#whitehead on lip

[cripplecryptid]

Man, turns out u should really listen to ur piercers advice.

[calamarr]

lip line acne is proof god hates us

[meazalykov]

whiteheads

lena oberdorf x esthetician!reader

summary: with an esthetician girlfriend, she can spot anything on your face.

warnings: one suggestive mention

you sit in your cozy esthetician studio, the low hum of the diffuser filling the space with the soft scent of lavender and eucalyptus. 

your eyes flick to the clock, a gentle smile tugging at your lips as you think about your next client—your favorite client, really. 

lena had been so caught up in her recovery from the ACL injury and all the intense training sessions that came with it, that she'd fallen off her usual skincare routine. her skin was still gorgeous, of course—she was lena, after all—but you noticed the subtle changes. the stress, the long hours of practice, the constant travel. all of it was taking its toll in ways that she hadn’t paid attention to, but you had.

so, naturally, when she mentioned feeling like her skin hadn’t been looking its best, you immediately scheduled an appointment for her in your studio. 

"my favorite client needs a bit of pampering," you'd texted her with a wink emoji when she was at bayern’s training ground last week

she responded with an eye roll, followed by a simple, “i’ll be there.”

you hear the soft creak of the door, followed by her familiar voice. 

"is it too late to back out?" obi teases, stepping into the room with that easy, confident smile that still makes your heart skip a beat, even after all these years.

you turn, grinning. "too late. i’m already prepping your skin in my mind."

she chuckles, moving toward you, her hands slipping into her pockets. "i can’t believe you’re making me do this," she says, mock-complaining. however, you can see the glint in her eyes, the way she’s more than happy to let you work your magic on her.

you gesture to the treatment bed. "you’re going to thank me when we’re done, trust me."

after you say that, you reach into the small closet and hand lena a soft, pink, plush robe to change into, one that you've had ready just for her. 

she raises an eyebrow as she takes it, a teasing smirk playing on her lips. "really? a robe? you’re going all out, aren’t you?"

"of course, all of the clients wear a robe because i don’t want their outside clothes on the bed– even though I do wash the sheets after each client," you reply with a playful grin. 

"however.. all of the clients use all of those blue robes that are hanging in the other closet. the pink one I gave you is my personal one– nothing but the best for you."

obi shakes her head but doesn’t argue. she’s used to you doting on her at this point, and honestly, you know she enjoys it. 

without much hesitation, she begins to strip off her t-shirt, revealing the toned muscles of her back and shoulders that you’ve traced with your fingers countless times before. you’d step out the room before this point for every other one of your clients– but with lena there's no need for you to step out or give her privacy—you’ve been together for three years, and this level of comfort is something you've earned together. 

you’ve seen much more of her than this, in much more intimate settings.

as she tosses her clothes aside and pulls on the robe, you can’t help but admire her for a moment. despite the months of recovery, despite the grueling rehab sessions, she still carries herself with that confident grace you love so much. 

she ties the robe loosely around her waist, glancing at you with a small smirk when she catches you watching her. 

"like what you see?"

you shrug playfully, trying to keep your tone casual even though your heart skips a beat. 

"always."

lena chuckles softly, stepping over to the treatment bed, moving with a slight limp that reminds you of all she’s been through with her ACL recovery. she carefully settles onto the bed, stretching out with her leg propped up on the pillow you’ve set for her. 

you lean over, adjusting the blanket around her, making sure she’s completely comfortable before you get started.

“ready?” you ask, your voice soft as you hover over her with your rolling chair.

lena grins, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and affection. “as ready as i’ll ever be.”

with that, the session begins, and you slip into your professional yet tender mode, knowing that this is just as much about relaxing her body as it is about taking care of her skin.

"this feels so weird," she admits with a laugh. 

"i’m used to seeing hannah, not... this."

hannah is the physio at bayern.

"well," you say, stepping closer and brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "this is a different kind of healing."

her eyes soften at your words, and for a moment, neither of you speaks. there’s an unspoken understanding between you—she knows how much you care about her, how you notice the little things even when she doesn’t.

you break the silence first, giving her a playful smirk. "now, lay back, relax, and let me work."

lena raises an eyebrow as she leans back, settling into the bed. "you’re getting bossy."

"only when i need to be," you shoot back, grabbing your first cleanser and starting to work on her skin. 

you begin with the first cleanse, your fingers moving gently over her face, massaging the cleanser in slow circles. "just taking off the surface stuff," you explain as you work, your voice soft but steady.

lena closes her eyes, sighing softly. "this feels... really good."

"good," you whisper, your hands never pausing. 

as you wipe the first cleanser away with a warm towel, you glance at her face—her features are relaxed, her breathing steady. the tension that usually lines her forehead and jaw, remnants of her intense focus on the pitch, has already begun to melt away.

"so, this is what you do every day?" she asks, cracking one eye open, a teasing tone in her voice. 

"you get paid a lot of money just to... touch people’s faces? i could retire from football now and go to school for this."

you laugh softly, moving on to the second cleanse, this one deeper and more targeted. 

"there’s a bit more to it than that, lena."

"uh-huh," she murmurs, clearly enjoying the sensation of your fingers gliding over her skin. "i could get used to this."

"you should," you say, leaning a little closer, your voice dropping a touch. "i mean, i don’t work on my off-days for anyone except for you."

her lips curve into a smile, her eyes still closed. "oh yeah? i feel special."

"you are special." you let the words hang there, simple but true. and for a moment, it feels like the world outside your studio doesn’t exist—just you, her, and the soft intimacy of the moment.

you finish the second cleanse, wiping her face gently with another warm towel. 

"how’s your leg?" you ask as you reach for your next tool.

"better," she says, her voice a little quieter now, a little softer. "you already know that. i’m getting stronger every day."

"i know," you say, your tone filled with pride. "i can see it."

as you prepare for the next step—extractions—you hold up the small metal tool. 

"okay, so... next up are extractions. how are you feeling about that?"

lena’s eyes flick open, and she looks at the tool in your hand, her brow furrowing slightly. "what exactly are extractions?"

"basically, i use this tool to gently press around your pores to get rid of any blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores... you know, stuff like that."

"and this is... necessary?"

you nod, smiling reassuringly. 

"it’ll make a difference, trust me. but if it’s too uncomfortable, we can skip it and go straight to the enzyme mask and LED light."

lena squints at you, the skepticism clear on her face. 

"how uncomfortable are we talking?"

you tilt your head, considering how to phrase it. 

"it can sting a little, but i’ll be as gentle as possible. and remember, if it’s too much, we can stop."

she eyes the tool again, then finally nods. 

"okay. i’m tough. i can handle it."

you smile, loving her determination. 

"i know you can."

starting with her nose, you gently press the tool against her skin, carefully working around the small blackheads that have appeared. lena winces almost immediately, a small hiss escaping her lips.

you pause, looking at her with concern. 

"you okay?"

she opens one eye, giving you a lopsided grin. 

"yeah, just... didn’t expect it to sting like that."

"we can stop if you want," you offer, setting the sterile tool down momentarily.

lena shakes her head, her competitive nature shining through. 

"no way. i’m not tapping out. finish what you started."

you laugh softly, admiring her grit. 

"all right, tough girl. let’s keep going."

you continue the extractions, moving slowly and carefully, making sure not to cause too much discomfort. fortunately, lena’s skin doesn’t have too many issues—just some whiteheads that you quickly take care of. 

when you’re done, you set the tool aside and wipe her face down with another warm towel.

"all done," you say, smiling at her as you clean up. 

"how was that?"

lena lets out a dramatic sigh of relief. 

"i thought you said you were going to be gentle."

"i was!" you protest, laughing. "you’re just sensitive."

"or maybe you’re secretly trying to torture me," she teases, her lips curving into a playful smile.

"i’d never," you say, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "besides, you survived."

"barely," she mutters, but the smile stays on her face.

now that the extractions are done, you move on to the enzyme mask, smoothing the cool, creamy, raspberry scented, formula over her skin. 

"this part’s the easy part," you tell her. 

"it’ll just sit for a bit while it works its magic."

"finally," lena says, her voice taking on a teasing tone again. 

"something that doesn’t involve pain."

you laugh softly, finishing up with the mask and setting the timer. "well– it will make your skin tingle but here's a fan to blow on your face," you say, stepping back to admire your work. 

“by ‘tingle’ do you mean an actual tingle– or burning?” 

“a small tingle. if your skin starts to burn please say something.”

“oh– i will.” lena whispers with her eyes closed.

as the enzyme mask settles onto lena’s skin, you take a moment to glance at her, admiring how peaceful she looks lying there. her eyes are closed as the fan blows cool air onto her skin.

obi is breathing steady, and she seems to have completely relaxed under your care. the soft, warm light from the lamp above casts a gentle glow over her features.

you set the timer for the mask and move behind her again, placing your hands gently on her shoulders. lena tenses slightly at first, but as your fingers begin to knead into the muscles, you feel the tension start to melt away. you apply just the right amount of pressure, working in slow circles over her shoulder blades, feeling the tight knots that have built up from months of intense training and rehab. 

your thumbs press into the spots just above her shoulder blades, and a soft sigh escapes her lips. you smile to yourself, continuing to massage her, knowing that lena never fully admits how sore or tired she gets, but you can feel it in her muscles—the tightness, the strain. 

you take your time, moving down toward her neck, your fingers expertly working over the base of her skull and into her hairline. with each stroke, you can feel her sink deeper into the bed, her body completely giving in to the relaxation.

“you okay?” you murmur softly, more out of habit than necessity, since you know she is.

lena doesn’t respond, but the soft rise and fall of her chest tells you everything you need to know.

you smile to yourself, convinced that she's on the verge of sleep. continuing your gentle ministrations, you move your hands into her hair, lightly massaging her scalp in slow, circular motions. 

obi loves when you run your fingers through her hair, and you know this will send her over the edge into pure bliss. her head tilts slightly to the side, completely relaxed under your touch.

as you move your hands back down to her neck and shoulders, working out the last bit of tension, you glance down at her face. the breathing in her body has deepened, her lips slightly parted. 

yep, she's asleep. you chuckle softly to yourself, careful not to make any sudden movements that might wake her.

for the rest of the time, you keep your touch light, alternating between massaging her shoulders and running your fingers through her hair. the timer finally goes off, signaling the end of the mask’s set time, but you’re in no rush to wake her. 

she looks so peaceful, so content, that you almost hate the idea of disturbing her. 

eventually, though, you clean the mask off of her face with a soft warm towel. afterwards you press a soft kiss to her temple, and whisper, “babe, time to wake up.”

lena stirs slightly, her eyelids fluttering as she slowly comes back to the present. 

“was i... did i fall asleep?”

you laugh quietly, running your fingers through her hair. 

“yeah, you did. i think i’ve got some magic hands.”

she chuckles softly, still half-asleep, her voice drowsy. “you really do.”

"you look amazing already." you admire her glowy skin.

"i always look amazing," she quips, but there’s a playful gleam in her eyes as she glances at you.

you grin, rolling your eyes. "humble as ever."

"i learned from the best," she shoots back, smirking.

you prep the LED light therapy, getting everything ready for the final step. after you set the timer on the LED, you gently put safety eye covers on obi’s eyes before guiding her head beneath the LED light. 

the soft red glow fills lena’s vision through the safety eye cover, and you sit behind her, running your fingers gently through her hair as she relaxes under the light.

"this is my favorite part," lena murmurs after a moment, her eyes still closed.

"oh yeah?" you ask, smiling softly.

"yeah," she says, her voice low and content. "you. taking care of me."

your heart swells at her words, and you lean down to press a soft kiss on the top of her head that isn’t underneath the light. 

"always."

as the LED therapy wraps up, you remove the light and finish with a light serum and moisturizer, massaging the products into her skin with gentle, soothing strokes. 

when you’re done, you help her sit up, and lena stretches, touching her face lightly.

"i feel like a new woman," she says, examining her reflection in the mirror you hand her.

"you look like one too," you tease, stepping back to admire the glow of her skin.

lena turns to you, pulling you by the waist and into a warm embrace, her hands resting on your waist. 

"thank you," she murmurs, pressing her lips softly to yours.

“for everything."

you smile against her lips, feeling the familiar warmth of her body against yours. "anytime," you whisper, pulling back slightly to meet her gaze. 

"but next time, no slacking on the skincare, okay?"

lena chuckles, nodding. "deal. but only if i get to come back here for more of your special treatment."

"oh, you’ll be back," you say with a playful grin. "whether you like it or not."

she smirks, leaning in to kiss you again. "i think i’ll like it."

masterlist

[storm-angel989]

Yo I love your work.. anyway can I request Val x Fem Reader when Reader is on their period and the rest is up to you (I’ll cry if you actually notice)

Hi Friend,

Thank you for sending in your request! I always notice and read a request- sometimes it just takes time for my brain to buzz.

Now I have written this before. The link is here:

Valentino x Reader (Period Pains)

That being said….

Here is another version! Think OTO reader and Val after they’re married. 

<3 Mandy

The bright red stains on my favorite pajama pants began the start of that cursed day. It was going to be one of those mornings that lasted all day. 

It didn’t help that I woke up alone, my husband off to do whatever it was he did in his studio. Vox and Velvette were working and me? I was by myself. Which, as I poured myself a cup of coffee and stirred in my creamer, I figured was better that way. 

I lifted the mug to my lips and took the first sip of what should have been a heavenly experience. Instead, I was met with the bitter taste of peppermint.  I spat it into the sink and went to set my mug down. Somehow I missed the counter and shards of ceramic splatted the floor. 

“Fuck!” I yelled across the empty flat. I grabbed a roll of paper towels and cleaned up the mess as quickly as I could, tossing the shards into the garbage. Housekeeping would be up later, but with how the day was already turning out, I didn’t want to risk stepping on a rouge shard. 

“Who the fuck puts peppermint into their coffee without mocha?” I growled aloud as I shoved the creamer back in the fridge. 

Of course, I knew the answer was Vox. As much as he pretended he only drank black coffee, those of us who lived with him knew his guilty pleasure. Random flavored coffee creamers that appeared in the fridge each time it was restocked. It was just my bad luck that I had grabbed the wrong one this morning. 

Shoving the thought of making another cup of coffee to the side, I jumped into the shower, willing the hot water to take away the cramps that slowly awakened with each movement of the day. Fuck, there were some days I hated being a girl. 

But, like all women, being on our period wasn’t an excuse to miss work. Going to see Velvette in her studio was always an option, but just the thought of being touched by another being made me annoyed. I gingerly dressed myself and pulled my hair up into a bun. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I grumbled as I tried to hide the tiny whiteheads that appeared overnight with a strong dose of foundation. 

“Okay, I can do this,” I said to my reflection as I swallowed down several advil. “I got this.” 

Ten hours, eighteen phone calls and one ruined pair of underpants later, I stormed back upstairs to our apartment. 

“Babygirl, you’re home late,” Valentino’s voice rang out.

“I know, fuck,” I snapped without thought. The cramps, masked by the Advil I had taken this morning, left me both nauseous and crabby.  Every part of my body ached, and I could feel a headache starting to brew. I slammed the door behind me as I stripped off my outfit for the day. 

The bright red bloodstain on the back of my dress. I stared at it and without really knowing why, I burst into tears in the middle of my room. 

“Bebita?” Valentino’s voice came quietly from behind me. 

I felt him tug the dress from my hand and he wrapped his arms around me. I didn’t have to say a thing and instead laid my head on his chest as I sobbed. 

“Nothing a little stain remover can’t take out,” he said soothingly. “It’s alright. Why don’t you get in the shower? I’ll get your pjs and…”

“My two favorite ones are wrecked,” I choked out softly. “I bled all over the ones this morning, and my backups have a hole in them and…”

He pressed a finger to my lip and kissed my forehead. “Just let me figure it out while you go shower, okay?” 

There was something about he way he said it that left me with a feeling of comfort. I disappeared into the shower and by the time I came out, he was leaning against the bathroom sink, waiting. He handed me a towel and watched as I wrapped it around myself. 

“I have a heating pad and a cup of tea ready for you in bed. Toast, if you’re hungry. Advil if you want it. And if you’re in the mood to cuddle, I’m here. If not, I can stay with you or give you space. Remote is yours either way.” He pointed to a pile of clothes. “Period underpants. Vel sent them up. And…wear my pjs tonight. They’ll be looser than anything you own.” 

“Thanks, Val,” I said softly. “I’m sorry I was such a bitch when I came in.”

He cracked a smile. “Mi amore, I don’t think you know the true meaning of that word. Come on out when you’re ready.” 

I watched the door close behind me and got dressed in the outfit he left for me. I settled into bed next to him and sipped the warm tea. 

“I love you Val,” I said after a few moments. 

“I love you too, bebita. Even when you’re cranky,” he replied lightly. “And I always will.”

[raptorladylover6969]

I think the reason why everyone finds The Handler so uncanny, and I’ve mentioned this once before, is because of how realistic she looks compared to the other characters. The cartoony style of Chaos Theory makes her seem a bit out of place. What I mean is, her freckles make her skin look as if it has more texture, (yeah, the other characters do have a bit of freckles, buy definitely not as much as The Handler), the bagginess of her eyes, and the bags around them, give her face more depth and shape, and the pinkish colouration and shadows really add to that. Her icey blue eyes are so purely BLUE, and SHINY that you can see every single detail in them, the veins in her eyes also pop out a bit, and idk why but the shape of her nose too also seems more natural than the other characters??? Cuz for some reason some of them dont even have a nose bridge…speaking of her nose, its strangely so DETAILED, you can see the little OILS. OILS. THE OILS….HER PORES, HER WHITEHEADS. Her lips are also extremely chapped and cracked, and her teeth have like little chips in them, especially her front incisors, probably from slamming the whistle into her mouth so many times. I swear to god they probably only made her show up only 3 times in the entire series because SHE MUST HAVE A BIG BUDGET ON HER, SHE IS WAYYYYY too realistic for this show GOD DAMN…

[beesmygod]

painful whitehead zit right above my lip, presumably the result of some kind of curse or hex or evil object i've acquired

[thenarwhalgal]

I am so excited for Gwenpool to get more moments in the spotlight, but I really just wanted to put this out there as well cause I think it’s also important.

Look there, in the background next to the pride flag at the pride event in a sneak peak of Marvel’s Pride issue. Is that Doreen Green and Nancy Whitehead? Look at them skating together at the festival for queer people.

Now them being in a relationship has never been directly stated as far as I know. In fact, I think it’s only ever been implied that either aren’t straight. This is a big deal for both of them.

While it’s still not… canon technically, this is once more almost the strongest possible implication of a character being queer without directly stating it.

I know Speedball didn’t mind lips that tasted like chestnut so we can only hope Nancy doesn’t either is all I’m saying.

[4methystt]

Glow up this 2024 (affirmations)

Subliminal is linked here:

Beauty:

I have a radiating beauty

My beauty is alluring

Everyone thinks im attractive

I have my ideal face

My face is so perfect

I surpass every beauty standards

I'm naturally beautiful

I have my ideal face shape

I have the most angel like skull

My forehead is my ideal size

I have the most beautiful side profile in existence

I have the perfect jaw line

I have the most perfect chin, forehead, and cheeckbones

My face looks perfect in any angle

My eyes are alluring

My eyes are mesmerizing

People love starring at my eyes

My eyes perfectly suits my face

I have a positive canthal tilt

I have my ideal eye shape

My eyes are symmetrical

My eyelashes are naturally long

My eyelashes are thick

My eyelashes looks like i have mascara on even tho i don't

My eyelashes are curled up naturally

I have my ideal eyelashes

I have my ideal eyebrows

I have a perfect brow bone

My eyebrows suits my face shape perfectly

My nose is very tiny

My nose suits my face perfectly

I look like i had rhinoplasty

My nose hump doesn't exist anymore

I have a visible, tiny nose bridge

I have a small narrow alar base

I love my small nostrils

I love my upturned nose

I have my ideal nose shape

My lips always looks moisturized

My lips are very plump

All the wrinkles on my lips are disappearing every second

I have the perfect cupids bow

I have an upturned lip corners

My lips look sexy and cute at the same time

I love my rosey pink lips

My lips perfectly suits me

I love my kissable lips

I have healthy pink gums

I have perfectly straight teeth

My teeth always looks brushed

My teeth are the perfect size

I never needed braces

People always tells me that my teeth looks white like the snow

I have very fresh breath

My tounge is pink and smooth

My skin is very smooth

My skin is hydrated

My skin is always glowing

My pores are very small

I have the most youthful skin in the world

I have my ideal skin tone

My skin tone is respected

All my pimples, blemishes, black/whiteheads, and discoloration will disappear in a second

My wrinkles are disappearing right this moment

My eye bags are disappearing

I have the ideal korean glass skin

I have the most luxurious hair

I have long, smooth and silky hair

My hair is always bouncy

I have my ideal hair type

My hair looks naturally stunning

My hair looks perfect with my face

Body/height:

My body scent smells good

My waist are very snatched

My abs are visible

I love my toned muscles

My breast are my ideal size

My but is my ideal size

My arms are very toned

People compliment me for my healthy body

I have a very fast metabolism

I digest food very fast

I eat more healthy food than junk foods

I restrict myself from eating unhealthy foods

My growth plates are opened

I have my ideal height

I am taller than yesterday

I am taller than before

People think i am a model because of my height

My legs are very long

Confidence, Talents, Intelligence, :

I love myself first before others

I respect my self

I follow my passion

I focus on my dreams and hopes

I believe that studying/working hard leads to success

I radiate positive energy

I have a lot of true, kind, and honest friends

I have a magnetic aura

I am a very talented person

I am very good at sports

My voice sounds angelic when i speak or sing

I have excellent hand and eye coordination

I have perfect reaction time

I think before i act

I have the perfect speed

I can balance perfectly

I excel on my PE class

I can dance perfectly

I dance gracefully in a way

People say I'm very talented

I memorize things very quickly

I am naturally a genius

I can pass every test without studying

I always ace my subjects

I find studying fun and exciting

Learning new things makes me happy

I have photographic memory

All the teachers love me because of my intelligence and good manners

My handwriting is clean and neat

I have a wide vocabulary

I am always teated with respect by my classmates/workmates

Photogenic, Videogenic:

I look perfect in every angle

I have the perfect side profile

I look great on every picture and video

I look effortlessly stunning

Physical health, happiness/mental health, wealth:

I am packed with vitam A, B, C, and D

I am immune to any sickness

I have natural resistance to bacterias

I sleep atleast 8 hours everyday

I have a good sleeping schedule

I only think positive thoughts

I have a fresh mindset

My mind is full if positivity

I don't let bad thoughts take over me

I appreciate my self

I have a good relationship with my family

I attract money

I get money every day

I handle money well

I never overspend

My parents are very rich and attract more money

[mackisstellar]

no one asked but here's my skincare routine xx 🌚 (including pictures of all the products !)

i'm a teen with acne-prone slightly sensitive skin that gets oily by the end of the day🧖‍♀️

(i'm 99% sure i'm allergic to salicylic acid bc it didn't help with my breakouts/caused them so i avoid it in my routine❕)

as a makeup remover i use the elf holy hydration makeup melting balm 🚿

& a makeup eraser cloth 🧽

for stubborn waterproof eye makeup i use garnier skin active micellar cleaning water all-in-1 waterproof (aka the blue one) i have a huge bottle of it :)💧

(i want to start using reusable cotton rounds so pls lmk of any good brands !)

i just ran out but if i haven't worn makeup but my pores feel especially clogged i use the burt's bees oil cleanser 🥥 (you do have to double cleanse with a water based cleanser afterwards !)

for a daily water-based facial cleanser i use two different ones

the cerave foaming facial cleanser 🧼 "oil control" on the bottle is no joke ! i don't get oily in the day anymore bc of the niacinamide in this :)

but it can be a little drying/strong so i mix it with the cetaphil gentle skin cleanser 🛁

i use this really cheap & generic silicone face scrubber for my nostrils/chin/sideburn-hairline area 🧽

once a week i use this scrub pixi peel and polish its a mask with physical and chemical exfoliants

it smells like lemon cucumber water🥒 and can also be used for body acne on the chest, back, & arms !!

once a week i use an AHA chemical exfoliant it's elf supertone toner 🌝 it has glycolic acid and is has a little bit of a lemony scent

what i use as a daily toner is thayer's rose-scented witch hazel spray 💌 it calms down any redness i have instantly !

i used to use the cerave daily moisturizing lotion but it was a little oily and it was impossible to apply makeup on 🧘 so now i use it on my hands before doing my facial moisturizer

and for that i use a mix of elf holy hydration gel-yeah moisturizer and elf holy hydration face cream 💦 it's pretty self-explanatory but the former is a clear gel and the latter is a white cream, i adjust the proportions for my moisture needs :) ⛲️

in the winter or if my face feels dry or in need of healing i use clinique moisture surge overnight face mask 🦪

"mask" is a little misleading as you just apply it with your moisturizer like any other lotion 🧴 it's super hydrating, it's a little expensive but i got it as a gift and a little goes a long way ! :)

after a breakout has healed completely i use a little bio oil on top of my moisturizer to fade any dark spots/scars 🐚

after i shower and exfoliate my lips i use this random lip mask from bath and body works that's watermelon scented 🍉 it's thick (a little goes a long way) and yummy

i also use smith's rosebud salve in this tin 🌹 it's like a nice scented vaseline

i don't use it all the time bc it's expensive but i love the mario badescu caffeine eye cream💆it's so good for my sunken dark circles ! but avoid getting it in your eye and keeping it in the bathroom bc it curdles if it gets too hot from shower steam

for active acne spots i use might patch pimple patches 🩹regular for whiteheads and micropoint ones for swollen spots under the skin

those are pretty expensive so for smaller spots i use mario badescu drying lotion overnight 🫧

i'm pretty bad at remembering sunscreen in the morning but i just got the glow recipe dew balm with spf 45 and niacinamide 🌸 i love the glow and the light fruity scent :)

i do want mention that my life-saver game-changer for stopping cystic acne (those painful lumps deep in the skin) and just acne in general has been hormonal birth control pills ! after i started BC for pcos/hormonal reason all of my breakouts decreased significantly🪽

tysm for reading !! 🕊️ xx

[kkatastrophic]

Yo wsg I'm feeling venty rn gang!!! >:) (anywayssss)

Oh, this is my honest reaction btw:

Anyway-

My parents get mad at me when I don't tell them what I'm listening to (music-wise), and then whenever my song comes up on the playlist in the car I get judged.

Or they ask what I'm writing (fanfiction) and they automatically assume because I don't want to tell them about it, that it's bad. NO I'M NOT WRITING SMUT MUM, I JUST HAVE CRINGE INTERESTS!!!

But as soon as I tell them I'm writing something, they get all on my back and as soon as they get home it's "10 minutes" or "sleep in 30" or "stop writing you've been on that all day!" (<- I got home 10 minutes ago people.)

Or it's like 3 degrees and I'm in bed writing because it's cold and they ask me to "come out of my room for once" because "we never see you" (I literally talk to them all the time, we have dinner together EVERY night, we watch movies and stuff together on weekends) then they EXPECT me to come out of my room when they just got mad at me for saying no to leaving my nice private area???

Wait, did I say private?

My mum walks in when I'm changing, and she's like "oh sorry" and then finishes putting my clothes on my bed? Like I get she's trying to be helpful and stuff but I'm sick of it. Please just put them by my door in the morning, because I'd rather you not walk in while me (a lovely teen girl who would like some decent privacy pretty please!) is changing.

She scared the shit out of me this morning, and my friends notice how jumpy I can be BECAUSE I constantly have to hide my phone (I'm not doing anything wrong, I'm just USING it) or grab a towel or blanket or even just... crouch down uncomfortably so that she doesn't see me undressed...

Like I get it... you have stuff you need to do, but privacy is important. Not to mention if I forget to lock the door my mum walks in while I'm in the SHOWER.

At least my dad knocks before coming into my bedroom.

And like I love them but oh my god I'm sick of it. I don't have it bad and I'm just complaining and whatever but like... bro...

OH AND MY FRIENDS SOMETIMES TOO! Don't get me wrong, I love my girls so much, they're lovely and really nice and kind, and I don't know where I'd be without them in my life.

BUT!!!

Let me listen to music without you going "what're you listening to" and then looking at me like I'm listening to alien noises (I was listening to Mitski)

Stop asking me what I'm drawing, and then judging me for it. (I just want to draw characters from my hyperfixation in peace-)

Stop looking at me like I'm a weirdo and judging me for having interests in some video game from 2010. Stop acting like me being on tumblr is so weird.

I love my friends and they're great and awesome and supportive, but sometimes they just don't get it, because I'm "the weird anime kid" (I don't watch anime anymore, I just like Danganronpa.) and they're... "normal".

Like my friend asked me a week ago "you realise you have a big pimple above your lip, right?"

...

...

Mate.

SHE DIDN'T MEAN IT BADLY, SHE WAS JUST POINTING IT OUT WE'RE KIDS IT'S FINE SHE APOLOGISED AFTER-

Yes I know. I have acne, it's been in my life since I was 11. I have a million different products, but can never keep using them long enough to work.

I've had skin rashes, acne, whiteheads, blackheads. They're small, but there's so many, and they're all over my face. So I look red all the time.

"Oh, why don't you wear makeup?" that's like saying "If you have glasses and are insecure about how you look with them, just take them off" <- it makes their eyesight worse. They can't see without them. They don't feel comfortable putting contacts on. etc. etc.

SAME FOR ACNE, MAKEUP DOESNT MAKE THEM GO AWAY IT JUST COVERS THEM AND MAKES THEM WORSE IN THE LONG RUN!!!

And like... just don't point out peoples insecurities in general. Please guys.. it makes them feel self concious and way worse about themselves. Just don't do it.

I love the people in my life, if you guys somehow find this (dad why are you on Tumblr...? Go back to Facebook man-) I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, but these things just irk me and I was feeling particularly irritated when writing this.

Okay vent done I got that out of my system, not my usual post but people need to learn boundaries. :3

[campgender]

[ID: the poem “Not Everything Is Sex” by Lauren Whitehead. the poem is originally arranged in two-line stanzas with minimal punctuation. the text reads: Okay. Tell that to the palm of this Black man’s hand ever so slightly cupped and carrying in its bend the finger tips of another Black man, both of them arms stretching upward toward the sky, measuring their reach against one another on a basketball court in Brooklyn, in spring.

Okay. Spring. And when I say spring, I mean bee-buzzing-near-a-pink-bud-almost-bursting spring, tantric spring, everyone-outside-in-three-quarter-sleeves-despite-the-virus-buzzing-near-our-tongues spring. So you can’t tell me it’s not sex, Cause it’s not not sex, The risk of all this tenderness, all this giving of ourselves, all this inside on the outside, open, vulnerable—I know sex when I see it and I see it everywhere: lips on the nipple of a soft serve, an arm fist deep in a grocery store shelf, digging for the last can of garbanzo beans.

It’s not not a ménage à trois, these three men snuggled in the front seat of a moving van, singing bachata dancing from the hips up in the window, open throats open, their whole necks to the wind, reckless—reckless, I tell you, full on abandon. So say what you will about transmission, about fluid, skin to skin, about the necessary things that make the deed the deed; I don’t care cause it’s spring and I’ve never seen anything so intimate as this touch still taken in the face of an apocalypse. end ID.]

[nat-20s]

I think Nancy Whitehead and Doreen Green should at least TRY kissing on the lips

[nb-microdosing-testosterone]

Hello. First dose! Yay!

As per title, I am micro-dosing testosterone.

.5ml, intramuscular, one dose per two weeks. ~23 years old at first dose.

(Also partially in the closet, so I will also keep tabs on how long I can get away with this before people start realizing something’s up.)

The shot:

Originally, I imagined I’d use the patch or gel. Then, the doctor told me those options were $600.

Needle it is.

First dose was much harder than I thought it’d be. I kept aggressively tapping the syringe because I was scared of air bubbles. Although the doctors prepared me and gave me a pamphlet, I found a video tutorial helpful. I sat there for at least 20 minutes holding the ready syringe trying to encourage myself to do it. The needle was much longer than I expected. It was very intimidating. I really considered backing out. In that moment, I wished I had an ally to do this for me. I felt like I couldn’t do it. It was so scary. In the end, I told myself that this medicine was too hard to get, and I couldn’t let it go to waste. Good thing my family isn’t observant, because someone could probably hear me panicking through the door if they listened.

Working up the courage was the hardest part. The shot itself turned out to be not so bad. In my opinion, it did not feel as bad as getting a vaccine. It was so simple it made all the apprehension feel silly. I took off my gloves and realized how nervous I really was when I saw the insides covered in sweat. I’m not even someone who gets sweaty hands. I should really be proud of myself for powering through that. I think the next shot will be easier.

Effects:

The next day I noticed a breakout of hormonal acne around my jaw, and….earlobes??? I expected testosterone to give me acne, but not so quick. I am very acne-prone. My skin care routine is immaculate. I found whiteheads around my jaw and saw more as the day progressed. You could argue that this breakout was caused by other factors, like stress, but I feel it was at least aided by testosterone as whiteheads are not a type of acne I usually get (Also, I didn’t get acne on my earlobes what the fu-.)

I battled- that’s an understatement- was at war with acne during my teens. I saw various skin professionals and used various medications. I expect this “transition journey” to be accompanied with revisiting this old nemesis.

Edit: 20 hours after posting this. Noticed new acne on my upper lip.

[deartreadmill]

sick.

I have a terrible cold. Not COVID, but a cold. I’ve been sleeping on the couch for 4 nights now because I need to sleep in an upright-ish position or I cough all night long. I can’t taste anything, which made me retest for COVID (still not COVID). I also can’t smell. Which has been a godsend, both yesterday when the manthing cooked a fish the Bubs caught this summer and according to the Girl stunk up the house (I couldn’t tell) and then tonight, when we had mysteriously free in our grocery order deli beef in beef dip sandwiches for dinner (turned out to he corned beef. grosso) I have a lingering remnant of clove in my mouth from the corned beef.  I wish I could taste something else.

I’ve blown my nose so much over the last 4 days that I’ve used 1.5 rolls of ‘double length’ toilet paper and now have whiteheads cropping up all around my nose and lip.

Sick is so glamorous.

Oh, and my period started. So that’s fun. Every fucking time I cough it’s like...

[weabooweedwitch]

St Ives scrub is like the single most hated skincare product in the skincare community!!!! That will probably be causing a lot of your issues, also the toner has witch hazel which is irritating for a lot of people myself included. Agree with other anon that dr. dray is goated for actual evidence based and budget friendly skincare info, literally the only skincare youtuber I trust (other than labmuffin and dr. davin lim who are great too), I usually watch her on 1.25-1.5x speed though because she talks a bit slowly. Also sunscreen is so important!!! (as dr dray will tell you over and over lol)

Oh no St Ives is that bad? I also have a lip sugar scrub from them :( I guess it's a good thing I bought the tiny travel size and not the big sized one. I just thought a skin scrub might help in case my cleanser and toner weren't strong enough exfoliaters. But also the skin scrub is new and the cleanser/toner whichever one was making my face burn before I got this so that's definitely not, 100% responsible, but yeah i can stop using it if that's the case

I'll be sure to check our Dr Dray! I just haven't been sure what products to use because I have oily skin and sometimes even when I use products/makeup for oily skin they don't always help? Like I have a foundation thats supposed to help oily skin and one time I was wearing it during one of my overnight shifts and halfway through it seemed like I was, oiling it off? But I also know you need to touch up stuff every so many hours so maybe that is normal? A makeup artists I like, Robert Walsh (who's twin brother James is a dermatologist, they both have YouTube channels) says that certain kinds of problems that are encountered with makeup not working that are usually covered up by using more products can be solved by proper skincare, so. Idk

Either way thanks for the help guys haha, guess I better keep doing research. I'd hate to wind up destroying my skin when the whole reason I started this was because I wanted to try and shrink my enlarged pores. I have this one spot on my cheek where one specific huge pore keeps filling back up and giving me whiteheads I can't stop picking on :( I technically have a diagnosed skin picking disorder but it isn't super severe but I was hoping I could kind of win one over on the skin picking by just, having good skincare and getting rid of my acne altogether

[hunter-whitehead]

Children of Affliction

By Hunter Whitehead

The sun shined cheerfully on the dilapidated cathedral, but something was dreadfully wrong. Luca could feel it. It hung in the air and stained the ancient stone. It seeped deep into the soil of this forgotten place. He dismounted his horse at the edge of the wood, tying her reins around a tree branch. She was a fine steed, sleek and muscular with a chestnut coat. Luca hadn’t named her yet. He was indecisive when it came to names. The half-blood turned his scarlet eyes on the cathedral and the surrounding buildings. It was some sort of cloister with the simpleness of a small abbey surrounding the grandiose architecture of the moss-covered cathedral.

His black riding boots clacked sharply on the cobblestone as he approached the building, his eyes drawn to the statue that sat front and center as one came to worship. Luca recognized the statue instantly by her voluminous coils, full lips, and extravagant armor as Queen Herratta, the last crusader queen. She stood with a puffed chest and a cocky grin, her hands resting on the pommel of an upright great sword. Making this cloister older than Luca, which was not an easy feat.  A flash of gruesome and some oddly pleasant memories scrolled through his mind, remembering the final years of the crusade. The inquisitor took off his tricorn hat and bowed his head. Queen Herratta was one of the few proponents of treating the offspring of the Afflicted with mercy. An unpopular opinion, then and now. He smoothed back his messy black hair as he replaced the hat on his head and noticed someone was watching him.

An old woman, bent and grey in a cleric’s robe, watched him from the shadow of one of the abbey buildings with a strange smile stretched across her face. Luca raised a hand in greeting and the woman beckoned him over with a gnarled finger. The dreadful feeling still whispered in the back of his mind as he approached the woman. As he got closer, he noticed the symbol on her robe, a bundle of wheat bound by a ribbon. The symbol of the Lady of Life, Lorcia. The robe itself was dirty, which did no favors for making the woman more approachable. Her eyes were wide and a sickly yellow, like a cornered animal, as she greeted him.

“Good tidings, good tidings dear child. Yes, a child I think, like me,” she rasped out, waving a wrinkled hand in no particular direction for what Luca assumed was emphasis. The gesture was odd. Despite the woman’s peculiar mannerisms, Luca inclined his head in polite acknowledgement.

“As are we all children of the Trisphere, Sister. Forgive me for asking but your cloister here seems ill attended and empty. Where are the younger acolytes?” he asked, his eyes taking another sweep of the empty courtyard and crumbling buildings.

“Left, left, all gone, save for my mother and my siblings. We take shelter in this stone.” She said gleefully, rapping on the wall of the abbey with her knuckles. Luca’s brow furrowed as he studied the woman. She blinked at him innocently but her smile, now seeming almost grotesque, never left her face.

“Can you take me to see them?” he asked hesitantly, the dreadful whispers growing louder in the back of his mind.

“Yes, of course, good, good, we are all children here,” the old woman agreed, waving for him to follow as she hobbled down the length of the wall to a pair of large, heavy wooden doors. The gateway to the abbey proper. Luca followed, his red gaze now darting to every corner, every nook, and every cranny. As the woman grabbed one of the round iron handles, Luca moved to help her but stopped when she wrenched it open with surprising strength. The ear-splitting squeak of the rusty hinges made the half-blood cringe, but the woman didn’t seem to notice as she happily shuffled into the abbey courtyard.

“Sister, you haven’t told me your name. I’m Luca.” he said, purposefully leaving out his surname and title. A true acolyte of Lorcia would have recognized him as an inquisitor of Hadrius from the grim colors he wore and the pendant that was attached to the side of his hat, which boasted the Lord of Disorder’s symbol. But this woman had made no mention of it.

“Mother calls me Trevia, on account I’m the third of her children,” Trevia explained as they walked slowly through the abbey courtyard. To their left, a reasonably sized long building, what Luca presumed to be the acolyte’s quarters, sat decorated in warm brown brick. To their right, the refectory sat with its doors ajar so Luca could identify the long tables and benches for dining. The courtyard itself, which normally would have been ardently tended by the acolytes, was overgrown. Vines snaked their way up the statues and stone furniture that dotted the courtyard, and the grass came up to Luca’s shin. Directly ahead of them, was the largest of the three buildings of the abbey with at least three stories.

“And your mother, what is her name?” the inquisitor continued. He silently scolded himself for leaving his inquisitor’s kit attached to his horse. All he had on him was his rapier, stiletto, and pistol with one silver bullet. The woman again waved dismissively at the question.

“Just Mother. She’s very wise, very smart, oh she’ll be so glad to have company,” she chirped, a veritable ray of sunshine amid the morose abandoned structures. They came to the double doors of the abbey’s largest building. Along the walls on either side, depictions of Lorcia and various spirits were painted along the edges of thin glass windowpanes, now dusty and fogged from neglect. Dark vines curled up the walls, as if the Lady of Light could not reach her worshippers here. With a hum, Trevia pushed the door open and beckoned for Luca to follow.

Stepping through the threshold, Luca was immediately met with the stench of rot and mold in coordination with a few other very unsavory aromas. The half-blood scrunched up his nose in disgust, his dark crimson eyes surveying what appeared to be a ruined library. Shelves lined the walls and split the large room into sections. Loose pages littered the floor and grim and grit crunched and squelched under Luca’s boots as he trailed the old woman. They weaved through the maze of musty bookshelves and forgotten decorations until they came to the center of the grand library where a massive, round oak desk sat. In the center was a large, precarious looking pile of books and trash. And sat perched atop it like a great vulture was a hunched woman with withered grey skin and dark, straw-like hair. She wore a simple brown robe, frayed and tattered with no shoes. Her hands and feet were talons and so large that she had to sit with them facing away from her, lest she cut herself. A hooked nose sat below a gleaming yellow eye- full of hate and mistrust.

“You bring someone…someone new?” asked the woman atop the mountain of books, tilting her head to the side ever so slowly. Her voice was high and nasally but with a dangerous edge that made Luca flex his hand on instinct. Before Trevia could respond, Luca gave another polite bow and spoke clearly.

“Luca de Barazzo, inquisitor of Hadrius. I see you’ve been inflicted with the Hag’s Curse. A terrible fate,” he commented sympathetically. The hag sneered, her teeth sharp and rotted.

“I see my foolish daughter has brought the enemy right into our home. She will be punished,” Mother said, and Luca could feel the rage brimming under her calm demeanor. Trevia felt it too and shrunk into the shadow of the bookshelf behind her. “Well, if we’re to have a meeting, might as well make sure the whole family is here. Girls!” The hag squawked out the last word and a few seconds later a rush of shuffling and clattering approached the center of the library. One by one, different old women perched themselves on top of the surrounding bookshelves, all staring intently at Luca. There were four in total, including Trevia, and all waited for their mother to continue.

“So, inquisitor,” she hissed out the title, “Give me one good reason why my girls and I shouldn’t rip you to shreds and feast on your bones.” A sardonic smile flitted onto Luca’s face as he removed his hat and looked the woman in the eye.

“I’m afraid you’d find my meat lacking. I am the spawn of a vampire,” he said, carefully scanning the room as he did so. The daughters exchanged a surprised look. There was a moment of silence and then the hag threw her head back in a raucous cackle, the sound amplified by the empty space of the forgotten library.

“So you are!” she agreed with a bemused expression, “And what is a half-blood doing wearing a symbol of the god of death on his hat? Moreover, who in the Void let a vampling become a holy man in the first place!?” she exclaimed, and another round of hyena-like cackling overtook her.  Luca waited patiently for the laughter to subside though a measure of irritation had risen into his chest. Finally, the hag wiped a tear away and nodded.

“I see now why Trevia brought you here instead of killing you outright. A child of Affliction, the same as us. Though we do not have the same luck, it would seem,” she added at the end and Luca sensed the brewing resentment taking over the humor. Luca put his hat back on and nodded his acknowledgement.

“I was fortunate that the crusader that found me did not throw me down a well like they usually do with Afflicted infants,” he conceded, and a harsh snort came from the hag in response. She rose to her full height, which admittedly was not much, but the combination of a wild head of dirty hair and animalistic claws made her a fearsome sight, nonetheless.

“Crusaders,” she echoed with a scoff, “I served the crusaders, once. I was a healer, an alchemist. They had hired me to treat their sick and injured, which I did with competence and pride.” She was looking among her daughters, talking to them as much as to Luca. Her daughters stared back at her, hanging onto every word with wide, yellow eyes and bizarre smiles on their wrinkled lips.

“One day, our camp was overrun by enemy forces. I was captured, thanks to the oh glorious crusaders’ ineptness and taken before a powerful witch who had commanded the raid. She demanded my fealty and I, naively believing the crusaders would come save me, refused her. She cursed me, as our esteemed guest has pointed out, and I slowly turned into a monster in the following days. When the crusaders finally raided the lair of the witch and found me, was I rewarded for my loyalty? Was I praised for giving up my youth and beauty and sanity!?” she asked, now gazing directly into Luca’s eyes. Though she posed a question, Luca already knew the end to this all too familiar story. The hag grimaced.

“No. I had to claw my way out that day, or else I would have known the silver bite of a crusader’s blade. Just like all those unfortunate enough to be cursed or infected. We’re all monsters. The only difference now is inquisitors hunt us, not crusaders,” she finished pointedly, holding the half-blood’s gaze. Luca made no comment on the story, instead looking around the library for the signs he had been looking for since he arrived at the cloister.

“So. What say you, inquisitor?” she once again snarled out the title, as if it even being on her tongue was revolting.

“Where is the clergy of this cloister, Mother?” Luca asked calmly and a defiant look entered the hag’s eyes.

“The tenets of Lorcia say to offer food, water, and shelter to the weary and the needy. My daughters and I arrived just that, weary and in need of help. Your sacred sisters and priestesses denied us. Threatened us. So we took what we needed,” she replied, letting the silence after her final sentence speak for itself. Luca suddenly realized what the dreadful feeling that had been haunting him since his arrival was. The desecration of a holy site, the murder of holy folk, and the disruption of harmony. The half-blood swept his cloak back, revealing the hilt of his rapier and once again flexed his dominant hand.

“You know I can’t let the murder of priestesses of Lorcia go unanswered. Where are their bodies?” demanded Luca with a hard edge in his voice. The old women perched on the bookshelves surrounding them began to slowly crawl down the flat sides, their yellow eyes never leaving him, like overgrown and withered lizards. Luca’s eyes darted from figure to figure, his muscles tensing.

“Some of the sisters are still here with us, undead, and those that were lacking in hospitality made up for it in…nutrition,” replied the hag coldly, slowly advancing on the inquisitor herself. A jolt racked Luca’s body as he realized that the “daughters” of the hag all wore clerical robes. They were corrupted, under the hag’s control. A low moan behind Luca told him Trevia was joining her sisters and he heard the shuffling of feet towards him. The half-blood quickly outstretched his hand in an upright claw shape, recalling the divine words of Hadrius.

“Darcellica Upa Thex!”

A dense ball of black fog formed in his palm, caged by his pale fingers. In one fluid motion, he flung it towards the floor, engulfing the entire library in an instant. Shadowy fog rolled over the hag and her daughters, who cried in shock, and enveloped everything around them. Luca silently stepped forward, deliberately stepping lightly so Trevia wouldn’t notice his absence. A frustrated shriek and the violent stirring of the fog behind him told the half-blood his timing was impeccable, no doubt dodging a fatal strike. Despite his vampiric lineage however, Luca was just as blind as his enemy. Instead, he slowed his breathing and focused on his hearing. Another gift from his undead blood, every step and shuffle the hags took was amplified. He heard their violent grumbles and ragged, fearful breaths.

The inquisitor almost seemed to glide towards the blinded Trevia, a phantom of his own making. In a silver flash, his rapier pierced through the small of her back and through her heart. The sound of burning flesh and screams pierced the tense silence before the old woman fell limp on Luca’s blade. A resounding cascade of grief-stricken screams responded in kind. A bright light suddenly illuminated the dark fog, hovering in place. Luca pulled the blade from the hag’s body and watched the light cautiously. Then he smelled sulfur in the air. A vicious stream of fire roared towards him, grazing the inquisitor as he dove to the ground. Merciless heat clawed and ate at him, forcing him to rip off his cloak and throw it to the ground with a shout.

“I’ll burn the eyes out of your sockets!” Mother screeched vengefully, sending another horizontal pillar of flame to where Luca had been standing just a moment before. His breathing became haggard as he stumbled through the library, tripping over unseen book carts and bumping into shelves. He ducked into one of the many rows of bookshelves, hoping to vanish amongst their dusty pages. No sooner than he had ducked into the shadows of the library, a powerful gust of wind pushed the fog away, the thick clouds piling along the walls of the library. The hag was using her magic to clear the space.

Luca swore to himself and crouched down, his eyes frantically searching the dim room for signs of the corrupted sisters. But it was quiet. Eerily quiet. He stalked between the shelves with his rapier at the ready, listening intently. A subtle scrap of claws against wood caused him to whip around, just in time for one of the daughters to slam him into the marble floor. His head cracked painfully against the floor, and he felt hot breath on his face and claws at his neck. Dazed, he scrabbled desperately at his belt for his pistol, cocking it and jamming it into the sister’s hip. He felt the claws pierce his neck as he pulled the trigger, an ear-splitting scream accompanying the deafening gunshot. The sister stumbled backward, black, corrupted blood pooling out of her wound.

Luca leapt to his feet and charged her, thrusting the silver blade right through her heart. This time, only a pained wheeze accompanied the strike as the creature died. A fireball crashed through the shelf to his left, narrowly missing the inquisitor as he pulled his rapier free. His eyes stung with smoke and Luca realized that the library would soon be up in flames. He had to finish this quickly. Wiping the blood from his neck and blinking the stars from his eyes, he used the smoke to vanish, searching for Mother. He didn’t have to look long.

“I thought vampire spawn were supposed to be powerful!” taunted the hag from somewhere on the far side of the room, “I can smell your blood, it smells like all the Afflicted in their last breath!” Luca circled back to the central area, now empty of hags and daughters. “Why fight for them? They’ll turn on you once they’ve used you up and you’ll just be a monster like the rest of us!” Mother continued to shriek. Luca pinpointed her location, her voice bouncing off the walls and wood of the library. He crouched low to the ground to avoid the smoke, a predator with the scent of his prey.

Silent as a shadow, he swept through the maze-like rows of books until he found her, prowling like a cat on top of a row of shelves. He watched as her glowing yellow eyes probed the rows, looking desperately for her enemy. The inquisitor had one shot to get it right. One misstep and she could open up his guts then and there. As he took a step towards her, the sound of feet slapping against stone jerked his head to the left and he felt a sharp, burning pain in his left shoulder. The last sister had clamped onto him with bear trap teeth. Pain shot through his entire left side as they grappled with each other, thudding into a bookshelf behind him. The hag jumped at the noise but watched with gleeful satisfaction, positive her creation would win.

Luca wrestled desperately with the old woman, the pain in his shoulder growing worse with every second. Her strength was incredible, it felt like he was grappling with two grown men at once. He tried to position his rapier to gore her side, but she slashed his arm, ribbons of blood unfurling as the silver weapon clattered to the floor. She had control of his other arm as well, preventing him from grabbing the stiletto still on his belt. The world around him began to spin. He was losing too much blood. Luca felt his knees buckle and he slumped against the bookcase, giving the corrupted holy woman the dominant position. Luca stared at his blood on the white marble. A wave of disgust took him as he realized what he had to do.

With the instinct of millennia of vampiric generations before him, Luca grabbed the collar of the sister’s robes and wrenched her towards him. Her flesh was warm and soft as he bit into her neck. Suddenly, he lost control. Though the blood was corrupted, it felt like giving water to a man dying of thirst. The half-blood couldn’t remember the last time he fed, and dirty water was still water. The struggling of the woman quickly ceased, and she became silent. Luca’s heartbeat pounded in his ears. He could hear the distant screaming of someone, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered now that the sweet ichor flowed through him.

His mind was clear. Incredibly clear. He pulled away from the vessel. She was useless now. Luca flung her corpse down the aisle with the ease of a child throwing a doll in boredom. The sister tumbled away like an empty bag. Luca turned his gaze on the hag, who he was sure had been screaming before. He saw now that the hate in her eyes had given way to fear. Something about that amused him. The smoke filling the room only tickled his eyes now. He’d rather be done with this business. Mother’s eyes darted towards the exit. Only for a millisecond. But that was all Luca needed.

With incredible strength in his legs, he jumped towards her and grabbed her by throat, slamming her into one of the many bookshelves on the other side. The cracking and splintering of wood filled his ears and grim satisfaction filled his heart as he saw the blood welling from her scalp, dripping down her grey forehead. She clawed at his arm, ripping his sleeves to shreds. But the deep gashes she made with her claws were healing the instant she made them. With one arm, he threw her to the right, to the center of the library where they met. She crashed into the engraved circular desk, breaking it in two. The fire raged heavy now and the flames were slowly crawling their way towards the pair.

Luca walked slowly towards the hag, indifferent to the inferno raging around them. She was clinging to life, her bones broken in several places. Abject terror was painted across her bloody face, and she stammered something that sounded like pleading.

“Mother, you asked me why I’m lucky, why they let me live, why I fight for them?” Luca asked in a casual tone. Something at the back of his mind was begging him to stop, wanting this to not be the truth. But this was him as much as any other part was. Mother said nothing now and the half-blood could tell she was fading.

“It’s because you need a monster to fight monsters.”

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Luca blinked in confusion outside the burning abbey. The twilight sun casted long shadows on the cathedral and surrounding forest. The abbey still burned in front of him, making the surrounding darkness starker. Luca patted himself down, checking for the injuries that he sustained, but there was nothing. Even his rapier and hat, which had fallen during the fighting, were now on him. A sick feeling twisted his gut as he remembered what happened. Even sicker still was the fact that he felt energized, still benefitting from the corrupted woman’s blood.

The inquisitor watched the fire for a long moment. The stone would stop it from spreading to the forest. And the flames would cleanse the taint of this place. Perhaps it was Lorcia’s vengeance, one of the elemental aspects of life that fell under her domain. Cleansing fire. And what of him? He turned away from the flames, walking back to his horse. Revulsion ran through his body. It had been so long since he fed. I was forced to, he kept telling himself. But how could he deny? This was why the Temple of Hadrius decided to make him an inquisitor. The hag was right. Even after all of his decades serving as a force to vanquish monsters, he was still one himself. A child of Affliction.