#organic mattress market

[sorcerous-caress]

I'm so jealous of Daniil. Having only played the Haruspex route so far in both game, each time I'm invited to the Bachelor's place I turn green with envy at how he resides at an actual proper house with a real room and a real bed.

A real bed with a whole bedframe. A pillow with an actual pillowcase!! His bed even has sheets!

He has WINDOWS. His house is in a nice neighbourhood, and his roommate is a very attractive woman. There is actual furniture in his room. Not one hint of fungus growing on the walls or rust!

Can you imagine living there as your lair? Spending the whole game knowing you have a real house with a real bed to go back to at the end of each night? Seeing Eva's face every day before leaving to do quests?

Meanwhile, Artemy is stuck in this dumpster room of an abandoned factory. Cuddling with rats on his makeshift bed, held by nothing but a wooden panel, some boxes and a dream.

A pillow so yellow it has its own ecosystem where bugs established real estate. Is that even a pillow or is it some random rock Artemy found and chucked in there? Is it a stale loaf of bread?? Why is it hard looking?

But no, you don't even get to keep the rock roach pillow because in P2, they take it away.

Fuck you Artemy, you had it good for too long. No pillow now because what are you gonna do about it?. Fold your mattress instead to have a resemblance of a faux sense of protection under your most vital organ during the long hours of death rehearsal that you call sleep.

Somehow, they made the bed even more unstable looking. As if that thin panel in the middle could hold Artemy's weight without caving in. Oh, and apparently, I ran out of boxes to use for furniture because the bed and the table have to share custody of the same box.

We have downgraded into barrels now, as you can see :) No, I don't know what they used to contain inside.

Waking up every day to Sticky's snotty face telling me not to spit in the wind and nagging me about cleaning up the week-old human organs thrown around that are stinking up the place.

THERE IS MOLD GROWING ON MY WALLS. RUST FLAKES FALL FROM THE EXPOSED METAL PIPES DOWN INTO MY CEREAL EACH BREAKFAST.

This single wall holds so much mold and fungus that they started crossbreeding and evolved into new, never seen before types of bacteria. Satan's asscrack is more hygienic than whatever biohazard plagues of Egypt this slab of concrete contains.

I live in the gutters. My only neighbours are an illegal gang of minors with a hatred for furries and another illegal gang but of adults this time who sell me bullets way above the market price. A dangerous neighbourhood where you can't have shit because SOMEONE STOLE MY BULL.

The basement I reside in has no windows, the smell is pungent and fucking vile down here. There isn't even a space for a bathroom.

This is my kitchenette/bathroomette/showerette/cupboardette/surgery tools disinfection stationette/sinkette/watercoolerette/toilette/fridge.

also my buckets yk.

One bucket for the makeshift bathroom, another for holding important organs and loose guts during surgery, a third one as a cooking pot for making tasty meat grub soup and the final one for murky water after sweeping the floor.

What do I use to tell them apart? Oh nothing :) I just mix em up every now and then, oppsie daisy.

Oh and the floors are CONSTANTLY wet for some reason. Yeah sticky slipped and almost broke his neck the other day so watch your steps.

There is also this eerie room with literal garbage and broken furniture right next to the entrance. Don't worry about it, sometimes I hear someone crying and screaming for help when I'm trying to go to sleep but it's just the factory being silly lol.

Now this? This is where the M A G I C happens. This is where Artemy the Menkhu makes his famous herbal remedies and natural mixtures. This is where the Panacea for the infamous sand plague gets made!

In a rusty empty food can.

Falling into a bucket with shit stains.

MEDICINE BABBYYY. GET YOUR WEAK SOFT BONED ASS BACK TO THE CAPITAL BITCH, THIS IS HOW REAL MEN MAKE REAALLL MEDICINE!! RAWRRRRR🦅🦅💥💥

Meanwhile, dickovsky has the view of the cathedral and polyhedron just around the corner from where he resides. He has a backyard with a lake, and all I have is a swamp behind my basement. I trudge through the mud each night, collecting weeds and herbs to mix and trade so I and the two orphans who adopted themselves into my life don't go starving.

Not to mention the gaggles of herb brides loitering outside and giving me a false bad reputation.

That dandy douchbag has a pharmacy, a grocery, and a tailor right next door. The closest establishment to my shrekcore place of resident is a dingy basement bar with shady drinks and no bouncer to check for ID, I saw two kids in there once.

Pov: a qt3.14 surgeon says his dad isn't home and invites you over.

[cherrryxx]

Hey! I really like your writing style. Thanks for your posts. Maybe you could do some zoroxreader with zoro getting all jealous when others ask out the reader?

Thank you so much!! And of course! Jealous Zoro literally has me giggling kicking my feet (I’m so down bad for that man)

Jealous, jealous, jealous boy

JEALOUS ZORO X GN READER

(A bit self indulgent tbh)

Warnings: Jealous Zoro, Gn reader (referred to as a tad more masc though), reader likes to mess with Zoro a bit, mild cursing, fluff

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

“Scus’ me handsome thing.”

The stranger has his hand wavering over your shoulder as he smiled at you. Next to you, Zoro scowled.

“Do you mind? We’re trying to take care of some things, get lost.”

Zoro sounded pissed off, but you couldn’t tell if it was due to your supply trip being interrupted, or if he was jealous of the people who were getting handsy with you. The man frowned a bit and turned around, choosing to avoid confrontation with the swordsman. Zoro huffed and turned back to the ship supply stand.

“I wish people would keep their damn hands to themselves.” He muttered angrily.

You giggled slightly to yourself, it was all really funny to you. You didn’t even give the strangers who stared or goggled at you the time of day, yet Zoro was so ticked off by it. He turned to you, hearing your amused laughter.

“What? What’s so funny y/n?”

Zoro had a scowl on his face but you knew his annoyance wasn’t directed at you.

“N-nothing.” You held in another laugh. You covered your mouth as little chortles and snorts slipped through your lips.

Zoro sighed and shook his head, signaling for you to keep following him through the market. It didn’t take long for another stranger, this time a woman, to stop and flirt with you.

You politely brushed her off but Zoro still had that annoyed expression on his face.

By the time your supply trip was finished and you were at the base of the plank, three more people had stopped you entirely to talk. While there was a random number of cat-callers and flirtatious comments.

Once you helped Zoro organize all of the ropes and repair items, he tugged you by your hand to your shared bunk.

As soon as the door shut behind you Zoro had his arms around your shoulders, hugging you from behind.

“You really need to start being more assertive when you tell people off.” He grumbled.

You laughed, gently patting his arm.

“I don’t care about them Zoro.”

He sighed, letting go of your shoulders, “I know, but it just…”

“Makes you jealous?” You raised an eyebrow.

“No!” His face got red as he lied, “It’s just annoying is all.”

You chuckled to yourself and sat on the bed, patting the bed next to you.

“Okay, let’s just take a nap then. We did have a bit of a long day.” You smile.

Zoro mumbles in agreement as he drags his feet, walking to the bed. He flops on the bed next to you, making the mattress creak. Once you lay down next to him he wraps his arm tightly around you and pulls you close to him.

“Maybe I was a little jealous.” He grumbles, “But it’s not my fault that you have all those weirdos ogling over you.”

You yawned a hum of amusement as you cuddled back against your partner, his breath now brushing against the top of your head.

“I still wouldn’t choose them over you, Zoro.”

You can hear him let out a sigh of contentment behind you, his grip around your waist loosening slightly. After a few minutes you tilt your head back, seeing his eyes closed as he was dead asleep.

[hyenaswine]

Update - July 4

Sorry to bother you but I need it

I have not been able to update here for about a month due to my inability to access my account and poor internet connectivity. I don't know what to say or how to express myself, but I want to inform you that there is no potable water in Gaza. The water we drink is not safe, and it could cause diseases due to bacteria. Moreover, I want to tell you that I have been displaced from the Nuseirat camp due to the ongoing heavy bombing, and I am now in Deir al-Balah. Additionally, my family has been displaced from Shujaiya in eastern Gaza to the west because of the ground invasion. They couldn't take any food, water, clothing, or even mattresses to sleep on. We don't know the fate of our house—whether it has been completely destroyed or partially damaged. Please, I beg you, help me and connect me to €12,000 as I am in desperate need. Please help.

Dead at any time Abdul Rahman

[sunny-mercya]

Revenge

Trafalgar Law x Male Reader

Fandom -> One Piece

Masterlist | Related OS

Law knew, from firsthand experience, that you're indeed capable of killing—especially when the situation is needing dry, after all you're a Pirate—a member of the Strawhats nonetheless—and having no qualms of getting bloody and murderous, was a required qualification to survive on the rough wide open sea.

So seeing you on the ground—after coming back from a two day trip—surrounded by all these dead bodies of children and their blood and spilled organs and chopped off limps—Law highly doubts that it had been you, who killed the Children.

These children which you loved as if they were your own and vowed to protect from any harm as long as you're staying in Wano.

So with all that in mind, it wouldn't make any sense if you're being the killer.

Kneeling down in front of you, gently prying Esu's dead body from your hold—laying him down next to you, noting to himself to bury the baby properly later—taking your bloodstained hands in his.

»[Name]-ya, what happened?« Law asked in a whisper, not wanting to give you any fright and might cause a reaction of fleeting panic and survival defensive instincts in you.

Law squeezed your hands, drawing some circling motion over your skin—hoping to bring you some comfort and back from your unfocused sight.

»[Name]-ya, tell me what happen.« Law asks again.

Your head whipped forward, sucking in a breath as if you hadn't breathed any air at all, you stared down at your bloody hands—which are in the hold of Laws own.

»I only.....only went.....went down, down to the market and....and when I came back I–I there's.....« you lurched forward, hand going up to your mouth—holding the back the uprising bile which came ascending from your stomach and up to your throat.

Law stood up, pulling you upward along and leads you quickly into the bathroom—where you instantly kneel down to a bucket below and emptied out your stomach.

~~~

Restless—as if you had way too much energy, like a bundle of lighting ready to be released—you walked through the small bedroom, itching badly for a killing spree of revenge your own.

The hot bath, which Law had drawn for you to get you clean from the blood and grant your mind and body some relaxation—firmly believing as he's a doctor after all, that a good hot bath does indeed—although only in the mental aspect of medical knowledge—cure some medical problems and conditions—didn't seemed to have helped that much.

Law observers you, haven't really gotten much information out of you—besides that you went down to the local market and once returned you found the door open and children in puddle of their own blood.

»[Name]-ya. I advise to sit down.«

» No, no, no! Not till I've found these fuckers and make them suffer twice!«

»We need to bury them first.«

This snapped you out from your stupor of aimless planning revenge, making you stop in your tracks—turning to Law, who sits on the mattress, looking at him with wide eyes.

Your lower lip wobbles, eyes burning with the upcoming brimming of tears—nodding your head to the side, blinking and still looking at Law—you flung yourself into his arms, like a crashing force of air, within the next seconds.

Law lets you sob, letting you grieve the love you've lost—circling his arms around you, engulfing you in a hug, holding you close.

The world is cruel, you know that yourself, but even you had limits and killing helpless children—were in your eyes, an unforgivable crime.

~~~

Revenge tastes either sweet or bitter—depending on what circumstances and the context of situation—but this revenge, which you had looked forward to ever since the children had been killed in cold blood, tastes so heavenly honey sweet—that you're enjoying it perhaps, a bit too much.

Finding the group of men—drunkards they were, with no sense of human decency—was rather easy in the small village Law and you had decided to stay undercover.

Besides the leader of this little group, you've beaten all of them to death—dunking them in their own puddles of blood—still wanting to know their reasons for such actions.

And when he told you their reasons for it—had done it just out of boredom and fun, less mouth to waste food on then—you didn't hesitate to use your devil-fruit abilities.

Law wonders, watching from the shadows of an alley—having followed you—if you too had lost your last bit of human decency now.

[sea-creature-things]

Grimwalker things

Chapter 3: Eyes

This chapter deals with grimwalker's magenta-red eyes and it is angsty. Writing angst was very fun, I'm hoping it turned out well.

This one took a surprisingly long time to make... I struggled a little with letting everyone shine and not getting trapped in the Noceda-siblings-pitfall. This one also has a lot of flashbacks so i hope the timeline is still clear.

Next chapter will be wholesome again!

Read here below the cut or on AO3 with this link:

Gus was lying on his couch-bed in the basement, with Hunter next to him on his mattress. It was long past bedtime, but neither of them were even close to sleeping. For Hunter this was just another Tuesday, but Gus should’ve been off to dreamland by now.

He just had too many things floating around in his brain.

It had been a little over a month now. Gus thought they had acclimated quite well to the Human realm. He was proud of his new understanding and expertise.

Luz had taken them to so many exciting places! The movies, the supermarket, human picnics, an ice cream shop. That last one was a little weird for them. Ice was supposed to scream, but here it was just lying there.

Gus knew their food was different, he just never imagined how different. The flavours were so rich and there was a LOT of sugar. In everything actually, not just the ice cream. Even though the witches couldn’t digest certain things, Gus loved human food.

He especially fawned over the fastfood restaurants. It was absolute insanity to him. Restaurants in the Boiling Ilse were supposed to be fancy, they were an experience.

Gus and his dad would always go for special occasions. Those places attracted illusionists, who made the room just a little more special. Making glasses sparkle, making flowers float around or giving the room a golden glow.

He missed that so much, but he was sure they would do it again soon. They'd celebrate saving The Ilses by going to the fanciest restaurant they could find!

Not this otherworldly 'McDonald' thing. Although, he would love to show his dad some day. It was honestly amazing how the place handled food. And it was very fast indeed!

The group also returned to the mall a couple times. Gus had taken it upon himself to show his buddy around. Hunter had missed their first opportunity, and while Gus totally understood, he was still bummed.

So, he’d looked around with a guide-perspective in mind. After he got over his initial excitement of course. The mall was so unbelievable big, it felt like the shops were endless. It was a little overwhelming. The Demon realm markets had nothing on the mall. Luz was so amazing for doing all of that for him, for all of them.

Camila was just as adamant as her daughter about keeping them all happy. She took such good care of them.

Gus had never missed a mother in his life. It was always him and his dad against the world and he loved that. But Camila had become a second or third parent to all of them so quickly. It was… it was impressive honestly.

The more he missed his dad, the more he sought comfort by Camila. And she gave it to him so readily. She fed his love for human things, encouraged him about the portal and kept his hopes up.

She was a lot like Hunter in that way. They let him be scared and sad, before comforting him.

Just a few hours ago Camila offered to have a movie night! They had done that before and everyone was excited. This time though, she suggested they watch Jurassic Park, because Gus and Hunter had loved that fossil book so much.

The boys were absolutely enthralled. They loved the technology, the characters and of course all the dinosaurs. Amity and Willow didn’t care for it, but were amused all the same.

Vee proudly explained all the special effects, but still got a little quiet when the T-rex tried to break the car. Willow helped by bumping their shoulders and asking how she thought that part worked.

Gus loved hearing about the human’s version of illusion magic.

Luz had seen the movies many times before. She called it a classic, but kept interrupting with spoilers. It got to the point where Gus and Hunter would shush her whenever she opened her mouth.

When there was a tense scene with the kids and two velociraptors, Luz wanted to assure them the characters would be fine. She only got the first few syllables of her sentence out.

“Don’t worry-“

Hunter, who had been sitting next to the spoiler grinch the entire time, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and clasped his hand over her mouth. He pushed her against him to prevent her from escaping.

“Luz shut up!”

He had been too immersed in the movie to really think about his actions. If his mind wasn’t so full of dinos, he would’ve been worried about Camila sitting right there. Or Luz herself being uncomfortable. But he never had to worry either way.

Luz burst out in a muffled, uncontrollable laugh.

“I swear to Titan…” Hunter growled with as much amusement as actual annoyance. He shook her back and forth. She laughed even harder and slapped her knee.

Hunter finally let her go and she melted into the couch in a fit of giggles. Some poorly constructed sentence about their obsession with the movie somehow escaped her lips.

He hadn’t noticed it before, but everyone around him was cracking up too. Gus grabbed him from the couch so they wouldn’t miss the end of the chase scene.

Luz clearly wasn’t wrong. They had been fanboying through the entire movie and it didn’t stop after the credits rolled.

They’d kept their excitement up all the way through their bed-time routine. And had still not calmed down when they got downstairs. They recreated scenes from the movie with dramatic vigour, which wasn’t hard for an illusion witch.

Gus even made some really convincing velociraptors with his magic. Who chased the duo around while they pretended to be Ian Malcolm and Alan Grant.

They were making quite the ruckus and eventually got told off. Amity yelled from the top of the stairs to be quiet, causing Luz and Willow to shuffle her off to bed. And after laughing about that too, the boys finally settled down.

She was right of course. It was late and the girls were trying to sleep. Gus tried to do the same, not wanting to mess up his sleep schedule. But he ended up just lying there, thinking.

Hunter said it would be “one of those nights” and grabbed a book instead. Even with the fairy lights, the room was rather dark. Perfect for sleeping, just not for reading. Gus wasn’t going to question it though. That was a conversation for another day.

Or was now the perfect time?

It was late at night. They were cozy and warm. Hunter had finally gotten comfortable enough to relax with him. Gus had even seen him go to sleep earlier than him a couple times.

But not tonight. It was “one of those nights” after all. So yeah, it was a bad idea.

They had ‘deep talks’ before, but this was a difficult one to have, even on a good day. He wouldn’t want Hunter to lose his comfort, to disturb his brand new peace.

But he still couldn’t sleep! He had to talk about something.

“The human realm is pretty cool huh?”

“Absolutely.” Hunter smiled. He put the book aside to give his buddy his full undivided attention. Gus loved when he did that.

“I mean, that movie!” Gus magicked a T-rex with hearts and sparkles above his head. “So cool!”

“I know right!” Hunter was ready to go an another fanboy rant. “The part where the T-rex defeats a velociraptor?! and then the roar— and then the banner falls down!”

“Peak cinema!” Gus quoted Luz and they both laughed.

Their human friend hadn’t been talking about tonight’s movie. But she used the phrase a lot, so now Gus did as well.

"Yeah, I kinda like this place.” Hunter smiled down at his hands. But then seemed a little frazzled and quickly continued talking. “N-Not that I don’t like our own realm, or-"

"No I get it.” He interrupted him and Hunter relaxed again. Gus moved to lay on his side, looking down at his bro.

“I was worried that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the human world, with the way we got here,” Gus said. He couldn’t help the pain that seeped into his voice with that last part. Hunter’s expression softened even further, Gus didn’t think that was even possible. “but I have. I really, really have."

"Me too." Hunter bumped his fist into the witch’s shoulder, making him sway back and forth with a giggle. “And we’ll find a way back eventually.”

“Of course!” Gus wasn’t worried about that. Those feelings came and went like waves, but right now his hopes were high. “We’re gonna get that portal working.”

He felt their conversation coming to an end. He was definitely not done talking.

“You know what else is peak cinema?”

“What?”

“The actual cinema!” Gus bounced up, sitting on his knees and pumping his fists excitedly. “You remember when we went there? That movie was so funny! And that big box of popcorn was really delicious, you’re just hit with that smell when you walk in!”

“Shhhh,” his friend tried to calm him. “Amity might yell at you again.”

“She yelled at us, Hunter.” Gus made a pointed hand movement between the two of them. “She yelled at us.”

“Alright, alright.” Hunter snorted. “But you should still settle down.”

“Fffffine…” Gus laid back down on his side, hoping Hunter had not caught onto him yet. “Oh! Do you remember that picnic we had?”

“Um yes?” Hunter looked at him a little confused.

“We went to that field with the hill and we were able to use our magic because there weren’t any humans around.”

“Yeah, I remember,” Hunter deadpanned. “That was last week.”

“And then there’s the time we-“

“Gus.”

“The time we went rafting. And we-“

“Gus.”

“… Yeah?”

“Go to sleep!” Hunter snorted as he pushed his full palm into the witch’s face. Gus made an offended noise when he was pushed onto his back.

“You’re one to talk.” He crossed his arms with a huff.

“That’s…” Hunter pointed a finger in the air, but lost his gusto pretty fast. “That’s fair. How about we both try to sleep? See who gets there first.”

“You’re on!” Gus was determined to beat him. But fair was fair, he had to actually try to sleep.

Hunter couldn’t help the smirk that formed on his face. Did he really think he could win from an insomniac?

Well, he should at least try.

Soon enough, he was the one just lying there, thinking. He could hear steady breathing next to him. The younger boy had lost as predicted.

Gus had a point though, Luz had led them through all sorts of crazy activities. Hunter’s memories of the ‘rafting’ thing were both fond and extremely unpleasant.

He felt powerful while steering the boat. It was like steering an airship, one of the very few things he missed from home.

Gus, Amity and Vee were very frightened. It was stupid, but he liked being the protective one for once. He was usually the one that needed comforting, so it was a nice change of pace.

Willow was looking fierce as always, but Hunter could tell she was secretly afraid too. Or at the very least worried. Him and Luz were the only ones actually enjoying the River Rapids.

It helped that he knew it was safe. As rough as the river looked, the real speed wasn’t anything special. They had all experienced much worse back home. On top of that, Luz had assured them that Human water wasn’t boiling.

It was fully confirmed after Amity fell in the river…

They all freaked out, her girlfriend most of all. She almost dove in after her. Luckily, Amity knew how to swim. Hunter and Willow steered the boat towards a sand bar, so they could reunite with their fallen comrade.

“Omigosh Amity!” Luz ran towards her, hugging the drenched witch. “Are you okay?!”

“Yes, don’t worry Batata.” Amity smiled. “I’m fine! The water here is harmless right?”

“Yes of course!” Luz answered like it was the most obvious thing ever. She never learned what it took to make a lake or river back home safe to swim in. “I know my super awesome girlfriend is not going down by the likes of the River Rapids.”

The couple twirled each other around, laughing like the idiots-in-love that they were. Gus, Vee and Willow cooed at their overly-sweet display and voiced their own happiness over the fact that Amity was fine.

“The Blight survives another day.” Hunter congratulated her, after hoisting the boat out of the water enough for it to stay put.

“Ha-ha,” Amity punched him lightly in the stomach, “I can see you trying to come up with some dumb joke already.”

“I’m just saying…” Hunter smirked. “You can never call me a wet cat ever again!”

He gestured to her state of being. Not a single person could deny she looked like a soaking cat. If Ghost fell in the river instead, the differences would be impossible to find.

Judging by the snickers and giggles that erupted, he was right. Gus made a set of neon blue cat-ears appear on Amity’s head. Which made Willow and Vee burst out in a roaring cackle.

“Awwww~” Luz covered her mouth, trying to hide that her adoration was turning into a laugh.

Amity turned beet red. That face was a common occurrence, but it was still amazing. Ever. Single. Time. The abomination witch swatted the illusion away and turned to Hunter with a fury he hadn’t seen in a while.

She had chased him around with a purple ball of fire, while he ran with rowdy laughter.

Now that Hunter thought back, those memories were mostly fond. He felt so happy and free. He was surrounded by an incredible amount of warmth.

He almost felt like a normal kid.

But the feeling never lasted. Normal was just not in the cards for him. Everything reminded him of that.

The few books on Grimwalkers he was able to find were burned into his memory. The pages haunted him, but realisations of what they meant still snuck up. And when it inevitably did, anxiety and panic would seep into his skin.

It had been the usual reason for his insomnia the first few weeks in this house. Amongst other things. But he went from sleeping due to complete exhaustion, to sleeping because he wanted to. Well, sometimes.

Nowadays, it was mostly the nightmares that send him back into the hopeless feelings he’s grown so accustomed to.

It always started the same.

Golden masks on a dark forest floor, bleeding into the grass. Bones scattered everywhere. Fog blocking his view.

Then cracks would form, first in the masks, then in the ground itself. Hands would rise from them, decaying hands, clawing at his feet, gripping his legs.

Then he fell.

A large fissure widened right underneath him. The hands dragged him further down. Dirt and blood spilled into his mouth, filled his eyes, clogged his ears. The earth gave way and he fell. He fell right back into his hands.

Hunter woke up in a cold sweat.

He shot upright, his eyes wouldn’t open, his mouth felt dry from the mud, he still couldn’t hear anything! He desperately clawed around him, trying to find an escape. His breathing hitched, was there still earth in his throat?

He tried to cough it out, but there was no resistance. His lungs heaved and his head spun. He kept grabbing and scratching and clawing. But all he felt were soft blankets and a cold wooden floor.

His right hand slammed against something hard. His wrist send a shot of pain through his arm.

Wait.

His eyes were open. He could see fairy lights and a couch. Soft blankets and a wooden floor…

Right.

He was in the basement. No forest, no masks, no blood. No Belos. There was nothing in his throat, or his eyes, or his ears.

He was safe.

That was the couch he just hit. His head spun quickly to the witch sleeping on it. Gus was facing him. He had his duvet all the way past his head, only his face was peaking out. His eyes were closed and his breathing was slow and steady.

He was still sleeping.

Hunter thanked the Titan. Disturbing Gus right now would absolutely break him. His own breath finally found some regularity. He tried his best to focus on the four fingers technique.

With every breath, Hunter felt his stress ebb away. His head still hurt though. He decided splashing some water on his face might help.

He soundlessly ascended the stairs, he was an expert at that by now.

He wondered what time it was as he walked to the bathroom, avoiding all the creaky floorboards. He went straight for the sink and didn’t bother to turn on the light.

The cold water felt like nirvana on his skin. It slowly cooled down his skin and his headache faded away. He washed his face and hands, and his neck for good measure. He breathed steadily between every splash of icy heaven.

Eventually he felt grounded again and took his towel from the rack. They had to extend the rack to hold six towels instead of two. Hunter often felt bad that Camila had to buy so much extra inventory.

Nevertheless, he was very happy with the soft fabrics on his face. He would be forever grateful for Camila Noceda. She was so compassionate.

He dried his face and hung it back on the rack. As he moved back towards the sink, his gaze caught on his own reflection in the mirror.

His magenta eyes stared back at him.

He stopped dead in his tracks. The blend of magenta and red was glinting in the mirror. Even in the dark the colours were clear to see.

Red eyes.

It was the very mark of a Grimwalker. Their most recognisable part. He was once again reminded what exactly he was.

It had only recently turned into such an issue for him. Magenta irises just weren’t weird in the demon realm.

Sure, the masked helped, but most people didn’t know anything about Grimwalkers. Besides, other people had weird colours too. Like very bright green or yellow.

Here in the Human realm though, it was the strangest thing.

Hunter got asked ‘how he had red eyes’ by humans on the street quite often. Just earlier today he had one of those encounters.

———

The Hexsquad, as they liked to call themselves, was hard at work in their clubhouse. The bright summer sun was shining through the windows of their newly renovated place.

They had fixed the giant holes in the walls and the floor, they had hung colourful wallpaper, Camila had given them an extra rug and Luz had found an old bean bag in the attic. They had even found a tiny ‘cooler’ at a yard sale.

They tried to decorate the place as much as possible with plants and string lights. The witches had made drawings of their families and Luz had put up a poster of the portal door, as much as she remembered.

Hunter was still fixing the old chair that had been there forever. He was almost done with the stitching, but that would have to wait a little longer.

They were trying to build a portal and it was proving very difficult.

They were scattered on the floor with notepads and books. Vee had tried to organise the pens, erasers and pencils in the middle. Put the pile dispersed every few minutes.

They were all trying to brainstorm human-versions of the ingredients they needed, yelling suggestions across the room every now and then.

Hunter was also trying to remember the portal he had seen in the castle. It was different from the one Luz had made, bringing them straight to the Human realm instead of the in-between she had described.

He was sporting a similar look to Gus and Amity. Hands in hair, staring at the pages. Hunter sighed frustrated, his own pages were still so empty.

That’s of no use to her.

Willow let out a despairing groan and snapped her notebook closed. She sat up straight to stretch.

“Let’s take a break.” She said, more like a demand than a offer.

“Yes please…” Gus flopped on his stomach with similar noises of pain.

Amity and Vee joined in with their own agreement. Hunter tried to ignore them and focus on his 1/4-filled page. From the absence of a certain human’s voice, he guessed Luz was doing the same.

But you can’t just ignore a conversation that’s happening right next to you. Amity suggested to go into town and Vee seemed excited about a particular place.

So, to the objection of Luz and Hunter, the witches and demon stood up and evacuated.

“Wait guys, I have to-“ Luz tried, but her girlfriend interrupted.

“Nope.” Amity said sternly. She grabbed her arm and tugged until she stood up.“You have to take a break.”

Gus was already out the door.

“But if we just-“ Hunter started.

“No.” Willow took the notebook he was scribbling in away.

“Leaving now would only-“

“No.” Vee came to join the plant witch for a duo to behold. Hunter looked up at the girls with slight fear, hidden by stubbornness.

“But-“

“NO!” Both of them yelled and Flapjack chirped incessantly. Alright, the message was clear.

“Sorry guys, but you’ll have to sit this one out.” Amity said to the palismen.

They were cuddled up in a dog bed that Camila had given them. The magical creatures all said things along the lines of ‘fine by me’ or ‘have fun’. It was safe to say they weren’t heartbroken about being left alone.

Hunter stood up under the pointed gaze of the girls. But he made no motions towards the door, looking at his pen apprehensively.

Vee grabbed the back of his shirt and basically dragged him out of the door. Hunter let out a yelp while stumbling backwards, looking at Willow who just followed with a smirk on her face.

“Okay Vee, where did you wanna go?” Luz asked after stretching in the sun. Seemed like Amity already convinced her.

“There’s this boba place that I’ve really wanted to try.” Vee shifted to her human disguise. “I don’t know where it is exactly, but I know what it’s called.”

Apparently that was good enough for Luz’s phone, because shortly after pressing a few buttons she was leading them through town. Vee and Amity on either side of her.

Even though they no longer looked like twins, the basilisk and the human still resembled sisters. Acted like it too.

The boba shop was small, but it had a few tables and sofas. The place was decorated with a pastel colour pallete, the counter had photo’s of their products on display and the wall behind it had their menu on chalkboards.

They found a table in the corner with 6 seats and started deciding on their order. Luz and Hunter were tasked with memorising everything.

“Oh no…” Luz gasped after patting every pocket that her pants had. “I forgot my wallet!”

The table was filled with a moment of shock. Before they could despair over walking all that way for nothing, Vee fished a couple of banknotes from her pocket.

Luz’s sigh of relief as her sibling deposited two 20-dollar bills in her hands, was quickly replaced by confusion.

“Wait. How?”

“Camila gave it to me for this exact situation.” She said with a cat-like grin. Luz pouted at her.

Vee playfully hit the back of her head, messing up her hair. Luz retaliated by ruffling hers. Before they could turn it into a fight, Gus told her to order already.

“Right, we’ll be back in a minute.” Luz chirped and tugged Hunter along.

The cashier who greeted them looked to be around their age. He had a mint green apron on over a white T-shirt. Blue hair peaked out of a hat with he shop’s logo on it.

“Welcome to Boba Pop, may I take your order?” The guy practically did a double take to look at Hunter. “Wow, dude. I love your contacts! Where did you get ‘em?”

“My what?” He asked confused. He was not prepared for this question, he didn’t even know what it meant.

“Your eyes,” The cashier pointed at his face. “That red colour is awesome.”

Hunter was a little overwhelmed. This guy had never experienced social anxiety and it showed. At least now he knew what they were talking about.

“Oh this is my-“

“Favourite colour!” Luz jumped in. “It’s his favourite colour.”

She smiled weirdly at the guy and Hunter looked at her confused too. Then the realisation that he couldn’t say ’natural colour’ to a human hit him like a lightning spell.

“Oh! Yeah, I really like… con-tats.” He laughed awkwardly. The energetic cashier seemed oblivious to their weird behaviour.

“Cool! Where did you get them?”

The duo looked at each other with the same stumped expression.

“They were a gift!” Luz managed to improvise. She looked smug at her own answer. “For his birthday.”

Hunter looked away with a wobbly smile when he thought ‘yeah my very first birthday’. He quickly repressed it.

“Um yes,” He said, “and we don’t know where they got them. The friend I mean, who got them for my birthday.”

Hunter trailed off and looked to Luz for guidance. She was just smiling at the employee so he did the same.

“Aww, thats too bad.” The blue-haired boy looked genuinely dejected. Then he straightened his back and looked at them a little shocked. “Oh! I’m so sorry. May I take your order?”

“Oh no, don’t worry.” Hunter tried to assure him, waving his hands frantically. Luz offered both guys some mercy by starting with her own order.

Luz tried her best to ordered everything, but couldn’t remember some of the details. She blanked completely on Willow’s order and looked at the grimwalker next to her for help.

“Jasmine green milk tea with half ice.” Hunter said with absolute certainty. Luz smirked at him. “What?”

“Nothing~”

“Is that all?” The cashier asked, putting it into the machine. Hunter still wondered how those things worked exactly.

Luz confirmed and payed for their order. They only had to wait a little bit for the employees to make everything. When it was done, they said goodbye to the blue-haired guy and walked back to the others.

Vee was probably the happiest to get her drink, but the others were excited too. They opted to take the drinks to go instead of sitting at the table. It seemed like a waste of a six-person table to Hunter, but the rest wanted to walk around in the sun.

And so they walked around town with their cold drinks, enjoying the nice summer weather.

They walked past clothing shops, cafes, restaurants. Making plans to remember certain places for future visits. Eventually their drinks ran out and they crossed the road for a trashcan.

From there they saw a ‘cute little park’ as Amity called it, obviously they had to go there.

They walked towards the charming elm trees, but when they rounded the corner of the fence they stopped dead in their tracks.

There, on a pedestal stood two large stone statues, wearing clothes straight out of a history page.

Witch-hunter history.

Luz stopped so abruptly that Gus bumped into her. Amity was holding her hand and felt a tug when her girlfriend halted. Willow, who had been walking next to Gus, recoiled from their crash.

The three witches immediately voiced their curiosity and concern.

Hunter recognised him too. Vee only noticed because he fell silent. Just a second ago they were talking about tea, now he stared up at this thing with an unreadable expression.

She followed his gaze. The bone-chilling realisation almost made her shapeshifting unstable.

“That’s… Belos.” Luz managed to get out after her friend’s concerned murmurs.

The witches surrounding her all looked at her bewildered, then snapped their attention to the statue.

The pedestal read: Gravesfield folklore, The brothers Wittebane.

Hunter felt like his body was about to crumble. That was indisputably the face of the man he had called uncle his entire life. And that was his brother. That was Caleb.

That was his blueprint.

A disgusting feeling rose in his throat. He felt like the world was spinning around him. Light-headed and reeling, his mind was blaring alarm bells. He couldn’t hear what Luz was saying to their friends, the sounds around him were distant and distorted.

He couldn’t stop looking at him.

His lungs were threatening to give out. Irregular short breaths entered his body, while breathing out felt impossible. He was in the verge of hyperventilating.

Vee felt a little woozy and off-balance. The hold on her shapeshifting was weakening. She felt her hands turn back into claws and saw some green spots forming on her arms. A nauseating feeling tumbled in her stomach.

They had statues. Belos and his brother had statues here. Two witch-hunters had statues here.

A sharp sound to her left broke her out of her daze. Hunter was looking even more wobbly than she felt. She could see the panic in his eyes. She tracked his gaze once more and it finally clicked.

On instinct she grabbed his hand, her claws dug into his skin. He barely felt it. Hunter slowly turned to her, still feeling spaced out. Vee gently tugged on his arm and walked backwards.

He let her lead him over grass, feeling too overwhelmed and scared to pretend he was okay. She tugged her brother along, until they were out of earshot, making sure he was with his back towards the statue.

She took his other hand and squeezed them both, this time being mindful of her sharp claws. The pressure helped him focus a little, but breathing was only getting more difficult.

“Breathe Hunter.” Vee spoke clearly. He squeezed her hands back, desperately trying to ground himself.

And like a broken spell or an unlocked chain, his lungs finally worked again. His irregular gasping for air turned into irregular deep breaths.

“Just breathe.”

The basilisk carefully looked back at the group. The other witches were still inspecting the sculpture and listening to Luz talk about Philip.

It looked like they had successfully slipped away.

“Just breathe.” She said again, calm and pointed.

She coached him through his rising stress, and slowly his hyperventilating stopped. He followed her calming breaths, eventually he moved onto his familiar four-fingers technique.

Vee’s hand now floating in the air in case he needed it. In time, Hunter calmed down. He looked at her with nothing but gratitude. She had helped to prevent a full-on panic attack.

“You okay?” She asked attentively.

“Yes.” Hunter blew out a hefty breath one more time. “Thank you.”

“We’ve gotten pretty good at this, huh?” Vee let out a loaded sigh and a shaky chuckle. Hunter nodded with a tired smile. She swung the hand that still held onto his back and forth.

“And to think I wanted to murder you just a month ago!" She laughed a little odd but with obvious relief. Hunter couldn’t help the elated laugh that escaped out his mouth.

The strange feeling of humour after an almost-mental breakdown, made his sound a little weird too. She was right, their relationship was insane. The basilisk that was scared out of her mind when they first met, had called him ‘brother’ only a few days ago.

He was aware that they had a unique kind of bond with their shared experiences in the castle. But he’d never expect to be regarded as family. He wasn’t sure if he deserved it, but it made him feel so happy.

And treating Vee like a little sister made her really happy, even though he couldn’t yet get himself to call her that. She said she enjoyed hugs and hair-ruffles. Apparently teasing, bickering and joking around was also part of it.

He was still new to it all, but it just felt so right.

Luz had been calling him ‘bro’ and ‘hermano’ for a while now. Maybe he was more used to it than he-

“Whatcha doing over here?” Willow suddenly appeared to the right one him.

Saying it startled him was an understatement. Hunter yelped a loud “WAAA-“ before he doubled over and went back to his calming breaths.

Willow, having missed his panic, was looking jolly and unbothered. She cocked an eyebrow at him with an amused smile. But when she saw that Vee didn’t share her sentiment, she got worried.

“Sweet mother of Titan.” The blonde boy heaved out.

“Are you okay?” Willow asked. Looking from Hunter to Vee and back.

“We’re fine.” Vee assures her. Being infinitely more skilled in lying, she quickly fabricated a half-truth. She glared at the statue. "That... thing just makes me really uncomfortable."

“Mmmh, I get it.” Willow nodded with a soft look. Thinking about their past always made her angry. She looked back with a scowl. “I just wanna spray paint all over it.”

"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" Vee smiled creepily. Focusing on Hunter’s feelings had helped her to calm down as well, but now her mood was really improving.

“Guys,” Hunter piped up when he felt grounded once more. “Vandalism is wrong.”

He was met with two deadpan faces. The tips of his ears tinted pink when he looked at Willow. He quickly turned his eyes away.

“But I wouldn’t stop you.” He mumbled.

“Alright!” Vee jumped away, ready to throw rocks at Belos’s image. This was going to be very therapeutic for her.

Willow and Hunter watched her leave. The green-haired girl met up with Luz, said something and started doing exactly as she set out to do. Gus and Amity didn’t take long to join in.

The duo standing in the distance looked at each other, and started giggling.

“Do you wanna join them?” The plant witch asked, really wanting to do so herself.

“Maybe another time…” Hunter looked away. He felt like his legs would refuse to walk back to that thing.

Willow understood, and as much as she felt the vandalism-urge burning in her soul, she wouldn’t leave Hunter behind. She couldn’t even imagine how devastating it must have been to find a statue dedicated to you abuser. Her heart bled for him.

The blonde witch would always be ready to distract her when she needed it. She had no trouble returning the favour.

“Hey, look at this.” She crouched down next to a flower bed on the edge of the park, gently bending a purplish-blue flower towards him. “This is called the balloon flower.”

Hunter was immediately intrigued. He crouched down next to her and inspected the plant. It was a cluster of flowers on one stem, they were star-shaped and had a peculiar looking pistil.

“See how the petals are fused?” Willow ever so carefully glided her thumb over the blue petals, they were indeed stuck to each other. “We don’t have any flowers like this in the Boiling Ilse.”

“Why not?” Hunter was fully captivated.

“I dunno.” Willow shrugged. “Different evolution I guess.”

“Oh.” Hunter laughed. He had expected some profound answer, but that made sense. He touched one of the other flowers to feel the strange petals for himself. “Did you learn about these in that book?”

“Yes! The one from the library.” She was delighted that he remembered she loved that book so much. “Balloon flowers are actually very popular.”

She was also glad he accepted her attempt at distracting him with plant facts. So Willow happily listed all the different names for the different shades of blue present in this species.

They talked about the book for a bit. He was excited to learn that the human realm had flesh-eating plants too. But then Willow had to break the news to him that they were really tiny. After that, the group called them to leave. Their vandalism-therapy was done.

Hunter found himself walking at the back of the group again, this time with Gus. They had to pass that damned statue again to go home. His effort to resist wasn’t strong enough, he looked up at Caleb’s face one last time.

He felt like a freshly scabbed-over wound was splitting back open. He wouldn’t go into a panic again, but he felt sick to the stomach. And maybe a little dizzy too.

“Hey,” Gus looked at him curiously. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah!” He lied.

“Did the statue make you uncomfortable too?”

“Yeah…”

Hunter knew this was bound to happen. Gus was incredibly observant and smart. More so than anyone, he was the real mom of the group. He cared so much and they had build an amazing friendship, which was exactly why this was so uncomfortable.

Gus, on the other hand, didn’t feel very smart right now. What kind of question was that? Of course he was uncomfortable!

He just wanted to talk about it.

But Hunter clearly didn’t, so he wouldn’t press the issue. He could take a wild guess either way. He knew that Hunter wasn't even looking at Belos's statue. He was looking at his brother.

Caleb Wittebane.

———

Hunter had been staring at his reflection for what felt like an eternity. A wounded sigh eventually escaped his mouth. His shoulders slumped, breaking him out of his frozen state.

His hands moved involuntarily to his face. He rubbed the inside of his eyes. Then he squeezed them shut and opened them wide. He intently studied the colours and the fibres.

He always thought that the way the fibres of an iris weaved was so pretty. Not when he looked at his own, but someone else’s, like Willow. Like an intricate web of beautiful pigment.

He didn’t hate the colour of his eyes, he hated what it represented.

He dragged his hands down to his mouth. His chapped lips had always been a constant and Amity had desperately tried to get him to use lip balm. She was right, she was always right, that’s why she was so annoying. He just forgot.

With one finger he lifted the side of his upper lip, uncovering his fangs. He was still more inclined to call them sharp teeth. That’s what they were after all.

He used to hate those, but his friends all loved them so much. Now he wasn’t sure how to feel. Just neutral maybe?

He then moved his hands up into his hair and hung them on his neck. His hair had grown, falling just past his ears. It looked different, but he could still style it the same way.

It didn’t have to stand out, right? Nobody noticed? He couldn’t bring himself to cut it here.

He had to cut his hair religiously back in the coven. It always had to look perfect. Everything always had to be perfect. The human realm was supposed to be his peaceful escape.

No.

No, stop.

What was he even thinking? They had crashed into this realm in an apocalypse. The end of the world! This was refuge, not an escape. He had to remember the difference.

That still didn’t mean he had to cut his hair.

He moved one hand to his scar, softly pulling the skin up and down. Tracking the edge, like he’d done a million times. It was the only thing entirely his own.

His eyes, his teeth, the rapid growth of his hair. That was all Grimwalker. The colour of that hair, his bone structure, his nose, his eyebrows. That was all Caleb.

“What a shame. Out of all the Grimwalkers, you looked the most like him."

Why couldn't he reject that sentence? Even just as a bold-faced lie. He wanted to utterly deny that is was true, but when he looked at that statue...

It looked so painfully similar.

His scar was the only thing that didn’t belong to either of them. But even that little beacon of uniquely him, didn’t bring any comfort. How could it? It was a deep pink slash across his cheek. His very first scar.

He barely remembered how he got it. Well, it was Belos of course. He just didn’t recall any of the details.

It was the first of many. Every single one of them seemed so clearly malicious in retrospect. How had he ever been so naive?

It is the curse! He didn’t mean to! As if that monster could ever really love him. A lie, that’s all it was.

His arms dropped to his sides. The hundredth sigh of the night escaped his lips. He hated this so much. But he couldn’t move away from that damned mirror. Like plant magic was rooting him to this one spot in the bathroom.

When he looked in that mirror, he didn’t see anything he liked. He didn’t see himself.

He wanted to punch that mirror and-

The sounds of very familiar slithering passed in the hallway, violently ripping his attention away from the mirror. He heard the slithering in the kitchen and then a crunching noise.

Vee.

More like his guardian angel. The kitchen was very appealing, stronger even than the mirror’s pull.

That was good right? He had to escape this depressing pit he created. Joining Vee would do definitely force him away from his own mind. Or maybe misery just loved company.

He deliberately kept his head down, looking at the mirror would root him back in place. He hoped he left the sink neat enough.

Hunter entered the kitchen and saw his basilisk sister elbow-deep into a cereal box. She was looking off in the distance while munching, until she noticed him. She froze and they looked at each other for a solid 10 seconds.

“Hey.” Vee said blankly, breaking the awkward silence.

“Hey.” He returned in the same passive way.

She continued to crunch on her midnight snack and tilted the box towards him. He shuffled over and leaned on the counter, grabbing a fistful of the cereal.

Usually he’d be a bit upset about eating from the box, but he was just so tired that he didn’t care anymore. He felt a little empty right now.

“Insomnia?” Vee asked, blinking slowly and sideways.

“Nightmare.” Hunter answered between crunching. “You?”

“The other one.”

“That sucks.”

“Sure does,” She snickered. “Nightmares aren’t much better. Are you okay?”

“Yeah I’m fine.” Now that he actually had company for his misery, he didn’t want to get into it.

Vee knew he was lying, naturally, but she was leaving it be. She didn’t really have the energy for a heart-to-heart right now either. They just kept eating their cereal in comfortable silence.

Then Luz walked in.

Both basilisk and grimwalker froze again in the middle of their munching. Their human sibling stood just past the doorway and looked at them surprised.

“Hey.” They said at the same time, in the exact same way as before.

“Hey,” Luz laughed and bounced over to grab her own helping of cereal. She hopped onto the counter and ruffled both of their hair. Calling them both ‘hermanitos’.

Vee glowed at the nickname, and Hunter smiled. A small, growing feeling of light was forming somewhere, almost within reach.

“Di’ya have a nightma’?” Vee asked through a mouth full. Hunter didn’t even have enough energy to lecture her about proper eating etiquette. Eating from a box kind of defeats the purpose anyways.

“No, I couldn’t sleep.” The human answered. “I feel like I went in and out of sleep at least 6 times already.”

“Insomnia.” Hunter hummed knowingly.

“Yeah…” Luz sighed. She was well aware of her insomnia-household. This wasn’t the first time that the three of them had gathered in the kitchen, at the most ungodly hours of the night. “So I came down here for some water, but this is way better.”

She threw a piece of cereal in the air and caught it with her mouth. Hunter moved wordlessly to the cupboard and filled three glasses with water. The girls both looked at him with shit-eating grins. Hunter rolled his eyes, he could never just do something nice without them turning it into a big deal.

“Awww you big softy.” They cooed. Hunter looked at them annoyed, then snatched the cereal box from Vee’s hands.

“Just for that, I’m eating the last of this.”

“NO!” The sisters gasped and leapt to save their snack, but he was too fast and too tall.

Hunter tipped the thing over and the last of the cereal, which was only 5 pieces at most, was gone.

“How could you!” Luz called out with a dramatic look of betrayal. Hunter and Vee both shushed her, trying to hold in their laughter.

“How could you?” Luz whispered this time, giggling along with them.

“Ya know… we have another box.” The sly basilisk suggested, showing off the inside of the pantry.

“Vee, we can’t eat two boxes of cereal in the middle of the night!” Hunter whisper-yelled, slapping their greedy hands away and closing the cabinet door. “What about the others? What about breakfast?”

“Yeah Vee, think about breakfast!” Luz teased like she hadn’t just been reaching for that box as well. Vee stuck her tongue out.

“What time is it anyway?” She asked and Luz pulled her phone from her back pocket.

The blue screen lit up the room, but she completely forgot to check the time when she noticed a sudden shine.

“Wow….” Luz marvelled at the teens standing in front of her. “Cat eyes.”

The teens in question, being completely lost, looked at her confused.

“I didn’t know you guys have that!” She was awestruck.

“Have what?” Vee felt stumped and wanted an explanation quickly.

“You know when cats are at a certain angle to a light and their eyes glow?” Luz was met with a couple of dumbfounded faces. “Because of their night vision? You guys have reflective eyes… like cats?”

“Reflective eyes?!” Hunter reacted suddenly. The realisation had snuck up on him, as if thinking about it earlier had doomed it to come true again.

“What? Nooooo hahahahaha-“ He laughed nervously, backing up until the edge of the kitchen island dug into his back. His voice trailed off and he took a deep breath. “No.”

“Hunter?” Luz’s voice was uneasy and she reached out a hand to him, but it faltered. Vee looked wary and uncertain.

His heart sank. It had barely gotten the chance to climb out and it sank all the way back down.

“No…” His voice broke.

He hugged himself tight. His arms were tired, his legs were tired, his everything was tired. He slid down against the island.

“Hunter?” Vee asked with the tinniest voice. She eyed Luz and they shared a look of extreme worry.

“Noooooo…” Hunter buried his face in his hands and groaned. “Whyyyyy?!”

Did the Titan hate him? Was he cursed? This night just kept getting worse! And just when he thought he escaped those feelings, those thoughts. Leave them in the dark bathroom and never look back. He really was naive.

Luz and Vee shared a final look and joined him on the floor. They sat down on either side of him, leaning against him as a silent show of comfort.

Hunter felt tears stream over his face and by the way his shoulders shook, his sisters could tell. Luz put a hand on his back and the older boy let out a shaky breath. He let go of his legs and slowly sat back up, dropping his arms on the ground.

Nobody said anything.

Vee wrapped her tail around his ankles and let head head fall on his shoulder. Her cheek smushed and her fuzzy hair tickled his neck. Luz hugged him tight, resting her head against his arm.

Hunter just let the tears fall.

He felt a confusing mix of distress, comfort, exhaustion, gratitude, fear and love. He really hated today, it was such a long, draining day.

But he felt so happy to have these two consider him family. They let him bawl his eyes out without question, sharing this moment of pain just to make it easier for him.

Eventually they would let each other go. Vee would spend the night watching YouTube videos. Luz would read Azura books until sunrise. And Hunter would rest his tired eyes, for once sleeping dreamless and peaceful.

But for now, they would stay like this. Together.

[theflyingfeeling]

Still bored, so here are some random BC fanfic ideas I've been playing with for a while but will never write due to a variety of reasons (so they are free to use!) ✨

~

1) Joel/Joonas with Joel being ace/aro and oblivious to Joonas being hopelessly in love with him (or maybe he does know but he just pretends he doesn't because he has no idea what to do about it). Bonus points if Joonas gets together / fools around with Niko and it works as a distraction quite nicely, until it doesn't (cue Niko being a good friend and calling it quits himself when he understands the true state of affairs and encouraging Joonas to do something or the very least tell Joel about his feelings, even if nothing would ever come out of it, because Joel deserves to know and, most of all, Joonas deserves to move on 😔)

~

2) A massage therapist AU in which Joonas is a masseur and Tommi his client. Tommi gets an awkward surprise boner during a massage and Joonas is bold enough to mention that they do also offer, ummm, erotic massages as well, in case Tommi is interested 😏 It takes Tommi a few more visits (and awkward boners (because maybe he's also developing a crush on his nice-looking masseur)) until Tommi finally books a prostate massage, and oh my oh my! 💦 his whole world turns upside down as he comes untouched by Joonas' skilful hands 😳 He's hooked from the very first prostate orgasm of his life and becomes a regular, with 2-3 weekly sessions booked, and he gets excited about them in the morning already (maybe a little too excited, if you get the gist 😌), and maybe eventually he manages to ask Joonas out 💕 (also inluded in this AU: Olli/Allu as Joonas' co-workers who are also boyfriends/husbands and use each other's massage rooms for their personal "sessions" at the end of the workday, yes very unprofessional I know 🥰)

~

3) Some sort of historical AU, with Olli as some kinda royalty or a nobleman or just a rich person in general, the rebel of his family however, having a secret fling with Aleksi the merchant's son. Cue lots and lots of flirting at the marketplace and passionate sex / rough fucking wherever and whenever, but tragically, Olli in this AU is also a bit of a fuckboy and manages to piss off Aleksi and/or make him jealous by acting unnecessarily touchy-feely with someone at the tavern. Aleksi gives him the silent treatment (picture him just silently working at his market stall ignoring Olli's flirting and his pleas). Heartbroken by this, Olli gets a little too drunk at the tavern and ends up in some kind of trouble from which Aleksi saves him (all the while sighing at his idiot boyfriend 🙄). The next morning in Aleksi's modest bedroom/house, Aleksi tries his best to maintain the cold shoulder attitude (because he is still kinda mad at Olli), but he fails horribly when Olli catches him staring and starts teasing him about it like the smug bastard he is 🥰 Also, an extremely important visual from this AU is Olli in a white, loose shirt whenever possible 🥵

~

4) A while back I was also thinking about another historical AU (because I looooooove historical AUs and period dramas 💖) about Niko being some kinda clergyman, a cantor perhaps, and Joonas a homeless person Niko made acquaintance with in the breadline, but sadly I can't remember too many details about this one 🤔 I guess Niko just starts doing a little extra to help out Joonas, and it's up for you to decide whether it's "helping him out" as in offering him food and maybe a roof above his head (secretly letting him stay overnight inside the church when the weather's too rough to sleep outdoors), or "helping him out" as in fucking him in the candlelit organ loft after the evening Mass 😌 Isn't the latter such a romantic image though? It's pitch black and stormy outside, the entire church is dark except for the candles they lit up on the organ loft, some old tapestry as their mattress (a holy relic, Niko later learns as he overhears the vicar and the sexton wonder about the strange stains on it 🤨), the sounds of their lovemaking echoing in the church... 🥺

~

5) I can't remember the pairing for this next one 🤔 Joonas was the other but I can't remember who the other was, so I'll leave it up for you to decide or suggest who'd be the best match for Joonas in this! Anyhow, an AU in which Joonas and Person B are neighbours, acquaintances and maybe crushing on each other a little, but not properly friends or anything like that. Mostly when they talk to each other it's because of Joonas' cute fluffy dog which Person B loves petting (and while he's at it he may as well exchange a word or two with the fluffy-haired owner 🥰). Person B is a little lonely and these interactions mean the world to him, but he's too shy/intoverted to actually ask Joonas to hang out other than in the hallway or front yard of their apartment building. One day, Person B sees Joonas going in his apartment without the dog, which he finds unusual, and through the paper-thin walls he hears Joonas sob his heart out. Worried, Person B goes knocking on Joonas' door to see if he's alright, and he finds a heartbroken Joonas telling him the dog had fallen suddenly ill and had to be put down that morning 😭 Person B steps in to comfort Joonas through the night, and so their budding friendship begins to bloom and maybe eventually turn into something more 💕 (now that I typed this it sounds all a little familiar but I can't put my finger on it if I've actually read this in a fic before 🤔 so I'm sorry if I copied someone's idea, it was not my intention!)

~

6) Okay this one I could write but won't because 1) I already wrote something similar, and 2) I don't want to portray Olli and Aleksi as some kinda horny and selfish cheaters, and if you don't want to even imagine that kind of things about them I suggest you stop reading now, and anyway PLEASE remember this is only fic talk, but ggghhghggghgaaaaahhhhggg I just can't stop imagining them hanging out in Aleksi's studio (late at night) and eventually one thing leads to another (wine may or may not be involved) and they end up kissing while Aleksi's spouse is upstairs 😭 maybe they even get interrupted by the spouse calling for them from outside the door or something and they'd sort of snap out of it and realise what they've done. Now there are a couple of the different scenarios for what could happen next (the 'evil' in this is the author):

neutral good: they realise they're in love with each other and peacefully break up with their spouses and live happily ever after 💞

chaotic good: they realise they're in love with each other and peacefully break up with their spouses who also somehow fall in love with each other (peer support turns into something more? 😌) and they ALL live happily ever after 🥰

chaotic neutral: they freak out and Olli immediately goes home (he lives nearby) and it's awkward for a while between them but eventually things go back to normal. They never speak about the kiss and pine for each other until the end of their days, never knowing if the other actually feels the same 💔

lawful evil: they freak out and Olli immdediately goes home and it's awkward for a while between them until it happens again and again and a couple of times more until they realise it's wrong and they should stop and then they pine for each other until the end of their days, fully aware the feeling is mutual 😭

neutral evil: they start fooling around behind their spouses' backs until they get caught by Aleksi's spouse (who, tbf, had began suspecting something by then; the amount of time they spent at the studio was getting a little to o suspicious). To make it extra evil, maybe the spouse doesn't even walk in on them but sees them through the window of Aleksi's studio and doesn't even do anything about it at first, deciding to give Aleksi multiple chances to spill it himself (as if that would change anything now the damage has already been done) 🫣

chaotic evil: Olli is staying at Aleksi's that night (he lives in Oulu) and they are forced to act normal while having dinner upstairs with Aleksi's spouse 💀

...thanks for reading 😇

[octuscle]

Mick - Good Boy To Chav

"ANTISOCIAL I DON'T LIKE YOU". Great shirt, Michael thought. With his lanky torso, he'd probably look a little silly in it. But to shock his stuffy middle-class parents, it would be just the thing. They hadn't thought it was a good idea for him to travel around England alone for six weeks during the summer vacations. They probably just thought he was too young and inexperienced at just 18 years old. But Michael had had a great time, with the last of his money he had been able to afford three more days in London in a shabby hotel, and now he had found a souvenir.

Sunday, departure day. Michael didn't really appreciate the breakfast at the hotel, but he was hungry and probably he would have to eat more for a longer time after the greasy English Breakfast. So he showered, styled his hair, put on jeans us sneakers and took the tank top.

08:00

No sooner had he put it on than an electric shock went through him. For a second his eyes went black. He shook himself, grabbed his key and descended the narrow steep stairs to the breakfast room located in the basement. He only had to wear the shirt for a few seconds and it had taken possession of him. He was antisocial now. And with every minute he wore the shirt, his mind and body would change, as if he had lived his antisocial life for another week.

08:05

Michael enters the breakfast room. Since he met his new pals a few weeks ago, his skull has been freshly shaved every morning. But no one here cares. There are enough other chavs with short hair hanging out here at the hotel.

08:30

Michael had wolfed down his breakfast. Since he had gotten the job on the construction site organized by his pals, he could eat like nothing. And table manners were nothing for unskilled construction workers.

09:00

He had packed his clothes into his big gym bag. Fuck, at some point he really had to wash, it stank like in the boys' toilet of a sports hall. Which was very horny. Before he left the room, he went to piss again. Damn he had a pressure on the bladder. The toilet bowl he hit only so half, the bathroom filled from the splashes of his piss with a fine mist. Michael looked in the mirror and licked the mist from his lips. His tattoos were really coming along. And the tunnels in his ears even more so. But there was still plenty left… I wonder what the lads would think of a tattoo on his bald head.

09:10

In the backyard of the hotel by the garbage cans, Mike had to suck the dick of the fella at the front desk. That was the price he had to pay for bumming a cigarette. He'd had worse deals than that. Sucks that he had to leave the hotel, but as long as he didn't have a paycheck, he had to stay with a pal.

09:30

He had bought another pack of cigarettes from the last of his money. Now he was waiting for the bus. Hopefully none of the mangy inspectors would come, he didn't have a ticket. But with the fat tunnels in his ears and his two full sleaves, no one would talk to him anyway. And the toil on the construction site had left visible traces on his body. He really looked like one of the bad guys.

10:00 a.m.

He hung out with his pals in his new room. The mattress had been cummed on more than once. Even without his dirty clothes, it stank pathetically of sweat, beer and cigarettes. Mick stripped off his sneakers and held his filthy socks in Gaz's face. The first of his pals began to jerk his cock. Kyle sucked Liam's prick. The orgy could begin.

12:00

Before there was pay on Monday, his lads and he were broke once again. He didn't need to ask his parents for money, he hadn't had any contact with them in years. But tonight Mick would help out at the wholesale market. Floor cleaning and garbage disposal in the meat market hall. There would be a few pounds pay for that. And for that, his pals and he would get credit at the pub. Life as an antisocial chav was the best life!

[meret118]

Tainted CPAP machines and ventilators went to children, the elderly and at least 700,000 veterans despite internal warnings. Company insiders said the devices posed an “unacceptable” risk.

The first complaints landed at the offices of Philips Respironics in 2010, soon after the company made a fateful decision to redesign its bestselling breathing machines used in homes and hospitals around the world.To silence the irritating rattle that kept users awake at night, Philips packed the devices with an industrial foam — the same kind used in sofas and mattresses. It quickly became clear that something had gone terribly wrong.

The reports coming into Philips described “black particles” or “dirt and dust” inside machines that pump air to those who struggle to breathe. One noted an “oily-like” substance. Others simply warned of “contamination.”

Yet Philips withheld the vast majority of the warnings from the Food and Drug Administration, even as their numbers grew from dozens to hundreds to thousands and became more alarming each year.

. . .

Instead, as the complaints continued to pile up in company files, Philips waged aggressive global marketing campaigns to sell more machines, including new models fitted with the hazardous foam.The sales pitch worked: The devices went to infants, the elderly and at least 700,000 veterans. The company also promoted machines meant for some of the sickest people in the country, rolling out a new ventilator filled with the foam in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

. . .

All the while, people using Philips machines were suffering from illnesses that no one could explain: vomiting, dizziness and headaches, along with newly diagnosed cancers of the lungs, throat, sinuses and esophagus. One man in Philadelphia coughed so hard that he broke his ribs, and a Florida woman with a hacking cough was hospitalized for days and placed on oxygen.

. . .

Studies published in scholarly journals showed the foam broke apart in heat and moisture. The company used it anyway, even though the machines send air for hours at a time into the lungs of users.

. . .

As news of the problem spread, customers and others stepped forward by the thousands, describing emergency room visits and sudden illnesses in reports submitted to Philips and the government. The reports detailed nearly 2,000 cases of cancer, 600 liver and kidney illnesses and 17,000 respiratory ailments.

. . .

The company acknowledges that the foam tested positive for genotoxicity — its own experts described “uncontrolled cellular replication” — but said that a third-party assessment still concluded the machines are unlikely to cause harm.

The three experts consulted by the news organizations said that’s not possible. While safety thresholds for chemical emissions vary and findings can be open to interpretation, genotoxicity means that one or more chemicals are changing cells, the building blocks of the human body.

“You can’t make the argument that it’s safe. That’s bad science,” said the engineer familiar with the Philips testing. “It’s a real-life failure that shows you have a problem. There’s no ambiguity. There is unacceptable risk. Full stop.”

The company’s ventilators also tested positive for genotoxicity; Philips said the devices are still being assessed.

. . .

More details about the health risks are expected to emerge through the ongoing federal lawsuits in Pittsburgh. Earlier this month, the company reached a settlement in one of the cases, agreeing to pay at least $479 million to reimburse customers and others for the costs of the defective machines.

Other legal challenges are still ongoing, including more than 600 personal injury claims and a class-action suit seeking ongoing medical monitoring and research on the dangers posed by the devices.

------

They knew the foam would break down when they decided to use it. Tests within the company after complaints came in showed how dangerous the devices were, but they refused to even change the design for new sales, much less recall the old ones. For every official complaint, how many more people were harmed that weren't reported?

They didn't recall them until 3,700 official complaints had been made. Until after they sold over 5 million life-threatening machines. There's no way to know how many people they killed.

If they think the products are so great, then they won't mind being forced to use them.

Companies will keep doing this until the financial cost of hurting people is greater than the profits from doing so.

Trigger warning for disturbing medical details, descriptions of suffering, and an image of a permanent feeding tube, in the article.

[moonlight-dreaming]

Find Suitable Mattresses on Sale

Sleep is one of the most important activities for your body because this is the time when you click here can relax and gain energy to start a new day. If you do not get a comfortable night’s sleep, then it is very hard to do all the activities that you need to do during the day

The body, including its cells and organs, needs to rest properly every day. If you are working very hard for your family, then you deserve a bed or a mattress that can give you a comfortable and satisfying sleep, otherwise you will compromise the quality of sleep you get each night after a hard day’s work. This is why you need a good quality mattress.

Getting a good quality mattress does not necessarily mean that you have to spend a huge amount of time going from bed shop to bed shop looking for the right mattress. You can easily resort to online mattress shopping. Doing your mattress online shopping is convenient, but you need to make sure that you choose a mattress e that will help you sleep soundly at night.. Once you start looking for the right mattress, you may find yourself faced with an overwhelming number of options on the market, which may make it hard for you to decide which type and brand of mattress is right for you. 

You can whittle down your choices by keeping in mind the size of your bed frame. There are important things that you need to consider if you really want to find the right mattress:

The space and the size of the bedroom where you are going to place the mattress is an important consideration that you need to keep in mind.

It is important to know how many people will sleep on the bed so you will know the size of the mattress that will comfortably hold the occupants.

 If you want a new bed, then you can also consider replacing your bed frame in order to fit the mattress that you want. 

How much it cost. You can save money on the cost of your new mattress by buying during a mattress sale. Mattress online shopping providers sometimes have mattress sales so you may be able to get a bargain from them.

One of the best beds or mattresses that you can buy nowadays is the memory foam mattress available online. This kind of mattress is ideal for anyone who is looking for a comfortable and durable mattress. This mattress belongs to the elite collection, so you will find lots of features in this mattress. The mattress contains foam that is of the highest quality. If you want an additional edge support, then this is the mattress that you are looking for. It also offers a good warranty so you can be sure that money spent on a memory foam mattress is money spent wisely.

It is not hard to find the right kind of mattress for you if you will consider your own needs, wants, and preference. A suitable mattress is the one that provides the right amount of comfort and durability for you. The next time you shop for a mattress, whether you are buying from a brick and mortar store or you resort to mattress online shopping, make sure that you are buying the right type of mattress for your needs.

[honey-harper-official]

Reasons to Choose a Natural Mattress

With a wide variety of options available on the market today, choosing a quality mattress click here can be overwhelming. This is particularly true if you don't have any experience in purchasing one.

If you are looking for a mattress that can offer more than just comfort, then it is recommended that you consider buying a natural mattress. Although new to some, you will be surprised how a natural mattress can improve the quality of your life in the long run. Following are the key advantages and reasons to choose a natural mattress:

It's Comfortable

Measured for support, resilience, and density, a natural mattress can offer you comfortable sleep without any drawbacks that are generally associated with sleeping on a synthetic mattress. In addition, organic latex and other natural mattress materials significantly reduce pressure points on your body. This extreme support will ensure that you don't stay awake throughout the night, tossing and turning.

It Naturally Regulates Moisture and Heat

The combination of wool and cotton makes natural mattresses naturally good at regulating body moisture and heat. Cotton is highly breathable, so it keeps your body dry and cool while you sleep. Wool, on the other hand, traps moistures and keeps your body at an ideal temperature for a restful, deep night's sleep.

It's Better for Your Health

Synthetic materials, e.g. memory foam, need to be treated with different chemicals to comply with the safety and health standards that regulate mite, mould, and fire resistance. However, the same chemicals used to keep the mattress safe to sleep on can negatively impact your health and the environment. These chemicals can lead to headaches, respiratory irritation, as well as other health concerns. A natural mattress does not contain such materials. So, you can avoid all these concerns by simply choosing a natural mattress.

It's Not Susceptible to Bed Bugs and Mites

Even if you purchased the most expensive mattress, if you don't exert effort and time in taking care of it, don't expect it to last very long. How you clean and maintain your mattress has a direct impact on its longevity. If your old mattress had problems like bed bugs and mites, switching to a natural mattress is highly recommended. The materials used in creating a natural mattress are resistant to bed bugs and mites. These materials are thick and dense, making it difficult for the bacteria and germs to penetrate the mattress.

It Offers Superior Allergy Resistance

Latex, cotton, and wool are naturally resistant to allergens, mildew, mould, and fire. Pure cotton is highly allergen resistant and breathable, so it is widely used in the medical field, making it an excellent choice for mattress material.

It's Better for the Environment

A natural mattress is better for the environment for several different reasons. The natural materials used to create such a mattress don't require to be treated with the same harsh chemicals that synthetic mattresses do. A natural mattress is also biodegradable.

[llamasandfists]

Find Suitable Mattresses on Sale

Sleep is one of the most important activities for your body because this is the time when you click here can relax and gain energy to start a new day. If you do not get a comfortable night’s sleep, then it is very hard to do all the activities that you need to do during the day

The body, including its cells and organs, needs to rest properly every day. If you are working very hard for your family, then you deserve a bed or a mattress that can give you a comfortable and satisfying sleep, otherwise you will compromise the quality of sleep you get each night after a hard day’s work. This is why you need a good quality mattress.

Getting a good quality mattress does not necessarily mean that you have to spend a huge amount of time going from bed shop to bed shop looking for the right mattress. You can easily resort to online mattress shopping. Doing your mattress online shopping is convenient, but you need to make sure that you choose a mattress e that will help you sleep soundly at night.. Once you start looking for the right mattress, you may find yourself faced with an overwhelming number of options on the market, which may make it hard for you to decide which type and brand of mattress is right for you. 

You can whittle down your choices by keeping in mind the size of your bed frame. There are important things that you need to consider if you really want to find the right mattress:

The space and the size of the bedroom where you are going to place the mattress is an important consideration that you need to keep in mind. It is important to know how many people will sleep on the bed so you will know the size of the mattress that will comfortably hold the occupants. If you want a new bed, then you can also consider replacing your bed frame in order to fit the mattress that you want.

How much it cost. You can save money on the cost of your new mattress by buying during a mattress sale. Mattress online shopping providers sometimes have mattress sales so you may be able to get a bargain from them.

One of the best beds or mattresses that you can buy nowadays is the memory foam mattress available online. This kind of mattress is ideal for anyone who is looking for a comfortable and durable mattress. This mattress belongs to the elite collection, so you will find lots of features in this mattress. The mattress contains foam that is of the highest quality. If you want an additional edge support, then this is the mattress that you are looking for. It also offers a good warranty so you can be sure that money spent on a memory foam mattress is money spent wisely.

It is not hard to find the right kind of mattress for you if you will consider your own needs, wants, and preference. A suitable mattress is the one that provides the right amount of comfort and durability for you. The next time you shop for a mattress, whether you are buying from a brick and mortar store or you resort to mattress online shopping, make sure that you are buying the right type of mattress for your needs.

[astro-the-h]

Find Suitable Mattresses on Sale

Sleep is one of the most important activities for your body because this is the time when you can relax and gain energy to start a new day. If you do not get a comfortable visit site here night’s sleep, then it is very hard to do all the activities that you need to do during the day

The body, including its cells and organs, needs to rest properly every day. If you are working very hard for your family, then you deserve a bed or a mattress that can give you a comfortable and satisfying sleep, otherwise you will compromise the quality of sleep you get each night after a hard day’s work. This is why you need a good quality mattress.

Getting a good quality mattress does not necessarily mean that you have to spend a huge amount of time going from bed shop to bed shop looking for the right mattress. You can easily resort to online mattress shopping. Doing your mattress online shopping is convenient, but you need to make sure that you choose a mattress e that will help you sleep soundly at night.. Once you start looking for the right mattress, you may find yourself faced with an overwhelming number of options on the market, which may make it hard for you to decide which type and brand of mattress is right for you. 

You can whittle down your choices by keeping in mind the size of your bed frame. There are important things that you need to consider if you really want to find the right mattress:

The space and the size of the bedroom where you are going to place the mattress is an important consideration that you need to keep in mind. It is important to know how many people will sleep on the bed so you will know the size of the mattress that will comfortably hold the occupants. If you want a new bed, then you can also consider replacing your bed frame in order to fit the mattress that you want.

How much it cost. You can save money on the cost of your new mattress by buying during a mattress sale. Mattress online shopping providers sometimes have mattress sales so you may be able to get a bargain from them.

One of the best beds or mattresses that you can buy nowadays is the memory foam mattress available online. This kind of mattress is ideal for anyone who is looking for a comfortable and durable mattress. This mattress belongs to the elite collection, so you will find lots of features in this mattress. The mattress contains foam that is of the highest quality. If you want an additional edge support, then this is the mattress that you are looking for. It also offers a good warranty so you can be sure that money spent on a memory foam mattress is money spent wisely.

[tomileaks]

Contemporary, Mid Century & Modern King Sized Bed Frames

The King bed frame hasn’t been with us for very long. It dates back to the 1950s, when parents everywhere realized they needed more space for their kids to sleep in the bed with them. Just kidding: it was a marketing move! Mattress companies realized that if they made it, people would buy, and boy were they right. Far superior to the twin, double, and even the queen (we have issues with the gendered learn more nomenclature but will let it rest for the sake of clarity here), the king bed frame stretches an impressive 78” x 74” — that’s a lot of space to roll around on. 

Of course, king size beds come with their own set of challenges: most townhomes and other prefabricated constructions don’t build bedrooms with a king bed frame in mind. You move in with a smaller bed, and by the time you realize that your body deserves better, you’ve got your organization system more or less worked out. That’s why we’ve put together a few sneaky little space-save hacks just for you. Under the bed It seems obvious until you start trying to find storage solutions that can actually \*fit\* under the bed. Most options are either slap-dash baskets or doomed attempts to fold things neatly and keep them that way. 

Save yourself the inevitable pain. Invest in a set of rolling drawers that fit right under your bed. Not only will these save you a lot of folding time, they are uniform with the rest of your bedroom set, giving the entire space a more cohesive, grown-up feel. Strategic side tables Too often the bedside table is relegated to the junk-drawer universe. Spare change, lost library books, homeless chargers, single socks — all of these odds and ends seem to congregate in the unassuming and undeserving drawer of your bedside table. Stop to consider what else you could stash in those drawers if they weren’t occupied with nonsense. Gym clothes, underpants, your kneesock collection. The possibilities are… many. Dresser in the closet A king bed frame is going to take up a lot of space. While you might have been able to fit your dresser along the wall when you had a queen bed, the extra inches make it kind of tricky to have your bed and your extra storage too. To combat this, try moving your dresser inside your closet. 

You get to use up the lower portion of your closet space and keep all your hanging items nicely organized (and crease-free). You also get to hang on to your dresser until you either move to a larger space or reorganize what you’re working with. Upgrading to a king bed frame is the luxury that takes your home from “house” to “castle.” Make sure your space is ready to accommodate the extra inches of Zzz space by getting ahead of your storage needs. Donating older items, shuffling your existing storage, and getting tricky with your existing space are the best ways to enjoy your king bed frame without feeling overwhelmed by extra stuff.

[killerprotector3579]

Reasons to Choose a Natural Mattress

With a wide variety of options available on the market today, choosing a quality mattress click here can be overwhelming. This is particularly true if you don't have any experience in purchasing one.

If you are looking for a mattress that can offer more than just comfort, then it is recommended that you consider buying a natural mattress. Although new to some, you will be surprised how a natural mattress can improve the quality of your life in the long run. Following are the key advantages and reasons to choose a natural mattress:

It's Comfortable

Measured for support, resilience, and density, a natural mattress can offer you comfortable sleep without any drawbacks that are generally associated with sleeping on a synthetic mattress. In addition, organic latex and other natural mattress materials significantly reduce pressure points on your body. This extreme support will ensure that you don't stay awake throughout the night, tossing and turning.

It Naturally Regulates Moisture and Heat

The combination of wool and cotton makes natural mattresses naturally good at regulating body moisture and heat. Cotton is highly breathable, so it keeps your body dry and cool while you sleep. Wool, on the other hand, traps moistures and keeps your body at an ideal temperature for a restful, deep night's sleep.

It's Better for Your Health

Synthetic materials, e.g. memory foam, need to be treated with different chemicals to comply with the safety and health standards that regulate mite, mould, and fire resistance. However, the same chemicals used to keep the mattress safe to sleep on can negatively impact your health and the environment. These chemicals can lead to headaches, respiratory irritation, as well as other health concerns. A natural mattress does not contain such materials. So, you can avoid all these concerns by simply choosing a natural mattress.

It's Not Susceptible to Bed Bugs and Mites

Even if you purchased the most expensive mattress, if you don't exert effort and time in taking care of it, don't expect it to last very long. How you clean and maintain your mattress has a direct impact on its longevity. If your old mattress had problems like bed bugs and mites, switching to a natural mattress is highly recommended. The materials used in creating a natural mattress are resistant to bed bugs and mites. These materials are thick and dense, making it difficult for the bacteria and germs to penetrate the mattress.

It Offers Superior Allergy Resistance

Latex, cotton, and wool are naturally resistant to allergens, mildew, mould, and fire. Pure cotton is highly allergen resistant and breathable, so it is widely used in the medical field, making it an excellent choice for mattress material.

It's Better for the Environment

A natural mattress is better for the environment for several different reasons. The natural materials used to create such a mattress don't require to be treated with the same harsh chemicals that synthetic mattresses do. A natural mattress is also biodegradable.

[celebritypawblog]

Let’s Talk Pet Seat Covers pt2.

Hey guys here’s pt: 2 of Let’s Talk pet seat covers. So it’s been a while, I wanted to test out these seat covers, & here’s my verdict. So in pt: 1 the current seat cover I’m using has it’s pros & cons, as thus everything. I wanted to give you guys an updated version. So far I appreciate the removable middle part. I love the flexibility it offers. I can have a clear view of my backseat to see what my fur babies are up to back there. Here are some photos:

As you can see the middle part is detachable.

So far I like these seat covers, & I would recommend.

The next seat cover that I’ve been eyeing & heard some reviews on Is

- $$$ - YJGF Back Seat Extender for Dogs

Guys for the price range, yeahhhh it’s worth it. 

Lemme tell you why exactly. The quality is ohh sooo amazing. I recommend this product for big dogs.

✨🐾Pros: The mesh barrier!

🐾The organizer pockets

🐾The cushion it offers 

🐾Water resistance & durable towards spills.

🐾Protectant for the rear doors, & window panels!

🐾Covers the back of the driver & passenger seat.

🐾Full coverage for the backseat. (honestly the best part!)

🐩✨Cons: 

✨Doesn't offer full coverage for trucks. 

✨deff will keep you guys updated on this seat cover once I get my hands on it!

🐾✨🐩Check it out:

In the market for a furever baby?

Check us out on our social media platforms! Make sure to share like & subscribe!

Till next time xoxo-

CelebrityPawBlog✨🐾🐩

[wastelandghoul]

Choose a Crib Mattress That is Safe and Pthalate Free

When choosing a crib mattress for your baby, safety must be your priority. A safe baby mattress will be extra firm that will provide proper support. It will fit tightly inside the crib, and should be adjusted to a height that depends on baby size and mobility. The inner learn more components of the mattress should be composed of high quality materials. A safe crib mattress will not contain any traces of pthalates or other harmful chemical agents.

Choosing a crib mattress for your baby’s nursery should not be a lax decision.  There are several things you should look for in a baby mattress to keep your little one safe.  The crib mattress that you choose for your baby should be extra firm and conform to specific size specifications.  You should also be familiar with the necessary mattress height adjustments as your infant grows.  Quality cannot be overlooked.  Especially with the known presence of toxic chemicals known as phthalates in many traditional crib mattresses.  Arm yourself with this knowledge,Choose a Crib Mattress That is Safe and Pthalate Free Articles prior to shopping around for the right mattress for your priceless baby.

To avoid entrapment or suffocation it is critical that the baby mattress fits snugly inside the crib.  You should not be able to fit more than one finger between the side of the mattress and the crib/rails.  I also recommend that you go with a standard size baby mattress.  It should measure 51 5/8” by 27 1/4” and should not be more than 6” in thickness.  Please make sure you measure the mattress yourself before placing it inside the crib.  This is because manufacturer labels are not 100% error proof.  This was the case with the 20,000 Simmons mattresses that were recalled in June 2008.  A safe baby mattress should not only fit tightly inside the crib, but it must also provide adequate support.  

Choose a crib mattress that is firm and uniform throughout.  A sturdy interior support system will prevent the mattress from sagging.  This will keep the fitted sheets tight and loose areas (suffocation hazard) will not be created.  You may quickly test the firmness by squeezing from both sides in the middle.  A firm mattress will quickly snap back once you let go and will not conform to the shape of your hand.  However, an extra firm baby mattress may still become a springboard for a possible accident, if it’s placed to high inside the baby crib.  

The mattress height is adjustable to several different levels in most cribs on the market today.  This is a safety feature that must be used once your baby becomes more mobile.  Once your baby is able to stand, I recommend lowering the mattress to the lowest level.  This will prevent your little one from climbing out.  However, if your baby is constantly attempting to climb out (or is taller than the sidebar), then the crib and mattress are no longer safe.  However, during that critical first year of development, I recommend investing in a quality crib mattress.                                  

Since your baby will spend the majority of the first year on the mattress, avoid buying a cheap mattress that sells under $80.  Cheap mattresses are not very durable and in my opinion, simply not safe enough.  While a good quality baby mattress will be made of high quality materials, and as a result expect to pay more.

In my opinion, the best crib mattresses on the market are those that are made of 100% certified organic materials.  These mattresses are not chemically treated during the manufacturing process, and therefore will not leach harmful chemicals like phthalates.  

Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are potentially toxic.  They are considered more harmful for infants since they are still developing and growing.  Studies on phthalates indicate they may cause an increased risk of asthma, allergies, and disrupt the reproductive development of babies.  

Phthalates have been added to traditional baby mattresses for decades.  Mattress manufacturers have been adding phthalates to PVC plastics in order to create a flexible and soft waterproof vinyl cover for baby mattresses.  The hazard is created when phthalates often leach or gas out from the plastic mattress covers into the surrounding air.