories is going to be much more important than trying to force fasting into your routine when your body is already being taxed by your training.

And even if you’re not a morning exerciser, not eating until, say, noon when you’re used to waking up and having breakfast at 8 a.m. may leave your stomach churning. In turn, you may feel off, a little lightheaded, or nauseous as you get used to the new schedule.

3. Fasting diets are rigid and rule-based.

Both Dr. Seltzer and Boules describe intermittent fasting as very individualized, meaning it could work well for some people and turn into a total disaster for others depending on a number of lifestyle factors.

Boules says that people who “like rules” might respond to the diet’s restrictive calorie window. But for others—like people who travel five days a week, changing time zones or schedules frequently—the diet will bring more stress than weight loss or other potential health perks. If the idea of watching the clock for permission to eat sounds unappealing to you, sit this one out.

4. It doesn’t always play nice with other diets.

Boules says intermittent fasting is often combined with other restrictive diets, like keto, which can cause double-trouble if either of those approaches—or heaven forbid both—aren’t right for you.

Adopting a diet plan that means you can only eat lean protein and vegetables between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. every day doesn’t exactly set you up for winning any popularity contests with your friends and family (not to mention the mental fatigue that comes with jumping through meal-planning hoops on the regular), Boules points out.

But hey, your diet choices are your own, and if you are up for the challenge of navigating an intense and strict food routine and your personal life, that’s entirely your decision.

5. You may deal with low blood sugar.

This is why people with diabetes should steer clear of fasting. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia is a side effect of diabetes and insulin medication, but it can happen to non-diabetics, too (if you have thyroid disease, for example).

Not eating enough and skipping meals are common triggers for hypoglycemia. So, “people prone to hypoglycemia might feel dizzy or have nausea or shaking,” warns Dr. Seltzer.

Other symptoms of mild to moderate hypoglycemia include headache, blurred vision, sweating, fatigue, and paleness, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

6. The research is minimal.

Look, we all know the internet is full of so-called health claims made by “experts” about the best diets. And while the field of research on intermittent fasting isn’t empty, Boules is hesitant to jump on the bandwagon based on what she’s seen so far.

“Despite a deluge of articles citing studies, solid evidence in support of intermittent fasting as a superior approach to eating just isn’t there yet,” she says.

What studies is Boules referring to? Well, most of the more compelling ones were actually performed on rodents. Human studies have not shown the same scope of evidence.

A few examples: A 2018 study published in Nutrition and Healthy Aging showed weight-loss results after 12 weeks of 16:8 intermittent fasting—but the sample size was only 23 people. A 2017 study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that a fasting group of 100 participants lost more weight over a 12-month period than a non-dieting group, but not more than a group that cut calories overall.

There also remains debate about whether the actual fasting is responsible for the health benefits, or if it’s simply the reduction in calories.

This isn’t to say that better, more conclusive research won’t ever become available, but as Boules said, we’ve got a ways to go before we understand everything about intermittent fasting.

7. It doesn’t help you create mindful eating habits.

While Boules admits that intermittent fasting can be a great strategy for curbing mindless late-night snacking, it can totally work against mindful eating, too. Rather than thinking about whether or not you’re truly hungry, you’re simply eating by the clock.

“I encourage my clients to [evaluate their hunger] on a daily basis and act accordingly,” she says. “Every day is different for sleep, exercise, stress, hormones, and schedule, which all affects appetite. It’s one of many reasons I don’t believe it’s healthy to apply ‘rules’ to your food philosophy.”

8. You can take it too far.

Even in dieting, moderation is key; no diet is sustainable if you’re unable to adapt it to your lifestyle as needed. For example, Dr. Seltzer reiterates that many athletes need a morning meal and see better results when they eat before training. Sticking to a strict intermittent fasting schedule in that example precludes that.

Boules agrees: “I [have seen] people not consuming anything but water prior to a challenging morning workout and for several hours after—this is simply not a good idea.”

Ultimately, if you’re just not sure how to feel about intermittent fasting, don’t hesitate to hash it out with a pro, like an RD or doc you trust.

At the end of the day, if you’re a healthy adult, intermittent fasting probably won’t do damage (even if it turns out to not be a good fit for you personally). Dr. Seltzer and Boules both acknowledge the control it teaches, though they remain on the fence about whether the potential side effects outweigh the benefits.

“Please understand this will not work for everyone and is not required for good health,” Boules says. “While I’m watching the research and will own it if I’m proven wrong, I think it’s yet another example of a fad approach to wellness.”

Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley is a freelancer writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons.

Source link Keto Diet and Exercise

[fuckyeahtattoogirls-blog1]

Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

New Post has been published on https://bestrawfoodrecipes.com/is-intermittent-fasting-bad-for-you-pros-and-cons-to-consider/

Is Intermittent Fasting Bad For You? Pros And Cons To Consider

Let’s be honest: The word “fasting” doesn’t exactly bring up delicious thoughts and positive vibes. For plenty of people, it probably conjures up images of starvation and deprivation and makes their stomach start growling.

Yet, intermittent fasting has so many folks going wild right now, raving about how the strict-and-scheduled eating plans helped them lose weight and improve their health. So there must be *some* good in the health and weight-loss fad, right?

Charlie Seltzer, MD, weight-loss physician and certified personal trainer, points out that what most people are doing nowadays isn’t “true” fasting (in other words, eating only one meal per day or nothing at all in a day’s period). Instead, they’re intermittent fasting (duh), meaning they’re taking an approach to eating that involves restricting calorie consumption to a certain window of time each day, like only from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (so you fast for 16 hours, a.k.a. a 16:8 diet).

The logic behind periodic fasting as a weight-loss approach: “Since you need to have a calorie deficit to lose weight, eating within a window makes it easier to eat less and hit your designated calories,” Dr. Seltzer explains.

Intermittent fasting has some pros beyond weight loss, too, says Dr. Seltzer. It works with a lot of people’s lifestyles, allowing them to skip meals during the day when they’re busy or not super hungry and might otherwise just eat out of obligation. What’s more, following a 5:2 fasting schedule may even improve your heart health; fasting can lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, according to Cleveland HeartLab.

“True fasting has a large variety of health benefits beyond those that occur with calorie restriction,” Dr. Seltzer adds. “It can cause something called cellular autophagy, where our cells eat themselves [to destroy damaged cells and make way for new, healthy ones].”

That said, intermittent fasting shouldn’t be attempted without some thought as to whether it’s really a good idea for your personality and lifestyle—and not just because it could be challenging to stick to, but because it could be downright bad for some groups of people.

Registered dietitian Barbie Boules of Barbie Boules Longevity Nutrition says the people who should not consider intermittent fasting are:

Folks with diabetes or other metabolic disorders

People taking medications that require food

Anyone with a history of disordered eating

Women who are pregnant or trying to conceive

Children and teenagers

But honestly, anyone who requires a consistent, healthy input of calories throughout the day to be healthy (physically *and* emotionally!) isn’t the ideal candidate to try intermittent fasting. If you’re unsure where you stand, it’s always wise to speak with a medical professional first.

Here are eight potential disadvantages, side effects, and straight-up warnings about intermittent fasting to keep in mind if you’re a healthy adult and thinking about trying it yourself.

1. You might feel way hungrier.

Surprise, surprise: Not eating for 16 hours a day could make you ravenously hungry, at least while you’re in an adjustment period.

In theory, says Dr. Seltzer, intense hunger shouldn’t happen while intermittent fasting using a plan such as the 16:8 method; if you’re fasting correctly by filling up on protein at the end of the day, you shouldn’t be hungry first thing in the morning. (Your appetite wouldn’t kick in until later on the following day.)

In reality, though, this might take some getting used to. “The main worry is setting off binge-eating behavior, because you are so hungry you’re eating 5,000 calories [and going way over your daily amount],” Dr. Seltzer explains.

In other words, only eating within a short window is not a free pass to set up camp at the all-you-can-eat buffet for eight hours, which would defeat the purpose of fasting. And this can be a huge challenge for many people who are used to eating much more regularly and who may not be totally in tune with their body’s hunger cues.

2. It might make you feel sick or fatigued in the morning, especially if you work out first thing.

Committed to your 6 a.m. workout? Intermittent fasting might not be a great choice. “I think it’s a terrible idea to exercise on an empty stomach,” says Boules. “We benefit from a little glucose before and some protein after.”

If you’re interested in experimenting with fasting periods and workout a ton, consider talking to a sports nutritionist or MD to assess your workout schedule and level of rigor. You might be okay fasting for a specific amount of time on days you don’t exercise, for instance. But if you’re, say, training for an endurance event, fueling your body around the clock and getting substantial calories is going to be much more important than trying to force fasting into your routine when your body is already being taxed by your training.

And even if you’re not a morning exerciser, not eating until, say, noon when you’re used to waking up and having breakfast at 8 a.m. may leave your stomach churning. In turn, you may feel off, a little lightheaded, or nauseous as you get used to the new schedule.

3. Fasting diets are rigid and rule-based.

Both Dr. Seltzer and Boules describe intermittent fasting as very individualized, meaning it could work well for some people and turn into a total disaster for others depending on a number of lifestyle factors.

Boules says that people who “like rules” might respond to the diet’s restrictive calorie window. But for others—like people who travel five days a week, changing time zones or schedules frequently—the diet will bring more stress than weight loss or other potential health perks. If the idea of watching the clock for permission to eat sounds unappealing to you, sit this one out.

4. It doesn’t always play nice with other diets.

Boules says intermittent fasting is often combined with other restrictive diets, like keto, which can cause double-trouble if either of those approaches—or heaven forbid both—aren’t right for you.

Adopting a diet plan that means you can only eat lean protein and vegetables between the hours of 1 and 9 p.m. every day doesn’t exactly set you up for winning any popularity contests with your friends and family (not to mention the mental fatigue that comes with jumping through meal-planning hoops on the regular), Boules points out.

But hey, your diet choices are your own, and if you are up for the challenge of navigating an intense and strict food routine and your personal life, that’s entirely your decision.

5. You may deal with low blood sugar.

This is why people with diabetes should steer clear of fasting. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia is a side effect of diabetes and insulin medication, but it can happen to non-diabetics, too (if you have thyroid disease, for example).

Not eating enough and skipping meals are common triggers for hypoglycemia. So, “people prone to hypoglycemia might feel dizzy or have nausea or shaking,” warns Dr. Seltzer.

Other symptoms of mild to moderate hypoglycemia include headache, blurred vision, sweating, fatigue, and paleness, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

6. The research is minimal.

Look, we all know the internet is full of so-called health claims made by “experts” about the best diets. And while the field of research on intermittent fasting isn’t empty, Boules is hesitant to jump on the bandwagon based on what she’s seen so far.

“Despite a deluge of articles citing studies, solid evidence in support of intermittent fasting as a superior approach to eating just isn’t there yet,” she says.

What studies is Boules referring to? Well, most of the more compelling ones were actually performed on rodents. Human studies have not shown the same scope of evidence.

A few examples: A 2018 study published in Nutrition and Healthy Aging showed weight-loss results after 12 weeks of 16:8 intermittent fasting—but the sample size was only 23 people. A 2017 study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that a fasting group of 100 participants lost more weight over a 12-month period than a non-dieting group, but not more than a group that cut calories overall.

There also remains debate about whether the actual fasting is responsible for the health benefits, or if it’s simply the reduction in calories.

This isn’t to say that better, more conclusive research won’t ever become available, but as Boules said, we’ve got a ways to go before we understand everything about intermittent fasting.

7. It doesn’t help you create mindful eating habits.

While Boules admits that intermittent fasting can be a great strategy for curbing mindless late-night snacking, it can totally work against mindful eating, too. Rather than thinking about whether or not you’re truly hungry, you’re simply eating by the clock.

“I encourage my clients to [evaluate their hunger] on a daily basis and act accordingly,” she says. “Every day is different for sleep, exercise, stress, hormones, and schedule, which all affects appetite. It’s one of many reasons I don’t believe it’s healthy to apply ‘rules’ to your food philosophy.”

8. You can take it too far.

Even in dieting, moderation is key; no diet is sustainable if you’re unable to adapt it to your lifestyle as needed. For example, Dr. Seltzer reiterates that many athletes need a morning meal and see better results when they eat before training. Sticking to a strict intermittent fasting schedule in that example precludes that.

Boules agrees: “I [have seen] people not consuming anything but water prior to a challenging morning workout and for several hours after—this is simply not a good idea.”

Ultimately, if you’re just not sure how to feel about intermittent fasting, don’t hesitate to hash it out with a pro, like an RD or doc you trust.

At the end of the day, if you’re a healthy adult, intermittent fasting probably won’t do damage (even if it turns out to not be a good fit for you personally). Dr. Seltzer and Boules both acknowledge the control it teaches, though they remain on the fence about whether the potential side effects outweigh the benefits.

“Please understand this will not work for everyone and is not required for good health,” Boules says. “While I’m watching the research and will own it if I’m proven wrong, I think it’s yet another example of a fad approach to wellness.”

Sarah Bradley Sarah Bradley is a freelancer writer from Connecticut, where she lives with her husband and three sons.

Source link Keto Diet and Exercise