#top 10 health tips for all time

[coco-oats]

How to become more attractive?

For your new year glow up…

Tips for Becoming More Attractive

• Attractiveness on the inside

You can be the most beautiful looking person on the planet, but being rude, ignorant, insecure, etc. can easily take you from a 10 to a 5.

Learn to be kind and confident.

• Smile and be yourself

This goes with the confidence and kindness point. Expressing yourself positively will naturally make you more attractive.

That being said, I am NOT telling you to smile ALL THE TIME, or laugh at every single joke, or be overly bubbly and fake. Just be happy and be yourself.

Never chase the attention of others.

If you focus on yourself, the attention and love will naturally come.

•Health is beauty

- Focus on what you put in your body (whole foods, lots of water, balanced diet, etc.)

- Exercise (strength training, pilates, yoga, biking, walking, swimming, etc.)

- Get a good nights sleep, no less than 7 hours, aim for 8-9

- Good hygiene, you want to be as fresh and clean as possible ( Stay on top of showering, skincare, hair care, oral hygiene, wearing deodorant, etc.)

Side note, but I LOVE roller oils. I use them at school, and they are so strong, they smell amazing, and I always get compliments on how I smell.

･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Some randoms :

• Braces - A few crooked teeth are really no big deal, I am actually a firm believer that teeth give us character, but my teeth were pretty crazy… So braces definitely helped me out + I smile way more now 😽

• Gua sha + face massage/yoga - Facial massages and yoga can help sculpt your face, reduce puffiness, and smooth wrinkles. I swear by gua sha, and feel so pretty after using it.

• Get a hair cut that suits your face shape/features - Avoid hiding your face with hair. Wear hairstyles that compliment your face, and display your beautiful features.

• Use castor oil or eyelash and eyebrow serum - My eyelashes and eyebrows have gotten so much fuller, remember to have patience, and make sure the products you use are safe/not super cheap.

• Put some thought into your outfits, and choose clothes that make you feel good + find out what body type you have

[these-lovely-monsters]

These Lovely Monsters

Hi, I'm taryx and this is a sideblog I made for all things monster related! I work full time but I recently started writing monster smut as a hobby and I'm really enjoying the community here on tumblr!

⋆˙⟡ You can also find me on ao3 or drop something in my tip jar :)

⋆˙⟡ This blog is a mix of reblogs of other writing and artwork as well as some of my own writing. It's mostly nsfw and very horny though so 18+ only please

⋆˙⟡ All my writing will be original stories (not fanfics)

⋆˙⟡ I write for myself and my own enjoyment but you are always welcome to suggest or request an idea via asks

⋆˙⟡ I will always try to tag my work at the top with anything that I think might be triggering. If I've missed something in any of my posts please let me know! My readers' mental health is important to me 💜

⋆˙⟡ This is a safe space - I am a supporter of all lgbtqia+ rights and do not tolerate any hate speech, racism, or sexism

Happy monster fucking ♡

Masterlist below the fold ↓

⋆ ⋅ ☽ ⋆ ☾ ⋅ ● ⋅ ☽ ⋆ ☾ ⋅ ● ⋅ ☽ ⋆ ☾ ⋅ ● ⋅ ☽ ⋆ ☾ ⋅ ⋆

Tags

#these lovely monsters - all writing by me

#tlm musings - random thoughts, imagines, and drabble by me

#tlm stories - stories by me (generally things longer than ~1k words)

#misc monster stuff - all content about monsters that aren't stories or artwork

#monster art - reblogs of monster artwork

I also tag content (written by me and reblogs) by characters (i.e. #monster boyfriend, #monster girlfriend, #werewolf, #orc, #demon, #dragon, #vampire, #alien, #tentacles etc.)

If you want content with specific characters written by me, I prefix the character tags with "tlm" (i.e. #tlm werewolf, #tlm orc, #tlm dragon, #tlm vampire, #tlm ghost, #tlm tentacles etc.)

Stories (#tlm stories)

The Alien's Experiment (m!alien x f!reader)

Commanding The Orc (m!orc x gn!reader)

The Dragon's Pretty Treasure (m!dragon x f!reader): [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] (finished)

Tentacles Under The Bed (gn!tentacle monster x f!reader): [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] (ongoing)

Conflict Resolution (m!gargoyle x m!demon x gn!reader)

The Vampire's Kiss (m!vampire x f!reader)

Mating Season (m!werewolf x f!reader)

Last updated: Oct 10, 2024

[silbaria]

As my sibling explained on a different post, we are struggling health wise due to our PCOS acting out, afflicting us with insomnia and a lot of pain, especially on our chest and legs as well anxiety crisis. We decided to to go see a gyne but the one we trust and know us the longest and more likely to help us out (he was the one who diagnosed us) is very expensive and we are no longer in our mother's healthcare plan due to her retiring a few years ago.

Clinics usually close at this time of year and only return to normal activities in January, and on top of having the monthly bills to get to it there will be exams and we will probably be put on birth control; it will wring us dry of our savings.

So for a limited time, until we solve everything I am offering a discount of -10 USD on all my commission services, with the exception of Busts, Chibis and the Blorbitos ! Please check the prices below:

🎨 Take a look on this tag to see my art if you're a first time commissioner! 🎨

I have also edited my commissions on Ko-Fi with the discount prices!

And finally linking my Ko-Fi incase you'd rather send a little tip! 🥺🙏

Thank you very much for your time! 🙇‍♂️

[theblackfemininesociety]

🌬️ Beat the Winter Blues: Seasonal Depression (Introvert Edition) ❄️

Hello besties and future besties of BFS,

Winter is approaching! Even with all the festivities going on we understand it’s easy to crawl into that winter blues shell and get in a depressing funk. Especially for my introverted besties (I am definitely an introvert) we thought it was time to give you some tips to help beat the winter blues.

Tip #1: Revamp your space!

(Especially your BEDDING 🛌)

As an introvert take full advantage the power of Feng shui,

An ancient Chinese practice helps arrange living and working spaces to improve health, harmony, and balance.

Recently I’ve decided with the journey I’ve been on, it was time not only get new room decor but it was time get a new comforter set ! You can do this without breaking the bank, with a little creativity, you can have a space that motivates you to focus on your goals!

Feng Shui Tips:

1. Natural Light: Maximize natural light during the day by using sheer curtains or blinds that can be easily opened. Consider mirrors strategically placed to reflect light and make the space feel brighter.

2. LED Lights: Incorporate adjustable LED lights. Use warm white tones for a cozy atmosphere or bright neon colors at night to energize the space.

3. Color Palette: Choose calming colors like soft blues, greens, or pastels for the walls and decor. These colors can create a serene environment that promotes relaxation. But by all means have fun with it. My entire room is pink! I associate pink with happiness so do what works for you.

4. Plants: Add indoor plants to bring life and positivity into the space. Plants like peace lilies or snake plants are great options that also improve air quality.

5. Declutter: Keep the bedroom tidy and organized please! Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Clutter can create negative energy and contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety.

6. Comfortable Bedding: Invest in high-quality, comfortable bedding that makes your bed a sanctuary. Soft textures can enhance your mood and sleep!

7. Essential Oils: Use a diffuser with calming essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus. These scents can create a soothing atmosphere conducive to relaxation. If you don’t want a diffuser try to stock up on some candles instead!

8. Artwork: Hang uplifting and inspiring artwork that resonates with you. Choose images that promote positive emotions or memories.

9. Sound: Consider a white noise machine or calming music to create a calming effect to your bedroom.

10. Personal Touches: Incorporate personal items that bring you joy, such as photographs or mementos, to create a sense of connection and warmth in your space.

Fun Tip: During the holidays, it’s an mood booster when you change little decor in your bedroom. Consider adding festive throw pillows, hanging string lights, or incorporating seasonal colors into your bedding. A small touch, like a holiday-themed artwork or a cozy blanket, can transform your space and lift your spirits. Embrace the season by creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects the joy and cheer of the holidays.

BENEFITS:

If you’re an introverted person affected by seasonal depression, chances are your bedroom is your comfort space. Our goal is to make it feel like a sanctuary! Your mood is affected by your surroundings so why not make your room feel like a safe and uplifting space!

Are you aware that our sisterhood extends to:

Instagram • Groupchat • Facebook

↑ Follow / Join us for endless motivation, support & top tier experiences that will elevate your journey to new heights ✨

[cutielights]

AHHH UR HCS ARE SO FUN TO READ I LOVE!!!!! Could u do the rise boys w/ a s/o that’s super easy to impress and very expressive so it’s pretty easy to read their reactions to things? THANK YOU!!

TYSM LOVELY <333

Tw: none

Rise boys with an Expressive! S/O

Leo

Uses this opportunity every time it presents itself

And if it doesn’t he’ll make an opportunity

Skateboard stunts? Check

Ninja stunts? Check

All round awesomeness? Triple check

Genuinely adores the reactions he gets from you

Would die if anything happened to his sweet s/o

Always trying to think of something to top what he did last

Looking over his shoulder when doing something cool to see your reaction

Raph

He’d do something genuinely impressive and then when you have the appropriate reaction he’d downplay it

Raph, buddy, not everyone can lift a car with their bare hands

Or their mystic hands

Gives you a head tussle every time you applaud him

His heart- he can’t take it somebody call a doctor he’s getting diabetes

You’re just too sweet!

Trying and failing to not get flustered

Loves your reactions to things

Takes any opportunity to impress you

All round wholesomeness 11/10

Donnie

Oh he is overjoyed at praise we all know this

Immediately after finishing a project he’s on his phone to tell you to come over

Give him that praise

PLEASE

He worked so hard on this new tech

Loves seeing your eyes light up

Knows he did a good job

Until you ask him if he’s slept

Of course he did! The very fact that you merely suggest he do anything other than take care of his own health is simply preposterous!

Those bags tell you otherwise

Mikey

He’s showing you all his art

Cooking with you

Giving you tips

Loves those stars in your eyes

Obviously he’d return the affection!

Two sweethearts!

This would be such a healthy relationship I’m getting tooth rot from how sweet you guys are together!

Would try pulling off a really fancy cooking technique just for brownie points

Fails, but you’re still impressed at the effort!

That gets his motivation back up!

[mcalhenwrites]

If you love my writing - especially my stories about family struggles - please consider checking out my published novel! I also post updates on Patreon. My tiers vary, but I have many lower ones focused on writing and OC art. I have some at $1, $3, $5, and $10, but I also have some higher ones that include crochet. If you would like to tip me for my writing and art, which I often post for free, I have a Ko-Fi. Current goal reflects some minor car repairs I need to get through this coming winter (my income will cover most of them), but I do need to save for a new writing laptop. I accept sketch commissions. They’re typically $15-20 per character, depending how much of the body is drawn, and additional characters will be $10-15. Limit of 2 characters in a single sketch. I’d prefer to draw OCs, and I can draw some mild suggestive content but nothing graphic. Feel free to inquire further in DMs. I accept crochet commissions, but they will be $20/hr, and that doesn’t include material costs or S&H costs. I would prefer to stick to smaller projects due to time constraints and the hours costing someone so much that it becomes almost astronomical in costs. I realize that isn’t for everyone, but it is a lot of work and is taxing on my health, so I can only take two slots at a time. Feel free to inquire further in DMs. I do make these cute cats-in-a-pumpkin for $60/each, not including S&H, and as I’m posting, I currently have one finished and one in progress. (On top of what you see crocheted in the image, I do make a little pad to go inside the pumpkin so that it helps keep the top-heavy kitty stable.)

And if you'd like to read any of my work for free, I post a few of my original stories on my AO3, alongside all the fanfics. Any help is appreciated, even if all you can do is reblog this post! Thank you so much for your support, have a wonderful day!

[aquaquadrant]

I was wondering if you had an estimated date of when you will post the next HTP chapter?

Like, leaving us on such a cliffhanger must be a crime! It cant be legal!

Anyways, while I wait for it, Ive decided to copy paste every chapter into a doc and mark it up color code style for all my over analyzing needs. It took me an hour but it was worth it.

Have a good week and take care :)

(This is meant to be genuine, not mean or passive aggressive, just so you know. While I indeed am anxiously awaiting Chapter 10 by highlighting the chapters on a doc like that one photo of a bible page that’s highlighted with different colors. This isn’t meant to be mean or pressuring, take your time and take care of yourself)

⬆️(Ah poo, Im an over thinker

hey there, no worries y’all- i love seeing my reader’s enthusiasm and it’s reassuring to see continued interest in the series. i’d been hoping to have BOTH of the final ‘from eden’ chapters done before summer. but i have to admit, progress on the next chapter hasn’t been as forthcoming as i’d expected, for a couple reasons.

the first is health-related. not to be too TMI, but i recently got diagnosed with crohn’s disease. my symptoms started ages ago but have really ramped up in the last couple months, and the diagnosis was a lengthy and involved process (started the hunt back in november, presumptively diagnosed after a colonoscopy in feb, definitively diagnosed when biopsies came back over spring break) and even when i was simply waiting for results, it occupied a lot of my mental capacity. and ofc it happened to line up with me turning 26 and needing new insurance, which has caused lots of delays. anyone dealing with the american health care system while chronically ill will tell you it’s a frustrating, exhausting process. as of right now, i’m still waiting to start treatment 🫠

but honestly, even more than that, the biggest thing stopping me from writing is… me? 😂 so there’s this thing that happens after i post a chapter that’s like… decision paralysis? except it’s just that sometimes, i literally can’t bring myself to start the next chapter. it’s like, i have this unfounded fear that all my writing up until this point has been some magical fluke out of my control, and i’m not capable of ‘pulling it off’ again. i guess you could call it a form of imposter syndrome (which i already encounter enough in my vet school life). it gets worse after posting something that was a particularly massive undertaking or was insanely well-received bc i’m scared i won’t be able to top it- even though the impact of storytelling is supposed to be cohesive, and it’s unrealistic for every chapter to be ‘bigger and better’ (what does that even mean?) than the last one because they serve different purposes at different points in the story. i know this, rationally, but that doesn’t stop the irrational fear of failure from making me avoid writing.

i’m not sharing this to make excuses or garner sympathy, or fish for compliments, and certainly not to make anyone feel guilty for asking about updates. i just feel like maybe this will resonate with anyone who has the same experience. and also to share hope, because despite how often this feeling rears its ugly head, i’ve still been able to push through and get back to writing- and i’m always very happy with the result. sometimes it just takes longer than i’d like (pro tip: writing on ur phone is less intimidating, tho it’s more of a pain). but in any case, the next chapter of ‘from eden’ is well underway and i still hope to have the series done before summer’s end^^

[cryptidclaw]

Rosebush!

Design Notes:

Its pretty much the exact same as the last one, I just redrew her <3

Character Bio:

Rosebush

(Rosetail)

Lesbian; she/her

Age as of 1st arc's beginning: 8 cycles, 10 moons; ~52 Hyrs

Title meaning: -bush =  A sturdy cat, a cat you can depend on; is especially good at building; a cat who spends much of their time helping around camp and fixing dens

Caretaker of Thunder Order

Mentor: Tawnyspots

Mother: Poppydawn

Father: Windflight

Siblings: Sweet

Half Siblings: Dappledew; Thrushcloud

Kits (outsider sire): Redtail; Spottedleaf; Willowchime

Grandkits: Darkstripe; Sandstorm; Poppy; Flint; Graybelly; Sootfur; Rainwhisker; Sorreltail

Other notable kin: Downnose (niece); Cricketstep (nibling); Star Ravenscourge (nephew); Dustpelt (nephew)

Extra notes: 

She defo has a secret outsider gf or something, she deserves a gf. If I wasnt attached to Snowstorm and Thistleclaw's fucked up relationship plot, Rose would have been Snow's mate.

Character Summary:

Rosebush is a sort of jack of all trades in the Caretaker role, she is very big and strong, she's one of the best builders in the Order, and she does a lot of the heavy lifting around the camp. She also is very loving and empathetic and loves caring for kits, elders and just anyone who needs some love and care. She's a big buff lady who loves and cares about everyone.

Rose is the mother of Redtail, Spottedleaf and Willowchime, she always wanted kits so she found an outsider to sire a litter! Its pretty sad that her kits had such short lives... at least Red and Willow are carried on through their children.

Rose is also in cahoots with Bluefrost and Thrushcloud about Thistleclaw's assassination. She doesn't join in herself, but she instead stays in camp with Spotted, she knew her daughter needed her.

Rose is one of Bluefrost's best friends, Blue, Snowstorm, Thrushcloud and Rosebush are/were a tight nit friend group, and were almost always spending time together. The deaths of Snow, then Rose and then Thrush is one of the biggest blows to Bluefrost's mental health.

Rosebush dies early in the first arc due to illness, though she lasts longer than in canon bec I think her death would be more impactful if her relationship with Bluefrost, her kits and the Order was established first.

...

[Image ID: A digital drawing of Rosetail from Warrior Cats. She is standing with her right side showing, she has a calm expression and a smile on her face. She is a big chubby tortoiseshell and white molly, she is mostly black, with pinkish-orange spotting on her back, tail and the top of her face, there are pink spots on her sides in heart and droplet shapes, there are also a black spot like this on her flank. The lower half and middle of her face is white, and this continues down her fluffy neck and stomach, her paws and tail tip are also white. Her eyes are a teal green color, her inner ears are pink, her nose is dark pink and her eyelashes are green like her eyes./End ID]

[hi-its-meg]

Little update time,

Weight loss is really slow at this point but I’m hardly even trying and I’m the smallest I’ve been since before high school so I really can’t complain. I’d love to lose probably 10-15 more pounds, but we will see if that happens. I should really attempt to put on some muscle, but the gym is scary soooo 🤷🏼‍♀️

Turns out my heart isn’t in tip-top shape. I’ve had issues for over 10 years but finally got around to getting it checked out at my husbands request. I have a 7 day event monitor coming up as well as an echocardiogram which should give us more information. My cardiologist believes I either have something structurally wrong with my heart or I have something called POTs. I’m trying not to fall down the internet wormhole until we have more information, I don’t need the stress of it all. I can simply never catch a break when it comes to my health it seems.

Besides that all is normal in my life. Just boring old life.

[littlemoonastrology]

LittleMoon Astrology Masterlist!

READINGS and REVIEWS

(OPEN) Paid Astrology Readings:

These are just your basic readings! You can use these to get an underlying idea of you, someone you know or your dynamic with another person.

The Love and Career Readings utilise Derivative Astrology techniques to understand a specific area in your chart!

In order to receive a Paid Astrology Reading, check out my Ko-Fi! All you need to do is pay for a reading then fill out the form associated.

⭐ Big 3 Readings (roughly takes 7 days to arrive) £10

⭐ Natal Chart Readings (roughly takes 7 days to arrive) £25

⭐ Synastry Chart Readings (roughly takes 14 days to arrive) £40

⭐ Love Readings (Who would be best for me long term? What kind of career will my future spouse have? examples) (roughly takes 7 days to arrive) £5

⭐ Career Readings (What kind of career will further my personal growth? examples) (roughly takes 7 days to arrive) £5

(CLOSED) Free Astrology Readings:

For these readings I use Techniques from Derivative Astrology in order to look into depth at an area in your life. These WOULD be paid as they take work - but this is just for practice. Make sure you get one while they're free!

In order to receive a Free Astrology Reading, contact me here!

🌙 Education Readings (What kind of course should I do? &lt; example)

🌙 Pet Readings (What kind of pet would suit my lifestyle? &lt; example)

🌙 Hobbies and Interests (What hobby should I start? &lt; example)

🌙 Anything not listed in I do not accept

I do not accept:

🌙 Health Readings

🌙 Pregnancy Readings

🌙 Death Readings

🌙 Time Specific Readings (What age will I ... &lt; example)

🌙 Location Based Readings (What country should I move to? &lt; example)

🌙 Spirituality Readings (Who is my Twin Flame? What is my Starseed Origin? How do spirits communicate to me? &lt; example)

If I haven't listed the kind of Reading you'd like, message me and I'll see what I can do!

The Free Readings I do accept also have limitations - if I don't want to do one (such as if I think it's in bad intent, will have a negative impact etc) I won't do it. Ask me anyway if you're unsure!

Depending on the type of reading (and how many I need to do), certain ones may take longer than others. For an expected time-frame on when your reading will be finished, contact me!

To leave a review for Paid Readings you can comment on my Ko-Fi or message me directly.

To leave a review for Free Readings you can message me with your feedback!

If you feel comfortable with me posting your review, put this emoji somewhere in your feedback: ✨.

Thank you!

Reviews

1 - 2 - 3 - 4

~

ASTRO OBSERVATIONS / RAMBLES / TOP TIPS

1st and 7th House - "The 1st and 7th House in Astrology I found can give an idea of where you and your long-term partner like to touch each other!"

12th House - "The 12th House shows us what we project to the outside world as a mirror to our inside... It shows if we are being authentic to who we truly are."

Moon in the Houses - "The Moon can also tell us what aspect of our life we need to nurture, watch over and protect in order to grow and how. When we direct this energy in the right area, it becomes easier to express and allows us to feel more fulfilled in life."

Nature of Saturn and Top Tips for Saturn in Cancer - "This Planet only wants to see you develop, improve and achieve your goals in life... and some people think it's a cruel or aggressive planet."

~

ASTEROIDS

All About : Juno ⚵

~

PLANETS

Brief Explanations on What the Planets Symbolise in Astrology

~

THE ZODIAC SIGNS

This contains my:

All About The Zodiac Signs Series

This series covers all the basic information for you to understand the 12 Zodiac Signs. It lists: Associated Degrees, Associated Houses, Planetary Rules and so on. Each post also includes 4 paragraphs each about the Zodiac Signs.

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Zodiac Sign Dynamics Series

This series covers basic information about the dynamics between each Zodiac Pairing. Each of these are sorted into categories (based on the dynamic) and have their own post as well.

~~~~~ Sister Signs ~~~~~

Aries and Libra

Taurus and Scorpio (not posted yet)

~

Aspects and Aspect Patterns

Sextiles

[bloodlessbhaalbabe]

Pleading the Fifth

Rating: Explicit

Length: 10,059 Words

Summary:

A modern AU romance where Halsin is the CEO of "The Grove" and Astarion is his personal lawyer. They have been pining over one another secretly for years. Finally, they get a night where they are entirely alone at The Grove headquarters.

BIG , BIG THANKS TO @tatterings and @lotsofthinkythoughts FOR LETTING ME HOUND YOU WITH SMUT ALL THE TIME SO I COULD FINISH AND POST THIS

Posted on AO3 & Below:

With his forehead pressed against the darkened passenger window, the city lights of Fae Rûncisco were a distorted blur in the distance. The silent driver expertly navigated through the narrow, steep hills that converged on the shores of the harbor.

The passenger swirled the crystal glass in his hand, sending condensation cascading down the sides. It left a damp semi-circle on his freshly-pressed hemp trousers. The bitter liquid inside was still untouched. It was a prop, rather than a true drink; something to wrap his hands around when he didn’t know what to do with them. It also allowed him to blend in with his coworkers; and to be privy to discussions that otherwise might not occur without their guards being let down.

A soft squealing of brake pads announced their arrival at the ivy-covered tower. It loomed above him, obscuring his view of the starless night sky. The driver parked the car, flipped on the hazard lights, and unfastened his seatbelt. The passenger lifted his head from the window as the driver rounded to open his door.

“Shall I stay and wait for you, sir?” the driver asked, as the man stepped out of the car. The passenger threw his suit jacket over his shoulder and tossed his beverage into the bushes before turning to give his driver a soft smile.

“No, Rath, why don’t you head home to your wife?” he replied in a low voice, heavy with exhaustion. “I’ll catch up on some work and see you in the morning.”

“If you’re sure, sir? I don’t mind,” Rath replied.

The man bent to place the glass on the seat before patting down his pants pockets. He retrieved a small wad of bills and sifted through the first few to count, before shrugging and placing the entire stack in his driver’s hand.

“Treat her to some flowers and wine. Tell her I am sorry for pulling you away from your anniversary. It’s not your fault that I hate driving,” the passenger said. He stepped up to the curb. “The night is still young, Rath. If you need me to make accommodations for another driver in the morning, please let me know.”

“I will, sir. Nettie understands. T-Thank you, Mr. Woods. Have a good night,” the driver said with a stammer. Rath knew not to argue with his boss over any tip he was given, or at the insinuation of taking a day off. Despite it being a regular occurrence, it never ceased to surprise him that he worked for a man with so much power; let alone one who still treated every person with kindness and utmost respect.

“You as well,” replied Mr. Woods kindly, speaking over his shoulder and dismissing Rath with a wave ‘goodbye’. He pulled the retractable badge from his waist and pressed it against the scanner. The doors unlocked with a quiet click.

Mr. Woods strode past the elevator and pulled open the door to the stairwell. This was yet another dual-purpose habit of his: it was both the “greener”, energy efficient option, and it also gave him time to think. In his 10 years of owning the building, he had never run into anyone in the stairwells. He enjoyed the privacy they offered; it granted him time to run through the day ahead or get lost in his thoughts. He also enjoyed the health benefits of taking the stairs every day. He could have gotten away with indulging in the luxury of the lift, especially this late at night, but he preferred to not take the risk.

Thirty-six floors to the top. Seventy-two flights of stairs. The man, feeling the strain and heat from exertion, pulled at his bowtie and left it unraveled at his collar. He popped open the first few buttons of his powder white shirt and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, the fabric straining slightly over his muscles. His heart pounded in his ears as he continued, chest heaving with each flight.

Once he reached the top, he opened the door with a groan, kicking off his shoes and discarding his jacket on the floor. He released the elastic band that was wrapped around his hair, letting his auburn locks fall, and ran a hand through the damp strands.

As he approached his office, he noticed a light within; above a desk lamp, a dark figure leaned on his desk, both hands pressed against the top, examining something strewn over the surface. He crept closer, and leaned against the doorframe, which creaked under the pressure of the large man.

He flicked on the overhead lights. The now-illuminated figure jumped backwards, gasping, startled by the sudden company. The large man met his gaze. A smirk danced across his face as his intruder’s green eyes blinked in the sudden light. The larger man crossed his arms and bit his lip to suppress a laugh. He enjoyed seeing his typically-composed lawyer all flustered. It was an interesting change of pace from their usual friendly, sometimes flirty, professional banter.

“By the gods, Mr. Woods, you nearly sent me to an early grave,” the man cried, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “What are you even doing here? I thought you had a fundraiser tonight?”

“You know me. Last one to show up and the first to leave, but I could be asking you the same question, Astarion. You are in my office,” he replied, nodding toward the nameplate on the door.

Astarion closed the manila folder that he had been studying, and stacked the documents into an orderly pile. “Something urgent came up. I was preparing everything for next week for our meeting, but since you’re here–”

“If it wasn't urgent enough to bring up tonight, then it can wait until Monday.”

“Mr. Woods–”

“Halsin.”

“I– Halsin, please–”

Halsin smiled, his eyes glittered mischievously. They had known each other for years. Astarion knew almost everything about Halsin, but Astarion didn’t speak much about his personal life. Whenever Halsin talked about his own interests, he would only get a sneak peek into who Astarion was outside of work. He genuinely liked Astarion. He appreciated the work ethic and passion of his lawyer, but he desperately wanted to know more about him. More than just what they had in common.

“Have a drink with me, Astarion,” Halsin said, cocking his head to the side.

Astarion opened and closed his mouth. His mind reeled for any valid excuse to bring them back to the topic at hand, but he knew that Halsin didn’t work off-hours and to argue would be pointless.

Taking the man’s silence as a “yes”, Halsin pushed from the doorframe and stepped into the room, padding over to his desk. He reached beside Astarion to open his lower desk drawer. He retrieved two thin-rimmed glasses and an unlabeled bottle from the back, and nestled them in the crook of his arm. He used his foot to shut the drawer; it rattled closed with a bang.

“Follow me,” Halsin winked and nodded toward the door. He had a smile that traveled all the way up to his eyes. Astarion rolled his eyes before returning the smile.

Astarion wasn’t sure what to expect from this. It wasn’t common for clients to want to spend time with him outside of normal business hours. But he knew that Halsin was anything but common. He wasn’t like any of the other white collar folks he represented or with whom he begrudgingly associated.

Astarion had laughed more in his meetings with Halsin than any other client, or really, any other person. They often found themselves deep in an elongated tangent that stemmed from a forgotten work-related topic. Seeing Halsin every week had been something to look forward to and, despite it toeing the line of professionalism, it was nice to have a friend.

Halsin slipped by Astarion and sauntered out of the office. Astarion followed closely behind Halsin as he made his way over to the stairwell. They stepped over the remnants of Halsin’s outfit on the floor, and walked up one more flight of stairs to the roof.

The evening air was warm and comfortable; with a light breeze that tousled Astarion’s soft, white curls. The majority of the surface area of the roof was covered in a dense clover lawn. When Halsin created The Grove and bought the company tower all those years ago, he had a vision for the architectural design of the facility. He wanted a mini-oasis into which he could retreat during the hardest work days. On the roof, much like in the deserted stairwell, he found himself in solitude, and lost in thought.

The pergolas had dense, green mosquito netting on each side, with entrances that could be opened or shut for privacy. Thick vines of ivy traveled up from the side of the building itself, and trailed onto the wooden planks of the pergolas’ tops, offering protection to the plush furniture inside.

Astarion sucked in a deep breath as he observed his surroundings: the darkened street below, and then out to the harbor beyond. Living in the city was convenient for his job, but the rooftop reminded him of all the color there was in the world. He lost track of the last time he spent a day outside the dull concrete towers he frequented. He tended to forget how much he missed the simplicity of fresh air.

“So, why did you leave the party early?” Astarion prompted, turning around to push the draped netting aside and stepping into the pergola. He watched Halsin with interest as the man prepared their drinks. He waltzed over to where Halsin sat, running his elegant fingers through his white curls.

“Have a taste first, and let me know what you think,” Halsin replied, pulling an annoyed sigh from Astarion. Halsin popped open the bottle and filled the glasses with the drink from the decanter. It sparkled in the thin-rimmed glass as Halsin handed the drink to the lawyer. Astarion nodded in thanks as he gingerly plucked the glass from Hasin’s hand.The larger man clinked their glasses together and took a large sip, smacking his lips at the sweet, tart flavor.

“You really are avoidant tonight, you know,” Astarion said. He obliged regardless, pulling in a mouthful of the bubbly drink and letting it swirl around his mouth before swallowing. His eyebrows raised as he pursed his lips in pleasant surprise. He hummed with appreciation. “This is… delightful! Refreshing even.”

“Thank you,” Halsin said enthusiastically, a smile tugging at his cheeks, “I made it myself. It’s hard honey cider made from homegrown Ashmead Kernel apples. I imported seedlings from The High Forest near the village I grew up in. It took me four years to gather just thirty apples to create this single bottle of cider. Well, this and a taster jar of course.”

Astarion let out a laugh, shaking his head. He always found himself impressed with Halsin; the man’s dogged determination allowed him to succeed in nearly every field in which he’d dared to explore. “Darling, is there anything you can’t do?”

“Feign interest in the lives of the mundane elites,” he replied honestly, tossing back his glass, and leaning forward to fill it again. Halsin did not notice the raised eyebrows of his companion. He pressed his back into the couch and fidgeted with his hands, his fingernails clicking away at the rim of the glass.

Astarion pushed aside one of Halsin’s legs from the sectional and plopped down adjacent to him. His movements jostled Halsin’s arm, causing rivulets of cider to spill over the edge of his cup and drip down Halsin’s arm. Halsin shook his head and lapped up the sticky liquid with his tongue.

“It truly must be hard being the most interesting man in the room,” Astarion joked, making Halsin snort incredulously. He leaned onto his side, peering over at his boss with an open palm pressed to the side of his head.

From this high up, they could barely hear the sounds of the cars driving below. Only a gust of wind rustling the netting and ivy leaves around them disturbed the quiet air.

Tufts of Halsin’s hair fell in front of his face. Astarion’s grip on his glass tightened, as he fought the urge to tuck it behind his boss’ ear. He felt his concentration waning as he blinked up at Halsin, admiring his chiseled jaw, the scars on his forehead, his broad barreled chest, and his fitted clothes stretched to their limits. Astarion’s mind often drifted in his presence.

“That is the unfortunate side of it. The party wasn’t about what I am capable of doing, or what my passions are. No one asks about the purpose of the fundraiser. No one cares. It’s superficial. It’s only about what their money can buy them, so it can directly benefit themselves,” Halsin ranted, releasing a heavy sigh. His shoulders sagged as he finished his drink. “Societies should be judged based on how they treat their most vulnerable. And I feel foolish for even complaining because now…. I’ve become a part of the problem too.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better I care about you…and I get to reap the benefits of your passions,” Astarion replied with a warm smile, clinking his glass against Halsin’s once more. Halsin leaned closer to Astarion, dropping his voice to a low grumble. He could smell his bergamot cologne dabbed behind his ears.

“But I am paying you to be here, Astarion,” he retorted, placing his empty glass on the table.

“Not right now. I’m paid by the hour and you declined my offer to discuss business. So, I suppose…I am here as a friend,” Astarion stated matter-of-factly. His curls bounced with each word as he dramatically fluttered his hand in dismissal.

Halsin smiled and let out a soft chuckle. He deeply admired the man in front of him. He was grateful that the majority of the politics weren’t on his plate and he had someone who understood the ins and outs of legalese. Halsin was only supposed to be a climate scientist, after all.

In return for his services, Halsin paid Astarion handsomely. After a while, Astarion even declined the offer of excess funds, inspired by Halsin’s kindness and his belief that it would be best spent elsewhere. Halsin decided to place those funds in a separate account and donated it to a charitable cause under his friend’s name instead.

Halsin did not know when this fondness for him bloomed. Somewhere between the hours spent locked in one of The Grove’s meeting rooms or up on the rooftop, he found himself lost while watching Astarion. Halsin hyper-fixated on Astarion’s plump, pink lips . Or he imagined himself in the lawyer’s lap, undoing the buttons of his shirt. His inattention likely frustrated Astarion to no end, as the lawyer had to repeat himself constantly.

Halsin could brush it off as a crush… if it had only been an attraction for his beautiful face. But there was so much more to Astarion. He was the only person who genuinely made Halsin laugh. He had a subtle kindness which he demonstrated through small, significant gifts; he always procured a large, steaming cup of Halsin’s favorite tea whenever they met, or sent him articles he thought Halsin would find interesting. They shared interest in the same sorts of books, and often read them at the same time so they could have a discussion about them.

When it came to work, Astarion, outside of actual business needs, had always made his counsel available for no charge; Halsin was sure that he had other clients who would pay top-dollar for his advice. He often found his stomach in knots when thinking about what he shared with Astarion, and he battled with himself on whether to ask if his lawyer was interested in sharing more. He felt silly, like a highschool crush, wondering if Astarion had a significant other; the man had always managed to be more reserved about his personal life, despite their many years of friendship and working together. Halsin was surprised to realize how little he knew about Astarion, despite feeling like he knew the man intimately well.

Astarion downed his drink and placed it on the table. He licked his lips to taste the lingering tartness and turned back to Halsin.

“What did you mean when you said you were foolish for complaining? That you are a part of the problem,” Astarion asked, pulling Halsin back into reality. Halsin met his gaze, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

“Am I not just another billionaire who says earnestly that ‘money can’t buy you happiness?’ I could have everything I ever wanted, and I do, yet it is still not enough. I am not doing enough. I am furthering the cycle of using money to satisfy the people who don’t deserve it…on blind faith that they will actually let me do something good with their donations.” Halsin dragged a hand through his long, auburn locks and then down his face. “I wasn’t supposed to be here, Astarion. I am so lucky to have experienced all of this, and yet I don’t want any of it. It feels wrong to live so lavishly when there are so many people still suffering.”

“You are foolish,” Astarion replied, giving in to his urge, and tucking that piece of hair behind Halsin’s ear. His hand lingered against his cheek. “ But only in the sense that you are selfless to a fault. You have lost sight of all of the good you have done in the world. When your uncle’s fracking drill blew up, which you played no part in, who paid for the entire clean up and conservation of the ocean? Who dismantled the company that made it happen? Who donates their entire paycheck each month to local shelters, foster families, and addiction clinics? Who completely rebuilt the filtration system for an entire city when their water supply was spoiled?”

Halsin rolled his eyes and looked away bashfully. A blush crept across his cheeks. He never expected praise when it came to the things he did. All he ever wanted to do was make a positive impact on the world. It seemed like he was constantly making up for the consequences of other people’s actions and it was disheartening.

Astarion cupped Halsin’s jaw, forcing him to meet his gaze. Halsin’s eyes widened and sucked in a quick breath. Astarion shook his head and smiled softly.

“Halsin, no one else cares but you. The love you have for the world and its inhabitants has impacted hundreds of thousands of people. Somehow you’re one of the rare few that hasn’t been corrupted by power and money, and even better, you despise it. You are kind and considerate. You are passionate and loving. You are thoughtful and creative. You are humble and so beautiful. You are unmatched, beyond comparison.”

Astarion paused. He was closer to Halsin than he had ever been before. His eyes trailed down from his eyes to his lips, watching as Halsin dragged his tongue over it. Halsin swallowed, his mouth watered and his chest heaved at Astarion’s proximity, his heart pounding in his ears.

Astarion glanced up to meet Halsin’s eyes only to find them cast down at his own lips.

Caught up in his whirl of emotions, he pulled Halsin into a kiss. Halsin moaned in surprise and melted into his embrace, immediately returning the kiss.

Halsin’s hand grabbed at the lawyer’s shirt to pull him closer. Astarion pulled away first, breath catching in his throat, lips red and plump. He looked at Halsin as if waiting for him to move away, but his hands stayed wrapped up in the collar of his shirt.

“Sorry, I–... I didn’t mean–” Astarion whispered.

“No, I-I want this,” Halsin panted, tightening his grip on the collar of Astarion’s shirt, “I want you.”

Astarion blinked in surprise. They flirted from time to time, but he didn’t think that Halsin had thought anything of it. He wasn’t one to question anyone’s sexuality. He was almost positive that Halsin knew about his preferences, but it amazed him to think that Halsin was interested in him too. Without a second thought, Astarion removed his glasses, set them on the table, and moved to straddle Halsin’s lap.

Halsin’s chest heaved, feeling a little lightheaded and momentarily flabbergasted that the sole object of his desire for the past few years actually wanted him too. He no longer had to imagine what it would be like to touch him. To be able to feel his muscles under his fingers and press the smaller man against him. He felt himself harden in anticipation.

Astarion reveled in the way Halsin’s strong hands slid down his back and squeezed his thighs. Halsin leaned up and pressed his lips against Astarion’s jaw, tongue and mouth working their way toward his ear and then his neck. A shiver ran down his spine as Halsin moved to the other side of his neck; it made his cock twitch and swell in his trousers.

Astarion wrapped his arms around the larger man’s neck and pulled him into another kiss, nipping at his lip. Halsin opened his mouth and let their tongues explore. Desire pooled at the base of Halsin’s stomach and settled into his groin. Halsin spread his legs and leaned further back into the couch.

His hands gripped onto the lawyer’s shirt and untucked it from his pants, letting his fingers graze across sensitive skin. Astarion pressed himself down into Halsin and rolled his hips, feeling the larger man’s excitement growing between his legs. Halsin groaned into Astarion’s mouth and pushed against him. His fingers unfastened the buttons revealing silky, pale skin. Halsin peppered kisses from his sternum down, as Astarion worked around him to unclasp his lover’s shirt.

Halsin looked up at Astarion, his pupils blown out with desire as Astarion cradled Halsin’s face in his hands smiling through his heavy breaths. “I am hesitant to admit how often I let my mind wander when it came to the possibility of being with you,” he said. “I didn’t know you thought of me that way and I never wanted to press in case I was wrong.”

“And to think we could have done this months ago,” Astarion laughed softly. He leaned back and watched as Halsin’s eyes trailed up and down his body as though he wanted to etch the image of him into his mind forever.

“If I may, Astarion, you are stunning. You are a masterpiece. Carved with delicate hands. I could write sonnets about your beauty.”

Astarion blushed a rich shade of red. He huffed out a laugh, smiling sheepishly. “Mr. Woods, with the way you’re behaving, I have a feeling you have a whole litany of poems written about me already.”

“It’s not the minutes I am writing when I am in meetings with you,” Halsin smiled and unbuckled Astarion’s belt, pulling it from the loops and tossing it on the floor. He pressed his palm up against Astarion’s clothed length, and admired Astarion’s mouth as it dropped open. The lawyer’s small gasps turned into moans, falling from his beautiful, bruised lips, as Halsin stroked him through his slacks.

Halsin’s eager fingers unbuttoned his trousers and pulled down the zipper, sliding his hand below the waistband. He wrapped his large hand around Astarion’s aching erection, pulling it free from its prison. Astarion sat up and pushed down his pants to his thighs before perching back on Halsin’s lap. Halsin rubbed a thumb over Astarion’s slit, pre-cum spreading around the sensitive head and down his shaft.

He slowly pumped his hand up and down Astarion’s length, watching as the man above him twitched and gasped with each pull. Astarion was not lacking in length in the slightest, despite Halsin’s hand nearly covering the entirety of his shaft. He felt enveloped with each tug, squeeze, and twist. Astarion captured Halsin’s mouth with his, parting his lips, tasting the sweet honey cider that lingered on his tongue. His hand gripped at the long hair on the back of Halsin’s head, his hips slowly rocking against the larger man’s calloused fingers.

Astarion’s hands relinquished their grasp and slid down Halsin’s hairy chest, stopping only for a moment to tease his taut nipples. Halsin moaned into his mouth as he continued down and unfastened Halsin’s trousers. Astarion paused for a moment as Halsin twisted his wrist on the head of his cock, sending chills down his spine, shuddering through the movements.

Astarion pulled away from his lips and pressed his knees into the couch on either side of Halsin’s thighs.

“Come on, Halsin, don’t be shy,” Astarion said feverishly. His hands gripped the waistline of Halsin’s pants.

Halsin lifted up his rear from the couch for a moment as Astarion yanked down the other man’s slacks. Halsin’s engorged cock slid from his underwear and hit him in the stomach with a slap. Halsin hissed at the contact and brought his hand up to grasp around his girth, while still squeezing Astarion with his other.

Astarion gulped at the sight. He knew Halsin was big. There’s no way a man of his stature wouldn’t be supporting something significant below the belt. But Astarion’s thoughts were not as generous as they should have been. Halsin was massive, a couple inches longer and girthier than his own, and just as tan as the rest of him. At the base, Halsin’s hair gathered, curly and unkempt.

He watched as Halsin stroked a heavy hand up his shaft, his foreskin languidly rising over his head and then pulled taut on the downstroke. He caught Halsin’s eyes trailing from their swollen arousals and up until he met his gaze. Halsin released the hand wrapped around Astarion, making him whimper in protest, and raised it to his lips.

“Spit,” he demanded. Astarion’s cock twitched at the command. His mouth was already involuntarily watering.

Astarion obediently collected his saliva and pushed it out into Halsin’s hand. Halsin’s hand fell back down and coated both of their members with Astarion’s spit, mixing in the drops of pre-cum. Astarion shifted his hips forward. Halsin wrapped both of his large hands around their lengths and pressed them together, making Astarion buck in response. Astarion slowly started to thrust within his hands, the pressure and warmth from Halsin underneath him making his head fall back. He felt the older man’s eyes on him, enjoying the beauty of his lover using him to please himself.

“Gods, Halsin,” Astarion moaned breathily. He rested his head against Halsin’s shoulder and reached underneath his lover’s hands, pulling and massaging their balls. Halsin grunted as his hips jolted, tightening his grip on their cocks. Their heads messily slid over the other as Astarion continued to rut and tug, his lips pressed against Halsin’s neck, his teeth biting down softly, sucking on his tender flesh. “H-Halsin… so close… I’m…”

“Wait,” Halsin commanded, he felt his breath catch in his throat, almost stopping himself from acting on his deepest desires. Astarion could feel the pressure building inside of him, his skin flushed with a thin sheen of sweat. “Stand up. Let me taste you.”

It took everything in Astarion to push himself away from Halsin and stand up onto his jellied legs. Halsin leaned forward to the edge of the couch and looked up at Astarion, nearly drooling at the view of his lover touching himself. His mouth fell open hungrily and Astarion stepped closer, sliding his member along the larger man’s tongue.

Astarion caressed Halsin’s cheeks with his thumb. He hadn’t expected Halsin to be so eager and submissive for him. There was a side of Astarion that still respected him as his superior and he didn’t want to overstep any boundaries. Although I think we’re long past that, Astarion mused. He was intrigued by this dynamic switch and was pleasantly surprised that there was still plenty that he didn't know about Halsin. Astarion had always imagined that he would be the one in between his thighs tasting him, but this was better. He enjoyed the power and control: to look down at Halsin, his boss, with his cock resting on his tongue. He saw only excitement and bliss; like Halsin’s entire being desired to worship him.

Halsin grabbed Astarion’s hands and placed them on either side of his head. He smiled around Astarion’s cock as the younger man grabbed a handfuls of his hair. Halsin wrapped his lips tightly around his lover’s length and bobbed his head from tip to base, gagging as it pressed against the back of his throat. He closed his eyes and reveled in the sweet, salty flavor of Astarion, moaning to himself. One hand pulled at his own leaking member; his other gripped firmly around Astarion’s hip.

“Look at me, Halsin,” Astarion growled through gritted teeth. Halsin’s eyes shot open and he gazed up in awe at Astarion. He had seen how poignant and dynamic the lawyer was in their meetings; the way he convinced and captivated any one who dared to rebuttal him.

But, he had never been on the receiving end of that power. Astarion never demanded anything from him and respected his decisions. Halsin felt his heart leap in his chest at the ferocity in his voice, desperate to please him, to be at his beck and call.

“Good boy,” Astarion said as he thrusted into Halsin’s mouth.

He watched Halsin take his entire length, enjoying every second. He enjoyed every lap of the larger man’s tongue against his cock. Halsin’s hand erratically pumped his own cock below, sending the vibrations of his moans into Astarion’s shaft as he fucked his mouth. Astarion could feel the little puffs of breaths from Halsin’s nose tickling the short hairs at the base. He could barely hold himself back as he admired Halsin’s pretty little mouth wrapped around his shaft. Astarion’s chest heaved as he felt the pressure build as he grew closer to climax.

“Fuck, Halsin… I-I… I’m…” Astarion stammered, out of breath. He leaned forward and shuddered, spilling his load down Halsin’s throat, who eagerly swallowed his thick bands of cum. Astarion could feel Halsin’s throat closing with each burst he released; Halsin’s tongue swirled around the head of his cock, savoring the taste. Astarion’s hand drifted to cup Halsin’s jaw as he slid in and out of his pliant mouth, slowly riding through his orgasm.

Moments later, Halsin made a choking noise, his hand twisting and pulling at his arousal, his eyes rolled back into his head. Halsin’s nails dug into Astarion’s hip. His shoulders shook and his seed spilled all over his hand and on the floor. Halsin huffed and groaned around Astarion’s cock, shivers rolling through him.

Astarion pulled himself out of Halsin’s mouth. Halsin let out a sigh, twitching with aftershocks, and blinking away tears that were forced out of him. He grinned up at Astarion and grabbed the pale, lean man, pulling him into his lap.

He nuzzled his face against Astarion’s and pressed kisses onto his cheeks, chin, and then lips.

“You’re amazing,” Halsin murmured into his lover’s skin, continuing to pepper kisses wherever his mouth could reach. Astarion smiled and let out a small giggle. He placed his hands on Halsin’s chest and stroked the wispy hairs. Halsin’s heart pounded against his fingers, slowing with each breath.

“And you’re sticky,” Astarion replied grimacing, feeling a huff of laughter bubble out of Halsin.

“My office bathroom has a shower, if you’re interested,” Halsin suggested. His thick eyebrows raised.

“An entire shower is hidden in your private bathroom? Really?” Astarion looked at Halsin, a crease forming between his brows.

“Just one of the many perks of being a CEO, I suppose,” Halsin shrugged, patting Astarion’s butt to have him stand up.

“You spend way too many nights in your office, Halsin,” Astarion chastised, “But a shower does sound lovely.”

Before heading back down, both men took a moment to tuck themselves back into their trousers, stretch their aching muscles, and share a knowing laugh about not being as young as they used to be.

_____________

Halsin walked into the bathroom and shimmied out of his trousers, before he glanced at himself in the mirror. He smiled as he admired all of the red markings all over his body where Astarion had pressed, bit, and rubbed. His thin lips looked a little red and raw, and his hair was still slightly sticking up from when Astarion had tightly held on.

Like reins to a mighty steed, Halsin thought to himself, chuckling at the visual. Astarion joined him in the mirror, wrapping his arms around Halsin from behind, and pressed kisses into his muscled back. The taller man smiled and leaned into his touch, taking in a deep breath, rubbing the arms that encircled him.

After several years of pining over his lawyer, he never thought this would be a possibility. He did his best to hide the way his eyes secretly slid down his lean frame whenever Astarion was turned away from him in meetings. He struggled with not sighing dreamily with his head in his hands whenever Astarion would lean over the large table heatedly speaking to whoever they had on speakerphone that day.

He found himself unable to sleep as his mind flipped through the various scenarios of his day. There had been many late evenings where he sat and fantasized what it would be like to feel Astarion’s skin against his. It always ended with his hand sneaking down under the waistline of his pants. A shameful, guilty feeling emerged in his chest at the quickly spiraling, explicit thoughts that made his hand drip with his spend. But this was better than anything he could have imagined because it was real.

Halsin brought up one of Astarion’s hands and pressed his lips into it before turning to the sleek, grey tiled shower. The glass door opened with a slight squeak as he stepped onto the dark pebbled surface and twisted the handle on the wall. Instant hot water poured out of the dual waterfall shower heads attached to the ceiling. As Halsin adjusted the temperature, plumes of steam rose above, and clouded the room in a misty fog. Halsin stepped into the spray and soaked his head, running his fingers over his face, and through his hair. He groaned at the water pressure and cracked his neck on both sides.

Astarion watched Halsin with a feral, but appreciative gaze. Throughout all of the moments they had spent together he had tried to picture what was hiding under Halsin’s button-down shirts, but his mind could not predict the statuesque nature of his rippling body. His gaze followed the water as it descended over his flesh and through the divots of the muscles. He marveled at the thick veins that pushed against the skin of Halsin’s biceps and the way they flexed with every arm gesture. Astarion’s spent cock twitched, making him flinch from sensitivity as it pushed against the fabric of his trousers. He bit at his lip and pushed his pants down his legs, clearing his mind from his sultry thoughts for the time being.

A burst of cold sent goosebumps up his arms as Astarion stepped into the shower in front of Halsin. He looked down at Astarion with a soft smile, adoring the way his white curls flattened against his head as he moved into the water stream. The water dripped from the smaller man’s eyelashes and trailed down his sharp cheekbones. Astarion sighed, slightly spent from their activities, and rolled his shoulders under the spray, adjusting to the heat and pressure of the flow.

Halsin reached over to grab a bottle of shampoo and waggled it at Astarion. Astarion nodded in approval and Halsin shook the bottle, pouring the contents into his hand. The smaller man moved closer to Halsin and rested his head on Halsin’s chest, his arms wrapping entirely around his torso, pulling himself flush against his skin. Halsin worked the shampoo into Astarion’s hair, digging his nails into his scalp.

“Mmm, do you do this with all of your lawyers?” Astarion teased, feeling Halsin's stomach shake with laughter.

“Only the cute ones,” Halsin countered, moving Astarion’s head to scrub his entire scalp. He pressed his thumbs behind his ears and moved them down his neck. Astarion slumped more into Halsin as he worked his fingers, pinching and kneading, on his neck and shoulders pulling out breathy noises of appreciation. Halsin gently turned the smaller man to have the water wash out the suds. He then placed a chaste kiss against his lips and removed Astarion’s arms from his torso to grab the conditioner, repeating the cycle of rubbing it into his curly locks. Halsin gingerly scrunched up the conditioner with expert hands and then rinsed.

Astarion stood there with a smile on his lips as he allowed Halsin to pamper and dote on him. He relished the feeling of Halsin’s rough hands and lips all over his body as he scrubbed soap into his delicate skin. Astarion couldn’t remember the last time someone spent so much time and effort on his comfort and pleasure. Between the desire to be tasted and the attention to detail Halsin showed as he scrubbed every square inch of his body, he felt his heart flutter for the man who had revealed so much of himself that night. He felt vulnerable and safe with Halsin.

He watched as Halsin squatted down and thoroughly soaped all around and in between his legs and up through his cheeks. Astarion let out a bashful giggle as he was moved back into the water and Halsin’s hands traded the place of the washcloth to remove the soap. He shivered with goosebumps rising upon his skin as Halsin stood up and pressed his lips onto his forehead.

Halsin ran his fingers through Astarion’s damp, white curls. His hand rested upon his jaw. Astarion’s eyes closed. He wrapped his fingers around Halsin’s forearm and pressed his lips onto his wrist. His thumb rubbed against the skin and he smiled. It had been a while since he felt so tenderly and affectionately cared for. Halsin pulled away and pressed his forehead into Astarion’s, smiling softly down at him.

“Okay, your turn,” Astarion murmured while leaning over to grab a washcloth.

Halsin stepped away to grab the shampoo bottle. He poured the rose scented liquid into his hand and scrubbed it into his scalp. Astarion poured the body wash onto the fabric. Astarion rubbed the cloth all over, lifting up Halsin’s arms and getting into every nook and cranny of his body, Halsin squirmed slightly. The fabric tickled his skin. Astarion pushed Halsin into the stream of the water and washed off all of the soap and suds from his body. Once Halsin was conditioned, Astarion stepped back into Halsin’s space and wrapped his arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss.

Halsin ran his hands up and down Astarion’s back, moving to lean against the chilly tiled walls. They held each other close, letting the endless hot water supply pour over them while they kissed deeply, their tongues lazily overlapping and tangling together. Their bodies pressed against each other with no sexual intent, just the desire to touch and explore.

Astarion pulled away first, a simple sweet smile delicately placed on his lips as he nuzzled himself into Halsin’s chest.

“I don’t want to leave here,” Astarion sighed.

“I know, but I have enough wrinkles as is,” Halsin joked, wrapping a hand around Astarion’s neck and pulling him into one last kiss before pushing off the wall and turning off the water supply.

He opened the shower door, steam spilling out of the enclosed area, and grabbed two towels, handing one of them to Astarion. Halsin wrapped the towel around him, folding down the fabric securely against his waist. He then grabbed another towel and bent over, flipping his hair down. Halsin expertly twisted the towel around his head and stood back up, twisting the towel around and balancing it on the top of his head. Astarion couldn’t suppress his laugh at the now-turbaned Halsin. Halsin turned and raised an eyebrow.

“What? I hate when my wet hair drips down my back. It’s the easiest technique to prevent that,” Halsin said earnestly. Astarion smiled and shook his head, wrapping his own towel around his body securely.

“I just wasn’t expecting it. You look beautiful with your hair all done up like that,” Astarion teased, pulling an eye roll out of Halsin as he left the bathroom.

Astarion followed him to his desk at the back of the room and plopped into his office chair with Halsin in front of him. Halsin leaned over the desk, curiously shuffling through some of the files that Astarion placed there. Astarion’s eyes wandered down the damp skin of the man in front of him and bit his lip, getting lost in the pull of Halsin’s muscles under his skin. He swallowed dryly and looked around the office for something to drink. He moved to open the drawer that Halsin was in earlier, trying to find more hard honey cider, but his fingers came across a different glass bottle instead.

“Astarion, don’t–” Halsin cut himself off, his eyes widened as Astarion pulled out a mid-sized, half-used, glass bottle. The viscosity of the clear liquid inside meant there was no question about its nature; Halsin kept lube in his desk. Astarion’s eyes sparkled mischievously at Halsin.

“Oh, what is this?” Astarion gleamed while turning the bottle in his hand.

“I– uh…” Halsin’s cheeks formed a deep red blush, trailing all the way up to his ears. He couldn’t formulate a proper excuse this time. He’s been laid bare and exposed. All of his wildest fantasies and dreams flashing through his head as the main character of his vivid imaginations is sat there behind him. He swallowed hard at the lump in his throat, not daring to make eye contact.

“My, my, Halsin,” Astarion paused, tilting the bottle dramatically to emphasize the amount of room leftover inside the container. “You really do spend too much time here in your office. What could possibly be on your mind that couldn’t wait for you to get home to touch yourself?”

Halsin doesn’t turn to look at Astarion. He kept his eyes focused on the manila folders decorating his desk, shifting awkwardly at the playful interrogation. Astarion could see his blush warming the skin of the older man’s shoulders.

“Was it me, Halsin?” Astarion’s voice is low and alluring, closely eyeing Halsin’s sharp intake of breath, the tense muscles and fidgeting hands. “Oh, that struck a nerve. How many times have you thought about me in this room?”

Astarion bit back a cheeky smile. Still no reply from the larger man. Figuring that it might be better to stay silent than to implicate himself more. Astarion taught him well.

“You know damn well that pleading the fifth doesn’t bode well for a plea of innocence,” Astarion tutted. His hand slid up the outside of Halsin’s thigh, “What did you have me do to you, Halsin? Did I have your pretty cock in my mouth as you sat in this chair? Or did you have me bent over your desk exactly like I have you now?”

Halsin cleared his throat. “Quite the opposite actually.”

Astarion bit his lip and smirked, his eyes darkening at the revelation. He leaned back into the leather chair. “Well, darling, if that’s the case, then I’m not quite sure why you’re still standing,” he paused, a wicked idea crossing his mind. “Get on your knees.”

Halsin’s back straightened at the command, he looked over his shoulder at Astarion who was splayed out, legs spread, looking up at him through heavy eyelids and with one leg already exposed from his falling towel. He swallowed hard at the lump in his throat. His cock twitched with delight, pressing up against the fabric wrapped around his waist. Perhaps Astarion is a great lawyer because he can read minds, Halsin thought. He hid his smile and turned slowly to face Astarion, obediently dropping to his knees and placing his hands on the inside of Astarion’s thighs.

Astarion looked down at the larger man in front of him, “Look at you. Sitting there so desperately.”

Astarion brought up a hand to cup Halsin’s blushing cheek. His thumb trailed across his skin and pulled down Halsin’s plump bottom lip, and slid into his mouth. Halsin closed his mouth around Astarion’s thumb, his silky tongue sucking on it softly. Arousal swirled down into Astarion’s groin.

“Such a good listener,” Astarion bit down on his lip in focus and pushed his thumb to the back of Halsin’s throat, pulling out a gag as he forcefully opened his mouth. He relished the feeling of Halsin’s hot breath against his skin. A small smile pulled at the sides of Halsin’s lips. Astarion used his other hand to push off Halsin’s towel turban and ran his fingers through Halsin’s damp waves.

He licked his lips as he gripped all of Halsin’s hair in his hand while Halsin lowered himself in between Astarion’s legs. Halsin slid his fingers under Astarion’s towel and shoved it away revealing Astarion’s hardening arousal, twitching excitedly as Halsin leaned in and licked along underneath his shaft.

Halsin nuzzled his face into the base, his lips pulled at the skin of his balls, letting one fall into his mouth, suckling softly, while his hand gently massaged the other. Astarion’s eyes fell closed, shockwaves of pleasure pulsed through his body and back down to his cock. Drops of pre-cum had already surfaced, and Halsin lapped it up eagerly, wrapping his lips around the head, his tongue circling around and across the leaking slit. He moaned, taking the entire length into his mouth. His eyes fluttered closed in ecstasy, akin to a sommelier savoring the flavor of a wine. His enthusiasm was encouraged by the little whimpers he was pulling from his lover.

The grip on Halsin’s hair tightened as he slowly bobbed his head all the way down Astarion’s shaft, feeling it twitch and grow by the second. Halsin pulled off with wet pop. Before going back down, he wrapped his hand around the base of Astarion’s cock and pulled up until his lips met his hand. Halsin pumped his hand and twisted his wrist. He closed his eyes, kissing his tight fist around Astarion’s swollen cock. Astarion shuddered and gasped, his head falling back into the leather chair while his hips pushed forward into his pliant mouth. He could feel his desire bubbling up inside of him and pulling him closer and closer to completion.

“Halsin– Wait… Stop,” Astarion panted and pulled back his hair. Halsin immediately leaned back. His eyes darted up to Astarion’s face, wide with concern, searching for any sign of apprehension. Astarion let out a shaky breath and looked down at his partner, frowning at his confusion.

“Are you okay? Did I– did I do something wrong?” Halsin licked his lips waiting expectantly. Astarion brought a hand to his cheek. Halsin leaned into the touch and pressed his own hand against it.

“No, you are wonderful. You did such a good job,” Astarion said breathlessly. “I just– I didn’t want to finish in your mouth.”

Halsin sighed a breath of relief and pressed a kiss into Astarion’s palm. He swallowed and eagerly awaited his orders. He peered up at Astarion with wide eyes filled with desire. A small smile graced his plumped, thin lips.

“I have already admitted that I had wanted this for quite some time now,” Halsin said, his hand squeezed Astarion’s muscled thigh. “I’d give anything to have you.”

Astarion leaned forward, lifted up Halsin’s chin with the tips of his fingers, and pressed a chaste kiss against his lips.

“Then you shall,” he brushed their noses together and smirked. “Bend over your desk.”

Halsin’s eyes twinkled with delight as he nodded subserviently, “Yes, sir.”

Halsin pressed his hands into Astarion’s knees to help him stand up, groaning slightly as they popped under the strain. Astarion laughed as he tugged on Halsin’s towel and tossed it to the side. He stepped up to Halsin and placed his hands on Halsin’s hips, spinning him around. He pushed on Halsin’s back until his chest was flush against the mahogany desk. Astarion tapped the inside of Halsin’s ankles with his foot, motioning to spread his legs apart. Halsin obeyed, spreading his legs; he placed his hands on the desk to brace himself, shoving folders onto the floor.

Astarion’s hand landed against Halsin’s ass cheek, hard, pulling out a surprised yelp and leaving a matching reddened print.

“I worked for two hours compiling that information for you,” Astarion scolded.

“Sorry, Astarion,” Halsin said quietly, biting his lip to hold back a laugh.

“Oh you will be.”

Astarion spread Halsin’s cheeks and ran a teasing tongue over his lover’s hole. Halsin tensed up for just a moment, but relaxed as Astarion swirled his tongue around his entrance and lapped against the puckered skin with a heavy tongue. Halsin rested his head on the desk and brought his arms back behind him to hold open his cheeks for Astarion.

Halsin groaned, delighting in the pressure of Astarion’s tongue pushing into the tight ring of his entrance. Astarion, with his free hand, grabbed the bottle and coated his fingers with the lube. He slid his thumb up to circle Halsin’s hole, gently pressing into it. Halsin shifted back greedily.

Another slap was brought down onto Halsin’s ass cheek.

“Don’t rush me. I will go as slow as I please, understand?” Astarion said coolly. Halsin nodded in response. Astarion gently slid one finger in, a knuckle at a time, and Halsin exhaled into it. “Now, be a good boy and put one of your knees up on the desk, darling.”

Halsin released his hold on his asscheek and lifted up his leg, resting it on the cool wooden surface. He wrapped his hand around his thigh to hold it in place. Astarion pressed his hand into the abandoned cheek to spread it open once more. He then slid his finger out and pushed it back in, stretching against Halsin’s inner walls. After he felt the larger man relax, he slid in a second finger, pulling a groan from Halsin. Astarion curled his fingers and rubbed them against Halsin’s prostate.

Halsin moaned and pressed his forehead into the desk. Pre-cum dribbled out from his cock as it rubbed against the desk. His fingernails dug into his ass cheeks as he held himself open for Astarion’s pleasure - and his own. Halsin rocked slowly into Astarion’s fingers; this time Astarion allowed it and watched as Halsin fucked himself. Halsin’s eyes rolled back into his head and his mouth fell open, gasping for air.

“Is this what you wanted, Halsin?” Astarion asked, panting. His cock throbbed with need. The lawyer slid his fingers in and out of Halsin’s muscled ring, and slid a third finger inside. Astarion removed one of his hands and stroked himself while Halsin roiled against his fingers, sliding his pre-cum down his shaft. “Speak to me.”

“Yes,” Halsin replied breathily, “Yes, thank you…”

Astarion removed his fingers and Halsin whimpered in protest, biting his lip. Patiently, he stayed put, the sound of the pump on the lube bottle brought goosebumps across his skin. Astarion spread the lube all over his cock and removed Halsin’s hand from his spreading asscheek. He rubbed his length between Halsin’s crease, pushing aside his cheek, teasing the head of his cock against Halsin’s readied hole.

“Astarion, please,” Halsin begged, his mouth watered in anticipation.

“So impatient,” Astarion tutted. He lined himself up with Halsin’s entrance. Slowly, he pressed it against his tight rim.His eyes fluttered at the delicious pressure enveloping his cock. Halsin gripped the side of his desk with one hand as he stretched around Astarion’s length. He pulled out slightly before pressing himself flush against skin.

Astarion rolled his hips and thrust deep within Halsin. Halsin moved his hand down to wrap his hand around his neglected cock.

“Don’t you dare. You cleared a space for yourself on this desk. You’re going to use it.” Halsin hesitated a moment before exhaling restlessly and moved his hand back to his thigh, pulling his leg up higher. Astarion wrapped his hands around Halsin’s hips and pulled him back into him. Halsin yelped as Astarion’s cock filled him and brushed against his prostate. Small whimpers escaped his lips as he pressed his throbbing shaft onto the polished desk surface, rutting against the wood for friction. Astarion’s nails dug into the larger man’s skin as Halsin clenched tightly around him. Little jolts of pleasure run through his body as Astarion’s balls met his, slapping softly against each other.

Halsin’s mind was spiraling in bliss. He couldn’t remember the last time he was at a loss for words, thoughts, and any other feelings because of a lover. His head lolled. His mouth watered; saliva dripped from his lips as Astarion fucked him. Pressure pooled in his groin. Halsin’s hand gripped tightly on the corner of the desk and it crackled at the force. The only other noises were the sounds of the slapping of their skin and mutual moans.

Astarion stepped to the side and changed his position, pounding Halsin in quick short thrusts. Sweat dripped down his face as he felt himself get closer to release. He could feel how close Halsin was too, with the way he squeezed tighter around him and the high pitched moans that fell out of his slacked jaw.

Halsin was painfully hard. He had been edging on the cusp of an orgasm for too long. The desk barely offered any relief no matter how hard it rubbed himself against it. His prostate sent chills up and down his back every time Astarion thrusted. His mind grew hazy.

A warm hand traveled from his hips down to his thigh and in between his legs. Fingers gently explored until they found purchase on his ball sack. Halsin could have prayed to the gods. Astarion slowly massaged his sac at first, but then his pointer finger and thumb wrapped around his skin and pulled down, squeezing his testicles.

“Gah, fuck!” Halsin practically screamed, as he rocked himself into Astarion’s cock. Astarion felt Halsin’s balls tighten in his grip.

With Astarion’s name upon his lips, Halsin came in large spurts across the desk, shuddering with each pulse.

Astarion released Halsin’s sac and returned his grip to his hips, slamming himself deep into Halsin’s constricting hole, until he was fully engulfed inside of him. He pressed himself flush against his cheeks, fingernails dragging down and into Halsin’s tender flesh, losing himself in Halsin. He clenched his jaw, rolling between tensing and spasming as he climaxed. He gasped for air, not realizing he was holding his breath, and exhaled heavily before pressing his forehead onto Halsin’s back.

“You okay?” Astarion asked softly, his thumbs rubbing against Halsin’s thigh, as he pressed all of his weight into Halsin’s back exhausted.

“Mhmm,” Halsin mumbled deliriously. Astarion huffed out a laugh and pressed his lips against Halsin’s spine.

They stayed like that for a moment, panting heavily, trying to collect themselves. Their hearts pounded against their chests and Astarion softened inside of Halsin.

Once Astarion felt lucid enough to move, he pulled himself out of Halsin, both of them hissing at the stimulation. Halsin dropped his leg with a thud and shakily pushed himself up from the desk. A deep divot decorated his thigh from where it rested against the side of the surface. He blinked a few times as all of the blood came rushing back into his head as he stood upright.

Astarion leaned over and picked up one of their towels from the floor. He gently cleaned Halsin’s spent, sensitive cock, then slid the towel through his cheeks, gathering all of the oily lube. Halsin hummed with appreciation. Astarion quickly cleaned himself up, dragged the towel through the mess on the desk, and tossed it into the corner.

He looked up at Halsin who was gazing down at him so tenderly. A blush deepened upon Astarion’s already flushed skin. “What?”

Halsin leaned back against the desk and pulled Astarion against him, pressing a kiss against the smaller man’s forehead. “I like you.”

“I would hope so,” Astarion laughed softly before turning his head to rest his cheek on Halsin’s chest. Little chest hairs tickled Astarion’s nose. Halsin’s fingers gently traced the ridges and lines on Astarion’s back. Astarion sighed contently and loosely placed his arms around Halsin’s waist. “So… what now?”

Halsin mulled over the options in his head for a moment. “We can, uh… Stay here if you want? I’ve slept on this chaise plenty of nights. There’s pillows and blankets in the closet.”

Astarion tsked at Halsin in disapproval. “When do you go home, Halsin?”

“I’ll go home tomorrow,” Halsin replied, slightly evading the question. Astarion picked up on it, but didn’t want to push into it now.

There was a slight pause before Astarion spoke again. “Won’t someone be here in the morning?”

“No, it’s Friday. No one should be here on Saturday,” Halsin stopped his stroking on Astarion’s back and turned the smaller man’s head to look at him. “You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to, Astarion. I am not forcing you to stay, or do… anything else if you’re not interested in anything beyond this.”

Astarion rolled his eyes and pressed a peck against Halsin’s lips. “Don’t be stupid, Halsin. I like you, too. I just don’t want to sleep on a glorified couch.”

Halsin smiled down at him. “It’s really not bad.”

Astarion sighed and took a step back. “Very well. It’s only for one night.”

Halsin pressed a tender hand against Astarion’s cheek and then moved to the closet to grab the bedding. Astarion followed behind and took the blankets and pillows from Halsin’s hands. He walked over to the chaise to ensure his makeshift bed was up to his standards.

Halsin closed the closet door and turned to gather the scattered files on the floor. He curiously flipped open one of the manila folders and read the documents inside.

“Astarion, what were these files for anyway?” Halsin asked while flipping through the paperwork, scanning over the highlighted lines.

Astarion stopped his motions, a half-fluffed pillow in his hands. He cleared his throat, hesitant to bring up the news.

Halsin turned around and looked at the pale man holding a pillow in his arms. Astarion huffed in annoyance and gestured toward the files. “It’s a summons. You’re getting sued by Absolute Inc for pulling out of your contract after the drill blew up. It’s being headed by Thorm, Gortash, and Bhaal.”

Halsin nodded his head and bit his lip in thought. “So, a Monday problem, yes?”

Astarion blinked at him and then laughed, “Yes, a Monday problem indeed.”

Halsin set down the file and padded over to Astarion. He pulled the pillow from his grasp and tossed it onto the chaise before crawling under the blankets and laying back into the soft cushions.

He opened his arms to Astarion who crawled up next to Halsin. His eyes were already feeling heavily with exhaustion from their evening.

They breathed in time with one another. Astarion nuzzled his face into Halsin’s chest and yawned. “I am resigning by the way.”

Halsin’s eyebrows pinch together confused. “What do you mean? I thought I was about to get sued? I need you.”

“I know, and I’ll help you get a replacement. I’ll still be here to support you the whole way through,” Astarion paused, shifting his gaze up at Halsin with a smirk, “but it’s bad practice to sleep with clients, and I’d really like to be able to do this again. If you’re interested.”

Halsin’s heart fluttered in his chest as his hand wrapped around the back of Astarion’s head and pulled him into a kiss before breaking away smiling. “I am.. very interested, Astarion.”

[inalignment]

GET OUR SH*T TOGETHER IN 2024

If you are someone like me and you have been slacking in the self department in 2023 join me and we can do it together! <3

I have been drafting up for the last couple of days some tips and tricks that I feel will help me and hopefully you too :)

Firstly I want to say that glowing up or trying to work for the better version of you can be manageable, by starting small and building the certain habits that you feel will suit you, at first it doesn't even have to cost money or a lot of your time, however it does require a lot of discipline and patience with yourself.

Journaling

How does Journaling help?

Journaling helps you understand your emotional reactions more clearly, and puts you in control of your emotions instead of the other way around.

Meaning that through this you will be able to figure out the things you might feel might be harder for you at the beginning, its important not to rush this progress.

2. Routine

I know everybody often talks about this topic, and often times no one talks about how hard the adjusting period actually is, it is hard to change everything or even a small significant thing around you especially when you've been getting used to not having such an active life or perhaps some of us feel additionally on top of our other lifestyle arrangements to add ourselves on top is too much which takes me to my next point which is time blocking.

3. Time Blocking

Time blocking is the process of breaking your schedule down into individual blocks of time  it can be a great way to increase focus and productivity. I usually do this in 3 steps

Choose in advance what to work on. (I usually do it 2 nights or the night before)

Decide when to tackle priority tasks, this can be done in whichever interval you would like, I usually do it hourly.

Block off a chunk of time on your calendar for each task.

Now that we have the 3 basics down, we can create the routine we want to and implement the goals we wish to achieve:

BODY

In 2024 I certainly and Im sure alot of us have certain gym goals that we would like to achieve, this in turn working out has great benefit not only to your body but also your mental health over time. Even 30 minutes a day will make a big impact especially at the beginning if you are someone like me who hates the gym at the beginning but feel great afterwards, try to start small, a small walk, a small 10 minute YouTube video work out and slowly add more time as more weeks go by.

SKINCARE

One of my biggest goal is definitely towards my skin.

Its important to get out of the habit of not washing or being gentle with your skin, whatever you do one thing i will always say to prioritise is moisturising, MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE!

I have had acne and bad skin since I was a teenager no matter what I've put on my face from retinoids, to all these different creams and acids one thing I will ALWAYS say makes all the difference now and even long term is keeping your skin hydrated and wearing sunscreen, you can even get a 2 in 1 moisturiser and sun cream.

CLOTHES

Basics will be the way to go, if you're looking to investing into a new wardrobe in 2024 one thing my mother and over time i have learned that basics will never run out of fashion its the accessories that you'll need to put an extra time and eye on, a bag, jewellery, coats, sunglasses, focus on certain things that will bring out a staple to your outfit.

BONUS

I am of course adding manifestation and the songs, reprograming your thinking into this as a bonus, this is for the ones that want to either practice this or already do BUT I feel that making your affirmation playlist/ song will work better at time rather than the ones on youtube, don't get me wrong subliminal on YT they do work but if you were to make it yourself it has that extra pull. I made my own about a month ago and it has been working great for me.

Additionally I would also like to mention the importance of paying more attention to the songs and the words you listen to, the things you watch on social media, not everything has to be consumed, either a social media cleanse or trying to change your algorithm I feel is a key when it comes to wanting to grow within one self.

GRATITUDE

When you journal, try to leave a section at the end of the day for the things you feel grateful, i promise, try it for a week, it'll change your life.

Andddd that's it for now! If anyone else has any tips and tricks please drop them in the comments! Lets help each other by also reposting this <333

[jiinjiinjarra]

GQ Japan // December 2024

Interview Translation [Eng]

Q: First of all, please let me say welcome back. I heard you were selected as a 'special warrior' while serving in the military. What kind of things did you feel and learn while belonging to the military organization which is completely different from the entertainment industry?

🐹: First, speaking from a physical standpoint, in terms of fitness, I was in about top 20% amongst many younger people/ones. I'm not at the level of an athlete, but I think it's because I had been continuously training for work. I learnt many things, but for instance, seeing people older than me running 5km every day, their attitude of always striving for improvement inspired me.

Q: After getting discharged, you immediately started your solo activities, including song making and appearance on variety shows. You're very busy, but does your approach to group activities differ from your solo activities?

🐹: In group activities, there's a direction that we're all picturing (together), so adjusting our opinions amongst the members is the most important thing. We can achieve results that exceed our expectations, by having an honest and open discussion. Also more than anything, having members by my side is very reassuring. On the other hand, in solo activities, there's more freedom in what you want to do, but it comes with responsibility and quite a lot of nervousness/tension.

Q: BTS is known for being close. As teamwork is essential, I believe there must be times where maintaining a good atmosphere is hard. Please tell us tips on how you communicate smoothly.

🐹: In our case, I think our leader RM's role is significant. He listens carefully to each of our opinions, then suggests and leads us to the best way/solution. He's reliable and trustworthy. Me and RM, both have things we'd like to do, but we don't assert them strongly in group activities, so instead, we'd like to/we prefer to reflect them in our solo projects.

Q: As an artist, in music and performance, where do you get your inspiration and ideas from?

🐹: In my case, I get inspiration and ideas from unexpected things. For example, when I'm reading comics and I think 'it's a beautiful colour', I immediately dye my hair into that colour (haha). If something interesting comes into my sight while I'm walking, I wonder whether I can do something like a surprise event with it. I get inspired a lot by colours. I especially like blue and when I see that colour, I come up with many bright thoughts. It's my belief to be in a bright and happy mood in life. I want to be laughing/smiling every day.

Q: I guess you might do a solo concerts in the future, but is there a routine that you definitely do before going on stage?

🐹: I take a big deep breath right before going on stage. I hold my breath for about 10 seconds and breathe out. By doing this it makes me feel relaxed. Also, my own special pink sparkling mic. I like it so I carry it around with me all the time (haha).

Q: As part of BTS, you've been on tour overseas, gave speech at the UN, and was the torch bearer in Paris, right after your discharge, transcending barriers of race and language. I have an impression that you always seem confident and yet you're very humble. How do you control your mental state?

🐹: Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, I try not to take it too seriously. Many things happen in life, but I try to stay calm. If I don't get deeply shaken/upset, I believe I can maintain a steady mental health/have a stable mental state.

Q: There are many people who are encouraged by BTS's music, performances, way of living, and thoughts/philosophy. Based on your experience, is there an advice you can give to those people who feel lost or have lost confidence and don't feel motivated?

🐹: I'd like to say 'you can do it'. I'm/I think of myself as an ordinary person and I don't think I have any special talents. I just have been working extremely hard with the roles I've been given, and fortunately I've been surrounded by very good people which I believe has led to good results. I want to say 'anyone can do it'.

Q: BTS is also the voices of the young people around the world. In the future, what kind of messages do you want to convey?

🐹: I hope you don't lose your sense of calm. Even during busy times, I hope you don't lose yourself and find a way to make yourself happy. This is different from being selfish. At least, I want to do that and I think I am doing that.

Q: Please tell us what you aim for in the future.

🐹: What others around me say/Opinions from others around me aren't that important. My priority goal is for ARMYs to like it and for them to be happy. For that, I can work tirelessly/no matter how exhausted I get. I'll continue to walk together with ARMYs.

Q: If you have the chance to visit Japan now, where would you like to go?

🐹: Hmm, l'd like to walk around in a city with beautiful night views.

Q: That's romantic. So, now that we've finished today's photo shoot, l'd like to ask about your fashion values and anything you pay attention to.

🐹: For me (in fashion), simple is the best. I don't overthink and what I'm wearing right at that moment is my style.

Q: "GQ JAPAN" has a concept called "TOKYO NEW GENTLEMEN" which expresses an image of men with an aesthetic sense free from rules, updating from the conventional image of a gentleman. I think BTS exactly exemplifies this, but what do you think are the elements that are essential for modern gentlemen?

🐹: Well... I think it's wonderful to be free from rules, but I think someone with basic manners (alongside with other qualities) is a gentleman. This not only includes the outward behaviours/actions (that can be seen) but also the inner qualities that can't be seen for example, being considerate of how someone feels/thinks. It's the best for everyone to have a friendly feeling towards each other and live peacefully. In order to do that, I believe I/we need to brush up our inner and outer beauty.

[Jin, who was at the photo shoot, was the Jin we all knew — a lovable person who's friendly, kind and sincere. Something that was different, was the many mature expressions he showed which had fresh maturity and sexiness that we had never see before. Living in this fast paced world, he has definitely cultivated something through his experience. 31 years old, Jin's new chapter has begun.]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

BTS // Magazines // Jin for "GQ Japan" Magazine // December 2024 // 241108 // 2024

date: 2024-11-08

Translation Cr. 061313purple // Interview Link (japanese)

[caffstrink]

do you have any tips on how to live off as artist professionally?

First of all art isn't always a viable option depending where you live. The only reason ive been able to live off art is because the american dollar is worth 5x more than the brazilian real so even if i didn't get many comms i could still get by with the few i had. and if that wasn't the case I'd pretty much be eating breadcrumbs off the floor like a pigeon.

1. Whore yourself out and draw fanart of every popular or trending thing to gather attention to youe art

2. Learn your platforms: learn how each websites algorithm works, learn what are the best hours to post, etc

3. I cannot stress enough how important it is to find your niche

4. Everyone is fake no one wants to be your friend, other popular artists will start following you the moment your following becomes good enough. They'll start to interact with you too and want to become mutuals in order to share followings/traction. If you can play into that you can get them to share your stuff as well, but honestly don't fall for it bc most of them shittalk other artists on their privs or personal servers and the stress isnt worth it

5. Draw nsfw if possible/if you're comfortable with. People who commission porn pay well and they often have very few options when commissioning stuff bc most artists don't accept porn commissions.

6. Accept being an artist is a hard job that doesn't pay really well. If you're freelancing on comms life's always going to be a tightrope, so i suggest trying to do professional work once in a while so you can at least have the security of a salary. Draw backgrounds, gestures, scenes, studies, and the likes, bc those are what companies will want in your portfolio

7. Depending where you live it's extremely hard to live off as an artist, and being an artist is often means a very difficult struggle with finances. It's a job that requires passion, and more often than not turning art in a job causes creative burnout and complete loss of spark for it. Ask yourself: why do you want to be a professional artist? Isn't it better to keep it as a hobby? Maybe a side gig if you need money? You can still pursue art even if you don't do it to earn money, and it doesn't make you any less of an artist. It's a difficult job, and you need to understand its not going to be viable at all times and sometimes you'll have to throw in the towel and do something else to survive and there's 0 shame in that.

8. Be professional and courteous with your clients. Don't be a doormat, but don't go around ghosting people or being passive aggressive or taking them for granted and never deliver any product. Doing art for money is a JOB. Treat it like such. Inform your clients about delays, or any issues that may come up.

9. Take care of yourself and by that i mean eat decent food, exercise your arms, get 8 hours of sleep and get some sun (or take vitamin D periodically if youre a basement dweller). This isn't some self care uwu shit, it's actual science that your body is a machine and not providing what it needs to function leads to issues, and some of those issues include affecting your mental health, and mental health issues include and are not limited to: anxiety, depression, burnout, loneliness, feeling like your art sucks, feeling unmotivated, feeling like you're a failure, etc. Same with physical: for the love of GOD you DON'T want wrist issues. You dont want carpal or ulnar nerve entrapment. Don't draw 24/7. Don't push yourself either. If youre feeling shitty its time to STOP. Just picture a shitty graphics card trying to run minecraft with 5 shaders and 10 mods at once on fullscreen with 60 fps. Thats you. Youre the graphics card

10. Don't be a bitch, don't get involved with drama. Can't be an internet artist if you get cancelled so don't try to start shit at any point in time. Don't be a shit person.

And from the top of my head thats it, hope you like eating plain bread 🍞

[darklovecat]

Beauty tips?

Taking my vitamins and beauty supplements every day!

I believe that beauty and health go hand in hand so I got a complete blood work-up to figure out what vitamins and minerals my body was lacking, and I make sure I'm taking my them daily. On top of that, I take various supplements such as Collagen, Fish oil etc but I swear by my 10-gram daily collagen regimen. I take its powdered form right before going to bed and have noticed its benefits within a short time - My knees used to sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies when I bent down, but after a few days of collagen, the crepitus is gone. Plus, my hair is growing faster and my skin is looking plumper. It's done wonders for my joints, giving me a healthy glow, and making me look way more refreshed.

Having perfect posture at all times!

I think this is a very simple but overlooked beauty tip that truly elevates your appearance. It's like the secret weapon of beauty, it can transform not just the way you look, but also the way you feel. When you stand tall and hold yourself with grace and poise, you radiate confidence and elegance. Good posture also has numerous health benefits. It can help prevent back pain, improve your breathing, and even boost your mood and energy levels. Ever since I've started incorporating Pilates and Ballet into my routine to build strength and flexibility, my posture has improved greatly. The way you carry yourself says a lot about who you are and by standing tall and confident, you'll not only look beautiful but also feel empowered and ready to conquer the world.

Getting 6 hours of quality sleep every night!

You know what's a major beauty tip that most people sleep on? Sleep!! Forget about slapping on expensive creams and doing a gazillion steps in your skincare routine. You gotta start with the basics, hun. Get your sleep game on point, eat right, and manage your stress. Now, I know we all have different needs when it comes to sleep, so I won't give you a specific number. But trust me, beauty sleep is not a myth, it's legit! I turn on Night Mode on my devices at 6:30, pop my sleeping pills at 9:30, and hit the hay an hour later. Oh, and I'm not afraid to take a nap during the day if I need to. Don't underestimate the power of a good night's sleep. It's the secret to looking and feeling amazing.

Growing out my eyelashes!

I take pride in my long and voluminous lashes, they're one of my best features and one of my most complimented features. However, my natural lashes were not always this way, they became longer through regular lash serum usage. I do not really need wear mascara and after a lash lift, my lashes appear as if I'm wearing extensions. While Latisse has worked wonders for me, it's important to note that the product does come with potential side effects such as orbital fat loss and irritation. Thankfully, I did not experience any adverse effects. Another caveat is that the product only works as long as it is used consistently. Despite these considerations, I wholeheartedly recommend Latisse. To see the results for yourself, check out the Real Woman Gallery.

Cat.