#vomited while reading an article today

[fatehbaz]

when you’re reading about the most despicable revolting outrageous inhumane shocking horrific maddening worst things human beings have ever done and you ask “who was responsible for this violence?” and the answer is very often “the scientists of the atomic energy commission” and "scientists working on behalf of colonial British/US governments" and “medical doctors in the United States”

[doomhands-jr]

The Devil's Advocate - Chapter 10

Pairing: Delinquent!Noah Sebastian X Pastor's Daughter!Reader

Summary: Noah is a delinquent with a lot of anger at the church. You're a pastor's daughter plagued by moral perfectionism, charged with overseeing the community service he's been sentenced to complete. You've never encountered true temptation before. How will you fare up against Noah, who not only isn't bound by the same rules of purity as you, but actively scoffs at them?

Rating: 18+ Minors DNI

Warnings: Underage drinking, partying, grinding, making out, mentions of roofies, vomiting, blackouts, minor violence.

Masterlist

Thanks to @throughwoodsanddirt for the beta

Thanks to @flowerynerds for the banner! A/N: Sorry about this, guys. I promise I'll do right by these characters. ________

Noah wasn’t going to go to the party. 

No really, he wasn’t going to go. Folio told him to stay home and not come out, and Noah understood that this was the cost of ghosting you. He had no right to keep tabs on you after that abandonment. 

And it wasn’t really that he wanted to keep tabs on you. He had only gone to Jolly’s because he wanted to work on some music in his studio. It honestly wasn’t even to attend the party at all. 

And the only reason he’d come inside was to grab a beer real quick before taking it back to the shed. It wasn’t his fault that he’d been accosted by Matt, who practically begged him to do shots. Plus, he’d scanned the room for any signs of you and Nick just to make sure he wouldn’t run into you. And it was really cold in his studio. So of course he came inside to warm up a bit. He was definitely gonna go back out to his studio.

Any minute now, he’d head back out. 

He took another sip from his beer as he watched you grind on Nick across the house. 

Hood pulled up, hair tucked underneath and sunglasses on so that he wouldn’t be easily recognized—at least if he was sitting down, he sat perched on the arm of the couch, arms crossed over his chest, nursing his beer as Matt told him about the girl he’d hooked up with earlier that week and he only half listened. 

So you had really come out with Folio. 

Didn’t take you very long to get over him, did it?

Noah caught himself in his bitterness and made an effort to let it go. This was his own damn fault, after all. 

Call it morbid curiosity. Call it masochism. Whatever it was, he knew it wasn’t doing him any favors. He shouldn’t be watching this, and by doing so, he was only torturing himself, but it was like witnessing a car crash—he couldn’t look away. 

Nick had his hands on your hips, pressing into the soft flesh of your ass. Noah could see your miniskirt riding up your thighs as you gyrated. He’d never seen you show that much skin. At least not in public. The only time he’d seen more was…

Well, he wasn’t going to think about that. 

Noah dug his nails into the heel of his hand, gritting his teeth together. He breathed in through his nose. Then out through his mouth. In through his nose. Out through his mouth. 

He was fine. He wasn’t going to be bothered by something like this. You deserved to have fun, and Folio was a great guy who would show you a good time without taking advantage of your inexperience. It was something Noah wanted for you. He’d even encouraged Nick to do this. 

At least to a degree. He didn’t expect him to take it so far. It’s not like his friend had been crushing on you for a while. Or perhaps he had, but had backed off after Noah’s feelings became clear. 

Still, Noah hadn’t expected him to really go all-in on the good time he was showing you, especially not after Noah had told him how he felt. 

Maybe he was punishing Noah for ghosting you? But then, that wouldn’t make sense because he didn’t even know Noah was watching. 

So maybe, he reasoned, thinking back to that self-help article he’d read on Psychology Today earlier that week, it didn’t have anything to do with him. 

Maybe you and Nick were just two people enjoying themselves, connecting with one another. 

And for some reason, that thought more than anything else, made his stomach clench unpleasantly. 

He gripped the bottle tighter, bringing it up to his mouth to try to mask the acidic taste that had started to coat his tongue. 

You spun around to face Nick, and from what he could see, Nick dragged a hand down over your sternum and your lips parted, eyes soft. You threw your head back, exposing your beautiful neck, and Noah watched as Nick dipped his head toward it, then seemed to think better of it and backed off. 

It didn’t take much brain power to see Nick’s motives. Really, he couldn’t blame Nick—he, too, wanted to suck on the delicate skin below your jaw, to lick a languid stripe from your collarbone to your earlobe. If he could capture it in his teeth and tug, if he could taste the salt on your skin, if he could feel the heat of your body as you writhed over him to the music and watch your chest rise and fall with exertion. He wanted to hold you down and have you grind on his thigh until you were shaking with overstimulation and–

Oh fuck, were you kissing?! 

You were. 

Nick’s lips glided over yours in a searing kiss. Noah narrowed his eyes, honing in on what was happening. You opened your mouth to him without any hesitation and his tongue darted in to taste you. You smiled into the kiss, hands fisting in Nick’s shirt to pull him in close, while Nick cupped the back of your head. One of his hands traveled lower, grabbing at the round flesh of your ass. 

Fire erupted inside Noah, burning and charring his insides as he watched the two of you in this profane display of lust. He was rooted to the spot, unable to move and thank God because if he could, he would have ripped you out of Nick’s clutches in a heartbeat. 

A firm hand clapped him on the shoulder and Noah tore his eyes away from the offensive scene, looking up to find Ruffilo standing above him. 

“Don’t do that to yourself,” he shouted above the music. 

His hand was steadying, enough that Noah was able to take a few deep breaths and calm down. 

“I need to talk to you. Outside,” he said, voice serious. Noah adjusted his hood to make sure any defining features were covered before standing up and following Ruffilo around the outskirts of the crowd. He kept a slight bend in his knee so that he didn’t stand a full head taller than everyone around him. 

Ruffilo led him to the back porch where Jolly and Bryan waited, arms crossed, and Noah briefly wondered if he was in trouble. 

“Someone found a girl passed out in the bathroom,” said Jolly. “Her friend said she’d only had one drink.” 

Noah blinked a few times, once again realizing that he wasn’t at the center of every conversation and that this was not about him. 

Although hearing Jolly’s words, he would have rather it been about him. 

This was bad. Very bad. 

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” Noah said. 

Jolly nodded. 

Roofies were not a common problem for the kind of crowd they liked to keep at their parties. Most of the time, the drugs were contained to frat houses and bars, if they were present at all—but they had popped up once or twice, and each time, Jolly and the rest had taken the issue very seriously. 

“What do you need?” asked Noah. 

“I’m going to man the doors and vet everyone who leaves. If any girls look like they’re too drunk or incapacitated, they stay here until we find a way to get them home safely,” said Jolly.

“I’ll watch for any signs upstairs,” said Ruffilo. “I doubt it’s any of our regular guys. Probably someone who doesn’t come here often.” 

“That narrows it down,” said Jolly. “Keep an eye out for any girls who seem out of it. Ask questions. See if they can tell you who they were talking to. Ask their friends, too, and keep a close eye on anyone who isn’t our regular crowd.” 

Jolly wore a mean scowl as he spoke, his fists balled up tight. He took pride in creating a safe space for everyone to enjoy, and took it very personally when someone compromised the safety of that space. If Noah knew his friend as well as he thought he did, whoever was responsible for the incident would have to be carried out on a stretcher before the end of the night. 

“I’ll watch the first floor,” Noah volunteered. That way, he could keep an eye on you as well and make sure you were safe.  

“I’ll help,” offered Bryan. 

“Okay,” said Jolly, nodding. “We still need someone to cover the basement.” 

“I’ll tell Matt,” said Ruffilo. 

Jolly took a second to look each man in the eye. “Everyone at this party is getting home safe, except for the guy responsible. Got it?” 

“Got it,” said Noah, the same answer echoing around the back porch from the other men. And with that, each person went to their respective stake out locations. 

Once inside, Noah began scanning the crowd for unfamiliar faces and women who seemed out of sorts. 

There were a few new guys Noah didn’t recognize, and they all seemed to congregate in a group. These men definitely weren’t part of the normal crowd—he could tell by their button-downs they were probably more comfortable at a frat house. He marked them as potential suspects, but made sure not to focus only on them in case he missed something. 

There were a few women that looked drunk, but not to the point where they were incoherent or falling over themselves, which led Noah to believe that the perpetrator hadn’t struck again yet. 

He circled around the room, keeping close to the walls, eyes trained on the crowd. 

“Hey.” Someone clapped him on the shoulder and he turned to see an incredulous-looking Folio. “I thought you were staying home. What gives?” 

Noah sniffed, wrinkling his face in disgust for what was probably a very valid question.. It definitely wasn’t fair of Noah, but then again, Folio had kissed you. “That’s not important. We’ve got trouble.”

Nick’s brows furrowed. “What is it?”  

“Someone might be spiking drinks,” he said slowly, only half-focused because if Nick was here with him, then… 

“Where is….,” he trailed off. 

“She ran into some friends from her World History class,” said Nick. “They’re in the kitchen last I saw.” 

Noah’s heart fell to his stomach, throat tightening uncomfortably. 

“How could you leave her alone?!” he scolded, throwing Nick’s hand off his shoulder. “You were supposed to look after her!” 

Rather than wait for an answer, Noah began frantically searching the party, trying to catch sight of you. 

“She wanted to talk to her friend,” Nick defended, weaving his way through partygoers to catch up. “I didn’t know.” 

But Noah was already halfway across the room after spotting you leaning next to the counter. 

Noah knew he was being too hard on Nick. He’d apologize once he’d made sure you were okay and could calm down, but right now that wasn’t his priority. 

He almost caught up to you. But then he spotted the group you were talking with. Two men he didn’t recognize. He thought better of it and decided to hang back and observe.

You were laughing with the other men. It looked like there was another girl with you as well. Noah wrinkled his nose again. Something about the men had him raising his hackles. 

“Noah,” Nick called, having caught up to him. “I’m sorry, man. I really didn’t—,” 

“—We’ll talk about it later,” Noah cut him off. “Do you see those guys?” he said, nodding over to where you were chatting with the group. “There’s something off.” 

And indeed there was something off. Nick agreed. One of them—a younger guy in a blue baseball cap and a pink collared shirt shifted nervously. It could be because he was talking to a beautiful woman, but Noah continued to eye him suspiciously. . 

Noah and Nick took turns. One watched the four of you chatting, while the other scoured the room for any other potential suspects. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to figure out why the men had Noah on-edge. 

“There!” Nick pointed. Noah turned just in time to see the man’s hand hover over the drink in your friend’s hand. 

For a brief moment, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The girl brought her drunk up to her lips, and in less than five strides, Noah’s legs had carried him over, hand coming up to take the drink from her on its own accord. 

“Noah!” you said in surprise, but Noah didn’t acknowledge you. 

“You don’t mind if I have a sip of this, do you?” he said. 

The man in question squared his jaw, puffing his chest out, but Noah could smell coward all over him. 

“What the fuck, man?!” the stranger said, “That’s her drink.” 

“Is it?” said Noah, bringing the drink up to hover near his lips. 

Noah’s stare bored a hole into the perpetrator’s face. The guy was plain-looking, the kind you’d find six replicas of at any boat party. He had barely any distinguishing features, save for a soft jaw and a bulbous nose exaggerated by the sneer on his face. He looked rather punchable, in Noah’s opinion. 

“You don’t think this drink is compromised, do you?” Noah continued. 

The fucker at least had the intelligence to stay silent. That was the only thing going for him. 

By that point, the small group of people nearby had stopped whatever they were doing to watch the altercation. 

“Dean, what’s going on?” the girl asked. “What is this guy talking about?” 

“Yeah Dean, what’s going on?” Noah parroted, not taking his eyes off the despicable face in front of him. 

Dean narrowed his eyes. 

“Go on, tell her,” he goaded. His voice held all the vitriol he felt, words coming out laced with poison. He hoped each of them stung. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Dean. It was a pathetic defense, and one Noah was already prepared to counter. 

Noah pouted, face painted with false sympathy. “Are you saying you didn’t slip something into her drink just now?” 

“What?!” said Dean, and he had the nerve to look offended. He didn’t have the acting chops to pull it off though, and there was still an underlying panic in his eyes. “That’s ridiculous. I’d never do something like that.” 

“So drink it,” said Noah, shoving the cup right into the man’s sternum. It splashed over the rim, soaking the pink shirt in the sticky, blue liquid. Dean brought his hand up to catch the cup as Noah let go, scowling. 

“I’m not drinking someone else’s drink,” he said. 

“Why not?” asked Noah. 

“Because I’m not an asshole. I don’t steal other people’s drinks,” he said, growing more heated in his defense. 

It was the wrong thing to say to Noah. 

“Drink it,” Noah seethed, “or I’ll take it and force—,” 

“—Noah?” your soft voice cut through his anger and for a moment, everything stopped. 

He watched it happen in slow motion. You stumbled, nearly falling over onto the kitchen floor and Nick rushed to catch you. He managed to keep your head from hitting, but you sank hard to your knees. 

Noah looked from you to the man in front of him. All the noise from the party got out of the room as if in a vacuum, replaced with a high-pitched ringing. Red washed over his vision. 

A moment later, his fist connected with flesh. 

Then the sound came rushing back. Shouting erupted from all around him. From inside him. 

“You. Mother. Fucker,” he spat, punctuating each word with another blow to the man’s chin. He didn’t remember how they got into that position, but they were on the floor now, Noah straddling his chest with one fist clutching the collar of Dean's shirt, his other cracking repeatedly against his jawbone. Dean’s head snapped back with each blow, ricocheting off the floor with sickening thuds. 

Within seconds, people were on Noah, pulling him off. Noah fought hard, blinded by rage and the all-consuming need to see this man pay for his crimes. 

“Noah!” someone shouted, but he couldn’t tell who. “Noah, stop.” 

Hands gripped his arms, slowing him, but he still managed to get another two blows in before he was lifted off, but not before he dealt a hard knee to the guy’s groin. 

He fought against the arms of his captors, desperately trying to break free so he could have another go, but by that point, it was three against one and he was out of steam. 

“Relax, man. Relax. You got him. He’s down,” someone was saying. He finally recognized one of the voices as Jolly’s. He twisted around to see the faces of Ruffilo and Bryan holding him by the arms and waist to restrict his movements. 

“Let me go,” he commanded, still breathing heavily. The adrenaline coursed through his veins but had ebbed enough that he could feel the first throbs of pain in his hand. 

He looked over to the man, seeing nothing but a bloody pulp for a face. Either he had been knocked out or he was in shock because he wasn’t moving. 

“Noah, listen to me,” Jolly said, moving in front of him to block his vision. “You have to leave. We’re calling the cops. You can’t be here when they arrive.” 

Noah struggled once more against Ruffilo and Bryan, but it was useless. 

“You have a record,” Jolly continued. “You and Folio have to go. They can’t know you were involved.” 

Still breathing hard, he looked around. For what? He didn’t know. 

“Take Folio and get out of here. Go home. If anyone asks, you were asleep. We’ll vouch for you.” 

It took a few minutes for the reality of the situation to sink in. Noah already had a record. If he was caught at the scene, he could be charged with aggravated assault and end up doing time. His word against some frat guy, probably with a rich father who could afford a lawyer. 

Noah nodded. “I’m good. You can let me go.” 

Jolly stared hard into Noah’s eyes, undoubtedly looking for any sign of incoherence before nodding at Ruffilo and Bryan, who released him. 

He glanced over to Nick, who propped you up with his arms underneath yours. The two locked eyes for a moment, and then Noah sighed, slinging an arm around your waist. 

“Let’s get her home.” 

Together, they carried you out of the door and down the front steps. Inside, they could hear a commotion building. Jolly was surely informing guests that the police were being called, and that anyone underage needed to leave. They were probably also checking to make sure nobody else was in danger. 

“Do you know where her dorm is?” Noah asked Nick, struggling to keep you upright. Every few moments, you would come to. You’d mutter something incoherent, or pause to vomit along the sidewalk, and then go back into a catatonic state. 

“Rose Hall,” said Nick, and Noah tried not to let himself be bothered that Folio knew that detail before he did. 

“Where are her keys?” he asked, stopping to see if you had them clipped to you anywhere. None of your clothes had pockets to search. 

“I think she had a purse with her. She probably left it back at Jolly’s,” answered Nick. 

“Shit,” said Noah, chewing on his lip. “Does she have a roommate we could call?” 

“I think so, but she said her roommate went home for Christmas break already,” Nick answered, looking more and more guilty the farther they got from Jolly’s. Noah wondered if he was feeling guilty for letting you out of his sight.

“Noah, I’m really sorry,” he said, confirming Noah’s suspicions. “I never meant to put her in danger. I just didn’t want to hover all night in case she wanted some independence. I never even considered someone would be drugging people.” 

“Don’t apologize to me,” said Noah, shifting your weight on him so that your arm was over his shoulder and he could grip you by the waist. His voice came out colder than he wanted. “Tell her.” 

“I will,” said Nick. “As soon as she’s awake tomorrow, I’ll tell her.” 

The difference in height between Nick, Noah, and you made it all the more difficult to carry you, and the two of them struggled to get you down the street. 

“Let’s take her to our place,” said Noah. “She can have my bed.” 

Nick look like he wanted to protest, but thought better of it when you raised your head and vomited down the front of your shirt. Your feet dragged on the ground behind you as Nick and Noah trudged the few blocks it took to get back to their place. Noah prayed nobody would see them and think they were up to no good. 

Once they’d successfully gotten you inside, they took you to the bathroom to clean you up. Noah tenderly wiped your face and neck with a wet washcloth, careful not to rub too hard with the rough surface. 

Nick propped you up on his lap while Noah tilted your head backwards over the edge of the tub so he could run cups full of water over your hair and rinse out some of the vomit that had caught in the strands. 

You woke up again midway through, and they had just enough time to turn you back over so you could vomit once more into the bathtub. After a while, it was just dry heaving, and Noah surmised that the contents of your stomach had finally been emptied and you had nothing left to vomit up. 

“We gotta get her changed,” said Nick. 

Noah was aware. He’d been putting it off because he knew he’d have to remove your clothes, and the last thing he wanted was for you to be violated any more than you’d already been. 

“I’ll do it,” Noah volunteered. 

“Why you?” asked Nick. Apparently something about the idea triggered his discomfort. 

“Because I’ve…,” he began, “…seen her. Already.” 

Nick’s eyes went wide. “You,” he began, but then restarted. “She let you…and then you ghosted?” 

Noah exhaled heavily through his nostrils. If Nick wanted to have this talk, he wasn’t going to shy away from it. 

“Say what you have to say.” 

Nick’s jaw muscle twitched. “You treated her like shit,” he said. “You used her. I don’t like the idea of you seeing her like that.” 

Noah nodded. “I know. But if it comes between someone who’s already seen everything and someone who hasn’t, I feel like this is less of a violation.” 

“I don’t like it,” said Nick, shaking his head.  

Noah threw his hands out to his sides in frustration. “I don’t like it either, Nick. I don’t like any of this, but the girl needs to be taken care of, okay? She’s been through a lot. Both of us broke her trust,” Nick winced at that, “and the best we can do now is get her in bed, safely, without doing any more damage. I doubt she’d want someone else seeing her body, so this is the best solution I have.” 

Nick let out a forceful, frustrated sigh, crossing his arms and working his jaw. “Don’t look any more than you have to.” 

Noah scoffed. “What kind of person do you take me for?”  

Nick shrugged, but didn’t say anything, so Noah carried you off to his room and sat you down on the floor. 

He found the biggest, softest t-shirt of his that he could find and brought it over, crouching down at your side. 

Gently, he lifted the hem of your shirt, catching sight of the  band logo. He’d laugh if the situation weren’t so heavy. There was no way this was your shirt. He knew for a fact you’d never listen to a band like Norma Jean. 

Noah tried to avert his eyes as much as possible while he slipped the soiled shirt off your body and replaced it with the fresh one. He did catch a glance though, and was immediately brought back to that night the other week during the video chat, when you’d trusted him with your body, right before he broke that trust. He’d give anything to have had this second glimpse be under better circumstances. 

Next, he removed your skirt, which had also gotten vomit on it, and was grateful to find that you were wearing shorts underneath so he didn’t have to worry about covering you up. 

Then he got to work unlacing your boots and sliding them off your feet, and for a second, he was reminded of an old parable he’d heard before leaving the church. He couldn’t remember the details of the story, but it was something about a woman washing Jesus’s feet with her hair? Something like that. And then Jesus returned the favor by washing her feet. And it was a weird story, but the takeaway, or at least what he took away from it, was that there was a sort of holiness in humble servitude. 

He felt that now, as he picked your limp body up and tucked you neatly into his bed. He only wished there was more he could do.  ________

Nick knocked softly at his door, padding in before waiting for an answer. Noah was seated on the floor, slumped against the side of the bed. He must have dozed off. 

“Thought you could use this,” Nick said, placing an empty bucket beside the bed. “And this.” He set a tall glass of water and a bottle of acetaminophen on the nightstand before sitting on the floor opposite Noah. 

They sat in uncomfortable silence for several minutes before Nick finally broke it. 

“So,” he began. “You came to the party after all.” 

Noah knew this was coming. He didn’t have the skills to articulate a good answer though, so he just nodded. 

“After I specifically asked you to stay home.” 

Noah nodded again. 

“And you had agreed to stay home.” 

Noah nodded a third time. 

“Why?” he asked. 

Noah chewed on his lip, looking over to regard the softness of your sleeping form. You looked peaceful, despite the ordeal you’d just been through. 

“You know why,” he said, lowly. It wasn’t meant to sound aggressive. Just honest. 

Nick sighed, fixing Noah with a hard stare. He kept his voice low so as to not wake you. Not that you were in any danger of remembering anything that happened. 

“Did you see us?” Nick asked. His expression was guarded. Noah couldn’t get a read on him. 

“Yes,” he said, keeping his tone steady. He was angry, and he knew that, but he didn’t want it to come across to Nick. 

“And?” he said. 

“And what?” said Noah, failing to keep his tone level. “You’re both single. You may as well hook up.” 

“We didn’t hook up,” said Nick. “I was never going to sleep with her. I just wanted to show her a good time.” 

Noah rolled his eyes. “Sure.” 

“Noah, this was your idea. You told me to spend time with her. Said I’d be a good influence,” Nick said, exasperation for his friend creeping into his voice. “I don’t know what you want from me.” 

Noah sighed, leaning back and knocking his head gently against his nightstand. He stared up at the ceiling, as if it held the answers he was looking for.  “You didn’t have to kiss her.” 

Noah could practically hear the eye-roll from Nick. 

“If I didn’t, someone else would have,” he argued. “There’s no way to keep her sheltered while you figure out what it is you want. And even if there was, what would that make you? Just another man trying to control her.” 

Noah scoffed, hating what Nick was insinuating, but not having a solid argument against it. 

“Yeah, but you didn’t have to kiss her.” 

Nick scrubbed a palm over his face in frustration. “Look Noah,” he began. “I respected you when you started getting close to her. I kept my distance. I even stayed out of your way during community service so you could get to know her. But then you bailed, and she needed someone to lean on. She’s going through a lot with this church shit.” 

Noah’s stomach turned, guilt seeping into his bloodstream. He tried not to focus on it, chewing on the inside of his cheek while Nick continued. 

“This girl has been sheltered her entire life. She’s only just now starting to explore. I’ve seen girls like her get in over their heads way too quickly because they’ve been repressed for so long, and asshole swoops in to take advantage of it. Then they get their first taste of freedom and lose themselves like that,” Nick said, snapping his fingers for effect. 

“You’ve been that guy, though,” said Noah. “We both have.” 

Nick paused, deflating for a moment as he reflected. He closed his eyes. “I know. I’m not proud of it.” He looked back at Noah. “But I’m trying to do better. That kiss was not about me trying to exploit a weakness.” 

“Then what was it?” spat Noah, knowing Nick’s words made sense but still not wanting to believe them. He wanted to be angry with Nick. It was so much easier than the alternative, which was to consider the role he played in his own suffering. 

“She’s exploring her sexuality. I wanted to be a safe person for her to do that with.” 

“Jesus,” whined Noah, slumping back against the nightstand. “Do you have to come after me like that?” 

They both knew what Noah meant: you’d already tried exploring your sexuality with Noah, and they both saw how well he’d handled that. 

Noah refocused on the guilt that had been coursing through him, allowing it to slowly settle into a quiet humility. He really had been the asshole in the scenario without even meaning to be. Not just to you, but to Nick as well. 

“I feel like I owe you an apology,” he admitted. “I didn’t trust that you were taking care of her.” 

Nick raised a gentle palm. “No need. I didn’t give you many reasons to trust.” 

“Still,” Noah said. “I’m gonna try to keep my cool more.”  

The corner of Nick’s mouth lifted into a polite, yet disbelieving smirk. “If you say so,” he said., then refocused his attention on Noah’s face. 

“What do you want moving forward?” he asked. 

Noah shrugged. 

“I don’t know.”  

“Are you sure?” implored Nick. 

Noah looked back at his friend, his last remaining defenses crumbling under Nick’s steady gaze. “I don’t know what I want. From you. From her. From myself,” he said. “And you’re right. I asked you to show her a good time. I shouldn’t get mad at you for doing exactly that. I’m just…,” he trailed off. 

“Confused?” Nick offered. 

“Confused,” he affirmed, hanging his head and staring at his shoes. 

“It’s okay to have feelings for her,” Nick said hesitantly, as if he were trying to coax a feral cat from its hiding space without spooking it. 

Noah looked back up to find Nick eyeing him with sympathy, and his gut seized uncomfortably because it felt gross, like a slime coating his skin. He tried to breathe through the feeling instead of running from it, thinking back to a quote he read in one of the many self-help articles he’d been scouring over the past week. 

Let the light in. That’s how the light gets in. 

Noah was not good at letting the light in. He much preferred to keep himself in the dark. Every time someone offered to meet a need of his or show him love in a way that he didn’t anticipate or wasn’t prepared for, he rejected it. Either brushed it off with humor or outright ignored it. 

He walked through life with a chip on his shoulder, feeling sorry for himself because he’s never known love. Truth is, he could have known love. He’s had many opportunities to know love, but he constantly rejected it whenever it was offered, because anger and bitterness felt safer. More familiar.

He thought back to the times in his life where he’d wanted love. He pictured his nine-year-old self, crying alone in his room and wanting nothing more than to be comforted by parents who instead yelled at him for his emotional outbursts. 

What would have happened if that nine-year-old had just been hugged? Would the trajectory of his life have changed? Would he be more capable of holding a relationship? More receptive to love? 

He nearly choked. That was a can of worms he wasn’t sure he wanted to go near. Opening himself to love would mean opening himself up to processing that pain, and that scared him. 

He exhaled a deep breath, running his fingers over the fibers of the shaggy white carpet that covered the floor of his bedroom. 

Running from it, however, was holding him back. He knew it. His friends had noticed, and had long grown tired of that behavior pattern. He’d had opportunities to heal before and had refused, choosing instead to stay closed off, and he could tell his support system was running low on patience.

If he was ever going to grow into the man he wanted to be—the man you deserved, it started with choosing to let the light in, regardless of how uncomfortable it was. 

Nick’s sympathy turned Noah’s stomach sour. His over-inflated ego observed it as pity he neither needed, nor cared to indulge. His knee-jerk reaction was to object and disregard it, too proud to have needs. But as much discomfort as it caused, he begrudgingly allowed himself to receive what his friend was trying to offer. 

The light wouldn’t get in on its own. He had to choose to let it in, and that required effort. 

“I do have feelings for her,” he acknowledged. “I don’t know why that’s so hard for me to admit. And I don’t know why I’ve been acting this way.” 

Nick sighed, visibly relaxing now that Noah had accepted his offering, and Noah sighed as well. The icky, slimy feeling he’d registered at the first sign of Nick’s sympathy slowly started to melt into something warmer and more comforting. His nervous system finally started to pull back from the edge it had been operating on for who knows how long. 

“That’s okay,” Nick said, cracking a grin. “Feelings are hard to navigate. They cause people to act like idiots sometimes.” 

“No kidding,” Noah agreed, mirroring Nick’s smile. 

It felt good and humbling to finally admit. Noah could use a bit of humbling. Over the years, his biggest defense mechanism had become his pride. It had grown out of control, looking down on people who asked to get their needs met—dismissing them as weak and pitiful for not being able to make it on their own the way Noah had. 

He shook his head, chuckling bitterly to himself. 

“What are you laughing at?” whispered Nick. The hour had grown late and Noah was tired, but he was enjoying Nick’s company. 

“I’ve been such an idiot,” he said, looking back up at Nick. “How have you been able to live with me all this time?” 

Nick shrugged, grinning at his friend. “It’s not easy. But you’re not all bad. You just need some sense knocked into ya’.” 

“You guys are way more patient than I’ve given you credit for,” he said, feeling gratitude for his friends.

Nick snorted, quickly covering his mouth and nose to not wake you up. “I could get used to this Noah,” he said. “It’s a nice change.” 

“Don’t get too excited,” said Noah. “I’m still an asshole at heart.” 

Nick chuckled, standing to wipe off his pants and grabbing the pile of your vomit-ridden clothes. “It stinks in here. I’m gonna throw these in the wash and then head to bed. You got this?” he asked. 

Noah nodded. “I can take it from here.” 

Nick fixed him with one last serious look. “Be good to her. She’s one of the better ones, and for some fuckin’ reason, she seems to like you.” 

Noah laughed softly. “Turn the light off when you leave.” 

Nick did, and Noah sat in the dark, mulling over the events that had taken place that night. He’d have to have a very difficult conversation with you when you woke up, and he was not looking forward to that. 

What he was looking forward to, however, was an opportunity to repair some of the damage he’d done. 

Hopefully you’d let him.  ___________ All rights reserved to @doomhands-jr, 2024. Do not copy, repost or translate. A/N: I'm so sorry! I will give MC the ending she deserves, don't worry! She'll have her day in the sun. She's just gotta get through some stuff first.

Next chapter is almost finished. Will be up soon.

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[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Hi everyone,

I couldn’t find much information today about Autism and ADHD, but I did find some information about ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). This excerpt will be a bit long, so I apologize in advance:

ARFID in children and teens

ARFID is most common in childhood and early adolescence. While the true prevalence of ARFID remains to be studied, preliminary research indicates that boys may have a higher risk than girls and that as many as 5% of children are affected. Children who show symptoms of ARFID might avoid certain foods out of fear of texture, smell or appearance. They also might develop a fear that a certain food would cause them to feel sick or choke. In addition to the fear of food, children who experience ARFID may also display some fasting behaviors.

ARFID in adults

Adults with ARFID often have inflexible eating patterns, which can leave them labeled as extremely “picky” with regard to food selection.

There is a clear distinction between food preferences, which everyone has, and inflexible eating behaviors found in people diagnosed with ARFID. These inflexible behaviors include the following:

Refusal to try different foods or new types of food

Requiring extremely specific preparation of food choices

Sensitivity to the sensory perception of a food, whether physical or emotional

Another common symptom of ARFID in adults is fear-based food restriction. Individuals who experience distress about certain foods can have an emotional or physical reaction due to thoughts of an allergic reaction, choking or vomiting. Because of this fear, they may avoid certain foods and/or textures, depleting the individual of nutritional value. Fear-based food restriction can also result in low body weight and increased anxiety around food.

The full article will be linked below if you’d like to read through it. The link takes a bit to load though.

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

[corvid-language-library]

JLPT Journal 25/07 (Countdown: 129 days)

Today I:

Watched 3x My Hero Academia episodes, 1x Pokemon episode and 1x Dungeon Meshi episode

~100 minutes of comprehensible input videos

Reviewed 30 kanji

N3 vocab from today:

腰（こし）lower back, hips, waist

叫ぶ（さけぶ）to shout, to cry, to scream, to shriek, to yell

協力（きょうりょく）cooperation, collaboration, help, support

ついに finally, at last

節約（せつやく）economising, saving, being frugal

吐く（はく）to vomit, to throw up

膝（ひざ）knee

影（かげ）shadow, silhouette, figure, shape

左右（さゆう）left and right

かご basket (shopping etc), hamper, cage

小屋（こや）hut, cabin, shed, (animal) pen

瓶（びん）bottle, jar, decanter, flagon, phial, vial

張る（はる）to stick, to paste, to affix

完成（かんせい）completion, perfection, accomplishment

長期（ちょうき）long-term

人混み（ひとごみ）crowd of people

豊か（ゆたか）abundant, plentiful, rich, ample; rich, wealthy, affluent, well-off

魅力（みりょく）charm, fascination, glamour, attraction, appeal

尊重（そんちょう）respect, esteem, regard

材料（ざいりょう）materials, ingredients

指す（さす）to point; to nominate, to select; to identify, to point out, to indicate

陽気（ようき）cheerful, jovial, merry, lively

鍋（なべ）pan, pot, saucepan

板（いた）board, plank; pane, slab; cutting board, chopping board; stage (theatre)

植物（しょくぶつ）plant, vegetation

一種（いっしゅ）a kind, a sort, a variety, a species

Thoughts

Nothing specific to report here. Sometimes I feel like my listening is improving and I can catch a lot more than I used to, sometimes I feel like a total beginner who understands nothing. But then, I felt like that about Norwegian for months (if not years).

I've just had a quick look on YT and realised there's probably enough JLPT listening material for me to do at least two practice tests a week, so I think that's what I'll do. Idk, maybe some of them are duplicates posted on different channels, but I'm willing to bet I'll benefit from attempting them twice anyway because it's probably the best way to learn the specific grammar & vocab I need to pass. I'm planning to try one on Saturday, then maybe one on Wednesday. The following Saturday I'm off travelling for a week so maybe if I get time I can do one before I leave? And then when I get back I can start doing them bi-weekly (thinking of doing them Mondays and then alternate Thursday or Friday each week)

I'm not planning to do much studying while I'm away as I don't want to lug my laptop around (plus I find time away from my laptop quite freeing). I'm thinking of just reviewing kanji, listening to podcasts and reading an NHK Easy article a day or something.

[ranchracoon]

Ch. 3: No Return

The exhaustion from the past week couldn't compare to anything you had experienced. Muscles you didn't know existed ached, you couldn’t even wash your hair properly because of how badly your arms hurt. The skin on your knuckles was raq with dried blood in a few of the cracks. How a woman three times your age could do this for so long was beyond you. Today however is laundry day, which means a whole lot of washing by hand but also a lot of down time. The laundry has to be hung inside because the mist from the waterfall will keep them wet, but it takes longer which means you got to relax more.

While you do so, Angie made herself scarce and you dallied around on the main floor for something to do. There's a few book shelves that you rummaged through but none caught your fancy. You took another pass, and lowered your standards until you decided on one. The sun had begun to set when you finished your reading and made your way to the back room. It gets the most sunlight compared to the rest of the house.

It feels like a greenhouse, with the ceiling and walls made from glass with tile flooring. Tight ropes lined the room from wall to wall with clothing hung from each one. You grabbed the last article of clothing from the clothes line; a luxurious, red, suit jacket that was softer than any material you've ever felt. All the clothes were oddly slim, you would have thought that someone who stayed inside all the time would be the size of the duke but, these clothes looked like they could fit you easily. They must be a twig, an insanely tall twig, but a twig none-the-less. Must be something in the water that makes everyone so tall.

You folded each article of clothing and divided them by ownership which was exceptionally easy. Angie does her own laundry, and your clothes are thrift store fancy at best. Meanwhile the lord's belonged on the runway of Paris, or on a magazine cover. You dropped off the basket of clothes in front of the lord's bedroom then excused yourself for the evening.

Sundays were your day off according to Angie, apparently the lord is gone all day doing whatever lords do and would return in the evening for dinner. It was also the day you went grocery shopping for the week, and Angie was going to let you pick out ingredients. This was your chance, if you could make something actually edible for the lord, maybe he'll come out to thank you. Or at least expose Angie to something other than whatever concoction she did make.

The next morning while you dressed you couldn't help but think how this lord managed to move around the manor without you or Angie noticing. There must be secret tunnels or something that they traveled through, because there was no way they could move from the workshop to their bedroom without cutting through the kitchen. On Friday you served lunch to the workshop, spent the entire day in the kitchen cleaning then the bell for their bedroom rang. It was impossible. Unless you're more oblivious than you thought. You grumbled under your breath then stopped dead in your tracks and shook your head. Great. Now you were acting like that deranged woman.

You hurried downstairs and to the kitchen as fast as you could to avoid Angie, in the kitchen you didn't see anyone and grabbed a bowl of leftover mush. It tasted like vomit but it was all you had, for now. You hadn't been this excited for something as mundane as grocery shopping since, ever. You leaned against the counter and a sudden clang against it made you jump. Looking over you saw Angie who dropped a bag of lei next to you.

"Is that my pay?" You asked.

"No, it's to buy food." She snapped.

"So, when do I get paid for all this work?"

She cackled, "what do you need to be paid for? You have a room, and food. What more do you need? A vacation? Ha."

She had a point, where would you go if you did have money? Could go back home and couch surf, get a steady 12 hour job and work 5 days a week. Plus weekends. You decided to remain quiet and finished your meal. After you finished you washed your dishes, dried them, then put them away. Angie left you in the kitchen while you found a basket and blanket to hold the food, when she returned she was wrapping a shawl over her shoulders.

"I'll be going with you to the village to visit my girls. You'll be on your own so don't do anything stupid. Remember, you now represent Lord Beneviento which is nothing to snuff at. Anything you do is a reflection of them."

"Girls? You have daughters?" You asked surprised.

"No, they're Lady Dimitrescu's daughters but I visit them every Sunday so they're practically my girls too." She replied.

You nodded in acknowledgment as the two of you rode the elevator up then passed through the front doors. Angie hummed to herself the entire walk and you hugged yourself as the wind blew past you, it carried the crisp bite of fall with it. The thin jacket you wore wasn't enough to keep the cold out, you would need something thicker to survive the winter. Angie continued to hum until she crossed over the grave of Claudia. She stopped walking and humming, her stare moved to it for a moment. You watched her watch the gravesite until she relit the candle and covered it with a glass dome so it wouldn't blow out again.

"Angie?" You asked softly.

"Hm?" She answered.

"Who was Claudia?"

Angie stayed silent for a long time before she started to walk away from you, she sighed heavily and the wetness of tears appeared in her eyes.

"I suppose you should know. Claudia was the lord's mother. She died from a horrific disease, but she was the kindest woman you've ever met. Her husband though, the late Lord Beneviento was a dark man, the definition of evil. Rumor has it he's the reason the lord doesn't come out. I started working there very shortly after the mother's death. Poor dear must have just been a child then." She replied sadly.

You sighed softly as you thought about it, all this time they've been completely alone with no one but Angie as company. It made you think back to your mother, and whenever you were upset she would cook you something, but now you also understood not having that comfort. The rest of the journey was silent, with only the wind and the brush of the weeds as company. The village came into view and Angie wiped her tears away as she looked back at you.

"This is where I leave you. Be back at the manor by 6pm sharp for dinner."

"Yes ma'am."

You watched her waddle toward the village center where three, tall,  gorgeous women waited for her. One brunette, one ginger, and one blond. They looked exactly the same aside from the hair color, and microscopic differences in their facial structure. They even wore the same black cloaks with black roses pinned on the upper left of their collarbone. If they looked like that, their mother must be a goddess on Earth.

Angie opened her arms wide as the three women swarmed her in hugs and giggles then walked with her out of sight. Not a single glance your way. A thought occurred in your head, a meal you used to love growing up and always made you feel better but there was one, little, issue: it required fish. That'll be the last thing you get. It didn't take long to acquire the rest of the ingredients: rice, ginger, cucumber, soy sauce, garlic, and other seasonings. All of it fresh and handmade or grown locally. However, now that you're finished that meant you had to do the inevitable.

You groaned under your breath and followed the signs that pointed to the bay, with your head on a swivel. Ironically you loved this meal but hated the smell of fish. You scrunched your nose as you got closer, merchants yelled for attention trying to sell their latest catch of fish, crabs, and other shellfish.

A woman caught your attention, she wore a simple brown gown with a red apron that used to be white. She had freshly caught and gutted salmon which was exactly what you needed. You approached her and asked for three filets, while you waited you glanced around the dock to watch the fishers pass you by. Just as the woman was about to wrap the fish in paper your skin prickled with goosebumps and you felt as though someone was watching you, you glanced around again to see if you could make them out.

"Y/N!"

No.... You thought.

Salvatore appeared from around the corner with that creepy grin that you were certain he thought was genuine. His hair was neater today, it was combed to one side and he had on a green button up with slick overalls that had the boots attached. He walked up to you and attempted to hug you but you quickly side stepped to avoid it. You didn't like to be touched in general, and definitely not by men. He pretended to look hurt but quickly changed it back to a smile.

"What brings you down here? Come to get some fish?" He asked excitedly.

"No, I came down here to see what fruits and vegetables I could find." You replied sarcastically.

He laughed louder than you would have liked, the woman motioned for you to take the fish; you took it and paid her the lei then wrapped the fish in the covering to keep it from leaking. You had hoped Salvatore would take that as his cue to leave, but he remained standing there. You strained your head to look behind him so any opening to escape.

"Well, since you're here, would you like to see my boat?" He offered.

"I can't, I'm afraid I need to get this fish on ice and be back at the manor before...2pm." You lied.

"Then, how about I accompany you?" He asked.

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to get distracted nor keep you from your duties. Have a good day." You replied as nicely as you could muster.

You tried to step around to walk away but he continued to walk next to you. He slipped his hands into his overall pockets, while strutting proudly.

"Nonsense, Sundays are my day off because my dad is gone all day in meetings with Mother Miranda."

You perked your head up. If his father was in the meeting, then he was with lord Beneviento. Maybe you could do some fishing of your own.

"Is that so? So your father is a lord too?" You asked curiously.

Salvatore smirked, "yeah. There are four lords around here that run the village like a city council. They make the judgment for any crimes, how to spend taxes, all that boring stuff." He sniffed and puffed out his chest, "I'll be taking over for my father when he steps down."

You refrained from rolling your eyes, "who are the other lords?"

"Well, there's my dad, Beneviento, Dimitrescu, and Heisenberg. Dimitrescu exports her family's wine and some other stuff I think. My father and I handle fishing and help out with the farming, while Heisenberg does all the carpentry and metal work for the village. I don't know what Beneviento does, no one has seen him so I think he just rides his father's legacy and that's why he remains a lord."

You stopped walking, "bold of you to talk about a lord like that. Especially one that I work for and you've never met." You snapped.

Salvatore raised his hands in defense. His toothy grin remained as he shook his head.

"I'm just saying."

You glared at him, "I think it's time we parted ways. I have to get back."

You started to walk away when he grabbed the arm that didn't have the basket attached to it. He swung you around to face him again. It took every muscle in your body not to smack him with the wrapped fish right then and there.

"Hey I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you mad. Let me make it up to you. The summer festival is this upcoming weekend, come with me. We can-"

You yanked your arm away and cut him off, "no. Now I need to get going. Angie is waiting for me."

As fast as your feet could carry you, you walked away from that man and back into the crowded village. After you deemed yourself far enough away you slowed your pace and relaxed a little, he really did give you the creeps. Just when you thought you wouldn't have to deal with unwanted attention here. The bell tower over the church rang four times. After you calmed you began to walk back to the manor when goosebumps crawled over your skin, that feeling of being watched returned. Maybe you should mention something to Angie; no, she'd just laugh at you and call you crazy.

Every step you would shoot a look over one shoulder. You couldn't shake the feeling of being prey stalked by a predator. Each time the grass or trees rustled you walked a little quicker until the manor came into view. You've never walked faster and slammed the door behind you.

Back in the safety of the manor you slumped the groceries on the counter and huffed, now that you were alone you started on dinner while cursing to yourself. Anger boiled underneath as your mind swam with the interaction with Salvator, he was just as bad as the men from where you came from. You trusted your gut, and your gut said he wasn't as nice as he came across. There was certainly something off about him.

Cooking relaxed your mind and you allowed yourself to fully dive into it. The salmon marinated in melted butter, soy sauce, and ginger while you sauteed mushrooms, bell pepper, and zucchini. The water boiled for rice and you added it in then turned down the heat and covered it to cook, just in time for you to cook the fish. While those are going, you thinly sliced the cucumber and pickled them with vinegar, lime, and salt.

Angie walked into the kitchen and eyed you, she sniffed the air curiously and hovered over your shoulder while you worked. She picked up an avocado from your cutting board and examined it like it was a foreign entity. After her examination she plopped it back down then rummaged through the rest of the groceries.

"Where did you get these things? I've never seen them in the village." She asked.

"The Duke. I asked if he had any and he did." You answered, "oh, and the leftover lei is on the counter."

Angie cocked her eyebrow at you, "are you feeling okay? You're not as sarcastic or groany as usual."

"Yeah just...how was your day with your girls?" You asked to change the subject.

Angie narrowed her eyes but shrugged it off, "good. Those girls sure are a handful but I love em dearly."

The two of you conversed in small talk while you finished dinner, Angie judged your cooking of course so you displayed it like a five star restaurant. Rice for the base, veggies next, then the salmon, with sliced avocado and ginger on top with the cucumber around the side. On cue the bell for the bedroom rang, you picked up the tray and carried it to the bedroom. You knelt down and knocked on the door then turned around back to the kitchen. You paused in the doorway and glanced over to see the door cracked open. It quickly shut before you could get a good look at whoever was behind it and sighed. Maybe it was rats eating the meals, but that wouldn't explain the dirty clothes, then again, the clothes you collected hardly looked dirty at all.

Maybe Angie was wrong, perhaps ghosts do eat and wear clothes to remind themselves of when they were living. The thought made you internally chuckle as you thought about ghosts trying to wear their human clothes and it goes right through. You and Angie ate in silence, when you were finished Angie offered to clean the dishes for once. It made you suspicious but decided to take the opportunity to go to bed early, a small coma sounded lovely about now. The refreshing water of the shower washed off the grossness of the day and having to be around people; the lord was onto something being a hermit. After you were clean and changed into some night clothes you crawled under the sheets of the bed and closed your eyes.

Sleep did not come to you though. You tossed and turned but your thoughts wouldn't settle. After much debate and staring at the ceiling for seemingly hours, you decided to walk around. You wandered around the top floor, glanced out the windows to watch the waterfall until the faintest noise came through that wasn't the white noise. It sounded like music. As you walked toward the elevator you could make out bits of it, you looked around and took the elevator down. If Angie caught you, you could say you were getting water, that's a reasonable excuse to be up at midnight.

You banged your hand on the side to open the doors, the music flowed through the corridors a bit clearer. You followed it until you stood down the hall from the workshop. The music was a piano, and it didn't have the static of a record which meant it was being played. As you approached closer you noticed the door was a ajar with a sliver of light beaming through. You tiptoed toward the door, the entire time you held your breath as if that would help you make any less noise. The music was somber but alluring, it couldn't be Angie which left one other suspect. You peeked through the door and your eyes widened at the sight of someone's back to you. They were dressed in all black with black hair tied into a bun. Their head was hung low and you couldn't make out anything else.

They played expertly, their fingers glided over the keys with ease and familiarity. As you leaned closer to try and get a better look you accidentally pushed the door which creaked open further. The person froze; you watched them stand and move out of sight then suddenly appear in front of you. Before you could look up at them the door slammed shut in front of your face. The sound of music was replaced with the hammering of your heart. You panted heavily as if you had just ran a marathon. The footsteps behind the door faded away, but then grew louder as they approached the door and you took off running to the safety of your room.

Once in your room you shut and locked the door then out of panic pushed the desk behind it. The lord was going to be so angry that you saw them, that you were snooping, and if they didn't, Angie certainly would. You paced around the room in panic, you should have ran for the front door. Instead you're trapped here, and you were going to have to face judgment.

Continue Reading

[urbigsockssmell]

Monster - Chapter 2.

Male! Wendigo x Female! Reader

Summary: In your last moments before death, you make a deal with the Devil himself. To provide it with as much food as you can from your butcher job to save your life and the lives of everyone around you. Even if it knows the amount of food you can give it still won't be enough, it goes along with your plan for whatever reason of curiosity it has.

DISCLAIMER!!! YOU CAN ONLY CONTINUE READING THIS BOOK ON WATTPAD AND AO3 UNDER @UrBigSocksSmell AND THE BOOK IS CALLED "Monster" UPDATES WON'T BE HAPPENING HERE ON TUMBLR ONLY THERE!!!

No real trigger warnings here if you dont count paranoia, some form of anxiety atacks mentioned and stalking I suppose.

"No, Mom, boyfriends don't come out of thin air." You scolded her over the phone while bits of bread crumbs spilled from your mouth and onto the already dirty tile floor.

"But what about Charles? He's single, right? Or maybe--" You cut her off, having swallowed the bite of food before she could talk any more nonsense.

"Mom, stop trying to hook me up with Charles. How many times do I have to tell you that he's only just a friend to me?" You were getting severely annoyed and angry at her as so many times you have before when having this sort of conversation.

"Fine, fine, but just know I said that about Martha when we were just friends." She put an emphasis enclosure on her last words and you guessed she did quotation marks as well. You had to roll your eyes in your chair at her comment while taking another bite.

It wasn't uncommon for her to all of a sudden mention a boyfriend when she called you on your lunch break and it was starting to get immensely annoying. You were sitting in your shop, far back where the meat was served and the people couldn't see you, eating a baloney sandwich from the market down the street while talking to your mother over the phone. Today wasn't good but wasn't bad either. It was good on the part of how many few customers there were and that you were finally able to relax from some non-specific person in mind. But it was bad when it came to how boring it was at work and how the outside felt like walking straight into a tornado.

"Now that you mentioned Martha, how is she?" You tried switching up the conversation from that embarrassing topic.

She chuckled before responding and it sent a sort of vibrating sound through the telephone. "She's doing well. She said that there's an action movie she heard about that she'd love to see with you. It was something called like 'Battle of the Manticores' or some shit like that." A light chuckle was heard from you at her cursing.

You got up from your chair, it making a squeaky sound on the floor that you cringed at, and were about to go and throw the plastic the sandwich was wrapped in while still having some food substance in your mouth.

"Y-Y/N?" Her sudden call-out made you perk up while walking and make a light 'mmh' sound for her to continue. "I've, umm, I've h-heard what happened at the town's square..." Her voice was low and nervous and the jittery tone she had before vanished as the tension slowly thickened. You stopped in your tracks and had to swallow down the lump in your throat and not just from the meat and bread that was in your mouth.

It's been a couple of days, maybe about a week since that.. incident. News had spread about it, everyone talked around and even articles were written of it possibly being a serial killer on the loose. It was clearly a cash grab at twisting the frightening truth but there still could've been a possibility. There could even be a possibility of another corpse hiding around yet to be discovered.

You've recovered since then. I mean, it wasn't anything that serious, just a dead scary-looking animal that made people vomit at just the look of it. Instead, everyone including you, was worried about what had caused it and if they posed a threat to the town. Who could've mauled down that corpse in such a disturbing and vicious way? Just a normal animal from the forest everyone's dramatizing to monetize? A psychotic human?..A monster? And if it had done that much bloodthirsty harm to just one animal, possibly and most likely more, what would it do to the entire town?

Nobody knew and it was the cause of all the nightmares you had ever since. Nightmares that made you face death itself. It just didn't help that even outside, in your already sleep-deprecated life, did the presence of death feel real. Even now when you were having a private conversation with your mother did the feeling of watchful white eyes of death on you every second never disappear.

In your desperate attempt to try and forget about it, you never mentioned it once to anyone, and for your mother to suddenly bring it up made every emotion you felt at that moment crawl back and shiver up your spine.

"H-Honey? You still there?" Your mother caught on to how quiet you had become. She could've never known how much all of the color you had on your face drained down and made you pale as a ghost.

"Where did you hear about it?" Your tone only thickened not only the tension but also the fear and worry in your mother.

"A-a friend of mine told me... " You continued walking while holding all your focus on her words and gripping the black Nokia phone tight with both of your hands. "She said that there was an animal eaten alive down at the town's square and that nobody knew where it came from and how it was caused." At the end of her sentence, you were about to throw the peace of plastic in the bin when you realized your coworker had forgotten to throw out the trash. At any different moment in time, you would've rolled your eyes at him in annoyance and groaned out at the newfound chore. This moment was different, it felt... unusual like something wrong was going to happen. It was something you had done so many times before but now that all the fear was back lashing on your trembling bones, it felt like something different had to happen.

"I was wondering what you have to say about it." Your footsteps echoed around the room on the tile floor and made you feel cautious about everything. It was only to go and throw out the trash your forgetful coworker left but now it almost felt.. unsafe.

"I-It was probably nothing. Just some animals killing other animals like nature made it be like." That was true, at least it was the truth you wanted to believe in and have been telling yourself for the entire week.

"You're probably right but.." The breeze of a chilly wind on your face made you feel cold when you opened the door to the back alleyway.

The alleyway was huge, it had graffiti around the brick walls, burned-out cigarettes and syringes probably used for drugs decorating the musty concrete floor. It was a very hidden and creepy place, near Rushell's dark forest, far where the sun didn't hit, and behind all the shops. It just wasn't fun that even within such a closed space, the tornado-like wind still had to torment you. One of the reasons why you didn't like visiting the place was how dark it was. You always feared something being in there, either a creep or something from the forest like a.. monster. There was some form of light, it being the street light towering over you and the various lights from the buildings, but even that didn't help in uncovering the white eyes lurking in the shadows.

"I don't know, I'm just worried about you, honey." You could barely make out her voice from the annoying and loud wind that made your hair run all over the place and roughly hold the Nokia phone with both hands. You opened the green and rusty dumpster as quickly as possible and threw the rubbish directly into it. It smelled horrible when you opened it as if accompanied by all of the cats and raccoons that ran away from the outburst of sound was a terrified skunk. You still felt the feel of how dirty the dumpster was even when you turned around and were ready to go back to where you came from.

"What do you think it is?"

That sudden question from your mother wasn't the only thing that made you pale in your tracks and taste a familiar bitter taste in your mouth.

It was almost nostalgic. To feel the same feeling you felt back then, minutes before, and again now. That same horror in your eyes, that same paleness in your face, and that same shiver hugging your spine. It wasn't anything that bloody and gory looking this time but it almost made you drop your phone into pieces. It was.. inhumane. No human or animal you knew existed could've done the havoc that was caused on the metal door of the butcher shop. There were claw marks ingrained on it and ripping the rusty metal like something was trying to get in. They were huge and reminded you of something only dinosaurs could make, huge as in whatever caused it could grab your entire face in just one of its hands. You feared touching the door handle now, scared of whatever caused it to jump out at you when you opened it. The damage done couldn't have been made by a cat or a raccoon, just the marks alone were twice their size, big, and the being..  could probably chew them up with just one bite... Was it ..trying to get in and eat--

"What do you think it is?" Your mother repeated herself.

It was a pause for a breath of air that felt like it lasted forever when you gathered your thoughts.

"I don't know.."

***

I must announce that this book hit over a 100 reads on Ao3 within A FUCKING WEEK!? I am in shook. W. T. F. Thank you all for reading this book, I am thankful that you clicked on my work out of all the books out there. (Totally didn't steal Chad Chad's outro) Please leave any sort of feedback, as a beginner author it will help me graciously. And please tell me if the build up and paranoia is accecutaed goodly.

I will probably be updating this book on a schedule weekly. It took me a week to write this chapter, with the amount of editing a had to do so I'm thinking of posting a new chapter every Friday or Saturday. I am not that busy at the moment with school and outside activities so it works out perfectly for me. Or I'll make it so I update every ten days like I saw someone posting on Wattpad do I don't know. It's still just an idea and I need to seriously do a lot more research on Wendigos so I can get as accurate as possible.

Have a lovely day, you deserve it because you made mine by just living and reading my display.

[ao3feed-sambucky]

An Unfortunate Article

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/8tE05la by shivu Bucky has a good day, until it isn't. One of the major events that prompted Sam to suggest that Bucky gets a service dog. Excerpt: Today was a rare day; a good day. He woke up kind of late in the morning. He didn't have any nightmares, so he actually slept more than six hours relatively peacefully. He made pasta, a little too much pasta; so he put some in the freezer, good for days when all he can do is throw something in the microwave then pass out. He even pre portioned it. Bucky's day was going pretty ok. There was some joint pain here and there; a migraine he woke up with, but quickly went away. He sang some music while washing the dishes from the pasta. It was nice. It's a little past 7pm, he'd decided to read a little. He'd read a little and scrolled through article after article. Maybe he should find something for dinner tomorrow- A news article about him pops up. AN: Contains descriptive flashbacks and dialogue of the Asset in sexual situations, Bucky clearly is disturbed by past events as "he"/the Asset couldn't consent due to brainwashing. Has a reference of self harm and a suicidal thought- both are in between flashbacks and no sh or suicide takes place. Words: 2623, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 2 of Long Haired Bucky Fandoms: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Rape/Non-Con Categories: M/M Characters: James "Bucky" Barnes, Sam Wilson (Marvel), Brock Rumlow, Hydra Agents, Sharon Carter (Marvel) Relationships: James "Bucky" Barnes/Sam Wilson Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Choking, Dissociation, Flashbacks, Vomiting, its only referenced and isnt described in detail, Bucky Barnes has Chronic Pain, Chronic Pain, Headaches & Migraines, Men Crying, Crying, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Suicidal Thoughts, sh and suicidal thoughts are vaguely mentioned in between flashbacks, Body Horror, Falling asleep in each other's arms, Bucky Barnes Remembers, Bucky Barnes Has PTSD, Bucky Barnes struggles with words, Bucky Barnes uses ALS, War Veteran Bucky Barnes, Bucky Barnes has longer hair, Long Hair Bucky, Implied/Referenced Torture, Hydra (Marvel), HYDRA Trash Party, Post-Canon, Post-TFATWS read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/8tE05la

[brokenbluebouquet]

Henry and Francis Manners from the tomb of their parents at St Mary the Virgin church Bottlesford, Leicestershire.

On the tomb there is this inscription:

In 1608 he married ye lady Cecila Hungerford, daughter to ye Honorable Knight Sir John Tufton, by whom he had two sons, both of which died in their infancy by wicked practises and sorcerye.

These two boys deaths were at the centre of one of the most sensational witch trials of the period. Known collectively as “The Witches of Belvoir.”

In 1613 Joan Flower and her daughters Margaret and Philippa were employed by Francis Manners Earl of Rutland in preparation of a visit by King James. Their employment ended with accusations of theft and the women were not well liked by those they worked with.

In September 1613, shortly after the departure of the Flower women, the whole Manners family fell violently ill with fever, vomiting and convulsions. The eldest son Henry died on 26 September 1613.

For the next 5 years the Flower women were subject to rumours about their involvement, which served to push them to the margins of society further. The more marginalised they got, the more they leaned into their reputations as herbal healers and magic users to make a living.

On Christmas 1618, Joan, Philippa, and Margaret were arrested for cursing the Earl and his family, causing the death of Henry, the chronic illness of his brother Francis, and the infertility of the Countess.

Joan died soon after arrest attempting to prove her innocence after chocking on communion bread, in the eyes of contemporaries a sign of guilt.

Margaret and Philippa were sent to Lincoln gaol where they confessed to the charges under questionable circumstances. Margaret and Philippa were hung at Lincoln Castle on 11 March 1619.

Francis finally succumbed on 5 March 1620.

Incidentally, George married Katherine Manners, sister of both, on 16 May 1620.

Was this in fact not dark forces or simple misfortune, but a deliberate conspiracy cooked up by a certain someone to claim the Manners fortune for themselves?

In her book Witches, Tracy Borman, thinks George might have been the culprit in plain sight…

Borman claims that Francis, the younger of the two. was in fact poisoned by John Lambe at George’s behest, using the Villiers family connections in Leicestershire as cover for a larger scheme to claim the Manners inheritance via marrying Katherine. This included commissioning the pamphlet “The Wonderful Discovery of the witchcraft of Margaret and Philippa Flowers near Belvoir Castle” to frame the Flower women for the crime; and tricking Katherine into ruining her reputation to force the Earl to allow the marriage.

On the surface this is all very clever, even plausible. However, Borman has a well known disdain for both George and his royal patrons, James in particular. She also can’t get her head around the fact that just because we (officially) don’t believe possible to kill people through evil magic, they did.

Also there isn’t anything like a letter of instruction, an entry in an account book, a medical report of unusual symptoms, or even some link to the writing of the incriminating pamphlet that would meaningfully tie George to Francis’s death and the trial that followed. Otherwise it’s all based on reputation and prejudice, ironically the exact mindset that got the Flower women hung.

Bormann has a history of this kind of unfounded speculation - I can recall an article in History Today or History Extra (can’t remember which one sorry) where she claimed that Anna of Denmark was involved in the gunpowder plot as revenge for her husbands homosexual philandering and political marginalisation of her. Needless to say, it took a while for me to pick my jaw up off the floor after reading that.

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

Just finished reading a pretty funny blog article today, where the author described how dreadfully sick they were on a boat.

And now I think I would love to read one of your darkly humorous stories where Grima and Eomer are in Gondor, and for some reason only the Gods understand, have to travel on a boat. From Belfalas across to Anfalas, maybe - quicker than riding along the coast.

Which one of them would tough it out, pretend to be absolutely fine while turning green and silently screaming inside? Which one of them would complain non-stop from shore to shore, then rush off the boat at the other end to kiss the solid ground?

Eowyn, of course, never gets seasick at all...

Hahaha oh man there's a visual thought.

I think all three would be seasick for sure. If this is set in Swimming Through Fire universe, Grima is both seasick and riddled with anxiety because he hates large bodies of water.

Eomer and Eowyn would definity be trying to be stoic and fine and down playing it. Like they're fine. Nothing wrong. Oh gods can the seas get any rougher? (they can)

Grima's just sick into a bucket and someone is like "have you thought about being sick over the side?" and he's like "leaning out over the water? do you take me for a fool? absolute not" and Eomer's like "you know that no one is going to try and murder you."

Grima: my brothers weren't trying to kill me, they were trying to make me tougher. it was done out of love.

Eomer: i - uh

Eomer:

Eomer: i disagree but let's not push it. but you thinking that was loving explains a lot about you.

But yeah, Grima's the one who is complaining voraciously through the entire trip, between his moments of vomiting into a bucket and regretting that he ate breakfast.

Eomer's sick over the side at least once but makes no comment on it and pretends it didn't happen. Eowyn is also sick over the side but she did it out of sight of her brother and Grima so lies to them and says she was not sick at all.

whaaaat a bag of losers. Love them all.

Thank you for the ask! Who knows, it might result in a little something formally written. <3 <3

[rxavailable4444]

Semaglutide: A Breakthrough in Diabetes and Weight Management

Semaglutide is a medication that has garnered significant attention in recent years for its dual role in managing type 2 diabetes and aiding in weight loss. Developed by Novo Nordisk, semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that mimics the incretin hormones the body naturally produces to stimulate insulin secretion in response to meals. This article explores the mechanism, benefits, and growing applications of semaglutide in both diabetes management and obesity treatment.

Mechanism of Action

Semaglutide works by binding to GLP-1 receptors, which are located on pancreatic beta cells. This binding stimulates the release of insulin when glucose levels are high, thereby lowering blood sugar. Additionally, semaglutide inhibits glucagon release, reduces hepatic glucose production, and slows gastric emptying, all contributing to its glucose-lowering effects. This comprehensive approach helps maintain better glycemic control and has proven to be highly effective for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Benefits for Diabetes Management

Clinical trials have shown that semaglutide is highly effective in lowering HbA1c levels, a key marker of long-term blood glucose control. In several studies, patients treated with semaglutide achieved significant reductions in HbA1c compared to those treated with other GLP-1 agonists or placebo. This reduction translates into a lower risk of diabetes-related complications such as neuropathy, nephropathy, and cardiovascular diseases.

Moreover, semaglutide offers the convenience of once-weekly administration, improving adherence among patients who may find daily medications burdensome. Its ability to promote weight loss, a common challenge for individuals with type 2 diabetes, adds an additional layer of benefit, addressing both blood sugar control and obesity-related health risks.

Weight Loss Benefits

Beyond its efficacy in managing type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has gained recognition for its substantial weight loss benefits. In clinical trials, participants using semaglutide for weight management lost significantly more weight compared to those on placebo. The weight loss effects are attributed to its impact on appetite regulation and satiety, making it easier for individuals to reduce caloric intake and adhere to healthier eating patterns.

The STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) trials have highlighted these benefits, showing that higher doses of semaglutide (2.4 mg weekly) can lead to an average weight loss of around 15% of body weight over 68 weeks. This makes semaglutide one of the most effective pharmacological treatments for obesity available today.

Broader Health Implications

The benefits of semaglutide extend beyond diabetes and weight loss. Obesity is a major risk factor for numerous conditions, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and certain cancers. By effectively promoting weight loss, semaglutide can potentially reduce the incidence and severity of these conditions, offering a broader public health benefit.

Safety and Side Effects

While semaglutide is generally well-tolerated, some patients may experience side effects. The most common include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which tend to diminish over time. There is also a potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, as observed in rodent studies, though this has not been confirmed in humans. As with any medication, it is crucial for patients to discuss their medical history and any potential risks with their healthcare provider.

Also read about buy semaglutide online

Conclusion

Semaglutide represents a significant advancement in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Its multifaceted mechanism of action, coupled with its effectiveness in both glycemic control and weight loss, makes it a valuable tool for managing two of the most pressing health issues today. As research continues and real-world experience grows, semaglutide's role in improving health outcomes is likely to expand, offering hope to millions of individuals struggling with diabetes and obesity.

[embervoices]

Here we go. I found a chart meme from the Government of South Australia's health department on the different symptoms of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.

Image text:

KNOW THE SIGNS HEAT EXHAUSTION: Headaches Nausea and vomiting Fatigue, weakness, and restlessness Thirsty Anxiety Poor coordination Weak, rapid pulse Sweating heavily Raised body temperature WHAT TO DO Lie down in shade or air-conditioning Drink water Cool compress or tea towel Cool shower or bath HEAT STROKE: Headaches Nausea and vomiting Rapid pulse Extremely thirsty Dry, swollen tongue Disoriented, dizzy or delirious, slurred speech Body temperature more than 40c Convulsions, seizures, or coma May be sweating, skin may feel deceptively cool WHAT TO DO Call 000 (i.e. Emergency Services) immediately Reduce temperature until ambulance arrives

Also worth noting*: If you have recently had heat exhaustion or stroke, you will have reduced heat tolerance for a while thereafter. It often goes away after weeks-to-months, but not always! If you've ever had heat stroke or severe heat exhaustion before, you may be permanently less tolerant of heat thereafter, and need to be even more careful!

* I learned about this and that it applies to me by reading some articles on the topic several years ago. 80+F heat reliably makes me nauseous ever since. Brief Google confirms my memory of the articles again today.

if you are dealing with extreme heat or even just. moderate heat in your area right now. 80f/26c is when it starts getting toasty for a lot of people. if you are in a heat wave and you have not done yourself the favor of googling fucking "heat exhaustion symptoms" i am shaking you violently right now. look it up. burn the symptoms into your brain. heatstroke is no joke and it can and WILL sneak up on you before you're aware it's even an issue. ohh my god

[hardynwa]

Road diversion: Osun residents protest govt inaction, police aggression

There was pandemonium in Osogbo on Thursday as residents of Peter Ajibola and Igbalaye areas of the city protested over dust haze caused by ongoing road construction. The residents, DAILY POST gathered, were angered by the dust emanating from the road diversion as a result of ongoing construction within the town. DAILY POST recalled that in December, 2023, Governor Ademola Adeleke announced a N100 billion infrastructural plan which involved the construction of flyovers in different parts of the state including Osogbo, the state capital. To further aid the flow of traffic, the state government announced diversions within populated residential areas. It was learnt that residents, in protest, on Thursday blocked the street which hindered free flow of traffic. As a result, policemen from Dada Estate Police Division stormed the area and arrested some residents. Chatting with DAILY POST, a resident Funmilayo Ade lamented that the way the government is going about the road diversion is wrong. She revealed that the dust from the road diversion is starting to cause health issues among residents as some children were now vomiting blood. “We appreciate the government but the way they are treating us is not good. We can’t open our shops again because of the dust. When you open your mouth to talk, dust will enter into your mouth and nose. “This is the reason why our people came out to protests today. “The police just came now and arrested innocent residents, smashed the phone of a lady who was just receiving calls and started shooting tear gas canisters everywhere. “There was an agreement between the resident and the state government before the diversion began that they will be wetting the road due to the dust but it is not enough.” Another resident, Oyegbade Wahab stated that the dust has started to affect the health of the residents. He urged the state government to lay asphalt temporarily on the road so as to reduce the dust. Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, stated that the government understands what the residents are passing through. While pleading for more understanding, Alimi added that “the state government would look into the complaints of the residents from the appropriate quarters”. “Now that they have protested, we will see what the government can do to alleviate their suffering. “They should understand that it is just a temporary thing and the road diversion is for developmental purpose and in development, we have to sacrifice. That not withstanding, the state government will send a delegation to that area to see what can be done to ameliorate the suffering of the residents,” he said. Contacted the spokesperson of the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, stated that she was not aware of the protest. Read the full article

[shroomsshroom]

First Time with LSD Edibles? Read This!

Here's to a whole new world of psychedelic experience. This guide is especially tailored for people like you who are embarking on the exploration of LSD edibles for the first time. Before diving in, we must equip ourselves with everything we need to know for a safe and fulfilling experience.

LSD Edibles and Where to Buy LSD Canada

So first things first, what exactly are LSD edibles? Similar to magic mushrooms or cannabis, LSD edibles are a form of food or drink products that have been infused with Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) - a potent psychedelic drug.

For those residing in the Great North, you can buy LSD Canada widely on the internet. It's as simple as typing DMT Online Canada into your search engine, and you'll be greeted with a plethora of resources including informative articles, user reviews, related products, and of course, sources to purchase it online safely and legally.

The All-Important Dosage of LSD Edibles

Fortifying the experience of LSD edibles begins with getting the dose right. As a beginner, it's always safer to start with a lower dose and progress gradually. When consumed responsibly, LSD edibles can offer a long-lasting immersive psychedelic experience.

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Start low, go slow: Begin with a lower dose and see how it affects you. The strength of LSD edibles can vary significantly, so it's best to consume a small amount initially.

Patience is key: The effects of LSD edibles take longer to kick in, usually about 30 minutes to two hours. So wait a while before deciding to consume more.

Setting matters: Your environment can have a big influence on your trip. Ensure you're in a comfortable and safe place for the best experience.

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Safety is paramount when it comes to experimenting with LSD or any other psychedelic substance. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

Never drive under the influence: The effects of LSD edibles include changes in visual perception, mood, and cognitive processes. This can make even everyday tasks (like driving) dangerous.

Keep water handy: LSD can leave you feeling parched, so it's always a good idea to stay hydrated.

Always opt for a trusted source: Make sure where you buy LSD Canada is reliable to avoid any adverse effects.

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If you find the LSD edibles’ experience longer than desired, you might want to explore other options like DMT Vaporizers. A shortcut to hyperspace, the DMT vape offers an intense but short-lived trip compared to edibles. It’s a powerful tool for inducing breakthrough experiences and exploring different planes of consciousness.

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Let's wrap up our beginners' guide on using LSD Edibles and we hope you've learned the basics to have a safe and enjoyable psychedelic journey. Remember, the most wonderful travels are those where we're properly prepared and informed. So please take your time to explore, research, and ask questions.

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[ozempic-pens]

Wegovy Weight Loss Injections: A Revolutionary Solution?

Introduction

Are you struggling to shed those extra pounds despite trying various weight loss methods? Perhaps it’s time to consider a revolutionary solution that could change your life — Wegovy weight loss injections. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Wegovy injections, exploring their effectiveness, safety, and potential benefits. So, if you’re ready to embark on a weight loss journey like no other, keep reading!

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Wegovy weight loss injections, also known as semaglutide injections, have taken the weight loss industry by storm. Approved by the FDA in June 2021, Wegovy injections offer a new approach to tackling obesity. These injections contain semaglutide, a synthetic hormone that mimics a naturally occurring hormone in our bodies called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). By activating GLP-1 receptors in the brain, Wegovy injections help regulate appetite, reduce food cravings, and promote a feeling of fullness.

How Do Wegovy Injections Work?

When injected into the body, Wegovy activates GLP-1 receptors, which signal the brain to release less hunger-inducing hormones. This leads to a decreased appetite, making it easier to adhere to a calorie-restricted diet and achieve sustainable weight loss. Wegovy injections also slow down the emptying of the stomach, prolonging the feeling of fullness after a meal. Additionally, these injections may improve insulin sensitivity, leading to better blood sugar control.

Are Wegovy Injections Effective?

Studies have shown promising results regarding the effectiveness of Wegovy injections. In a clinical trial involving overweight or obese individuals, those who received Wegovy injections achieved significant weight loss compared to the placebo group. On average, participants lost around 15% of their body weight over the course of one year. These results have sparked excitement among healthcare professionals and individuals struggling with obesity.

Safety Considerations of Wegovy Injections

As with any medication, safety is of utmost importance. Before considering Wegovy injections, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional who can assess your individual medical history and determine if this treatment is suitable for you. While Wegovy injections have shown positive outcomes in clinical trials, they may not be suitable for everyone. Adverse effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting have been reported, although they tend to subside over time.

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Conclusion

If you’ve tried various weight loss methods without success, Wegovy weight loss injections may be the solution you’ve been searching for. Backed by scientific research and approved by the FDA, Wegovy injections offer a revolutionary approach to tackling obesity and achieving sustainable weight loss. However, it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before embarking on this treatment. So, take control of your weight and embark on a transformative journey with Wegovy injections today!

[cdevroe]

How to fix the web

Robin Rendle published Why are websites embarrasing? wherein he laments the state of design and accessibility on the web. But, he's hopeful.

"I do truly believe that a website can be as well designed as any book, just as thoughtful, just as brilliant."

I sympathize with Robin. The web, especially the news web, is a morass of user hostile ads, pop-ups, notifications and autoplay videos. Yuck!

However, I think Robin is incorrect on where to place the blame. The blame isn't likely on some web professional making design decisions based on the number of readers it would impact. The blame is on the advertisers. The only thing powering the mainstream published web from local news outlets to enormous media conglamorates is advertising. Without advertising 99.9% of this part of the web disappears.

If advertisers were to band together and say "We will only buy ad spots on websites that are fast, accessible, and have lovely reading experiences" the web would fix itself in a hurry.

This will never happen of course.

Most advertisers have no idea where their ads are being shown on the web. Yes, they have extremely detailed analytics but a large percentage of those data are lies. I can prove it. Go to any local news website in the US (I don't know about the rest of the world, but it is likely the same) and browse around a little. A keen eye will see that there are ads loading all over the place - way down in the footer, in the middle of an article, after the story content and even after the comments section. You'll also see loads of ads bunched up in sidebars. Who sees these ads? No one. But, people are paying for those ad "impressions" even if the reader never scrolls to the point they are visible.

Unsuspecting small business owners trying to show ads for their lawn cutting businesses in a big city suburb by purchasing display ads on the most popular local news outlet are likely being swindled for greater than half of those impressions. They would be far better off buying a few yard signs. The local news outlet may boast: "We displayed your ad over 10,000 times this month." No. They didn't. They loaded the ad 10,000 times and only 12 actual readers saw the ad.

The incentives in web publishing are upside down. For publishers the people's pageviews are the product and the advertiser is the customer. If you flipped that and made the reader the customer the news web would change.

Some websites actually try to do this and have had some success.

Over a decade ago The Boston Globe redesigned their website with the help of talented, thoughtful folk like Ethan Marcotte. Ethan wrote about the launch of that responsive redesign at the time.

In that post Ethan was downright giddy in his descriptions of the process, the people he worked with, and the results. And, even today, when I visited The Boston Globe's website, no doubt having changed a lot since that release, it is still pretty good compared to so many other sites on the news web.

A more contemporary example that I can think of off the top of my mind is The Verge. I loaded The Verge's website this morning and I had zero pop-ups, the page loaded quickly, and while there are ads they are clearly placed. One niggle I have with The Verge is that they are loading "sponsored content" ads from Outbrain. These ads are revolting. I can only imagine The Verge team are able to buy yachts in payment to load those vomitous ads on their otherwise very lovely website.

But Robin isn't looking for "pretty good" or "somewhat better than terrible websites". He wants a good reading experience, loaded quickly. I get it.

I deplore the state of so much of the web where advertisers reign supreme and even the most thoughtful and caring people throw away their principles in order to stay in business. But I'm also a realist and I understand that without advertising so much of the stuff I find useful, entertaining, and valuable on the web simply wouldn't exist.

[tamaharu]

ignore the first posts caption thats not what this is about anymore. i hate time loops actually. some ocs designed to ask the question on everybodys mind: how many days could you spend trapped in a car with a dashcon attendee before you started trying to open the door on the highway.

fake blurb + long vomit of my thought process regarding them below.

Lizi (LastName) is probably the world's biggest fan of the YouTube duo (IDK), and now that she's finally got her driver's license, she's ready to undertake what may be the most important task of her entire life: proving once and for all that they're a couple. While attempting a solo drive from New Mexico to a convention they're paneling in California, she encounters Melanie (LastName), the third child and youngest star of a massively successful family vlogging channel, accidentally left behind at a gas station while their family took the very same trip (or so they claim). Lizi promises to drive them to the convention, in exchange for use of their creator pass to get backstage and finally meet her idols. The plan is simple, the execution less so, where only the strongest of keyboard warriors can survive. And, ultimately, the drive leaves Lizi with a difficult question to answer: is RPF… fine?

who knows. none of this is real. theyre generally the same characters as they were in the first three pics (chronically online teen and 12yo whos really not into it) but the situation is much different. i tend to go 'characters/fun story element' first, 'plot' second, which um. isnt the best way to do that lol. so i was like i want to put characters in a time loop. and then drew them. and was like, great, but how do i put them in a time loop? i kind of figured itd being 'sneak backstage to some tv show or something, try to meddle,' but couldnt work anything more concrete. so i stopped thinking about them!

then maybe over a year or so at this point, i read an article abt kids who had grown up as part of those family vloggers/bloggers and how it affected their life. and then i thought abt the difference between that vs the emotional neglect of kids who kind of grew up with the internet as their parents. so i always meant to draw them in these new circumstances, but i wasnt quite sure what i wanted those circumstances, beyond their new backstories and the Meddling Kids conceit, to be.

and THEN, i was thinking abt ocs at work today when a bolt of inspiration struck: but like, what if this was actually about dan and phil the whole time. i watched them as a kid but wasnt like, big into them. but ive been watching more recently and have been kind of fascinated by the fan culture they built, both in their heyday and how its transformed into what it is now. like, the fake working title (on that very very rough poster draft) is blatantly stolen from an old dnp video title. and thus all the elements have combined. though let me be clear: ITS NOT ABOUT DAN AND PHIL. its about my fake ocs and parasociality and 12yos and their terrible babysitters and unrealistic roadtrips. .......but its also not... NOT about dan and phil.... make that the new tagline.

im not going to do anything big with them. but im glad to at least finally have figured out what to do with them, so i can draw them more. clearly i need to. bc what is up with what i did to lizis design this most recent attempt compared to her original (tbf cartoony) design. i realized as i was coloring she looked too much like me and i got scared so i gave her green hair.

some ocs designed to asked the question on everybodys mind: how many days could you spend trapped in a time loop with a genshin fan before you started scratching at the walls