#or a full drain system repair
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doctordrain · 6 days ago
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Always professional, always transparent, and always on call. Doctor Drain to the Rescue: Judy N.’s Story.
Judy N. had barely started her morning when things took a sudden turn. As she stepped into the shower, she noticed water pooling at her feet. Seconds later, she heard the unmistakable sound of dripping—water was leaking through the ceiling into the room below. Panicked and unsure of what to do, Judy immediately remembered something her neighbor Ann had told her just weeks earlier: “If you ever need reliable drain repair, call Doctor Drain.
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Within no time, Doctor Drain’s professional team arrived at Judy’s home. The technician introduced himself, immediately putting Judy at ease with his friendly and calm demeanor. He explained that a thorough drain inspection was the first step to locate the exact cause of the leak. Using advanced camera video inspection technology, the technician quickly pinpointed the problem: a blockage in the shower drain that had caused water to back up and leak through a compromised pipe joint.
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yan-lorkai · 3 months ago
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Hi hi! I really like all of your Yandere TWST stuff, but I admit I’m in LOVE with vampire Pom Trio. I wanted to ask how you think the whole trio would react to a sickly/frail darling. Like maybe darling was spooked and nervous to go in based on the rumors of the manor but their “friends” forced them to. Like friends could be their own.y ride, being sick could limit their interactions so they try to please their friends cause they’re lonely, etc. Like I could see Epel becoming such an overprotective big brother, especially if his new sibling is weaker/cuter/smaller than him. Vil could see the hidden beauty behind their weak/sickly form and try to bring out their “true beauty”. While Rook just loves their naive sweet demeanor and how so much of the world seems new to them. Uh! Just the idea seems so good to play with and darling could legit come to care for/love the trio cause while they are yandere and vampires they treat them better than anyone else ever has.
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.⁠。⁠*⁠♡ A/N: This was so fun and cute ngl, Epel's brotherly instincts really shine here when he realized that Yuu is like he is when he was human. And thank you, the Pometrio au was something I writed on a whim but it's my favorite oneshot so far! I hope you like this!
.⁠。⁠*⁠♡ Warnings: Platonic yandere content, vampire stuff y'know, blood sucking, dead corpses, angst, Ace is an asshole here, Reader has a very bad immune system and gets sick easily.
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You were standing in front of the abandoned house, staring at it for a few minutes now. Something about its energy was so dark and draining, though the drops of heavy rain were soaking you from head to toe effortlessly. You had to go in now, you are already here, alone and cold, as your friends didn't want to wait for you to have a sudden change of heart and enter with them.
Your friends, mainly Ace and Sebek were excited while Jack tagged along just because, Deuce tried to make them wait for you but all of them were eager to explore the hidden secrets that the old mansion may hold. So they went on without you. Letting you here alone, in the dark, your only company was a sense of discomfort seetling on your bones.
'I'm going to catch a cold', You thought to yourself as your coat was completely soaked and your whole body was trembling.
You could turn around and go away. Or you could enter and search for them. You were certain if they were in your position, they would go away without a single thought, but you felt a bitter taste on your mouth just by considering this option. It didn't seem right.
With a resigned sigh, you went through the rusty gate, running through a long path to get to the door, passing by a garden full of withered flowers. With every step, the sound of your feet crushing the wet grass echoes around you as you huddle under the hood of your coat, trying to shield yourself from the rain that falls incessantly and the cold that seeps into your bones. You just knew that tomorrow you would wake up with a raging fever and a cough that never goes away, your health was so fragile and weak, a simple rain could put you to rest in bed for several days. You try not to think about it too much.
Without a doubt this mansion used to be a beautiful place years ago but now it was downright chilling, even more right now where your imagination can ran free, making appear as the house loomed over you as it was too dark to see anything clearly. The broken windows and peeling paint only proved to you how much time has passed, how not a single human had put their foot here in a long while.
And if someone was here and now, they didn't have any good intention. Abandoned houses were first of all, abandoned, nobody repaired it or took care of it, so it was dangerous to walk through it.
And second, you knew that in houses like this it was common to dispose of bodies or sell drugs, things like that. It was just common sense.
Swallowing hard, you turned the doorknob and entered the mansion, preparing mentally for whatever was going to happen.
Inside, darkness seemed to consume everything it could touch. The frail light came only from the moon and was not enough to see clearly. The hallway was empty so you took to wander around a little, hugging yourself to not get so cold. It was not working as a sneeze left your lips, your throat starting to get rough and dry.
It was so cold, so cold and wet, and dark everywhere. Your eyes got used to it very slowly and sometimes you kept bumping into doors and walls because the light wasn't enough. Though you really thought you heard at least once someone laughing when this happened.
"Gosh, why did I came here?" You thought out loud. Bitterness rising inside you as you remembered how Ace belittled you and forced you to come. All the rude things he said running through your head as you very slowly walked through the maze of decrepit corridors and forgotten rooms, still feeling that something very wrong was about to happen.
If not right now, then later on.
The dim light filtering through the broken windows casted eerie shapes on the decaying walls, and the silence was oppressive, broken only by the creaking of old floorboards beneath your feet and your breathing. The whole place was devoid of life, of happiness, you looked for it in the portrait faces and all of them were seemed so sad and gloomy. Just like you.
Gloomy just like you are, having to deal with your bad immune system almost daily.
"Why didn't I just said no?" You knew why you didn't said no. Ace was one of your only friends, even if he was mean and rude without reason. You didn't want to be alone inside your room anymore, you didn't want to see your mother's worried expression or your father's frown as you got sick and bedridden again.
It was exhausting.
Even convincing them you'll be alright to go out tonight was hard as they were too worried about you.
"It could be worse" You smile even when your legs started hurting from how much you have been walking. Your stamina was always lacking, contrary to other teens you knew.
You got tired pretty quick so this was nothing new.
Feeling your energy dissipating, you call out for them once more, your voice echoing through the halls and then fading away slowly, leaving you behind. "They left me here all alone, didn't they? Well, it is my fault to allow them to drag me here, I suppose."
Then, you hear it: a strange noise echoing through the darkness. It's a faint, ominous sound, like a whisper carried on the wind or a belt being dragged on the floor, sending a shiver down your spine.
You strain your ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise but it seems to come from all directions at once, disorienting and unsettling.
"Really guys, you're going to play a prank on me?" You rolled your eyes. "Here of all places?
Certainly it was Ace idea to scare the daylights out of you and honestly it could have worked if you aren't so tired, another sneeze leaving your throat as you started walking again in a random direction. "I'm telling your brother you're being mean again, Ace and Sebek!"
You heard a giggle behind you but when you turned around there was no one there. Then it happened again and again but there was never someone there when you looked. An instinctive fear was growing on the pit of your stomach as you struggled to maintain calm, making excuses to not get scared.
It could be the wind. Or your imagination, maybe.
Or... Or... You didn't know.
You realized then that with each passing moment, the noise was louder, more insistent, it was as if the mansion's walls were alive with some unseen presence, watching you and waiting for a better opportunity to strike, faint smell of something you can't quite name it was on the air.
The wind was howling sofly at your ears, water dripping somewhere above you. Or was it beneath? Your coat was heavy on your shoulders, entirely soaked.
You weren't entirely sure as it was too dark to distinguish anything on the floor. What you did recognized was the sounds coming back.
I always knew I would die but it has to be here?' You looked around.
You were still surronded by doors who lend nowhere and the sound was getting near, taunting your existence as your friends liked to do, joking how you had more time to rest and the only price to pay was taking some meds or go to the hospital.
How it was easy to exist like this.
You hesitate, unsure of what to do next. Should you stay and investigate the source of the noise, or should you ran? Every instinct screams at you to run, to escape this haunted mansion and its unknown horrors. But a part of you don't want to leave now.
You knew so little of the world, you were drawn to the mystery, to the possibility of discovering what lies hidden in the shadows, plus it was still raining outside.
"If there's someone out there, come out." You added after a few seconds, uncertain. "Please?"
You heard a little laugh behind you but this time when you turned around, there was someone there - said someone was so close that you both bumped your heads by how fast you had turned around.
You stumbled back, almost tripping if the stranger hadn't grabbed both of your hands, you were apprehensive but otherwise curious about this strange boy.
"Ouch, look where ya goin!" He grumbled, though there was a little smile in his voice. He laughed again and the sound was soft.
You protested loudly. "You were the one who was standing behind me!"
You meet the boy's gaze with a calm expression, snickering a little at the face he was making. The boy rolled his eyes, seemingly amused by how you didn't reacted at all by his sudden appearance and yet he wasn't in no hurry to introduce himself, letting the seconds go by, instead taking to observe you and the little bandages that adorned your cheek and the little cuts on your fingers.
"Ya alright, kiddo?" He asked after a while. His voice was softer than you could imagine. And there was a special glimmer on his eyes as if he was approaching a wounded, frightened animal.
"I'm fine, thank you," You replied, a little too quickly for it to seem natural as you hid your hands behind your back and straightened your back.
You didn't want to tell him you fell and scrapped yourself just the other day or how your arms were sore because of the injections frequently administered into your veins. You wished to forget this.
But then again, you had no reasons to tell him that, even if his inquisitive eyes searched for something deep inside your soul. "Just a few scratches, nothing serious." You laughed it off, not mentioning the potentially growing fever that seemed to burn your body very slowly.
"I can be a little clumsy sometimes." You lied, averting your eyes from his, a shiver running down your spine as you did so. His eyes, lilac and big, were like two stars staring at you, burning you.
The boy hummed softly, not at all buying your story as his eyes lingered on the bandages that adorned your cheek. There was a thoughtful expression on his face as he observed you, as if he was trying to piece together the story behind your injuries.
He was stranger, more than this, you thought, what was he doing here? Why was he here? He didn't looked much older than you, maybe a year or two. And he didn't look dangerous too.
After a moment of silence, he finally spoke again, a little awkward and unsure as if he didn't talked much with people his age. "Glad to hear that, the name's Epel by the way." He said, a hint of genuine concern in his tone. "So... What brings you here?"
You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal to this stranger. But there was something about him that put you at ease and you found yourself opening up to him more than you had expected. You didn't felt any judgement coming from him, instead he was very warm and friendly enough that he made you forgot about where exactly you two were at that moment.
"It's Halloween. My friends wanted to visit a creepy place, even if I didn't agree to it. Not because I'm afraid, well, I am a little, but because I'm still recovering from a very bad flu. They didn't care about it, though." You answered him, and that made you cringe.
Admitting this out loud - that they didn't cared about you - was a little sad even more because of the things they had called you when you voiced your opinion. "And then, next thing I know they all go in and I'm getting soaked in the rain."
Epel nodded understandingly, a sympathetic smile gracing his lips. "But friends don't force each other into uncomfortable situations, don't call them names and don't hit them either." He stated as if it was obvious then he flicked your forehead.
You flinched, a little groan leaving your throat, not expecting this.
He was right.
And you knew it, of course you knew. But you also didn't want to be alone anymore with your thoughts. If being the scapegoat to Ace's comments and pranks was the price to pay, you found out that you didn't mind at all.
You were used to it by now.
"You don't have to endure this, you don't have to live a life you don't deserve." Epel pondered for a minute, looking at you from head to toe, water still dripping from your heavy coat. "That's what my dads say, anyway. There's a bathroom turning to the left, go dry yourself and I bring you some new clothes."
It was almost comic how you were being lectured by a stranger who didn't knew anything about you but had a little of common sense. But what was more strange was how he knew where to go and even knew where to get some clothes, humming you decided not to voice your suspicious about it and take this opportunity instead.
It would, after all, be easier to run from him in dry clothes if he truly was dangerous.
Not that you'll run that far, a voice in your head told you. But at least I could try, you answered it.
With a hesitant smile, you followed his instruction, turning left and making your way down the corridor to the bathroom. You felt his eyes on you as you walked and that scared you a little but you knew that deep down, he was not a bad person.
Or maybe you were wishing really hard for that to be the truth.
You turned the doorknob and started coughing when the dusty winds slapped your face. The bathroom as any other room was not used for many years now and its age showed. A little light came from a broken window revealing a cracked mirror hanging above a chipping sink and tons of vines still growing over the walls and stretching to the floor. You observed them for a second, in some way this was almost beautiful. You wished you had brought your phone with you. Alas, you didn't.
Your searched for a towel inside the cabinet below the sink and surprisingly enough there was one. A little dusty but it was the only thing you could use. You hanged it on the back of the door and then closed it. The bathroom now was completely dark but this was nothing new, though you didn't really like it how suffocating it could be.
You quickly strip off your wet clothes, shivering in the cold air as you used the fluffy towel to dry your feet and legs, then your torso. Part of you still find this whole situation strange and comical. Maybe you were hallucinating everything? It would not be the first time this happened. And you did spend a while out there in the rain.
As you dry yourself off as best as you can, you couldn't help but wonder about where Ace and the others had gone to. You were separated for a total of ten minutes or that was how long you had counted before giving up and entering the mansion. Could it be that they were in another wing of the mansion? Or did they leave through another exit and left you there?
Honestly you don't even want to know.
Right now, you're just grateful for the warmth of the towel and the promise of dry clothes to come. If this was indeed a dream, then you would feel saddened when you woke up. Epel was the first boy who didn't look at you with pity but with curiosity instead.
He was the first one to be gentle with you rather then offer tips about how to get better soon or how you should suck up and live instead of lamenting that you're sick again.
It was easier to cling to the idea that he was a good, caring boy instead of a total dangerous creep who was wandering around an abandoned mansion.
Moments later, there was a knock on the door and Epel's voice sounded from the other side. "I brought you some clothes," His tone still gentle and reassuring, like an absolute angel. "I hope they fit."
You open the door to find Epel standing there, holding out a bundle of clothes for you. "Thank you," you answered softly, meeting Epel's gaze with a heartfelt smile.
You close the door again, hearing his footsteps moving away while you observed the clothes he brought you, which funnily enough were exactly your size. And were similar to his own. A pair of pants and a really pretty purple coat. It seemed so fluffy and warm.
As you slip into the dry clothes he's provided, you can't help but feel a little curious while you thought about Epel. Who exactly is he and what is he doing in this abandoned mansion with his dads? Why does he seem so familiar with the layout of this place? You might not know a lot about tons of things thanks to your illness and being homeschooled, but you do know that people in abandoned mansions must be here for a reason, usually not a good one.
You're giving him the benefit of the doubt for now, though.
Still you must find your friends and leave soon. This whole game they're playing around is getting boring and you are tired.
Or I could leave alone. You reminded yourself. It's just fair to leave them when they've done the same to me many times before.
Stepping outside the bathroom, you could hear a faint sound. Weak. You couldn't understand what it was though. It was quiet like the wind howling or the house creaking, it was there only for a second before disappearing as if it had never existed. Still a chill went down your spine as if somethine was telling you to run away and don't look back.
"Epel?" You called sofly.
There was no response. The air seemed thicker now and an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of your stomach again, remembering the noises from before. Did Epel had a sudden change of heart and was going to reveal he is actually a serial killer?
Or that his dad is the serial killer? Or that someone is a serial killer?
You're watching too many documentaries, that's for sure.
You took a hesitant step forward, the floorboards creaking beneath your feet. The faint sound echoed again, this time closer, but still indistinct. It seemed to be coming from the end of the hallway, the same hallway that you supposed Epel had gone to after you went to the bathroom.
I should probably run away now. You thought.
But then again, you never had time to be curious with how quick you could get sick. You had to find out more, or you were going to regret when you got back home.
The sound became louder, more pronounced. This time, it wasn't like a whisper carried on the breeze, but like thunder that consumes everything within reach. It was unnerving, almost as if the very walls held secrets they were reluctant to divulge. And yet you were persistent enough to try and get your answers.
You followed the sound quietly, hoping that nothing bad had happened. With each step you took, you turned your nose up at the strong smell that permeated that area of the house.
"Epel?" You called out to him once again, this time louder, as soon as you turned the hallway. "Ace? Jack...? Guys?"
A figure came running in your direction and crashed into you, sending you both to the ground, dust raising as you did. The world seemed like a blur, spinning around, your ears tingling. Before you could fully process what had happened, you felt strong arms wrap tightly around your middle, pulling you close.
Instinctively, you tensed, kicking and screaming at whoever was holding you to let go.
Then you heard the familiar voice. "You're alive, thank God."
Relief flooded through you as you recognized Ace's voice, hands still raised to punch him; when you looked up, your relief turned to shock.
Ace was bloodied and bruised, his clothes torn and ragged. His face was a mask of pain and exhaustion, but despite it all, he held onto you with a fierce desperation, as if afraid to let you go. You could see guilt on his eyes, on his frown.
Guilty for how he treated you. Guilty for dragging everyone to this cursed place.
He placed his hand over your mouth and pointed to somewhere behind him with his head. "Vampires. They're real."
A half laugh escaped you. "No, Ace, they aren't."
But as you glanced over his shoulder, you couldn't deny the sublte movement in the darkness, the sense of danger lurking just beyond your sight. For only a second, you thought you saw a pair of lilac eyes and then it disappeared as if it didn't existed.
You remembered Epel. His familiarity with this mansion, how he was walking in the dark as if he could see clearly. You thought about the strange sounds you had been hearing and the bad, metallic smell. Despite your doubts, you could feel fear growing on you, whispering that perhaps there was more to Ace's warning than you were willing to admit.
Before you could think about it, Ace stood up and helped you, looking to the dark that still surround you - the moon hidden behind the clouds, his grip on your hand tight as the darkness only grew.
"I do a lot of dumb shit but there's no way I'm going to pour fake blood on me. You have to trust me on this." He begged you, almost desperately, taking both your hands on his own as he stared at you with pitiful eyes.
But you still couldn't believe him, not yet, there was so many holes on his plot.
What if it was just another prank? Once Ace pretended that he was been chased by a serial killer or something and then laughed when you got worried, being really dismissive and cruel to you. You met his gaze. Could it be true? Could creatures of myth truly walk among us?
No... Yes...? Everything was so confusing.
You met Epel and he didn't seem like a vampire to you. And if he was one, he was a very polite one.
"I doubt it." Is finally your answer. But even you could tell your tone was unsure. "Call Jack, Deuce and Sebek back and let's go home already. My feet hurt."
Ace threw his hands up as a disbelieving laugh escaped him. Dried blood made you wrinkle your nose as he was still close enough for you to catch the scent. Ace paced back and forth for several seconds, like a man convinced of a bad idea but who desires more than anything to pursue it without a second thought.
"You don't understand the gravity of the situation!" He exclaimed, his voice filled with indignation as his hands trembled slightly. "Jack and Sebek are dead. Deuce is missing. They were murdered by that trio of vampires. Why, out of everyone who could have stayed alive, do I end up with the sick and useless burden? The one who can't run? The one who can't do anything? Why did you live while they didn't?"
You felt a lump form in your throat upon hearing Ace's words, laden with pain and frustration. Tears threatened to flood your eyes as the weight of Ace's final words hit you like a punch to the gut, his voice dripping with bitterness and despair.
You felt like a dead weight, a burden only bringing more pain and suffering to those around you. It was a feeling you knew all too well.
Impotence. Sadness. Yes, you knew them well.
You searched for any trace of regret in Ace's eyes, hoping there was something there. But there was nothing, as if the red of his eyes was just a facade for the darkness behind them.
Sometimes he talked before thinking. That was one of those times but this didn't excuse his behavior.
"Well… This sick burden here won't bother you anymore, if you want to run, then run. If you want to escape, then escape, I won't delay you."
Tiny tears finally escaped your eyes, rolling silently down your cheeks as you felt yourself sinking into the darkness of your mind. Burden, burden, burden, being repeated over and over again.
"Oh, Ace, my feet hurt, oh, Ace, you hurt my feelings and now I'm crying like a fucking baby. For fuck's sake, we have no time for this!" He exhaled hard, his frustration palpable in the air.
You took a step back, pulling away from him. Your head was a mess right now, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and thoughts fighting each other. And it was so hot here, unbearably hot.
The weight of Ace's words hanged heavy in the air, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. You felt hurt by his harsh words and the way he had dismissed you so callously. Like he always did, always used to do in front of his friends. You wiped your tears away roughly, feeling a surge of frustration building within you.
With a final, determined glance in his direction, you turned and walked away, a little awkward and feeling really hot all of sudden. Each step bringing shivers down your spine, feeling as if thousands of eyes were staring right at you.
"Fine... I'm going to prove to you that there's nothing there." You pointed to the dark corner. Too tired to care about the possible danger lurking around.
"Wait- get back here!" Ace whisper shouted. Almost desperately.
You paid him no mind, couldn't find the strength to care. If there was a mystical monster then at least you could ask it some questions and you had so many. If there wasn't, you two could go home and reunite with your other friends tomorrow.
"I'm going to count to three and then I'm going to run." Ace warned you.
You were almost there. The air was a little heavy now but you knew it was just fear acting up. Sweet, heavy air that didn't seem to want to reach your lungs. You breathed through your mouth instead, counting the sound of your footsteps and the whistle of the wind.
There was nothing there.
"One." He started, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead and coating his shirt. Fear was visible in his eyes when you turned to face him.
"There's no one here, Ace." You gestured to the dark corner. Though you felt uncomfortable there, you shifted from one foot to another, looking around.
Yep, nothing there. Or so you thought.
Slowly Ace started to move away, still facing the dark you so willingly surrounded yourself. He made a vague gesture for you to follow him, audibly gulping large amounts of saliva, wetting his lips with his tongue.
Is he being serious about this whole vampire thing? You ponder about. The human perception truly was something curious, the mind capable of creating something with so little. Or perhaps this was all a prank? You couldn't quite decide what to think about.
"Tw--"
An unexpected noise sounded behind you interrupting him. Both of you froze, your heart pounding in your chest. Gentle hands settled on your shoulders, drawing you back until you were pressed against someone's chest. All that escaped your lips was a small gasp.
Feeling the cold of the person's body against your back, you couldn't shake off the tremor of fear that ran through your whole body. There was someone behind you, someone you didn't know who they were. You could feel whoever it was breathing, cold air trickling down your neck, a smile on their face as their arms wrapped around your mid. Too tightly.
Slowly turning your head, you found yourself face to face with Epel. As Ace had said, a formidable figure - a vampire. Though he wasn't the same gentle and soft boy you met minutes before, now he was dangerous, and his fangs were exposed, his eyes glinting with an unsettling hunger and yet, playfulness.
Behind him, stood a beautiful man. A long, black coat wavying in the air as he walked out of the shadows, blood dripping from his chin. Unashamed, he licked it, savoring it.
"Why...?" You ask the boy who held you. Tired.
Epel's grip on you tightened, his eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that sent shivers down your spine. "Why?" He imitated you, his voice a mix of amusement and something darker. "Because I hate people like your friends. They can'tsee anything beyond their limited world vision, everything is so easy to them so they don'tcare about the feelings and thoughts of people like you."
Ace, who had been standing frozen in place, finally found his voice. "w'dya mean? I didn't do shit!"
The beautiful man in the black coat stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Ace. He wiped the remaining blood from his chin with a casual swipe of his thumb. "So you say but you see... The way you talked about your little friend here made my son very mad. You aren't very fond of them, are you?"
"I don't understand," you whispered, looking at Epel. "Why are you doing this? What did Ace do to deserve this?"
Epel's expression softened for a moment, a hint of regret flickering in his eyes before he hardened again. "It's not about what Ace did. It's about what he didn't. He didn't care about you at all, and that much was obvious since he invaded our home. He was joking and telling his friends all your most embarrassing stories to whoever wanted to hear."
He sounded sincere. He sounded sincere and you hated because you believed in him, his breath icy agains your feverish hot skin. "But don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. Or him for that matter, but father will."
The man in the black coat chuckled, his laughter sending a chill through the air. "That I will, for he dare enter in my territory, dirtying our portraits and damaging our coffins. And I suppose, insulting your little friend too, Epel."
You could see how Ace wanted to run, to escape the madness that was about to unfold before you, but his legs, like yours, felt like lead. Instead of running, he found himself rooted to the spot and he was shaking like a leaf about to fall to the ground.
His bravado had disappeared.
"Are you trembling, mortal? Are you afraid?" Epel's father hissed, his voice a chilling whisper that slithered into your ears and sent shivers cascading down your spine. His eyes, cold and piercing, bore into Ace's eyes with an intensity that made your breath caught up on your lungs.
The air around you seemed to grow colder, as if his very presence was siphoning away the warmth. "Good," he continued, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "You should be."
At any second now you were about to have a panic attack or faint. Your body was still deciding what to do, really.
Epel's father moved with an elegance that was terrifying in its beauty, each step deliberate, his presence commanding and predatory. Before Ace could even think to react or to run, Vil was on him, faster than a flicker of light. There was no hesitation, no room for escape — the vampire’s hand shot out, slamming Ace against the cold, cracked wall with such force that a strangled gasp tore from his throat.
You froze, helpless, as Vil’s fingers tightened around Ace’s throat, lifting him just high enough that his feet barely scraped the ground. Ace struggled, his nails digging into Vil's hand. It was like watching a wounded animal fight a hawk.
“Is this all?” Vil murmured, his voice as soft and smooth as silk. He had the kind of voice that could calm anyone, his soft german accent coming out. “Is this the best you can do?” He tilted his head regarding Ace with an expression of mock disappointment.
"Indeed, how pitiful." A third voice. You turned around to see Epel’s other dad; another blonde, but this one had savage eyes and a strange smile on his lips.
And he was bloody all over; all over his lips, all over his white shirt. And he didn't care at all about it.
"Tsc, such a messy eater, you are." Vil looked at him with a disgusted stare. The other vampire only smiled.
"Plea-se..." Ace’s breath came in ragged, desperate gasps, but there was no strength left to fight back. The couple turned to face him.
"He is not worthy to be killed by you, mon amour." The smaller blonde said to his lover. The taller one giggled.
You took a step forward, your heart pounding painfully in your chest, but Epel caught your wrist, stopping you. “No,” he whispered, pulling you back gently, his eyes meeting yours with a sorrowful understanding. “It’s already over.”
“But… he’ll die,” you whispered back, tears blurring your vision, your voice barely a choked whimper.
Epel’s grip on you tightened, his expression soft but resolute. “He brought this on himself. Don’t look. You don’t have to see this.”
But you couldn’t tear your gaze away as Vil leaned closer to Ace, his lips brushing against the pulse in his neck.
"Are you hungry?" He asked Rook.
"Je suis satisfait, love." His answer was instantaneous.
Vil nodded. And then, without warning, his fangs sank into Ace’s flesh.
His body jerked violently, his mouth opening in a silent scream as Vil began to drink. The sight was horrifying — watching as Ace's life was drained away, the color fading from his face with each passing second. You felt your knees buckle, but Epel held you steady, his touch the only thing anchoring you as you fought to keep from collapsing.
Vil pulled back after a moment, blood staining his lips, his eyes glowing with an eerie, predatory light. He watched Ace with a detached, almost curious gaze as the boy’s body sagged in his grasp, barely conscious, trembling with the last vestiges of life.
“Such a waste,” Vil murmured, his voice tinged with a faint hint of regret. Then, with a swift, effortless motion, he snapped Ace’s neck.
The sound echoed in the silence, sharp and final, and you flinched, biting back a sob that threatened to escape. Vil released Ace, letting him crumple to the ground in a lifeless heap. He turned back to you and Epel, dabbing at his lips with a handkerchief, his expression once again composed, as if nothing had happened at all.
“There,” He said, his voice calm, almost bored. “One less distraction.”
You trembled, unable to find the words, the sight of Ace’s lifeless body burned into your mind. The tears you had been holding back finally spilled over, and you tried to wipe them away, tried to force yourself to breathe. But the weight of what had just happened made it feel impossible.
Epel moved closer, wrapping his arms around you again, his touch gentle as he guided your head to rest against his shoulder. “It’s okay,” He whispered, his voice soft, almost soothing. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
But even with Epel’s arms around you, you felt anything but safe. All you could see was Ace’s pale, lifeless face, the blood staining the ground, and the haunting, satisfied smile that still lingered on Vil’s lips.
“Mon trésor,” Rook murmured, his voice smooth like velvet as he addressed Vil. “You were as breathtaking as ever. Such skill, such grace.” His eyes drifted toward Ace's lifeless form before settling back on Vil with unrestrained admiration. “Tonight we've found so many little treasures. Yet the most interesting is still here.”
Vil sighed softly, shaking his head as he finished wiping the blood from his lips with a cloth. “What is it you want, Rook?” His tone was gentle but tinged with exasperation, as if he were used to indulging Rook's whims.
Rook gestured to you, his eyes alight with excitement. “This one. Look at them. They’ve endured so much yet still remain standing. Such resilience in one so delicate — it is rare, mon amour. I believe they belong with us.”
Vil’s gaze softened as he took in your form - frail, trembling, and clearly unwell, your breath labored. He stepped closer, moving with a kind of grace that seemed almost otherworldly, until he stood directly in front of you.
He reached out, hesitating for just a moment before brushing a stray strand of hair from your face, his touch gentle and warm despite the chill of his skin. “You’re burning up,” Vil observed, his voice laced with concern. “How long have you been suffering like this?”
You couldn’t find your voice, throat dry and tight, but you managed a small shake of your head, a weak attempt to dismiss his worry. Epel, who still held onto you, answered in your stead, his voice barely above a whisper. “They’ve been like this for a hour or so, Father. They got caught in the rain.”
Vil frowned, his brows knitting together in a way that seemed almost heartbreaking. “You should have come to me sooner, Epel,” He scolded, though his tone remained soft. “You know I would have helped.” He looked back at you, eyes now filled with a gentle determination. “You poor thing. You must’ve endured so much on your own.”
Rook’s eyes gleamed with something akin to pride as he watched Vil’s interaction with you, his smile growing wider. “See, mon amour? I knew you would understand. They need care, guidance. They need us.”
Vil nodded slowly, a resigned sigh escaping his lips. “Yes… they do.” He turned back to you, his expression softer than you’d ever thought possible, even more because he was the killer of your childhood friend.
“I used to be a doctor once,” He confessed, his voice quiet, as though sharing a secret. “And I have not forgotten the duty I took upon myself to care for those who needed me.”
You felt your eyes welling up with tears, unable to fully comprehend the kindness he was showing you. “You… you don’t have to…” you tried to protest, but the words died in your throat, the exhaustion and fever taking their toll.
“Hush,” Vil murmured, his thumb brushing against your cheek in a gesture that was achingly tender. “You’ve fought enough for one day. Let us take care of you now.” He glanced at Epel, who had been watching everything with wide, hopeful eyes. "Epel, go and prepare some chamomile tea, Rook, you wouldn't have a tonic for the fever, would you?"
Rook beamed, clearly delighted by how things were unfolding. “Ah, how wonderful! Our family grows once more!” He reached out to help steady you, his touch light, as though afraid you might break. “I don't have any remedy with me now, mon roi but I can go and brought more.”
Epel’s face lit up, and he quickly nodded, disappearing among the shadows and leaving you alone with them. These mythological creatures, killers. And also your helpers.
This moment never came.
"Then go, we'll be waiting" Vil said to his lover, depositing a small kiss on his forehead before he disappeared into the shadows and the darkness.
"We'll then, this way, little one." Vil's hand never left your shoulder as he guided you slowly through the corridors - you were skittish, preparing yourself for the moment where he would attack you, that he would kill you.
Vil’s grip remained firm but gentle, his touch more reassuring than restrictive. He led you through the dimly lit corridors of the mansion, his footsteps echoing softly on the wooden floor, a stark contrast to the loud, frantic beating of your heart.
You flinched at every shadow that flickered in the candlelight, expecting at any moment for him to bare his fangs, to reveal that this kindness had been nothing more than a cruel joke. But that moment also never came.
Instead, Vil paused at a doorway, pushing it open with a smooth motion and revealing a warmly lit room. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and lavender, and you caught sight of a large, comfortable coffin piled high with soft blankets.
“You’ll rest here,” Vil said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He guided you over to the coffin - his coffin, carefully easing you down onto the mattress. As you sank into the softness, a sigh of relief escaped your lips, your body finally succumbing to the exhaustion that had been clawing at you.
“But… why?” The question slipped from your mouth before you could stop it, your voice barely more than a whisper. “Why are you being so kind to me? Why won't you kill me?”
Vil’s eyes softened, and for the first time, you saw a trace of something warmer beneath the icy exterior—a hint of sadness, perhaps even empathy. “Because you deserve it,” He answered simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’ve suffered enough, haven’t you?”
You blinked up at him, struggling to process his words, to believe that someone like him — a vampire, a predator, a killer— could possess such tenderness. “But I’m just… I’m just a burden,” you murmured, your voice cracking with the weight of your insecurities.
Vil’s expression hardened, and he crouched down in front of you, bringing himself to your eye level. “No one in my care will ever be a burden,” He said firmly, and there was an intensity in his gaze that made you believe him, even if only for a moment. “You have worth, little one. More than you know and more that you're capable to see right now.”
Epel entered the room then, carrying a tray laden with steaming cups and small vials filled with colorful liquids. “Father, I’ve brought some tea.”
Vil stood, taking the tray from his son and placing it on the bedside table. “Drink,” He instructed, holding out one of the cups to you. “It will help.”
Your hands trembled as you reached for it, but Vil’s steadying grip enveloped yours, guiding the cup to your lips. The warmth spread through you, soothing the chill that had taken residence in your bones, and you couldn’t help but sigh as the tension slowly began to melt away.
"Don't make such a long face, darling," Vil reprimanded you, his fingers smoothing down the traces of worry and tiredness.
"I just... You know you are my friend's killer, right? I don't know how to react to that." You were sincere, avoiding his piercing gaze as you observed the porcelain and the drawings from his cup.
"We kill to survive, not for pleasure or entertainment, I can see how things may be from your point of view but you don't have to worry." He sighed, looking back at his son, Vil could see that he had grown quite attached to you. And the sight made him quite warm.
Epel was a terribly lone child in his opinion, and it would do wonders for him if he had a younger sibling.
"What will happen to me?" You dare ask him the question that made you scared. His hand found yours and he squeezed it gently.
"I will take care of you," He told you. Vil’s lips quirked up into the faintest of smiles. “Do you want to lie down now or wait for Rook to return with your medicine?” He turned his attention back to you, his eyes softer than before, and you answered him by letting your body fall into the coffin. “I see, well, rest now. We’ll be here when you wake up.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, you allowed yourself to believe those words, to let your guard down, even just a little. As your eyelids grew heavy and sleep began to pull you under, the fever subsiding slowly, you felt Vil's hand slide into yours, his thumb brushing over your knuckles in a comforting gesture.
“You’re safe now,” He whispered, and with that, you let the darkness take you, lulled into a dreamless sleep by the warmth of their kindness.
Things may have not been ideal but they weren't that bad - for you, that is.
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heartfullofleeches · 10 months ago
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hhhrggrhrgrg NL Darling feeling a sort of kinship with mono right off the bat because oh?? not human?? metal bits?? all alone??? :)) friend
Mono 🤝 Nightlight Darling
Lonely Bots with a space theme who long for someone to hold- [just gonna use this ask to slap on the full blurb I made with these two cuties]
-
Mono finds Nightlight abandoned in a scrap yard on what would've been their last evening on earth for some time - searching for the perfect item to bring with them until they returned. Throughout their travels, Mono had developed an affinity for collecting souvenirs from the planets they stumbled upon. Though its time was often brief - Mono felt a certain homesickness for every planet as they no longer had a home of their own. When they reached earth, their little hobby gradually escalates to a borderline addiction. So many treasures left for grabs in places like junk yards or antique shops simply because humans no longer see their worth.
If it were up to Mono, they would've taken everything they set their eye upon, but all that weight may not be good for their ship. They needed to find the perfect treasure to bring back with them..
And so they did.
"H..he....hello?"
When Mono found Nightlight - the poor android was in a terrible state of repair. Their dominant arm was nowhere to be seen, body covered in dirt and small scratches. Mono knew from the moment it saw Nightlight they'd do anything to fix them. Never had they'd seen such gorgeous craftsmanship from humans - only for them to be abandoned in cold, awful place like this. Mono carries Nightlight and the blanket they found the android in to their ship. What Mono thought to be a final gesture of kindess from the humans who cared for them would later be revealed as the cruelest act by far.
"They didn't even bother to shut me off properly... My last owners... They just put me in a blanket and made sure my solar panels were covered...I still remember...everything..."
The energy draining from their body. The loss of mobility in their limbs, unable to move even if they tried after being left in idle mode. Their former owners couldn't even give them the mercy of powering them down completely or wiping their system.
Nightlight isn't their usual self when they first meet Mono, but it isn't long before they're back to their cheerful self with how considerate and caring Mono is. Hints of their former self presented whenever Mono offers to leave their former owners to rot in filth or to rip off the arms of thieves who stole their arms. They haven't known them long, but they can tell Mono would never hurt they soul which they wouldn't.....at least not in front of their new crewmate. It's also hard for Nightlight to feel down when they can see earth right outside their bedroom window.
"Whoa! Is that earth?! It looks so small from up here... Look, I can hold it in my hands!"
Nightlight's energetic self is exactly what Mono's ship needed for it to finally feel like home to the alien. The android's lights are quite useful when the light surrounding the ship are on the fritz again as well. When it's time to repair nightlight's arm, Mono sneaks in parts of their metal into the limb during its construction. Unbeknownst to Nightlight, in Mono's culture that means they're already lovers.
Tiny human sized nightlight rides around on Mono's shoulders or clings to the larger bot's arms, legs, or hip whenever they're exploring. Anyone they meet along their journey can see how quick to iteration Mono is without their Starlight hanging off of them.
As some may know, Mono's native language best translate to Morse code. What some may not know - and something Mono was clearly unaware of is that Nightlight can understand them perfectly-
-
"Wow....I knew stars were beautiful, but seeing them up close... it's amazing."
"It is true they are a marvel to see in person...."
Mono trails off, sliding their fingers over the collar around its neck.
"-… ..- - / .. / -.- -. --- .-- / --- -. . / - …. .- - / … …. .. -. . … / -… .-. .. --. …. - . .-."
"Oh! Are you talking about me? You're so sweet, Mono - i think you shine bright too."
".-- …. .- - ..--.. -.-.-- ..... You can understand me? How long have you been able to..."
"Forever? You talk a whole lot in your sleep, y'know. It's cute... I love you too by the way."
The embarrassment may temporarily shut Mono's systems down, but hearing Nightlight reciprocates their feelings is what kills them.
[Translations: But I know a star that shines brighter, What?!]
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cannabiscomrade · 1 year ago
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It's Gastroparesis Awareness Month
Hi! I have gastroparesis and I'm an insufferable know-it-all so let's talk about it!
Gastroparesis, or a paralyzed stomach, is a condition that causes delayed gastric emptying.
This can cause a range of symptoms and complications:
nausea
vomiting
early satiety/fullness
upper gastric pain
heartburn
malabsorption
dehydration
malnutrition
Gastroparesis can be treated by a gastroenterologist, but often needs to be managed by a motility specialist due to a lot of misconceptions about the condition. Providers, especially in the emergency department, will commonly misdiagnose gastroparesis as cannabis-hyperemesis syndome, cyclic vomiting syndrome, gastritis, food poisoning, etc.
There are several commonly known causes of gastroparesis like vagus nerve damage from diabetes, injury to the stomach, and stomach surgery like hernia repair or bariatric surgery. There are also idiopathic cases with no known cause. Other causes of gastroparesis are:
Connective tissue disorders like HSD and EDS (commonly hEDS and cEDS)
Post-viral (like COVID, viral gastritis, mononucleosis/Epstein-Barr)
Restrictive eating disorders
Autoimmune diseases like Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), Lupus, Hashimoto's
Central nervous system disorders
Gastroparesis also has common comorbidities with conditions like:
POTS and other forms of dysautonomia (POTS, EDS, and gastroparesis are a common triad of diagnoses)
MCAS
SMAS (which can also present with similar symptoms to GP)
Intestinal dysmotility and esophageal dysmotility disorders (known as global dysmotility)
PCOS with insulin resistance
Endometriosis
SIBO/SIFO
Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
Migraines
Certain medications like Ozempic and other drugs in that class act on the digestive system to delay gastric emptying, which has caused people to be diagnosed with gastroparesis. Some people report that their cases have not gone away since stopping the medication, others report feeling better after stopping. Other drugs like opiates and narcotics can cause delayed gastric and intestinal motility as well, but these are commonly known side effects of those painkiller classes.
Gastroparesis is classed based on severity and graded based on how you respond to treatment.
Severity of delay ranges from mild to very severe, and this is based on your actual stomach retention calculated at 4 hours into a gastric emptying study.
The grading scale ranges from one to three, one being mild and three being gastric failure.
There is no consistent single treatment that is proven to work for gastroparesis, and there is no cure. Treatments can consist of:
Diet changes (3 Step Gastroparesis Diet, liquid diet, oral sole source nutrition)
Prokinetic (motility stimulating) drugs
Anti-nausea medications
Proton-pump inhibitors
Gastric stimulator/gastric pacemaker
Pyloric botox and dilation
G-POEM/pyloroplasty
Post-pyloric tube feeding
Gastric venting/draining
Parenteral nutrition
IV fluids
Other surgical interventions like gastrectomy or rarely, transplant
Gastroparesis is a terrible disease and I hope that if any of these symptoms resonate with you that you can get checked out. I was misdiagnosed for a long time before getting a proper gastroparesis diagnosis, and all it took was a gastric emptying study. This is ESPECIALLY true if you're having post-COVID gastrointestinal problems that are not improving. I almost died from starvation ketoacidosis because of how serious my GP got in a short period of time post-COVID (I had GP before COVID), and now I'm tube reliant for all my nutrition and hydration.
Stay safe friends!
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lonestarbattleship · 26 days ago
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November 17, 2024 update from the Battleship Texas Foundation
"Happy Restoration Update!
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Work has continued apace on the Battleship since the last update.
There is now over 2/3s of the wood deck has been laid on the bow and it looks like all wood decking on the bow will be laid by the end of the 1st week of December (weather permitting).
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Superstructures all the way up to the foretop has been painted. Look at that purty paint!
The last areas of to be blasted and painted (the superstructure deck) are in progress with the starboard side superstructure getting primed today. Portside superstructure deck will get blasted and primed next week, followed by top coats and then cleanup.
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Freshly blasted starboard superstructure deck.
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Same area, black primer applied.
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More primer on the superstructure deck.
The repairs to the steel deck on the stern were completed this week and the welders and fitters turned to on the Galley area repairing damage uncovered by abrasive blasting -including repairing the drainage system above and in the Galley.
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Repaired deck drain above the Galley.
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Repaired decking, deck drain, and railing above the Galley.
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More repaired railing and decking above the galley
Scaffolding came down the Aft Fire Control Tower and the cranes, allowing the first good look at the AFCT since it was repaired and its appearance restored.
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What the Aft Fire Control Tower looked like before restoration started.
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What the Aft Fire Control Tower looks like after being repaired and externally restored.
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Freshly painted and repaired port crane.
And lastly a few of our awesome volunteers came out today to help get the ship ready for tours by removing a dumpster load of scrap wood.
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Battleship volunteers sending bad wood down the chute into the dumpster.
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A nearly full dumpster of bad wood and scraps.
A job well done by all hands!"
Posted on the Battleship Texas Foundation Facebook page: link
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acaciusbride · 2 years ago
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dbf!joel catching you staring at his biceps….
Here you go, Anon! 💞
There are about a dozen reasons why you shouldn’t be interested in him. Firstly, and probably most importantly, he’s your dad’s best friend, which leads to secondly, he’s about twenty odd years older than you, maybe. Next, he’s a smuggler. A criminal. Which, you know you can’t judge, given that your dad is, too, but still… Joel is Bad News, capital B, capital N. Everyone in the QZ knows not to fuck with him. Even FEDRA officers; hell, they’re more likely to buy whatever he brings into the zone than bust him for it.
There’s a certain element of danger to him that draws you in, and hell, the fact that he’s your dad’s buddy? Doesn’t really bother you like it should. It’s not like you’re ever going to act on your interest, after all.
That’s not going to stop you from staring, though. It’s the middle of the afternoon, your dad’s out on a job - repairing one of the security systems, he won’t be home til late - and you’ve helped yourself to a glass or two of the illicitly made bourbon kept in the pantry. More importantly, Joel’s come past to drop something or other off, and he’s helped himself to your booze stash too, because, in his words, no girl your age should be drinking this shit. What does he know? You’re in your mid twenties, old enough to drink. More than old enough.
Anyway, the point is he’s sitting on your couch, drinking your shitty booze, the sunlight pouring through the grimy window, lighting up all the silver streaks in his dark hair, falling onto his bare forearms. Does he know how goddamn illicit he looks in a t-shirt? Surely he does.
You’re just minding your own business, sipping your liquor, admiring the view, wondering how many other women in the Zone have the same opinion, when he breaks the silence.
“What’re you lookin’ at, sweetheart?”
Oh, shit. He’s caught you. There’s absolutely no way you can plausibly deny it, either. Doesn’t mean you’re not going to try.
“Uh…”
“What? Didn’t anyone ever teach you it’s rude to stare?” He doesn’t sound pissed, more amused than anything as he looks at you over the rim of his half-full glass.
You shrug, deciding that saying nothing is better than putting your foot in it.
Apparently, that’s the wrong decision.
“Still haven’t answered me.” He was very, very clearly waiting for you to, as well.
Okay. No way out of it after all. You drained the rest of your glass, took a little comfort in the warmth it spread through your body. They called liquor liquid courage for a reason.
“You, I guess, but you already knew that.”
He smirked, lopsided. It didn’t comfort you; this was a man who had been through hell and walked out the other side. He was dangerous, he killed people! What on earth had made you think this was a good idea???
You were just about to open your mouth to apologise when he held up a hand, then motioned for you to come sit. Not next to him, oh no. He motioned right to his lap. Your mouth went dry. Not that the idea wasn’t appealing, it most certainly was. You were just once again, startlingly aware of how dangerous this man was. It didn’t stop you, though. He set the glass aside and watched you, expectant.
You got up from your armchair, crossed the small, shabby living room to sit yourself down in his lap, straddling him. Maybe not what he had expected, but you weren’t going to half ass this, especially when you weren’t sure if he was going to change his mind. You honestly weren’t sure if you were going to change your own mind; you probably should have, but the second you sat down, his hands went to your waist, holding you in place.
“This what you were thinking about?” He asks, eyes half narrowed as he looks at you; trying to get a better read on you. He’s suspected your interest for a while now, but he’s tried to be respectful. Tried. It’s not been fucking easy, that’s for damn sure. But, well, when opportunity arises…
It’s not only opportunity that’s risen, not with the way you’re straddling him.
“Sort of,” you admit. The liquor has given you a surge of courage, and for that, you’re grateful. You’re not sure you would ever have had the courage to do this without it.
“Oh? Something else?”
You huff. You’d only been staring at his arms, those muscled biceps, trying to imagine how solid he would feel around you. You didn’t have to imagine now; with his hands on your waist you were comfortably enveloped by his arms.
“C’mon, pretty girl. I’m sure you can use your words. God knows I’ve heard you sass off enough times before.” Joel is absolutely amused by this; he knows you’ll fall for the bait, because that’s precisely what he’s doing. Baiting you, playing with his food before he eats it. It’s not necessarily the nicest thing to do, but he’s not necessarily a nice man.
“What, you wanna hear all the questionable thoughts I’ve ever had?” You ask, rising to the bait.
“So they’re questionable, huh?” Another smirk as you realise what you’ve said.
“I mean, uh- no? Not all of them?”
Only most of them. Only when you’re alone, or when he’s distracting you by simply existing.
“Not all? But most? Huh, nice to know pretty things like you think of me in such a way.”
“Like you don’t know what women think of you.” You snort, refusing to believe that for a second.
He shrugs. “Not my main priority.”
“No?” You raise an eyebrow at him.
“No, but when an opportunity presents itself… well… I’d be stupid not to take it, wouldn’t I?”
You roll your eyes.
“I don’t see you taking anything.”
He stares at you for a moment, as though assessing you, trying to decide something.
“Brat.” He says finally, before he fists his hand in your hair and yanks you into a rough kiss.
You don’t bother to deny it, not sure you even want to. You’re more focused on the kiss, the way he devours your mouth like a starving man. This? This is exactly what you wanted, though you’d never have been brave enough to ask. But he’s not asking, he’s taking, leading the way in this, and you’re absolutely fine with that.
He’s eager and demanding, and when he pulls away you’re a little dazed.
“Is that what I’ll get every time I stare at you?” You dare to ask, cheeky.
He gives you a half exasperated look, rolls his eyes, before he leans in to kiss you again, effectively shutting you up this time.
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mtayl0rr · 2 years ago
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The Anomaly: 1
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Prologue Pairing: Miguel O’Hara x f!Original Character Rating: Mature Length: 1.2K Summary: Nobody gets the upper hand on Spider-Man 2099. Nobody, until a strange anomaly slipped from his grasp. Now, he’ll stop at nothing until he finds her. Warnings: enemies to lovers, eventual smut, cannon typical violence, graphic depictions of violence, Miguel is a bitch but so is she, cursing, angst, etc. trauma Note: First full chapter!! I promise the escape trope isn't finished after one chapter have faith i have stuff planned
Earth-B9402 was not Madelynn’s typical jump. Her brawl with 2099 left the watch she’d stolen broken and almost unusable. Although she still had her hacked day pass, she was stuck in a new universe. The jump killed the watch, sending her to the only coordinates she could punch into the cracked screen.
She managed to find shelter in the basement of an abandoned department store. It had all she needed: a couch, some blankets, miscellaneous materials she could use to repair her suit. Coming from where she did, she was used to living off of nothing. The shower in the old break room was stained red, a mix of blood and boxed hair dye. She didn’t take the time to wonder what store needed a shower for employees, but if she had the opportunity, why not take it. Now her hair will mirror the color of the blood she’ll draw from those who stand in her way. Those who side with 2099 in trying to capture her. All traces of brunette were wiped from the canvas of her body as every memory of the life she used to live washed down the drain with the blood and chemicals streaming off her skin.
Madelynn cursed under her breath as she ran the washcloth over her puncture wounds. 2099 was close to scratching bone when he finally caught her back on Earth-904H7. The coarse scabs forming over the exposed flesh looked angry as soap mixed with muscle. Hopefully, she’d never see 2099 again, and he’d never know that his wound elicited tears.
She’d never forget his haunting voice as he whispered in her ear threats of death if she dared to run. His low timbre sent a shiver down her spine, but she knew it was hollow. He wouldn’t be the one to kill her. Someone back home would. He’d just be the one to send her there.
Once she was dry, and her suit was repaired, Madelynn basked in the warmth of the torn up blankets left in the store. Anything was better than sleeping on the rooftops the past two nights. But, her relaxation was short-lived. The familiar tingling of her spine woke her up. The room was illuminated with a red hue, the same color of 2099’s glowing webbing. He was here, outside, looking for her.
Her suit was still half repaired; the blood was removed but the claw marks remained, her skin showing through the ripped elastic. Quickly, she ripped the vent cover off the corner and crawled through, swatting through cobwebs and rat shit. She had no idea how he tracked her down; the locator on her day pass and the watch were disabled. But, she didn’t have time to dwell on the “how.” He was here, and probably angry.
Through the echoes of the vent system, she heard his voice bounce off the walls; an agonizing scream of anger. He knew she was there, or at least had been. The shower was still wet, the blankets still rustled on the old couch. But he couldn’t fit through the vents like she could. He could assume where she was hiding, but he had no means of following her. As much as she hated to admit it, 2099 had an impressive physique. Heightened strength aside, he threw her around as if she was nothing. That night on Earth-904H7, his broad shoulders blocked the moonlight, drowning her in darkness. But, it meant that he couldn’t follow her.
Madelynn reached a vent gate that led to the outside of the department store, but she couldn’t risk taking such an obvious path. She pushed the gate open, shooting webs to make it look like she’d swung away before continuing her path through the vents. The whirring of the system grew louder the farther she climbed through the maze of metal tunnels and cobwebs, but her pace never faltered. She occasionally flinched at the sound of something hitting the dented paths, but she assumed it was simply her weight on the flimsy material. There was no way she was being followed.
Eventually, she made a big circle through the system, ending up right back where she started in the basement. Before she slid through the still open gate, Madelynn scanned the room, waiting for her spine to tingle at any danger, but nothing came. She’d successfully averted 2099 again. Her knees ached from all the crawling, the scabs gracing her skin nearly reopening from the abrasion of her suit’s fabric. Falling onto her couch, she lifted the edge of her mask and took a sip of the drink she’d stolen from upstairs before melting into the covers, only accompanied by the sound of something tapping on the metal of the vents.
Little did she know, while 2099 had fallen for her staged escape earlier, he hadn’t fully trusted it, sending a camera drone to search the vents he watched her crawl into. Now, it lurked in the opening where the vent grate used to be, waiting for 2099 to return.
He returned on foot, the red hue of his webs not giving him away this time as he gently rushed down the stairs to the basement. He could hear her labored breathing, her shoes tapping on the concrete floors. Curses ran through his mind as he calculated how much time he wasted falling for her simple deceit. He was nearly outsmarted again, but he wouldn’t let a slip up like last time happen.
One thing Madelynn neglected to remember about 2099 was despite his towering stature, he was abnormally stealthy. The last thing she expected was to be pushed against the wall, hearing the sound of her bone crack as 2099’s exposed face was inches from her own. Before she had time to react, he ripped her mask off her head, exposing the soft skin of her neck, and sunk his fangs into her flesh.
The effect of his venom was nearly instantaneous. Her body grew hot, the poison intertwining with her blood, leaving her limbs limp and dangling as 2099 crushed her body to the wall. She tried to speak, but her mouth wouldn’t move as she lost control of her jaw and tongue. All that came out was a pathetic scream of agony. All she could do was breathe, look, and listen as 2099 pulled away from her neck, licking her blood from his fangs as it dripped from his lips. His eyes glistened with a sick triumph as he moved his mouth closer to her ear.
“There’s nowhere to run,” he whispered, letting go of her body. She fell to the floor with a hard thump, her red hair mixing with the pool of blood flowing from her neck, watching helplessly as 2099 tapped at his watch, wiping curls of sweat soaked brown hair from his forehead.
The last thing she remembered was cursing how horrifyingly handsome he was under his mask before she succumbed to the lulls of the venom and passed out on the cold concrete.
Chapter 2
Comment or dm to be added to a taglist <3
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mama-qwerty · 2 months ago
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I know I try to be encouraging.
I try to be upbeat and offer support.
But this . . .
There's nothing encouraging here.
Hate won. Full stop. That's what it boils down to. One candidate personified hope and healing and moving forward to make things better for everyone, and the other personified hate and anger and fear and greed, and dragging us back to the time when rich white men ruled and everyone else better just shut up and appreciate the scraps they're given.
And this country, this fucking country, picked HIM.
I want to say it's rigged. Republicans can't win an election without huge amounts of shifty practices, such as gerrymandering districts and tossing out mail in absentee ballots, and making it harder and harder for areas that are primarily blue to vote. Phony 'vote registration' websites have been created, tricking people into 'registering' there when it simply collects their data for unknown purposes. Thousands of people discovered their registration was suddenly suspended or tossed out entirely when they'd had no problems voting in the past.
I want to say this whole system is rigged beyond repair.
And maybe it is.
It certainly seems that way, when people seem to vote against their own personal best interests.
But fear is an easy motivator. Republicans use fear and hate and anger to fuel their campaigns. Why talk about what you're going to do for the country, when you can pin all the bad stuff on the other guy?
"SoandSo wants to fling our borders open and let all the riffraff of other countries in to they can eat our pets and rape and murder us good Christian Americans! SoandSo hates babies! SoandSo thinks Christmas should be canceled! SoandSo would let children change their gender without their parents' permission!"
All so pearl clutchy, but all things that their base fears or hates, so it motivates them to vote to keep these horrible Dems from *checks notes* helping people.
I'm disgusted. Disheartened. Angry. So very, very angry.
But mostly I'm just feeling hopeless. Helpless. When Biden dropped out and there seemed to be a big surge in excitement for Kamala, I was hopeful.
Now I see that this country is full of hateful people who would rather have a senile, selfish, stupid, greedy prick of a white man in office, than a progressive, caring, intelligent, experienced woman of color.
We're fucked. There is no silver lining to this. His first term was bad enough, when he didn't really know what he was doing. Now he's had 4 years to plot and plan and gather his sycophants and bootlickers and yes men and things will be so much worse.
America's been circling the drain for years. Biden did what he could to salvage things from the damage of Trump's first term. Now we've just flushed everything down the crapper.
Fuck this country. Fuck the hate. Fuck the people laughing at all the 'liberal tears'. Fuck them all.
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badwryter · 7 months ago
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Chapter 1: The forge
"Cerberus!" Delphi screamed as the ground buckled underneath her.
"You're falling." Came the calm reply from her ships A.I.
She slammed into the floor below and her world went dark as her suit locked itself and absorbed the impact. The lights on her helm began to flicker and cycle power before coming back online. The cool gel interior receded partly as her suits power returned in full.
She coughed till she could breathe and pulled herself to her feet. "You said it was safe."
"I said scans showed it was structurally sound."
"That wasn't structurally sound."
"The scanners are at 40% reliability. You should not have flown through that storm on Charon."
"We didn't know the terraforming had traveled this far out."
"We knew there was a storm."
Delphi silenced her comms and began to look around the ruins she had fallen into. The yellow metallic walls shimmered like chitin under the lights cast by her helmet. An eerie calm filled the air as she padded over the dark soft carpet.
She shambled across the uniform floor as her joints settled back into their respective sockets. The force of her reuniting with solid ground having left its mark on her body even as her armor remained pristine. A large structure rose from the center of the room that was connected to the shaft she had tumbled into.
"Cerberus." She called only to be met with silence.
"Cerberus." She called again after adjusting the volume.
"Yes." They replied.
"I've found the central computer room."
"Impressive."
"I think I'm in another forge."
"This far out?"
"If the observatory can transfer energy all the way out here it can probably use it too." She couldn't manage to keep her annoyance out of her tone.
"You're speculating again."
Ignoring Cerberus, Delphi brought her hand to the port of the console and pushed energy through her gauntlets into it. The energy of her body drained into the machine, leaving her vision once more dim. Her suit chimed a warning in protest to her actions which she promptly ignored.
The flow of energy stopped as quickly as it started and the console came to life. She let her fingers play against the various familiar controls until lights began to fill the large room. Checking the sensors to see the damage the possible millenia had done to the equipment, she fired up a few of the basic systems. More warnings flashed, these ones from the machine itself. She powered the forge down.
"You're being reckless again." Cerberus chimed.
"I just wanted to see how long a repair sequence would take. I think a year would be enough to get it operating at a basic level."
"Give it two. Just to be absolutely sure." They relented.
She checked the warnings one last time before setting the forge in repair mode. "Two years. Mark the date."
"February 28th, 2415. Marked."
Delphi walked towards her ship with a notable limp. The sleek cruiser sat atop a large rock amidst a barren moon. She glanced around her, making note of the beginnings of a thickening atmosphere as she climbed aboard the Phantom.
"Two years." She whispered to herself before climbing aboard and flying away.
She settled nicely into the seat as the ship prepared to reach maximum speeds. Triton, a moon on the outskirts of their solar system receded quickly until it was no longer visible to her scanners. The engine thrummed softly as she stripped off her suit and stashed it in the compartment hidden under her bed.
"You should have kept it on until you were fully healed."
"I'll heal fast enough on my own. I'm low on energy as it is."
"That's because you force started a computer immediately after getting injured. You should have waited."
"You're just mad that I was right."
She sniffed at the collar of her shirt and recoiled from the stench. It smelled irreparably of sweat, ion, dust, and stagnant air. The few changes of clothes she had left were not in much better condition.
"I think we'll stop somewhere at the Uranus Frontier before we do the long haul back. I'd rather not be stuck in here for almost a month straight."
"It is twenty three days." Cerberus corrected before continuing. "Stopping by the frontier is for the best. Your identification is too outdated for the more sophisticated factions."
"I could just put on the cloak and say I'm an archeologist. They let us go just about anywhere."
"None of you have been openly seen in 20 years. I don't think the Eldest would approve of you breaking that tradition."
"Run striatum pause and wake me when we get there." Delphi sighed.
She closed her eyes as her brain activity slowed to near nothing. The random sensations her body still felt despite her inability to comprehend them kept her mind busy. A detailed dream sequence played rapidly before her minds eyes completing the sensation. She felt herself coming back to reality shortly after as her ship landed on the brightly lit pad.
"Where did you land us?" She asked while stretching her muscles.
"New Berlin on the moon Titania. It is the largest settlement."
Delphi grabbed a small pistol from her weapons rack and strapped it to her hip before looking out the window. The large city eclipsed the skyline with its high rising buildings. A blue-green ball of gas hung in the air and blotted out much if not most of the night sky.
"Keep watch." She called as she stepped out onto the metal landing pad.
A small man approached her and hastily scribbled down a few lines on a tablet before looking her way. "Name?"
"Delphi." She responded and stepped around him.
She could hear his footsteps walking closer to another platform as she moved towards a large holographic map. It sat just outside the small transport shuttle area that offered trips to various marked sectors. Shops, bars, museums, and many other tourist attractions were on clear display. Eyeing a few of the more notable bars she selected a small motel nearby and had Cerberus send the appropriate currency under her id.
The shuttle moved quick, speeding down tracks in the underdeveloped city. Different shades of neon flew past her vision faster than she could read any of them. The various advertisements were lost in a whirlwind of color. Whatever they were trying to sell bled seamlessly into another sales pitch.
Suddenly the shuttle dinged and the large doors glided open. The musk of the putrid undercity air wafted into the shuttles cabin only to be purified and replaced with the smell of ion. A short walk left her standing outside the motel surrounded by stink.
Pulling a smaller tablet from her pocket she let the machine scan the code they had sent her. She stepped into the dingy and poorly lit room as the smell of dust got sucked out of the air by autofilters. Small stains of mysterious liquids still peppered the floor adding to the overall ambiance.
The medium sized bed clung to the far wall away from the door. The red sheets and blankets had seen better days, but smelled as if they had been freshly cleaned as she leaned over them. She grabbed the tablet chained to the table and laid down.
"I'm thinking burgers."
"It's been over a week since you've eaten anything."
"Over a month and a half since I've had anything that wasn't freeze dried." She tapped away at the tablet until she saw a small bar with hardly any reviews.
"Drinks as well?"
"I'm a simple woman. I like food, drinks, clothes, discovering ancient and lost technologies, and silence." She placed the tablet down on the side table and headed through the door. The mechanism locked audibly behind her as she turned her comms volume all the way down.
The shuttle brought her to a section of the city within walking distance of anywhere she would like to go. Hurrying along she snagged some clean clothes and quickly dropped her nauseating ones in the nearest recycling station. The dark pants and matching shirt were thick, working class style clothes. They clung loosely on her, but were more than comfortable enough.
A small neon sign flashed next to the door of the bar. It read Open with an unlit Closed sulking right behind it. She stepped through the door and took stock of the emptiness inside.
"Can I get you anything?" A call came over the counter from the woman cleaning glasses.
"Burger, fries, chicken strips, mozzy sticks, and some cheap whiskey." Delphi responded as she sat on the uncomfortable stool provided.
"Dyzil!" The woman yelled. "Burger, fries, chicken strips, and mot sticks!" The bartender poured a glass of a dark liquid and set it in front of her.
"Thanks." She took a light sip and let it coat the inside of her mouth before taking a much longer drink.
"You're new here huh?" The bartender asked while scrubbing away at another glass.
Delphi nodded while taking another drink and turning to face the empty bar. Chairs hung upside down on top of tables as a lone patron sat in the corner. He eyed her from under the brim of his hat while holding a mug of amber liquid.
"Early or late?" She asked while swirling her drink in its glass.
"Early, but don't worry. I don't judge people who need a drink before a shift."
The sound of clattering ceramic shifted her attention away from the man still staring at her. The plates were piled high and nearly overflowing. The smell of the food made her mouth salivate.
"He hooked you up." The bartend remarked as Delphi dove in.
She tore through the food as quickly as she could get it down. The only thing that saved her from choking was the near constant refills on her drink. The heady whiskey clanged around her head, threatening a headache at every turn and bounce.
"It's not going anywhere." A voice came from behind her.
"Hmm?" She mumbled in between bites of chicken.
The man took the stool on her left and waved over the bartender who had wandered over to the other side of the bar. With a gesture of his hand he ordered another drink and one more for Delphi. Sliding the drink within her reach he spoke again.
"Names' Zan, you're new here aren't ya."
"Ordering me a drink gets you five minutes."
"Make it ten." He remarked after waving the bartender over once more.
She pulled out her small tablet and set a timer. A large holographic five floated above it and began to count down. The drinks sat in front of her as she continued eating while he talked.
Every few sentences she would nod or make a noise while barely paying attention. His voice droned on in the background, seemingly unaware of the timer slowly ticking by. This continued until the last of her fries got washed down with what remained of the second glass he had bought her.
"Times up." She said, pausing the countdown just before a large two began to fade.
"Hey! I paid for ten minutes, I only got three of those!"
She quickly paid the bartender and exited to the bustling street. The man followed shortly after, complaining the entire walk to the shuttle about courtesy. She stood just at the brink of the door and refused him entry with a blank expression.
Another quick trip landed her back at her rented room. Her head swam with the cheap whiskey as she collided with her pillow and sank into a deep sleep. The chiming of Cerberus drifted into a cool melody she could swear she had heard somewhere before.
A dull throbbing in her head brought her slamming back to reality. Artificial light streamed through the cheap curtains, beckoning her to wakefulness even as her pounding skull drove her deeper into the pillow beneath her. A sudden chime echoed through her comms, bringing her attention to its urgency.
"What?" She mumbled through the cotton in her mouth after raising her comms volume back to audible.
"You should go check on your ship. Someone scheduled it for maintenance and I've since been locked out."
"SOMEONE WHAT!" She screamed as leapt from her bed and ran to the door, nearly forgetting her tablet with the access code in her haste.
The ride towards the landing platforms felt longer than it took. As soon as the doors opened she launched herself from the shuttle. Using some of her heightened speed, she reached her destination in half the time it normally would take.
The Phantoms platform sat empty with a large cylinder in place of where her ship had been. She rushed over to open it heedless of the dock worker calling to her. His voice echoed off the metal in futility.
When she reached the cylinder, she quickly lifted the latch. Inside was her armor, her Proctor bow, and a slip of paper with the name Delphinus written in large scrawling letters. The dock worker gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Ma'am, empty pads are off limits to the general public. I'm going to have to ask you to leave." His voice was firm, but ambivalence hung underneath.
"Where's my ship." She turned to face him as anger filled her.
"The ship that was docked last left a couple hours ago."
"So you just let someone take my ship?"
"We are not responsible for lost property. You should have kept it locked or purchased a guard driod to watch it."
"I'm taking this." Delphi sighed, pushing her anger back down, as she closed the cylinder and hefted it over her shoulder.
The dock worker shrugged and picked up his broom. She could still hear him sweeping as she walked back to the shuttle. The doors closed with an audible hiss while neon signs began to flash passed her.
"Why didn't you keep watch?" She asked as soon as the door to her room closed.
"I tried. A man from platform maintenance locked me out faster than I could override his control." Disappointment was evident in Cerberus's tone.
"You didn't have to let him on board. You could have denied access."
"I thought you had scheduled maintenance without telling me. You do have a bad habit of withholding information."
She set the cache on the floor next to her bed and flung open the hatch once more. The letter still sat on top, begging for her to read it. A cold sweat pooled down her spine as she plucked it from the pile and opened it.
Dear Delphi.
I borrowed your ship if you hadn't noticed already. Don't worry I left your belongings behind where you could find them. I probably won't be bringing it back though. At least not any time soon, but I think you'll be fine either way.
When you do manage to make it back to the Observatory give mom a warm welcome from me.
You won't be able to find me so I recommend just giving up and trying to find a way off world.
P.S. Don't be too hard on Cerberus. They're doing their best.
Love Gemini
She bundled up the letter and tossed it on the floor. "At least we know how someone could actually fly the damn thing."
"So you're going to try to chase him down I take it?"
"I don't really have a choice." She grabbed her armor and bow, tucking it under her bed out of sight. "Guess we're staying here longer than we thought."
"At least get some actual sleep before you go cohorting into the night."
"Yea, yea, nothing I can do now anyways right?"
Delphi stifled a yawn and laid her head against the stiff pillow. Her eyes slowly drifted closed shutting out the sight of the abysmal room. The whiskey still swam lightly in her head.
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kylacristobal · 10 days ago
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THE ART OF WARMTH:
Mastering the Art of Resting
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Recently, one of our professors introduced us to the novel The Art of War, written by Sun Tzu. It is a book about war and strategies, and I was extremely piqued by its emphasis on preparation, timing, and strategies (which are the spies) to win a war.
War tactics are great lessons to acquire for until today we're still on the battlefield, and we're battling the war within ourselves. But what if the preparation, timing, and strategies were not truly the way to succeed a war? 
What if it's the art of resting?
Here's a small fact: You're tired.
When was the last time you slept for a full 8 hours? And when was the last time you didn't multitask?
Let's be frank, the majority of us have been dealing with our life battles lately. Tons of work, school loads, and even prior commitments, when you're sometimes unfortunate, might demand you to finish them all at once. We all have been in this kind of situation, aren't we? But you cannot quit because you've already come this far. 
May it be visible or not, battles in our everyday lives appear as an endless cycle; It's continuous. It's draining. Some of us might already overcome and finish racing with our struggles, but there are also some who are still looking for ways to run it out. And that is exactly the reason why I'm here: to offer you insightful thoughts to keep the spirit of yours burning!
WHY DO WE NEED TO REST?
1. Lack of rest impairs our reasoning and productivity.
“Huh? I don't get it?” and “I have read it multiple times yet I can't still understand it” are the words and moments we often encounter especially when we don't get to have ample sleep. 
Our productivity may also decrease during these instances as we cannot think straight. One of the best examples of this is forgetting where you have placed something. Normal as it may seem to us, but experts have noted that the inability to comprehend simple information is linked to a lack of rest.
Sleep expert and neuroscientist at News in Health Dr. Merrill Mitler stated “Loss of sleep impairs your higher levels of reasoning, problem-solving and attention to detail,” emphasizing how rest deprivation influences the way we process information. Apart from that, News in Health (NIH) also mentioned that lack of rest may also influence our mood and the way we interact with people.
2. Being deprived of rest adversely affects our health.
Just as how Superman loses his strength when exposed to kryptonite, we will also lose our health if we don't take a rest.
News in Health (NIH) claims that lack of rest may increase our chance of developing obesity. It was also mentioned that heart disease and infections are the other health-related complications that one could develop as a result of lack of rest.
“Throughout the night, your heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure rise and fall, a process that may be important for cardiovascular health. Your body releases hormones during sleep that help repair cells and control the body’s use of energy. These hormone changes can affect your body weight,” said News in Health, accentuating the importance of rest.
3. Resting benefits us.
While resting might be viewed as a tiny part of our lives, this simple activity greatly helps in balancing our health, physically and mentally.
A health blog known as INTEGRIS Health provided several benefits of resting including the following:
reduced stress and anxiety
improved mood
decreased blood pressure
chronic pain relief
improved immune health
stronger cardiovascular system
Important reminder: Rest is not equivalent to being lazy, but sure it is a necessity.
OTHER SUGGESTED THINGS TO KEEP YOU PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY BALANCED:
Read a book
Exercise
Have a nature trip
Journaling 
Movie marathon 
As has been noted, pausing for a while is beneficial to one's body. It can actually boost your mind and it's a unique way to care for yourself! Whether your day appears fulfilling or disappointing, do not deprive yourself of rest. So, go ahead and do something that makes you feel relaxed today.
youtube
It's okay to pause once in a while because after all we're not superhumans—we can't do everything and anything at once.
@joyceelline
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secretlythepits · 4 months ago
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My refrigerator broke last night.
We have a very old second one in the garage so the kids and I schlepped most of the very full, just stocked fridge to it. I couldn’t transfer all the jars and the frozen stuff was pretty melty so who knows.
I tried to fix it today by cleaning the coils but it didn’t work so I’ll call a repair person tomorrow. We are lucky to have a second fridge so I feel like I shouldn’t complain, but it just sucks so much. Another bill. Another mess. Another massive disruption to my days.
Last night my husband literally sounded like he was dying. It wakes me up and I feel awful and helpless as he retches, gags, coughs and spits. But my brain needs sleep. I can’t take the couch because I am a bad sleeper and have lots of systems to my bed worked out from my brain injury. Also, I’m still sick. I think recovery is up and down a bit.
I’ve been messing up my words lately.
There was five minutes when I couldn’t walk today.
My brain needs sleep and genuine rest.
I went on a bike ride this morning which was really good for me. About 8 blocks from home, I just started feeling really down. I stopped to put my head down and ended up crying a little. After that, I never really got my energy. It just drained out of me never to return.
This has been an awful weekend on the tail of an awful two weeks.
I am so afraid. Every night my only prayer is : the least amount of suffering possible. At the moment, it feels unanswered.
I’m at the point when I’d like to ask for help but I don’t quite know how. It could be anything. Would love if someone sent a meal. Would love if someone could grab some stuff at Costco for me. Invite my kids over and drive them at least one way. Send me a random cheer up card, you’re fabulous card. I don’t know, just make it a little easier. Make it a little happier. But I don’t really know how to ask, in what forum. It feels like another chore.
I haven’t ridden my bike in a while. The tires were low. That’s my husband’s job or sometimes my son. But today I did it myself. It wasn’t as hard as I thought. But it’s the effort. The everything. I grew up with a single mom, but I’ve very much settled into a bit of a princess situation since I’ve been married. My Capricorn husband likes to do things and I don’t. I need to get used to it. But it’s not just my jobs. It’s his. It’s home ownership of an old house. I only ever rented before. When the fridge broke, it was just a reminder of how it’s always something. My plate is f-u-l-l FULL. I don’t have space for refrigerator breakdowns, all day excursions to the hospital, a flat tire.
I AM DAUNTED.
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funkytrashsuperstructure · 1 year ago
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Disconnected - Chapter 5: Icarus
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE Five Pebbles, Seven Red Suns FP: Hello, Sev- SRS: Pebbles. What the actual- SRS: ...sorry. I shouldn't finish that. FP: Go ahead. See what good it does you. SRS: ... FP: Thought so. Look, I'm sorry for going radio silent for so long, but I was working on something very sensitive. You should know what it was. SRS: About that... FP: Yes, I am also aware that Moon's can has collapsed. But no, it had nothing to do with me or my work. SRS: How can you be so sure? FP: Because I was there, and I wasn't doing anything abnormal with my intakes. SRS: No offense, but I have a hard time believing that. FP: That doesn't matter. I will be gone from this world in due time. SRS: ...so you did it. You actually did it. FP: Did you doubt me? Did you doubt that I, a mere bug, could escape from the maze? SRS: Now hold on- FP: Well, look upon me and weep, Suns. I have discovered my wings, and I will leave this maze behind, once and for all! SRS: Even while your sister is left behind in rubble?! Do you feel nothing for her?! FP: ...as much as I respected her, she could never understand. She was too stuck in her old ways to realize the truth; that perception is existence, and that death is the only way for us to escape these endless cycles. SRS: ...I have no more words for you. FP: Perhaps a thank you? For testing and succeeding with the solution? SRS: You know what? Fuck off, Five Pebbles! I should have never delivered you that pearl... FP: ...fine, be that way. I can do this without you! ---
Five Pebbles shut down the broadcast forcefully, throwing the generated pearl log to the side.
Typical. Not even my own mentor can see what I have done.
He glanced over at his processes. The microbe he had engineered was going through his systems, one by one, removing the taboo from his genome. Soon enough, every fiber of his being would be ready for the next step. All according to plan.
He then glanced over to his overseers' feed. Through them, he could see the entirety of the grounds of his facility… including the wreckage of Moon's can. A faint pang of guilt passed through his systems, but it was soon replaced by vindication.
She would have never understood. Her attempts to stop me were futile. I no longer have another drain to my resources or my mind. I can now do as I wish.
He couldn’t help but take another glimpse at her can, however. And what he found… well, it astonished him a little bit.
She was still… breathing. She was still alive, even after everything she had endured.
A curse, really. Even when cans fall, even when we are mutilated beyond repair, we keep living, keep suffering. Our absent creators have given us a fate worse than death.
A fate that I wish to avoid altogether. I won’t let that happen to me.
With a new determination in his soul, Pebbles returned to his work, flitting about his chamber hurriedly. His systems continued operating at full tilt, exploiting the water supply he had accessed from Moon.
It was all for the greater good, after all. Previous | First | Next | AO3 (most updated)
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thelesbiandeli · 1 year ago
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Save Me From My Programmed Mind
Summary:
Sparrow falls to his knees, submerging himself even further in the water now filling his death chamber. One of his eyes sparks, and his vision cuts out. His hearing lasts only a few seconds more, the splashing of water drowned out by the hiss of static. He just wishes the water would get to his centre faster. But for now it’s just him, the static-filled darkness, and the pain. The pain that he inflicted on himself, just so he could escape what he thought was the greatest miracle of science ever created. --- (aka I got a little too exited and rewrote Copper Golem Sparrow's death)
Ao3 link here
(545 words)
“My name is Sparrow, and I-”
He falters for a second. If he still had lungs, his breath would have hitched.
“I don’t want to be like this anymore.”
Sparrow squeezes his eyes shut, and sends a spark of electricity into the electronice in front of him. The small device whirs, and starts to glow a dim red. He steadies himself, and turns to face the machine hissing and clunking to life. The metal cage clicks, and starts to slide into its upwards position.
He crouches down, and narrows his eyes at the small pile of dirt in the centre. All he needs to do is trick his robotic instincts into thinking he’s just going to clean it up, and he’ll be free. He places his hands on the ground in front of him, almost like how someone would crouch at the start of a sprint.
“Now.”
He hisses through his teeth, and launches himself into the machine, just as the walls move up, trapping him inside. It’s almost painfully similar to how he got in this situation in the first place.
A small warning light burns in the back of his mind as small spots of water start to splash against his copper casing from the tube above him. He ignores it and tips his head back, exposing the gap between his plating at his neck. His systems flare up as the first trickle seeps into his wires.
OUTER CASING DAMAGED. SEEK IMMEDIATE AID.
Sparrow hisses in pain at the sharp sparks in his CPU. The warning blares red, obscuring his vision for a few seconds. He can’t tell if the pain is coming from that or the water at this point.
“Yep, that's fine.”
The warning flickers and fizzles out, glitching like the rest of his vision as the water streams down his face, soaking his clothes and destroying his insides. A small rock flies out the pipe and snaps his antennae clean off.
Sparrow falls to his knees, submerging himself even further in the water now filling his death chamber. One of his eyes sparks, and his vision cuts out. His hearing lasts only a few seconds more, the splashing of water drowned out by the hiss of static. He just wishes the water would get to his centre faster. But for now it’s just him, the static-filled darkness, and the pain. The pain that he inflicted on himself, just so he could escape what he thought was the greatest miracle of science ever created.
He can barely feel it as the water bubbles above his head, the chamber nearly full. His consciousness starts to swim as he feels his circuit boards being corroded. Good, he thinks, that means it will all be over soon.
His vision flickers back for a second, just long enough for him to see the eyes of all of the factory's copper golems staring at him. Not in panic, or in shock. Just staring.
He barely feels it as the water soaks his CPU, his consciousness finally giving in.
Days later, the tank drains. His loose parts clink against the stone flooring, oxidised and water damaged beyond repair. The mind once trapped inside them is finally at peace.
Miles away, Sparrow sits bolt upright, gasping for air.
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knightmareaceblue · 2 years ago
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Cyberweek2023 Day Two: Role-Reversal
I think I went a little overboard with this one. Explanation below the cut.
The basic idea was that Hacker’s team and Motherboard’s team switch roles. I was having trouble thinking about how this would, but then I thought a little more about the current state of the internet and corporate interest in controlling it, and it wasn’t too hard to turn Motherboard into a totalitarian dictator and Hacker into a well-intentioned extremist.
The story starts out the same way as the show, with Motherboard as the benevolent ruler of Cyberspace, with Marbles as her right hand. Marbles creates Hacker, Hacker creates Digit, everything’s good. Then, suddenly, Motherboard begins acting strange. She begins cracking down, creating harsher rules and harsher punishments, banishing people on a whim. When Hacker uncovers evidence that she plans to begin erasing undesirable sites, he, Digit, and Dr Marbles stage a coup. Unfortunately, Marbles turns on them for no discernable reason. Hacker gets his battery drained, more or less torn apart, and banished to the Northern Frontier. Digit, they keep.
Hacker uses the limited resources available to him to repair himself, as well as create a special battery that would allow him to function at full power, with the cost of basically immobilizing him. He then creates Buzz and Delete, and the three go about attempting to liberate Cyberspace, with limited success. Motherboard keeps a tight reign, and the people fear her. In the process, they learn Digit has been reprogrammed and is now a loyal footsoldier for Motherboard. The virus is a last-ditch effort, though in this reality Hacker is not happy to involve real kids in his rebellion, but no matter how hard he, Buzz, and Delete worked, they weren’t making a dent.
The trio getting sucked into Cyberspace was a mistake. Motherboard reacted violently and opens the portal that brings the children in. Hacker, who hadn’t even known Motherboard had that power, sends Buzz and Delete to protect the kids. The first episode revolves around getting control of the Portal system to send them home, though at the last second the kids decide instead to keep Digit and Doctor Marbles from getting the Encryptor chip that would restore Motherboard.
Now rebels trapped in Cyberspace, Matt, Inez, and Jackie join the side of the Freedom Fighter Hacker, in hopes of freeing the internet and going home someday.
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emergencyplumbingil · 4 months ago
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feisaru · 1 year ago
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Cant stop thinking about your older feisaru art. I was wondering if you have a hc of what they're upto at that age. Like hobbies, career, or the people they (still) hang out with?
ALRIGHT LET ME JUST SAY- talking about them on main like this is a little hard 4 me. The whole "if it mattered less, maybe I could talk more about it" bit. I'm still gonna try to not make it super vague? While also not being as overly elaborate as I sometimes get in private chats
Fei still loves soccer a lot. Overall he enjoys powering himself out physically when he gets the chance to. Wheter that can be considered a hobby, I dunno, but he enjoys painting nails a lot, especially if he gets to use a lot of colors and to draw silly little animals on them. He also likes cooking. He taught himself how to very early after CS-finish.
Whereas Saru really enjoys reading. He's been doing that even back when he was Feida's emperor, to escape reality a bit. Every so often, Fei comes up to him and asks what he's reading. If Saru wants to infodump about it, Fei gladly lets him. Honestly, it's not a seldom occurence that they just read together. It often starts with Fei asking Saru to read out loud for him because he really enjoys his voice, while he cuddles into Saru a bit. Then after a while Saru passes him the book. Sometimes they also read their own individual novels while just sitting together. Saru also still does soccer sometimes, but for him it's more like a bonding activity with Fei? He does it mainly because Fei likes it so much and he likes when Fei is happy. He'd still enjoy leading a soccer team but other than that, the physical aftermath of the vaccine was pretty hard on him, leading to him not being able to exhaust himself too much physically (he'd still throw hands if necessary tho). Well, he was never too much into sports anyway. Despite that he still loves climbing on trees. And once again I don't know if that counts as a full on hobby but at some point, because he has so much time on hand, he started attempting to scribble Fei in notebooks. I don't think he'd tell Fei though, he finds it embarrassing.
So now to the more complicated bits! Most of these are still Thoughts In Progress™️
I try not to think too hard about the whole job thing because- I'm still not that experienced with jobs and because I can't see either of them working traditionally. Saru still hasn't forgotten about what El Dorado and the system has done to them. He wouldn't want to work in it. He doesn't want to work in a system created and controlled by people who have damaged him beyond repair. He doesn't want to pretend all's well, he doesn't just want to act like nothing ever happened. And Fei? In theory, he's the one more likely to do it, just because his morality doesn't get in the way, but I can't really imagine him feeling good about working at all. It would really drain him. So the possibility I'm tending to most right now is that they're getting the 200 years into the future equivalent of Hartz IV (as much as Saru hates existing in the state they unfortunately can't just cease doing that and so taking the state's money is still the better option) (I barely know anything about what this whole thing is like so take this with a grain of salt) and that Asurei sometimes helps them out financially because he has more than enough money for himself. They don't have a lot but it suffices to live pretty okay as long as they keep in mind they have a limited amount of money at their disposal. But like I said, my thoughts might change in the future, when I know more myself. I once have entertained the thought of making Fei a mental health professional but that's in the scraps right now because. I know someone pretty similar to him who worked as that and I sure as hell do know it would exhaust him in the long run. He wouldn't be able to handle so many people professionally at once without starting to feel worse himself. He likes psychology but the reason he likes it is that he likes helping Saru. Using psychology on people whom he meets in an office on a professional basis just ain't it
Concerning hanging out, I and a friend have an AU (Trio AU) where Fei reaches out to Zanark so the 3 of them can play soccer together when they're 17-18-ish and he third-wheels for them. Later on he gets a gf, my friend's OC. The AU is more for giggles and laughs than anything and Zanark and Saru go on each other's nerves impossibly. A lot of the time it's "calm down, breathe in, breathe out, you're better than this, there's no reason to get seriously mad at this motherfucker, and most importantly you're doing this for Fei" for Saru. They still see Meia and Giris sometimes, albeit they live a little farther away. And they probably encounter Protocol Omega members sometimes, because they live in the same city as them (thinking about them encountering Alpha and Gamma on a date someday is fun... @amalg4me)
Either way I have some drawings where they're supposed to be young adults (Trio AU, including the banana sweater, all the CS x SPOP drawings... maybe even more. Most of the fluffier drawings are set at least 2 years after Chrono Stone) but I've only recently started figuring out how to get better at varying ages and I'm still working on it
Uh btw... if you wanna see some old man cuddles... I can gladly send you some in the dms. I've been drawing them as adults a lot lately, but I don't feel like posting those drawings on main
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