#stress et balance

[fitnessmith]

Sortir de l'obsession de la balance (régime et musculation)

NOUVEAU ��Sortir de l'obsession de la balance (régime et musculation). ⚖️ Marre que la balance dicte vos journées ? Découvrez comment sortir de l’obsession, suivre vos progrès SANS AUGMENTER VOTRE ANXIÉTÉ. Pour voir ça, rendez-vous en bio @fitnessmith, cliquez sur le lien, fitnessmith.fr/news puis dans « les nouveautés » ou vérifiez votre boîte mail. #fitness #balance #musculation #pertepoids #prisedemuscle #poidssanté #anxietépesoids #santémentale #rétentiondeau #compositioncorporelle #stress #peséequotidienne #coachingfitness #equilibredevie #objectiffitness #bienetre #motivation #progression #fitnessfrance #entrainement #fitnessmith #programmefitness #musculationfemme #musculationhomme #sérénité #balanceconnectée #routinefitness #astucesfitness #alimentationfitness #mindsetfitness #forceetforme

La balance peut être un outil de suivi efficace, mais elle devient souvent une source d’obsession et de frustration. Que ce soit en musculation ou lors d’un régime, il est primordial de comprendre son utilité sans tomber dans des comportements anxiogènes. Tu te reconnais ? Chaque matin, tu montes sur la balance. Ce chiffre te hante toute la journée. Il dicte ton humeur, tes repas, parfois même…

[hiraethwa]

one summer day

13 hello, tokyo. where you have a taste of domestic bliss with wakatoshi

<< 12 shoot for the stars. | >> 14 crescendo.

pairing: ushijima wakatoshi x reader word count: 1.8k warnings: dysfunctional parental relationship, y/n is on her period important announcement! one summer day is going on break for two weeks, part 14 will be released in 2-3 weeks, more details in a/n at the end of post

frustration, tears, and heartbreak was what it took for you to follow your heart. 

your mother was unsupportive of your decision to attend music school instead of going to university and taking on a conventionally stable office job. you had tried to persuade her as best as you could, but every time the topic was brought up, it ended in a heated argument and insults hurled your way.

the last one was the worst, and you still remember each and every one of her parting words. “do whatever you want, y/n. i don’t have a daughter like you anyway.” the anger in her voice forever etched into your mind. she left for another business trip and you moved out before she returned, hurt and scorned. 

it’s fine, it’s fine, it’s fine. when has she been your mom for the past eleven years anyway? 

yes, you are going to paris in four months. paris, where Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris offered you a scholarship, the lighthouse on the dark seas guiding you to shore. 

and yes, you are moving in with the man you are in love with. what a splendid idea. what could possibly go wrong?

ushijima had, in fact, gone ahead and signed the lease after getting your agreement that night, your request to discuss it beforehand gone unheard. you had panicked, expecting to decline it when you spoke next, and not knowing if you were able to afford the rent. 

you recall him giving you an utterly confused look, telling you to not worry about that and that he would take care of it.

so you took it upon yourself to help out wherever you could, making sure he has a proper breakfast before leaving for practice and packing him a bento for lunch. the youtube videos you started watching to expand your available menu helping you curate a balanced and nutritious meal that is sometimes cute, if you had the extra time, courtesy of the food cutters you saw in a shop display one day. 

his fingers would brush yours as he takes the knotted furoshiki makeshift handle from you, and you would pretend it does not make your poor heart skip a beat or two. 

he had forgotten his food once in the three weeks that you had moved in together, and you had taken it upon yourself to make sure he received his lunch. you were denied entry to the training center, the receptionist mistaking you for a fan, but luckily, one of his teammates who was passing by helped you clear up the misunderstanding. 

by the time you got to ushijima, you only had enough time to pull the wrapped bento out of your bag, telling him you would see him at home later, before you had to leave for your french language class that was on the other side of the city. 

if you had a moment to spare, you would have seen his teammates tease him for landing such a supporting girlfriend. and his pink cheeks when he does not deny it.

this is the first time you are menstruating since moving to tokyo. the first day of your period is debilitating, to put it simply. there hasn’t been a bad episode in months, but you hadn’t taken in consideration the stress of moving, compounded with your newfound, very real, estrangement from your parents, so you are reaping the consequences today. 

you had washed down a couple of pain medications before going about your day, which had been enough for the lighter aches in the recent months. apparently not this time, which is truly delightful to learn as the pain hits you like a train in the middle of class.

your lower back cramped throughout french class, extending down the back of your legs, and the pain in your abdomen stayed a steady dull throb. it took every ounce of your determination and concentration to listen to the lesson, scrawling down notes and ignoring the pain that seemed to take over whenever your mind wandered off. 

you weren’t sure how you got through four hours of class, until it finally ended and you found yourself forcing your legs to the nearest convenience store for a strip of pain medication to tide you over until you get home. 

the train ride home was no less grueling; the cushioned seats barely provided a hint of relief as you close your eyes and picture anything else but the constant pain intruding on your mind. 

mercifully, the medication kicks in halfway home because by the time you close the door to your shared apartment and kick off your shoes in the entryway, the pain has quieted. your energy is drained from the day, however, having just enough to boil some water and pour it into your trusty rubber hot water bottle that is a staple for your periods. 

just a quick shuteye, you decide, crawling onto the couch with the hot water bottle sandwiched between your back and the couch and letting your heavy eyelids drop. before you know it, the sound of the lock on the front door turning is stirring you from your sleep and the sun has made its way down the horizon. 

“y/n?” a hand pushes back the hair covering your face, waking you up from your slumber that you didn’t realize you slipped into again in the short few minutes. an incoherent noise coming from you as you try to resist the consciousness that slowly floods your mind.

you open your eyes to a frowning wakatoshi. “toshi, you’re home?”

a nod, “have you had dinner yet? it’s late.”

“‘m not hungry, toshi.” you mumble, suddenly remembering the state of the apartment you left it in, your shoes and bag strewn about the hallway. 

“you didn’t reply to my texts, but i got you something to eat just in case.” he holds up a takeout bag. right, he had dinner plans with his teammates after practice. the pain had you in its grip so much that you didn’t even check your phone today. 

“sorry, i had a rather long day. ‘m just so tired.” 

“okay, the food’s in the fridge if you want it.” he calls from the kitchen. you utter your thanks from your fetal position on the couch, head nestled into the cushions before you let sleep pull you under once again. 

you feel like no time has passed between then and now as wakatoshi gently rouses you from your sleep, his damp hair sticking to his forehead, having just showered. “go sleep in your room.” 

“don’t wanna,” you pout, feeling needy for once around him, spurred on by your cycle. “the wall is cold, and the couch isn’t.”

his eyes soften at you as he checks the temperature of your hot water bottle. “wait here, i’m gonna refill the hot water for you.”

“not going anywhere, toshi,” you call out, can’t help but admire the corded muscles on his figure as he walks away. you cast your eyes to the singular artwork adorning the living room that you picked up together a week ago as he turns around, hoping he didn’t catch you staring in your moment of weakness. 

you could feel the intensity of his gaze on you, so you keep your eyes trained on the paintbrush swirls mimicking the crashing waves onto rock. and you keep pretending like he doesn’t already hold your heart in his hands. 

you are becoming greedier when it comes to wakatoshi, constantly battling your innermost desires to touch him and hold him, confess your deepest love to him, particularly since you moved in with him. unfortunately, fate has other plans in mind for you, and it would be unfair to him, and you, to act on those desires when you know you are not staying. 

“you planning on sleeping on the couch tonight?” his voice breaks you from your thoughts. the voice that soothed your anxiety, that you grew to love. 

you nod. “good ni– what are you doing?” you yelp, arms wrapping around his neck in a feeble attempt for self preservation when he scoops you into his arms with minimal effort while balancing the hot water bottle in one hand. 

he looks down at you, arching an eyebrow. “the couch is not good for sleeping.”

“i told you, i don’t wanna sleep against the wall tonight,” you squawk indignantly as he walks you towards your room. you try your damndest to ignore the hard muscle on his shoulders that you are holding on to unnecessarily. and the heart that is beating out of your chest.

you have always loved him, but this feels different. an unfamiliar burning in your gut that makes you want to claw at him–and yourself for wanting to do so.

“you’re not,” he says simply, and you find yourself speechless as he pushes his door open. 

huh? there is a deafening sound in your head. you realize belatedly that it is your conscious mind screaming internally as he gingerly sets you down on his bed and climbs into the same bed after you. HUH?

you are still rendered wordless when he pulls you into his arms, using his body to prop the hot water bottle up against your aching back. your entire face burns hot as reality sets in that you are in bed, snuggled against the man you love, spooning like lovers. 

this is not fair. not fair that he is pulling all these feelings and reactions out of you without even trying to. you are sure your brain is going to turn into mush come morning, unable to comprehend the situation you are in, more like his arms that are cradling you close to his body, alleviating the pain in your back and legs. 

you squirm a little in his hold, feeling the stomach cramps returning, your ass brushing against something hard. recognition dawns on you, and you aren’t sure if you can turn any redder than you already are. “sorry, my stomach cramps are back.”

he only flattens his hand against your belly in response, his large palm emanating heat, calming the cramps slowly. you would be lying if you said it didn’t kindle another type of heat in your stomach. a flame that would consume both of you in its blaze if you’re not careful. 

“better?” he asks thickly, the word brushing your ear from your proximity. you can only give him a quick nod, your brain failing to form words in your throat. 

you are going to faint before you can fall asleep, you think. 

thankfully, exhaustion takes over, smoldering the flames in your belly and the blush in your cheeks, and slowly lulls you to the long-awaited painless rest. you feel a fullness in your chest born from wakatoshi’s care for you as you doze off, safe in his arms, and you wonder if this is what could have been if you had more time. 

you wonder if this could be forever in another life. 

a/n: umm, don't mind me, just squealing in excitement of y/n realizing she wants to climb wakatoshi??? it's just so fucking sweet that she fell for him, is in love with him FOR YEARS, and is now just starting to experience and realize her sexual desire for wakatoshi AHHHH :) regarding update break - i'll still be active on tumblr, just taking a break from writing for one summer day since i'm feeling a little burnt out from keeping on track with weekly updates (i'm really bad at schedules, and this is definitely a lesson on completing a series before posting haha) tags: @lemurzsquad @daisy-room @integers @brokenscaredakira @whosmarjj @nansfyy @illuzminate

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[hillbilly---man]

A list of the specific chronic illness/disability-related things in Saiki K that resonate with me personally

(Your mileage may vary, my experiences are not universal, I recognize that some of this is kind of a reach etc etc)

The limiters

Saiki’s powers have grown too strong for him to control, and before the creation of his limiters they were out of control and causing a lot of damage. Some examples cited include accidentally destroying his house in his sleep and having telepathy that reached all over Japan (something I imagine was many many times more distressing [disabling] than his current situation) The limiters weaken his psychic powers and keep them somewhat in check. It’s not perfect, and he still does have problems, but the situation is much worse without them.

This reminds me of the medication I take to keep my immune system under control. Before I started it, my immune system (thanks to MS) was causing lots of issues for me: it took the vision in my left eye, made it difficult to walk and use my arm for a few months, caused horrible leg spasms, et cetera. My medicine helps keep things in check and hopefully prevents future damage... But nothing is perfect. Of course, it’s a monthly shot instead of silly pink balls on my head! So that's a plus 👍

The way he struggles to control his body after Nendo removed his limiter unexpectedly

After being hit with a shock to his system at the sports festival, Saiki struggles harder than usual to control his strength. We see him frustrated with this as he’s eating, his hand trembling as he holds his chopsticks. He tries to power through, but the issues don’t resolve.

I’m fortunate to usually be pretty functional most days (I do have my bad days though lol). However, when I go through significant stress - either mental or physical - it makes a lot of issues pop up that usually don’t bother me. Balance issues, vision stuff.. And hand tremors. Like, I was at a sushi restaurant after getting overheated at the pride festival last year struggling a lil with my chopsticks laughing at myself like “this is just like Saiki at the sports festival…”

Developing new powers unexpectedly

A major source of stress for Saiki is being unpleasantly surprised by a new psychic ability. In the series, we see this a few times. The most notable to me is the time leap ability. He wakes up having accidentally traveled 20 years in the past (soon after it is revealed that his limiter has a defective part). Afterward, we learn when he’s stuck in the time loops with Nendo and Kaido that this time leap ability has been coming back randomly since then “As unexpected and frequent as getting the hiccups”. He spends the entire chapter trying to get control over this ability so he can continue his day as planned. In another chapter, his limiter is malfunctioning and he develops a series of useless powers that he cannot control. Clearly, the limiters are preventing new powers from developing (see my first bullet point!!)

So, another thing about conditions such as mine is that you really can just wake up one day and have some weird symptom you’ve never heard of before! I remember not long after my first big attack I was at Walmart and I just noticed that my index finger was completely numb, and it stayed that way for weeks. One time, my upper lip twitched constantly for like a month straight. Of course, more than just the relatively silly symptoms can and do pop up like that, too. For example, I had these really scary, uncontrollable spasms on my left side (paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia) that happened several times a day for about a week. For a LONG time afterward I would be terrified of them coming back. It's still in the back of my mind but I'm not losing sleep over it anymore at least. Reading those panels above re: the time leap stuff reminds me a lot of that time!

Neuroplasticity and the power remover device

When Kusuke is explaining how the power remover works, he talks about how the brain rewires itself around damaged areas to compensate. The device is designed to more completely destroy the areas of his brain responsible for the psychic abilities. Of course, the device ultimately did not work permanently. The damage it did to his brain was quickly compensated for, and the abilities returned.

When small areas of the brain are damaged (such as… due to a neurodegenerative autoimmune condition), over time the brain can often restructure to work around it. It doesn’t mean that those areas are healed, and the process is often incomplete, but that rewiring can (completely or partially) restore abilities and function that was lost in the damage. They don’t say that explicitly in the series, but that’s surely what is happening to Saiki in the final chapters! Except, you know, in a magical shonen manga way.

Resistance to the idea of needing help

After Saiki uses the power remover device, he loses his abilities and is suddenly much weaker and less capable than he was before. He was used to being extremely independent, but this change has brought him to a place where he cannot do everything on his own anymore. In the library, he struggles to get a book off the top shelf and in the process is reminded of his new limitations. He says to himself “What am I doing…!? Just get used to it already!” After the bookcase is tipped over onto him and Nendo protects him, Saiki is upset about having to be protected when he never needed it before: “I’m so useless now…” Nendo helps him realize that getting help from others is normal.

Helping each other out is one of the most fundamentally important parts of being human, but it can be hard to accept that support sometimes. This is especially the case when you’re thinking about the prospect of needing more help than you used to. I'm fortunate to be relatively unaffected most of the time so far, but I'm still grateful for when the people I love are understanding and don't make a big deal out of it. I hate the idea of being burdensome so I'm just gonna cross my fingers and hope things don't get worse lol

Conclusion: Saiki is just like me for real and I'm DEFINITELY not projecting my own problems into him at all...

we're ignoring the 20k word fic I wrote where I blatantly projected my problems onto him for seven chapters

thanks @justmagicalgirl for encouraging me last week to post this 👍

[biscuitboba]

Ok but the way luffy and zoro are the only two strawhats who were sent to one of the seven warlords of the sea by kuma, and at some point they bowed before the warlord for the sake of other people??

Now that i think about it, the thing about luffy and zoro that i can't help but to notice, something about some of their 'memorable/big' moments??

For luffy, i'm thinking about how often luffy sacrifices himself for (usually) more than one person, for many people in fact. Heck, even for a whole COUNTRY! (him vs crocodile, him vs kaido, et cetera) And in the panel above, luffy literally bows before hancock for the sake of his 'new' friends.

And for zoro... well, there's thriller bark... (not gonna talk about thriller bark anymore i rEFUSE to succumb to my brain and talk about thriller bark AGAIN) I think that's self-explanatory enough. And then in the panel above, he bows down before mihawk, for luffy's sake.

Ok so, i'm not saying zoro would only die for luffy (he'd also die for his crew, earlier @hellfire-fist talked about this point too), but sometimes i can't help but to think of this dynamic when i think about zoro and luffy:

I think it's pretty obvious who is who.

Like idk, but it's the way oda frames them(?) about what he shows to the audience, his storytelling. It's about the way he emphasizes on how zoro will and has sacrificed so muchhh for his captain's sake (His pride, his ambition, his life), it's about him taking on his captain's pain (which is pretty intimate btw.. if u ask me). And also how luffy will and has sacrificed his whole being, enduring any kind of pain, for the sake of sooo many people.

Like can't stress this enough, but zoro really is the perfect balance for luffy?? Luffy is so reckless, he headbutts danger right in the face, and that's why he has zoro, because zoro will be there to keep him on track.

Luffy wants to save everyone. Well, zoro will make sure that his captain is safe. And once again, they are the top 2 most powerful people in the SHC, so if anyone can keep an eye on luffy, it's zoro. They have fought the same enemies (the dragon from punk hazard, kaido, big mama, lucci, pica, hyouzou, fujitora, etc). If there's someone the closest to being on par with luffy, it's zoro. If anyone can fight alongside luffy against strong opponents, it's zoro. Zoro will do anything in his power to make sure that luffy stays alive (thriller bark, wano), in this (not) essay i will-

[penncilkid]

Welcome back to

The SkySide Redacted Awards! [Rec List Edition]

(Once more, there's a few NSFW mentions here so mdni, please and thank you)

This segment was titeled The Exhibition of Admiration! The main rule was that your submission couldn't be something you made, and we had quite the collection of submissions! So, without further ado, let's go!

Category: Shaw Pack

They Broke The Mould When They Made You // Written by BlueWhispers

Moments That Flash By // Written by @bratty-telepath

House Call // Written by @romirola

Bedroom with a View // Written by @/romirola

At Your Altar // Written by @angelicaether

An Unexpectedly Good Night // Written by LiveRandom

This lovely art of David by @sincerelywhistler

And this lovely art of Milo by @hotmcrodz

Category: DAMN Crew

Stress Relief // Written by @calicostorms

honey, baby, love // Written by @/calicostorms

Secret OP Dominant Side // Written by CatArsenal

Formidable // Written by @lovelylonerliterature

This art of Gavin and FL by @ryoko-san

And this oh so scrumptious art of Gavin by @/sincerelywhistler (Wes, you're in here a lot, fair warning /lh)

Category: Carpe Deus + Sovereign State

V1309 Scorpii // Written by @/calicostorms

And That's Why We Broke Up // Written by @dominimoonbeam

resist and elongate // Written by @gingerbreadmonsters

easy pickings // Written by @/gingerbreadmonsters

This DIVINE art of Vega by @yoteako

And this lovely art of Hush by @nortyourself

Category: The Imperium

All (For Nothing At All) // Written by @agentplutonium

the devil's threesome // Written by @ejunkiet

Weighted Blanket // Written by @teafairywithabook

Two pieces of art, both from @/nortyourself! One of Imp!Damien and one of Imp!Vincent

Category: Contemporary/Unempowered Stories

Oh, Baby, Baby // Written by @/lovelylonerliterature

Nine to Five // Written by @bicyclepainting

This oh so fun art of Aaron/Smartass by @thefablefoxart

And this funky fun art of Guy by @slushiepizza

Category: House of Solaire

Get Me Out Of Here // Written by @/dominimoonbeam

五二零 // Written by @/gingerbreadmonsters

This tasty art of Porter by @pycth

And this cozy art of by @sri-rachaa

Category: Sadism's Hold (+ Yandere Friends)

alone with you (does that make sense?) // Written by @/nortyourself

Still Here // Written by Anonymous

No One Is Coming To Save You // Written by LoveRun

This chilling art of Regulus by @/sincerelywhistler

And this bonus Regulus art by @dyswarpia

Category: The Balance

Face to Face, Miles Away // Written by troubadour_main

motion capture // Written by @/gingerbreadmonsters

This nostalgic art of Blake and Bestie by @androgynouspenguinexpert

This DELICIOUS (sorry my demons) art of Blake by @/sincerelywhistler

And this lovely art of Brachium also by @/sincerelywhistler

Category: Project Meridian

you touched me (and suddenly I was a lilac sky) // Written by @autisticempathydaemon

Canon reminiscent art of Michael (Yes, Angel's ex) as an ETS worker by @/pycth

And this moody art of James and Asset by @itsdaifuku

Thank you all for submitting all of these works! Go check out everything here for yourselves!

[daniswoso]

That Goldmine Changed you.

Ella Toone x Reader

Summary: You and Ella are just two humans trying your best. Like you’re supposed to do. So why’s it so hard?

Warnings: Arguments, both ET and R are stressed as fuck and snap at each other, Ella being a sweetie, R being an ass, Mancity reader, Manutd Ella (obviously), Song fic! Based off ‘The Gold’ by Manchester Orchestra and Phoebe Bridgers. Song lyrics in green italics

*********

"What is your fucking problem, Y/N?!" Ella screamed at you. Tears streaming down her face as her lip quivered. You had just gotten into another one of your petty little fights.

It had been happening a lot lately, but who could blame either of you? You were both stressed, playing for rival teams while also balancing social media and being in the public eye.

You were overstimulated, so was Ella. You forgot that sometimes, though.

And she had dropped a glass.

Your favourite glass.

You heard it shatter on the hard ground of your shared kitchen, hearing Ella's soft curses as she picked it up. She called you in, and off you went. Your eyes landed immediately on her slightly smaller frame hunched over with the dustpan and brush desperately scraping it up. She was trying her best.

I don't think I love you anymore

But you couldn't see that. You lost your temper, and that brought you to now.

"What's my problem? What's my fucking problem? Fucks sakes Ella you are so incompetent! You just can't do anything right can you?" You yelled, tears streaming down your own face as you had now taken over picking up the shattered cup. The smaller bits of glass sticking into your fingers.

That gold mine changed you.

Ella didn't reply. She said nothing. Silence.

A sound so deafening, yet now so common in your once warm home.

An uneasy sound. An unwelcome and unexpected sound which the both of you hated, but couldn't prevent.

"Ella," you sighed, wiping a hand over your face as you stood, turning around to see her staring vacantly at you while the tears still fell.

"I was tryna do somethin' nice, ya know?" she whispered, her accent coming in thick. You looked to the counter. She had been making you a hot chocolate and an omelette, despite not being able to cook for the life of her.

You don't have to hold me anymore.

She was trying her best. She was trying.

And so were you, but you both forgot that sometimes.

"Ella, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't mean that-"

"Ya wouldn't have said it if you didn't mean it!" She snapped, her brows knitting together, "Do ya have any idea how hard I work to adjust my schedule to match yours?! To make sure that the bed is made for you when you come home from late training? To make sure you have food on the table for ya? Do ya?" she asked shakily.

Your head hung in shame, as your fists clenched and you took a deep breath, meeting her blue eyes.

Our cave's collapsing.

"Ella, I'm sorry. You're trying, you're trying so hard and I'm not realising it and I'm so sorry baby, please." You begged, pleading with your eyes for her to just hold you.

Instead she shook her head, pulling a hoody over her head and putting her earphones in, grabbing her keys.

I don't wanna be me, anymore.

"I'm going for a walk." She yelled as she exited.

You turned into a ball of strangled, body-wracking sobs against the front door after that. Not being able to find the strength in your body to move.

But who can blame either of you, right?

You were just two humans trying your best, like you're supposed to.

**********

A/N: Enjoy the angst. really clearing out my drafts today y’all are in for a treat.

[crisalidaseason]

How to build a dragon saddle (Riorson, Durran et al)

Summary: In which we learn how Violet's saddle was made.

Tags: Set in fourth wing, sgaeyl being an icon, Tairn being a menace, xaden is stressed, Bodhi is here and tired, attempt at humor, xaden pov

****

This is a manual written by Xaden Riorson and Bodhi Durran, with the additional contributions of the war dragon Tairn and Basgiath’s blacksmith Hôrtencia Nahal. This pocket size codex aims to guide the ones who may be interested in building dragon saddles, from the very basic step of sketching the design until the actual production and assembly of the contraption. It is important to take into account that the advice given in this book is open to adjustments as the craft is widespread and alterations might be necessary.

____

It is highly advisable to enlist the help of competent people when making a dragon saddle. Be certain to choose crafters that have a solid grasp of calculations and design, who are able to find the perfect balance between lightweight and strong material. Once the crew is established, begin the journey.

Page 12 - HOW TO BUILD A DRAGON SADDLE (Riorson, Durran et al)

The knock on the door was merely a formality since Bodhi could simply barge through his room anytime - and Xaden was beginning to regret that decision. Though he tried not to bother his very exhausted cousin that often, the current task at hand could only be done with his help.

“So, why the summon?” Bodhi said, dropping on the desk chair.

Xaden neatly placed his boots inside the wardrobe and put his dirty uniform inside the laundry basket “I need your help making a saddle”

“Sure” he said, shrugging.

And that was exactly why he loved Bodhi. Garrick or Liam would have made an infinite amount of questions and most likely terrorized him once they finally put things together. Xaden did not have time for that. His cousin, on the other hand, was way less adamant on making his life harder.

“I made some sketches” Xaden said, pointing to his table “but you’re the talented one in the family, any thoughts?”

Bodhi stretched, yawning in the process, his exhaustion clearly showing through. He took the notepad and reviewed the ideas with a focused stare, most likely noticing every single mistake Xaden made while coming up with designs.

“Could use some refinement, but overall it’s great” Bodhi replied “I’ll make some adjustments and bring it to you”

“Do you think you can do this until tomorrow, I’m in a bit of a hurry”

“I can try” his cousin shrugged “though we’ll need Tairn’s measurement to make a final sketch”

Xaden chuckled “I never said who the saddle was for”

Bodhi lifted his eyes from the sketch, unimpressed “There is only one cadet within our wing that can’t keep her fucking seat”

“I could be making it for me” Xaden shrugged.

“You possess far too much pride for that” Sgaeyl interrupted.

“I highly doubt it” Bodhi laughed rather loudly, unknowingly agreeing with her “though I am curious as to why are you even bothering to do this”

Xaden knew Bodhi was not necessarily open to Violet, though he was never threatening towards her. His question was a genuine attempt at understanding what had changed over the last few months, understanding why Violet was suddenly all that Xaden could focus on.

“War games are in less than two weeks. I would like to stay alive and that will not happen if Sorrengail breaks her neck on a free fall”

Bodhi remained silent, clearly not buying the half truth. Both cousins stared at each other for a few minutes too long and Xaden felt his own mind spin at what was left unsaid. In all honesty, he was making that saddle because he was terrified. After the shit that went down at Montserrat, the middle Sorrengail’s words rattled in his mind.

“Find a way for her to keep her seat. We both know she’s dead if she doesn’t”

Despite his anger towards the woman, she was right. Xaden always worried about the fact Violet could not keep her seat and the near danger experience was enough to feed his nightmares with the imagery of her falling to her death. Once could say it was simply his self-preservation speaking - it was the reason he voiced to everyone - but the cold hard truth was that he felt his stomach twist at the thought of her in danger.

“I guess it would be inconvenient” Bodhi replied, standing up and walking towards the door “I’ll have something more substantial by tomorrow at breakfast”

Said and done, his cousin sat beside him on the breakfast table with too many sketches, to the point Xaden was going cross-eyed at the calculations and details. Bodhi was a pool of excitement while explaining each adjustment’s positive and negative aspects, a complete contrast to his usual apathy.

“I think this one might be better” Xaden decided, pointing at a specific drawing “I like the triangle chest plate, it seems more efficient to keep the straps in place. Though we should simplify the saddle”

Bodhi took his pencil and quickly scribbled the suggestions.

“What are you doing?” Garrick said, sitting down on the breakfast table with the usual monstrous amount of food on his plate.

“A saddle” Bodhi simply replied, waving a hand at Garrick as if he was bothering them “yeah, I was thinking about it too, it needs to be practical”

“A saddle?” Garrick questioned, but none of the cousins paid him much mind.

“All we need is the measurements and that is completely on you” Bodhi announced, already standing “find me when you have the numbers and I’ll finish this by the end of the day”

Xaden watched his cousin practically sprint outside of the mess hall - he had a very strong worry of being late.

“Care to explain why you’re making a saddle?” Garrick inquired, fork pointed at him.

“Reasons” he replied, peeling a tangerine “anything to report?”

Garrick narrowed his eyes at him and Xaden was sure he would not escape the interrogatory his best friend would put him through eventually.

“Nothing I can’t handle, but-”

Garrick’s voice disappeared from his hearing range as soon as the prickly sensation settled on the back of his head. Xaden turned just enough to widen his peripheral vision, noticing as Liam and Violet entered the room alongside their squad. She was smiling at something his brother was telling her - a contrasting sight compared to her miserable self after Montserrat. Her mesmerizing hair was braided over her shoulder instead of the coronet style, which made Xaden’s throat dry at the sight of the brown to silver fade.

Fuck. He wanted to unravel that braid and run his fingers through the strands so badly.

Unfortunately, she hated his guts at the moment, maybe always did but only circled around it due to their obvious tension. Regardless, that kiss - just like the first - was a huge mistake and it reminded him of how little he deserved her. The sight of Dain fucking Aetos comforting her a searing reminder that he would never hold her like that.

“Stop staring” Garrick pulled him out of the trance by kicking his shin “honestly, Xaden, this is bordering mental affliction”

“Cradh’s rider has a valid observation, you distract yourself with the general’s daughter. Quoting what you humans say: get a grip” Sgaeyl’s tone is indifferent.

“I am not staring” he simply replied.

Garrick snorted “just obsessively following little Sorrengail’s every step with your indirect vision”

Xaden did not dignify the accusation with an answer, turning his attention back to his fruit.

“Wait a minute” Garrick put his fork down, his shit eating grin already present “are you making a saddle for her?”

***

“Riorson” the middle aged woman pushed her goggles up, eyeing him suspiciously “it’s your second visit in such a short time”

He ducked just enough to avoid hitting his head on the door, entering the room fully. The heat was the first thing he registered before the sulfurous scent of the coal.

“Consider it your luck, Hortência” he replied.

The blacksmith rose to her full and considerable height, circling her working table and feeding the fire “More daggers?”

“No, not this time” he explained “I need to make a dragon saddle”

She sent him a surprised glance at first, but a grin soon painted her angular features “finally tired of smashing your balls riding that dragon of yours?”

He could hear Sgaeyl’s amusement through the bond and quickly reinforced his shields - he had heard enough of her commentary for a lifetime “No. Think you can do it?”

She took her gloves off and crossed her arms, narrowing her brown eyes at him “The disrespect of you to ask me if I can”

Xaden raised his hands in surrender, he knew better than to insult someone who walked around with incandescent poking sticks.

“Can you make it in about four days?”

“Do I look like a fucking whirlwind to you?” her voice raised to the usual scolding tone.

Xaden contained his frustrated sigh and unceremoniously dropped a bag very full of coins on her table “this is just the first half, I’ll pay the same amount when it’s done”

She eyed the bag with the usual interest whenever Xaden had a request “I can prioritize it, I suppose. How do you want it?”

“I’ll have my cousin drop you the final sketch. I have to measure the dragon first” he replied.

“When were you born?” she asked.

Xaden was very much confused with said question “I fail to see why this is important information”

Hortência laughed, putting her gloves back on “Just in case I have to make your death plate”

The only person who can measure a dragon safely is their rider.

Page 19 - HOW TO BUILD A DRAGON SADDLE (Riorson, Durran et al)

“Could you tell your mate-”

“Am I a pigeon? Tell him yourself” Sgaeyl’s voice was harsh.

Xaden gritted his teeth, but did as she said anyway because he knew better than to argue with his very temperamental dragon. Grounding on his hill, he seeked the onyx lines that curved just around the silver strands of Violet’s bond. He had to hold the urge to reach for her mind - the intimate sensation of lacing his conscience with hers unmatched - and connected with the dark colored line that connected him to Tairn.

“I’m making Violence a saddle”

For a moment he wondered if the black dragon had shielded him out. Wouldn’t be the first time.

“It seems you can be of use, Wingleader” the deep male voice rumbled through Xaden’s head.

Huh. Odd. He genuinely thought Tairn would put up a fight over using a saddle. He had this entire discourse ready to try and convince the dragon.

“I see no disadvantage in accommodating my rider”

That was strangely…kind. But Xaden made sure to hold that thought before Tairn decided to incinerate him for the audacity. Maybe that old grumpy thing was more lenient than he had originally thought.

“I’ll need to measure you” Xaden spilled before regret swallowed the words.

A growl erupted from that specific bond. Yeah. A saddle? No issue. Having Xaden around his vicinity without the Silver One? Absolutely not. At least for that he had prepared: use Tairn’s weakness - and his.

“I have no desire to be near you either, but we have to do this for her” Xaden argued “the sooner we do it, the faster it’s over”

Silence reigned over the bond for a few minutes and Xaden wondered if Tairn was privately speaking with Sgaeyl or had actually blocked him.

“He speaks with Andarna” she replied “he refrains from making decisions about the general’s daughter without speaking to her”

Xaden was never aware of how that bonded-to-two-dragon thing worked, but it did not surprise him that they included the small dragon in decisions. He secretly hoped Andarna could put some sense into her guardian’s head.

“I reluctantly accept to be measured”

It's not easy said, let alone done. First, there was no measuring tape large enough to circle around Tairn. They had to make do with unreasonable amounts of rope tied together - ropes Xaden had no idea how Bodhi acquired it. The easy step was measuring the expanse of the chest but when it came to measuring the distance for the straps, he could feel his left eye twitching.

“Would you stop moving for a fucking second?” he practically growled when Tairn shifted his front leg again.

Of course that fucking grumpy dragon would not make things easy for Xaden, it would not be Tairn otherwise. He had no fucking idea what Sgaeyl saw on him, honestly.

“I could ask the same about the general’s daughter” her voice echoed in amusement.

He tried not to scoff at her words. It was obvious what he saw on Violet. Her infuriatingly hot intelligence, her fucking perfect face, her fucking hair! That hair! Even her reckless streak was mesmerizing. Xaden was fucked when it came to Violet Sorrengail. Everything about the woman invited him in.

“See? You have your reasons and I have mine, now focus!”

Xaden reluctantly returned his attention to the giant black dragon making his life a living nightmare and managed to finally finish the measurement. He shouted the numbers for Bodhi - who was standing at a safe distance - to write down.

“Fucking finally” he said with more anger than prudent in front of a war dragon “I’ll have to test the fit on you once the saddle is done, so could you please not repeat today’s stunt?”

Saying please to Tairn was definitely bitter on his tongue. Not that he was against the word, but the only person he would ever say please to was five foot nothing and currently disliked him very much.

“Under one condition” the dragon replied “I do have requirements”

Xaden’s groan of frustration could be heard from miles away.

It is important to use high quality materials - specially the leather for the saddle belts and seat. It is also interesting to consider that the straps will have to be made of a blend of metals to ensure durability, it must be strong but lightweight.

Page 30 - HOW TO BUILD A DRAGON SADDLE (Riorson, Durran et al)

After the cousins handed the measurements, the blacksmith’s eyes shimmered at the sight of the final sketch and Xaden knew he had won her over. Nothing spoke louder than money and glory when it came to that particular blacksmith. Barely three days later, she sent a message for him to visit the forge as soon as possible and he did not hesitate.

“Neat work” he commented, gliding a finger on the metal’s surface.

Hortência had outdone herself again. The chest plate was sturdy but light enough that Xaden and Bodhi would be able to carry it without much trouble. The leather straps were as thick as they come - which cost more money than expected. In the middle, a discreet mechanism could be felt only by touch - one of Tairn’s many requirements that Xaden had to spend an entire night designing with Bodhi.

“You tell me if any alterations are needed, don’t you fucking dare look for another blacksmith”

Xaden fought a smile as he saw the distinct signature on the corner of the chestplate “would never dream of doing so”

Testing the saddle, though, proved to be unfruitful. Because of fucking course that monstrosity of a dragon disliked it. The weight of the chestplate was beginning to burn his arm muscles as Tairn refused to wear it.

“And to think I praised your usefulness” Train grumbled.

“What the fuck is wrong this time?” he sounded every bit exasperated as he felt.

Fucking Violet. If Xaden didn’t pathetically like her so much he would not be fucking dealing with her asshole of a dragon. Damn the day that beautiful woman crossed the parapet and turned his world upside down.

“The material of the straps will collapse under fire exposure, Wingleader. Change it”

With that ultimatum, Tairn dismissed him - flying to the vale with Andarna right behind him. Xaden sighed loudly, trying his best to support the chestplate on the ground before it toppled over. Sgaeyl was still there, though she made absolutely no move to aid him.

“Didn’t go well?” Bodhi said from a distance, almost invisible due to the waning moon night.

“The straps need to be metal” he shouted back “what do you think about a strong stolen liquor and another night of designing?”

Bodhi pulled a face that meant ‘absolutely not’

“Alright”

***

“I need your help” Xaden mumbled.

Garrick lifted a dark thick brow and a wicked smile spread through his face “look who decided to include me on their little art project”

If they were not in class, Xaden would absolutely have punched him right in the nose “The saddle is fucking heavy and I think Bodhi is avoiding me”

“He definitely is” Garrick kept scribbling nonsense in his notepad “something about you using his drop of free time”

“Are you going to help me or not?” Xaden commanded a shadow to steal his friend’s pen.

“Relax, shadow man. I will. I am at your service”

Two days later, a few hours into the early morning, both of them were on their way to the flight field. Train and Sgaeyl were already there, blue morning hue barely reflecting on their scales. Garrick grunted behind him as the weight of the newest version of the saddle was considerable. They stopped in the middle of the field, setting the chest plate on the ground and undoing the binds that kept the metal chains coiled.

“I can handle it” he said to Garrick “prepare for the meeting”

“You sure?”

“Tairn tolerates me, but I don’t think he’ll accept you around”

Garrick shrugged, retreating quickly to the citadel. Xaden unraveled the last chain and stood up, breathing deeply. He needed all the patience in the world to deal with Tairn and unfortunately he did not have any.

“Is it to your liking?” Xaden said in the fakest civil tone he could muster.

Train’s growl rumbled through the field “It seems acceptable this time”

“I’ll have to put it on you to test the fit”

“I thought I told you all of my requirements, including the one saying I have to be able to wear it on my own”

“All of your requirements were met, but I need to check where improvements may be needed, so would you please cooperate once?”

The dragon growled again, lowering his head to be eye level with Xaden “So be it, Wingleader”

Xaden should have known that Tairn’s compliance always came with a price. The dragon made sure to be out of reach just enough for him to struggle looping one of the straps around his foreleg - he had to jump! - The rumbling in Tairn’s chest seemed almost like a mocking laughter and Xaden was dreadfully remembering the fact he would share the rest of his miserable life bonded to that aggravating creature.

“I need to place the saddle, can I climb up there?”

“It will be your last deed before I eat your burnt carcass”

Vivid.

Of course Xaden would have to humiliate himself further by throwing the saddle around like a fucking lunatic, but at least he had good aim and was able to land it correctly the second time. Once the other strapped was looped around Tairn’s left foreleg, Xaden joined one pair of them at the belly and braced himself for the ultimate strength of connecting them to the triangular chest plate. It took all of his training and core strength to do it, but he managed.

Finally, fucking finally!…and then a second later he was staring at the dawning sky and the wind was knocked out of his lungs.

“Hold your breath” Sgaeyl’s voice commanded and he did not question it.

Seconds later, a small column of fire singed the air where Xaden had just been standing. He turned quickly, protecting his face from the heat until it passed.

“What the fuck, Tairn?” he shouted once the fire ceased.

“You pinched my chest scales!” he said, outraged.

Xaden stood up faster than ever, quickly retreating backwards and glaring at the black dragon “I could have died!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I aimed above your head” Train raised his neck and chuffed, a puff of steam reaching Xaden’s face.

“Your mate is insane” he growled down Sgaeyl’s bond “and how kind of you to defend your rider!”

“You brought this upon yourself when you took this quest” she said, unbothered “and I did defend you”

“By knocking me on the ground like a sack of grains!”

This saddle better fucking work because at this point Xaden could genuinely die of rage and it would be very embarrassing considering all the shit he survived so far.

“I was going to ask you for a test flight but I will refrain from losing my fucking life here”

“Wise decision” Tairn growled.

The seat must be as simple and practical as possible. Padded for comfort and with a raised edge for an easy grip. It should also be waxed regularly to ensure water resistance. Decorative designs are completely optional.

Page 43 - HOW TO BUILD A DRAGON SADDLE (Riorson, Durran et al)

Xaden hesitated for the third time and frustration was beginning to build in the pit of his stomach. Dropping the carving tool, he stood up and returned to his pacing. He was dreading asking him for help but there was no other choice. There was nobody more skilled in carving than Liam Mairi. Unfortunately, his brother was also a little shit that would tease Xaden the entire fucking time because of what he was requesting to be carved. The very intricate protective runes he sketched would be the biggest proof of his not-so-self-preservation reasoning.

“As if Deigh’s rider was not already aware of your affections towards the woman, cease this torturous hesitancy and be done with it” Sgaeyl grumbled.

He swallowed his pride and decided that it would be best to follow his dragon’s advice. He took the saddle seat and the carving tools he had purchased during the weekend and walked towards the first-years floor. His signet informed him who was asleep or not. Quietly, he knocked on Liam’s door and waited impatiently.

“Xaden?” his brother was still in uniform.

He motioned silently towards the room, to which Liam nodded and pulled him through the wards.

“So you really were making a saddle” his brother commented.

“Garrick can’t really shut his fucking mouth, huh?” Xaden complained

“Nah, it was Bodhi who told me” Liam shrugged, clasping his hands together “what’s my job then?”

Xaden felt really bad asking one more thing for Liam, he really did, but he was fucking desperate. War games would start in two days and he still had to wax the saddle.

“I need you to carve some runes for me” he spilled.

Liam took the saddle from his hands and walked to his table, pulling out a small, but full pack of tools - of course Liam already had the tools.

“What do you want me to carve?”

Xaden sighed quietly and handed his brother the small paper.

“Alright, this won’t take long” he concluded “might as well sit down and wait”

He had spent many nights in his foster home watching Liam carve. Specially on nights of insomnia - like the current one. His brother worked with agility, the sounds of the tools barely audible as it cut into the leather. Silence prevailed and Xaden was honestly surprised that no teasing comment made an appearance.

“That’s nice of you, by the way” Liam’s voice was quiet.

Xaden fought a scoff. He doubted any of his actions could be considered nice. He was doing it out of guilt and fear.

“I am sure she will protest using it” he bitterly replied “might as well hide it’s my doing and put all the glory on you”

“I highly disagree” Liam continued “she needs to know you did it. That you care”

At that point he was not sure if any of his actions could ever redeem him in her eyes. He was just an asshole that was tied to her by dragon bonds. A fucking asshole that kisses her for his own selfish reasons and still hopes she reciprocates any of his fucking feelings.

“I don’t think she wants me to care” Xaden admitted.

Liam smiled sadly and shook his head, returning his focus on the saddle.

“You’re so blind sometimes, Xaden”

[talonabraxas]

The Flower Moon Talon Abraxas

Flower Moon Meaning

The Flower Moon’s name isn’t much of a mystery given the time of year it graces the sky. Gardens and landscapes are in full bloom with perennials such as primrose, bleeding heart, bloodroot, iris, violet, hellebore, peony, et cetera; flower trees such as pear, crape myrtle, crabapple, magnolia, redbud, dogwood, and others; and spring bulbs including bluebell, hyacinth, lily of the valley, tulip, daffodil, crocus, and more.

As for the May full moon’s other names, this is the time of year when the tribes and farmers plant corn. The frogs are singing their mating songs, and milk-producing livestock such as sheep, goats, and cows now have lush green pastures to fill their bellies and produce more milk.

Flower Moon Spiritual Meaning

The May full moon embodies the spirit of Beltane and all the energy of new life, passion, fire, and rebirth. It brings creativity, inspiration, and a sense of purpose with it.

The Flower Moon in May is a spiritual reminder that our goals should be manifesting. This is the blooming season, but it’s also the planting season. Tap into the energy for growth and fertility. Take some time to think about your intentions and what needs to be done in order to reach your goals come harvest season. This may mean asking yourself some hard questions and reevaluating your priorities and plans.

Don’t feel overwhelmed if you feel like the goals you set at the beginning of the year are still far away. We can’t magically leap to the top of the staircase in a single jump; the journey happens one step at a time. If you feel like you aren’t progressing, take a moment to focus. What do you need to prioritize? What is the next step forward that needs to be taken? What is holding you back (and therefore needs to be released)?

Let the spiritual energy of the Flower Moon inspire you to continue growing, even though it comes with a reminder that we can’t move forward until we let go of what’s inhibiting our ability to fully blossom.

Flower Moon Altar Tips, Colors, & Crystals

The most common altar colors for the Flower Moon are yellow, red, orange, and green. Freshly cut flowers make a perfect altar decoration.

In fact, you can go even further and find many more ways to incorporate flowers on this special night. Arrange them in vases to decorate your home. Integrate them into your tea and cooking. Add them to your bath. Press blossoms that you can later use in your book of shadows, journal, artwork, or even a thoughtful surprise tucked in a card for a loved one.

Crystals that work well with the Flower Moon include:

Moonstone – new beginnings, fertility, intuition, lunar/feminine energy

Selenite – purification, cleansing, protection, a symbol of light, ties to the moon

Labradorite – connect with the psyche, dreams, creative muses, spiritual awakening

Amethyst – spiritual protection, insight, self-reflection, shadow work

Rose Quartz – love, friendship, romance, self-love

Rhodonite – “stone of love,” passion, fertility, grounding energy, healing emotional scars

Flower Agate – new beginnings, self-growth, restores emotional balance

Moss Agate – restoration, healing, rebirth, a connection with earth and plants

Black Tourmaline – strength, stabilization, grounding, alleviating fear (onyx and obsidian are also good alternatives)

Smoky quartz – grounding, emotional calmness, stress relief

Clear quartz – healing, peace, cleansing the mind and aura, divination

[gym-x-plus]

🏋️‍♀️ Ready to take your training to the next level?

It’s time to supercharge your workouts with supersets!

1️⃣ How to Organize Your Supersets:

Choose two exercises that target different muscle groups.

Pair exercises that allow one muscle group to rest while the other works.

Aim for balance and efficiency in your pairings.

2️⃣ Benefits of Supersetting:

Maximizes time efficiency by reducing rest periods between sets.

Increases training intensity and calorie burn for a more effective workout.

Enhances muscular endurance and promotes muscle growth through metabolic stress.

3️⃣ Tips for Proper Supersetting:

Focus on quality over quantity, maintaining proper form throughout each set.

Start with compound movements before moving to isolation exercises.

Stay hydrated and listen to your body’s cues to prevent overtraining.

💪 Ready to experience the power of supersets? Try incorporating them into your next workout routine and feel the burn! 🔥 Let’s crush those fitness goals together! 💪💥

💥 Maximisez vos séances avec les supersets ! 💥

1️⃣ Choisissez deux exercices pour cibler différents groupes musculaires.

2️⃣ Réduisez les temps de repos pour une séance plus intense et efficace.

3️⃣ Priorisez la forme et l’hydratation pour des résultats optimaux.

Prêt(e) à ressentir la puissance des supersets ? Essayez-les dès aujourd’hui ! 💪🔥

©️Credit ig @bootybydesign

 #Supersets #EntraînementEfficace

[fitnessmith]

Musculation et Balances Impédancemètre – Trop Beau Pour Être Vrai ?

Vous souhaitez connaitre la fiabilité de votre balance à impédancemètre ? Vous voulez savoir si c’est une bonne idée d’investir dans une balance connectée pour suivre votre body fat ? Avant ça, il faut que ayez ce que je vais vous dire ci-dessous, sinon vous allez être déçu du résultat.   Quel est le Bon Pourcentage de Graisse ? Pour commencer, identifiez le pourcentage de graisse corporelle…

[gunsatthaphan]

🎆 🥂 𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝒩𝑒𝓌 𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇!!! 🥂🎆

*cue piano music* another year is gone and I know no one asked for this but I wanted to take the opportunity to do a little recap and also give shoutouts to some lovely people 🥺  

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year, both for me personally and also regarding the content that came out. We got some amazing stuff but sadly there was also a lot of less amazing stuff and ultimately, the quantity > quality tendency dominated once again. 2022 was the year where I decided to take a few steps back in terms of my watchlist; I have come to the realization that the more stuff I watch, the more stressed I get - both regarding the pressure of always being up to date with everything, but also the pressure of creating content around said shows. Which might be a ridiculous thing to think but I usually have a feeling of insufficiency when it comes to my content. Which is why I put a few things on the backburner this year. Additionally I have also realized I’m not willing to put up with shows anymore that are not 100% to my satisfaction. Hate-watching is something I somewhat enjoyed before and admittedly there were a few shows that I watched despite not liking them (like unforgotten night or OMSN) which was mostly due to the amusement of making fun of them lmao. But I ended up finding a lot more joy in putting my whole focus on the few shows I genuinely enjoy, instead of watching an abundance of mediocre stuff on the side. Which was why the variety of content on my blog was a little limited this year. 

I took a 3 month trip to Thailand where, amongst other things, I emerged myself into the on-site fan culture and got to see a bunch of actors close-up and while that was an incredible experience, it made me realize how insanely commercialised this industry really is and how exhausting it must be for these people to always appear at these events with perfect smiles and what not. which was also part of the reason why I stepped back. I don’t want to make this sound overly dramatic but that was the vibe I got when I was there. oh and also don’t forget that time where I got shadowbanned from tumblr for almost 1 month and thought I would never get my blog back... good times 😬 

However despite all, I loved creating content for the things I was passionate about over the past year and I’m looking forward to making more in the next one!

I’m gonna post a personal top10 of the shows I watched this year shortly after this post goes up. Until then, I want to talk a bit about some of my favorite people this year - I’m not good with words lmao but thank you for being you and for making this hellsite a better place djkghdf 💜  

@leonpob - bestie 🥺💜💜 you know you’re one of my favorite people, I love talking to you every day and sharing our thoughts on shows and other things!!! You radiate so much comfort for me and I can’t wait to continue our talks in the new year!!! 😘 

@khunvegas - another year of collectively simping, trash-talking and screaming and I wouldn’t want it any other way jkdfhg. I cherish our unhinged and shameless conversations and I appreciate your non-judgy nature when it comes to unpopular opinions lmao. looking forward to another year of bl bants 🫡

@my-wandering-rabbit - you’re always sooo sweet and I absolutely loved talking to you this year!!! 💜 I appreciate your balanced opinions and your honesty and I'm looking forward to more chats in 2023!! 😊 

@odi-et-amo85 - I love our random convos lmao and I appreciate how nice you always are!! you’re so fun to talk to and I’m so glad we started chatting! 😙

@sleepypurplenote - ahh I love talking to you!!!! your messages are always so lively and fun lmao I love it!!!! 🥺 I love that we share so many opinions when it comes to BL stuff so thank you for being here!! 😘 

@laowen - We haven’t talked a ton this year but just know that I absolutely love you and your content!! on top of that you’re one of the nicest people I’ve met on here and I appreciate you and your blog so much!!! 💜 

@pharawee - we haven’t talked a lot yet either but your content is so amazing!!! I love your gifs and everything else that you do!!! keep up the amazing work and thank you for helping me with my giffing troubles! 🙈 

@bl-recs-and-reviews - my discord bestie 🥺 I absolutely love catching up with you and even though we don’t talk every day, it always feels like coming home when I talk to you 💜 let’s do that a lot more next year pleeasee!! 

@mrsandypants - ahhh you’re legit one of the sweetest and loveliest people I’ve met on here!!!! you’re so nice and fun and your asks are my favorites!! 💜 stay the way you are and please stop by my blog as much as possible 😄 

honorable mentions go out to these lovely people 💫

@10ways @offspring-of-calliope @jjungkookiess @fiftyshots​ @chainsawandronan@victooooorious @sillybiscuitshepherdskeleton @dollopheadsandclotpoles @theblbois @emisfritish @boun-prem @hecalledhimhyung @bengiyo @benkaaoi @clairificusrex @tumcialgun @vegaspetes @eaasysarcasm @german-bl-kpop-lover @patandpran @earthpodd @spine @tobeornottotc @ilajudica @zeejade88 @hunginggrapes @malec4everr @nanons @praninlovex @flukenatouch @dimension-eater @bfjeff @billkinspp @coldties @freensrcha @gooseras @guzhu-furen @jaehwany @jeffsatur @kaonoppakao @kimporchay @lakorns @liankuea @loveisactivated @machikeita @paisky @pranparakul @pranpats @prapais@patpran @seanwhites @seawherethesunsets @smittenskitten @sunsetandthemoon @tachinekoii @taeminnie @team-win @tehohaews @tirpse87 @wanderlust-in-my-soul @yibo-wang @ncppanut​ @ddreamzee​

thank you for making this fandom-year amazing with your content and just by being cute 🥺 happy 2023!!! 💓💋

xxx 

[mahinee]

Nurturing the Heart: Understanding the Social and Emotional Well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities

Welcome to my Blog series on PSYCHOLOGY, WELL-BEING, AND RESILIENCE Where I will highlight 5 interesting topics. Read to explore!

In the rich tapestry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the essence of well-being lies in the social and emotional interconnectedness. As highlighted by the Commonwealth of Australia in 2017, this delicate balance serves as the cornerstone upon which both physical and mental health are built.

It's important to recognize that the concept of social and emotional well-being transcends individual experiences, encompassing a web of relationships that extend from the individual to the family and community. As noted by Brown et al. (2023), the nuances of well-being vary across Indigenous communities, shaped by diverse cultural perspectives and historical contexts. The notion of social and emotional well-being acknowledges that a person's well-being is also impacted by the social determinants of health. Indigenous Australians define health as the "social, emotional, and cultural well-being of the whole community" in addition to an individual's physical well-being (Fatima et al., 2023, p.31). This definition is based on a person's relationships to their country, culture, family, spirit, and physical and mental health.

Additionally, the National Agreement acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are essential to better life outcomes for Indigenous Australians. All initiatives carried out by the Agreement must uphold, protect, and enhance these cultures. The following goals have been specifically set by the agreement to promote the cultural wellness of Indigenous Australians as shown in Figure 1 below (indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024).

Figure 1: Targets to support cultural well-being

(Source: indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024)

This particular group is marked with suicides and attempts to death based on different stress in life and stress factors. In the words of Smallwood et al., (2023, p.2088), the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders had been facing severe issues over time in search of good living and livelihood. Owing to this there had been intervention which was developed for the betterment of indigenous people living in Australia. Figure 2 below shows the rate of suicide attempts which had been caused by the people of this indigenous group (indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024). Thus, the intervention of the Mental Health Agreement was formulated to secure sustainability and improve the services provided by the Australian mental health and suicide prevention system. It also aimed to improve the mental health of all Australians and governments have come together to establish the Mental Health Agreement (Masotti et al., 2023, p.741).

Figure 2: Suicide attempts by Aboriginals

(Source: indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024)

In addition to responding to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health, the National Suicide Prevention Adviser's Final Advice, the Mental Health Agreement pledges to carry out work under the Fifth Plan going forward (indigenoushpf.gov.au, 2024). Regional planning and commissioning, priority populations, stigma reduction, safety and quality, gaps in the system of care and suicide prevention are the main areas of attention. On the other hand, psycho-social supports outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), workforce, and national consistency for initial assessment and referral are among the priority areas covered by the Mental Health Agreement.

References

Brown, A., Haregu, T., Gee, G., Mensah, F., Waters, L., Brown, S. J., ... & Armstrong, G. (2023). Social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Aboriginal-controlled social housing. BMC public health, 23(1), 1935. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-023-16817-y

Fatima, Y., Liu, Y., Cleary, A., Dean, J., Smith, V., King, S., & Solomon, S. (2023). Connecting the health of country with the health of people: application of" caring for country" in improving the social and emotional well-being of Indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand. The Lancet Regional Health–Western Pacific, 31. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(22)00263-2/fulltext

indigenoushpf.gov.au (2024) Social and emotional wellbeing Retrived on 9 May 2024 from: https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/1-18-social-emotional-wellbeing

Masotti, P., Dennem, J., Bañuelos, K., Seneca, C., Valerio-Leonce, G., Inong, C. T., & King, J. (2023). The Culture is Prevention Project: measuring cultural connectedness and providing evidence that culture is a social determinant of health for Native Americans. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 741. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-023-15587-x

Smallwood, R., Usher, K., Woods, C., Sampson, N., & Jackson, D. (2023). De‐problematising Aboriginal young peoples’ health and well‐being through their voice: An Indigenous scoping review. Journal of clinical nursing, 32(9-10), 2086-2101. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocn.16308

[miyakuli]

Flowers - Le volume sur printemps

Amour et les fleurs ne durent qu'un printemps

Flowers is a series of visual novels immersing us in the daily lives of young female students at a Catholic school where friendship and love collide. We follow the shy Suoh, freshly arrived in this new school, whose objective is to make friends and try to detach herself from her traumatic childhood. This springtime introduction is full of sweetness and poetry, but I still felt that certain aspects were still a bit in the bud state.

❤ The aesthetic of the game is really well done, whether for the menu, the illustrations, the sprites or even the text window. It's flowery, soft and cute, and totally in tune with the calm and romantic atmosphere of the story. ❤ Beneath its air of innocence and purity, the game tackles some fairly sensitive subjects, such as psychological abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and neglect… but remains very modest in its approach. Also, in terms of its girl's love theme, I liked the fact that the character asked herself questions about her sexuality and that it wasn't something she immediately assumed. Her reflections on the fine line that can exist between love between friends or a deeper love were, in my opinion, very relatable subjects, especially for a character of that age. ❤ I think the development of the main character is very well carried out. She gradually opens up to the world around her, her dialogues become less indecisive and we gradually feel her more relaxed in her relationships with others. We don't get rid of her shyness, which is an integral part of her personality, but we do see Suoh gain in confidence and self-assurance. I've seen far too many media where the shy side of a character's character was quickly erased in favor of their development, as if it were something to be ‘’fixed‘’, so I was reassured that this wasn't the case here. ❤ The secondary characters are all very engaging (more so than the love interests, which is a bit of a shame) and add a lot of dynamism to the life of this school. A special mention goes to Erika (who's supposed to be the focus of another episode, bless), who has the best affinity with the heroine, and who clearly should have been a love interest (or at least earned the status of best friend, because frankly, she's the best).

+/- The music played by the strings and piano is perfect for accompanying the scenes, but there isn't much of it. One particular piece of music takes up 80% of the sound space and although it is long and beautiful to the ear, the musical redundancy is often felt. I also think there's a problem with the sound balance, as I had to turn the volume of the soundtrack down as low as possible to get the best out of the voices of the dubbing actresses, who interpret their roles very well, and it would have been a shame not to appreciate them more. +/- The story is easy to follow and plays out like a slice of life, with little episodes from the daily lives of these teenagers. Personally, I liked this approach, but some might criticise the lack of more intimate moments with the LIs. On the other hand, I found the last 2 chapters almost inconsistent; relationships suddenly rush in, and the attitude of one of the main characters changes drastically to the point of becoming toxic, with no real transition and no consequences at the end. It's quite confusing, and I was even put off playing this character's route after those events (because, on top of that, the route only unlocks after you've finished the ‘true end’, something that's never made clear). You should also bear in mind that the ‘true end’ is not really a happy ending either which leaves a bitter taste in the mouth once you've finished the whole game. It's a daring decision but one I didn't really like.

✖ At times, Suoh lends herself to games of deduction in which you have to pay attention to small details to solve enigmatic situations (otherwise, it's game over). The problem is that these ‘investigations’ are extremely difficult, as they either involve word games based on kanji that are not translated, or require highly specialized knowledge that is never mentioned in the story. So it's almost essential to take a guide with you… ✖ I don't usually pay too much attention to the cliché of femininity in Japanese games (which doesn't necessarily bother me) but here, it was over-emphasized at times with some rather embarrassing remarks; girls outside the norm of gentleness/politeness are called tomboys, the emphasis is often on the heroine's larger breasts, which make her seem more ‘feminine’ than the others, and too many categories are put on what it means to be a ‘real girl’. The game isn't that old (2014), but it feels that way :/ ✖ There's a lot of typo in the English translation, with mixed-up letters and repeated lines of dialogue. I was even given white text on a white background - genius!

It's a pretty good first part, in my opinion, although it's a bit frustrating in terms of its conclusion, which I think will encourage us to get on with the sequel. I've also heard that the following games are much better and focus more on the secondary characters, which makes me all the more intrigued. In any case, if you like your romances flourishing against a backdrop of slices of life, your spring will surely be more radiant.

➡ My personal VN ranking (in french) ➡ My Steam page

[whetstonefires]

For the ask game, "occluding junction (and other incidences of biology)" and 7?

7: Where did the title come from?

Hah! You hit one I put some thought into, actually. But I'm not surprised you have to ask.

This one was of the class that's difficult to name, because I had to strike the balance between 'this is a fic built primarily on the conceit that Keith just moves into the voltron castle's vent system and stays there, and everyone has to kinda deal with that and yes, it's super funny' and the fact that keith is doing this because he's undergoing heavy angst and every single other character does have some kind of stress or guilt or drama arc about the situation.

So I started running google searches and playing wikipedia surf looking for something that had the right vibe and let me pick up both the idea of a system of circulation or ventilation and the idea that this fic was about the process of connecting or refusing to connect with other people.

(This fic was based on just season one of Voltron, which was all that was out at the time. Someone spoiled the Big Twist of season two in the comments on the final chapter like 18 hours after it dropped, which is definitely one of the downsides of the full season tv show deployment schedule.

It was a gift for my sister, who'd sat me down and made me watch Voltron a few months earlier, while Trump was getting elected and I was not handling it well, but my mom would not stop blasting the news coverage. I thought Keith's arc had a lot of promise in terms of his difficulty communicating and relating to others but also his intense sense of loyalty.)

So eventually I hit on the term occluding junction, aka tight junction, a structure in animal cell membranes vital to their ability to impede the passage of molecules, that also contributes to tying the cells to the protein cytoskeleton so they can participate in being tissue.

This got at the various thematic things I wanted the title to do, but was not lighthearted enough, so I added the subtitle, et voila.

Probably nothing else has ever been named with that string of words huh. And if it was it wasn't about a children's cartoon.

[8bitsupervillain]

Higurashi When They Cry Hou Ch. 8 Matsuribayashi pt. 68

It is time for the Hinamizawa Gaming Club to face off against the conspiracy once and for all! For all the marbles!

I wonder what in universe justification they have for having two guys at the Okonogi Gardeners office at all hours of the day. I very much doubt it would ever come up, but go with me on this small mental journey. Some guy sees the lights on at the Okonogi Gardeners office at three in the morning, so he catches up with his pal Hideyoshi a day or two later. So he asks him about it, and Hideyoshi’s like “you wouldn’t believe the late night calls we get about kudzu, or Virginia creeper.” They take their eradication of invasive plant species very seriously.

Just got to say though, it’s got to do a number to you, this new evidence that some of your firmest held beliefs might actually just be bullshit. So, so far I’d say that Mion’s plan to put Takano et al. off balance is working pretty well.

In previous chapters they had Mountain Dog members act as other medical staff around the clinic, so why not just have them grab Irie, and send him and a few of the Mountain Dogs in disguise to Rika’s house. It’s only just now occurred to me that by the time all’s said and done I’ll probably have a ranked list of which character gets it the worst this chapter.

With this new revelation that Ootaka is in cahoots with Takano I think that it recontextualizes his actions in Tsumihoroboshi. After all’s said and done Takano pulls off killing Rika and destroying Hinamizawa, so I wonder if she was using Rena taking over the school and holding everyone hostage to further her own scheme? She must have been aware Rika being one of the hostages who would be exploded in the school had Rena’s plan gone to pot, but I wonder if she could’ve used her death that way for the plan? They say in Minagoroshi that Rika died that night regardless, so if Rena blew her up Takano could probably still use that to justify executing the manual. So, since Ootaka is in with Takano his actions and rather cavalier attitude about the hostage situation takes on a different light.

I know it’s not the case, but I like to imagine the two Mountain Dogs here are in their full black ops combat gear picking the door. Then someone else on the floor leaves their room to get their continental breakfast, sees the two military guys picking a lock, sees another one at the end of the hall, and just goes back in their room.

I just find it funny when the game says a thing the screenshots clearly contradict. “The room only had one bed” picture of the room shows two. Also, do you think Tomitake brought Takano back to this hotel room, or did she insist they go to her place?

Cut to Takano throwing a massive fit. Sure is unfortunate for everyone that all their own individual information gatherings are all going to take a few hours. That’s government bureaucracy for you.

I like how Okonogi is holding it together despite being extremely stressed out by this situation. He’s basically in the exact middle on the composure scale, Takano being on the completely stressed out, not composed at all end, and Tomitake being on the so composed you could call him an orchestra end.

[greenpeople]

Ashwagandha-Ancient Adaptogen

What is Ashwagandha?

Ashwagandha, also known by its botanical name Withania somnifera, is a small shrub native to India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. This adaptogenic herb has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine, where it has been prized for its ability to balance the body's systems and help the body adapt to stress. The name “ashwagandha” comes from the Sanskrit word for “horse smell,” which refers to both the herb’s strong aroma and its ability to enhance strength and stamina—qualities associated with the power of a horse.

In modern wellness, ashwagandha is considered a potent adaptogen, meaning it helps the body adapt to stress and restore balance to the body’s physical and emotional systems. But what makes ashwagandha so effective in this role? Let’s dive deeper into the science.

The Science Behind Ashwagandha's Stress-Relieving Properties

As an adaptogen, ashwagandha works by regulating the body’s stress response. Adaptogens are natural substances that help the body resist stressors of all kinds, whether physical, mental, or emotional. Ashwagandha has been found to influence several key systems within the body to reduce the harmful effects of stress.

One of the most significant ways ashwagandha helps the body handle stress is by reducing cortisol levels. Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone, produced by the adrenal glands. When we are stressed, cortisol levels rise, triggering the “fight or flight” response. While cortisol is helpful in short bursts (such as in emergencies), chronic elevation of cortisol can lead to a range of negative health consequences, including anxiety, sleep disturbances, and even weight gain.

Research has shown that ashwagandha can significantly lower cortisol levels, helping to restore balance and ease the physical symptoms of stress. Studies have found that taking ashwagandha for even a short period can reduce cortisol by as much as 30%, improving overall well-being and resilience to stress (Chandrasekhar et al., 2012).

References

Chandrasekhar, K., et al. "A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Stress-Relieving Effects of Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera) in Adults." Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, vol. 34, no. 3, 2012, pp. 255-261.