#sustainable suds

[wrioluvr]

subby vampire x dom male reader

sorry for being inactive yall teehee just thought about this cute little idea and had to write it... also no sex just a little spicy lmk if yall want to see more of this guy 🤭

★ ; 🦇🍷. . ♱

you did not expect it to rain during your forest hike today. anticipation to dive into the lush green unknown was quickly turned into a wet mess as your scrambled to find shelter, unsure of where you were even going as the gps signal got weaker deeper into the forest you ventured. much to your surprise, you soon came upon a quaint winding road. following it lead to an ancient-looking manor straight out of the victorian era. despite your brain recounting that this was how every horror movie started, you were desperate to be out of the cold, and soon rushed to the grand door to seek warmth. luckily, someone answered the door. a tall, lanky, ghost of a man, who quickly invited you in and fretted over the prospect of you catching a cold. he was a little odd, speaking in such a proper, olden manner, but he was lovely.

despite your initial protests of overstaying your welcome, he managed to convince you to stay for a week. he invited you to join him for dinner everyday, and it was through these meals that you found out quite a lot about him. one, his name was kliff (you swore his face turned red when you said he had a handsome name), and that he was a vampire who was at least a hundred years old (he stopped counting after the 120th year). the way he revealed it was kind of adorable, he was so reluctant at first.

"sooooo, kliff. you're a vampire, right?"

"goodness, whatever gave you that idea? i most certainly am not." his face said otherwise as his eyes darted everywhere around the room but your gaze, and the tip of his ears turned red.

"and you're gay, right?"

"now THAT is an accusation!" he replied indignantly, now fully flustered. "i, a dignified gentleman, would never engage in such sinful acts."

"but i saw you peeking at me showering yesterday. pervert." you were having the time of your life teasing this poor fossil.

he stood up from the dinner table and paced around the room. "i did no such thing." he mumbled, face somehow steaming even more than you thought was humanly possible. wait, but he wasn't a human. nevermind.

you spent most of your week exploring his manor, poking around the various dusty bookshelves and artifacts of an era long bygone. if there was one thing you picked up from your exploration, it was that kliff was awfully lonely. and had been for a long time. he didn't seem to have had any romantic partners, probably due to his sexuality, nor any pets to keep him company. you could infer this from his clingy nature, he was constantly in the shadows observing you, blending in seamlessly using his powers. he thought he was being slick, but really, he was a rather clumsy vampire. whenever you caught him, he would always act oblivious, and give you a sheepish grin, before scurrying away. it was quite cute, really. another thing was the fact that he never asked to drink from you. "it is quite alright. i sustain myself well enough through other means." was all he said when you asked him about it. mysterious. almost like he didn't dare to taint your skin with his fangs. you decided not to tell him about the fact that you were aware he watched you when you were asleep in the guest room, sometimes even daring to climb into bed silently with you and bask in your presence. he was a lonely soul, you figured. you could let him be delusional for a bit. you would leave after this week, anyway.

but that week passed quick, and with each day, kliff seemed to grow even more on edge, getting nervous whenever he was around you but never daring to speak what was on his mind. brooding around the house, watching you silently as you attempted to grow something in his dying garden... oh it was bad for him. but this came all to a head on your last day, when you bid your goodbyes and were one foot out the door, and he suddenly gathered the courage to say something.

kliff threw himself at you in one final, desperate plea. "please... please don't go...." his tone was so pitiful, you stopped in your tracks and looked at the way he's grabbing your wrist so tightly. "i... i.... if i may, i have one final request."

"you want to drink from me? honestly, i'm surprised you didn't ask earlier."

"no, no... it's not that. it's the opposite, really. may i... may i humbly request that you..." he stops mid sentence and breaks eye contact to look at the ground, voice so soft you could barely hear him. "bite me instead..."

"i beg your pardon?"

"i would like for you to leave a mark on me. as a reminder of your presence." his tone is slightly more confident now as he meets your eyes, centuries-old desire rekindled and burning within them. he falters a bit as he notices your lack of response. "....please?" he mumbles pathetically.

oh, poor baby. he's wanted a man to love him all his life. luckily for him, you found his desperation cute. you drop your bag and take his hand in yours.

"want me to take the lead?" you squeeze his hand, and he nods shyly.

"i would like nothing more."

you gently, but firmly pin him to the nearest wall, the ancient manor creaking under the pressure. it's kind of poetic, kliff thinks, as he wilts under your touch, it sounds like my house is congratulating me. you start off by peppering fleeting kisses all across his neck, admiring the small noises of pleasure he made everytime your lips came into contact with his skin. the fleeting touches turned into harsher bites, as you nibbled at his delicate skin, so fragile and untouched. it was just like he fantasized, and he was in heaven. he gripped onto the wall for support as he gasped at the new sensation, writhing around as you marked him, but your strong hands on his waist kept him steadily in place, a feeling he quickly learnt to enjoy. all those years he spent in solitude seemed to culminate to this moment, he'd never felt more intimate with anyone in his life. you stepped back to look at your handiwork and he immediately collapsed into your arms, a dark purple hickey prominently showing on his neck. he stared up at you lovingly, unable to really form thoughts. "please don't go...." was all he could mutter as you slowly swayed him back and forth, soothing his cold, beating heart.

"guess i'll see you next week, hm?" he's never been happier to hear those words in his long life.

>ᵥᵥ< 💘

[angelwings-crossbowstrings]

Series Masterlist

*Click here to be added to taglists.

Chapter 8

Warnings: Mentions of past SA, mention of injuries sustained from SA, scars, masturbation, poor mental health all around

You spent the day with Carol, getting a tour of the prison. There were places that were considered safe, cleared of the dead. That included most of the yard, the towers, a few cell blocks, and the area separating the blocks. You were advised never to go into the tombs, especially until you had been trained to defend yourself. From the living and the dead. 

You watched her prepare a small, simple lunch of stew with some rabbits that Daryl brought back and prepped for her. The stew would need to be stretched out to cover dinner as well. Carol confided in you that she was hoping Daryl could get a deer on his next outing. 

Between meals, laundry had to be done and the fence had to be cleared. Carol opted for laundry. It was something a couple of other women had taken over since the group had grown in number while Carol had moved to the fence. However, she refused to take you close to the walkers without any knowledge of how to defend yourself. You were introduced to the other women but only worked with Carol so that you were less afraid and anxious. Daryl volunteered to take her spot clearing the fence line. 

You had seen him several times but he would only interact with Carol, not even sparing you a glance. His dismissal of you made you feel odd, to say the least. He bought you but didn’t want you. On top of that, the women worked alongside the men on normal activities and were treated kindly. The men you had been introduced to were respectful, but you did have Carol always ensuring she positioned herself between you and the strangers. Kids were playing and learning. There was even a baby. 

It was a lot for your first full day. By the time dinner was over and you came inside with Carol, you were exhausted. 

“Why don’t I show you where the showers are? You can get cleaned up. I’ll bring some soft clothes for you to sleep in and leave them just inside the door.” She suggested, already leading the way. You really didn’t want to give up the clothes Daryl had given you. You found them comforting. It was the first time you had been in something that wasn’t lace or sequins for as long as you could remember. 

Still, it would be nice to feel clean. Really clean and comfortable. So, you relented with a nod. “Okay.”

“Look at you. Baby steps are still steps in the right direction.” When she gave your upper arm a squeeze, you actually didn’t flinch.

Carol showed you how the showers were rigged up to the drums of water and advised you not to stay in too long or you’d use it all up. You were terrified of being alone with only the light of a single candle so she promised to come right back after she grabbed clothes for you. You almost asked to go with her instead, but wanted to see that proud smile she had been giving you. So you stayed. 

The water was cold but you were used to that. A bath at the club had usually meant you stood perfectly still and silent while a bucket of freezing water was dumped over you. Still, your breath hitched when the first cold spray touched your skin. 

Using soap was like heaven. You actually managed to forget your fear of the dark, quiet room in favor of running your hands over your skin to rid the layers of dirt and grime your quick lake bath had left behind. You paid special attention to the area between your legs. The wounds had long ago healed and scarred over but you had never truly felt clean there since Todd’s brother had assaulted you. You had killed the man with his own knife but Jazz’s people got to you anyway.

Carefully, you ran your soapy fingers over the sensitive skin, the scars his knife had left raised and bumpy. Imperfect. Broken. Flawed. You pulled your hand away, staring down the front of your body as the suds disappeared, showing the scars across your breasts and stomach. They weren’t as severe as the ones your back held. But they were there. 

Your lip was quivering with tears weighing down your lashes but you managed to get the soap off of your hands and wipe at your eyes before they could fall. The squeaky door opened. You assumed Carol had returned, hopefully remembering you didn’t have a towel. Your shivering only seemed to worsen once the water was shut off so you decided maybe you could intercept her. She was going to see you regardless. There weren’t curtains on the stalls. 

Careful not to slip, you trotted out of the stall with your teeth chattering… and slammed straight into Daryl’s chest. 

You backed up immediately, shocked gazes meeting briefly before you dropped your head. You didn’t attempt to cover yourself. Men had a right to look at your body, Daryl even more so. 

“I’m s-s-s-sorry.” Goosebumps were littering your skin but you didn’t dare move. Maybe he’d finally decided he wanted you, despite what Carol had said. You didn’t even hear him move before his boots stepped right in front of your bare feet. He sighed before wrapping a large towel around your petite frame, holding the front out a little for you to grab. 

“Usu’lly need one’a them if yer gonna take a shower.” His voice was low and gravelly in a way that you’d never heard from him. “M’sorry.” Why on earth was he apologizing?

“Th-thank you,” you took a deep breath, “Daryl.” You squeezed your eyes shut and waited for the rage. It never came. Did he really just want you to call him by his name?

“Mhm.”

The door squeaked again, Carol rushing through with an apology on her lips and a towel in her hand. Her soft expression turned stern. “What’re you doing in here, Daryl.”

The archer lifted his hands in a placating gesture, his sleep pants draped over one arm. “Easy, woman. Was jus’ gonna grab a shower n’ this’un didn’ have a towel. Gave ‘er mine.”

Her face said that she believed him but she leaned to check on you anyway. You gave a tight smile and nodded. “I’m okay.” You all but whispered, scurrying past him and toward the woman you were learning to trust more and more. 

“Here.” She tossed him the towel she’d brought for you. “Take your shower. And learn to knock.”

“More than one stall in here. Shouldn’ hafta knock.” She had an arm around your shoulder when she shot him a look, resulting in his hands coming up in that same gesture once again. “I’ll knock. Jesus.”

“Good.” She smiled at him sweetly and he gave her a middle finger as she steered you through the doorway, pressing the clothes into your torso as you walked. “I’m so sorry, honey. I took a few minutes to set up the top bunk for you. I didn’t know he’d be showering this late. Are you sure you’re okay?”

You nodded quickly. He hadn’t even tried to hurt you, which still boggled you. Little by little, you were beginning to believe what she was telling you; that you were indeed safe. Still, your guard was up and the fear lingered. The learned behaviors were not letting go so easily. 

Once you were in the cell, Carol turned away from you to allow you to get dressed. The clothes she brought you were warm and comfortable. They were a little big but fit well enough. You climbed onto the top bunk before she spun back around. She was already dressed in a loose shirt and sweats, her feet bare. 

“You feel safe enough to get some sleep?”

Pulling the thin blanket up to your shoulders, you laid on your side. The mattress was thin but it was more comfortable than anywhere you had been allowed to sleep in a long time. “I think so. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Just try to rest. I’ll see you in the morning.” She said from the bunk below you. 

“Okay.” Once the candle had been blown out and shadows swept into the room, you pulled the blanket up further, covering everything up to your eyes. Fear was building up in your chest, your gaze on the blanket over the cell door, watching it as if someone would tear through it at any given moment. 

You realized your eyelids were growing heavy only seconds before they closed and you fell into a deep sleep. 

The image of you standing bare in front of him was etched into his mind. He found himself extremely grateful for the cold water dousing his heated skin. He shouldn’t think of you like that. It was wrong. You had been objectified for god knows how long. He had no right to entertain the scenarios running through his brain. 

He knew it wasn’t attraction that made you look at him the way you did. It was obligation. It was fear. He certainly wouldn’t mind if it was something you truly wanted. He’d let you wrap those pouty lips around him, fucking your mouth and wiping the tears from the corners eyes as you gagged on him. He would return the favor, of course. He wondered what you tasted like. He would make you cum on his tongue first, then bury himself inside you to the hilt. What sounds would you offer to him? Would your thighs shake against his hips as you came again?

“Fuck.” Daryl forced out through gritted teeth. He punched the hard wall in front of him, leaving his fist there to rest his head against it. He was a real piece of work to imagine fucking you when you’d spent so long being raped over and over just to survive. A real fucking prick. 

The cold water was doing little to calm him now. His cock had stirred to life, now painfully hard. With a growl, he took himself in hand but didn’t move. He wasn’t sure what to think about when all he wanted now was you. If it wasn’t the end of the world, he’d still have his brother and Merle would have porn in one form or another. Then again, if it wasn’t the end of the world, he’d probably never have met you and this wouldn’t currently be an issue. 

This wasn’t something he normally did. Daryl wasn’t an overly sexual being. He had jerked off twice since the turn and it had been out of boredom more than anything else. He had to handle this. He couldn’t exactly stroll out of the showers with a raging erection in his sleep pants. God knows how long it would take to go away on its own, especially with the intrusive images of you playing in his head.      

The first stroke forced a hiss from between his teeth, but he pressed on and quickly fell into a rhythm. He tried to imagine girls Merle had brought home before but they always morphed into you. After a few very frustrating minutes, he gave in and let his imagination run rampant. 

He fucked into you hard while you whimpered around the fingers he was pressing down on your tongue. When you took him like a good girl, he slid down your body and devoured your pussy as a reward. The little mewls and moans he imagined you’d give to him were quickly stoking the fire at the base of his spine. When he pictured you riding him, his hands squeezing your hips as you begged for him to cum, he was undone. 

Daryl came with a muted shout, biting his fist to keep himself grounded through each wave. Panting, he turned and placed his back against the wall, tiredly watching his spend mix with the cold water and disappear down the drain. 

Disgusted by what he had just done, he rushed through the actual bathing and shut off the water. He truly wanted nothing more than to disappear into the woods for a few days. At least until the very thought of you didn’t make him feel like he should apologize. 

“Goddamnit.” His voice was a mere whisper. Grabbing his discarded clothing, he just pressed his palm down onto the candle to extinguish the flame. The sharp pain from the burn was easy to ignore. He deserved worse. 

How did he let it get to this point? He truly was an asshole. 

Taglist:

@royaltysuite @thegeorgiahuntsman @livingdeadblondequeen @deansapplepie @feral4daryl @walker-bait-1973 @lazyneonrabbitt @bizquake @littlelovingideas @ririi-3 @ankhmutes @blackvelveteen1339 @sokkasimp101 @lehhos @1ivinqdeadqir1main @loganlostitall @callmeyn

[mariacallous]

Introduction

Research and practice over the past several decades have provided evidence about the effectiveness of some interventions that treat mental illnesses and substance use disorders (SUDs). That research has identified elements of treatment, including psychotherapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and various pharmacotherapies; interventions that combine treatment elements, like relapse prevention for major depression; team-based programs that offer a suite of interventions, such as assertive community treatment (ACT) for severe and persistent mental illnesses; and models that focus on the integration of treatment for depression and anxiety disorders into primary care practices, like the Collaborative Care Model.

Nevertheless, the take up of evidence-based practices has been weak and has stalled in recent years, despite national recognition of the need to address high rates of mental health and substance use disorders. There is a mismatch between the strategies that research suggests are likely to benefit people and the availability of those strategies to people who may benefit from them. The roots of this mismatch may lie in challenges in understanding how to spread effective programs in complex organizational and funding environments, and how to scale the programs, organizational arrangements, and interventions that work. Moreover, though the “technology” for improving mental health and SUD care is understood, there are economic, organizational, and cultural forces that create enormous frictions for efforts aimed at putting knowledge about mental illnesses and SUDs and their treatments to work.  A shaky foundation of behavioral health service access, in which many communities in the U.S. find themselves lacking sufficient behavioral health services, underpins these larger forces.  This is particularly problematic for low-income communities and rural communities, where access issues are large.  And the research itself frequently does not address the impact of the interventions on important populations, including and especially people of color.

In this paper, we focus on four behavioral health policy issue areas that are marked by evidence-based understanding about what works, a need to rely on integration and coordination of effort across multiple sectors of public services, illnesses and circumstances that are highly stigmatized, and a history of institutional designs that create barriers to sustainable programs. These policy issue areas are:

Deploying interventions early in the course of severe conditions, such as psychosis, expected to be persistent and disabling without intervention;

Advancing healthy brain development and behavior in early childhood;

Providing effective and timely response to behavioral health crises; and

Supporting the reentry into communities of formerly incarcerated people with mental health and substance use conditions.

For each of these issue areas, we conducted an environmental scan of the evidence of the issue area’s impact and conducted facilitated interactions with practitioners, experts, and stakeholders.  Across these diverse areas, common challenges and clear strategies to spread and scale evidence-based behavioral health interventions emerged. Tackling these challenges and advancing these strategies create opportunities for philanthropy, governments at all levels, and communities to engage and advance efforts to strengthen evidence-based behavioral health service provision in the U.S. in these four areas.

[ellieshand]

If you were a waiting room I would never see a doctor, I would sit there with my first-aid kit and bleed

ellie williams x reader | you hate waiting for ellie to come back to you, bloody and bruised.

tw : blood, fluff, cringe nicknames, i think that’s it

Perhaps you were irrational, perhaps all the thoughts swimming inside your head like koi fish dancing their deft routine in the opaque waters of japan held no sensible foundation.

Ellie was strong, stronger than even her name might suggest. And you knew of her power, you’d had seen it all firsthand in the two years you had spent with her.

So why, after all this time, did you still shudder in fright as the broken clock ticked away the time, skipping seconds as it did until the reality that Ellie may not come back finally settled into your stomach, dropping like lead and carving out a cavity in merciless digs.

One tick.

You couldn’t help the bouncing in your leg nor control the teeth piercing your bottom lip as the clock passed another minute, it’s pearly face taunting you. When Ellie had said there was business to attend to with Abby the sun had just begun to rise - you could still remember how it flitted through her auburn hair and changed the hue from autumn leaves to gold - and now its brilliant beams had dulled into orange, yellow and bronze tints.

Two Ticks.

Whateve rold record was drowning on in the background had been long forgotten as another tick of the clock passed by, leaving you to stand up and began the now nightly ritual you’ve grown accustomed to. You started the pacing slowly, each step carefully measured to match your breathing in a futile attempt to calm the tremors in your hands and the jitters in your legs. You allowed your mind to drift back to hours prior, Ellie’s hands tracing small reassuring figures across your arms and wrists as she mumbled sweet nothings with the promise to come home. But what if she didn’t keep that promise?

Three Ticks.

A resounding creak ricocheted against the creme-colored walls, chafing from the wooden door as it slid with great clamor against the kitchen tile; an all too familiar noise. You found the feeling something akin to scalding water from a shower spigot coursing down your body and washing away the grime after a strenuous day of work with blushing suds and wax candles.

You stopped your movements abruptly, your breath lodged into your throat as a figure slowly dragged themselves from the parlor into the main room. Peaks of auburn hair sprouted out of a black hoodie and a Smith & Wesson Model 27 revolver poked from the waistband of black tattered jeans. You hated that you knew the exact model your girlfriend used, hated how normal it felt to see a gun in the belt of the woman you so deeply had fallen for. But God did you love seeing Ellie in one piece.

“Ellie” You don’t even attempt to hide the pure relief coursing through your body like adrenaline, filling your veins with enough momentum to race across the living room and envelope Ellie in a hug. It was light, your arms barely brushing Ellie’s as you examined the woman’s body, eyes sizing up the injuries she’d sustained in what she promised to be ‘just a meeting’.

A small purple bruise covered her knuckles, each crease adorned with wine red blood that had dried from the bitter weather. A thin line of red was pressed against Ellie’s neck, remnants of her own blood she’d clearly tried to clean off still poking through the flesh.

Still, despite the few cuts and bruises covering her skin you thanked yourlucky stars the woman had managed to come back in one piece. You let out the breath you’d held all night and buried your head into the nook of Ellie’s neck, finally tightening your hold after deeming the injuries to be fixable with a few bandages. You nuzzled against the soft skin, inhaling the earth and gun powder scent that always lingered on her pale skin, another inhale revealed a new scent, one entirely Ellie that you could only seem to describe as the the apricity.

“I’m okay, I’m fine, I promise.” Ellie cooed, the taut muscles she’d kept on guard all-day relaxing under the weight of your affectionate embrace, your warm skin welcomed after being in the December air all day. Kicking the door shut Ellie finally reciprocated the hug, encompassing the you in her arms a bit tighter than necessary, almost as though if she didn’t clutch on you might vanish into thin air, almost as though you would leave her.

Sighing, you pulled back for a moment, doe eyes shifting into a mock-glare before your arm gave a harmless smack to Ellie’s shoulder, lips shifting to match your eyes with a rather childish pout, “I was worried sick!”

“That’s cause you have the immune system of a baby,” The words held a tease she reserved solely for you, one that almost always elicited some sort of reaction from you but still held the fondness Ellie had whenever speaking to her girlfriend.

“You are unbelievable!” you huffed, shooting a glare at Ellie- though the quirk of your lips quickly refuted your hard eyes - and unraveling your body from hers, “To think I was planning to make cookiessalad tomorrow."

Ellie’s eyes went wide at the notion you were presenting and in an instant the girl had her head bowed and hands clapped together in a pleading stance, “I’m so sorry for being late,”

“You’re just teasing me now!”

“I am not!”

“Argh, you are the worst!” You tilt your chin up and to the left, opening your mouth to continue with the harmless threats only for Ellie to take the opportunity to steal a kiss.

Her lips were cool, no doubt still warming up after the long night in the frigid air, but you leaned into the touch all the same. She tasted addicting. It was a drug and you were certainly an addict. Ellie’s scent overwhelmed you and you couldn’t help but wrap your arms around Ellie, reaching up to your tippy toes and nuzzling your noses, an action that made the girl swallow a chuckle deep in her throat.

Kissing you was different than any other feeling Ellie had come across, it was soft and tender, as though if you pushed too hard, touched too much, you would shatter Ellie into a thousand little shards. But then again that might have had some truth behind it. Around you, Ellie had come to realize she was fragile. Delicate and vulnerable to every little motion, every intimate touch.

Reluctantly you pulled away, your eyes lingering with a stary smog on the woman who always managed to make you feel like putty, and focused your attention on the injuries Ellie had sustained, “You were not careful Ellie, you told me you would be!” you let your lips fall into a pout, left hand poking the non-bruised cheek in an attempt to annoy her.

It didn’t seem to work as Ellie stared down at your hand affectionately, catching it with ease mid-poke and pressing soft caresses to the pads of each finger. This appeared to be a winsome gesture to anyone looking in on the outside, but you knew this tactic far too well. Ellie would distract you with sappy behavior like kissing your knuckles or nuzzling into your neck, you would blush profoundly and all would be pardoned.

That was what transpired on a usual night.

Tonight was not usual.

So instead of swooning at the response you simply disregarded it. (Despite the warmth flooding into your stomach, pooling like the honey from Ellie’s lips and hardening like the sugar that danced across her cupid’s bow.) At the pure bewilderment printed across Ellie’s face, you had to bite your lip in an effort to conceal your budding grin of amusement.

“Come, let’s go clean your cuts.” Pulling him to the kitchen you situated her dumbfounded body onto one of their wooden chairs, “I’ll get the first aid kid and you will sit right here and not move.”

This seemed to break Ellie from her trance, her eyes refocusing just in time to grab your arm before you made it to the cabinets. A sudden urge to explain how much you meant to her was overwhelming, “You know I love you, Birdie?”

“I love you too, now sit back down,” your voice was barely a whisper and the blush around your ears at the nickname didn’t go unnoticed, “We need to bandage your neck before an infection can get in.”

Folding her hand for this round Ellie nods, allowing her girlfriend to scurry off and retrieve the small white container with a variety of collected and tattered stickers they had decorated it with. This had become a frequency in the household. Ellie would come home bruised and you would fuss over the minor injuries with great conviction before ultimately patching her up.

“That shirt is still stupid,” Ellie tutted, eyeing the small embroidered bird stitched across your light pink sweater. A sweater Ellie had come to learn as your all-time favorite by the sheer abundance you would wear it.

“You are stupid,” you didn’t look up, so focused on cleaning off her knuckles you missed the bright smile Ellie was giving you, instead, pressing feather-light to the wounds with the small disinfectant. You knew it would take longer this way, but you simply couldn’t bear watching Ellie in pain, “Besides you have admitted to liking my shirt don’t think you can trick me.”

That was true, Ellie had grown fond of the bird sweater and the familiar scent of you it always seemed to radiate. But then again, Ellie had grown fond of everything that had even the smallest correlation to you.

You didn’t need to know this though.

“Birdie you really don’t need to do this…” Ellie looked off shyly, “it’s just a few cuts and I feel bad making you patch me up every time I get hurt. You do enough already.”

“I hardly do a thing, all I do is cook and clean and make soap for the town. Just allow me to help.” you ducked your head in distress as you resumed wrapping the bruised hand in cloth bandages.

Pulling your hand away slowly Ellie tilted your face upwards, pressing a gentle kiss into the center of your forehead, affectionate and tender. “Sweethear, just staying with me is more than I could ever ask of you.”

With a sigh of contentedness, you nod, burrowing your body deeper into the security of Ellie’s arms.

[ahedderick]

Monday morning

At seven this morning, trying to beat the heat, I went out with a backpack sprayer to treat one of the areas where I cut invasive species out. Removing the brush is only the first step, unfortunately; it will grow right back unless it gets treated with herbicide. We try to minimize our use of that as much as possible, but this area really needed to be sprayed before the whole trail disappeared back into thorn bushes.

It's a chore I hate, but I set off as bravely as I could, hoping to get done before getting heat stroke. The dogs were appalled that I left them in the house; they didn't understand why they couldn't come along. I was halfway up the ridge, battling thorns, when Baxter ran past me with a cheerful "Mew!". He had seen me heading out - and decided to follow! Oh, argh.

At that point, there was really nothing to do but finish the chore I'd started. The backpack starts out at a bit over 25 pound in weight, so it's not terribly heavy, but certainly enough that I feel it when walking uphill. As you spray it gets lighter.

When I'd emptied it, I gathered up Baxter and carried him home. He was content enough to be carried at first, but started struggling as I got closer to the house. Getting the backpack off without losing hold of him was tough. Once I got him into the bathroom, however, things really went to shit in a hurry.

Other than when we first adopted him as a small, muddy kitten, he had never been given a bath. Just never needed one. He's well socialized, but this was way more than he could cope with, and he started struggling like crazy. As I leaned over to start the bathwater, he dug his claws into my shoulder and pulled himself up to 'safety.' It took me quite a while to disengage him gently enough that it didn't hurt his legs, while he yowled and clung with a deathgrip. Next he leaped for the edge of the tub, and took down the shower caddy with all the various shampoo, soap, and conditioner bottles. Tweezers. Razors. Pumice stone. As I fished Stuff out of the water, he managed to get a grip on my overalls again, and went back to my shoulder.

When I finally got him soaped, I thought I was home free. Unfortunately, getting the suds rinsed off triggered another frantic scramble for freedom, in which my hat was knocked askew. My hat was holding my hair - my very long hair - up. Wet hair draggled over my shoulder, overalls and shirt damp with bathwater and blood, glasses fogged up, wet cat fur stuck to everything, I was truly a sight to behold when K opened the bathroom door.

"Help!" I pleaded. Outside the bathroom, the oldest cat was yowling in sympathy for his little buddy. Baxter was yowling in self pity. I was. so damned. calm and cool about. all of this.

We got him toweled off and released to go settle himself down. I had a large, sustaining bowl of apple/cinnamon/raisin oatmeal. Valium might have been in appropriate, but oatmeal had to suffice.

[pointless-soap]

Review - Public Goods

While visiting my family for the holidays, my dad told me that he had gotten me an Airbnb nearby his apartment. That way, my girlfriend and I wouldn't be sharing the couch with two rambunctious dogs. My girlfriend and I are very grateful for this, as we appreciate having our own space like this.

When we arrived yesterday, I took a look in the bathroom and noticed that the hand soap, the shampoo, the conditioner, and the body wash are all the same brand: Public Goods.

(I'm only including the one picture, because it's all you really need. All the other bottles are basically the same, but instead of saying Hand Soap, they say Shampoo, Conditioner, or Body Wash.)

First things first, I have to admit that the graphic design of the bottle does nothing to endear me to the soap. I'm not a huge fan of minimalist design. I think it's boring. I like clutter. I like when there's a bunch of little stuff on bottles. I think bottle's should have word searches and crosswords goddammit. This bottle has the brand, the type of soap, the volume, the slogan "It's all good", and nothing else. Where's the pizazz? Where's the fun? It's gone.

Hand Soap

Anyway, onto the soap itself. Despite the first impression, the hand soap is actually pretty solid. I don't mean in terms of matter. It is a liquid, don't worry. I mean that it does the job well. It doesn't really lather well, which is disappointing, but it doesn't clump up at all, it spreads easily, and it wipes away grime. It works! A good sign for soap. Not much to say for the smell though. It's pretty inoffensive, subtle, standard soap stuff.

7/10

Shampoo

Not gonna lie. It was pretty disappointing. Felt like I was just using the hand soap on my hair. It didn't lather, which is like the one thing I expect shampoo to do? There's gotta be suds in there, otherwise it's no fun. I even went and grabbed an extra squirt to see if maybe I could rub more in, and all I got was disappointment. Anyway, it's fine otherwise. Smells pretty nice, but again not like anything in particular. That's it. Also it pretty effectively killed my curls, but that's normal for shampoo. It's why I only really shampoo once or twice a week.

5/10

Conditioner

I didn't use the conditioner. I have curly hair and use a specific conditioner for it, recommended to me by my sister who went to beauty school and knows these things. I didn't want to completely kill my curls, so I just used that.

?/10

Body Wash

At first, I was optimistic. It came out of the bottle thick, which is great for a body wash. Smelled nice. Was a different texture than the shampoo and hand soap. Fantastic. Pretty quickly though, I became disappointed. I don't know if it's the brand or if whoever owns the Airbnb did this, but it honest to god seemed whatever down. Just fell right off like sauce off of penne lisce, the worst pasta noodle. I guess I'm clean, so that worked, but it was genuinely disappointing.

4/10 (Again, it might've been the owners who watered down the soap though, so if Public Goods wants to send me fresh bottle, they can DM me and I'll update the review.)

Summary

Public Goods seems to me to be a decent company. They talk a lot about environmentalism and sustainable practices, which I hold to be a very important topic. I hope what they say is true. But what it says on the soap bottles does not seem to be.

"It's all good" the soap bottles say, right near the bottom, in tiny print. I would say it's more like "it's fine" or "it works" because those are technically true.

But the hand soap was pretty good.

[wickedwitchofthewilds]

First Taste

Fandom: Baldur's Gate 3 Pairing: Astarion/Tav, Astarion/Aoife Rating: Mature CWs: Blood, blood drinking, allusion to past sexual assault/trauma, smoking/recreational drug use

Read on AO3

Astarion couldn’t take another night of prowling through the woods, hunting whatever he could get his hands on. Sinking his teeth into the furry bodies of squirrels and the occasional rabbit. The boar had been a lucky find but hard to take down with his mind muddled with hunger. True, it was all a step up from rats and flies, but they weren’t enough to sustain. He was slow. Sluggish. Struggling to win fights alongside his temporary companions.

He sat away from them now, under the shade of his canopy as the sun slowly began to dip below the horizon, a book open on his lap but he wasn’t truly reading it. His eyes flicked between the words on the page and the lake. Bright purple bobbed above the still surface. He watched as Aoife tilted her head back and dunked her hair under the water, washing away suds.

There were very few places in which to have privacy here. A few alcoves where they could steal away for a bath from prying eyes but Aoife had no problem stripping down in front of the others and bathing in full view of camp. Something she shared in common with her Monk counterpart, Gouken, a rather quiet and contemplative Drow. Though where Gouken chose his words carefully and brokered peace when dealing with others, Aoife was loud and bawdy. The troublemaker of the two. And she seemed quite proud of it.

Astarion liked a good troublemaker.

She made her way to the shore, purple hair sticking to her arms and chest, a boulder hiding the rest of her from view as she dressed in trousers and a plain creme bra that stopped right above her belly button, with thin straps and small cups that cradled her breasts. He often wondered what her hair color was originally.

When he had asked, she winked and told him to guess, but never confirmed if he had guessed correctly yet.

Aoife was a half-elf, high elf if he had to wager a guess, her skin lacking the ashen or purple tones of Drow, nor did she have the forest hues of a wood elf. But then was she a moon elf or a sun elf? Her skin reminded him of a perfectly ripe white peach especially when her cheeks flushed from too much alcohol. Her eyes were two different shades. One a purple so light it looked almost silver in the sunlight, and the other a dark brown or black. He hadn’t quite found himself close enough to find out yet. A moon elf perhaps? Freckles dappled the skin he could see and was sure all the skin he couldn’t as well. Purple circles trailed down between her eyebrows and curved under her eyes and stretched down her chin. An odd choice in tattoos. Her jaw was strong and her cheekbones were sharp. Underneath the makeup and bright hair, he could see the potentially haughty elf.

He imagined her with silvery hair or perhaps white like his own, falling down her back in gentle waves. Why would she dye it such a gaudy color? Hiding perhaps? Or maybe she hated her hair.

She slipped into her tent for a moment and came back out with her hair pulled around to one shoulder and a silver case in her hand before walking over to the fire where Gouken and Karlach relaxed.

“You could at least put a shirt on,” Gale grumbled, tossing herbs into a pot.

“Oh, so Lae’zel can walk around half naked but I can’t?” Aoife teased, opening the case and pulling out a tightly wrapped joint.

“He doesn’t like that either but he’s too afraid to tell her,” Karlach said.

“I am not afraid of Lae’zel,” Gale bit out. “I just think some propriety—“

“We’re in the woods with tadpoles in our heads. Propriety is the least of our worries.” Aofie snorted and fit the joint between her lips. “And it’s not as if I walk around naked.”

Gale scoffed.

Aoife grinned and crouched down beside Gouken, tugging gently on one of his dreadlocks. “Care to light a girl up?”

He eyed the joint with a small amount of disapproval but carefully pulled fire into his palm for her to lean close and light the joint. To her credit, Aoife walked away from the fire—closer to Astarion—before taking a puff. More polite than most smokers who didn’t care who coughed on their smoke.

“Enjoy the show, Astarion?” she asked, turning her gaze to him. “You were watching me awfully hard.”

“Always, darling,” he said. “And I certainly wouldn’t mind if you walked around camp in much less.”

Smoke curled out of her lips as she laughed.

“Don’t encourage her, Astarion, or she just might,” Gouken said, shaking his head with a small smile.

“That is quite the point.”

Aoife winked at him and Gale grumbled, whatever he was saying, drawing a laugh from Karlach. Astarion barely noticed. Hunger curled in his gut. His teeth ached to sink into her delectable skin. He needed to hunt soon before he did something he regret. Nightfall couldn’t come soon enough.

***

The dream clung to his mind, Cazador’s voice making him want to curl in on himself and disappear. Fuck that bastard. Even far away, he plagued Astarion. Invaded his dreams. Tried to exert his control. Except. Astarion had already broken so many rules thanks to the tadpole. He walked in sunlight and crossed running water. Out here, he didn’t belong to Cazador, and he didn’t have to follow all of his rules anymore.

Astarion stood over her. She lay on her side, facing away from the candle in her tent. She must’ve fallen asleep before blowing it out. Firelight and shadows played across her face. Her hair was much darker in the night, turning a deeper purple. He watched her chest rise and fall with each breath. So peaceful. She didn’t even know what he could do to her. How he could rip out her throat and drink greedily from her neck. He quietly knelt down beside her, waiting for her to stir and catch him in the act.

She didn’t.

The fur of her bedroll was soft on his palms and he placed his hands on either side of her head. The gentle scent of honey and lavender from the soap she had procured from the Grove lingered on her skin. His teeth had barely grazed her neck when she woke with a gasp. He acted quickly, covering her mouth with his hand, watching the vein in her neck pulse as her rabbit heart beat in fear.

“Please don’t scream,” he whispered, eyes darting to the tent flap as if someone would come through any moment and kill him. “I can explain.”

Her wide eyes flicked to him but she remained frozen.

“I’m going to remove my hand, please don’t scream,” he repeated.

Aoife gave a small nod.

He gently moved his hand but not too far lest he needed to silence her once more. Despite their terrible first meeting—though she often teasingly referred to Astarion holding a knife to her neck while she elbowed him in the windpipe as “flirting”—he didn’t want to have to kill Aoife. Not when the Monk would undoubtedly search for her killer and render justice.

Fuck.

This was not going how he hoped.

“I should warn you, I promised myself I’d never let this happen to myself again and if I have to choose between you and me, I will choose me,” she hissed, her voice trembling.

“What do you think…?” His eyes widened. “No! Gods no! That’s not why.” He sighed, leaning away and scrubbing his other hand down his face. “I am not here for…that.”

“Then what in the hells are you doing here, skulking about and scaring me half to death?” she demanded, sitting up and wrapping her arms around her waist.

“I’m,” —he held up his hands—“I’m…well…”

“Spit it out.”

“I’m a vampire.”

He expected her to scream then. Alert the others that a bloodsucker had invaded their camp. If they didn’t kill him, they would drive him away to wander the wilderness alone. He would be easy pickings for Cazador then.

But Aoife didn’t scream or yell for her friend. She pursed her lips and stared at him, reaching for the candle. Astarion watched, frozen, as she crawled forward on one hand while holding the candle in the other and held the flame close to his face. Close enough he could feel the warmth but she didn’t burn him. She stared into his eyes, making a small noise in her throat, and settled her weight on her knees. She reached up with her free hand, forefinger pushing up his upper lip.

He reeled back. “What are you doing?”

“Looking for fangs, duh.”

“You could have asked.”

“I was pretty sure you were taking the piss out of me.” Aoife sat back and set down the candle. “This explains a lot actually.”

“Explains what?” he snapped.

“You balked the first time we went near the river, no one has seen you eat actual food, you get twitchy around blood.” She ticked them off on her fingers. “Oh, and the boar we found. I wondered why you looked worried when we saw it. This makes sense.”

He waited for the but. The condemnation that would seal his fate and leave him out in the cold.

“And?” he prompted.

“And what?”

“And now you throw me out because you can’t trust me or worse, you have me murdered by any of those brutes out there. Just get it over with.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh my gods, you’re so dramatic. You could’ve just told us.”

“Ah yes, because I love being staked through the chest.”

“Dramatic,” she stretched each syllable. “We’re not irrational people, well I am sometimes, but Gouken would’ve at least heard you out first. You haven’t tried to bite any—I mean before now. Why were you trying to bite me?”

“I’m hungry. Obviously.”

“Yes, yes, I got that. But why me, specifically?”

“I…well…”

I want to know what you taste like more than anyone else.

Her eyes narrowed. “You think I’m an easy target, don’t you?”

“What?” he sputtered.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll have you know, I am just as able to murder you as anyone else here.”

“Yes, but will you?” he asked, trying to keep up with the very odd turn of conversation.

“I don’t have any immediate plans to, no.”

He sighed in relief.

“So, are you going to tell me why you tried to bite me?”

“A bit of desperation, I suppose,” he answered. “I have been trying to survive on animals, the few I can catch in the area, but it’s not enough. I feel myself getting weaker. Sluggish.”

She pursed her lips. “When’s the last time you properly ate?”

He almost laughed. There was no way he was going to answer honestly. She didn’t need to know any of that. He didn’t know if he could trust her with any of it.

“It has been quite awhile,” he said instead. “But don’t worry, darling. I lost myself for a moment but it won’t happen again. I don’t want to destroy your trust in me. You do trust me, don’t you?”

Aoife tilted her head. Studied him. “I trust that you want to survive.”

That didn’t sound like a no. Didn’t sound like a yes either.

“Could you trust me a little more?” he asked.

“You want me to let you drink my blood.”

He gave a slow nod. “Yes. I don’t need a lot. Just enough to fight at your side. I can be stronger. Better. Please.”

“Will it hurt?”

Would she truly let him do this?

“A little,” he answered honestly. “But not for long. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Hm.”

“Hm?”

Aoife’s eyes darted away from him for a moment. “I actually believed that.”

“I do mean it, darling. I need blood but I am not interested in causing unnecessary pain.”

There were times he remembered how viciously Cazador bit him, draining what was left, teeth digging deeper and deeper. Astarion wouldn’t wish that on her. And he wouldn’t do that to her.

Aoife drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Alright then. You can feed on me tonight.”

“I—truly?”

She pointed at him. “But not a drop more than you need.”

He held up his hands. “I swear.”

“So, how do we do this?” Aoife pulled her hair back and secured it in a messy bun, baring her neck. A thick scar curved around her neck. As if someone had begun to drag a knife across her throat and then stopped before reaching the other side.

Astarion gestured to her bedroll. “Lie back, darling. Leave the rest to me.”

“Not the first time I’ve heard that,” she mumbled.

He giggled. “Don’t worry. I will try to make this pleasant for both of us.”

Pink bloomed across her chest as he climbed over her, knee sliding between her legs but stopping short of rubbing against her cunt. He was thankful she wore so little. Though he wouldn’t have minded taking a little time to strip her. Drag his fingertips over her skin and feel her shiver beneath him. Aoife turned her head, baring the pale line of her neck and he sighed, seeing the vein pulsing beneath her skin.

He cradled the back of her head, gently holding her still, as his teeth sank into her throat. She gasped. His fingers tightened in her hair, nails digging into her scalp. Saccharine blood filled his mouth and he moaned. Animals tasted gamey or fatty or downright rotten. But Aoife tasted of sweet strawberries ripened in moonlight. She shuddered underneath him.

“Astarion,” she murmured.

No. Not yet.

Her blood flowed through him. Warming him. Filling him with strength. Vitality. He needed more and he wanted it all.

“That’s enough,” her voice was weaker. She pushed against his shoulder.

He pulled away, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. “Ah. Apologies. I…that was incredible.”

Aoife blinked up at him, eyes hazy. A drop of blood splashed onto her cheek. Before he could clean it, she reached up and dragged her forefinger through the blood gathered on his chin.

“Bit of a messy eater, aren’t you,” she teased, voice thick as if he had just woken her from sleep. “Did I taste that good?”

Perhaps it was the blood or the absurdity that she had let him feed from her in the first place. Astarion captured her finger in his mouth, tongue lapping at the blood stuck to her skin until her lips parted and her breath hitched.

“Darling, you have no idea.”

[growninhaiti]

🎉 First day of our workshop was a massive success! ✨ We had 6 enthusiastic participants, all fully engaged and eager to learn about regenerative agriculture and environmental conservation. 🌱📚 Their thirst for knowledge was truly inspiring! 💡 Today's sessions covered essential topics such as soil health, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and sustainable farming practices. 🌍 We're grateful for everyone who joined us today and can't wait to dive deeper into these fascinating subjects in the coming days! 🌿💚 Stay tuned for more updates! . . 🎉 Premye jou atelye nou an te yon gwo siksè! ✨ Nou te gen 6 patisipan antouzyastik, tout totalman angaje ak swag pou aprann sou agrikilti rejeneratif ak konsèvasyon anviwònman an. 🌱📚 Motivasyon yo pou aprann te vrèman enspire m! 💡 Sesyon jodi a te kouvri sijè esansyèl tankou sante tè a, divèsite biyolojik, alèjman chanjman klimatik, ak pratik agrikilti dirab. 🌍 Nou rekonesan pou tout moun ki rejwenn nou jodi a epi nou pa ka tann pou nou plonje pi fon nan sijè sa yo nan jou k ap vini yo! 🌿💚 Rete branche pou plis enfo! . . #GrownInHaiti #RegenerativeAgriculture #WorkshopDay1 #AgrikiltiRejeneratif #AtelyeJounen1 #RegenerateHaiti #Haiti #Ayiti (at Cap Rouge, Sud-Est, Haiti) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLg5ERusUu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bellshazes]

@nydescynt replied to your post “Ive known this for a while but after an 11 hour in...”:

Is the topic/function to provide a guide to actual existing systems of care, a more theoretical/skills oriented guide for generally receiving/providing help regardless of system, or.. a third topic I'm not thinking of? That sounds. Really helpful, but also an insane amount of work

​it would be somewhat modeled after my art made easy series - a series of ???? posts ????? or whatever medium with the intent of enabling anyone who comes across it to begin to identify components of the system of care, social determinants of health etc. in their own communities. in order to do this, I'd need broad and specific expertise across all core areas, which off the top of my head are:

education, k-12 and university/technical/secondary systems - emphasis on educational rights of students and families

judicial systems - juvenile and adult, courts, judges, bar associations, etc.

residential treatment centers - psychiatric, group home, foster, physical health inpatient, nursing homes, specialty placements (e.g. ED treatment centers, which there are few of in the US lmao)

non-residential mental health institutions - outpatient treatment centers,

medicare, medicaid, and commercial health insurance - benefits, how to know what to get, how you qualify, age restrictions, VABs, case management, inquiry coordinators, incentive programs, what is HEDIS/NCQA/quality metrics

actually quality improvement, PIPs, and other metrics should get their own thing but that's like 201

evidence based and best practice modalities AND their limitations in the context of systems-level thinking

advocacy - both self-advocacy programs, independent living, historical context AND collective advocacy organizations, how to evaluate nonprofits and for-profit community organizations, common types of orgs, how to locate them, national-level resources with state chapters (e.g. Kids Count, CASA, so on)

critical pedagogy and dialectical approaches to collaboration, emphasis on co-learning and sustainable ground-up coalition building

policymaking and lobbying

specific conditions from the perspective of SDOH/health equity - not primers on NAS/SEI or SUD or autism or whatever but how to know your blind spots and what blind spots are critical in different contexts

child welfare entities including state departments, especially the difference between CPS and what in my state we call DCBS (who actually administer placements, foster caregivers, adoption)

types of family placements

the fact that 64% of removals in the US (>130k) as of 2020 were due to neglect, the most preventable of conditions; the need to eliminate statutes that allow removal of children from families due to poverty or homelessness in every single state or at the federal level

medical provider payment structures that can incentivize whole-person quality of care and why that's so fucking hard to make happen especially within medicaid

there's like twelve more but that's the freshest ones. and that's more for me to know better than i currently do; the framing would likely start very simply around something like:

How to consciously identify system of care and SDOH components in your own life

How to identify causes or areas in your own community you care most about

How to find and join up with existing efforts in the causes near and dear to you

Follow up on how to live collective action if directly working with existing orgs isn't an option - example, what people in your life are doing good work and how can you support them?

Highlighting very small-team, high-impact groups like Beargrass Thunder's alley gallery projects here in Louisville that take (in the grand scale of things) very little to do transformative work

Language primers

That alone is a tall order, but I think I could do it. And crucially I (feel like I ethically and professionally) need to know everything about every state, but not necessarily all at once. It will be the work of a lifetime, but I don't know that I can not do it, you know?

[sigilsmut]

have the twins as ponies

i loved @regularcitrus​ ‘s crusaders mlp au so much i decided to ponify the twins too. i also realized that this is prolly the first post i’ve ever mentioned these two so i’ll drop a bit of their backstory 💀 (please cut me some slack on their pony names im kinda bad with names, man) tw brief mention of a blood ritual, death, and a shit ton of lore

Basically the twins accidentally became my JoJo ocs and i stuck with it, putting them in the JoJoverse and dubbing it “Hellbent Crusaders”. “Ruby Mane” is Bella Moon, the older fraternal twin sister of Billie Moon, who’s “Onyx Webbs”. These two are mixed Black / Korean on their mother’s side and Italian on their father’s side. Yes, they are from the Zeppeli family; born in Venice and raised in Napoli the twins had a rough time altogether. Their home life wasn’t all that great (abuse and neglect from their father) and kids at school thought they were very awkward or straight up bizarre children and didn’t talk to them. 

After their mother was hospitalized from her husband almost killing her, the twins stayed with their Nana who took care of them and tried teaching them Hamon. Meanwhile, DIO was so hellbent on killing off the Joestars and all ties with them that he sent two of his minions (who are brothers) to kill off the newest Zeppeli generation first. They broke into the house and the younger brother, Abel Romero, grabs Billie in a chokehold and decapitates him, and his brother Cain pushes a tv into the bath and electrocutes Bella. The two were then revived and turned into vampires via blood ritual using two vials of DIO’s blood. It’s safe to say the two weren’t happy about this at all, especially when their Nana was also caught in the crosshairs and was attacked. Thankfully she survived and was rushed to the hospital, but immediately after the twins killed the brothers in rage. They find out who DIO is and why they were targeted specifically, and after getting in contact with Joseph, Billie volunteers to aid him on the quest to killing DIO since he’s earned himself 1st place on their shit list. Bella decided to stay behind and watch over their Nana and Holy in case anything else happened. I’m gonna get into Billie’s place in the team later but with all the basic lore out the way, I thought of a few headcanons while making this (i hope this is alright maya!): - In the MLP universe, their lore remains the same. Since all Zeppelis are unicorns, that’s what the twins were before they were turned. They’re way more unhinged now

- I saw the hc that skilled Hamon Users know to use silver horseshoes because they’re the best conductors. The twins used to be able to wear them but ever since their deaths they switched to gold.

- Ruby and Onyx are a more calmer version of Suds (sans Onyx). They’re flirty, a bit hard-headed, and just as if not more violent than their granduncle. Because of the familiar bond that Lucky had with Suds, and Starry with Ichor, Onyx and Stardust are like a formidable power duo. 

- In canon, Billie usually calls Joseph “Mr. J”, but at times it’s sounds like he’s saying “Mista J”. Occasionally he would call him Mr. Joestar like everyone else or straight up Joseph. In the pony au, Onyx calls him “Mr. L”. He sees him as the father figure he never really had growing up.

- Billie participated in ballet while his sister focused on figure skating. Billie would’ve been a ballet dancer just like his mother, however, all it took was one sprained ankle for the dream to die faster than his passion in the sport. Idk if dressage was a thing in MLP but I’ll just say that Onyx did dressage before sustaining an injury and quitting. 

- Billie is a rising star in Italy and is publicly known as “Black Bunn-i”, taken from (one of) his favorite colors and his favorite animal apart from spiders and creepy crawlies. Here I didn’t know what else to name him so i just took the “-i” off the end. Onyx’s cutie mark is his own brand logo with a little cobweb on the ears.

- Speaking of spiders, his ability is using unicorn magic to create large webs and strings from the shadows, and using this same dark magic to make him invisible. For his sister on the other hand, she can summon blood-filled glass snakes from the ends of her hair and paralyze your body if you look into her eyes. Medusa headass.

- Billie and his pony counterpart are fucking menaces as vampires. They scare the living shit out of Polnareff / Chariot and love to bully him because “he’s easy to scare, and the way he looks like his heart stopped is so fucking funny.”

edit: hi i forgor to mention that Billie is canonically a transman ✨

[revcleo]

you need to make rain gardens in specific ways, you can't just dig up grass and put a few flowers in there, it's good to create areas which are full of native flowers and such, but rain gardens are much more specific. Habitats will generally always soak up some more rain than a lawn due to the diversity of plants, but rain gardens require a bit more digging and drainage: https://groundwater.org/rain-gardens/

These can also be called SuDS - Sustainable Drainage Solutions when done on a large scale for developments.

They have to be installed in slight slopes, otherwise the rain will just wash off.

The above link shows how you can install one. It's quite simple, there is just a lot of digging because: 6-8 inches of soil depth is typically removed

Here's some other information:

streets with rain gardens and streets without

[resindrivewaylondon]

Features of Resin Bound Driveways

A resin bound driveway is a type of paving in which small aggregate stones and resin are combined to create a smooth, rigid surface. It is also known as stone carpet and is the most preferable solution for driveways and paths. It is one of the most popular methods for laying out a drainage or paved pathway. It is useful in both residential and commercial setups. In this blog, we will get to know the benefits of resin bound driveways and why Resin Driveways is the ideal choice.

Benefits of resin bound driveways:-

Aesthetic appeal – Resin bound drivewayssignificantly increase the value of your property by giving it a fresh, new appeal. If you are currently seeking renovation to your property, consider installing a resin bound driveway. Resin bound driveways have become popular amongst the homeowners in the UK, owing to their sleek, modern design. Although there are various professional install service providers in the market, Resin Driveways is a modern service provider that implements a unique technique to bind resin to decorative aggregate. We take care of the aesthetics of your home or commercial space in the most effective way.

Slip-resistant, flat surface – Resin bound driveways do not pose tripping hazards, hence are slip-resistant. Resin bound surfaces are smooth, flat, and seamless. The mixture of the paving (resin and aggregates) is laid down using a technique called trowelling. This technique ensures that the surface doesn’t become slippery, and stays in flat, tough position. The flat surface is quite hard. Although smooth, the surface or paving is slip-resistant. Resin Driveways helps in the installation of resin bound driveways that are slip-resistant, flat, and hard.

Permeable – The surface of resin bound driveways is SUDS compliant. The resin bound paving material of the surface is permeable and helps restore the ground water back to its original position. The water gathered on the surface of a resin bound driveway seeps underground due to its porous nature. Thus, there is no risk of floods due to the sustainable, urban drainage system. Consult Resin Driveways to get your resin bound driveway installed at your home or office.

Eco-friendly – Resin bound driveways can also be constructed using plastics, rubber, and recycled glass. It is one of the most innovative and eco-friendly techniques to achieve a greener environment. Resin Driveways looks forward to installing eco-friendly resin bound driveways for the eco-conscious people of the UK. We will combine the recyclable aggregate with resin to form an eco-friendly resin bound driveway.

Ease of maintenance – Resin bound driveways can be easily maintained without the need for much time and attention. The surface of the resin bound system doesn’t fade with time, nor does the colour. The surface, if laid down properly, becomes crack-resistant and weed-resistant too. It also becomes UV-resistant, thanks to the use of high-quality resins. Use of top-notch resins makes the surface weed-resistant, crack-resistant, and UV-resistant. Resin Driveways will help you achieve a worthy exterior by installing the most effective resin bound driveways.

[thewul]

En premier lieu le terminal de bus qui est déplacé vers le bloc adjacent afin de libérer de l'espace, espace qui était propre au parc, le cimetière Chellah non plus n'est plus d'actualit��, donc nous venons de définir, simplement, la superficie effective du parc

Le cimetière Chellah faisait partie des points concernant le Parc Nouzhat Hassan, inusité depuis des décennies il est reconverti en parc

A présent il est clair que le désenclavement concerne l'axe nord sud

On doit pouvoir passer depuis le rond point Jour et Nuit vers le versant de la muraille sur la Nationale 1, continuer vers Av Mohamed V, ceci dit le Parc doit rester un parc ce ne peut pas être un simple passage, tout parc implique une déambulation

Il faut pouvoir faire bénéficier les passants de bosquets d'arbres, de surface verte, de plan d'eau, et de cafés, biensur ouvrir la perspective la ou c'est important, non pas sur le dos du Théâtre Mohamed V, mais sur la muraille de la Médina

Et il se trouve, c'est une chance pour le centre ville de Rabat est que cette perspective depuis le dos du théâtre et sur toute la longueur du parc, est plongeante

Actuellement elle n'existe pas a cause du parc, nous devons la créer grâce au parc, ce parc est un trait d'union entre la Médina et le quartier Français ou colonial de Rabat

Point important et complètement inatendu, cette nouvelle place permet de doubler la longueur sous toit de Masjid Molina, qui est une mosquée historique, souvent on n'y trouve pas sa place puisque au centre ville donc très sollicitée

C'est en fait un peu plus du double, il reste cependant un passage adéquat avec le massif de palmiers adjacent, et un véritable travail de conservation améliorée qui vise a la continuer en longueur

Merci pour votre attention

design notes: it's a very large water jet installation, pressurizing all of it has a cost, then again it is a public installation that depends of the Wilaya of Rabat, that might operate wind turbines on the heights the Bouregreg estuary in pursuit of sustainability, together with FNI, Fond National d'Investissements and ONEE

coffees restaurants for the larger building, and tourism office as well as tourism police for the smaller one, it's a touristic site, atleast that is the ambition, and its water jets have a lot to do with it, especially at night when they are illuminated

we didn't go into lighting but it's well lit overall, possibly it has large spots at different places

last but not least we have reserved the building row in the back for the Wilaya of Rabat, it has potential for showing what the city is about, and can be set as a commercial offices building, French Mauresque style same as most of the French district

also palm trees in dark green, bushes in lighter dark green, and grass in light green, better definition of the cab station

the commercial offices rent pays for the water jets, lighting, maintenance and policing, sometimes often we go about energy in terms of renewables but it's simpler to just pay for it, that commercial offices building happens to pay for all of it

plus revenues from the coffees and restaurants, the complex is also set up with a Tarab Al Andaloussi concert hall overlooking the square

we are still pursuing the idea that public spaces have to not only cover their operating costs but generate revenues

and yes having several tenants for commercial offices can be it's own thing, why not a single large international institution such as ISESCO, with an Islamic Arts Center and Museum on the ground level

single but also in the sense that the building would host the different organizations that ISESCO works with, in Morocco and the region, it's a large building

we often underestimate how much ISESCO has to accomplish, more resources, ie more personnel, should be worthwhile to have, in other words Place de L'ISESCO if things work out that way, and it looks like we have a new tramway station in front of that building, which is more convenient than crossing the avenue from Bab Chellah

never take away from something, just add to it, the park had a playground for children, and so this square has one, in yellow with seating for parents

cameras are present on the square, not everywhere but it's well covered, including the playground

Thank you for having followed

[esuplianusha]

Gentle Care with Pipette Baby Shampoo

Safe, Gentle Care: Pipette Baby Shampoo & Body Wash

When it comes to caring for your baby's delicate skin, choosing a safe and gentle cleanser is essential. Pipette Baby Shampoo is specially formulated to provide a soothing, tear-free bath experience that nurtures your baby’s sensitive skin and scalp. With its plant-derived ingredients, this shampoo ensures an irritation-free experience while gently cleaning from head to toe.

Hypoallergenic Formula for Sensitive Skin

One of the standout qualities of Pipette Baby Shampoo is its hypoallergenic formula, which is designed for babies with even the most sensitive skin. Free from harsh fragrances and chemicals, this shampoo minimizes the risk of skin reactions, allowing parents to bathe their little ones with peace of mind. Each ingredient is chosen for its gentle nature, offering a delicate cleanse without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

Moisturizing with Plant-Derived Squalane

An added benefit of Pipette Baby Shampoo is its moisturizing power, courtesy of plant-derived squalane. This ingredient is known for its hydrating properties, ensuring that your baby’s skin remains soft and supple even after the bath. The gentle moisture provided by squalane helps maintain a natural, healthy glow, preventing dryness and irritation.

Tear-Free Bath Time Experience

Pipette Baby Shampoo is crafted with a tear-free formula, making bath time pleasant for both parents and babies. It’s formulated to be extra gentle on your baby’s eyes, minimizing the chance of discomfort. This thoughtful approach makes it easier to rinse away any lingering suds, ensuring a safe, enjoyable bath experience every time.

Eco-Friendly and Safe Ingredients

This shampoo is also a great choice for eco-conscious parents. Pipette Baby Shampoo uses only clean, plant-based ingredients, prioritizing sustainability and safety. Free from synthetic fragrances and harmful chemicals, it aligns with a commitment to both environmental responsibility and gentle baby care, making it a preferred choice for families focused on natural products.

The New Formula Difference

The updated formula of Pipette Baby Shampoo ensures that each use meets the highest standards for quality and safety. With enhanced moisturizing properties and a refined blend of ingredients, it promises an even gentler cleanse. This new formula has been created with feedback from parents in mind, making it a trusted staple in many households.

Conclusion

In summary, Pipette Baby Shampoo is an excellent choice for parents who prioritize safe, effective skincare for their babies. Its fragrance-free, hypoallergenic formula, enriched with plant-derived squalane, provides both cleansing and hydration. Designed to be tear-free and eco-friendly, this shampoo not only cares for your baby’s skin but also aligns with values of sustainability and gentleness.

[health-views-updates]

Medical Device Reprocessing Market Insight 2024 Size, Share, Growth Drivers, Future Scope, And Forecast To 2032

The global Medical Device Reprocessing Market Revenue is set to experience significant growth, driven by increasing demand for affordable healthcare solutions and sustainable practices in the medical sector. According to SNS Insider's latest report, the market is expected to expand at an impressive rate over the coming years due to a combination of cost savings, regulatory support, and technological advancements in reprocessing procedures. With the surge in chronic diseases, demand for healthcare services, and cost-containment pressures, the reprocessing of single-use devices (SUDs) has gained substantial traction among healthcare providers.

The reprocessing of medical devices, particularly single-use devices, involves sterilizing, disinfecting, and refurbishing used items so they can be safely reused. This process offers healthcare facilities a cost-effective alternative to buying new devices while also reducing medical waste, a crucial step towards eco-friendly healthcare practices. In recent years, regulatory bodies like the FDA and the European Union’s MDR have established stringent guidelines for reprocessed devices, ensuring the highest safety and quality standards are met. These regulatory measures have helped to bolster the credibility and adoption of medical device reprocessing among healthcare providers globally.

Increasing awareness about environmental sustainability in the healthcare sector is another major factor propelling market growth. Reprocessing medical devices helps significantly reduce the environmental burden by minimizing the volume of medical waste that ends up in landfills. This aligns with broader healthcare industry goals of achieving sustainability, cutting operational costs, and delivering high-quality patient care. With these advantages, the demand for reprocessed devices is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years.

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Technological Advancements Driving Growth

As the demand for reprocessed medical devices continues to surge, companies are investing heavily in research and development to improve reprocessing technologies. Innovative sterilization techniques, enhanced materials, and advanced quality control processes have made reprocessed devices safer, more efficient, and more appealing to healthcare providers. Technologies such as low-temperature plasma sterilization, ethylene oxide sterilization, and automated reprocessing systems have revolutionized the field by improving the quality and lifespan of reprocessed devices.

With these technological advancements, reprocessing companies can cater to a wider range of devices, from surgical instruments to diagnostic tools, broadening the application scope and enhancing market penetration. In addition, companies are working closely with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with global standards, facilitating the adoption of reprocessed devices worldwide.

Rising Demand from Emerging Markets

The medical device reprocessing market is witnessing particularly strong growth in emerging economies, where healthcare systems often face budget constraints and rising patient demand. By adopting reprocessed medical devices, healthcare providers in these regions can improve access to high-quality medical tools and technologies without incurring substantial costs. Governments and healthcare organizations are increasingly recognizing the benefits of reprocessing, which not only cuts down expenses but also supports sustainable healthcare practices. This trend is expected to play a pivotal role in expanding the market's footprint across Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and other emerging regions.

Key Market Players

Some of the major players in the medical device reprocessing market include Stryker Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Medline ReNewal, Vanguard AG, and SureTek Medical. These companies are focusing on strategic initiatives like partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, and product innovation to strengthen their market positions. For instance, companies are launching programs and services tailored to specific healthcare settings, which has improved the availability and reliability of reprocessed devices.

With the growing focus on environmental sustainability, cost-efficiency, and technological advancement, the medical device reprocessing market is set for remarkable growth. Both established and emerging players in the industry are poised to benefit as healthcare providers increasingly turn to reprocessing as a viable solution to meet cost and sustainability goals.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the robust growth potential, the medical device reprocessing market faces certain challenges. These include concerns about the safety and reliability of reprocessed devices, particularly among patients and healthcare providers unfamiliar with the rigorous reprocessing standards. However, increased regulatory oversight and strict quality control measures have helped alleviate these concerns, boosting confidence in reprocessed devices.

The market also presents new opportunities for companies specializing in innovative reprocessing technologies and solutions. As healthcare providers prioritize sustainable and cost-effective solutions, the demand for advanced reprocessing methods is expected to open avenues for further growth and innovation in this sector.

Future Outlook

As healthcare systems worldwide adapt to the challenges of rising costs and environmental impact, medical device reprocessing is positioned as a key component of the industry's future. The market's trajectory points towards strong growth, driven by heightened environmental awareness, technological progress, and supportive regulations. The medical device reprocessing market is expected to play an increasingly vital role in the global healthcare landscape, helping facilities optimize their resources, reduce waste, and deliver high-quality patient care at reduced costs.

With continuous improvements in reprocessing technology and expanding applications across different medical devices, this market is on track to become an integral part of the healthcare industry. As both developed and developing regions recognize the benefits, medical device reprocessing will continue to grow, helping healthcare providers meet patient needs sustainably and cost-effectively.

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