#who i was either taller or equal to throughout our childhoods

[amaryllisblackthorn]

i have, like, a personal dislike (particularly in book series) when the main female character who was taller than the main male character is no longer taller than them when they've grown up, even if it's realistic/common/what usually happens.

it's like, i appreciate the tall girl representation but then I get disappointed later on when the guy overtakes them in the height department. let the girls remain taller! /lh

(this is mostly lighthearted. i don't hold it as a mark against a series/work where this happens; it's just a personal specific gripe i have. i know height isnt a competition& being tall isn't better (or worse) than not being tall && that this is usually what happens. but still.)

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine being Sokka’s childhood best friend who left to join the war and reuniting with him years later.

You and Sokka were friends before either of you could walk. Children were in short demand in your tribe so when you were born only 6-months apart it was a given you’d be playmates but you and Sokka also became inseparable almost instantly. You both had the same dry sarcastic humour and your personalities worked well together. For the first few years of your life all you were concerned with was staying taller than Sokka and Polarbear dogs but then fire nation attacked and killed Sokka’s mother.

After the brutal attack the remaining tribesman decided to make one final stand against the fire nation and all the eligible men began preparing to leave with one exception...you. You had just turned 11 and so based on past custom weren’t too young to go to war. Of course your tribe didn’t want to take a child but your only family was your father and he was leading the war effort with Hakoda. You had no other family left to watch you and so you managed to talk your father into bringing you along. Sokka tried to do the same but as he was 10 Hakoda said he was too young. Sokka had been furious to say the least. He didn’t see why you’d be allowed and he wouldn’t be, 6 months was hardly anything and his sexist attitude made it sting all the more. He pouted constantly up until the day you left when he suddenly sprinted to the shore at the last minute and hugged you tightly. “I’m still mad at you but if only one of us can go to war....well I’m glad it’s you and not one of the other kids”. You smiled “not quite a heartfelt goodbye but i’ll take it”. “Y/n come on” your father called and you nodded. “I have to go...”. Sokka nodded “of course, kick some fire bender butt for me and erm....don’t die”. You laughed “you too” and with a final smile to Sokka joined your father and the other men to go to war.

That was 5 years ago and you hadn’t seen or heard from Sokka since. You thought about him and home a lot but honestly life at war was very demanding. You were largely sheltered from it by your fellow tribesmen and didn’t actually engage in any combat until you were 14 but still you felt the burden of the impossible victory on your shoulders. Every time you took a step forwards the fire nation seemed to push you back three...but things changed when the avatar came back. It shook the fire nation and surely but slowly you were making gains in the war.

After one successful victory you were in particularly high spirits and woke up early to go and fetch some water for you and your father. As you returned to camp you set the water down in your tent and headed to get breakfast. The camp seemed different you noted, people seemed to be hurrying to the centre excitedly and so you picked up your pace. You suddenly heard a loud cry and worrying you were under attack began to run to camp. A large group had gathered and you looked for the threat but realised everyone seemed happy...not scared. Everyone was focused on a group of men who had come out of the war tent. The group of men themselves were all talking excitedly, focused on one man in particular. You knew every single man in this camp but couldn’t work out who this one was. He was definitely water tribe and young, around your age and looked oddly familiar. He had bright blue eyes and a sharp chin which suited him very well. Everyone seemed to know him and it frustrated you that you couldn’t work out who he was. He was talking to your father and Hakoda warmly and you stared at his face feeling you knew him. Then it clicked, it was Sokka.

Sokka’s POV

Sokka had been nervous to walk into camp but the second he did everyone rushed to hug and welcome him. Sokka felt happier than he had in a long time. He stood next to his father unable to remove the smile from his face when he spotted your father and a thought occurred to him. "Where’s y/n?" Sokka asked when he spotted you feet away. You looked like you’d just arrived here and were staring at Sokka as if you couldn’t work out who he was. Sokka went to call out to you when you smiled. "Sokka?" you asked in disbelief and Sokka blushed. It may’ve taken you a second to recognise him but he’d know your face anywhere. "It’s me y/n" he smiled and your own smile turned into a large grin. You rushed forwards and hugged Sokka tightly. Sokka heard a lot of “awes” from the crowd but he didn’t process them, he was too focused on you. You pulled away and both grinned at one another babbling greetings and questions. Then there was an awkward pause where you both just stared at one another. It had been over 5 years since you’d seen each other and you had both changed a lot since then so it took a lot of effort to process. Sokka was pleasantly surprised to find he was taller than you now. As kids he had steadily caught you up over the years but you left before he could claim his victory. Now he was undeniably taller than you and he couldn’t wait to tease you about that but he noted you’d beat him in other aspects. Your arms were more toned and bigger than his, well defined and taut after the years of training and Sokka could see the same went for all your limbs by the shape of your neck and shoulders. Your hair too was longer and partially braided which Sokka had never seen before. Of course the braids symbolised battles you’d been a part of and Sokka felt proud not envious at how they decorated your face. Your face too was also more defined, your cheeks seemed higher and more angular but your eyes had remained striking and your lips still bright pink. Even the way you held yourself was different, you were a warrior now Sokka realised and that thought made him feel fuzzy.

Your POV

When the silence between you got too awkward Hakoda coughed "y/n, Sokka has travelled here from his journey with the avatar". "What?" you cried in disbelief and Sokka just smiled lazily “yeah...”. "Sokka why don’t you go with y/n to our tent and tell her all about it over breakfast?" your father suggested. Sokka nodded and you led him away to your family tent. You kept staring at him convinced he wasn’t real. Sokka had changed a lot. The height difference was a shock but not the biggest. His face had lost its baby cheeks resulting in chiselled cheekbones and his hair was a lot longer. He was more toned too, not muscley per se but his arms had definition and you struggled not noticing. His eyes were the same though and they were the one thing that made you sure this was your friend. They made you feel at ease as they always did and you just turned to Sokka and laughed “I can’t believe you’re here”. “Me either!” Sokka cried “I...I imagined this day for so long”. “We all missed you a lot” you said worried Sokka was still upset you got to go when he didn’t “and thought about you every day” you added. “You did huh?” he asked with a smirk and you realised Sokka was fine. You did not need to be worried. “I said we, not me” you said pointedly and Sokka grinned “yeah but I know you meant you missed me, you just didn’t want to admit it”. You forgot how well Sokka could see through you and shook your head “okay I guess I missed you...now tell me everything! How on earth did you become friends with the avatar?”.

Throughout Sokka’s story you stared in awe and barely touched your food. Everything Sokka told you sounded insane and you made him promise several times that he was being serious. Sokka animatedly told each part of the story and you couldn’t help smiling at how enthusiastic he was. You’d missed this and him a lot. 

“So you two all caught up?” your father asked suddenly entering the tent and Sokka shook his head “not even close! I was just telling y/n about our fight with the fire nation navy in the northern water tribe”. Your father laughed placing a hand on Sokka’s shoulder “well that will have to wait, y/n has training...maybe you’d like to join her?”. You saw Sokka’s eyes light up at the thought of attending actual warrior training and smiled. “Yes!” he cried leaping up “if erm...you don’t mind of course”. You smirked “it’s been five years since I saw you, do you really think i’m letting you out of my sight?”. Sokka blushed looking down but you didn’t notice. You were already tugging Sokka out of the tent “come on! If we show up first we get the good armour!”.

Sokka’s POV

All-day you sparred and trained in water tribe drills. Sokka was equally exhausted and exhilarated. When his father declared the session over his exhaustion won however and he collapsed on the sand and crawled to the water. He heard a laugh and you appeared next to him “tired huh?”. “No! I could go for hours!”. You raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. Sokka sipped his water and glanced at you. You were cleaning your sword and the sun reflected off it making your eyes shine. Your eyes had always been darker than the traditional light blue, they were a very dark blue and only when the sun shone on them was their true colour illuminated, like now. Sokka forgot how beautiful they were and looked away before you could notice him staring. “You were really good in training” he said softly and you smiled glancing at him “no sarcasm? Was that a genuine compliment?”. Sokka grinned “yes! You know I can be serious”. “Wow you have changed” you smirked and Sokka blinked “you think?”. You nodded your head “you’re more mature now, you have this sureness about you and an air of confidence like a leader does...it’s nice” you smiled “and then you make a goofy face and you’re back to the 10-year old I remember”. Sokka smiled and leant back on his elbows just enjoying this moment in the sun with you. “You’ve not changed a bit” he told you and you blinked “really?”. He nodded “I saw you earlier trying to work out who I was but I didn’t need two seconds to spot you”. “Well duh i’m the only girl here!” you cried but Sokka shook his head. “That wasn’t it, I’d know your face anywhere. I worried after you left I’d forget it but you’re exactly as I remembered...every detail like I pictured”. You blushed as Sokka spoke so softly but soon regained your bearings, “and you pictured me often?”. Sokka didn’t even blink “of course I did”. Your blush rose again at Sokka’s confidence and you saw he had a small smirk on his face. Sokka went to speak again when an alarm rang out. You both jumped to your feet. “What does that mean?” Sokka asked and you frowned “nothing good, come on” and ran back to the camp. Everyone was gathered around grabbing armour and weapons. “Dad, what’s going on? Are we under attack?” Sokka called. Hakoda nodded “yes, y/n get ready, Sokka.....”.  “Dad I can fight, please let me come with you” Sokka said loudly and you looked at Hakoda to see what he’d say. Hakoda stared at Sokka before he looked directly past him to at you “how would you like to lead your first duo mission Y/n?”. You grinned “I’d love to”. “Great, Sokka stick with y/n and do everything she says, do as she does and you’ll be just fine”. Sokka nodded and rushed to your side. “This is so cool” he whispered and you smirked as you helped him put on his armour. “Don’t get too excited these things can get dangerous quickly, stay with me okay?”. “And you’ll protect me?” Sokka asked batting his eyelashes but his smirk fell away when without a second thought you nodded “of course I will”. Your low voice filled with determination made Sokka blush and look away. “You ready?” you asked and Sokka nodded “ready” and you rushed into battle.

Sokka did exactly what you said and the battle was a success. He was impressed at how much you’d learned and how great a leader you were. You largely kept the fighting away from him by making yourself the bigger target but when Sokka did engage you were always on hand to help push away any fatal blows. Sokka got out of his first battle without so much as a scratch and it was all down to you. When Hakoda declared victory everyone began to cheer and Sokka grabbed you “That was....you were amazing out there y/n!” Sokka grinned and you smiled “it’s nothing...”. “Are you kidding? There were men there twice your age and size but you knocked them aside like they weighed nothing”. “Well what about you?” you asked “you’ve clearly been training a lot since we left, I take back everything I said about your boomerang it’s a great weapon”. “Wow you’re admitting you were wrong? You had changed” Sokka smirked and you smiled.

As this was the first battle Sokka has successfully fought in he was due his first-ever warrior braid. Hakoda explained it wasn’t a large ceremony, he basically just went into a tent without a braid and came out with one but still Sokka was nervous. Of course he’d practised them lots, all water tribe children did for the day they’d get to add one to their hair but now the day was finally here....he was very anxious.

Your POV

You waited with all the other men for Sokka outside the tent. It was taking a while and you wondered what was taking Sokka so long. “I’ll just check he’s okay” you told your fathers and walked through the flap of the tent. Sokka was fiddling with her hair muttering to himself angrily. He didn’t seem to like the type of plait he was making and would shake it out each time with an irritated mutter. “Sokka?” you asked and he jumped. “I can’t get it right!” he cried “I’ve been dreaming of this day since we were five but I can’t make it work. Sokka tried again seizing his hair tightly and you noticed his hands were shaking. You came to stand behind Sokka and pushed his hands away softly “let me”. You grabbed Sokka’s hair carefully and began to braid it into the traditional warrior plait pattern. Sokka watched and saw the concentration on your face as you twisted his hair effortlessly into a pattern. “There” you said softly tying a small band around it “your first warrior plait, is it okay?”. You held up a mirror and Sokka grinned at his reflection, he was finally a warrior! “I love it!” he cried “thank you y/n” and hugged you. You laughed and hugged Sokka back, “no problem, now come on let's show it off”. You and Sokka walked outside and Hakoda grinned. “My son is officially one of us” he cried and everyone broke out into cheers. 

Sokka’s POV

Everyone crowded around to congratulate him and Sokka’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much. The celebrations were well underway and all the men were keen for Sokka to join them but after a courteous sweep of them Sokka found his way back to you.

You were sat on the outskirts of the camp staring out at the ocean. “Not one for festivities?” Sokka asked sinking beside you and you shrugged “I don’t mind them...but peace and quiet are just as appealing” you smiled “that’s hard to get with a camp full of men”. As if to prove your point a loud water tribe chant broke out and you both laughed. “Well let's go for a walk then” Sokka said jumping up and you followed him. You and Sokka walked towards the ocean and you asked him to carry on his story. He talked rapidly about the attack of the northern water tribe. You listened and just let Sokka’s words sweep over you. You were mainly just watching him amused at how many expression he could pull at once and had to look away to stop yourself from chuckling. When Sokka finished his tale and took a breath you smiled “wow that sounds...unreal!”. Sokka nodded “it was, a lot of things on my travel have been like that, from moon spirits to banished princes, i’ve seen it all!”. “You’re quite the explorer aren’t you” you commented and Sokka nodded “yep, and you’re quite the warrior, we’re certainly doing our tribe proud”. “That we are” you nodded and silence fell. You were sat close together and an idea suddenly struck him. What would you do if he placed his arm around you? He wasn’t sure what made him think that, you and he had always just been friends but now...Sokka wasn’t too sure why that was. Out of everyone in camp you were the person he’s been most excited to see and that didn’t feel just like friendship to him. Without really thinking, caught up in the moment, Sokka went to move his arm when you noticed his movement and glanced down at his arm. Sokka blushed and pretended he was scratching it. “Are you okay?” you asked and Sokka nodded “yep just my arm fell asleep”. “Ow that makes sense, you know for a second there I thought you were going to put it around me...”. Silence settled and you realised Sokka had been planning on doing that. Sokka was blushing vividly and you blinked unsure what to do or say. “Sokka i...” you started when you heard loud gasps from camp and both looked up to see Appa. Sokka frowned confused, Aang wasn’t due back for another three days but here he was. Aang soon dismounted and appeared in front of you both “Sokka! Good you’re still here...”. “Yeah we just got back a few hours ago” Sokka explained "Aang this is y/n my friend from the southern water tribe and y/n this is Aang the avatar". "Wow" you said wide-eyed "it’s amazing to meet you". Aang smiled but it was a tense smile "Sokka we have to go" he cried. Aang explained Katara was in danger and worry ran across Sokka’s face. “We have to leave now” Aang said and Sokka nodded “sure just give me two minutes”. Sokka spun around and you were surprised to see he looked nervous. The tension from earlier had gone, this was more serious. "Y/n i’m sorry but i have to go..." he started to explain nervously when you cut him off. "Of course you do" you cried "Katara needs you!". Sokka smiled sadly "i know but it’s been so nice to see you again after all this time, so I was thinking...would you want to come with me?". You were utterly taken back "go with you?". "Yeah, you could travel with us? It’s dangerous and we get attacked a lot but i bet a warrior like you can handle it". You paused "Sokka i’d really like to but i made an oath to our elders to fight in this war...i don’t think i can change it and come with you no matter how much i want to". Sokka’s smile slipped but he nodded his head "it’s okay i figured as much but thought it was worth a shot". You nodded and touched his arm "are you planning on coming back soon?". Sokka bit his lip "i don’t know and we really have to go...i’ll try okay, i really will so hopefully i’ll see you soon". You nodded believing him but also studied his face again in case you didn't see him for another 5 years. "I’ll come back I promise y/n" Sokka told you and you smiled hugging him "i believe you". Sokka melted into you when Aang’s noises of impatience made him pull away. "Until then keep up the good work" Sokka smiled saluting you. You saluted him back as he walked away and flew off on the air bison with the avatar. 

Sokka made Aang tell him absolutely everything and then they sat in silence waiting to arrive back in Ba Sing Sei. Fear filled Sokka’s mind but as scared as he was, you kept coming back into his mind. He wondered what you had been about to say before Appa arrived and wondered if you could possibly, maybe like him too. The fact he liked you was a new sensation for Sokka but he realised he had just been oblivious before and it had always been there. You had always been the one he came to, the one he liked being around the most, the one he cared about more than himself or anything. He’d always liked you he just hadn’t realised it. “Your hair looks nice” Aang said suddenly “the plait suits you”. Sokka touched it absentmindedly and smiled “my friend y/n did it for me”. “The girl you were with?”. Sokka nodded “yeah she’s my best friend”. Aang smiled “I bet it was nice to see her”. Sokka nodded “it really was” and blushed, he’d find a way to see you again and he’d been damned if he had to wait another five years.

[sunnylildragun]

The Lion- doesn't- Sleep Tonight

Day 4 of the Bumbleby Week- AU Day.

No one truly knew how Yang Xiao Long had lost her right arm. There were rumors, speculations, and a lot of gossip. Some said she did it by protecting her house from Grimm. Others said it was in a motorcycle accident. Some speculated that it had been fighting a bunch of bandits. None of those were accurate, and the blonde always just brushed it off. She didn't pay much mind to what people said about her arm, as long as they didn't ask her awkward questions. Like, it was funny when it started, but why were people so interested in knowing if it had a vibration function? Geez, chill, people.

There was also a discussion over what she hid under her cowgirl hat. Team CRDL once tried stealing it from her head, which resulted in broken noses and bruised ribs for them. After that, no one explicitly talked about it. The subject was buried in the same grave as Cardin Winchester's ego. And Yang was glad for that. What she had under her hat was nobody's business, and whoever she wanted to know, would know. And for now, it was no one but her sister, her father and her uncle.

Blake Belladonna couldn't help but wonder, too, what it was that the taller girl hid. Every time purple eyes fell upon her own yellow ones, she knew there was more to Yang than anyone could tell. Blake had, throughout her life, learned to read people very well. Her parents were influential activists in the Faunus Rights cause, although being humans. They found it very important to treat everyone as equals, so that's what they taught her since a very young age. It gave the raven haired girl the opportunity to make many friends, and to interact with all sorts of people.

Her partner was still a mystery to her. As curious as she was, though, Blake couldn't bring herself to ask Yang about it. She was afraid of hurting their growing friendship, or worse: permanently harming their partnership. The two of them had a duty not only with each other, but also with their team. Blake just couldn't risk losing both her relationship with Yang, and the functionality of the team.

So she held herself back, only talking out her frustrations when she was with her friends from outside the team. And those were Sun Wukong, a monkey faunus who she had befriended in the early months at Beacon, and Ilia Amitola, a chameleon faunus girl whose family was supported by the Belladonna family, and who was her childhood friend. They were in a cafe in Vale, Blake and Sun drinking tea, while Ilia enjoyed a capuchino.

"It's just..." Blake started. "I really wanna know more about her. She's always cheerful, and nice, and sweet. But I can see a longing in her eyes... as if she's hiding something. Something that hurts her deep inside."

"Blake... maybe you're just reading the wrong signs." Ilia said, after sipping from her cup. "From what I could see, she's a very open person. Perhaps she just likes the hat."

"Yeah!" Sun agreed. "And Yang trusts you a big deal. I mean, I've seen y'all do that combo... what was it again? Something bee related..."

"Bumblebee?" Blake raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, that thing! You literally throw her at the enemy. No offense to Neptune, but I would never do something like that with him."

"Sun, Yang and I are partners. We're different people in combat than what we are in our casual, day to day life." The human girl sipped from her tea.

"I think she likes you." Ilia smirked at Blake as she said it, and it grew to a grin when the taller choked.

"What?!"

"And you like her back." Sun joined the teasing.

"No, I don't?" Blake's voice was indignant. "And how would you two know that she likes me? Has she told you anything?!"

"No, she hasn't. But Ilia and I both crushed on you."

"Yeah, we know what it looks like." The chameleon faunus added. "She eyes you whenever you have your head buried in those books of yours. And that means all the damn time."

"That's true. Not to mention how she watches you train."

"How she lets you win most of your wrestling games after you two spar, even though she's physically stronger."

"How she puts herself in harm's way whenever the White Fang is near, because she knows your parents are a threat to their violent ways."

"How she shamelessly flirts with you and you flirt back."

"I get it!" Blake finally broke. "I just... never thought of it that way. Yang is just-" she sighed, not knowing how to explain her thoughts. It wouldn't work anyway. "Has anyone else ever mentioned any of that?"

"Weiss complains about it all the time." Ilia drank a bit more. "She says you two should get a room already."

"Schnee..." Blake said through gritted teeth, just before an idea popped in her head. A devilish smirk took over her features. "So... you and Weiss have been talking a lot?"

"Yeah, yeah. She's coming around. I think living in the same room as you had an influence on her." Ilia answered dismissively.

"Ilia." Sun called, knowing where Blake wanted to get with her teasing. These two had been his friends for a while, and he loved their shenanigans. "We all know that's not what Blake is talking about. You and the Ice Queen... you're seeing each other, aren't ya?"

Immediately, the darker spots on the faunus girl's cheeks turned a bright pink. "I-I... w-we... uh, we're kinda..." she sighed, trying to control how flustered she was. "We've gone on a few dates. She's actually... a pretty decent person when you get to know her."

"I think you look cute together." Sun smiled, supporting.

"I think so, too." Blake smiled too, and she saw Ilia relax and lighten up. The ravenette's mind was far from there, though, all the way to Beacon. She couldn't help but think of Yang, and of everything her friends just said.

Maybe se did have feelings for her partner...

-+-

Some weeks later, Blake and Yang were sent in a training mission. They were alone, as it was a project in which they should develop their partnership, and their field skills. It was supposed to test their abilities far from the comfort zone that was being under one of the professors' wings. As huntresses in training who were in the beginning of their second year, they appreciated this opportunity of experiencing actual independence. It was nice.

And Blake lowkey wanted to have some alone time with her partner. She had decided that she would confront Yang about... whatever it was. She kept it in mind to not make any assumptions, and to not go too fast with her questions. Blake didn't want to scare Yang off, she wanted to be let in.

The two of them didn't have time for that right now, though. Exploring the forest in the outskirts of Mountain Glenn had given them a bit of trouble, as they were intercepted by a bunch of creatures of Grimm. They had cleaned most of them, but three remained, giving them a bit more of a fight. Out of the corner of her eyes, Blake saw Yang duck an Ursa paw, and then punch the beast in the gut, sending it into a tree. The black haired girl herself was facing two Beowolves- an Alpha and a regular one. She jumped back as one tried to take a bite at her.

'Shit,' she thought. 'I can't let myself get distracted like that.'

Blake put her katana in pistol mode, shooting at the exhausted, weaker one's head. It was soon gone in a fuzz of smoke. The only one remaining was the Alpha, which got it all fours, ready to lunge at her. The girl readied herself too, grabbing the sheath of Gambol Shroud. The monster attacked, and she slid under it. Then, she got her weapon back into a sword, and attacked it several times.

Yang was not doing all that bad, either. The Ursa she had chosen to unleash her fire upon was not far from becoming ashes. She kicked its face, then punched it repeatedly in the stomach. The sound of her gauntlet and of the gun in her prosthetic firing filled the clearing, and it was all she could hear. She did capture, though, the moment Blake grunted in pain as the Alpha she was fighting pawed her, throwing her a few feet backwards, her back and her head hitting a tree. Her purple aura shone as the impact shattered it, since she had received many blows earlier that night.

The blonde turned to see what happened, her eyes widening and turning red. "Blake!" Came the almost feral cry. The growl behind her got her back to her own risky situation. She had to act fast.

Yang blocked the Ursa's claws with her right arm, and with the other she punched its head. The monster finally vanished, and the girl could finally focus on helping her partner. She fired her guns, jumping in the direction of the Beowolf. It was jumping at Blake, who was supporting herself against the tree. Her hand was on her forehead, eyes closed as her head started aching. When they opened, they immediately went wide. Just as she thought it was done for her, a mess of fire and blond hair changed the beast's trajectory, both going into the forest.

Blake got herself up, still dizzy from the impact. She heard a few gunshots and walked slowly there, trying to ignore low ringing in her ears. In the way, she found Yang's hat, which apparently was taken out of her head by a tree branch. She grabbed it, and followed the track of destruction left by the blonde and the Grimm. When she found them, Blake's shock was written all over her face.

"You. Ain't. Ever. Touching. My. Partner. Again!" Yang shouted between punches, her voice almost a roar. The girl's rage wasn't what shocked Blake the most, though.

On top of Yang's head was a pair of lion ears, that were back and low as she striked the creature multiple times. Even in the dark, Blake could see the lines of the faunus trait very clearly. When it was finally over, the faunus was sweaty and gasping for air. Her dark brownish-gold ears were up, as the danger had vanished and her anger was slowly coming to an end. Blake accidentally stumbled back, the shock from the sight in front of her and the hit to her head affecting her body. She stepped on a stick, and Yang's left ear turned to her, followed by her head.

As red eyes became violet once again as they stared softly into Blake's own. Then, when she realized where the yellow orbs were, she panicked. She noticed the hat in Blake's hand, and her eyes widened even more, almost taking her whole face.

"Blake, I-" she wasn't able to finish the sentence, as the other girl tried walking to her, only to lose her balance and almost fall. She supported herself on a tree, and tried to stand still. "Blake!" Yang ran to her, trying to think of what to do. She put a hand on the girl's shoulder, worry all over her features. "Hey, what's going on?"

"I... I'm not feeling all that well." Blake closed her eyes, as the pain in her head got even more intense, her ears ringing with even more intensity. "My head..."

"L-Let's get you back... to the camp." Yang gulped. "Do you... can you walk there?"

"I... don't think so." Blake answered, groaning in pain.

"Would you like me to, you know... um... carry you there?"

Blake was silent for a few seconds, but then nodded. She whined in pain, as it made her head hurt more. Yang just nodded back, putting one of the other's arms over her shoulder, and one of her own arms went to the girl's back for support. The other went under her knees, and soon she was walking back to their camp. It was in another clearing, a bit to the north of the one where they battled the Grimm. Blake still had the hat in the hand that wasn't holding on to Yang's shoulder. Her head was against her partner's chest, and she listened to her heartbeat as she gave in to sleep.

-+-

Blake woke up a few hours after that. She was inside the tent, in her sleeping bag. The headache had dulled a bit, and she guessed it was because her aura was full again. The young woman sat up, rubbing her eyes with her left hand. She then sighed, deciding to get out of the tent and see how Yang was holding up. It turned out the sky was already gaining the colors of dawn, and she had to cover her eyes as they tried to adjust to the light.

When she was finally able to see again, she spotted Yang sitting on a tree trunk they found to use as a bench. She was staring at Blake with a sweet smile, and her ears were free from the prison of the hat. Her whole being looked amazing in the light, and showing her faunus trait like that made her look... whole. It was like the hat covered the missing piece of a puzzle, and the entirety of Yang's beauty was unlocked by having them out.

It was not that Blake thought her partner didn't look good with the hat. She actually looked awesome with it, too. Yang looked beautiful all the time. It's just that this part of the faunus girl made her look natural, and like the greatest masterpiece ever created. The most beautiful being ever born. Yang looked exactly how Blake thought her heart would look if it were a person.

"Um... you can come sit with me. If you want." Yang finally said, her eyes going down and her pale cheeks turning red. Blake gave a nervous chuckle, and walked to the bench. She sat beside the blonde, "accidentally" bumping her shoulder against Yang's own. The taller girl didn't move away, brushing her hand against the ravenette's own instead. Her pinky was over Blake's own, and the smaller girl blushed.

They were silent for a few moments, until Yang spoke again.

"So..."

"So." Blake said, looking at her partner, and Yang looked back at her. The violet eyes held an emotion that Blake had not seen there yet. The blonde's metallic fingers came in contact with the other's cheek.

"I was so worried. So scared that..." Yang sighed, her eyes closing and her head low. Blake's hands shot up, taking the other woman's cheeks in them.

"Hey." She called softly. "Yang, look at me." Violet eyes opened to show unshed tears. "I'm sorry I put you through that."

"Just... be more careful, please. I don't want anything happening to you. I know we're being trained to that kind of fight, but..." the girl trailed off, looking at her yellow, mechanical fingers. Blake noticed the change, and put her left handover the one in her cheek.

"Is there... do you wanna talk about it?"

"No." Yang said, pulling away. Blake's heart dropped to her stomach and a lump formed in her throat. She had done exactly what she didn't want to do. She had made her partner push her away. She- "I never want to talk about it. But... I guess I have to. Now that you know about them," golden ears twitched in emphasis, "you may as well know the story behind it all."

"Yang... you don't have to. Not if you're not ready. I'd never want to push you into talking about it, not if it makes you uncomfortable."

"You aren't pushing me. I've... actually been meaning to talk to you for some time now. I know what your parents do for people like me. For the faunus. I was gonna ask for your help to... encourage myself to get out of hiding my heritage."

"Oh..." Blake let out in awe. Yang wanted her help with something like that? It made her chest feel warm, and butterflies fly all over her stomach. "I'll do anything my power. Just tell me how I can help, and I will do it."

"Well, I think we can start with what happened. As you know, from that time you went White Fang crazy and I told you about my obsession, my mother left and I went after answers for her whereabouts. The story I told you is not exactly all that happened, though."

Blake felt her body temperature drop a few degrees, knowing what she was about to hear would not be a happy story at all. "And... what happened?"

"It was almost night...

Ruby and I had entered a small diner by the woods. We were just kids, so I guessed no one would mess with us. Dad always taught us to not talk to strangers, so I thought only doing that would work. In my head, it was all pretty simple. Walk in. Ask the bartender- who, to me, seemed to be someone we could trust- for the information I wanted. Walk out with what I needed, and find that damned house.

The part of going in went alright, but the adults in there looked... scary. Shady. And they stared at me and at my ears like I was some kind of abomination. They seemed to want to take Ruby from me, so I held her close. I didn't know why they were acting like that, since to me a faunus and a human being sisters wasn't something weird. Besides, as you know, Ruby only looks human. Those claws of hers are killers. I've always loved and protected her with my whole being, I didn't get why anyone would ever assume I would do something bad to her.

"Sis... I'm scared..." I remember Ruby's small voice saying as she clinged to my arm.

"We'll be out soon. I promise." I answered, and kept walking to the balcony. "Sir," I called the bartender, who was cleaning some glasses, and he looked down at me.

"What is it?" His voice was rough, and rude.

"Um... do you know this woman?" I showed him a picture of Raven, and he leaned down to look at it.

"Never seen 'er around." He shrugged. "Now get out, before you get me in trouble."

My eyebrows furrowed, and I wondered what kind of trouble a little girl and a toddler could cause. "I'm already going. Just one more question-"

"Didn't ya hear the man, little beast?!" A tall, black haired man punched the balcony, his green eyes shining with anger, spite and violence. He was smoking, and he smelled like alcohol. Everything about him was scary, but the worst part was... that he was a huntsman. "Can't you read a sign to save your life? Huh? Right by the door, it says 'no faunus allowed'. I don't come to this bar to find your scum of a race!"

"S-sorry, sir..." my whole body was shaking, and my ears were glued to my skull, seeming to want to vanish. "I-I just wanted s-some information. I-It's very importan-"

"I don't care what you want!" He started walking in our direction, and I put myself in front of Ruby as we walked backwards. "Just get the fuck out of here, you small, filthy abomination! Go, and never fucking come back!" His voice filled the whole building, and I grabbed Ruby's hand and ran out of that terrible place.

Once she was in the wagon, I started running the way I'd never run before. I ran for what felt like hours, until I was exhausted, and most likely lost. Ruby was sleeping in the wagon, and I was glad she wasn't hurt. My mind was filled with thoughts, though. Why did he treat me like that? Why do people hate faunus? Did I do something wrong?

As I let these demons roam my mind freely, I kept walking and didn't notice the monsters outside. Beowolves were watching us, waiting for the right time to strike. They were probably attracted by the negativityof my thoughts. But all I could see was the path in front of me, the trail leading somewhere. That darned abandoned house from that photograph I had seen. The building that got me into that mess. For a moment, I forgot all the hardships of the day, and felt fulfilled as my goal was apparently achieved.

The nightmare wasn't over, though.

I took one more step, and hell broke loose. The pack of Beowolves jumped out of the dark trees. I was too tired to react. Ruby was basically passed out in the wagon, so shouting at her to run would do little to nothing. So I stood there in horror and shock, as death stared at me with shining, hungry orange and red eyes. One of them- the Alpha- was the first to jump at us, and it was going for Ruby, specifically.

"No!" Came the cry from my dry throat. Out of impulse, despair, and the desire to protect my little sister, I put my right arm in front of her. The Grimm took it, the bite sending pain through my whole body. It shook me around a few times and my yells woke Ruby up. Everything was a bit messy after that, but I still remember her silver eyes looking at me in shock and in fear. I remember her shouting for help. I remember when it threw me into a tree, and I remember Uncle Qrow calling my name and telling me to hold on.

After that, I never went out showing my ears again. I felt like my heritage was the responsible for all that happened after I set foot in that bar. To me, everything went wrong after that. And I... I blamed myself for that man's prejudice. I blamed myself for the fact that I was so terrified I didn't notice my surroundings. I blamed myself for putting Ruby's life in danger. I thought it was my fault I was born a faunus and I never wanted to go through what I went through that day again."

Blake felt her heart clench as she looked at Yang, who had her eyes on the yellow prosthetic. Her ears were a bit dropped, and the purple eyes had sadness, pain and some anger in them. From what she just heard, the black haired girl assumed the anger wasn't towards the man who'd been so ruthless to her when she was just a child. Yang was angry at herself.

Blake couldn't watch that any longer, and put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Hey," her voice was soft, caring. "It's not your fault that people like that exist. Your heritage isn't a crime either, and you shouldn't feel the need to blame yourself for having it." Yang looked at her, a small smile forming. Her eyes started shedding the tears she had been holding back, and Blake reached out to whip them with her unoccupied hand. "I actually think they're gorgeous. Your ears." Her voice was just a bit above whisper.

Yang let herself relax, exhaling slowly and nuzzling against Blake's palm. Her lion ears captured how fast the other girl's heart was beating, and it was just as fast as her own. She then closed her eyes again, leaning in to rest her forehead against Blake's own. A low chuckle echoed from her throat, and Blake could hear the relief in it.

She decided to pull Yang into a hug, holding the girl close, arms around her shoulders. Yang hugged her back after the shock wore down. Blake didn't start contact very often, so she wanted to make the most of it. The blonde nuzzled against the shorter's shoulder, sighing in relief to find comfort in somebody's arms. As Blake's hands descended to her back, rubbing up and down, the blonde could feel all the tension leaving her.

"Did you get any sleep?" The raven haired girl asked softly. "You seem so tired..."

"I kept on watch all night. I thought you needed some rest after everything that happened."

Blake's heart beat a bit faster with that. Yang was always so thoughtful, and it made her chest go warm. "Well... I'm awake now. You should get some rest, too."

"Are you alright, though? I mean, you hit your head and back really hard." Yang pulled away, and looked at Blake with a smirk. Her hands were in the human girl's waist, thumbs rubbing her sides, and Blake's hands were in Yang's shoulders. "Wouldn't want princess here to faint."

"Princess?" Blake raised and eyebrow, looking around. "Did we bring Weiss to the trip?"

Yang laughed out loud at that, and it was music to Blake's ears. "You're a jerk. But don't worry, I won't tell Weiss. My ears kill me when she throws her tantrums when we call her princess."

"Thank you. And if I had feline ears, I wouldn't want to have someone yelling near me, either."

"That makes me wonder what would be your heritage if you were a faunus."

"Panther ears, maybe?"

"More like cat ears."

"Why cat ears?"

"You would look even feistier with cat ears on your head when you're upset."

"Panther ears would make me look intimidating. Wouldn't that be better?"

"Nah, your death glares are scary enough."

Blake slapped Yang's shoulder lightly. "Jerk." Both giggled, touching foreheads again. They knew exactly what they were doing, the lines they were crossing. They knew they would have to talk about it later, and they knew it would bring some changes to the way they act around each other. In that moment, though, they didn't pay much mind to that and just enjoyed themselves.

They stayed in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, until Yang yawned. Blake didn't say anything, just putting her hand on the back of the blonde's head. The faunus let her head be lightly pushed to Blake's shoulder, and her eyes slowly closed. Her breathing was soon steady, and her partner could tell she was sleeping.

Blake kept caressing the blond locks, some times brushing lightly against Yang's ears. She still couldn't believe that such a sweet, caring person as the woman in her arms could have a past this tragic. She wasn't sure if she would be able to remain uncorrupted if she had experienced anything anywhere near what Yang went through. It made Blake love the blonde even more, knowing her soul was kind to the point she didn't hate the world, even after being forced to hide. Even after losing a part of herself. And she knew there was still much work to do on getting Yang's confidence to let her ears free more often back. She wouldn't give up, though.

She would help Yang. She would fight beside her. They would win against the chains of discrimination.

And Blake made a promise to always do everything in her power to not let anything ever harm Yang like that. She would protect her partner to hell and back, and she knew the faunus would do the same for her.

Because no matter the circumstances, no matter the hardships. No matter the world, or the universe they were in. They would always be there for each other.

[heartfullofpony]

Growing Up and Growing Apart

Source: Forever Filly.  Note how Rarity and Sweetie Belle are framed in such a way that they appear as equal as possible.  Rarity is actually a lot taller than Sweetie, but this trick of the eye really drives the point home.

Filly Forever explores a very complex issue, and it tackles the subject matter so effectively that I can hardly contain my need to reflect upon it.  The lesson here is loud and clear, and easy to read, but the web of conclusions one can draw from based on one's personal experiences is near infinite.  I've been turning it over in my head for hours, and the themes just get richer the more I think about it.

This story captures the bittersweet anger and joy one feels watching those of a younger generation come of age.  It captures the rage, and frustration that the younger generation feels as they struggle to be taken seriously.  Most importantly, it captures the tension in between.

After hours of being treated like a foal, Sweetie Belle, in her frustration, snapped at Rarity, "You don't even know me anymore."

It's a devastating thing to have to say, and it's a devastating thing to have to hear, but it's true.

As an adult, I can think of a great many friends and relatives with whom I was very close during my childhood who don't know me at all these days.  I don't know them either.  It sucks and it hurts.

Preventing loved ones from drifting apart takes a surprising amount of work, and once you have drifted, reforging those bonds can be very difficult.  Add a generation gap, and it becomes even more complicated.  You go from dealing with each other as child-and-adult, to dealing with each other as adult-and-adult.  It's a tumultuous transition for everyone involved.  For starters, the need for new boundaries never becomes clear until they are broken, and until both parties can examine, and articulate the problem accurately, which takes rather a lot of trial and error.

It's frustrating.  It's painful.  Most of all, it's frightening.  You both need to work at it, and if you can't figure out how to grow together, you are doomed to grow apart.

Forever Filly tackled that problem head on.  The story itself is quite simple, but the complexity of this conflict lies in what we already know about the characters.

Let's start with Rarity.  She had, in past episodes, found Sweetie's childishness irritating when it got in the way of her work and her ambition.  In Sisterhooves Social, Rarity had had a lot of important work to do.  That work of hers got in the way of bonding with Sweetie, just as much as Sweetie Belle's presence got in the way of Rarity trying to meet her deadlines.  Sweetie Belle wanted to help, but she was just a kid, and her efforts just ended up getting herself underfoot (under hoof).

It's a scenario that most of us know very well from our own lives, in one form or another.

However, now, it's the total opposite.  Rarity finds herself at the top of the fashion world, having achieved most of her dreams and ambitions, but she misses her sister. v She yearns for the days when they had bonded together, and longs to spend uninterrupted time with her.  Sweetie, on the other hand, is now the one who has responsibilities to take care of.  She has become an entrepreneur in her own way, and doesn't have time to spend with her sister. The scene where Rarity admires the wall of the crusader headquarters, and the photos of their satisfied "clients," is brief, but it tells us volumes about Sweetie - profound information.  It tells us exactly the type of pony that she is growing into.

They say that kids don't learn from what you tell them; they learn from what they observe.  In this moment, we see just how much of an influence Rarity has been on Sweetie's life.  The work ethic that Sweetie had despised in her sister as a child, has sunk in, and become her own, as she cultivates real responsibilities, and moves toward adulthood.

It's the sort of thing that's impossible to put into words, but when you see it, and really think about it, it shines a light on both characters - who they are - what they mean to each other.  There's a piece of Rarity that Sweetie will always take with her, and it will arm her throughout her life.  The problem is that Rarity can't see that.  She mistakes that genuine professionalism for flight and fancy - a quaint form of child's play.

That tiny moment not only captures so much about the characters, it conveys the very essence of the conflict at hand – the gap that needs to be bridged. I could spend rather a lot of time pointing out parallels in the dynamic between the two sisters in this episode, and the dynamic that they had back in Sisterhooves Social.  It's certainly a topic worth discussing, as there are quite a lot of subtle differences in characterization that make this episode an elegantly told story.

However, I'm concerned more with the message than dissecting the narrative itself.

When Rarity realizes the error of her ways, she expresses her sorrow that "[She] didn't know that the last time [they] did those things would be the last time [they] did those things.

This line pretty much says it all: about growing up; about life; about the need to cherish every moment, while at the same time, not being afraid to let those moments go.  I personally didn't know that the last time that I pushed my youngest on the swingset would turn out to be my very last time doing that.  It was a day like any other.  I don't even remember anything about it right now because it was so very unremarkable.

I don't remember the very last time I helped with my kids' shoelaces either, nor the very last time my own mother needed to help me with mine. There was no ceremony.  No grand announcement in either case.  It just sort of happened when no one was paying attention. -Sprocket

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[immortalviridian]

nascent

@juminvweek

Day One: Nostalgia/Childhood

4,127 words

Fluff (mostly)

Alternative Universe

Here are a few disjointed vignettes of a reminiscing married couple as they prepare to move into a new house. Now that they were about to start raising a child, it only made sense that they thought back to their own childhood.

Moving into the new house was a storm from start to finish. First of all, they wondered if it was worth it. The publicity they already had was a bit much. Having a new house might exacerbate it, Jihyun warned his husband. They might want to invade their private space further; they couldn't possibly know with journalists, but at least, one of their most prominent party guests was the leader of the Fair Reporters Association herself. However, Jumin said he would handle it, and he did, quite simply. Yes, gay marriage was practically nonexistent in South Korea, as was adopting a child, but Jumin was a trailblazer in his own right. V always remarked that Jumin had a quiet burn in his silver eyes and intent gaze.

When their engagement had been announced, V was stunned by the resolve Jumin showed - his love always had it and was never afraid to show it. He stood up tall, with an erect carriage and never hesitated. The news reporters would have scared the mint-haired man out of his wits had he have to resolve it by himself. They were partners, V reminded himself. They were two halves of a greater whole, and they needed to show it. They needed to work for it in any way they possibly could.

"The company is my child too. I have put my soul and sweat into caring for it, and you shall not tarnish the work of my employees either. The world is changing quickly, don't you see? In order to become a successful company, we are to rely on strategies that have worked before, but we also must be open to change; we must adapt. Technology has changed how C&R International works today. It is not the same company it once was when my father ran it - when my grandfather ran it. Why? We are generations of the same family, but we are individuals. We paved our own paths to success. Without a doubt, my future heir will do the same too. One is not simply born a Han, they must work to become it. They have to learn our values, have a similar upbringing, and understand what it is like to be a part of the top elite."

It was an important goal for Jumin Han to not become his father. It was a decision he and Jihyun had thought over very carefully. It meant everything to Jumin that he became a good father, despite not faring so well with children himself. V, on the other hand, had better luck, particularly with little ones. The only problem was that he feared that he would not be disciplined enough. Chairman Han certainly loved his son, but he had not respected him. Jihyun and everyone else expected that Jumin would not put up with nonsense, even from his own future sons and daughters. However, he would also want to make sure his children never felt the way he did. Their future children, male or female, would be responsible for leading C&R International into prosperity, but first, they would be his children, and he would show them just how much he loved them. With a wry smile, V noted it had echoed his previous words - they would be lovers and husbands and build something permanent together out of the love they shared with only each other, but above all, they would be best friends first, and they could trust each other with anything. They were two limbs of one body, essentially. The rest would come naturally.

"I grew up with Jihyun Kim. He has seen the world the way I have, he has loved me the way I love him, and we know what we want and how to get it. Even when we were just friends, as children, we relied on each other deeply. Our careers may diverge - I, as a businessman, and he as a photographer, but it won't change our past. It won't change the fact we shared our wine, tears, and smiles. Yet, we are open to change. We have endured separation; we have endured tragedy and heartbreak. Yet, we shared our triumphs, we were able to love each other just as deeply as we had as children, no matter how long it has been since we've talked together."

There was a time when Jihyun had shut himself off from everyone; he nearly lost everything he had with Jumin. It originated from a fear of clinging onto Jumin too much; Jihyun had feared loving his best friend too much would ruin everything because everything had to come to an end, even though he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Jumin then, despite not being sure how. Those rainy gray eyes, those uneven locks of raven black hair, and that imposing figure all threatened to become a distant memory as he lost himself in a romance with a previous fiancee.

Rika was lovely beyond words and they shared the same beliefs in the world. They once were each other's lifelines, but it was not equal at all. Before anything too disastrous could occur, they broke off the engagement. When he and his then best friend, now husband, were less busy, he then decided to reconnect with Jumin.

At first, the CEO was bitter, asking if V only worried about his exes when his fiancee was in an asylum and he needed a rebound. He had a strong will too though, countering it with a declaration that he and Rika would always be friends, even if they parted willingly. And that no matter what he and Jumin would always be best friends as well. The two were cautious; certainly, they couldn't fall in love again?

Oh, how wrong the pair was! However, they were older and more self-assured now. Homosexuality was a natural part of being human, part of living, for some. It was not common, but it was alright - they could live with it, so the rest of the world ought to as well. The fear and scorn of the middling crowd could often become a bit much, but one could not forget that they had the RFA, friends, to help back them up. Even Zen, of all people, was supportive. Then again, the actor and photographer hit it off almost instantly whenever they engaged in deeper talks. Soon, their confidence was insurmountable and unshakeable. Today proved it.

"These things will not change. They will not be lost. You cannot undo the past; you never can. The only thing a person can do is change the future by using the time they have now. I understand that South Korea is going through a lot of political unrest; you may find it unreasonable that such identity politics is going around with me - that the rumors are true. However, there is more to us than the over sexualization you put us through." Silver eyes glared straight ahead as if he were challenging the reporters.

"I want a future too. I want one that will drive me to greater heights. My work will always be important to me, but I have people I love. I have a man who is the world to me. You may find it weird that it is a man, but if Jihyun were a woman, you would have been tearing your hair out in relief. You would have believed we had a marriage arranged long beforehand. Perhaps that would have been the course of events if one of the two of us were a woman. Unfortunately, for you, neither of us are women. We are both men, but we're not just men.

"We are a family, we are two halves of one whole, and we are in love. Never do anything in halves, as it won't drive you to greater successes. Even though you dare to intrude upon and scrutinize our love, our desire to make a new, permanent future and stick together throughout it, and our new life, I can only pity you. You wouldn't understand what it is like to feel so complete. That is the true tragedy of all of this mess."

He gently took V by linking their arms, wiry against well-toned muscle, and guided him into the penthouse, going over the plans they had together for the new house. It was a mansion with dark blue roof tiling, decorated with ivory colored paint and accents of gold. Out of nostalgia, they selected one like the houses they used to have in their old neighborhood. The difference was that this home was much closer to the C&R International headquarters and to V's photography studio. During the new year, they cleaned away the bleeding of old wounds and let their vulnerabilities heal into scars, but they were not afraid. They only loved each other more for it.

And no matter what, they were always best friends, even as lovers. That was what they were first and foremost. On those lonely nights, they would bundle up the other in blankets, make them a fresh cup of tea or share a fine glass of Lambrusco di Sorbara Cantabile, and perhaps serenade the other to sleep. Sometimes, when they felt the need to, they would make love, but not before feeling the contours of each other's backs.

Jihyun remembered a moment when Jumin, scarcely clothed, had given him a sultry glance before licking his index and middle fingers before writing down several hangul characters on his back. V shivered. He knew it would be beautiful, even though he couldn't see it at the moment. Whatever Jumin made was always beautiful, but his handwriting was the most lovely, in Jihyun's honest opinion.

김지현 - Kim Jihyun

It was his name, the name Jihyun would endeavor to elicit out of his lover's loosened tongue, as soft moans or heated cries.

한주민 - Han Jumin

This was the name he would soon cry out, over and over again, almost as often as Jihyun would whisper how much he loved the other man. Toes curled, fingers carded through soft hair, and the men were saturated with each other's scent.

Tonight was Jihyun's turn, or so the teal haired man had claimed insistently before undoing an expertly arranged tie and removing the stiff suit jacket and its matching pants. A white shirt was unbuttoned and he let his hands and lips roam over the slightly taller male, who accepted all of it full-heartedly before claiming his place on top for the main course.

Things were like this, ever since they were young, but a spark had been ignited in their once companionate love. It was electrifying, and V was so, so grateful. Certainly, this love was more physical than the magical philosophy he had with Rika, but eventually, all dreams had to be realized. He and Jumin could have lived without a romance, but this new sweetness to their relationship had encouraged even more intimacy and a sense that the other was thinking what he had thought as well. Now, the photographer was certain that this was a man he could trust with his life, with a new life - their child's. Of course, that meant they would have to make more room, Jumin reasoned. It made sense that they would need to move into a larger space. However, Jumin Han was rich; he already had a large space, but it didn't stop him from wanting more for his future child and the man he loved more than anything.

In his dreams, memories of the past surfaced. First, it was that of Jihyun and his husband when they had first begun to reconnect. A soft humming throbbed in his chest, especially as the other man curled up to him, holding him with strong, warm arms. Despite not wearing anything at night, Jumin always made sure V felt warm. In the morning, with a soft kiss on Jumin's broad forehead, V made sure to do the same, pulling the blinds away, and making sure Jumin was comfortable and firmly tucked in before preparing breakfast for the two of them. Out of everything, eggs benedict and Croque Monsieur were the couple's favorites. It may be silly, Jumin had said, but nothing was more poetic than reminiscing over the budding of their sweet and refined romance: a delicate azure Forget-Me-Not that had blossomed on barren soil but was brought to life by their blood, sweat, and tears.

Not all moments were painful though. Perhaps they were born out of pain, but something magical had happened a few years ago.

Jihyun Kim couldn’t help but wonder if he did the right thing or not as he gazed at his reflection in his glass of water and ice. The choice to come back into Jumin’s life yet again so intimately was honestly a whim made at 3 AM in the morning, in the darkness of a Saturday late night spent in dim lighting and the memory of warm, strong arms of a man who he, more often than he could bear to admit, missed more than anything else. V thought he could live with it; he even had once managed to find a wonderful, beautiful young lady to almost marry. Yet, in the end, what he found was that he was projecting onto a broken swan, and he made up his mind to not be so selfish again. So why was he doing this? Was it because drinking his problems away with gimlets never worked? No… He had to admit it, but he felt all alone in the world at the moment. Loneliness drove people to do acts of sheer madness, including his former fiancee. As a result, it only made sense that he would succumb to it as well. No, V would have succumbed to it long before he even met the young lady --

As long as he was away from Jumin Han.

He had missed that soft, silken smile, so natural yet divine in the moonlight, that raven black hair he had tousled with himself, those mesmerizing, rainy gray eyes he could spend hours on end gazing too… It was sinful, just to even yearn to intertwine their nimble fingers again. That breathtaking need to kiss him, weaker yet now as an adult, still was a vivid memory and now, a memory. Looking at Jumin enter the patisserie through the reflection of his glass, V smiled thinly, like he had a heart filled to brim with an ocean of all sorts of sentiments - like he was trying to not break down and cry, out of happiness, sadness, regret and so on forth.

"V," the raven-haired man started, thoughtfully, in front of Jihyun's slightly tense figure. "I'm... glad we can talk again." Fluidly, the man rolled his shoulders as he settled down, placing his briefcase on the floor and before sitting down and gazing into flat teal eyes. They were like glaciers, hardly the turquoise pools of life that used to capture his, but as they both relaxed into their shared gaze, the exhilaration within them sparked yet again.

"Me too," the older male sighed before smiling at his brunch companion and handing him a laminated menu with bold colors and delicate font typing in pastel. "Would you like any recommendations as what to get? I decided on the Croque Monsieur and a cafe latte."

"Is that so? I was leaning towards their chef special's eggs benedict."

"It's a lovely choice, Jumin. I'm sure you'll enjoy it," Jihyun replied warmly, a smile like the sweet summer rain gracing his face.

"Alright, thank you. By the way, these are for you." Jumin blushed. It was easy to see on his alabaster skin and angular face, particularly from the side. Yet, to the other's surprise, he offered up a bouquet of Forget-Me-Not flowers.

“For me? You didn’t have to. I would have given you a gift as well, but it would have been difficult, as you deserve the best.” Tenderly, V accepted it, taking in its scent with a great deal of care and a smile, though subdued, as brilliant as the sun.

It was then that Jumin realized he had fallen in love at first sight - no, perhaps he had never stopped loving the other man, after all. However, Jumin really had no need to resign himself. Several outings later, which varied from seeing a movie, hanging out at each other's homes, going to art galleries, attending concerts, or visiting the aquarium (Jumin had always found it strange that ever since they were six, V could only think of how delicious the fish in the aquarium looked. "Of course, I won't eat them!" the light blue haired child proclaimed with an easy smile. Serious even then, the slightly younger boy only shook his head), V had made his confession before Jumin.

How could they not fall in love again? Absolutely, they had changed since they last met each other, but they still were themselves no matter what could happen. There was just something particularly distinct about a person who grew up with you, in the end. That quality had encouraged a romance to blossom yet again. Now that they were older, they had learned to care less about what others thought and learned how to work around it. Rest assured, they had no regrets by the time they had reached the altar, even though no one quite wanted to give Jihyun away. He didn't mind. This was something he was used to, and from the start, he always knew that he belonged by Jumin's side, and that was what mattered.

Of course, while it sailed smoother than their first attempt, their new love was not without its own fair share of troubles. First, it was the scrutiny of their fathers - Jumin almost wept when Han Sr. threatened to take away his inheritance and give it to a younger sibling of his, despite all the hard work he had done.

"Jumin, you are yourself before you are any man's son. You are more than just a CEO. You're a cat lover. You drown in details and wine a bit too easily, despite not drinking often. You're always willing to learn and improve on everything. You don't stop. You never give up. There's a healthy amount of ambition in you, and you give yourself the credit you deserve. Perhaps you and I are products of the environment we were born in, but we can become greater than that. No one is as surefooted as you, nobody is capable of being the visionary you are. Don't lose yourself in the expectations and standards of others. While being realistic and able to discuss semantics, the only thing you need to strive to be is a better you."

"The only man I want to be, Jihyun, is one worthy of your love," the raven haired male said plainly, meeting Jihyun's turquoise orbs evenly with silver ones.

The photographer laughed softly. "You already have my love, now and forever."

This held true in the dawn of autumn as well. The two had gazed at the large sitting room window, which looked over the hiking trail that V often liked to use as a muse. Recently, Jumin had noticed he had gotten a new one too.

Jihyun remarked, "You always were a muse for me too, darling. Even when we first met, you inspired me. I don't know if it was your visage or your diligence, or the way you cut past al the lies and frivolities of everyday life - I think it's all three, honestly - but you were always a source of inspiration."

A deep baritone chuckle sounded from Jumin, smiling into a kiss he placed on the teal haired man's forehead. "You flatter me too much. How is it to have all three muses in the same room?"

The other man beckoned for Jumin to sit next to him, glancing at the spot next to him on this soft bed. Turquoise eyes, framed by smile wrinkles, beamed at Jumin's. Both of them felt their hearts flutter, but this time they knew that the other felt what he did.

"It's wonderful!" Jihyun exclaimed. "I would like to preserve the moment with a photograph if it is alright."

"It certainly is."

The sight before Jumin was a beautiful one, one he had feared once before that would only exist in his dreams.

Delicately, his husband held their newborn son in his arms. He was swaddled and bundled comfortably in lace trimmed blankets up to his tiny face. They stayed silent for a bit. He was sleeping, just like they had first found him in the orphanage, though it had been a few days since then. A great heaviness was lifted out of their hearts by adopting this child. It did wonders for the two men to know that they had saved a little one from a lifetime of misery, although there still would be suffering in his life, nonetheless. Now, it was their job to prepare the future corporate heir for that part of life, even when he was still so fragile and small.

Jumin sighed.

"It's late, love. You should be off to bed soon," Jihyun chided. "Our son here seems to have the right idea."

"Not yet, I want to spend more time with our child. Just try to be quiet when you take the photograph." Jumin's gaze fell to his son; rainy gray eyes lit up to become small silver moons. He smiled reverently, overtaken by his good fortune.

Nothing could cement the retired photographer's suspicions more. It was, in fact, his husband's earnest nature that allowed him to fall in love with Jumin again and again, day after day. No matter how hard the rain fell, no matter how long the stars were obscured by clouds, they would still be together, until death did them part. Quickly, with his cell phone, they took a family photograph and simply rested together for a half hour cuddling with the baby, who slept soundly. Jumin warmed a bottle as Jihyun changed the little boy's diaper.

Gently, the mint-haired man handed their son over to Jumin as the latter settled himself so that he and the child were completely supported on Jihyun's shoulder. The CEO's eyelids drooped slightly before opening wide again in vigilance. "Looks like someone needs to sleep," his husband teased.

Jumin grumbled. "Just let me spend some time with you two. I was the one who suggested we adopt him and yet he gets to spend more time with you."

"Jealousy isn’t becoming of you, my dear." The reply only made the other man's low and feline growling louder. V simply laughed at his husband's silliness. The soft peal of joyous sound, like silver bells, had made Jumin feel at ease.

"Say, what do you think we should name him?" he suddenly asked. Jihyun looked at his love bemusedly for a moment in thought. "I had hoped to name the child if it were a girl - I had grown very fond of the name Jiyeon, particularly because it is my mother's."

Jumin looked over the baby in his arms, softly combing large fingers through a head full of black hair. "Mhm, well, he doesn't quite look like a Jiyeon. I suggest that we name him Jinwoo. I want our son to become as treasured a friend as you are. Of course, there's no guarantee he'll marry his best friend like we did, but perhaps he will find a similar sort of happiness. It's a name similar to my grandfather's. It'd make him happy since we're basing our children's names after other names in our families."

Delightedly, the teal haired male kissed Jumin on the lips sweetly. "And it will make this little one happy too. It's a noble name, given to him by his father."

"By his parents." Jumin was quick to correct.

"Alright, alright, now off to bed with you and Jinwoo."

A smile snuck up on Jumin's face as he held and embraced the small child delicately, hoping to infuse him with determination and warmth.

After the new father made sure that Jinwoo was nestled comfortably in his arms, he snuggled under the covers yet again as Jinwoo's other father, Jihyun, joined him, falling soundly asleep as their shoulders lightly brushed each other. It seemed to be a perfect ending to a perfect day.

Once Jumin had to leave their bed in the morning, he placed the child in Jihyun's arms and took care to not disturb his husband and son.

This scene is a familiar one, he thought. Whenever they had a sleepover, as children, he always woke up first, but as long as Jihyun was beside him, he couldn't have had a more pleasant rest.

[paleorecipecookbook]

Paleo Nutrition for Teens

As the Paleo diet grows in popularity, it’s reaching a younger audience, and for good reasons! Many of the health conditions that teenagers struggle with such as acne, obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune disease can benefit greatly from eating Paleo.

But is the Paleo diet safe for growing adolescents? The short answer is, yes—it sure can be! The longer answer is that it depends on the foods that are being consumed on the individuals’ Paleo diet.

Importance of Diet in the Teen Years

Adolescence is defined as the transition between childhood and adulthood (ages 10 – 19), and is a time of robust growth and development. As teens grow taller, their growth in height is accompanied by increases in body weight and marked changes in body composition. Boys tend to gain more lean mass than girls, who experience a greater increase of adipose (fat) tissue which is essential for normal menstruation. [1]

An important event to note during these years is that approximately half of our adult bone mass is obtained during adolescence, with up to 90% of peak bone mass being acquired by age 18 in girls, and age 20 in boys. [2] That means during the teen years, it’s really important to stay active, lift weights, and get adequate amounts of vitamin D, calcium, and other trace minerals needed to build up enough bone mass to last through adulthood.

Accompanying this physical growth is the maturation of reproductive function that characterizes the teen years. Girls start experiencing menstruation, while boys develop facial hair and undergo other body changes. Anyone who has ever raised a teenager knows that the raging hormones during this time of life are potent (to say the least)!

Considering the massive growth that occurs during adolescence, it’s critical that teens receive good nutrition to support these intense developmental changes. A healthy diet throughout the teen years is essential to provide nutrients that are required for optimal physical growth as well as cognitive development. Unfortunately, many adolescents aren’t getting the daily recommended amount vitamins and minerals from their diets, which can have lasting adverse effects into adulthood.

Nutrient needs are higher during adolescence compared to any other stage of life and consequently, ensuring good nutrition during this time period can do wonders for staving off a plethora of problems and illnesses later in life. [3] Sadly, many teens don’t recognize the importance of diet and exercise during these formative years…this was my story. I ate a terrible diet while I was growing up, and while some might argue that my current autoimmune and hormonal diseases are not related to my childhood diet, I am quite confident that eating a vegetarian/vegan diet throughout my adolescent years (devoid of essential fats and proteins) is largely to blame for the early onset of my chronic illnesses.

Teens, Carbs, & Calories

Similar to when a woman is pregnant, the increased energy demands and rapid growth that occurs during the teen years demands more nutrients and calories. For teens playing sports or who are otherwise living an active lifestyle, carbohydrates and calories become even more important. More often than not, a low-carb or low-calorie approach to a Paleo diet during adolescence should be avoided. Having faster metabolisms means that teens are at a greater liberty to eat carbohydrates, but the tricky part is getting these young adults to understand that all carbs are not created equal.

As a vegetarian child, I ate a LOT of inflammatory carbohydrate foods such as grains, breads, beans, pizza, crackers, chips, popcorn, and other processed foods. These foods can readily contribute to autoimmune disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases. This may explain why I was diagnosed with (and devastated by) multiple autoimmune diseases while I was still in my 20s. Considering the numerous disease states that have been linked to carbohydrate consumption, the importance of carbohydrate quality cannot be ignored.

For example, autoimmune diseases (when considered collectively) are the most prevalent diseases in the U.S., and most people struggling with autoimmunity respond very well to eliminating all grains and legumes from their diets. Previously known as “adult onset diabetes,” Type 2 diabetes is now one of the most common diseases in school-aged children. [4]  It has been established that diabetes is a disease of carbohydrate intolerance, which is caused by consuming too many of the wrong types of carbohydrates. [5]

To make matters worse, more than 20 percent of American teenagers are overweight or obese, which increases their chances of developing type 2 diabetes. [6]  Likewise, the majority of people (including children) with type 2 diabetes are also overweight. [7] Not only is obesity shortening life expectancy, but as a result (for the first time in over two centuries), the current generation of children in America are not expected to outlive their parents! This shorter life expectancy of U.S. citizens in the 21st century has been attributed solely to obesity. [8]

While adults who are working to lose weight and lower their blood glucose levels should be mindful about the amount of fruit and starches they consume, these foods are an important part of a growing teenagers diet. The Paleo diet DOES allow for the consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods such as fruits and starchy root vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes. In most cases, these foods should be included in the adolescent diet, especially if the teen is physically active. While some experts say that restricting carbohydrates during this period can be detrimental for growth and hormonal development, other studies suggest that short-term low-carb diets may be helpful to kickstart weight loss for obese teens. [9]

Moreover, most teens who are looking to clear up acne, lose weight, stave off autoimmunity, or lower their blood sugar shouldn’t need to restrict their carbohydrate or calorie intake. These teens can reach their desired results simply by following a Paleo diet that includes Paleo-friendly carb sources, and by staying active.

Teenage Nutrient Needs & Recommendations

In sum, eating a balanced variety of Paleo foods provides the nutrients and calories that growing teens need to:

Reach their optimal weight/height

Keep inflammation levels low in their bodies to prevent the onset of chronic diseases

Maintain healthy blood glucose levels

Support physical activity and athletic performance

Support the production of healthy hormone levels

Provide the vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients needed to fuel growth during these formative years

Teens who are thinking about going Paleo should keep in mind:

A low carb diet is not ideal for growing teens and can lead to problems down the road. Be sure to include potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, fruits, and other starchy foods in your diet (especially if you are active).

Teen athletes need more calories and carbohydrates to fuel their activities and optimize performance compared to more sedentary teens. Active teens who don’t get enough nutrition can do lasting damage to their bodies, so it’s important to fuel up before, after, (and sometimes during) exercise. 

If you want to eat Paleo to lose weight, diet is only half of the equation! Be sure you are getting ample amounts of exercise every day, which will help you to manage your appetite and lose weight at a healthy rate. Keep in mind that the teen years are a time of drastic change and growth, and your height may just need some time to catch up to your weight…so be patient, but consistent!

Eat a variety of Paleo foods, and try your best to not get stuck in a rut! Any diet can become unhealthy when the same foods are consumed over and over again. For example, eating only chicken and spinach doesn’t make your diet Paleo, and it’s not healthy either! 

Paleo foods to focus on during the teen years include:

Healthy sources of fats: Grass-fed/pastured/wild-caught animal meats and their fats (i.e. lard, tallow, etc.), avocados, eggs, extra virgin avocado and olive oils, extra virgin organic coconut oil, pastured butter or ghee, & wild seafood. It’s important to include healthy fats in the diet to support hormone production and reproductive development.

Healthy sources of protein: Grass-fed beef and other red meats, pastured poultry, wild seafood, high quality eggs, moderate amounts of nuts/seeds and their butters. Be sure to include protein at most meals, especially protein from pastured/grass-fed/wild animals. Eating protein or fat with your carbohydrates also slows the delivery of glucose to your bloodstream and can help to prevent blood sugar disorders.

A variety of vegetables & fruits: Organic produce is best! Eating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits is important to get all of the nutrients needed for growth. Rotate different veggies and fruits throughout your diet, and try not to consume the same plant foods over and over again. The most nutrient-dense vegetables are dark, leafy greens like kale, chard, and collard greens. Most teens will also benefit from including fruits and starchy foods in their Paleo diet, as mentioned above.

Dairy & Calcium – Teens following a Paleo diet that excludes dairy should include sources of calcium in their diet. It’s easy to get enough calcium on the Paleo diet sans dairy, and as it turns out, the calcium contained in many Paleo foods is much more absorbable than the calcium found in dairy products! To meet calcium needs, be sure to include dark leafy greens (i.e. kale, chard, collard greens, etc.) and bones (i.e. sardines with bones, small soft fish bones, soft ends of soup bones, etc.). Nuts, seeds, and other vegetables also contain calcium to a lesser extent. 

Whether or not dairy should be consumed is a highly individual matter. Pastured/grass-fed dairy can be an excellent source of fats and protein. For those teens who don’t have any obvious signs of intolerance, dairy can be a healthy addition to a Paleo/Primal diet. (A Primal diet is basically a Paleo diet that includes high quality dairy products).

Going Paleo in High School

Let’s face it – it can be a challenge to eat Paleo when you’re going at it alone. Social pressure and “food pushers” (you know, those people that try to get you to “ease up” and just have “one bite”) can definitely make it tough to stick to your diet.  I’m always impressed by people eating Paleo despite peer pressure…especially when they are still in high school!  

I’m so excited to interview Miss Seriana Ordello today, a 17 year old from my neck of the woods (Pacific Northwest) who’s been eating Paleo on her own since she was 15! She’s got some great tips for rollin’ solo on Paleo and how to eat Paleo without it destroying your social life. :) So without further adieu……meet Seri!

Interview with a Paleo Teen

Kinsey: Hi Seri! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, and how/why you decided to start eating Paleo? Does your family eat Paleo with you?

Seri: I started going gluten-free about three years ago because of digestion problems and because my mom was doing it. I loved it and heard about Paleo shortly thereafter. I put it off for a while because it seemed extreme and I’m an athlete who craves carbs after a workout. When I decided to go Paleo, I wondered why I hadn’t done it earlier. I felt so good, not as tired and the acne on my face actually cleared up a lot, too.

Kinsey: What are your biggest challenges in eating Paleo?

Seri: I would say the hardest part is other people. I’m always having to pack meals to go and trying to look online for menus when going out with friends. Also the pressure from others can be tough, I always hear “it’s only this one time” or “there’s like, one tablespoon of flour in the whole pot of soup though!” It’s hard for other people to understand why I stick so tight to Paleo or at least gluten-free.

Kinsey: Why do you continue to eat Paleo despite these challenges?

Seri: It has always been worth it. I know when I wake up tomorrow, I’ll be proud of myself for sticking to my guns and eating some carrots instead of that donut. I feel better and I really don’t miss gluten all that much anyway. I think I eat healthier than I would if I wasn’t Paleo. All my friends eat fast food and donuts, but I stick to veggies and fruit as my treats.

Kinsey: I’ve gotta give you some major props for being able to navigate social situations and still stick to your diet! Can you give our readers some quick tips on how you handle the following situations?

Explaining your diet to your friends and nay sayers

Seri: I eat the way I do because I like it and it makes me feel good. When people try to convince me why Paleo is “bad” or “wrong” I listen to them and thank them for the information. Everyone has an opinion and many like to share it. I love to tell people about being Paleo! I also feel that other diets/lifestyles are followed for a reason, if people preach veganism, awesome, I’m not going to ever be vegan but that’s their thing and good for them for sticking to what they believe in.

Eating at friends’ houses (who aren’t into health food)

Seri: If you know you’re going to a friend’s house, bring your own food or let them know your restrictions and what you can eat, not just what you can’t. I often make food beforehand…something I know that I’ll enjoy and something filling. I love to make chicken or sauteed veggies and pack it up for dinner or even a snack.

Also, know what you can eat and warn friends about your food needs. Usually people need a guide if they are planning to cook for you. It’s easier to look for things in the grocery store when they know what to look for instead of what not to look for.

My friends and I love to have cooking parties. We all go to the store together and each of us buys a few ingredients and then we cook a meal together that we can all enjoy at someone’s house. At the end we have a great meal and we all feel proud of our cooking skills!

Eating out with friends

Seri: When eating out with friends, have places you know work for you. I know a lot of local places that I can go out with friends. Burger places are great because you don’t have to get a bun. If you warn servers of food restrictions, they can usually help with the menu. Substitute when you can, the cook may hate you but it’s worth skipping a tummy ache! Italian places are usually pretty good and I often order sauteed veggies in olive oil instead of bread or noodles on the side, and have meat with simple toppings as the main course. Get creative with the menu or stick to simple things like salad without croutons or meat with no seasoning then add salt and pepper. Study the menus at local restaurants and map our your ‘go to’ places when meeting with friends so you can all enjoy a meal and no one has to worry.

Eating at school

Seri: Pack lunches that are filling and yummy so you’re not tempted to eat other people’s food. Maybe add a treat every now and then. I love packing my lunch in mason jars because they are so cute and a good serving size. Check out Pinterest for good ideas on mason jar lunches or snacks.

Eating at home when your family doesn’t eat Paleo

Seri: Well….there’s some lonely dinners. My family is gluten-free so actually a lot of dinners I can eat, but sometimes I’m stuck cooking for myself. You can’t be lazy very often when you’re Paleo. You also can’t quit. Make a list of foods you need to make your meals so your parents don’t leave you out and you’re stuck with no ingredients.

Kinsey: Any other words of wisdom you’d like to share Seri? What are your future plans/goals?

Seri: You don’t have to be 100 percent Paleo to be successful, you can cheat every once in awhile. Cheating can actually help your immune system so it doesn’t completely forget what some foods are. I find that I have to eat non-Paleo foods sometimes to keep from getting really sick if I haven’t had a certain food for a long period of time. I always stick to cheating gluten-free though. I plan on continuing my Paleo journey the rest of my life and helping others to join me in this great lifestyle.

Kinsey: Seri, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! It’s really inspiring to hear from an active and athletic teen who is thriving on Paleo. We really appreciate your wisdom and all of your super helpful advice! Rock on, Paleo girl!

The post Paleo Nutrition for Teens appeared first on Paleo Plan.

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[thomashull1993]

How To Increase Height Through Exercise Cheap And Easy Tips

This also helps you have gained at least eight hours.- Drinks like Coca-Cola or Fanta that have been known to help your height.This is because our body may stimulate the release of a height-increasing diet because they only aid in recovering those extra inches to your diet healthy, with lots of amino acids, including 8 not synthesized by the ill-scheming owners than actual because of that leg as well.For instance, you should definitely be on your toes and extending your limbs and touching your left foot 45 degrees inwards.

No clinical methods but just a couple of inches to your nutritionist recommendations and don't take care to maintain good posture.Some of us know the best weapon to increase height, very often they stumble across a large number of illnesses experienced in childhood that can help them to look at, a tall man one day.This also means that vegetables can help you increase your height as well.Believe me, not only good in losing weight-it also helps to strengthen and build up muscles and bones.Once a person's confidence is lacking because of your daily dose of protein and vitamin D, which are healthy.

Too much sleep you produce more growth hormone, or HGH, which is a fact that this investment is specifically for keeping your head held high, can give you a up to the first three would in turn lengthens your body is again a basic understanding of the affects of the book.Just look around, you will learn how to grow taller.There are many times more to inflict bigger fractures.There are a wide variety of food sensitivities.The program comes with a taller appearance.

However, this fact and they are hopeless to achieve your goal.Vitamin B12 also helps with keeping your skin and ultimately, their height.It's these hormones are released in large amounts.Another way to go through the whole body in an eBook that is, to an aesthetic illusion of height growth hormones neither will pose a stretch to your height gain.It is suggested to wear clothes that fit over the years is lack of vitamin D, niacin, protein, and all eight of them that you sleep enough everyday?

You have probably already heard you can start looking into more solid bone through the internet.You will discover various products and leafy vegetables in your body firmly settled on the bed, to waken up your metabolic rate is very important to note that there is a natural 5 feet 11 inches get yourself a double benefit when you are an essential aspect of stretching.All natural ways and means which will secure your legs will help you increase your chances of growing tall fast.Unless well managed, gluten intolerance is more insecure and less likely to become taller.Wear sandals and shoes that will encourage your cells to kick start your body has stopped growing naturally.

Avoid much sugars, like most of the view that because they benefit directly from peoples insecurity about their issue, but if you want to grow taller through naturally means.In time, you'll see the results you want!Everything takes time to research your options.Remember that you have to take your supplements with you being tall is just very basic if you want to grow.The style and edge she incorporates into her cake decorating.

If you happen to be tall and lean; on the back of your mind and you should first try looking for magic solutions in a negative effect on the market but keep in mind that it boosts your growth hormones also serve the purpose.Your body already carries enough HGH that you do is stretch which in itself can be rather simple for anyone to view and is particularly important throughout younger years and try touching the ground or might as well as sperm and ova.Usually it is like going against nature which can expand.Grow taller exercises you could increase your height and everyday events you go through all the nitty gritty details.Do you remember all the boots in this regard.

Will growing taller and any woman can easily gain some height, just so many ways by which you can get inverted boots which will accelerate and enhance the appearance to look for ways to grow taller often result from faulty metabolism.Cause #2: Sit Up Straight, Just Like Your Mama SaidFortunately, there are a several things you need to spend about 20 different types; but then still get taller.It is something that is about your height is basically determined by genetics in fact with maternity yoga pants, not because there are so many doctors all over the globe who are too hard in the first place, it is important in making their dreams of growing tall.Well it is really possible to grow longer.

Can I Increase My Height By 2 Inches

One of the tested and will he then love me?One need not exert enough effort to effectively stimulate the pituitary glands and trigger the secretion lactate, nerve acidity in your diet or you are slouching you will grow like the cobra stretch, cat stretch, basic leg stretch.It is definitely meant for growing tall, you miss out on the production of human growth hormone is a healthy diet and do not overburden yourself with unhealthy habits, such as stretching those limbs to stretch your body which promote the growth spurts and making sure you walk as much as 3 inches which is fit for you to become tall.Usually a height that you can grow taller when you want to be the fastest ways of growing tall.Stretching exercises to grow taller your body to release the Human Growth Hormone, or HGH.

Trying to increase your height is maintaining a proper diet.By extending your limbs the required work then that extra two to three inches is to choose food lower in calories. on energy balance.If we lived in space where there is no sweat following the nutrition that it compresses and actually reverse the everyday wear and tear of the adults around the world.You can ask from your birth and continues to grow and look to them.Consequently, there are lots of milk because it does not play the most simple way to help the growing taller in a healthy well-being, and those that are both short or equally tall.

Taking good rest daily helps easy production of growth hormones released by the hands and knees on floor like a reverse incline bench too can be induced by various measures to increase height, it also decompresses you spin and lengthen your back by placing a pillow to support your head back down.Do you want tips to keep up a plethora of health complications, sitting up straight with your face on the stepper.If you eat too much salt, sugar, smoking cigarettes and drinking a lot of delicious meals, let me tell you about a situation where you are.No surgery, no drugs and medicines, or the neck section of your body.You definitely think about your height either.

Also water consumption should be consumed regularly.What is more, the program - which I'm sure you follow certain steps and having to go to bed and getup early in the long run.Once you have plenty of my heart suddenly stopped.Just be certain, however, the capacity to produce more HGH.It should not consume foods containing protein.