#the fandom hive mind is well oiled

[correct-hermitcraft-quotes]

I love when people are in tune

Iconic quote aparently

Mumbo: I stood there for 10 minutes thinking about pipes

[sleepingdeath-light]

artist s/o hcs ; wally darling

requested by ; anonymous (08/05/23)

fandom(s) ; welcome home

fandom masterlist(s) ; here

character(s) ; wally darling

outline ; “So could you do Wally with a reader that is a painter”

warning(s) ; none, just fluff!

you two have so much in common that the neighbours sometimes wonder if you share a hive mind

like they can briefly mention something about colours or cups and you’ll share a look that speaks a thousand words before moving on like you’ve had an actual conversation and not a staring contest

both of you have experienced the universal plight of mixing up which side your drinking cup is on and which side your paint water cup is on

you’ll know when the other has done it and just share a somber nod and a knowing look before going back to what you were doing

home is so very colourful and bright because of you both — their walls are murals and their furniture is decorated beautifully as well

all of the neighbours have pieces the two of you have made hung up in their homes

and the centrepiece in home is a painting of the both of you that you collaborated on — two canvases side by side (you having drawn wally and him having drawn you)

it was an exercise in perspectives and it’s the most meaningful gesture you’d done as a couple

occasionally you’ll paint each other and you only make each other look stupid some of the time — whether that’s with face paint or makeup or actual paint that you’ve smeared on each other’s faces

the art room is absolutely overflowing with canvases because you inspire each other so much

you have matching aprons that you wear when working with messier mediums to keep your clothes safe — they say ‘mr darling’ and ‘mr/mrs/mx darling’

you have stacks upon stacks of supplies for artwork: acrylics, oil paint, watercolour, pencils, stencils, carving tools and so on

nothing in home is safe from being redecorated and there isn’t a dull corner in them as a result — everything just looks so beautiful because of you and your boyfriend’s hard work

you model for each other if there’s a pose or expression that you can’t quite get right — which usually results in the two of you laughing like fools whilst you or wally try and mimic whatever instruction you were given

just like the two-canvas painting in the centre of your living room wall, you and wally complete each other and fit together so well it was like you were made to be together

exactly like your painting

[pro-bee-sisters]

YOUR QUEEN VESPERIA BEE IS BACK TO RULE THE HIVE~!

Hello my lovely Chloe+Queen Bee and Zoe+Vesperia stans out there, your lovely Queen Vesperia Bee is back!

For those who didn’t know, I was on hiatus for 1 month during April. However, now I’m back and ready to see where I left off~

First off, I wanna say that I had a pretty good hiatus. 😊 I was able to develop some healthy habits throughout the month of April, which included meditating, experiencing with essential oils, and all around, just staying offline for the most part. I also even got to see the Super Mario movie with my partner and we both enjoyed it a lot. I will definitely be making fanart of it on my Art Blog. 

Speaking of fanart, I still plan to do a lot of art as well as writing for our two fabulous bee sisters. Especially now that summer is coming, people will most likely be done with school or work, depending on who you are Lol, so now they’ll have time to see what new ideas I have in mind~

I’m currently writing Chapter 2 for The Queen Bee and the Vesperia where we will be introduce to Zoe and her relationship with Audrey as her slave/”foster daughter.” 

Afterwards, I will be continuing my Chlogami [Chloe x Kagami] fic “Understanding The One and Only Miss. Chloe Bourgeois,” which I had mentioned on here, and as for my other AUs such as The Lost Miraculous and The Undercover Tales of Rena Furtive and Invisible Hornet, they are still a WIP as we speak. Just please, as I said in the past, don’t expect me to get started on them ASAP. I have a very busy and unique schedule online and in RL, so I try to balance them both. (Plus, I live in rural Texas where I’m expected to do a lot of work outside LOL)

Right now, my goal is to try to get myself adjusted online again so I can focus on my last days until I officially decided to retire from the Miraculous fandom and the show itself. (More on that later.) 

I hope you all understand and thank you for reading.

Don’t forget to follow my other blogs:

@muggle-born-princess​ (Main Blog)

@princessgemsart​ (Art Blog)

@pens-and-gems​ (Writing Blog)

BUZZ ON EVERYONE!​​​

[sylvanfreckles]

Allergies (FebuWhump 01)

Here we go again!

This is also posted on AO3

Fandom: Supernatural Summary: Dean and a newly-human Castiel try to interview the owner of a restaurant for a case. Things go badly...and, as usual, Cas faces the consequences. Warnings: Mild warning for allergic reactions, but this one is pretty tame.

* * *

“Here we go,” Dean announced, pulling the car into one of the restaurant's parking spaces. “This the place?”

Castiel, sitting in the passenger's seat, stared down at his phone with a frown for a moment. “According to Sam the chicken bone from the hex bag showed signs of being deep-fried, and three of the members of city council who opposed Deputy Mayor Sloane's proposed interstate bypass operate restaurants that serve deep-fried chicken...”

“Short story, Cas,” Dean cut in, holding a hand up. “I was there for, y'know, the exposition the first time.” He shoved open the door to the Impala and climbed out, automatically checking his pocket for the wallet with his counterfeit FBI badge.

Cas had climbed out, too, and stared at him over the roof of the car for a moment. “That was a rhetorical question.”

“Yeah, see, he gets it!” Dean shot him a grin to take the edge off of his words. “Let's go.”

He felt more than heard Cas fall into step beside him. Cas had been returned to them three months ago—alive and whole and human, thanks to Jack. Chuck was gone, they finally had full control over their own lives, and even more important they had the time to figure things out now.

Providing, of course, Dean could ever bring himself to say anything out loud.

“Here we go,” he said, pushing the restaurant's door open. There was a teenager behind the counter, dressed in a ridiculous apron and hat that went with the restaurant's theme.

“Hey there,” Dean approached the kid, wallet out to show his badge. “We need to speak to the boss.”

The teen's eyes widened behind her glasses. “He's, uh, he's out back. Disposing of the oil.”

“Thanks.” If he'd been a younger man...and if things were less complicated...he might have flirted with her. But as it was, now that he was past forty and Cas was right behind him snuffling into his sleeve (Dude, come on), it really didn't seem appropriate.

Cas sneezed.

“Bless you. Jeez,” Dean held the door open to let Cas exit first. “You getting sick, man?”

“I don't think so,” Cas shook his head and sniffed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. “I feel a sudden...discomfort.”

Dean pulled a face. “Well, let's talk to Mr Chicken, then we can get you back to the hotel to get some rest, all right?”

“I'm fine, Dean.”

Right. Fine. With the way he was blinking and trying to surreptitiously wipe the corners of his eyes on his sleeves. Either Cas was coming down with a cold or he'd gotten a lungful of something that didn't agree with him.

They made their way around to the back of the restaurant, where Dean spotted a man pouring out a bucket of oil into some kind of bio-waste bin. “Excuse me, Mr. Graham?”

Graham looked up, and when the two of them got closer Dean pulled his wallet out again so the other man could see his ID. “We'd just like to ask you some questions.”

The man hesitated, looking from Dean to Cas for a moment, then with a low oath he hauled the bucket up and around and threw its contents at the two Hunters.

Dean shouted and ducked and managed to avoid most of the mess, but when he looked up he realized Cas's reflexes hadn't been as good and the former angel was covered in disgusting, filthy frying oil.

“Duck next time, jeez,” Dean half-snarled, pushing himself up to his feet to take off after Graham. Cas was usually quicker than that...either he was still adjusting to the whole “things can hurt me now” stuff, or whatever was making him sick was hitting harder than Dean had thought.

“D-Dean?”

The stammered cry had him wheeling back around. Cas was pawing at his face, rubbing his sleeve across his eyes. “Cas?”

“It's—something—something's wrong. I can't...” Cas let out a gagging cough and doubled over, and when he glanced up at Dean there were already bright red spots blooming on his exposed skin.

“Son of a bitch,” Dean grabbed the back of Cas's jacket and hauled it off. “Take it off. Get it all off.”

“Dean...”

“It's the oil, Cas, you're covered in it.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. The redness was spreading. Dean could already see the rash spreading down Cas's neck, puffing up the skin as it went. “Take it off,” he repeated. “I'll get the kit.”

It was Sam who'd made the unfortunate discovery that Cas's humanity came at a cost. His immune system was basically non-existent, and with that came a broad spectrum of allergies. And, judging by the smell, Mr. Graham's restaurant fried their chicken in peanut oil.

(It turned out bees were one of the few things Cas wasn't allergic to, and Dean suspected it was actually some hive-mind magic to protect the angel that had once watched over them so lovingly. He was happy about it, of course, and seeing Cas sitting in his little garden reading ancient Sumerian to his little beehives always brought a warm feeling to his chest.)

Dean grabbed the kit out of the Impala's trunk and tucked it under one arm to sprint back to Cas. It had some basics for an emergency like this—antihistamines, hydrocortisone cream, epi-pens, baby wipes. He rounded the corner and found Cas bent over at the waist, shirt hanging loose from his arms, fingers clenched into the fabric of his pants as he gasped for breath.

“Son of a bitch,” Dean muttered again. He slid to a stop next to Cas and dropped the kit. “Cas?”

The former angel looked up at him, face already swollen and mottled red and white. He tried to talk but let out a cough and clawed at his throat.

“No, no, hey, don't do that,” Dean caught his wrist. “Let's get this shit off you.”

There was a spigot with a hose near the back door. Dean cranked the water on and hunted down the end of the hose, pulling out his phone to call for paramedics.

“Yeah, hey,” he said, when the emergency operator picked up. “My buddy's having an allergic reaction to peanut oil, some asshole threw it all over him.”

Cas let out a wheeze of protest. Dean rolled his eyes and tucked the phone between his shoulder and ear, redirecting the water in the hose toward Cas's face. He hadn't turned it up too high, just wanting to rinse as much of that shit off as possible. “Yeah, I'm still here.”

He listened as the emergency operator listed off things to check for, relaying Cas's answers to their questions. “Ambulance on its way, man,” he said, helping Cas sit down on the curb behind the restaurant. “Nope, no buts about this one.”

Cas's face was already swollen, and his breaths were a painful-sounding wheeze. He hung his head and slumped against Dean with a pitiful sound.

Dean shifted the phone to one hand and gently rubbed Cas's back with the other. “Yes, he's still awake,” he said into the phone. “I have an epi-pen...no, no, I haven't used it. Yeah, yeah, I can hear the sirens.”

As the flash of red lights came around the corner, Dean shifted his hand up to the back of Cas's neck. “Dude,” he finally whispered with a shaky laugh. “Why are you allergic to everything?”

[korn-kob]

No Love Allowed

My first OK K.O.! fanfic, because I’m not officially in a fandom if I don’t make at least one.

A somewhat one-sided (you’ll see why) Radmond fanfic that accidentally became angst. I did not have a set mood for this when I planned on writing it so that kinda explains it. It’s SFW but it DOES get heavy as the story goes on so, yeah, hold your horses.

I posted this first on AO3. You can read it there, if you like. Here’s the link.

Since the creation of the first Raymond, many of his type have been manufactured and shipped to every super villain in the area along with the others. In Box More, among the many rooms was also a game room or gymnasium of sorts which is where most of those Raymonds preferred to hangout by default due to their sports themed programming.

Known for being prideful and narcissistic, they mostly kept to themselves, preferring to mingle with one another. It wasn't everyday that the original Raymond, which they--or themselves, rather, if their hive mind was active at the time--have unanimously dubbed 'Raymond Classic' come visit them so it came as a surprise when he did.

"Raymond!" they all greeted, almost like a cheer. They motion to crowd him and ask what he was doing here, how things were going, and if he came to practice with them or play a game of whatever sport he'd suggest. However, they soon realize he was not in high spirits because today, his usually confident demeanor was absent. They know that look; something was wrong.

"I'm just gonna go ahead and say it," Raymond said. The original one, that is. "I think I have a crush on someone."

The group of Raymond's went silent, engaging their thought processes into one, gathering new information as Raymond Classic continue to speak.

"But that's not the worst part... I have a crush on a hero!" he added. "And not just any hero either."

He pressed his hands on his face in frustration.

Falling in love was one thing, but to fall in love with the wrong individual was another.

"Why him?" he asked himself, looking up into the heavens as if an invisble spotlight shone upon him to emphasize his anguish. "Why, oh, why did it have to be him?"

Raymond just HAD to go head over heels for a certain blue alien who happened to be the enemy working at the bodega in Lakewood Plaza Turbo. He'd lay all night unable to shut down while recharging himself, thinking about him. Heck, he even remembered his name--Radicles or 'Rad' for short--and his stupid beautiful face with his dumb hot muscular body. He hasn't even mentioned his huge ego that's just begging to be stroked.

And yet there was apparently more to him than meets the eye. As of late, Raymond had took the habit of sneaking out to try and watch over him as covertly as he could. He had been caught only a few times by his fellow robot siblings but he was cool and convincing enough to come up with an excuse that stopped all form of suspicion. Anyway, the first and most obvious that he found out about him was the alien's love of cats, and anything cat themed. He also babysat, and did yoga--Raymond wondered if that also helped Rad stay in shape.

It was wrong what he was doing and an utter violation of privacy. He could feel his cooling fans overworking again and it was all Rad's fault. Not really, but it might as well have! All of the Raymond's agreed.

"Stupid Radicles! You... beautiful meathead! I hate... that I don't hate you!" Raymond got down on his knees, his pointy nose hitting the floor.

Raymond wouldn't dare let anyone know of these feelings nor all of these escapades, especially Lord Boxman, who despised anything resembling friendship or goodness. He'd show Raymond a red card right away, or worse... He'd rather not dwell on it any longer so he gave that bit of thought a time out.

"Coach Boxdad will not approve," Raymond uttered. "I'll be out before I even get three strikes."

What was it about that made his father despise any bond that's considered benevolent? And it seemed mighty hypocritical too with the man's obvious crush to one of his clients. Then again, Professor Venomous was a high negative level villain with an admittedly slick fashion sense. So once again, it comes down to falling in love with the wrong person at the worst situation possible.

"If only things were different, like... What if I wasn't built for evil? Or what if he [Radicles] was on our team instead?" Raymond thought out loud as his companions contemplated also. "But what if things stayed the same, and we're all made the way we were but we just leave the plaza alone once and for all?!"

The more he thought about it, the only obstacle that ever kept him from pursuing Rad was their objective of fighting the heroes at Gar's Bodega, and all because his father had an issue with them which amounts to a bunch of kids playing in his front yard. It was stupidly petty as to be annoying.

"This stinks..." Raymond said through gritted teeth. "The only thing worse about things that would never ever change, is that they COULD change but I know that will never happen!"

He couldn't stop them any longer, and a stream of liquid ran down from his eye. His other eye did the same. The Raymonds followed suit but without any of the emotion the original had. They stood there like the robots they were meant to be; several bodies with only one objective in mind.

Raymond then thought how cruel it was of Boxman to assign these feelings if none of them could act upon it. Nothing was going to come and touch his shoulder, to try and tell him that things will be alright, though they were all standing right in front of him. They can't do anything beyond that. Ironically, it was the most alone he felt.

"Raymond!" Lord Boxman yelled. "I need to have a word with you... at my office!"

"Ooh..." Darrell and Shannon droned in unison. They along with Raymond were watching TV on the couch when their brother was suddenly called.

"Looks like someone's in trouble," Shannon said.

"Preposterous!" Raymond huffed. "He's probably summoning me to be complimented on... a job that I have done most successfully. Whatever that is..."

Raymond trailed off at the last bit.

"I don't know. Dad looked pretty teed off," Darrell noted. "See what I did there? 'Teed'? As in golf? Y'know, like the sport? Because that's Raymond's thing and--"

"Yeah, I get it!" Shannon hissed, stopping Darrell from elbowing her any longer. "But it's HIS thing, not yours! That's what you get for not having a gimmick. Plagiarism!"

"I do too have a gimmick!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

Raymond rolled his eyes and walked away, leaving his two siblings to continue their silly argument. He reached Lord Boxman's office, letting himself in as the door had been ajar.

"Come closer," Boxman beckoned.

Keeping his stance upright, Raymond refused to show anything resembling nervousness or doubt as he walked closer to his father's desk.

"Hi, Coach," Raymond began. "Any reason you wanted to see me?"

"That's a stupid question!" Boxman exclaimed. "Why on earth would I call you here if I HAD no reason?"

"Oh, haha! I'm just messing with you, Coach!" Raymond said, trying to save face. "I simply mean... what particular reason that you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, yes, I'll get to that. But first, let me say something; you know I consider us a family, right?"

"Yeah?"

"And when someone in a family has a problem... they usually go to whoever is the head of the household for, well, advice. Ideally, that's what's supposed to happen. But I am your maker, so I got that role covered."

"That's why you're the coach!"

"Now to answer your question from earlier, I called you here because..." Lord Boxman paused on purpose before he spoke again. "I wish to know if you are having any issues recently. If something is eating you."

For some reason that got Raymond very worried which Boxman was quick to catch with the way the robot's expression changed.

"So tell me, my star player. Are you having trouble with anything lately?"

"N-Nothing that you need to be TOO concerned about, Coach," Raymond answered, mentally beating himself for that stutter. "I mean, I guess my kicks are a little rusty because my knee makes this creaking sound every time I move it back and forth--I should probably oil it. And my bottle of hair gel is almost empty. But like I said, nothing too big!"

Boxman glared at him, humming in great observation.

"I wouldn't lie, coach," Raymond said, placing a hand on his chest. "I promise."

"I know," Boxman said. "You're not lying. There's just something you're not telling me."

"So what if there is?" Raymond said, shocked at himself for talking back while Boxman was a little thrown off. "I have the right to a few secrets, don't I?"

"Well if it's such a secret, why are you so horrible at keeping them?!" Boxman yelled.

"...What do you mean?" Raymond asked, his tone having gone soft.

Boxman was ready to speak but stopped to think of another way to get his point across. Having done that, he made a little smile and simply said, "Follow me."

Raymond was led to the door, and out of the office. Something was up, he knew. He could've just ran away while Boxman wasn't looking but that would've been a foul move which would only make things worse. No choice but to obey while his dad's temper was under control.

He looked around the factory, seeing more of his brothers and sisters being made out of a machine which assembled them. Raymond's type was there too, of course. He was jolted back into the conversation when Boxman spoke to him again.

"I know everything that goes on in this factory. You can run and you can hide, but I CAN find you. Same goes for whatever's going through that metal plated head of yours."

Raymond was resigned to his position. Dad 1, Raymond 0. He knew about the crush, about Radicles, and all that.

"You should've known better than to open up to the others like that," Boxman said. "You're basically walking, talking, THINKING, computers which transfer everything through wireless means. YOUR problem becomes THEIR problem! Ernestos check all the data within each and every robot, review them, and forward any information to me that would hinder your basic functions."

"Are you saying we'll never be safe inside our minds?" Raymond implied.

"Yes! You actually are free to think as you please," Boxman said. "You, however, just made the fatal mistake of corrupting your fellow Raymonds!"

"Corrupt?"

Not looking where he was going, Raymond bumped into... himself? No, another Raymond which belonged to a line of more Raymonds in front of something red and glowing. It was also getting hotter, he noticed. He recognized these Raymonds from somewhere.

"What are they doing here out of the game room?" Raymond asked.

The line moved and the original Raymond was compelled to follow them.

"When I came down to check on them, I saw that they were all frozen stiff," Boxman informed. "Catatonic, to put it simply. None of them could even catch a ball, much less play with one. It was a pity too as they were scheduled to be shipped to a very devoted client of mine. So imagine his dismay when I said the delivery had to be delayed due to..." Seething with rage, Boxman spat, "Technical difficulties!"

Raymond tried to speak, and said, "Coach, I didn't mean to--"

Boxman did not let him finish. "And it's ALL because of this nonsense infatuation with some... idiot stock boy from the plaza who doesn't even give a hoot whether or not you have feelings for him!"

"That's not true!" Raymond yelled. The line moved again and so did he, not mistakingly.

"Face it! He's too dense to even know that a robot like you can feel the way you do," Boxman said.

"He's just oblivious!" Raymond said, defensively. "There's a difference between that and whatever you're saying."

"Regardless, it is embarrassing to have to deny Professor Venomous that shipment that was gonna be due next week!" Boxman said.

"So that's what this is all about!" Raymond said, a realization setting in. "You're just mad because you missed the touchdown from looking at your boyfriend's eyes while you shoot!"

For his troubles, Lord Boxman slapped him on the side of his face.

"I have had it with your sass, mister! You are gonna show some respect and stay in this line or so help me..."

Somehow, Raymond failed to ask such an important question.

"What is this line for anyw--?"

He had been following the line of Raymonds until there were only four of them left in front of him. He could now see that they were willingly tossing themselves into the incinerator, one by one.

The gears inside his chest were working up like crazy, and his breathing became frantic. How could he have been so blind?

"Stop!" he cried, begging for the Raymond who had just jumped inside of the furnace. "Don't follow him anymore! Turn back!"

"There's no use, Raymond," Boxman said. "It's too late. I have altered their hive mind to answer only to me. These Raymonds are defective and must be disposed of. I can't have word of Box More shipping off defective robots that go stiff every time they're unable to keep their emotions in check to get into the public, could I?"

"Coach, please, I'm sorry!" Raymond begged on his knees, grabbing onto his dad’s leg pant. "I got distracted! I failed you and I failed my team, I admit it! Just stop this!"

Lord Boxman was feeling more annoyed than pitiful.

"Did I remember programming you to be THIS dramatic while I was making you?" he asked himself. "Well, I could always make adjustments but I'd rather you remember this for as long as I decide to keep you activated. Also, you are out of the line. Fill that gap!"

Boxman kicked Raymond away, forcing him to stand in front of the incinerator. The last robot in front of him opened the door. Without hesitation, the 'defective' Raymond climbed inside of it, head first, making its way there little by little until its entire body is reduced to burnt scrap metal.

Raymond wanted to look away, but he found himself looking on in horror as the flames melted its face, singed its hair, and turned the body's green and yellow color scheme into black.

He fell to his knees again, his eyes wide in despair. He sensed a hand being placed upon his shoulder. It was his dad's.

"You are grounded for a month from participating in any mission with your brothers and sisters in attacking the plaza," Boxman said, making Raymond feel more broken. "You are also not allowed to hang out with the other, newly manufactured Raymonds lest you corrupt them again. Now, get in there!"

Boxman pointed into the burning coals before them and Raymond's pupils shrunk into dots as his eyes widened.

"B-but..."

"Yes, you're joining them!" Boxman said, as if answering a question Raymond was about to ask. "Your thoughts will be transferred into a new vessel. There'll be no big loss."

Even with that, it didn't calm Raymond down. Not one bit.

"I... I can't!"

"I'm not gonna let you force my hand, Raymond..."

"No!"

Raymond was about to run away but a Darrell and Shannon grabbed him by the arms. He knew instantly that these robots restraining him were NOT actually his brother and sister. Even they wouldn't stand for this.

"So that's why they're here!" Boxman said all too cheerfully, taking in some sick delight in watching the mostly put together robot squirm in their grasp.

"Let me go!" Raymond cried helplessly. Boxman ignored his pleas.

"Since you have to complicate things instead of doing this with your dignity still intact, then I have no choice!" He then commanded the other robots; "To the fires with this one!"

Raymond's entire body was flung into the furnace's cavity and Lord Boxman locked the doors the moment the heat of the flames started melting the robot's face. His hair was instantly set ablaze and an eye fell out of his socket.

"DADDY LET ME OUT!" he screamed as loud as he could from the fire's crackling. Raymond's panic had been so great, he no longer called for his 'coach'. "PLEASE, DADDY! IT'S BURNING ME!"

"Stop being such a baby about this!" Boxman scolded. "Your big brother Darrell had to undergo the same thing and HE didn't have to stoop to this type of hysterics! You may be my greatest creation yet, but I'm treating you no better than any robot in my factory. I'm doing this to teach you a lesson."

Lord Boxman turned around and added, "I'm doing this to teach you ALL a lesson!"

Ernesto, Darrell and Shannon had seen enough to get what he meant. They had never been so scared for their lives and of their father before. Raymond's screams travelled all over the halls of the factory and it had caught their attention a bit too late. By the time they got there, he was being forced inside of the fuming chamber.

They remain petrified as Lord Boxman walked pass through them without looking and went back to his office as if nothing had happened. Even when the new Raymond who possessed the same thoughts his destroyed body just witnessed was craned into the scene, it did nothing to make all of the things they have just seen less traumatic.

No grand entrance, no flamboyant introductions... Just the sight of Raymond staring into space for what felt like a very long time. Right beside him was the glowing fire in the furnace burning metal, which had just been stripped of anything that resembled feeling or emotion.

-THE END-

[professorpalmarosa]

Thyme Machine (Hoshino Tetsuro - Galaxy Express 999)

Galaxy Express 999 is my favorite anime series of all time, not to mention one of the largest inspirations for my writing style. It’s so hard to believe that it will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year!

With that in mind, I’m planning to complete a Maetel cosplay and go to a few conventions in 2018. I also recently bought a rare Tetsuro figurine on eBay and am looking for the Maetel to go along with him.

The good news is that despite this being an older anime, it is a classic. You can presently find the series on Crunchyroll, and the three tie-in movies are an affordable price on Amazon.

If you love science fiction or stories about the moral ramifications of transhumanism, this may be the show for you. Every few years or so, I do a full rewatch because a part of my soul craves it.

And Hoshino Tetsuro (the main character) is one of my favorite fictional characters, regardless of fandom.

He starts out as a rather generic shonen series protagonist: after having gone through something truly traumatic (the murder of his mother), Tetsuro joins a mysterious woman (Maetel) on board the Galaxy Express 999 with the end goal of getting a mechanical body. He spends most of the series believing that this is what he wants...but then something truly magical happens.

He changes his mind. After going through the entire journey, he has a moment of realization that what he thought he wanted isn’t what he truly wants...but it may end up being forced on him anyway. I won’t spoil the ending. It makes me cry every time.

He’s a very lovable kid. A little too trusting, a little too naive, and sometimes a little dense and stubborn, but he’s a very good soul and you want to root for him: whatever he decides to do.

I wanted his bath bomb to smell like the start of Autumn: the transformation of the seasons as dramatic as a young boy’s transformation into an adolescent.

The water turns the color of rust.

Red Thyme Essential Oil

Red Thyme has an unforgettable, warm, herbal smell reminiscent of a dry rub or your first real scents of autumn air.

There are two types of “fall” scents for me. One of them is Pumpkin Spice (which, by the way, Brambleberry carries a fragrance oil for). The other one has no real name, but conjures up thoughts of walking through a forest full of dead, dry leaves on the first cold evening of the season. Red Thyme is exactly that.

Pros:

The medical benefits of Thyme have been known to the Mediterranean part of the world for thousands of years. It is also a commonly prescribed herb in Ayurvedic Medicine.

Alleviate several illnesses! Red Thyme can be used to relieve and reduce the impact of chronic ailments such as gout, chronic fatigue syndrome, menstrual and menopausal problems, and athlete’s foot. It’s also a lovely hangover cure.

It has antidepressant properties! Red Thyme has an anti-anxiety component to its chemical makeup. When diffused or applied with a carrier oil, it can reduce the impact of depression, strengthen cognition, and calm jittery nerves.

It’s an asthma-safe oil and works wonders on respiratory problems! Got a nasty autumn cough you can’t shake? What about the early signs of a sore throat? Red Thyme may be able to help you. It certainly does for me!

Improve your skin! Red Thyme can reduce the amount of sebum your pores extract, meaning it can reduce your chances for acne or sebaceous cysts. It can clear up oily skin, as well as speed up the healing process for scars. As for aged skin, Red Thyme is a wonderful toner.

Reduce hair loss! Red Thyme, when added to shampoos and other hair products, can reduce or even prevent hair loss for some people.

It can be used to improve your oral health! Like Peppermint, Spearmint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Lemon, and Wintergreen, Red Thyme Essential Oil can be added to a mouthwash or oral rinse to fix bad breath and improve the health of your gums.

Bugs HATE Red Thyme, so keep the creepy-crawlies at bay! Mosquitoes, lice, moths, ticks, and fleas in particular hate Red Thyme. That said, I really wish roaches were on that list. Your best oil for that is still Peppermint.

Cons

: The good news is that there are very few side effects to Red Thyme Essential Oil. It is generally safe for most people to use, but it’s never a bad idea to first consult your physician before adding essential oils to your daily health routine.

This is not a cat-friendly oil. In fact, Red Thyme is listed in several places as one of the worst things you can diffuse around your cat. As much as I love this essential oil, I always lock Gaius out of the room if I choose to diffuse this one.

Some people are allergic to thyme. It’s actually not that uncommon. If you are allergic to other plants in the Lamiaceae family (Basil, Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, etc.), you may have a sensitivity to Red Thyme Essential Oil. Allergies may surface as gastrointestinal issues (fussy stomach, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting) if ingested.

If you have sensitive skin, do not apply Red Thyme neat to your skin. While Red Thyme is generally safe, some people have experienced inflammation, hives, rashes, itchiness, and redness when the oil is applied to the skin without being properly diluted with a carrier oil. The good news is that Thyme Machine contains fractionated coconut oil as a carrier. If that doesn’t dilute the Thyme enough, the bath water will.

Red Thyme is an emmenagogue and should NOT be used by pregnant women. I use Red Thyme for a number of reasons. One of them is to regulate my period, as it’s started to come a bit more slowly since I started dieting in April (every 5 weeks instead of every 4). Red Thyme has emmenagogue properties, which means that it stimulates menstruation. Menstruation is something you do not want when you’re pregnant, as it could potentially be dangerous for the fetus or trigger premature labor or a miscarriage.

Exercise caution if you have hypertension. Red Thyme can be used to increase circulation, meaning your blood pressure may rise while using this oil. If you are already dealing with hypertension or experience palpitations on the regular, Red Thyme Essential Oil might not play nicely with you.

Exercise caution if you have hyperthyroidism. Red Thyme may stimulate the thyroid gland for some people.

Immortelle Essential Oil

Immortelle (also called Helichrysum or Helichrysum Italicum) is one of the most popular essential oils one can buy, mostly for all its wonderful therapeutic benefits. The plant comes from a member of the Sunflower family.

Immortelle has a “dead leaf” scent to it, but also reminds me of the wild goldenrod that used to grow on the side of the Georgia highway in the fall. It’s a flower oil, but doesn’t smell floral at all. It’s more herbal, and even a tad earthy.

Pros:

Immortelle is a good friend when you’re in pain! I originally bought this essential oil because it was Prime day, a company had a good sale on it, and I saw that it is mostly toted as a pain relief oil--which I need, suffering from a chronic pain issue. Immortelle eases nerve, joint, and muscular pain. In fact, it’s one of the best essential oils you can purchase if you have fibromyalgia: like me!

Keep your skin clean and healthy with Immortelle! A study was conducted by the Health Sciences Research Centre in Portugal’s University of Beira. In this study, it was determined that Immortelle Essential Oil was effective against bacterial and fungal growths responsible for various skin problems including irritation, rashes, infections, and wounds that took a long time to properly heal.

Stop itching from poison ivy! Mix Immortelle and Lavender Essential Oils together with a jojoba carrier oil to stop the itching and soothe the inflamed tissue.

Fight acne! Immortelle targets and combats a lot of the fungi and bacteria responsible for acne outbreaks. Unlike alcohol-based astringents, Immortelle doesn’t dry out the skin and soothes anything that’s red and irritated.

Reduce inflammation! Immortelle can stimulate blood flow, improve smooth muscle function, and reduce inflammation. This also has the benefit of lowering high blood pressure. 

Immortelle is both a digestive and diuretic aid! Immortelle encourages bile flow within your body, which speeds up the digestion of food. It also has diuretic properties, which encourage your kidneys to expel urine faster. This makes it a wonderful assistant in helping you get rid of that unwanted water weight when you’re feeling bloated.

Soothe sunburned skin! Immortelle can soothe and rehydrate burnt skin. The oil can also reduce the amount of damage a person experiences to UV light (which is a pleasant change from Citrus oils, which increase your sensitivity).

Cons:

Immortelle is NOT a cat-safe oil. Do not diffuse if your cat’s in the room with you and can’t get out.

Not enough is known about Immortelle Essential Oil and pregnancy for this oil to be a safe choice for people who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or nursing.

People with gallstone issues may experience severe stomach cramps from prolonged use to Immortelle Essential Oil.

Do not use this essential oil if you have had past issues with blocked bile ducts. Immortelle may stimulate your body to produce more bile, which will lead to its own set of complications.

Immortelle is best avoided if you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or sunflowers.