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elicathebunny · 7 months

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HEALTH SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST! PRIORITISING HEALTH BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE TO LOOK GOOD + FEEL GOOD.

People always leave out the basics when it comes to trying to improve their looks. Prioritising health is so important before going in and tempering with your body. Your base is what you work with and you can definitely level up with what you've got naturally.

DIET

Your diet also depends on what your goals are. Someone who wants to build muscle will obviously eat differently from someone who just eats relatively healthy. So identify what your goals are and work your meals around that.

Here are some videos to give you a better insight: HOW I LOSE FAT AND KEEP IT OFF MEANS, WORKOUTS + EVERYTHING ELSE PROTEIN EXPLAINED, STRENGTH, MUSCLES, FAT LOSS & ENDURANCE HOW METABOLISM WORKS

Diet not only makes you feel better from the inside, but it also reflects on your outside. Your skin is a huge display of how you eat.

When you consume junk food, it can show up on your skin as breakouts or dullness. Your skin is one massive organ which soaks up everything put onto it and reflects everything you put inside your body. Fix the problem from the inside before getting confused about why your skincare routine isn't working.

FITNESS

Again, your fitness will differentiate from your goals. So work out your goals and make a plan around that. There are so many forms of fitness, some more intense than others and with different results. Working out in general is good for you, our bodies are meant to move. So even if you don't have a goal, staying active is always recommended.

HOW TO CREATE THE PERFECT WORKOUT PLAN

THE BEST WAY TO GAIN MUSCLE, SCIENCE EXPLAINED SIMPLY

Low-intensity workouts:

Yoga: Focuses on flexibility, strength, and relaxation through various poses and breathing techniques.

Pilates: A low-impact exercise method that strengthens muscles, improves flexibility, and enhances posture.

Walking: Simple yet effective, walking is a great way to improve cardiovascular health and boost mood without high impact.

Swimming: Provides a full-body workout with minimal stress on joints, making it ideal for people with joint issues or injuries.

High-intensity workouts:

HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training): Alternates between short bursts of intense exercise and brief recovery periods to maximize calorie burn and improve cardiovascular fitness.

CrossFit: Combines elements of weightlifting, interval training, gymnastics, and other exercises to build strength, endurance, and overall fitness.

Sprinting: Short, explosive bursts of running at maximum effort, often performed in intervals for cardiovascular conditioning and leg muscle strength.

Circuit Training: Involves moving through a series of exercises targeting different muscle groups with minimal rest in between, combining strength training and cardiovascular exercise.

These are just a few examples, but there are plenty of other workout styles out there to explore depending on your preferences and fitness goals. Walking every day is just a simple way to stay toned.

SLEEP

Sleeping is important for rest and recovery after workouts and energy-consuming activities. Sleep is needed for the brain to function, mood regulation and performance + productivity. Lack of sleep deprives you of all of these things, so getting your beauty sleep is absolutely needed.

School-age children (6-13 years): 9-11 hours per day.

Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours per day.

Young adults (18-25 years): 7-9 hours per day.

Adults (26-64 years): 7-9 hours per day.

HYGIENE

Upkeeping good hygiene is always needed anyway. Making sure you are clean (smelling good is a plus). Make sure you always wash your hands and take daily showers to remove any dirt on your body (clean those feet and your back well, don't forget them!). Taking care of your oral health must not be forgotten. Oil pulling and brushing your tongue for a healthy mouth. Make sure your hair is also getting the attention to keep it as healthy as you possibly can make it (this also depends on diet). Doing the extra things like spending time on your nails (making sure there isn't that stuff underneath them), making them pretty.

BODY CARE ROUTINE | FOR SMOOTH & GLOWING SKIN, TREATING KERATOSIS PILARIS, SHOWER ROUTINE

ENVIRONMENT

Having a stress-free environment is obviously the best to thrive in. But clearly not even being lucky enough to live like that constantly. So make sure you have that space to be on your own and have some alone time to really recharge. Keeping your space clean for a clear mind. Surround yourself with like-minded people and really set boundaries for those who prey on your mental clarity (energy vampires). Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to detach, rest time should not equal spending time on your devices. Let go and truly let yourself decompress. Mental health will improve how you carry yourself.

EMBODY YOUR POTENTIAL.

#self improvement #self worth #that girl #dream girl #self growth #glow up #self care

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forwhomthewordsflow · 11 days

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Sleeping Conditions

steve harrington x fem!reader

18+ ONLY MDNI!!!

warnings: established relationship, some allusions to smut, reader has breasts, fluff, fluff, more fluff, some anxiety

author's note: i felt the need to validate my own specific sleeping conditions with this little blurb that ended up being longer than expected...we're not high maintenance! we just wanna sleep!

word count: 2.6k

The weatherman had jovially warned the city of Hawkins this morning about a bit of rain that was supposed to roll in later on in the evening. A slight drizzle, just enough to water the grass but nothing to worry about.

Except, the weatherman seemed to have underestimated today’s weather, because you were currently sat down on the couch at your boyfriend’s house watching the torrential downpour that was occurring outside his living room window.

Normally, this would be cause for celebration. An impromptu sleepover at Steve’s house! Yay!

But you were not celebrating, no. You were sort of freaking out, actually.

You’re able to fully recognize how strange it is for someone to have such specific sleeping conditions in the way that you do, but what are you supposed to do? It’s the only way you can really get a good night’s rest!

In your perfect world, you’re in your room where the thermostat is set at 69. There is not one light source in sight, you even make sure to throw a t-shirt over the tiny light on your alarm clock. Alone in your completely pitch black room, you’re able to sleep comfortably in just a pair of comfy panties. You love the way your two blankets, duvet, and jersey sheet set feel on your bare skin.

In order for you to be able to fall asleep the pillow under your head has to be just right, you have to have a slightly flatter pillow parallel to your body, your smallest blanket has to be tucked between your legs in a specific way, and the blankets have to be adjusted based on how hot or cold you feel on that particular night.

When plans are made for you to sleep somewhere else, you always make sure to bring your two pillows and your smallest blanket, but you still can’t seem to sleep that well unless you’re really tired.

It’s really a lot.

So naturally, with all of this in mind, you’re freaking out about having to stay the night at Steve’s house tonight.

You love him, you really do, but your relationship with him is still relatively new. You’ve only spent the night together a handful of times, and those nights of sleep for you were always aided by the effects of one too many drinks at the Hideout with friends or a passionate night of lovemaking.

You’ve never had a normal night in with Steve before.

And he is so excited about it.

Steve’s been craving any ounce of domesticity with you that he can get. Sure, he’s made you romantic dinners before and you’ve come over for movie nights a bunch of times, but it’s never been just a normal sleepover.

He can’t wait to watch you go through your night routine, to cuddle up with you in bed as you both fall asleep, and then to wake up to you tomorrow morning.

He was all too excited to alert you to the fact that you wouldn’t be able to drive home safely tonight, and that you’d most likely have to stay the night with him.

You’re thankful Steve hasn’t noticed how anxious you’re becoming as the night goes on, because he’s so sweet that you could cry.

He watched you through the mirror as you brushed your teeth together side by side.

The huge grin on his face made it hard for him to get to his back teeth, but he’d gladly sacrifice one night of dental hygiene for you any time.

He sat on the toilet and gazed adoringly at you as you washed your face and brushed your hair.

Steve was happy that the travel sized toiletries he’d purchased for you a couple weeks ago were being put to use.

You took a longer time than you normally would in an attempt to delay the inevitable, but Steve was on an opposite mission.

When you were finished in the bathroom, Steve ran into his bedroom to fix up his bed and lay out a t-shirt for you to sleep in.

You stood there nervously, holding the t-shirt in your slightly shaking hands. You know you won’t be able to sleep in this, but would Steve be comfortable with you sleeping practically naked? He might take it as a sign that you want to have sex or something, but you’re feeling much too anxious to get into that headspace right now.

Steve notices you standing at the foot of his bed, staring down at his faded Hawkins Athletics t-shirt in your hands.

“Everything okay, baby?”

Your head shoots up to meet his eyes, quickly trying your best to wipe the upset look off of your face. You nod your head and smile over at Steve.

Steve shoots you a warm grin, he’s not convinced that you’re totally fine, but he’s assuming you’re just a little nervous about the storm or staying the night with him.

You retreat back into his bathroom to change out of your clothes and into his t-shirt, which Steve finds a little odd. He’s seen every square inch of your body, and you’ve certainly changed in front of him before, but he shrugs and goes back to fluffing his pillows for you.

Meanwhile, you’re taking comfort in the smell of Steve on his shirt, holding it up to your nose and taking deep breaths over and over hoping to calm yourself down.

So what if you can’t sleep tonight? You’ve definitely survived through sleepless nights before.

But Steve would definitely notice if you couldn’t sleep. He’s so caring and attentive.

That means that he’ll be awake worrying about why you’re not asleep, which keeps him from getting any sleep, and then you’ll both just be awake and miserable all night long.

Maybe you should just pretend to fall asleep until he actually falls asleep.

You’re startled by a gentle knock on the door.

“Sweetheart? I’ve got the bed ready for us.”

You take one more deep breath, exiting the bathroom to envelope Steve in a tight hug around his chest.

He stumbles back a bit at the force of your affections, but is quick to wrap his strong arms around you with a warm chuckle into your hair.

“Ready for bed?” he asks you.

You sigh into his chest. “As I’ll ever be.”

After half an hour of cuddling with Steve, you’ve given up on all attempts to get comfortable.

It’s not that you weren’t comfortable in Steve’s arms, far from it. The feeling of his naked chest rising and falling against your back and his thick arms surrounding you was possibly the only thing keeping you from crawling out of your skin at the moment.

Steve’s felt your irregular breathing and squirming for the past ten minutes, but he didn’t want to distract you just in case you were on the cusp of falling asleep. It was the slightly irritated sigh you let out that let him know that something was wrong.

You knew you shouldn’t have sighed like that, but you couldn’t help it. The pillow under your head wasn’t right, the blanket on your legs was too warm, and you could feel the tag on Steve’s t-shirt resting at the back of your neck. You felt Steve’s arms tighten just a bit around you, you had hoped he’d been asleep.

“Hey, you okay?” he whispers into your ear.

“Y-yeah, yeah I’m okay,” you answer, “just trying to get comfy.”

You feel Steve rise to one elbow behind you and you turn your head to look up at him as he clicks on the lamp on his nightstand.

“What can I do to help?”

The sweet, adoring look on his face is what causes the dam to break, and your eyes fill with tears.

Steve is instantly alarmed, rushing to hold your face gently in one of his big hands.

“Baby, baby,” he coos, “Hey, what’s wrong, huh?”

You roughly wipe your face with the heels of your palms, and let out a trembling breath.

“It’s nothing, Steve. Let’s just go to bed, okay?”

Steve’s eyebrows furrow together as he frowns down at you. “Baby, I’m sorry but something’s obviously wrong. Tell me what it is so I can fix it.” He brings his hand back up to your cheek and lets his thumb stroke your skin back and forth soothingly. You decide to let it all out.

“It’s just that–I can’t sleep here.”

Steve looks at you confused. “I–you’ve slept here before, right?”

“I mean, yes, but also no. It’s all so complicated Stevie.”

He sees that your walls are starting to come down with the use of your favorite pet name for him. He loves when you call him Stevie, it’s only when you’re being soft and sweet with him that you use it.

“Just tell me what’s bothering you, baby, please. Maybe I won’t think it’s so complicated.” Steve strokes the hair next to your ear and speaks to you in his lower, warmer, sleepy voice. It’s like a balm to all of your worries.

“I have these very specific sleeping conditions at home. If it’s not just right, then I can’t sleep.”

Steve nods his head. “What kind of conditions are we talking about?”

You take a deep breath, readying yourself to lay it all out on the table in front of Steve, hoping and praying that he doesn’t think that you’re some kind of high maintenance freak when it’s all over.

“I can’t sleep with a shirt on, it feels weird on my skin. And I can’t sleep without my pillows from my bed. Or my blanket between my legs. And I feel all hot and itchy and it’s usually so cold and dark in my room.” You’d been ranting while making an effort to not meet Steve’s eyes, worried at what you might see there. When you finally do look at him, he’s hard to read.

“I know it’s a lot and it’s probably too much and I’m probably too much and-”

You're interrupted by Steve placing his pointer over your lips to silence you. The firm stare he’s fixing you with commands of your attention.

“First of all, you are not, ever too much. I can handle anything you throw at me, baby. I swear.”

The edges of your lips quirk up in the beginnings of a smile, Steve takes his finger from your lips and goes back to holding the side of your face.

“Why didn’t you tell me about all of this before we laid down?”

You huff softly and look away, embarrassed to have been so scared to tell him about your anxieties when he’s obviously the greatest, sweetest, most understanding boyfriend on the planet.

“I guess I was just nervous that you’d think I was high maintenance.”

Steve scoffs. “You’re saying this to the guy who used to wake up an hour earlier for school in the mornings so that he could do his hair every day.” Steve playfully growls into your neck when he says this, and you can’t hold back your giggles.

He looks at you, still stroking your hair, and smiles before planting a kiss on your lips and pulling away with a ‘mwah.’

“What can we do to make it better, hm?”

You think for a bit, and then sheepishly ask, “Would it be okay if I slept without my shirt?”

Steve blushes and blinks at you a few times, shocked that you’d even feel like you had to ask.

“Of course, baby. I’d never say no to that, c’mon now.” You both sit up, giggling softly as he helps you take your his shirt off. Steve seems to be trapped in a daze, his eyes glazing over as he takes in all of your newly naked skin.

“What’s next?” he slurs, still staring at your chest. You laugh and playfully shove his shoulder, breaking him out of his trance.

You look around at the bed and his room, biting your lip while you think of how else to make yourself more comfortable.

“Do you have any extra pillows maybe?” you ask, bringing your knees to your chest and resting your chin on top of them.

Steve does a quick survey of his room, then remembers that he might’ve seen some in his closet. He darts out of bed and makes his way over to his closet to search for them.

You take this opportunity to bask in the love you have for him. In the warm light of his lamp, you watch as the muscles of his upper body flex and ripple while he rummages through his closet. You can’t believe that this beautiful man is not only yours, but that he’s going through all of this effort just to make sure you can sleep comfortably with him in his bed. You’re so unbelievably lucky.

Steve turns around to triumphantly hold up two pillows for you to inspect.

“Which one?” He asks.

“Both, if that’s okay.” He nods and hurries back over to the bed, pillows in hand. You take one and place it on top of the one you had been laying on, trying to copy the fullness of your pillow at home. You take the second pillow and place it between your legs, for your right leg to rest on top of. You’d always loved sleeping on your side, but hated the feeling of your thighs sticking together.

Steve tries to be good, but he can’t help himself from watching your naked breasts move while you readjust the pillows to your liking. He feels a warmth in his chest as he observes you making yourself comfortable in his bed, and he wishes for many, many more nights like this.

You adjust the blankets around your leg so that your leg isn’t completely covered, and you finally lay down with a huff.

“Better?” Steve asks as he leans over to turn his lamp off. He’s happy to slide behind you once again, relishing in the feel of your bare skin on his.

“I think so.”

Everything is fine, really. It’s just that the pillow in between your thighs keeps slipping away. Ugh.

“You think so?” Steve tickles your side with his fingers, he loves the sound of your girlish giggles.

“It’s just the pillow between my legs. It won’t stay put.”

Steve takes a breath, assessing the situation. He doesn’t really have any other throw blankets lying around, and he makes a mental note to buy some more before the next time you come over. Then, he gets an idea.

“Can I try something?”

You turn your head towards him and nod, curious about what his idea is.

Steve takes the pillow from your legs and pulls it out from under the comforter, tossing it at the end of the bed. He then grabs your right thigh and lifts it a bit. You begin to question his plan, but then you feel the warmth of his right thigh sliding between yours. Steve hikes his knee up a little higher on the bed, so that his thigh fits snuggly in between your legs.

“Oh,” you say, cheeks heating up at the feeling of his thick, muscular thigh against your core.

You adjust your hips a bit, and then at last relax into Steve’s embrace, comfy at last.

Steve laughs smugly, “Is that alright?”

“Mhmm,” you murmur, smiling and already feeling sleepier by the second.

“Goodnight sweetheart,” Steve whispers into your ear before pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“G’night Stevie,” you reply.

The last thing you feel before drifting off into dreamland are Steve’s arms tightening around you, holding you as you sleep soundly all through the night.

taglist <3

@josephquinnsfreckles @the-fairy-anon @anukulee @yujyujj @littlebebebunny @meetmeatyourworst @lalalala-melmosworld @someantics

#steve harrington fluff #steve x you #steve x reader #steve stranger things #steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington smut #steve harrington fanction #steve harrington x femreader #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fanfic

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despite-everything · 2 years

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trying to limp my way back from blue hair to ginger hair... this is so scary. this is the least healthy my hair has been in years and im anxious to see how it turns out

#ive just been doing the same red dye for years #and my hair is naturally light enough to only need dye #so it was pretty healthy overall #like i only wash it once a week i wear a silk bonnet at night and i regularly use oils to deep condition it #but earlier this year i also went blue then back to red #then i impulsively went back to blue a month or so ago #and now im going back to red #so some of the hair didnt handle the first bleach strand test well...#so im bleaching for a shorter period of time this go #and im praying it gets me somewhere i can deposit the red #without having to cut too much off #tree talks

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bluejutdae · 2 months

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Stray Kids + washing each other’s hair | OT8 X you

notes and warning: just a silly little blurb. 18+ content for Hannie’s

Chan: he’s so tired when he comes back home he doesn’t have the strength to shower and wash his hair but he feels sweaty and dirty, so you offer to help him out. It’s not sexual, it’s intimate and it speaks of adoration. He sits in the shower, legs crossed and head hanging heavy between his shoulders. You’re careful and after a quick shampoo, you spend a couple of minutes massaging his neck and shoulders. He’s tired, tho, so you won’t waste too much time. Out of the shower, he kisses you softly as a thank you.

Minho: he’s a cat. Not a kitten, a fully grown cat who hisses when you try to wash his hair. He almost slips to run away from you, knees hitting the wall and elbow almost hitting your face. “What the hell, Minho?” He looks sheepish for a second, then he’s back to his usual menacing face. You end up washing each their own hair, elbows hitting amidst the laughs.

Changbin: the babiest baby ever. He’s the one asking you to wash his hair, pouty lips and round boba eyes (like you’d ever say no to him?). He just wants to be pampered, is that a crime?? After, he showers you with kisses and hugs, careful not to slip and hurt you both, but he also insists on washing your hair, applying conditioned and delicately untangling your hair. When you’re both dried and ready for bed, he shyly asks if he can try and braid your hair, because he read somewhere it’s a protective hairstyle…

Hyunjin: his hair is destroyed by continuous bleaching, there’s not much he can do to keep it healthy; he likes to take care of yours, though. Double shampoo, conditioner, often even an hair mask, heath protector and oil on the ends. What he likes particularly is to dry your hair, it’s soothing, calm and it conveys how much he loves you…

Jisung: according to him, the perfect position for you to wash his hair sees you towering over him while he kneels in front of you, facing you and smiling in awe. Like this he has a perfect sight of your tits and 9 times out of ten he ends up thanking you by eating you out. And if it makes him just as happy as it makes you, well it’s a win win situation!

Felix: depends on the mood. Half the time it’s a competition on who manages to keep the hair in silly shapes the longer, the winner chose the movie or something equally silly. The other half happens sometimes after a social event, a concert or a long day. he gets into the shower with you to massage your shoulders with the help of your perfumed body wash, fingers diligently unraveling the knots of your muscles, helping you ease a little the neck pain. And it’s only natural to squeeze a dollop of shampoo in his hands and massage your scalp, kissing your shoulder from time to time and singing quietly, knowing you love it and it helps you relax.

Seungmin: do you know those videos of dogs running away from the owner or shaking and drenching them? That’s Seungmo! He lets you lather up his hair but then he puts his head under the water and shakes it to your direction, making you squeak and receiving a smack on his arm. If he is in a extra silly mood he’ll also rub his head in your face, demanding pets.

Jeongin: you can’t touch his head, he’s ready to bite. But, if you had a rough day and he’s particularly sweet, he’ll wash yours, asking you if he’s doing good on every step, hoping to distract you from your worries or maybe hoping you’ll vent to him if you need to… what he likes the most is to wrap you in a fluffy towel and use another to remove as much water as he can from your hair. He loves seeing you all soft and fluffy…

#bluejutdae #stray kids x reader #stray kids fanfic #stray kids scenarios #stray kids imagines #skz #stray kids fluff #stray kids comfort

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ahqkas · 4 months

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Remus with a partner who faints easily/out of nowhere. I forgot what it’s called but I had seen on yt shorts where a girl shows how she faints out of no where but her bf I think always has his hands ready to catch her head and lay her down safely and I thought it would be cute if Remus does it 💕

HARRY POTTER MASTERLIST!

THE SUN WAS SETTING OVER THE HOGWARTS GROUNDS, CASTING A WARM, GOLDEN HUE THROUGH THE TALL WINDOWS OF THE LIBRARY. the scent of blooming flowers flowed in from the open windows, mingling with the faint, musty aroma of old parchment and leather-bound books. it was a peaceful evening, the kind that made everything feel possible and right in the world.

remus lupin sat at one of the large, wooden tables, a pile of books and scrolls spread out before him. the boy was restlessly studying for his upcoming n.e.w.t.s, but his mind kept wandering back to you. you were seated across from him, your head bent over a particularly thick tome on charms, a look of intense concentration on your face.

he watched you for a moment, a soft smile playing on his lips. the way your hair fell over your forehead, the way you chewed on your bottom lip when you were deep in thought — it all captivated him. he was utterly and completely smitten.

"remus," you said suddenly, looking up and catching him off guard. "do you remember the incantation for the levitation charm? my mind's gone completely blank."

"of course," he replied, his grin widening. "it’s wingardium leviosa. want me to show you the wand movement again?"

you nodded eagerly, and he stood, moving around the table to sit beside you. as he demonstrated the swish and flick motion, he was acutely aware of how close you were. your shoulders brushed, and he could feel the warmth radiating from you.

"like this?" you asked, mimicking his movement perfectly.

"exactly," he said, giving you a nod of approval. "you've got it."

you beamed at him, and his heart swelled with the feelings he dearly held for you. "thanks, remus. you're always so helpful."

“anything for you."

as the evening wore on, the library grew quieter, the few remaining students trickling out to their common rooms. you and remus stayed, lost in your studies and the comfortable companionship you shared. the only sounds were the rustling of pages and the occasional hoot from an owl outside.

but remus was always mindful of your condition. he knew that at any moment, you could faint without warning, and he was always prepared to catch you. it was something that had become second nature to him, a silent promise of protection and care.

you were in the middle of discussing a particularly tricky defense against the dark arts spell when you felt the familiar dizziness wash over you. the world around you seemed to blur and spin, and you knew what was coming. "remus . . .” you whispered, your voice barely audible.

he was instantly alert, his arms moving to support you. "i’ve got you," he murmured reassuringly, cradling your head gently as you began to faint. the boy carefully lowered you to the table, making sure you were comfortable and safe.

as you came to, your eyes fluttered open to find remus gazing down at you, concern etched across his features. "are you okay?" he asked softly, brushing a strand of hair away from your face.

you nodded, feeling the familiar warmth of his presence. "i’m fine, thanks to you."

he smiled, relief flooding his eyes. "good. you scared me for a moment there."

"sorry about that. i didn't mean to."

"you don't need to apologize," remus replied, his tone gentle and reassuring as he took your hand into his and squeezed the flesh softly. "i’m just glad you're okay.”

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illyrianbitch · 4 months

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Memories

Pairing: Reader x Azriel

Summary: While packing some boxes, Azriel is overwhelmed by memories of your relationship.

Warnings: slight angst if you squint, established relationship, fluff fluff fluff :)

Word Count: 2.1k

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

The apartment was a mess of half-packed boxes and disheveled belongings.

The scent of change hung in the air, thick and heavy— and Azriel was choking on it. He stood in the middle of the chaos, a forlorn expression etched onto his usually composed face. The bedroom was empty now, save for a few scattered objects and packed cardboard boxes, ready to be taped and taken away.

Azriel wasn’t sure what to do with himself. He had expected a certain amount of sadness with the move, a certain feeling of leaving something that had once meant the world to him. Even still, he was struggling with the swelling in his heart. He felt his wings behind him now, heavy and tense, as he looked around the room, gaze landing on his various packed boxes.

He could hear chatter downstairs, could hear Cassian’s laughter and Mor’s grumbling. Azriel’s shadows were downstairs now, too, as they had stayed for the past two weeks of moving out. There was one lone shadow that bounced between the floors, updating Az on every movement and conversation— Cassian had accidentally taped Mor’s hair while attempting to fix up the final living room boxes. Mor had accidentally hit Cassian in the face as a response.

Azriel let out a deep breath, walking towards one of the many opened boxes. His golden-brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears as he gingerly lifted a delicate porcelain teacup. His fingers traced the intricate floral design and a memory washed over him.

It was a rainy afternoon, the kind where the world outside seemed to blur into a grey mist. Azriel had come to visit, carrying various items that Feyre wanted to drop off but couldn't herself due to her growing belly. It had begun to pour while he was there— in the small apartment he now stood in. You had insisted he stayed, insisted that the weather was too awful for him to make it home. He didn’t have the heart to tell you he’d traveled in worse conditions. And in all honesty, he had found himself unable to leave, anyway.

You’d invited him into your kitchen, brewed some tea and sat across from him, the table complete with mismatched cups and saucers. Azriel had his wings folded neatly behind him as he sipped the floral tea you brewed, nervous about how large he appeared to you, worried about knocking any one of your small decorations over. The sound of your laughter, bright and unrestrained, had filled the room as you both fell into a natural conversation. He realized that afternoon, in the gloomy grey weather, the awful things he’d do to see you smile again.

And was then he was met with the comforting realization that he didn’t need to do those awful things at all— because you’d asked to see him again once the downpour stopped.

A sad smile tugged at Azriel’s lips as he carefully wrapped the teacup in tissue paper. Setting it aside, he reached for a worn, leather-bound journal, its pages filled with scribbled, heavy-handed notes. The sight of it tugged at his heart, another memory pulling him under.

You had given him the journal during one of the quieter nights at the townhouse, your fingers brushing his as you handed it over. “For your thoughts,” you had whispered, your eyes sparkling with encouragement.

Azriel had never been a journal lover before, had never been one to write down his feelings, his thoughts, or observations. His job was to observe, yes, but he never thought about it farther than that, had never thought about what he could do with those things he realized, where he could put the multitudes of thoughts that often clouded his mind.

You had been the first one to ever suggest it— suggest it in a way that was sincere and genuine. You told him that it would be worth it, and when he had made a comment about no one wanting to read what he had to say, you had simply said, “I do. I always want to know what you’re thinking. But that doesn’t matter. No one but you matters.”

So Azriel had taken to it immediately, filling its pages with thoughts, concerns, and observations of various moments— he grew to adore it over time. It helped him with his impulsivity, with his anger, with his loneliness. Even his shadows had grown to love the hobby, had learned to sleep as he wrote away, had learned to delicately ghost the words on the pages as Azriel scratched away his thoughts.

Azriel’s heart clenched as he placed the journal down and a wave of emotion ran through him like a heavy tide. Tears pricked at his eyes and he swallowed, moving on to the next item—a small, crystal vial filled with shimmering stardust.

It was the first Starfall since he’d fallen for you, and the night sky had been alive with dancing glittering souls. You managed to catch a handful of stardust, bottling it as a keepsake of the perfect evening. Azriel still remembered how beautiful you looked, how nervous he had been to talk to you that he ended up making some joke about you bottling up a dead spirit for eternity. You only laughed, a sound that he wished he could’ve bottled up in a vial, saved for later like you had done with that stardust. You stared at the glass vial, admired the shimmering glow for a few moments as Azriel had admired you. Then you had given it to him with a whisper: "For you. Even in the darkest times, there's always light."

He didn’t know how to tell you the gift wasn’t needed, didn’t know how to tell you that you were enough light for him. He’d taken it with shaky fingers— which he prayed to The Mother you hadn’t noticed— and kept the vial in his leathers on every rough mission. It became his talisman, a beacon of hope and love. A connection to you.

A lump grew in the back of Azriel’s throat.

“I got the tape!”

Your voice echoed throughout the hall as you rounded the corner, a delicate smile on your face.

The smile quickly fell at the sight of your mate and you stilled, his shadows swirling around you before descending to the ground, quickly dancing over to his form. The room smelled of a bittersweet sadness, of something longing, heavy, and sad.

"Az, what's going on?” You asked softly, placing the tape on top of the open box before him. “Why are you crying?"

Azriel blinked rapidly, shaking his head softly before turning to look down at you. "I'm not crying," he said. He offered you a smile that didn’t reach his eyes— the same eyes that seemed deep in thought, seemed contemplative and conflicted.

“Azriel.” You gave him a knowing look and gently placed your hands on his face, wiping away a stray tear with your thumb. "What's wrong?"

He leaned into your touch, eyes fluttering shut for a moment. And then he took your hands in his, bringing them to his lips to kiss your knuckles. His lips were soft against your skin, his kiss feather-light and almost sacred. A warmth inside you blossomed at the softness of his touch, and you let out an appreciative, loving hum.

Azriel brushed the pad of his thumb along your fingers. His gaze fell to your left hand, to the golden ring that adorned your ring finger. A smile grew on his face. He traced it with his thumb, running over the cool metal, inspecting the intricate patterns he had the jeweler carve into the ring— something special just for you. Something as unique as the unbreakable bond you shared.

"It's just strange," Azriel said quietly. He lowered your hands. "I never thought I'd be here. I never imagined ending up so happy.”

You tilted your head at him, feeling your lips fall into a small pout. Azriel only looked at you with a sense of adoration painted through his features. He let out a small breath before he continued, taking a moment to scan the empty room once more. “I'm sad to leave this apartment because it has so many memories.”

"Oh Az," you said softly, your voice almost a comforting coo. "I'm sad too. We made some great memories here."

Azriel nodded, his gaze growing distant as he recalled the life he had built here, the life he had fought for with you. He thought of the many times he’d walked you home, when this apartment had just been yours— slightly too big for just one person, slightly too empty that even you felt like it was missing something. He thought about the first time he spent the night, how his shadows fell into place, how they strangely adored the corners of your home, the wood-paneled hallways and plaster banisters. He thought about the day he moved in, how he woke up in the middle of the night afraid that it had all been a dream, only to be lulled back to sleep by your soft whispers, gentle touch, and a whole lot of sweet, sleepy sex.

He let out a small, content laugh. "We did."

You tugged on his hand, pulling his focus back to you. When his eyes met yours, his gaze softened, and you felt a glow in your chest. You gave that divine thread between you a small tug, felt it sing deep within your ribs. A rush of life flowed through you, something bright and hopeful. The air around you changed, less bittersweet now, less heavy. You smiled gently.

"Now we'll make even more memories in a place that’s big enough for all of us."

It was then that you pulled his hand towards you, taking his large palm and placing it on your stomach. His fingers splayed over the growing bump you now adorned. From underneath your hold, you felt a release of tension in Azriel’s hands.

Tendrils of shadow hovered over his touch, gently dancing across your stomach as Azriel admired the sight before him. His voice was tender as he whispered, "How did I ever get so lucky?”

He blinked, tears welling up in his eyes again. He flickered his gaze back to your face, meeting your eyes instantly. They mirrored his own, welled up with tears that brimmed on your waterlines. You laughed softly.

The sound rippled through Azriel’s body and he felt himself melt even further into you. Even his shadows simply sat atop your belly now, almost unmoving, as if they too were admiring you— admiring all that you were. They had taken a specific liking to you since you’d gotten pregnant, never leaving your side unless it was absolutely necessary— Azriel was grateful for it, grateful that there was always one lone tendril that would keep him company, too, that would update him on you whenever he wasn’t in the room.

“You know, I'm the pregnant one with all these hormones, not you," you teased.

Azriel chuckled, eyes shining with love. The muscles of his cheeks ached with the deepness of his smile. "Forgive me if I get a bit emotional thinking about the love of my life and our future child."

You felt your knees almost buckle, felt something flutter in your stomach at his words. The love of his life and his future child. You and your future child.

"My sweet, sappy mate."

He laughed again, the sound rich and full of life. He pulled you into a gentle embrace. "I love you," he said, his voice now carrying a sincerity that made you breathless, a tone that spoke of a vow and a promise. His eyes scanned your face, taking in every feature.

Oh how you hoped your child got his eyes, got the beautiful hazel they contained, the flicker of brown, dots of green. You hoped your child got his laugh too, the deep rumble that made you feel love in every way possible. You blinked away a few growing tears.

"And I love you," you replied, your heart swelling with joy. You stepped back, giving him a gentle nudge. "Okay, now get to packing because my feet hurt and I'm really craving some ice cream."

Azriel grinned, shaking his head as he watched you walk away. His shadows trailed after you, except for one that lingered behind, wrapping around his hand as he reached for the packing tape.

He looked down at the shadow, a smile tugging at his lips as its gentle, calm movement. "Alright,” he murmured, “Let's finish this up and get our girl some ice cream.”

✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹

permanent tag list 🫶🏻: @rhysandorian @itsswritten @milswrites @lilah-asteria @georgiadixon

@glam-targaryen @cheneyq @darkbloodsly @pit-and-the-pen

azriel tag list: @thisiskaylin @serrendiipty

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wcters · 6 months

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𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬

pairing: matt sturniolo x fem!reader

summary: the relationship between matt and a girlfriend in cosmetology school

warnings/notes: established relationship, swearing, nudity innuendos?? they are naked together, kinda went off the cosmetology thing but it’s cute so whtv, a bit short but this is my first time doing preferences

- first . . . he’s totally spoiled

- like really spoiled

- you would practice at home, and then whatever you could on matt

- manicure: hand massages, cuticle cutting, nail painting, hair washing: head massages, shampoo and conditioning his hair

- he would let you practice shaving his beard but it would take awhile for him to let you

- not because he doesn’t trust you, but because he was going through a beard phase

- matt would loveeee the head massages and would get you to do them all the time

- eventually it becomes second nature and so you’ll be cuddling on the couch or outside sitting down with him between your legs and your hand will just find it’s way into his hair

- and you have fake nails so you know it feels reallyyy good

- waxing . . . but he would not admit that he lets you do it

- you ALWAYS smell good

- your shampoo and conditioner, perfume, skin/body care

- nick always asks you what you use for your skin

- sleepovers with nick where you do skincare, face masks, nail painting

- and chris begs to join until nick says yes

- matt always finds you three on nick’s bed watching a movie

- you had been obsessed with makeup your whole life

- def the designated hair braider on your sports team

- BATHS TOGETHER

- bubble bath, candles, you talking about your day and drama and he’ll be listening

- he’s just happy to be there

- studying at his house while you’re watching a movie together or if he’s busy with the podcast

- chris coming up to you and randomly asking you a question about what you’re doing when you’re studying

- “why do you push your cuticles back?” “how do perms work? like how do you do them?”

- it makes you smile because he’s genuinely interested

- will show him some things if you can

- you’re super sweet

- everyone likes you

- you’re a girls girl

- someone needs a pad/tampon? you got it. someone doesn’t want to go somewhere alone? they aren’t because you’re coming with

- you don’t gatekeep skincare or makeup

- always have lip balm on you

- you and matt go to the gym together

- always have a matching top and pants for your workout outfit

- matt just can’t believe you’re his 🤍

- like he looks at you like you hung the moon and stars

- i want to wear his initial on a chain ‘round my neck vibes

- you literally have a necklace with his initial, you walked it with it on and his eyes popped out of his head

- totally share jewelry

- you steal his sweaters, shirts, shorts, boxers, basically anything you can get your hands on

- give matt face massages

- he be lookin’ flawless

- pays for you even though you decline because he knows how much money you use for school stuff

- that shit is expensiveeee

- nick asked you first to help him dye his hair red

- ofc you said yes! he’s your bestie

- played ariana, doja cat, clairo, stuff like that

- #danceparty

- your stuff sort of pops up around the house

- chris will find like a bobbypin or a hair tie on the floor

- smells like you because you bought candles for them that you loved

- thrifting and going to flea markets and getting stuff for your apartment like vases, cups to hold jewelry, etc

- your hair is amazing. everyone’s jealous. i’m jealous.

- no split ends, doesn’t get greasy until at least 5-6 days after you wash it, perfect for styling. also sleep with a bonnet because that does wonders for you

- lashes are amazing as well. it’s because you get them done while at school 😉😉😉

- you drive nick and chris around if matt’s not there or busy

- they literally love you

- think you’re perfect for your brother

- so nice, so sweet, literal angel

- you’ve been on the podcast

- made a tiktok account after matt suggested you do

- blew up. and it’s partly because you don’t gatekeep

- you’re so relatable too, being completely honest about how you feel . . . and are so funny

- “hot take . . . men should shave their armpits. like how do you put deodorant on?” “you ever too lazy to wash your face so all it is is a makeup wipe and a rinse with water? me too.”

- will trim matt’s hair if be wants just a trim

- you first said no, didn’t want to mess up, but he believed in you 🤭🤭

- your biggest supporter

- they would totally be there when you graduate

- cheering loudly when you walk along the stage

- like the pricilla movie scene but with no creepy old men

- you love that movie, hate elvis, but love pricillia

- you sometimes cook for them so they don’t eat out all the time

- you’re a good cook 👩‍🍳

- force them to have some form of vegetables

- his parents love you

- go fishing with jimmy and the boys the one time they do (sorry jimmy but it’s true)

- fans will ask for pictures when you visit matt on tour

- who’s the triplets? they’re here for you

- matt is so proud of you

- if you ever need him to pick you up he’ll bring you food or starbucks so you have energy when you’re done

- is at your beck and call

- ask him to jump off a cliff? he’ll hesitate a bit but will ultimately do it

#emma writes #preferences #sturniolo #matt sturniolo x reader #matthew sturniolo #matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo #christopher sturniolo #nick sturniolo #nicolas sturniolo #youtuber #youtube #youtube preferences #x fem!reader #x reader #matthew sturniolo x reader #matt sturniolo x you #matthew sturniolo x you

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lowkeyremi · 8 months

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WHEN THEY'RE CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR HAIR jjk x black!fem!reader

remi's note: i just wanted to do something like this cuz i thought about how most of the black readers seem to have braids all the time. so this is when they see your natural hair!! this applies to any black girl hair type but mostly 4c bc that's my hair type. hope you like it :)

He's been staring at you for at least thirty-five minutes and it's finally starting to work your nerves.

"What are you looking at?" You ask him with slight irritation in your tone.

"I just.. I don't think I've ever seen your hair out like that before." He says quietly. It settles your nerves to know he's not looking at you like you're weird, he's looking at you out of curiosity. You've been braiding your hair into cornrows so your natural hair can breathe. It's not healthy for your hair to always be in braids.

He watches as you part your hair with ease, it wasn't always like this though. It took time and patience to be able to do what you do to your hair now. There were several times where you came close to giving up, because your hair is just so thick and there's so much of it.

"Well, this is what it looks like when it's not styled. Get used to it cuz I'm not paying for braids all the time." You quickly oil one section of your scalp before you start the braiding process.

"I mean.. I'll pay for them if you want, baby, but your natural hair is so cute." The idea of being accepted by your partner for who you are, unconditionally makes your heart beat wildly.

"Is it soft? It looks really soft." Child-like curiosity and pure excitement takes over his features. You usually don't let people touch your hair but for your boyfriend you'll make an exception.

"Are your hands clean? I just washed and deep conditioned it." You've never seen him hop off the couch that fast. You hear the kitchen sink running. When his hands are clean and dry he makes his way over to the couch you're sitting on.

His eyes ask 'can I?' and you give him a small nod. He softly taps the top of your unbraided hair as if it would break if he touched it too hard.

"Wowwwwwwwww. Can you teach me how to braid it so I can do it for you?" The way he's acting like a little kid seeing a cute puppy makes you giggle.

"I doubt you'll get it on the first time but I'll teach you if you want." His smile about doubles when you agree. Everything about you is pretty, your skin, your eyes, and of course your pretty curls.

GOJO, yuji, YUTA, choso, inumaki, TODO, NANAMI

He's never watched you take out your braids before, but now that he's doing it, he's invested. You've noticed it but decided not to say anything, if he has any questions he has absolutely no problem asking you.

"What are you gonna do when you take all the braids out?"

"Wash it and braid it up myself. Or maybe I'll twist it up." Instead of saying something he just nods.

He tries to fake uninterested but you see the quick little glances he thinks that he's sneaking in.

"Do you ever straighten it?"

"Sometimes yeah, but it's not great for my hair, heat in general I mean." You quickly cut a braid slightly longer than your natural hair so the unbraiding process goes by much faster.

"I think I like when it's out. I've never seen your hair all poofy before." He's confused when you giggle at his terminology for your hair.

"You mean my afro?" He nods again. "I think you should wear it out more often let your scalp breathe you know?"

The fact that he knows a little bit about your hair makes you proud and content. "Yeah but that means extra work because I have to twist it up before going to bed. So I don't wake up in the morning with my hair all scrunched up."

He sets his phone down and sits closer to you than he was before, "I'll help you twist it. I want to see that pretty hair of yours."

"Well, I have to wash and condition it first, but since you're over here you can help me take my braids out. Don't cut too close though."

"Girl, I know what I'm doing, your hair is not that long." He gets a playful slap to the chest for that comment.

TOJI, megumi, GETO, sukuna, naoya

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homunculus-argument · 5 months

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Sometimes things benefit each other in such an indirect kind of network that you can't really predict it of plan on it, so not doing something just because it has no logical, direct benefit isn't a reason to not give it a try. For one, using dry shampoo doesn't have any direct benefit to my hair, but it's good for my hair nonetheless.

My hair needs washing far more often than I would otherwise normally need a shower. Dry shampoo doesn't make it clean as much as simply makes it look and feel clean, but nonetheless it enables me to just go with a partial wash instead. Being a lizard with no self-control, I like having my showers scalding hot, which dries out my skin. And having all the natural oils stripped off every day makes my skin overcomensate with producing more oil, which gives me acne. And the condition of my skin has a direct effect on how I feel about the way I look, and not liking the way I look increases the chances of me doing something impulsive and destructive to my hair.

Using dry shampoo enables me to take fewer showers with longer intervals, which is better for my skin, which is better for my mood, which makes me less prone to fuck with my hair.

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nattikay · 3 months

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a few people have mistaken Neynari for albino (she's actually leucistic) so here's a quick doodle of her with an actually albino Na'vi!

autistic infodumping about albinism vs. leucism under the cut (lots of cool animal pictures)

Albinism is a genetic condition that prevents the production of pigment, specifically melanin...which for mammals would be all pigment since mammals only produce melanins, but some types of reptiles, birds, etc. also have other types of pigments that are unaffected by albinism, which is why you can get, for example, an albino ball python that still has bright yellow markings. That's a tangent though, and yes I know that being aliens and all Na'vi skin is colored by "cyanin" not melanin but for simplicity's sake let's assume that the Pandoran equivalent to albinism affects cyanin the same as melanin in Earthen species, and since the Na'vi are clearly a mammalian equivalent let's assume that they don't have fancy extra types of pigment.

This lack of pigment production means that albino individuals end up with white hair/fur/feathers/scales and pinkish skin (it's unpigmented but will still appear pinkish instead of pure white because there's still red blood/muscle/etc. underneath. So, no, an albino Na'vi probably would not actually look like all those AI-generated "snow Na'vi" images floating around 😅)

It can also makes the eyes appear red or pink because without pigment in the way you can see the red of the blood vessels behind them. That said, depending on the opacity of the structures inside the eyes, this won't always be the case; if they are opaque enough you won't be able to see those blood vessels and the eyes will appear a pale gray or bluish.

Speaking of eyes, it turns out that the presence of melanin is actually pretty important in ocular development, so albino individuals often have impaired vision.

Leucism, on the other hand, is an umbrella term that covers a range of conditions that cause partial lack of pigment in some way, shape, or form (as opposed to the total lack seen in albinism). Leucistic phenotypes can be quite varied depending on what's causing the pigment malfunction.

Some leucistic conditions cause a lack of pigment in hair/fur/feathers but not skin or eyes. This results in a white coat that is often mistaken for albino. The main way to distinguish this type of leucism from true albinism is to look at the eyes (and sometimes skin, like on the nose or pads). Leucistic conditions do not affect the eyes, so if the animal has a standard eye color for its species, it's leucistic, not albino. If it has red/pink or unusually pale grayish eyes along with pinkish skin, it's albino.

Another leucism condition causes uneven distribution of pigment-producing cells, giving the individual normal coloration interspersed with unpigmented splotches. This condition is also known as piebald and can produce some really stunning patterns!

Yet other leucism conditions reduce pigment production, but do not completely halt it. In other words, these individuals do produce pigments in all their integuments, just not as much as their standard-colored counterparts...so they retain most of their natural markings/patterning, but with a pale "washed-out" appearance (this is the type Neynari has!)

...so yeah, now you know :)

#her body does produce pigment!! just not very much of it lol #neynari #oeyä ayskxawngtsyìp #my art

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