#you can Feel the air get denser and warmer around you.

[univiresque]

we gotta reinstall my air conditioner soon because it is getting hot and already my fan is not enough. the cat has taken to laying directly underneath it belly up for maximum cooling effect and i wish i could be her

[random-tinies]

Crowza - 1

I’ve had this AU idea sitting in my brain for a while and I’m going to turn it into a full-on fanfiction series. I’ll be tagging it as Crowza AU Here is Chapter 1 💙 No trigger warnings for this one. ^^ just good fluff. ft. Mumza as Lady Death, 1.6k words

Previous (N/A) | Next

. .

There truly is no proper comparison to flying. Sure you can describe the feeling, you can say it's like swimming in freedom, but it will never compare to actually flying.

Philza thinks about this as he soars through the air, wind blowing through his primary feathers. Occasionally he flaps, defying the gravity that tries to pull him back down to earth. He takes a breath of fresh air, relishing the way it chills his lungs. If it weren't for his cloak and his feathers, he would be quite cold this high above the ground. Especially in early spring.

Although it's early April, occasional drifts of snow still dot the landscape below him as the birdman flies north for the summer. Twice a year, he makes this migration, and although it may be warmer in the southern areas, Phil enjoys the northern pine forest he calls his summer home. It's special to him for three reasons.

Kristin, his home, and his boys.

First things first, however. He needs to stop by his cache and see if it had been raided by squirrels while he was gone. Or if anything fresh is caught in his traps. Nasty buggers, always giving him grief. Troublesome creatures. Phil banks left and dives down towards a thick old oak tree with winding and twisted branches. He lands on one, bird feet gripping with sharp claws, and hops down to where his stash should be.

Near the center of the tree, the branches arch and wind themselves together in such a way that it forms the perfect shelter for someone his size. It had taken him a good century to help the young tree grow in such a way, but it gives him the perfect shelter year after year so every painstaking day of tying young branches was worth it.

Phil looks around to make sure he's not being watched before hopping inside. One can never be too careful when your cache is involved. His wings fold behind him as he walks forward, ducks under a large branch, and enters his storage room. A quick scan confirms that nothing found his home this winter and he relaxes, breathing a sigh of relief and grabbing some squirrel jerky to munch on.

It had been a long flight and he wants nothing more than to just flop on his bed and take a short nap, but he has two homes to visit first. His wings seem to ache in protest but he steps back outside and takes off into the sky once more.

A few strong flaps put him in the air and he soars the short distance it takes to get to his boys' cabin. He can see it from the top of his tree, it is an easy flight. He notices the youngest of the three outside chopping firewood and decides to land on the roof some ways above him. The sky is overcast enough that his silhouette looks just like a rather large crow.

The movement catches the boy's eye and he looks up, putting a gloved hand up to his face to try and shield his eyes from the bright white cloudshine. He squints and yells up at what he assumes is the same bird he's been seeing for years now, "Oi! Good to see you! Took your sweet time this year!"

Phil shuffles his wings and scoffs quietly. He's right on time. He always shows up to his Lady's forest on the same day every year. He watches his boy fondly as he continues to talk to himself, quieter now as he hefts the axe to chop another log in half. "Y'know, Wilbur thinks you're a crow but I think you're too big to be a crow. Plus I don't think crows can live as long as you have."

Phil sits down on the peak of the roof, legs still under him in case he needs a speedy escape. He listens to the peaceful sounds of a quiet life. A cold chill on the breeze, shadows crossing the ground as clouds moved through the sky, the occasional birdsong reaching their ears, the thunk of the axe as it chops through the wood.

The door to the cabin opens and Phil tenses, ready to fly off if attention is directed to him. He’s a little close to it and it could be a risk if whoever steps out decides to look up at him. While he loves these boys, if they find out he isn’t a crow then he’d never be able to return and watch them again.

A tall brunette steps out and calls to the blonde, “Hey, Tommy, when you’re done out here, could you come inside? Techno got a letter and we need to discuss it together, as a family.”

Tommy nods and sets down the axe. He nods towards the roof. “Hey, Wilbur, your crow friend is back. Silent as always.”

Whelp! Time to get out of there! Phil immediately takes off, flapping hard and flying over the boys’ heads. His silhouette is even harder to recognize as anything other than a crow as he soared away. Wilbur says, “Oh yeah, there it is, just like every year. You reckon he likes us?”

Whatever Tommy replies, Phil doesn’t hear it. He’s too far away, heading towards where Kristin lives in the forest. The landscape below him becomes denser and darker, the pines twisting and behaving oddly. Branches bend lower and often twist together. Crow caws are more frequent and a few join him as he flies towards his destination.

“Dadza!”

“Philza! It’s been so long!”

“Return of Dadza! Dadza! We missed you!”

Phil chuckles, striking up casual conversation with them, telling them stories of his travels. He does this every year when he returns from migration. Some of the murder follow him south during the winter but let him visit his boys alone. They prefer to stay with their lady, and Phil doesn’t blame them. He’d stay with her all the time if he was allowed.

At last they reach Kristin’s home. The murder descends and a few part ways to fly in through the open window. Phil smiles as he lands on a doormat that reads “On Death’s Door” and chuckles at the inside joke as he uses the tiny knocker built at the bottom just for him. The door opens and the most beautiful woman in all of history looks down at him with a fond smile. “And who would this be, knocking at my door?”

She wears a long black dress that graces her curves breathtakingly. Dark brown hair flows off her shoulders like a waterfall of shadows. Her voice is like the sound of windchimes in a gentle breeze, enveloping Phil in its peace. Even if his feet are rooted to the ground, his heart soars with joy. She is his everything and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Phil takes his hat off and bows to her, wings spread. When he looks up, she leans down and extends a hand towards him to step up onto. “You know I’d never miss an opportunity to have a brush with Death.”

His grin widens as she gives him a withering look. “You’ve said the same joke for the last five decades.”

“And you’ve said the same response for the last four decades.”

He laughs and balances himself as she lifts her hand. He bows his head as she presses a kiss to the top of his head, blush dusting his cheeks. The kiss of Death, if you will. Even if they’ve been together for forever, he’ll never get over these little moments. Coming back from his winter migration is his favorite part of the year.

Phil’s feathers ruffle and he places his hat back on his head. Nobody can make him feel as light as she can. She strokes his feathers and asks him about his flight, letting him perch on her hand. He tells her about the herd of deer he passed who had two fawns among them and the pack of wolves he heard while roosting one night.

She listens attentively to his words and pours him a small cup of tea. Phil could never express his love for her in the right way but he knows she understands. Their mob settles around them and drinks in every word, occasionally adding their own and squabbling amongst themselves. This is his family as much as his boys in their cabin are. He feels peace, drinking the bittersweet tea in his tiny cup. 

A younger crow hops up and leans against Phil and preens his wings.

“Mumza! Mumza and Dadza!”

“Puppies! We love to see it!”

“Can we go visit them? I want to hear them!”

“Shiny ring… Phil, what about your boys?”

Phil hums and Kristin snaps her fingers. “I almost forgot! I meant to warn you, but the air is different this year. I’m not quite sure what’s going on, but I’ve felt more death in these areas than before. A few of my crows have gone missing.” She pets down his back, smoothing his feathers. “Be careful. I don’t want you to be among them, okay?”

He gives her his best reassuring smile and says, “You know me, Kristin. I never let anything happen to me. How many years have I managed to escape death?”

She chuckles. “Many times, though there have been some close calls. Just watch out. There are fates worse than death, my love.”

He bows his head. “Of course, my lady. I’ll keep an eye out.”

The rest of the night goes smoothly. New crows that followed Phil there introduce themselves to Lady Death and join their flock. By the time the fire in the fireplace dies down, the two are fast asleep in her bed, snuggled together and dreaming of a happy future.

[desert-dyke]

Pollen

Rating: Explicit Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Fallout New Vegas Relationships:

Craig Boone/Arcade Gannon

Craig Boone & Female Courier

Characters:

Arcade Gannon

Craig Boone

Female Courier

Additional Tags:

Sex Pollen

Anal Sex

Frotting

Blow Jobs

an assortment of fun sexual favors

Strangers to Lovers

bottom boone

Smut

lil fluff at the end

Arcade and Boone are sent to survey Vault 22 only to discover some plant life there has some interesting side effects...

Arcade’s eyes wandered across various equipment in the lab. Not as nice as what he had to work with while with the Followers, but a lot better than other factions could brag. Sloan was talking to one of the scientists. He sort of zoned out by now. She was far from the brightest crayon in the pack and sometimes it was better not to hear her “brilliant” takes. He could tell a deal was being made. An exchange of caps promised. Yeah that always caught Sloan’s attention. “How do you feel about going to Vault 22?” Sloan asked, giving him that smile that suggested she wasn’t really asking. Arcade blinked. He promised to follow her and give her support, but he did not like where this was going. He could have sworn he heard something about someone disappearing, and research needing to be reacquired. It was the former part that unsettled him. “It’s got plants! You like that sort of thing,” Sloan appealed. 

“Why can’t you go?” Arcade asked. Sloan’s sunburnt shoulders rose and fell again. 

“I’ve got other business here.” 

Arcade rolled his eyes. He had noticed the way her eyes seemingly glazed over when Corporal Betsy was talking to her. It was so characteristic of Sloan to ditch him to flirt with whatever pretty lady they encountered. He remembered losing her for nearly two days in Westside, only to find her holed up in the Thorn. Apparently her and Red Lucy got pretty close during that time. 

“I’m not going alone,” he asserted. He could protect himself just fine, but if already someone had disappeared, Arcade did not want to add himself to the body count.

“Take Boone with you,” Sloan suggested. He couldn’t believe his initial reaction then but he actually preferred Sloan to Boone. It wasn’t that he was unfriendly towards the rest of Sloan’s friends. She definitely had interesting tastes when it came to making friends. Cass was a bit rough and rowdy. Raul was a sarcastic pushover. Lily was sweet and doting on Sloan, but he was certain she could and would snap him in half. But Boone? He was just quiet. In all honesty, Arcade didn’t know what to think of Boone. Not knowing his deal made Arcade cautious of him. 

“Why Boone?” He questioned. Sloan shrugged again, but she was a terrible bluff. He could tell by the twitching corners of her mouth. She had her reasons, but she wasn’t going to tell him them.

“I’m tired of him moping around the 38,” she made the excuse. “Take him out. Show him a good time.” Her arm wrapped around Arcade’s shoulder. She was much shorter and had to pull him down to her height in order to do so. Arcade didn’t fight against it. “There’s a nuka cola quantum in it for you…”

“I could buy myself my own,” Arcade said. He rolled his eyes and shrugged his way out of Sloan’s hold. It hurt to bend like that. “Fine.”

Getting Boone to talk was like pulling teeth. On one hand, there was some peace to that. Boone was just about the only one at the Lucky 38 who didn’t try to probe Arcade for some history. He had the inkling that Boone genuinely did not care, whereas every one else only further inspired them to pry. 

The silence began to wear on him after an hour of walking in it. Boone’s sun-shaded eyes darted along the desert expanding before them, on the lookout for any sign of trouble. He accepted that silence in this case meant stealth and cover from any wasteland creature who might do them harm. Yet the sound of wind whistling across an empty desert kept making Arcade look over his shoulder, thinking he heard the sound of voices. 

Boone raised a clenched fist, his arm forming a right angle. Arcade crawled to a stop, unholstering his pistol. Boone had his rifle trained on an enemy hidden from Arcade’s view. He tried to squint his eyes, shading them from the scorching sun, but all he saw were dancing waves of heat. 

Arcade jumped as Boone’s rifle fired. A hand accidentally touched the sniper’s back and was quickly brushed off with a grunt. 

“What was it?” Arcade asked. Silence. Was he annoyed at his touch? Arcade sucked a breath in, but before he could speak, his ears rung with the sound of the rifle discharging. Boone fired twice more before standing. Arcade remained crouched for a moment longer, trying to process what happened. Boone began walking, indifferent to whether Arcade was following or not. He hustled to catch up with Boone. Finally, he saw something in the distance, coming from between the mountains. It looked overwhelmingly green. 

Something crunched beneath Arcade’s tread. He looked down with disgust at the oversized insect he stepped on, it’s insides now covering his shoes. This must have been what Boone had seen and taken out long before it would even know they were there. His finger searched for the trigger of his plasma pistol, resting just in case there were any more nearby. 

“Area’s clear,” Boone said. Whether that was meant to be reassuring was lost on Arcade. He checked the crudely drawn map he had been given, aligned it with surrounding landmarks. A red x marked the spot, in a small alcove of the mountain range, confirming what Arcade already knew. The green was where they needed to go. 

It was even more overwhelming the closer they got. Vegetation was sparse in the mojave and what did was hardy and prickly. Not soft with fanlike waxy leaves, something he’d expect to see in the jungle, not here in the desert.  

“I’m no botanist, but that doesn’t seem entirely natural,” Arcade remarked. He looked towards Boone, still silent. He lead the way, rifle in his hands. The vegetation grew denser the further they wandered into the alcove. It’s source was covered in it, so that Arcade almost didn’t recognize the entrance to vault 22. He was afraid to brush against the plants, unsure of what effects they might have. He had an antivenom on him, which could possibly work if something was poisonous, but wasn’t definite. However, if it triggered an allergic reaction, they would be plum out of luck. 

Boone sauntered ahead without the same caution. Arcade hissed in a breath watching the skin of his arm touch a plant, expecting blistering welts to rise moments later. When nothing happened and Boone continued on ahead without him, Arcade relaxed only slightly and followed him into the vault. 

Despite the lack of soil, the plants had no problem growing on the metal of the vault floors, walls, ceiling, literally anywhere he looked there was growth. Arcade jumped at the sudden metallic boom. Boone was no longer in the entrance with him. He heard another gunshot and deciphered Boone must’ve headed further inside. Arcade hustled, following the sound. Gunshots meant trouble. His feet flew down the stairwell, chasing noise, any sign of life. He halted, almost rushing into a figure rising from a cluster of flora. It was human shaped, but definitely not human. Arcade discharged his pistol into the back of the creature. It shrieked and burned as it crumpled to the ground. Boone turned around, realizing the creature had gotten dangerously close to him before Arcade shot it down. Arcade expected some hint of gratitude but Boone showed none. 

“We’re not alone,” He said, instead. As if that much were not already obvious. The stairwell split into two opposing sides. “I’ll take that way,” Boone said, before heading down the stairs before Arcade could oppose them splitting up. 

He held tight to his pistol as he ventured the other route. Boone’s gunshots echoed the metal walls. He was relieved to see they rejoined on the same floor. Boone took the liberty of surveying one of the rooms. Arcade took to the opposite, which looked to be a lab. Promising, Arcade thought.

He took out another plant-person as it rose from another cluster of flora. He wondered, with some morbidity, if these creatures were indeed once human. Maybe even the scientists working in this vault. 

A light shone on a large blossom, catching Arcade’s attention. He approached with caution, pistol pointed forward in case another creature spawned from it. The blossom opened, releasing a visible cloud of spores. Instinctively, Arcade gasped. It smelled, he was embarrassed to admit, like sex. He pressed the sleeve of his lab coat to his face, trying to avoid breathing any more of it in and promptly left the room in search of Boone. 

“We need to leave,” He told the sniper, when he encountered him loitering in one of the labs. “There’s spores in the air, and who knows what harm they could be if we breath them.” He thought of the corpse they found that looked like a human body entirely encased in flora. No doubt they would soon share a similar fate. Boone did not seem particularly riveted by Arcade’s words. Arcade felt his blood warm. Frustration. He knew he wasn’t exactly the type to give orders, but he wished Boone would at least listen to him. “We need gas masks and then we can try again. I’m sure Sloan would understand,” Arcade added, considering maybe Boone was afraid of disappointing Sloan. 

“There’s spores in here too,” Boone stated, pointing towards a similar looking blossom.

“Yeah, exactly why we need to get out of here,” Arcade reiterated. He never realized how dull Boone was. Abandoning all caution, he reached for Boone’s hand, giving it a tug. Surprisingly, the contact earned no response from the other man.

“Are you feeling feverish?” Boone asked. Arcade paused. He had been feeling a little warmer and

his heart was pounding in his chest. He assumed it was out of ire towards the sniper. He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead. It was warm. “You look flushed,” Boone commented.  

“Yeah, well something really fucked up is going on in this vault, so excuse me for being a little worked up,” Arcade replied. His heart was really pounding, as if he had just ran a lap around Freeside. Sure he was upset at Boone, but even he acknowledged that it was a bit of an exaggerated response to the situation. Unless it was the pollen he inhaled causing him to have an accelerated heart rate.

“Worked up is right,” Boone commented. He scratched his buzzed head under his beret. Arcade noticed how low Boone was looking. He followed his line of vision, noticed a small tent had formed in his pants. He could add this to the list of awkward moments he had gotten a boner. 

“I’m not going to let you die down here just because you want to be difficult,” Arcade redirected the conversation back to what was most urgent. He grabbed the collar of Boone’s shirt and pulled. Boone swatted his hand away, but it got him to start moving. 

Arcade kept his plasma pistol close in case they encountered any more of those spore creatures on the way back out. Every cluster of flora that broke through the metal floor of the vault put Arcade a little bit more at unease. He jumped upon seeing a corpse of one Boone had sniped earlier, laying among all of the plants. 

The further up they went, the warmer Arcade felt. He was coated in a fierce sweat, as if he were fighting a fever, his glasses fogged a bit from the heat radiating from his body. Arcade paused to catch his breath. Boone took note.

“Hey,” The concern in his voice was forreign to Arcade. “What’s up?” That was probably the closest Boone was going to come to saying ‘are you okay?’

“I’m not going to lie, I’m not feeling great,” Arcade confessed. He was having a difficult time placing what was wrong. He did not feel ill. Despite the high body temperature, he knew he didn’t have a fever. He just felt exceptionally wound up, like he had just did a warm up lap and was ready to do more. 

“Something’s not right,” Boone said, in agreement. Arcade looked towards him. Boone was looking flushed as well. He didn’t mean to look, but it was hard to ignore the swell tugging against cargo pants. 

Boone stepped closer, causing Arcade to take a step back. He couldn’t see behind Boone’s sniper shades, but he thought he was pissed, that he was going to hurt him. Instead, Boone clutched Arcade’s sleeve, pinching it tight inside his fist. “I need help, Doc.” 

Arcade’s heart felt like it was going to burst out of his chest. He felt as rough as Boone looked, as if their bodies were going to give out from stress if relief didn’t come soon. “I don’t…” Arcade stuttered. “I-I don’t know what to do.” 

“Bullshit,” Boone growled through clenched teeth. 

Sweat loosened the pomade in Arcade’s hair, so that strands dangled in his face. He brushed them back, all the while leaning on a computer mainframe for support. He did have an idea of how to treat this condition. While it wasn’t an unpleasant idea, it also wasn’t something Arcade impulsively rushed into, like Sloan might. He had secrets to keep, secrets that didn’t belong with such intimate acts. 

But he was also certain not doing so would kill them. Already the stress was taking a toll on Arcade’s body. He knew they wouldn’t make it far from the vault before one or both of them would suffer a stroke or cardiac arrest. 

“Yes. Fine,” Arcade conceded. “Are you sure this is what you want?” Neither of them had any other choice, but Arcade needed consent before performing this sort of procedure. 

Next thing Arcade knew, Boone’s hand was on the collar of his button down, pulling him down to his shorter height and mashing his lips against Arcade’s. His glasses clacked with Boone’s, knocking them askew on his face. Arcade removed his and rested it on the mainframe before returning his lips to Boone’s.

Boone’s breath was hot on his face. He kissed ravenously, like Boone had been wandering the Mojave for days and Arcade was the first drink of water. His hands grasped at Arcade with the same urgency, while constantly shifting place, as if Boone was still trying to figure out what felt right. 

Arcade stifled the question in his mind of whether Boone had ever been with a man before. He was confident Boone hadn’t engaged in sexual activities since the loss of his wife. Being close to someone now must have been weird to him, regardless of anatomy. 

He decided to offer Boone some assistance, and pulled his lab coat off before beginning to unbutton his shirt. It clung to his body, damp with sweat. Boone eyed him for a moment before doing the same with his t-shirt. 

His stocky torso shined with sweat. His skin was battered with scars all at different stages of healing, but his shape was soft and inviting. Round pectoral muscles and a slight pudge of stomach cushioning ropes of muscles beneath. Arcade would be lying if he said he never found Boone attractive previously, he just didn’t think Boone would be interested. Even now, Boone hesitated. He realized Boone was waiting for his direction. 

Arcade took his hands in his own and guided them towards his chest. Boone traced along his torso before eagerly coming in for another kiss. Their chests pressed together, he could feel the heat radiating off of Boone. Arcade was painfully erect and the slightest brush of cloth against his groin made him ache. 

He reached between their bodies to free himself from his pants. Boone mirrored him before turning around and leaning against the mainframe. Arcade was taken aback, watching as Boone waited for him. Two pale mounds that were his now exposed ass facing in his direction. Now it was Arcade’s turn to be cautious. 

Boone looked over his shoulder towards Arcade. “Please.” His voice was low, so that he almost missed it. 

Arcade held his hips between his hands. He lined himself up and then pressed in. He couldn’t help the moan that escaped from him. Boone bit down on his own hand. At first he was worried it was bad for him, then he realized Boone was trying to stifle his own noise. 

“Harder.” 

Arcade obliged. Each thrust came easier than the one before and scratched at his itch. Finally the tension building inside of him felt right instead of something that wanted to kill him. Shamefully, Arcade did not last long, nor did Boone, as the latter climaxed shortly after him. Much to Arcade’s surprise, he was still hard as he pulled out. 

“That’s...new,” He remarked. Boone turned around, his erection mirroring his own. 

Before Arcade could question if these effects were going to be permanent, Boone was on him again. His bare cock brushed against Arcade’s. Even the slightest touch made small fires light inside of him. He watched as Boone lined them up. Boone’s hands were rough with callouses, but warm as he surrounded them both. Arcade placed his slender fingers over Boone’s, squeezing their hold tighter as together they pumped. Boone leaned his head on Arcade’s shoulder. He could hear every raspy breath that shook through Boone, mixed in with a small, whispered ‘fuck.’ Arcade gasped as Boone bit his neck. It must have done something for him, because next thing he knew, he was releasing again, this time onto Boone’s stomach. Boone’s hot fluid dripped onto his fingers. 

Arcade was out of breath. Carefully, he lowered himself onto a patch of the vault’s floor that didn’t look as dirty as the rest. His chest heaves, deprived of air. His heart still thunders, but not with the same urgency as before. His member, though still firm, was beginning to wilt ever so slightly. 

Boone knelt beside him. Arcade now noticed that his beret had fallen off at some point, leaving his buzzed haircut exposed. It sparkled with flecks of sweat that dripped onto his temples. 

“I think...it’s working,” Arcade commented. He leaned his head against the mainframe, feeling like he was going to collapse from exhaustion. 

“We’re not done yet,” Boone said. He crawled closer before he laid on his belly before Arcade, his head in the researcher’s lap. Arcade gasped as he felt Boone’s hot breath against his cock, moments before he took Arcade inside of his mouth. 

At first, Arcade watched as Boone’s head bobbed, afraid to touch him, which was probably silly considering everything that had happened between them recently. He gave in and gently raked his fingers through the bristles of Boone’s cropped hair. Boone’s moan vibrated against his cock, causing Arcade’s breath to catch. This part lasted longer. Or maybe Arcade’s head was clear enough that he could finally concentrate on what was happening, rather than all his previous actions passing by in blurred emotions. Before was so desperate, like relieving pain. This...this was kind of...nice, he had to admit. 

When Arcade inevitably released, he half expected Boone to pull away in disgust. Instead, he accepted the load without complaint. Arcade reached for his canteen and downed half of it, attempting to replenish all the water his body had sweated out. He wiped excess moisture from his lips as he offered the canteen to Boone. Boone accepted. 

“What about you?” Arcade asked. His eyes drifted to the semi-erection that bounced between Boone’s legs as he shifted. Boone finished off the canteen before answering. 

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” 

He sealed the empty canteen and handed it back to Arcade, before shirking his cargo pants back up his thighs. “Yeah.” 

Arcade watched him straighten out his clothes, pushing his shades back up his nose and readjusting his beret atop his head. He didn’t seem to be changing his mind anytime soon. 

“We should leave,” he said. Arcade had to agree, before they encountered more spores. He wasn’t sure how many times his body could go through something like that before it finally quit. 

His vision cleared once his glasses returned to rest before his eyes. Arcade covered himself again while Boone stood watch, holding his rifle. If they had been attacked while lost in their frenzy of desire, they would have been goners. Arcade could count himself lucky that hadn’t been a problem. 

“Hey,” Arcade sought his attention, touching his arm lightly. He half expected Boone to flinch away from his touch, but he didn’t. His shaded eyes turned towards Arcade. Arcade brushed his lips against Boone’s. They tasted salty of sweat and his own cum. Boone’s lips moved gently in response, feeling for the briefest of moments the wetness of a tongue before it ended as abruptly as it began. 

“We can’t tell Sloan,” Boone said, after an elongated moment of silence.

“Absolutely not,” Arcade said, in agreement, before the two headed back towards the surface.

[maydaymadier]

Genasi Headcanons for Reasons™

Air genasi are deceptively light, they appear to have the same weight and density to them as any other humanoid but if you actually try to lift one it’s shockingly easy

Air genasi have a thin layer of wind that constantly courses over their body, the speed/turbulence of it fluctuates with emotional state (i.e. Ghibli Hair, air genasi just have Ghibli Hair)

Air genasi can feel when there’s a storm coming, the effect is more pronounced if there are going to be high winds/gale/potentially become a tornado, it makes them fidgety and restless

Air genasi and water genasi are frequently collaborators in various diving jobs since air genasi can hold their breath indefinitely and water genasi are amphibious

Air genasi are also sometimes seen collaborating with fire genasi to either empower their fire by feeding it oxygen or quickly snuffing it out if things get out of hand.  Overall, in an adventuring party, air genasi are considered great support, if a party has a fire genasi, they likely also have an air genasi and vice versa

Earth genasi don’t appear to walk while barefoot, observers will claim that their feet become one with the earth to glide smoothly along the ground.  The effect is considerably lessened by wearing shoes.

Earth genasi, in direct contrast to air genasi, are frequently far denser/heavier than they look though it’s not as extreme as their air cousins, the effect varying with what type of earth they appear to be.  i.e. A sand-based earth genasi is the most common subtype with a similar density to other humanoids.

Earth genasi are said to not be ‘born’ in the typical sense, a majority of them claim to have simply emerged from the ground one day, while others claim to have been ‘grown’ like a plant in a garden.  (How much of this is true and how much of it is in the same vein as ‘well you see, mr stork brings the baby’ is up for debate)  

While exceedingly rare, there are claims that some earth genasi are marble statues brought to life by extreme fluctuations in planar energy, only the word of shocked sculptors and the presence of chiseled earth genasi support this claim.

Earth genasi are in high demand in mining endeavors, especially as part of rescue teams in the case of cave-ins and collapse, being unhindered by the terrain.  Some claim that it’s because earth genasi can feel the presence of mineral veins but if this trait exists there’s no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, to support the claim.

Fire genasi absorb heat, making the air immediately around them much warmer than the surroundings but their skin itself is actually cool to the touch

Fire genasi darkvision is in shades of red because of yellow-blue colorblindness

Fire genasi do have hearts however if you try to listen for a heartbeat, all you can hear is the crackling of a fire, this can make them a challenge to treat for anyone unfamiliar with this magical quirk of their biology.  This has also led to the misconception that they have a core of fire in their chest that fuels them.

Fire genasi frequently wear sturdy gloves to keep from accidentally scorching their handprints onto surfaces, it’s more common among spellcasters since they’re already in tune with the magical energy around them and so it takes a lot less of their own elemental magic for them to heat up their skin enough to scorch.

Fire genasi skin is close enough to fire that they can use various salt compounds to make multicolored designs on their skin, the most common is plain salt for making orange patterns, though potassium (purple) and copper (green) salts are the most sought-out

Water genasis’ skin come in a dizzying amount of types, while some are constantly wet, others are ‘waterproofed’ water simply rolling right off them, fish scales are also common but less common is shark skin, some have shifting patterns like light reflecting off the surface of water

Water genasi blend in with water while fully submerged, becoming nearly impossible to distinguish where the person ends and the water begins when observing them from above

Water genasi gills vary in appearance along with what type of skin they have, the more fish-like in appearance the more pronounced the gills are, being actual anatomical structures.  The genasi that are simply always moist or something to that effect are also amphibious but it seems to stem from an inherent magical effect, not anything to do with their anatomy

It’s rumored that some powerful water genasi (mostly high-level druids) can replenish themselves by floating in a river/lake/etc for a few hours in lieu of sleep

Water genasi can melt/freeze under extreme circumstances

[6ix-dragons]

Out in the Open

Series: Edens Zero Pairing: Shiki/Rebecca Rating: 18+/XXX Word Count: 6,450 words

Note: This fanfic can also be found over at my AO3, FFN, and PF accounts! :)

EXPLICIT CONTENT ADVISORY: The following story contains graphic sexual descriptions, and strong language. Reader’s discretion is strongly advised!

---

Footsteps echoed into the night skies, as a young woman—with long, navy-blue hair, trudged down a path lined with trees that well-towered over her. In her yellow, sleeveless kimono, the designated Valkyrie of Edens Zero continued along said path, the heels of her boots digging slightly into the earthen ground.

"Shiki and Rebecca mentioned they would be back at the ship, before the day was over," Homura mused loudly to herself, frowning. "But, it is nightfall now…I wonder what happened to them?"

As she paced cautiously through the pathway, not letting her guard down, the swordswoman recalled in her mind, of the events that led to her current predicament.

It was way earlier, when the Edens Zero had touched down at a small planet that Hermit deemed viable enough to make a stop there. While never letting up in his quest to find Mother, it was actually Shiki who decided to bring the ship to that destination. He wanted to take a break from travelling through the cosmos, having voyaged through space for a few days.

After landing there, most of the crew stayed onboard. Only Shiki, Rebecca, Happy, and Pino had all decided to scour around the areas closest to the ship, as a group, exploring what the planet had to offer. Homura, Weisz—and, even Mosco, were tasked by the Shining Stars to guard the ship, from the outside.

Hours passed into the start of dusk, before both Weisz and Homura noticed that something wasn't right. Upon sunset, Happy and Pino returned back to the ship...but, without their human partners. Their expressions filled with great concern, they told the rest of the crew that, earlier, they were all hiking through a forested area. Somehow, they had split off from Shiki and Rebecca, and were unable to locate them. It was then that Witch had tasked Homura in finding them, and making sure they were safe—in which the swordswoman was more than inclined to do so.

"I hope the both of you are alright," she murmured to herself, looking around closely. "I seriously do."

The blue-haired female then felt a slight breeze pick up in the air, blowing past her. The whistling winds had made the branches of the trees sway in a single direction, in front of her.

Not before long, she came to a sudden stop. Her ears picked up, what appeared to be a faint commotion coming from her left. Her own instincts guiding her, Homura imminently strayed away from that regular path, cutting through the many trees, and other dense forestry surrounding her.

"Shiki! Rebecca!" The swordswoman called out, traversing around the trees. "Where are you?!"

The soft commotion gradually became louder, and clearer, the more she closed in on it. Homura continued to follow where the noise had originated from, maneuvering around the trees that narrowed her own path. As she did, she noticed that the air around her had changed substantially.

"Is it just me, or is it actually getting a little warmer than usual?"

Narrowly passing through a set of trees, Homura could finally see a clearing just ahead of the brush. Carefully sneaking towards it, she noticed, in front of her, a few thin clouds of steam wafting lower to the ground.

The swordswoman froze to a halt, when she heard another noise coming from beyond that clearing. It sounded different this time, she thought—more like it belonged to…a person nearby?

A high-pitched, feminine giggle emerged from the immediate vicinity, reaching her ears. "No, Shiki! W-what are you doing?"

An incredulous expression took hold of Homura, her eyebrows raised at who she thought was actually making that noise. "R—Rebecca?"

Resuming her advances towards the clearing, in that same, cautious pace, she heard her female crew-mate suddenly squeal—nearly causing her to stumble, and lose her balance, in the process.

"No, stop!" The swordswoman could hear more of Rebecca's cries, and giggles, as she regained her balance, and kept on moving. "Cut it out, Shiki!"

There was then a sound that, Homura swore to herself, seemed like water splashing around. Almost simultaneously, there was the goofy laugh of a young male.

Homura noted his name, under her breath. "Shiki…"

The clouds of steam became much denser, the further she made her way towards the clearing. Finally reaching it, past the brush, Homura stopped before a tree that was along the left side of the clearing. With an arm around its trunk as her own support, the navy-haired swordswoman slowly peeked around the tree, directing her attention on where those noises were exactly coming from.

She, however, was never prepared for the sights that were about to behold her, from that very moment.

What she actually witnessed, instead, had sent a great deal of shock that overwhelmed her, in almost no time at all.

Past the clearing, to her left, where earthen ground met solid stone, lay a naturally-occurring hot spring that was more than a few meters away from where she stood. Her sights were first trained on the mess of clothes strewn around the stony surface, leading towards the boulders that surrounded the spring. She could make out Shiki's red jacket amid the pile, along with Rebecca's white-and-blue sleeveless top, and dark-coloured skirt.

Her eyes then fixated on the pair, themselves.

They were out in the open, already bare as the day they were born, and were delightfully taking in the spring's waters. Making out the dark, ravenous hair of her male crew-mate, and the ash-blonde of her female crew-mate, the swordswoman noticed that the two of them were more…playful with one another, than they usually were. Not to mention that they were more intimate with each other, as well.

Suspended in place, Homura kept her attention on them, her eyes the size of saucer plates. A bright shade of red stained her cheeks, above the large gape formed by her low-hanging jaw.

---

The raven-haired male chuckled heartily, pulling the ash-blonde closer towards him, from behind. "C'mere, Rebecca!"

Releasing another high-pitched giggle, Rebecca let him wrap his arms around her, while they both settled against the side of the springs. An airy sigh of content from her had followed, having leaned her back against his chest. Almost at the same time, Shiki gave a quieter exhale of comfort, his back resting up on the slightly-curved slope of the side. His legs were spread wide open, allowing her to sit up against him, as closely as possible.

The two of them took in the great view of their surroundings, with clouds of steam floating around, over the entire springs. Their bodies had submerged in crystal-clear water, at mid-chest level, soaking in its inherent warmth. More importantly, both of them had greatly relished the company of one another, in a place like this.

Rebecca kicked out her right leg, raising it high enough for her knee, and toes, to be exposed through the water. "I can't believe you've found this kind of place, here," she remarked, elatedly. "Who would've thought that this planet would have a natural hot spring around?"

Shiki flashed his usual, bright smile, in response. At almost the same time, he brought his palms to rest over her flat, smooth abdomen. "I'm sure it was just plain luck that we did find it…but, I can already tell that you like it a lot," he grinned at her.

The ash-blonde female gave a low, amused hum at that finding of his, as she tilted her head towards him. "Well…maybe not as much as being with you, here," she winked.

Blinking for a second, the dark-haired Granbell flashed a cheeky grin at her, burning red across his face.

Admiring the charming quality of his grin, Rebecca held back a delighted hum. "You know," the blonde B-Cuber continued, teasingly, her focus still on the young male cradling her from behind, "now that we're alone…together…." Her eyes narrowed into a flirtatious stare. "How 'bout we do something, here…much like what other couples in love, have done?"

Shiki raised his eyebrows at her. "W-what do you mean, by that, Rebecca?"

A devilish smile crept upon her lips. "Oh…you know…"

Before Shiki could even inquire what she actually meant, in her words, he felt a sudden disturbance in the lower regions of his body. He groaned at this disturbance, causing him to lower his sights for a quick moment. Immediately, Shiki noticed that her lower back was much closer towards him, allowing her to grind her rotund bottom against his hardening phallus.

The naughty smile widened on Rebecca's face, as she could hear his breathing pick up, the more she ground herself against him.

"Ah…Rebecca," Shiki panted, releasing a few soft groans in between his breaths. "Please…ah…I…I c-can't…"

Her curved eyebrow lifted, above her teasing smirk. "What's the matter, Shiki?" She slowed her grinding movements against him—only to press more of her rotund bottom against his shaft, earning her a deeper groan from him. "Can't handle a little…skinship, from your girlfriend?"

Shiki struggled to keep himself composed, feeling his body heat up a little further from her contact. The way she rubbed against him had sent a flurry of sensations in his mind that he found to be rather warm and fuzzy, all around.

For almost his entire life, this certain kind of intimacy—let alone, the idea of it—came across as foreign to the Gravity Ether Gear user. It was only his crew-mate in Weisz, who helped Shiki understand more about it. Having spent the time going by his pointers, and going through the…'relevant' materials (his magazines, among them), he learned more from him, than anyone else, on these kinds of matters. He found some of his advice to be rather helpful, especially when it came to situations like this.

The raven-haired Granbell responded to her teasing grinds, skimming a palm up her torso, before cupping the underside of her breast. Rebecca's breath hitched sharply, having felt his fingers gently squeezing it.

"Shiki," the blonde moaned lowly, only to hold back another gasp, when he nuzzled the crook of her neck, closely.

His lips closed in on her ear. The warmth of his breath fanning against it had sent thrills through her body. "You really liked it, there, didn't you?" Rebecca could only respond wordlessly, with a bashful expression on her face that turned away from him, seemingly. Shiki chuckled naughtily, having observed her flustered manner. "Well, how about this?"

Smoothing his other palm further below her abdomen, his fingers darted towards her clit, rubbing against it. A gasping cry sounded out from Rebecca, her breaths picking up, upon those very fingers stroking her entrance.

"Mmmh! Shiki…." Her body trembled from all his ministrations. The combination of his fingers on her clit, and on her breast, had furthered her arousal.

He then whispered into her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "How does it feel, now?"

Before she could even respond, the ash-blonde mewled loudly, when he also pressed his lips deeply against the side of her neck.

"O-oh, God!" Rebecca moaned out, in a lilt, letting her little cries of delight spill out.

"I want to know, Rebecca," Shiki murmured gruffly into her ear, his eyes narrowed. "Does it feel that good, to you?"

Finding her mind spun around by the whirls of pleasure, Rebecca managed to find it in herself, to answer him. "Yes," she let out an airy moan, noticing that his touches gradually became gentler. "Yes, it feels that good, Shiki."

His smile widened to its boldest. "Good."

Catching her breath, Rebecca turned her head around to face him. "But…what about you, Shiki?" Her eyebrows hitched slightly, over her half-lidded eyes, and sultry smile. "Don't you want to feel that good, as well?"

Shiki nodded simply at her, grinning. "I actually do, as well."

He was then taken aback, when she quickly repositioned herself, so that she was sitting on her knees—but, also straddling his thighs. Resting her hands onto his broad shoulders, Rebecca peered into his onyx irises. At the same time, Shiki was lost in her own large, deep-blue pair of them.

"Then…let me," she softly whispered, smiling warmly under narrowed eyes.

Leaning in, right away, Rebecca seized his lips roughly. With his hands on her waist, Shiki returned the kiss, pressing his lips against her own. Low moans, and gasps, had escaped the couple, as their lip-lock gradually became more intense, and passionate. Their tongues sneaked into the mouths of one another, where they swirled around, and clashed against each other. Small vapour clouds poured out from the open gaps of their mouths, in the midst of all this.

---

Homura continued to remain in place, still peeking from around the tree. She covered her mouth, trying her best not to make any noise. The shocked, blushing swordswoman could not believe what she was seeing, this whole time.

"Oh, no…this is bad!" She hushed to herself, still witnessing the carnal scene playing out in front of her. "Should…should I just leave them be?"

In her mind, they were her crew-mates—her friends, even. She was tasked to find them, and bring them back to the ship, after all. In such an awkward situation like this, however, she found herself totally conflicted on what to do.

…And, yet, at the same time, she found it surprising that her crew-mates were more like lovers, to each other.

Unbeknownst to Homura, her crew-mates had actually been dating each other behind her back, in recent time. On the ship, it was no secret that Shiki and Rebecca were in a romantic relationship, for months—at least, for only the certain few that knew. The only ones, who knew about this, were the other Shining Stars…and, Weisz, too.

As the navy-haired swordswoman tried to figure out how to best approach this situation, a yelp from Rebecca had cut through her train of thought, and diverted her attention back to them.

Homura held back a choked gasp, when she saw the dark-haired 'Demon King' lift the ash-blonde female off from the water, with his arms. His lover simply held onto him, wrapping her arms around his back, and her legs around his hips.

---

Rebecca cried out, half-teasingly, and pouted. "Shiki!"

Said raven-haired male chuckled mischievously, as he carried her towards another side of the springs. He had carefully set her down onto the flat surface of a large stone—its slightly-declining slope and height level closer to the water being a perfect place for them.

Shiki admired the great view of her long, wavy, ash-blonde locks being fanned out all over the rock, looking down at the young woman lying on top of it. His sights then shifted to her large, doe-like eyes, irises of bright blue that bedazzled him. Shifting his focus below that, his eyes fixated on her heaving, voluptuous body. They flew to her enormous breasts, her round, melon-sized mounds rising, and falling, with every breath she took. He took note of her erected buds, having already hardened from being exposed to the open air.

His eyes finally fell to the area between her thick thighs. Underneath her small patch of ash-blonde curls, was the most intimate part that Weisz had previously taught him about. Upon glancing at it, Shiki noticed that there was clear, glistening fluid leaking out from her entrance—in spite of the fact that they were away from the water.

Her soft call of his name had brought his attention back up to her face, her pleading eyes directly meeting upon his eyes.

"Shiki," she pleaded in the same, soft tone, with a coy-like smile. "Please…I want it…put it in me."

His eyes somewhat widened in awe at her, as her name drew out under his breath. "Rebecca…"

Shiki hastily leaned in to capture her lips, for a quick, yet intense kiss, before pulling his lips away from hers. Spreading apart her thighs, he guided his hardened shaft with one hand, directing the head of it towards her vaginal entrance.

Rebecca whimpered, when she felt the tip of him brush up against her clit. She watched her lover with bated breath, her body trembling slightly, as he began to push into her opening.

"A-aah!" The ash-blonde gasped, and cried out, feeling the head of him protrude into her. She sank her teeth into her lip at the sudden, initial pain greeting her, with her inner walls being stretched apart. "I—It…h—"

Right away, she tossed her head back, releasing a pained cry, upon feeling him thrust all the way in. She arched her back instantly, and scrunched her toes at the same time.

Meters away from the springs, Homura draped a sleeve over her mouth, covering her gasp, having heard the loud cry.

Gasping, Shiki leaned in closer to his lover underneath him. "Rebecca, are you okay?" He hovered over her, face scrunched with great concern. "Did I…hurt you?"

Looking up at his onyx irises filled with worry, Rebecca smiled reassuringly at him, under heavy breath. "No, Shiki…you didn't hurt me." She sniffled, as tears welled in her eyes, while gently placing her hands over the sides of his face. "This is naturally what happens the first time, for me…our first time."

Relief slowly washed over his face, his body calmly relaxing alongside. "I see."

His breaths quieted at an irregular pace, upon being taken in by the warm and silky-wet sensations of her inner walls. It was quite an ethereal feeling he experienced—one he had never felt, prior to this moment in time.

'So, this is what it's really like…'

Shiki's eyes then flicked back to his lover's face. The raven-haired Granbell noted the tears in her eyes, now spilling down her cheeks. Leaning in, Shiki kissed away the tears on her face, Rebecca humming delightfully in response.

His lips then found her own, as they slanted over hers. Low hums and moans escaped the passionate couple, while Rebecca brought her arms around the back of his neck.

Eventually, the initial pain that panged through her inner walls had slowly faded away. It gradually subsided, only to be replaced with a warmer, comforting sensation, of his lengthy shaft inside her.

Finishing their lip-lock with a sloppy clashing of their tongues, the two of them had pulled away from each other to catch their breaths. Shiki then groaned at the sudden contraction her inner walls made around him. In his mind, it felt so snug to be inside her.

Returning his gaze towards her, he could see her angelic smile, under wide-open eyes that narrowed suggestively at him…as if it were a signal for him to continue.

His breath held back, Shiki slowly pulled his hips back, before snapping them forward. Both grunted loudly at the jolt of pleasure running through their bodies. He then began to repeat those same, slow movements of his hips, picking up the rhythm from there.

"Mmh! Shiki!" Rebecca mewled out, throwing her head back.

At the same time she arched her back, her hands found themselves clinging onto his upper posterior. Her fingers dragged against his rigid back, nails scoring down onto his skin, leaving lines of red welts.

Shiki grunted deeply, as he settled into the rhythm of his thrusts, picking up the pace. "A-ah! Rebecca!"

The ash-blonde female moaned delightfully, as her legs wrapped around his hips, riding up against them. Burying his face into the crook of her neck, Shiki continued to repeatedly plunge in and out of her. His head quickly angled over to cover his lips over hers. Breathy gasps and groans poured out from the loving couple, as they fiercely claimed each other's mouths.

Rebecca released her mouth from him to let out another gasping cry, upon feeling his cock reach deeper into her. "Shiki…ah!" Her body writhed from such pleasure coursing throughout. "Harder…please!"

Another low grunt sounded from the raven-haired male above her, as he drove his hips in with more intensity.

---

Homura trembled about, in a state of great horror, and confusion, watching her crew-mates doing the unthinkable in front of her. She was still in disbelief, over what was going down before her very eyes.

"O-oh no…this is even worse than I've ever thought!" Her loose sleeve remained covering her mouth, but failing to hide the burning red on her face at all. "W-what should I do…what should I do?!"

A terrified gasp then broke from her, when she suddenly recognized a certain damp sensation around the area between her legs.

Looking down, the navy-haired swordswoman could feel the moisture seeping out through her undergarment. A frown crossed her face, as she shifted her thighs around, tightly against one another.

"N-no…this can't be!" Her eyes widened upon peering down upon herself, eyebrows twitching. "Watching them do these…unspeakable acts has made me…aroused…"

Self-conflict and confusion massively overtook her, the designated Valkyrie not knowing what to do about her own issue, let alone the other one.

She lowered her hand closely over her most-intimate area. "I shouldn't…I mustn't give in to this temptation!" Homura then shifted her glance aside. "But, I need to relieve myself from this, somehow…"

Another loud cry from her fellow female crew-mate had snapped her out of her thoughts, causing the navy-haired woman to peek around from the tree, again. The swordswoman's eyes bulged out from their sockets, when she saw Shiki thrust into Rebecca from behind, with said ash-blonde female having her hands splayed out against a boulder.

---

"Ahh! Shiki!" Rebecca's moans came out in lilts, as she felt him bury his shaft into her. "That's it…more!"

Spreading her arms, her fingers grasped onto the smooth surface of the large rock in front of her, as firmly as possible. The water around their upper legs had rippled about, in small waves, while he vigorously drove his hips into and out of her. Her enormous mounds swayed back and forth, with each heavy thrust.

Shiki grunted rather huskily, clenching his jaw in the slightest, as his hands maintained their grip around her hips. "Ah…fuck," he hissed, at the wet, silky heat of her inner folds surrounding him so closely. "It's so tight…"

Rebecca suppressed a long, delighted mewl that threatened to spill out. "Mmmh! Oh, yes!" Panting heavily, her eyes nearly rolled back, from all the pleasure surging through. "It feels so good!"

Their moans and gasps mixed in with the sounds of skin slapping against skin that echoed into the air.

---

Unable to resist the temptation any longer, as she kept her petrified eyes on her friends-turned-lovers getting it on with each other, the navy-haired swordswoman reluctantly caved into her own desires.

Casting her glance away, Homura gave out a quiet, deep sigh. "Heavens forgive me," she murmured lowly to herself, "for what I'm about to do…"

Sneaking a hand underneath her kimono, her fingers dipped under her undergarment. The swordswoman held back a gasping moan, covering her mouth with her other hand, as she began to rub her fingers lightly over her clit.

Turning away from her crew-mates in the springs, Homura used the same tree to hide herself, before slowly creeping back out of the clearing. The swordswoman brushed past a couple of shrubs in the way, as she found the nearest tree to settle up against, in her struggle to relieve herself.

---

Shiki's eyes snapped towards the direction of where the noise came from, causing him to slow the driving movements of his hips.

Rebecca blinked, upon feeling him gradually cease his thrusts to a halt. "Shiki?" The ash-blonde female released a low, disappointed groan, when she felt him withdraw his entire phallus from her. She turned her head around to face him, eyebrows raised. "W-why did you stop?"

His hands still on her hips, Shiki continued to lock his gaze at where the sounds originated, narrowing his eyes sternly. "I thought I heard something."

Rebecca frowned at him. "Maybe it was just the wind."

Shiki maintained his stare at the trees well outside of the springs, his expression softening somewhat. "Yeah…maybe."

Rebecca's lips then stretched into a sultry smile. "Hey, Shiki?"

The raven-haired male was a little taken by surprise, when he felt her shift away from the stone she held onto, making him release his grip from her hips. He raised his brows at her. "Y-yeah?"

She stood up straight, as she turned around to face her lover. "Ah…you know we don't have to stop, at this point, right?"

Shiki blinked blankly at her, only to nod with a confused hum.

For a quick moment, her eyes darted out towards his lengthy, muscular manhood—completely slickened, yet fully-erect. "Well, with the…way you are, now," Rebecca then flicked her sights directly back to his face, smiling naughtily, under narrowed, suggestive eyes. "There's one more thing that I'd like us to do."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "And, that is?"

Her naughty smile widened below her half-lidded eyes, as she approached him closely. "I'll show you."

At once, Rebecca hurriedly sealed her lips over his, while bringing her hands over his upper-arms. Small moans were elicited from the couple, as Shiki pulled her flush against him. A breathy gasp escaped from Rebecca, having felt his hardened shaft prod against her lower abdomen, as she gently guided her lover back towards the other end of the springs.

Shiki felt her lips parting away from his own, finding himself seated on the edge of the stony ground, his lower-legs still submerged in the water. The ash-blonde female clambered out of the springs, and over his lap. She turned her entire body around, so that she was facing away from him, with a hand on his thigh as support.

Straddling his lap, on her knees, Rebecca parted open her vaginal entrance with a couple of her fingers, as she lowered herself onto his tall-standing phallus below. A lilting cry poured out from her gape, upon feeling his entire cock sheathe into her love canal. Shiki grunted behind her, experiencing the same moist and silky-warm sensation around him, while he gripped her waist to guide her.

Slowly raising her hips, and then dropping down with them, Rebecca moaned heavily at how different the pleasure had hit her very core. Repeating those very movements, the busty Bluegarden began settling into her rhythm. Her large breasts bounced, and swayed, at every buckle of her hips.

Clenching his jaw, Shiki growled at the rhythmic, but slow rolls of her hips against his. This kind of pace wasn't going to cut it for him, as he could feel the tingling sensations starting to gather in the base of his spine.

A squeal broke out from Rebecca, when she felt his hands suddenly grip under her full thighs. Shiki lifted her just above his lap, forcing her thighs to spread apart more widely. It allowed him to angle his thrusts, plunging deep, and rough into her vaginal depths.

"Aah! Oh, God!" Rebecca wrapped her arm around the back of his neck, letting her lover buckle his hips wildly against hers. "Shiki!"

Moving his hand from under her thigh, the raven-haired Granbell palmed her sizeable mound with it.

Her delighted cries heightened, upon feeling his fingers dig into her breast, and his shaft moving in and out of her love canal.

"Yes…that's it!" Rebecca's toes scrunched, as she instinctively buckled her hips against his, for every time they dropped. "Shiki! Oh, yes!"

Shiki held back a snarl, when he felt her vaginal walls tighten around him more. Craning his head towards hers, he leaned in, as close as possible, pressing his lips against the tip of her chin. Taking the cue, Rebecca lowered her head at an angle enough for her to slant her lips over his, for a searing kiss.

The ash-blonde female yelped into the kiss, when she felt him swiftly turn their bodies over. Rebecca found her back against the flat, stone surface of the ground, where she lay underneath her lover. She arched her back, as he began to vigorously thrust into her love canal.

"Shiki!" Rebecca cried out, pulling her mouth away from his, while bringing her hands over his upper back. "Ah! Shiki~!"

A rush of air escaped the dark-haired Granbell, his body tightening. The tingles in the base of his spine that he sensed from earlier had intensified. "R-Rebecca! I-I'm gonna—"

"Let's come together, Shiki!" Through her half-lidded eyes, Rebecca peered into his onyx irises above her, smiling widely at him. "Together!"

Reeling his upper-body away from her, Shiki spread her legs wide apart enough, allowing him to thrust harder into her. Rebecca's moans and cries grew louder, as she felt the pressure in her core about to burst. Clenching his jaw tightly, eyebrows twitching, the raven-haired male found himself on the precipice of his own climax.

With a rough buckle of his hips, however, the pressure had completely snapped for the both of them. Rebecca's strained cry left her wide-open gape, as she arched her back even more, her head dropping backward.

Primal grunts and groans escaped from Shiki's breath, upon experiencing the waves of pleasure that wholly engulfed him. He clenched his jaw firmly, feeling every muscle in his trembling body burn throughout. He could also feel a certain liquid heat expel from the tip of his shaft, in short spurts, as a result of her inner walls constricting around him in a binding vise. Overwhelmed by the force of his climax, Shiki withdrew his entire shaft from her snatch abruptly, pumping over it with his hand. Gruff moans poured out from under his small gape, as he felt more of his liquid heat coming out in spurts.

Startled squeals erupted from Rebecca, who felt his warm, sticky fluid all over her skin.

Breathing unevenly, Shiki released his hand from his slowly-flagging manhood, recovering from his orgasm. Parting his eyes open, they widened up right away, at the same time his body stilled. They widened at the sight of his sandy-blonde lover who remained on the flat, stony terrain.

His eyes focused on her laying body, with her bent legs spread wide. Her chest heaved, with every heavy breath she took. Her eyes were rolled back, and her tongue stuck out from her hanging gape. The most important details he made out, however, were the globs of iridescent-white fluid that gathered all over her. Aside from it leaking out from her clit, trails of his semen had ended up on her abdomen, breasts, face, and even her hair.

Recovering from her own earth-shattering climax, Rebecca slowly raised her upper body, with a bent elbow against the ground as support. Through heavy-lidded eyes, she observed the whitish fluid atop her breasts.

She dabbed her fingers against it, curiously. "So…this is your…"

Without another word, she gathered his cum onto her fingers, before taking them to her lips.

Shiki watched in awe, as she licked away the thick, pearly-white fluid on the tips of her fingers—giving out low, delighted moans, upon doing so. All these sights had sent a thrill through his spine, but had also sent blood pouring down to his loins.

In her mind, she found the taste, and smell of his essence to be…rather alright. It was mostly salty and bitter, but not too sweet. There was a pungent, musky scent to it, but she actually didn't mind that.

Sweeping her tongue across her lips, Rebecca kept her eyes on the raven-haired male in front of her. They then lowered to his phallus, which gradually became erect at full mast again.

"Hmmm," she hummed lowly, her lips creasing to a tempted smile. "It seems like you're up for more…"

---

Homura panted deeply, letting off a few quiet, but satisfied moans, as her head dropped slightly.

The navy-haired swordswoman had rested against the trunk of a tree not too far off from the clearing, her body heaving about. It was only a moment ago that she had fulfilled her need for relief, from her own arousal.

Slowing the rubs of her fingers against her damp clit to a halt, she brought them away from her undergarment.

Scorching red remained across her face, as she observed how slick they were. "Curses," she glowered, under narrowed eyes. "I really have given to my desires, after all…"

Shaking her head at herself, she wiped off her fingers onto the side of her kimono. Standing up gingerly, she smacked the bottom of her palm against her forehead, upon realizing that she had completely lost focus of her original objective.

"Of course," Homura grumbled under her breath. "I still have to lead those two back to the ship." Her head then turned to the direction of the clearing. "Speaking of them, however…." She suppressed a gulp down her throat. "I wonder if they're done already, by now?"

Returning to her previous cover by the clearing, the swordswoman poked her head out, around the base of the tree. Her eyes squinted over at the springs, they widened in astonishment at the dark-haired 'Demon King', who was the only person occupying the waters there. Seemingly, there was no sign of Rebecca, anywhere, at all.

In her view, it seemed as if he was only relaxing by himself. His back was rested squarely against the side's edge, arms spread out straight over the stone surface, and his head slumped slightly backward. Other than the bubbles rising to the water's surface in front of him, everything else was still the same.

"Hmm," Homura thought aloud behind her sleeve. "Her clothes are still there…maybe she's somewhere else around, I wonder?" She then softly bowed her head, shifting her glance away. Her lips twisted to a conflicted frown. "Maybe I should leave them alone, after all…I'll have to wait for them, when they're done, anyhow."

Taking one last look at the sights before her, the swordswoman reluctantly left the clearing—as quiet as she was when she first approached it.

---

"Haah…ahh…hah…ah…"

Small puffs of vapour left Shiki's gape, along with his low, soft moans. His fingers gripped onto the edge tightly, the muscles in his body tensing up. The raven-haired Granbell then hissed quietly, as he felt the greater warmth of his lover's mouth slide back and forth over his cock. His chest heaved, with every heavy breath he took.

He could feel the pressure rise further in the piths of his body, again, as the movements of her mouth surrounding him had picked up more. It quickly built up to the point, where it threatened to break apart, once more.

Brows twitching, Shiki released a strained grunt, as he struggled to part open his eyes. Through heavily-lidded sights, he quickly peered down at the faint shadow that formed right before him, in between his legs. Copious amounts of bubbles continued to rise to the water's surface, from underneath.

Another strained grunt was elicited from him, upon feeling her mouth suction further down his shaft. His arms flew from the stony surface, diving past the water, where his hands found the back of her head.

Gripping her tresses from there, Shiki gasped out her name, clenching his jaw. "R-Rebecca! I…I—!"

A long, primal groan spilled out from him, when the mounting pressure finally burst within his body. He could feel the muscles in his core spasm, his hips involuntarily jerking about, as he held onto the back of her head for dear life. Simultaneously, he experienced the same liquid heat escaping through the tip of his phallus, in lengthy pulses.

Shiki could feel his own body go limp, right after he reached the very heights of his pleasure. He swore his limbs felt like gelatin, as he leaned right back against the edge. His arms returned to rest over the edge, while his head slumped back skyward.

Breathing laboriously for a moment, the dark-haired male gently let his head fall back down. His eyes fell to the top of her head emerging from the water's surface, rising above it. Profuse drops of water fell from her head, as she re-emerged from underneath, panting for air.

A breathy exhale escaped from her, before she swallowed up the remnants of his seminal fluid. In spite of it being watery than before, she greatly relished the taste of his essence.

She ran her tongue across her lips, with a satisfied smile. "Mmm…"

The sight of it all had left Shiki breathless, as Rebecca leaned in towards him.

Both lovers then engaged in a simmering, yet affectionate kiss, with a full clashing of their tongues.

Pulling her mouth away from his, Rebecca snuggled right up against his chest. "So…." She lifted her eyes directly at his pupils, her small smile slightly widened. "How was it, Shiki?"

"I really liked it." Shiki gave her a hearty grin. "That was one of the best nights we've spent with each other!"

Rebecca then gasped quietly, at a sudden realization rising to the top of her mind. She raised her head, with concern scrawled all over her face, as she shifted her eyes aside.

"Eh?" Taking notice of her, Shiki peered down on his lover, his eyebrows curving upward. "Rebecca? What's wrong?"

She vocally stumbled in her response, her ashamed gaze returning to his. "I-I just r-realized that…w-we were supposed to be back on the ship, hours ago…"

On top of that, in her mind, there was another matter she needed to address, after when they return to the ship. She would have to consult with Sister Ivry for contraceptive medications, having done the deed with him.

His eyes widened within the dumbstruck look on his face, upon being reminded by her. He blinked at that realization he now shared with her. "Oh, yeah…." Shaking his head shortly, Shiki brought his hand over the side of her face. "Don't worry about it," he reassured her, with a soft smile. "We'll find our way back to them." He then turned his head towards the night skies above. "I know they'll still be waiting for us, anyway."

Keeping her eyes on him, Rebecca blinked for a brief moment. A small, partly-assuaged smile was left on her face, as she casted her glance aside. "Yeah…"

"But, for now…." His gentle smile slowly widened. "Let's just stay here, and enjoy this, together, for the next little while."

The ash-blonde female just simply simpered at him, with an elated hum. Shiki sneaked in a little chuckle of his own, resting his arm around her back.

Both lovers cuddled against each other, as they relaxed against the side of the springs, once more. They took their time being immersed in its natural warmth, and the wonderful scenery around them.

[heavensenthearty]

#71 for the Zutara throwbacks?

Oh, my!! I really didn’t expect you’d send me a prompt, I’m so honored!! 😍 😍 😍

So honored that I might (maybe, probably) have come up with something a bit intense (still T-rated, tho) for the prompt First Kiss, but I hope everyone enjoys it. 

Read under the cut or in AO3 or FF.net (I didn’t feel like going through the quest that it is publishing something on Wattpad, sorry, it’s just 2:00 a.m.)

                        Zuko

It’s just a kiss… Just a kiss… Just a…

“Zuko, I have my eyes closed and I can tell you’re shaking.”

Even with her eyes closed, Katara’s smirky face is infuriating. I let go of her and step back.

The smirk doesn’t leave her face when her eyes open. “You have kissed someone before… right?”

I scoff. “Of course I have!”

“Then why are you so nervous?”

“I’m not nervous – ” I cross my arms to distract the trembling of my hands “ – I just… I…”

The words are difficult to get out.

“I want it to be special,” I say.

The curve of her mouth lessens into an indulgent, understanding smile. “Zuko, kisses are always special as long as they are with the person you want to kiss.”

“Yes, but…”

I want this to be special for you.

“Maybe you should be the one who closes his eyes,” she suggests.

“What?”

She steps closer until our bodies are almost touching again. “Let me show you something special.”

The shaking comes back in full force for having her close.

I comply, dropping my arms hanging limply at my sides.

“You ready?” she asks from behind the darkness of my eyelids.

“Yes.”

Her hands appear holding my jaw. “Relaxed?”

“Yes,” I press, with a tad of impatience.

I can tell she’s giggling.

But before I have time to mention it, her hands pull my face forward and her lips touch mine, everything so gently it feels as though I’m in a dream.

                      Katara

Zuko’s lips are thin, yet just as soft as the rest of his skin. They are hesitant at first, trembling too, as if he isn’t sure how to proceed once our mouths touch. I move my own against them, parting them and stepping closer to fit our bodies one into the other. My hands remain on the sides of his face, sensing his angular features; his mouth is thin, but still luscious.

                        Zuko

Katara feels somewhat smaller pressed against me. Warmer, smoother. Her lips certainly are, they are plump and throb the more we kiss. She tastes like rainwater.

I put my hands around her hips and pull her closer. So close that it hurts the way our bodies seem to try to blend together, as though her ribs are trying to join with mine so we’ll share one heart. The thought sets my lungs on fire and I kiss her deeper, embracing her with my arms around her waist. Her hands climb and bury in my hair.

                      Katara

Zuko’s hair is slick, so is his mouth. I gasp pulling at a fistful of his hair.

Somehow I feel like I’m drowning, but I’m not complaining. Zuko is enveloping me, taking away my oxygen, but also feeding me with hotter, denser, addictive air that I can’t seem to get enough of. It takes away my strength, makes me looser. I keep unraveling in Zuko’s arms at the same pace my mind turns into white bliss, mixed with red heat from Zuko’s skin. His pulse beats in the back of my throat.

I didn’t expect our first kiss together to be so… intense, but, like I said, I’m not complaining.

                       Zuko

Katara’s heart rate and breathing synchronize with my own; they are all growing erratic.

Her hands go down my neck, caressing it and then holding on to my shoulders, digging her fingers into my muscles and her nails past my shirt.

The faint pain brings some reality to the dreaminess of the moment – it makes it better, it means I’m not dreaming.

My heart continues to thunder as if it was to escape my chest and find Katara’s and I do nothing to stop it; I want to chase Katara’s feelings. I like the sensations they awaken in me, the euphoria, the loveliness.

Love.

Katara.

                      Katara

I put my hands on Zuko’s chest… and delicately push him slightly back, separating us.

He complies, he doesn’t force himself on me.

“Is something wrong?” he wonders with real concern.

“No,” I say, smiling. “I think that’s why we need to stop now, to keep things from escalating.”

His eyes widen. “Oh, right! Sorry!”

I giggle, a tad giddily, like I was drunk. “Don’t be.”

My hands cradle his face once again. “But see? I told you I would show you something special.”

[qhostqizmo]

Hibernate

I too would like to hibernate but it’s not “socially acceptable” and that’s “lazy” so rip me I guess

- - - - - - - - - -

Her lips curled into a smile, Essätha placed her hands on her hips with a sigh. “Is this where you’ve been hiding this whole time?”

The nobleman cracked an eye to half-mast. “I’m not hiding.”

She gave a shake of her head, trying to stifle the giggle that bubbled up in her chest. She draped an arm over the sofa to dangle; leaning a hip against the back for support. Amon’s eye tracked her movement to linger on her hand for a moment, and then up to her face.

“Is the couch cozy enough for you, m’lord?” She joked.

He grunted in answer, closing his eye to let out a heavy exhale. His chest lifted, held, and then fell all in a gust as he shimmied against the cushions. The back of his hair was mused comically out like a porcupine; a mess of twisted black locks.

“I was just taking a quick rest,” he rumbled in response. “I’ll get back to addressing Her Majesty and accounting the taxes in a bit, I promise.”

Essätha’s grin widened as she rested her chin on her arm, the fur mantle upon Amon’s cloak bunching like a wreath around her neck. She loved how almost harmless he looked when he was at rest. Relaxed, his hands folded upon his chest, the steadiness of a lazy river making its way to the seas. Almost harmless though.

She refrained from embarrassing him by pointing out the obvious. His hair was always thicker and denser this year, as was his beard which he let grow a bit more for ‘extra protection from the elements’. Part of it, she knew, had to do with the fact it became more of a hassle to keep under control during the winter months. That, and instead of always trimming it and shaving it, he took more and more opportunities to nap.

“Are you cold? Would you like for me to fetch you a blanket?”

Amon shook his head. “I’m not cold.” Eyes still closed, he raised his arms, curling his hands in a grabbing motion. “Come over here.”

A twinkle in her gaze, she reached over to place her hand in her husbands. “Do you want me to work on that letter for you, or continue where you left off?”

He gave another sigh, lamenting, “I do not want to talk about work right now.”

The nobleman tugged at her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. Essie found herself having to lean well over the back of the chair to keep her hand in his as he brought it to his face, pressing the back of her hand against his cheek. He brushed his lips against her warmer skin tone; breathed in the aroma of perfume on her wrist. He kissed her pulse, and nuzzled her hand once more to her cheek.

Breath caught in her throat, she hummed fondly for her beloved. She reached for his other hand, wiggling on the tips of her feet already, and squeezed firmly.

Amon opened his eyes slowly. They appeared drowsy and unfocused for a few seconds as he searched, and blinked sleepily. A faint smile tugged at his mouth.

“That is not coming here,” he scolded softly, reaching up to brush hair out of her face, cradling her cheek.

“I’m sorry, I can’t exactly walk around the sofa at this point now if you’re going go to caress my face,” she whispered, sticking her tongue out.

He groaned, releasing her hand. She pulled back to stand up straight as he sat up. Her confusion pricked as he grabbed both of her hands, and pulled her back to lean far over the edge of the couch again

His hands slid under her arms quickly.

She shrieked, alarmed as he pulled her over halfway over in one quick swoop.

“Amon!”

Falling awkwardly on top of him, Essie let out a huff as he slid his hands against the back of her knees and flopped her the rest of the way over. She offered him a cross look, with hair spilling over her face.

He could only manage to look partly apologetic beneath tired eyes. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he murmured, pushing ringlets out of her face once more and cupping her face.

“No, but you gave me a start, m’lord. Don’t do that, I could have squished you, or hit you somewhere, or something.”

He rolled his eyes, of all things. “Because all of this,” his hands ghosted down her sides, tugging at her to pull her closer, “is going to crush me.”

“I might. I put on some weight-”

The snort the Lord-Protector made was more animal sounding then human. She unfolded her legs, and he encouraged her down, until she was stretched out flat against his chest. Her frame fell between his legs, and he wrapped his arms securely around her, and the cloak that spilled over them and fanned down the edge of the seat like a blanket.

Pressing his face into the hair at her temple, Amon breathed in heavily, whispering softly in her ear, “Feel the same to me.”

“Oh really?” Her voice faded out, trying not to shiver.

“Mmmhm. Like my wife, soft and warm and beautiful.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“Never. I can never get enough of you. I will sing your praises to the heavens.”

“You’re ridiculousss,” Essätha hissed, flush. She pressed her lips to his cheek. “I love you.”

The nobleman dragged in air, like he found his very first breath. His hands moved to smother her closer, stroking down the length of her spine as she shivered.

“I love you. Never doubt that I love you, with all my heart.”

“I know you do,” she expressed confidently, almost to the point of being cocky.

He chuckled, slowing the movement of his hands to settle for holding her tightly upon his breast once more. She could hear the echo of his heartbeat as they squirmed for a better position one last time, where she rested her head to his collar and he placed his chin atop her head. It was a slow heartbeat. Slower then a human’s heartbeat should be. But it was steady, and it was true, and it was filled with beauty and love and all the things she admired about this precious man.

After a few minutes, the snoring picked up. It was more magnified then normal, and she felt the need to pull up the edges of the cloak to help cover her ears, giggling. She gave him a peck on the underside of his chin, hearing the stirring in his breathing until he went back to snoring. His heat spilled into her; warm hands, warm body, warm presence. It bite away the nippiness of the manor’s chill, and the mediocre fire nearby helped.

She knew he was bound to wake up, still tired and groggy, and a little grumpy from his nap. It wasn’t entirely his fault. It was hard to fight off the urge of the bear inside him in these seasons. He feasted a bit more then usual in the fall, ate less as the snow began to fall, and tended to curl up with her more often in the day.

She loved it. Nothing felt better then being in his embrace; be it on a couch or intertwined in bed. The warm air of his breathing billowing on her neck, or against her shoulders, and the embrace of his arms shielding her tight against the elements. Maybe she was taking a wee bit of advantage of the situation, but if he was going to rest anyway, who was to stop her from joining the siesta?

Cuddling up, Essie rubbed her face against his chest and stretched out further. Her palms gently dipped over his shoulders to cling on to him in return. The smell of pine and musk on his skin comforting her senses.

“Sleep well, m’lord Amon,” she murmured with fatigue, beginning to feel the pull towards sleep as she nodded off. They could deal with the paperwork later, together. Sometimes all you needed was a doze, and each other.

[brokestminimalist]

Broke Heating, part I

This is a topic near and dear to our hearts.  We love saving electricity.  Also, we love figuring out how generations past got along without modern amenities like central heat and on-demand hot water. Maybe we’re just history nerds, maybe we have too much morbid curiosity.  Anyway. 

We here at Brokest Minimalist are not about deprivation.  However, we are about 1) simplifying life 2) saving the earth and 3) helping out our fellow peeps.  We’re too broke to help anyone out financially, however we are here today to give you the benefit of our experience.

It’s time to turn your thermostat down!  Put it on 55 and use the following tips to stay cozy.  Now, don’t get us wrong.  We like to stay warm.  But there are cheaper ways to do it than by cranking up the gas, so let’s walk through a few.  Also, these are good skills to have for times when you live in houses without central heat or are too broke to run it or, like us, your furnace has been broken for two years and you’re too damn broke to get it fixed.  BEGIN:

Get up during the day and move.  This may go without saying for most, but for those of us who suffer from depression or SAD, our sleep cycles may be out of whack.  Fix them, to the best of your ability.  You want to be up and about during the daytime, when the sun is shining. Try to be up by midmorning and moving around.  A hot shower is a great way to warm up and wake yourself up.  If you don’t have to work, at least do some chores or some exercise.  Rake some leaves, mop your floors.  Get moving, keep your circulation going.  The human body is great at warming itself if you give it a chance.

Dress in layers.  This takes some practice to not feel stiff and uncomfortable, but it’s worth doing. Buy a few sets of thermal underwear.  Spring for the big brands if you can afford it, like real Under Armour.  Cheap waffle weave thermals are scratchy and uncomfortable.  On top of that you want a t-shirt, then a fuzzy sweater.  If you’re lounging around at home, put a cozy hoodie on top of that, or even a bathrobe.  Pajama bottoms and sweatpants are great over some thermal bottoms.  Wear thick wool socks, don’t go barefoot.  Hats and scarves are things too. Fingerless gloves will help keep you cozy while browsing the web or gaming.

Open your blinds/curtains and let the sun warm your house.  That’s what they did in the days before electric heat. This one is twofold, as well. Our grandmas used to say that people who sat around in the dark got depressed, and the folk wisdom wasn’t wrong.  Vitamin D deficiency is strongly linked to depression and anxiety.  So open up those windows and let that fresh UV light into your home! When the sun goes down, cover the windows back up to avoid drafts.  You can use plastic film to cover the windows if they are old or drafty.  Even a clear shower curtain taped over it will make a difference.  Invest in heavier drapes if you can.  Those will help block out extra light in the summer, too.  Two birds, one stone.

Add insulation and weather stripping. These are fairly cheap and make a big difference.  You may think you have enough, but we’d wager that you can add more.  Check around doors and windows, check for cracks in your fireplace, gaps in your baseboards, etc.  If you have a fireplace, make sure your damper is shut tight unless you have a fire or active coals in there.  Canned spray foam is a great tool, but have a plan for it before you start spraying because it will clog up quickly if you put it down for a few minutes.  Get a roll of plastic sheeting and tape it over your windows, or buy those kits that you use to shrink wrap them with a hair dryer.  Failing that, even thrift store blankets nailed up under your curtains/blinds can knock some chill off.

Learn to light your fireplace, if you have one.  We resisted this, but you have to just buckle down and do it.  Invest in a load of well-seasoned firewood and learn to build a good hot fire for when you are home.  It’s not an efficient way to heat an entire house, but it will raise the temperature a few degrees and the coals will keep burning for hours, putting off heat.  Plus, it’s cozy and romantic.  If you’re a city kid like we are, doing it for the first time can be scary.  You might burn yourself.  You might fill your house with smoke.  Just go ahead and try it, you’ll be glad you did and you’ll have a decent backup plan in case of power outage. Plus, it smells nice.  Have your chimney cleaned by a professional yearly if you do this often.

Heat yourself, not the whole house. Use electric blankets, mattress pads, and heating pads to keep yourself warm instead of the surrounding air. Dress in layers, wear thick fuzzy socks, and learn to love your electric blanket.  Use it safely: no extension cords, unplug it when you leave the room.  These use only a few watts and can create a delicious cocoon of warmth for you even in a chilly room.  Failing that, get a hot water bottle.

Heat one room, not the whole house. Invest in a small, safe space heater and use it to heat only the room you are in.  If you have to hibernate in your bedroom for most of the winter, then do it.  Your utility bill will be much cheaper for heating just one room than for turning on the central heat and wasting heat on rooms you aren’t in.  Stick it in your bathroom 30 minutes before you shower, then bring it with you afterwards.  If you have open doorways, cover them with curtains or sheets to keep the heat in the room you are in.

Use your ceiling fans. This may seem counterintuitive, but run your ceiling fans on a low speed in a clockwise direction.  Heat rises, and you want the fan to gently move that warmer air from the ceiling back down to you.

Add blankets to your bed, putting a sheet on top of your bedspread.  Don’t ask us why it works, but it does.  Our guess is that the denser weave of the sheet traps more air between it and the bedspread than it would between itself and another sheet.  Wear pajamas and socks, don’t try to be one of those people who sleeps naked while it’s 10 degrees outside.  We currently have a bedspread, covered by a thermal blanket, covered by a sheet.  Combined with our electric mattress pad, we are super cozy even in the dead of winter.  This is important.  We don’t know about everyone, but we don’t fall asleep if we’re cold.

Cook or bake.  This will add some heat and moisture to your house. In fact, you can put a pot of water on the stove with a slice of lemon or a shake of ground cinnamon in it to boil and add quite a lot of warmth.  It’s a great natural air freshener.  Eat hot foods and drink hot chocolate or tea.

Keep your feet, hands and ears warm. If your feet are cold, you will feel cold.  Period.  Keep thick socks on around the house, keep your circulation going by moving around. If you’re feeling chilly, go wash your hands in hot water for two minutes; the heated blood from your hands will circulate and warm you.  Keep your ears covered by a hat.

Cover air registers you aren’t using to prevent drafts.  Tape plastic over them, or stick a piece of newspaper or cardboard behind them.  Take this off before you turn the heat on.  Please do not cover registers in unused rooms if you are going to use the heat!  Your furnace was designed to operate at a certain amount of air pressure, and covering a register can alter that and cause the unit to work harder, increasing your electrical consumption and reducing the machine’s lifespan.  Seriously, remember to take all covers off before you use your central heat.

Move your bed: Keep it away from outside walls and as far away from windows as possible.  Also, DIY yourself a canopy to help trap your body heat in.

You will acclimate, believe it or not. We haven’t used our central heat all winter, but now if the house gets over 60 degrees or so we start to feel too warm.  This was surprising, but it’s true.  Mankind has lived without benefit of electric or gas heat for most of history, relying on clothing, fire and body heat to survive winters even in the harshest of climates.  

Some of this doesn’t sound very minimalist, but minimalism isn’t all about sitting around in a white room meditating.  It’s about having the least you need to get by, and if you’re short on cash then these tips will save your electric bill and reduce your carbon footprint without you having to suffer too much.  In addition, you’ll reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by not using gas heat.  We don’t know about you, but both of those things are stress reducers for us.Please note again that minimalism isn’t about deprivation.  If you’ve done all of this and are still uncomfortable, please turn on your heat.  If you are elderly or ill and the cold exacerbates your condition, please turn on your heat.  Contact your local utility department for information on outreach programs that will help you pay your bills.  If you have a neighbor who you suspect has no heat, please check on them.  We are all on this planet together.  

Please be careful with fires and space heaters!  Keep flammable objects more than 3 feet away, do not store your firewood next to your fireplace, and never use an extension cord with a heating device.  Check the batteries in your smoke detectors and stay warm everybody!

Links: How to start a fire, and ways to winterize your home.

[nelvana]

In which the ice bird is fought

First: In which the human is transformed Next: In which they gather around a campfire Previous: In which the fire bird is fought

    Once they were finally able to get away from the broiling heat from the volcano, the trio sat down in the shade of the tree to rest up again. No one objected to the break, even Alex, who took the time to flop down onto the ground and almost go to sleep. Nelvana sat down against a tree, letting out a sigh as her head began to spin from the sudden halt of movement, and the overheating from before. They drank out of the water bottles again, only having a couple left after all the pauses to drink. With everyone present and not rushing around, Keahi also decided to explain to Alex what Moltres had said while he was underground.

    “Moltres caught wind of the Ninetales Legend rumours? But how?” Alex asked, still laying stretched out on the ground, not bothering to get up yet for the conversation. “Didn’t everyone say that no one comes out here? How would they hear about this?”

    Keahi shrugged, “no idea! No one even bothers to deliver mail out here!” he said.

    “Which means that someone came out deliberately to tell Moltres the news so they would attack us,” Nelvana inputted, “whoever it was, they must have taken advantage of the time we spent at the Scorched Plains to get a jump on us,” she added.

    “Team Meanies?” Alex suggested, lifting his head off the ground slightly.

    “No, as much as they would have to most motivation for it, they just aren’t strong enough. And they aren’t fast either, and they don’t have a good sense of direction. We raced them to Sinister Woods, and they got a head start, but we still beat them there because they got lost,” Keahi explained, shaking his head.

    “And then you guys beat them in battle, right…” Alex murmured, “is there anyone else that would be able to get the news out?”

    “I can’t think of anyone. Anyone who believed Gengar in Pokemon Square isn’t strong enough to go out here,” Nelvana sighed.

    “Me neither, it must be someone we haven’t met yet, which makes sense, because then they would be more likely to believe Team Meanies,” Keahi responded.

    “Well, I guess we’ll have to look out for them then,” Alex replied.

    “How much will you bet that Articuno is awake and will fight us too?” Nelvana chuckled.

    “I don’t bet on fixed game,” Alex laughed.

    After a bit under an hour of resting back up, the group gathered themselves up again and continued on their way. The path through Mt. Blaze had taken them to mid-afternoon, and the rest of the day took them through a humid swamp, and then to a sparse forest, with pine trees dotting the area here and there, slowly growing denser as it also began to cool down significantly. Finally, they stopped their progress for the day as they could see where a blanket of snow lay over a thick forest in the distance, and even further still, a small mountain. Similarly to before, they didn’t want to sleep too closely to where the temperature was dramatic, and went to sleep at another tree for the night.

    Deep down, Nelvana had been hoping for another dream visit from Gardevoir. The last time she had had one was many days ago, and at the time Gardevoir was mostly strengthened up again, so why hadn’t she tried again? Unfortunately, Nelvana did not get that visit, leaving her to come down with the hypothesis, so that she wouldn’t overstress herself, that Gardevoir was only able to contact her at the base.

    The next day’s travels, as expected, brought them through the deeper parts of the woods, and only after a few hours did it begin to softly snow on them as they trekked. This weather only worsened as they continued, growing slowly colder as more snow fell down onto the land. Alex was shivering within the first hour with this temperature, and the group quickened their pace to make it to the storage statue sooner.

    “How are you two hanging on back there?” Keahi asked.

    “I’m still doing good, definitely cold, but better than Alex it seems,” Nelvana answered.

    “I’ll be fine, some warmth soon would be nice though,” Alex added, blowing on his hands and rubbing them together to warm them up.

    “Of course.” Keahi nodded, “hopefully it isn’t too far ahead now.”

    By now, one couldn’t even see the pine trees properly since they were coated with snow, and the ground was covered in the frozen power, making the walk more challenging. Keahi’s light weight allowed him to walk on top of it, but Nelvana could only do it sometimes, ending up sinking in softer spots, and Alex’s chances to avoid being ankle-deep were even slimmer.

    “Hey guys… I feel like we’re being watched,” Nelvana murmured, her breath visible in the chill air.

    “Really? I… I don’t see anyone,” Keahi replied quietly, wildly looking around them.

    “Up there,” Alex whispered.

    Alex pointed up at a nearby hill, peaking just above the treetops. At a mere glance, there was just the usual snow shining off the sunlight, but when the group paused and looked at the spot properly, they could see a quadruped figure standing and watching them. This creature could mostly blend into the snow, with long white fur covering the majority of their body, but they had a dark blue face and short tail. Sticking out the right side of their head was a long crescent moon shaped blade.

    “It’s Absol,” Keahi gasped, “what do we do?”

    “Well,” Alex puffed, watching the cloud of air puff out as he spoke for a moment. “They sure match your dad’s description all right.”

    “Of course it does!” Keahi hissed nervously, glancing from the figure to the grovyle and back. “But what do we do about it?”

    Nelvana narrowed her eyes in thought for a moment before speaking, “they haven’t done anything yet. If they were going to attack us or cause a disaster on us like your dad warned, they wouldn’t have waited until now,” she said.

    “Where are you going with this…?” Keahi asked.

    “I think we should use diplomacy. I don’t think they’re as bad as your dad described, at least not this one. Maybe there’s another absol that is bad, who knows,” Nelvana explained briefly, shrugging.

    “I agree. No use in starting a fight, it won’t benefit any of us, and I personally don’t want to just keep ignoring them while we know they’re watching us,” Alex replied, crossing his arms against his chest.

    “But…” Keahi hesitated. “What are you even going to say?”

    “Well, this is probably their territory, so I’ll just let them know why we’re here,” Nelvana answered, “and I guess since the Ninetales Legend news is out here, I can let them know that the news is false,” she added.

    “…okay, but you should do it then,” Keahi sighed, shaking himself to hide his ruffled feathers and the snowflakes that were melting into them.

    Nelvana waited nervously, but then took in a deep breath and called out, “HEY ABSOL!!!” She paused for a moment, watching at the figure took a step back out of surprise. “Uh… SORRY IF WE’RE TRESPASSING, WE’RE JUST TRYING TO GET TO SEE NINETALES! WE NEED TO SPEAK WITH HER ABOUT THE LEGEND!” She paused to take another breath of chill air. “I PROMISE THAT IF YOU’VE HEARD ANY RECENT NEWS ABOUT MY GROUP AND OUR RELATION TO THE LEGEND, THAT IT’S FALSE, AND THAT WE’RE JUST GOING TO SEE NINETALES FOR THE PROOF! SO, WE’LL DO OUR BEST TO GET THROUGH HERE QUICKLY AND NOT BOTHER YOU!” she yelled, and when receiving no other reaction, she glanced from the path back at Absol before adding one more yell. “JUST… uh, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT PATH TO GET THERE?”

    Absol gave them an exaggerated nod, to make sure it could be seen from the distance, and then tossed their head in the direction they were headed before bounding out of sight, further away from the path and the team.

    “Oh… that worked out better than I thought! I guess they weren’t so bad after all! Good call, Nel,” Keahi chirped, “we should keep going though.”

    “Thanks,” Nelvana hummed.

    Back on track, the trio continued on the path through the Frosty Forest. Luckily, there was only a few more minutes of walking before they arrived to the entrance of the dungeon, with the storage statue waiting beside it. Like at Mt. Blaze, the statue was worn down from age and enduring the elements, however the opposing climate had a different effect. This statue was coated in an icy sheen, filling in the cracks and ruining its integrity from the inside. Oddly enough however, it wasn’t covered in a mound of snow as expected. In fact, it appeared that someone had brushed off any flakes quite recently, and the chest itself looked fairly used, the edges clawed at to be opened.

    “That’s odd… looks like this was used,” Alex commented, gingerly brushing off the thin layer of fresh snow from the top of the chest.

    “But who would use it? No one can use it without starting with Kangaskhan’s shop,” Keahi questioned, nudging open the chest to pull out their stuff. “Oh Alex, someone added a hat, you should take that.”

    “Maybe Absol uses it,” Nelvana suggested, passing Alex the mentioned hat and then pulling out a sweater for herself, struggling to pull it on for a moment, but she figured it out and found that it hugged her body comfortably, knitted even to fit over her back spikes.

    “But how? They’re never met Kangaskhan,” Keahi replied.

    Alex pulled the hat on his head, tugging with his head leaf for a few moments before settling with the results of the headgear, “well, they only need to meet Kangaskhan to be able to access the other chests and have their items move from one to another, right? It’s still a normal chest otherwise.”

    “Oh, I guess that is right! So, anyone that isn’t applied with Kangaskhan’s services just have this normal chest,” Keahi agreed, pulling out the last of the new items, along with a note, which he handled all of it over to Nelvana.

    “Does that mean since I’m not applied, I could open it and see if this has been being used?” Alex suggested mischievously.

    “Well, I guess so, it would certainly prove the theory,” Keahi responded before looking back at Nelvana. “Those are arm warmers, or leg warmers… actually they’re a bit big, so neck and tail warmers then. That means you can put one on your tail and give the other to Alex,” he explained.

    “Oh alright, good to know then.” Nelvana tossed one of the warmers over to the grovyle, and then tugged her’s over her tail. “Should I read the note now?”

    “Just a sec, I want to try something,” Alex said through the warmer he was pulling over his head, finally getting through and then pulling his head leaf out so it could flow in the breeze freely. “Alright, let’s see if our theory is correct,” he continued before closing the chest and opening it again.

    Now the wooden chest was no longer filled with Team Galaxy’s supplies, it was but an ordinary chest with some knickknacks and dust instead. Some berries, seeds, and coins littered the bottom of the container. Even without any true sign that this was the chest’s default, they all knew that’s what it’s contents now was. Alex closed the chest again softly after examining the contents for anything interesting.

    “I guess that answers that. Go ahead and read the new note Nel,” Alex hummed, looking over at the mentioned cubone.

    “Alrighty then. ‘Hello Team Galaxy, this is Kangaskhan. I hope you’re doing well. I’m terribly sorry for not helping much when that horrible Gengar was spreading those lies, and for not sending a message sooner. I’ve been incredibly busy as of late, but I’ve done my best to provide you sweeties with some extra supplies through my family’s chests. I’m sure you’ve found the clothes I knit, it’s made from flaaffy wool donated by a friend of mine, should keep you nice and warm during your travels! Kecleon has presumably set up shop somewhere in the Frosty Forest, so hopefully you’ll be able to see him at some point. Well, I shouldn’t write for too long and keep you waiting. Good luck dearies!’,” Nelvana read aloud.

    “I think she wants to adopt you,” Keahi blurted out.

    “What? What makes you think that?” Nelvana questioned, folding up the note and slipping it back into the chest.

    Keahi shrugged, “just a feeling.”

    Alex arched a brow at the torchic, “alright… Now, we should keep going before my feet freeze to the ground.”

    “Well, if you want to stay warm, I happen to be like a hot water bottle,” Keahi hummed, bouncing over to the grovyle.

    “…do you really want me to carry you?” Alex asked, holding back a chuckle at the tiny bird’s antics.

    “Not because I’m lazy! Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m fine to keep walking. Just… carrying me would keep you warmer, and we should be able to travel faster,” Keahi told him.

    “If it’s speed that you’re concerned about, I’d need to carry Nel too to really pick up the pace,” Alex replied, looking at the mentioned cubone again.

    “Hey! I’m plenty fast!” Nelvana huffed, stiffening in place slightly.

    “Of course, we all know that. It’s just that I’m the fastest,” Alex chuckled, “are you just feeling awkward that you’re small enough to be carried by me now, instead of you carrying me?”

    “I…” Nelvana paused, “maybe… I don’t know… I guess if you both want to try this new travelling idea, then sure,” she mumbled.

    “Great, I’m willing to pick up the pace if it means getting out of these woods sooner,” Alex said.

    After saying that, Alex reached over and scooped up Nelvana bridal style, with her left side leaning into the grovyle so that her right side stayed free to use her bone club. She stiffened more, reflexively at the action, but relaxed again quickly. Once a stable balance had been achieved, Keahi hopped on top of Nelvana’s chest and leaned back against Alex.

    “Ready to go?” Keahi asked.

    With motions of approval, Alex took off into the dungeon. He practically seemed to fly over the icy terrain, his clawed feet simply skimming the ground to push them ahead faster. The frozen walls around them became a blur as he ran, only stopping when he would accidentally run into a dead end and have to turn around and zoom back. Floors were able to be passed through in mere minutes with them passing by most foes. There was the rare pause where Alex would lose his sense of direction after so many twists and turns, but Nelvana was always somehow able to point him in the right direction, and off they went again. Any enemies that got too close for comfort were either dealt with by a simple ember from Keahi, or a couple whacks with Nelvana’s bone club.

    At one point, Alex slipped on a rather bad patch of ice, and Nelvana assisted by propping up her club on the ground to balance them again. Unfortunately, three impatient dungeon pokemon took advantage of this and began swarming around. Keahi made short work of two of them with some rapid-fire embers, but the third one took on a different angle, and Nelvana reacted by leaning out of Alex’s grasp and kicking them. The pokemon stumbled back and disappeared in a flash of light.

    “Nice job Nel! I think that might have been a brick break in action!” Keahi exclaimed.

    “I think so too!” Nelvana agreed, smiling in surprise at her own move.

    “Great job, that is certainly handy against these ice-types,” Alex said, shifting his weight to carry his two teammates better again.

    “Team Galaxy, is that you I hear over there?” a familiar voice called out from the next room.

    “Yeah! Is that you, Kecleon?” Keahi yelled back before hopping out from Alex’s arms and hurrying into the next room by himself.

    Alex sighed and set Nelvana down before continuing after the torchic. Keahi’s guess was correct, as in the next room stood Green-Kecleon on a large colorful mat with various items set on it as well. Kecleon smiled broadly in welcome at the trio.

    “Ah, Team Galaxy! I was hoping to see my favorite customers soon! It is a pleasure to see that you made it through Mt. Blaze safely,” Kecleon greeted, nodding to the group. “Go ahead, step onto my mat, it’s a lot nicer than this frozen rock we’re on in here.”

    “Hello Kecleon! It’s great to see you too!” Keahi, who was already on the mat, chirped.

    Alex looked at the mini store in awe, “how did you bring all this stuff out here?”

    Kecleon chuckled, “I’m afraid that that’s a trade secret my friend, and do kindly not to touch anything you won’t be buying please,” he said, “now then explorers, how have you been? You don’t seem to be in too rough shape, which is nice… I see you have some very nice winter clothing there, another gift from Kangaskhan?”

    “Yeah.” Nelvana nodded. “We’re doing alright, had a bad run-in with Moltres though.”

    “Ah yes! I saw them on my way here too!” Kecleon exclaimed, “I haven’t seen them before, quite the ornery fellow if you ask me. Blasted over and asked what I was doing, I just said I was doing business and they let me on my way. What trouble did they cause with you group?”

    “Apparently someone has gone all the way out here to spread the rumors,” Alex sighed.

    “Oh! Have they?” Kecleon gasped, “how improper, to suffer travelling all the way out here just to get some legendries all riled up. Did… Did you have to fight Moltres?”

    “Yup! And we won too!” Keahi proclaimed proudly.

    “Good for you! I expected no less from the Team Galaxy. Y’know, you remind me of my brother and I when we were out doing rescues. I have great faith in your team here, yessiree,” Kecleon hummed and then clapped his hands together. “Now then! I expect that you didn’t just stop by for chatter, now did you? Would you be interested in any of my wares?”

    “We’re mostly stocked on explorers supplies, at this point our goal is staying warm,” Keahi told Kecleon, “do you have… aspear berries or something?”

    Kecleon shook his head, “I’m afraid not, those are quite the uncommon find, and I’m afraid I wasn’t able to bring any with me,” he sighed, “however, I can tell that you my friend might be interested in some gloves,” he added, looking over at Alex.

    “As a matter of fact, that would be nice. You are very good at your trade,” Alex replied, grinning at the salesman. “Also, how are you staying warm anyway?”

    “Why thank you! Don’t worry about my health, I just let myself get hit with an ice shard and let my ability handle the rest. Now, I’m afraid that these gloves I have here-“ Kecleon paused to show off the mentioned gloves. “-aren’t quite as nice as your flaaffy wool clothing, but it allows you to keep dexterity while staying warm, for just the low price of 400 poke!”

    “Well that’s easy, there’s lots of money in these dungeons y’know,” Nelvana chuckled, handing over the money and tossing the new gloves over to Alex, who graciously put them on. “You could turn a real profit by just wandering around.”

    “However, if I did that, I would be less likely to run into customers. Which is the point of coming out here in the first place,” Kecleon explained, putting away the coins he had received. “I do make sure to pick up what I can on the way though,” he added, winking. “Is there anything else you were hoping for before continuing on your way? I’m afraid that I am unable to join you in the event that Articuno does show up, if you were hoping to ask.”

    “Aw, why not? I mean, we can handle it on our own, but the company would be nice,” Keahi replied.

    “I must be heading back to Pokemon Square again soon. In these troubled times, many pokemon look up to my brother and me since we used to be a rescue team, and my presence will be needed again there. Plus, I’m sure many of them will like an update on how your journey has been,” Kecleon told them.

    “How are things going back there, by the way? Do you know?” Nelvana asked.

    “Well, nothing recent of course, since I’ve had to travel out here myself, but I can let you know about how it was before I left,” Kecleon responded, “my brother and I, and Kangaskhan of course, believe in you. So do those nice kids, and the folks at the Pelipper Post Office. If any of those employees do trust Gengar, they at least have the decency to keep their beaks shut about it. Unfortunately, many of the others have fallen to the lies. Lombre and Snubbull for certain. Bellsprout is still with us, but he pretends that he believes Gengar in front of his friends.” Kecleon paused in his recap to click his tongue with disappointment, thinking of the mentioned pokemon. “Anyway, I’m sorry to say that Felicity, or as you know her, Persian, has also fallen prey to the trick. Luckily, my brother managed to convince her to keep guarding your money as usual until some proper evidence arrives. Spinda and Gulpin… well, Spinda is on our side, but Gulpin isn’t. I haven’t heard it in personal, but apparently, they’ve been bickering about the issue. Whiscash was also on the fence about it, but those kids, bless their little hearts, managed to convince him of the truth.”

    “What about Makuhita?” Nelvana asked.

    “Him? No one has seen that fellow since this whole thing started. I’ll bet that he’s holed himself in that dojo of his until this whole thing has blown over,” Kecleon chuckled dryly.

    “Oh… well thank you for all the help Kecleon! We’ll see you again hopefully tomorrow!” Keahi chirped.

    “Good luck then Team Galaxy, not that you’ll need it. See you then!” Kecleon hummed.

    Once everyone stepped off the mat, Kecleon grabbed one end and gave it a shake. All the items that were resting on it disappeared in an instant, and with another shake, the mat rolled up neatly in his hands. With one last wave of goodbye at the trio, who was watching this display in awe, Kecleon raised his own badge into the air and disappeared in a flash of light.

    After some murmurs of appreciation and wonder between the team, they were on their way again through the dungeon. It was only a couple floors later that they arrived at the special safe floor, and as predicted, a large stone statue of Articuno stood in the center of the room, lightly coated in frost, and staring ahead at any enterers with a fierce stone-cold stare.

    “Y’know what’s something that I thought about after the Moltres fight?” Nelvana began, looking at Keahi. “When we found the Zapdos statue, you said these were good luck. Now I’m not that superstitious, but think about everything that happened after that. Pretty ironic, huh? That’s where everything went downhill,” she murmured, “the only good thing was Alex finding me and joining us.”

    “I… huh, I didn’t think about that. I guess you’re right,” Keahi agreed sadly, but brightened up again suddenly. “Let’s just hope that things get better from here then!” he exclaimed.

    “Yeah… let’s hope so,” Alex replied softly.

    Finishing off the last three floors was done swiftly, and yet slower than the other floors. At the third floor, Nelvana and Keahi started walking for themselves, partially since they knew that they would be meeting Articuno soon, and partially because sharing body warmth wasn’t going to cut it anymore, and Alex didn’t have the energy to carry anyone anymore anyway. Regardless, they kept close to one another.

    Stepping out of the dungeon greeted them with a gust of icy wind, pushing the group closer to each other and they continued trudging through the snow. Nelvana sneezed and wiped her nose off on the back of her bandaged hands, which had turned numb much earlier in the day. She moved around her fingers reflexively, but to no avail. Keahi stood between Alex and Nelvana, trying to share his warmth with the both of them at the same time. Alex had stopped shivering, and no one knew if that was good or bad. Snow whirled around them, forcing their view to be blurry whiteness. And yet, they continued.

    Whooshing of wings slicing through the air informed the team of Articuno’s arrival. Unlike Moltres, the ice-flying-type bird didn’t go straight to battle, instead landing softly in the snow in front of the trio.

    “Hello Team Galaxy,” Articuno greeted coolly, “I wish we could have met under different circumstances. However, as much as I much commend you for making it through my forest dungeon, you will not leave here alive.”

    “W-Wait! Please Articuno!” Keahi yelled, “I don’t know who told you about the Ninetales Legend rumors, but I promise that Nel isn’t that human!”

    “Do you have proof?” Articuno asked.

    “No, but that’s what we’re going to get! Please, let us pass through so we can speak to Ninetales!” Keahi pleaded, his voice carrying a hint of strain.

    “And how am I to know that you don’t just plan to assassinate her!” Articuno boomed, spreading out their wings dramatically for a moment before closing them again. “Apologies, but even if you are being honest, it is my duty as guardian of this forest to eliminate any dangerous passers-by,” they sighed, “even if… I know that I will not win.”

    Nelvana blinked, “what?”

    “I know you have beaten my siblings, and even in this condition, you will beat me… won’t you? I can see the determination in your eyes… and fighting a human in the body of a pokemon, what a horrifyingly powerful matchup,” Articuno murmured, then shook their head and hardened their gaze. “But! We must fight! Prepare yourselves, or face a frozen death!” they screeched, taking off into the sky again, still close enough to be seen though.

    “STOP!!!” an unfamiliar voice screamed.

    Absol leapt in front of Team Galaxy, snow spraying from where they landed from their leap. They arched up their back, fur bristling, and glared up at Articuno with sharp red eyes.

    “Absol, why do you interrupt this battle?” Articuno hissed.

    “You don’t need to fight this battle! You have been misinformed,” Absol growled, “this cubone is not who you have been led to believe they are.”

    “What are you talking about?” Articuno demanded, flapping their wings harshly.

    “These three do no harbor disaster. You have been misinformed. If you do not believe their word, then believe mine,” Absol said, calmer than before. “I will escort them to Ninetales just to be sure, and don’t start with the ‘it’s my duty’ spiel, this is mine.”

    “…and what if they are from that legend?” Articuno replied after a long pause of consideration.

    “Then I will kill them myself,” Absol spat.

    “You will lose that battle,” Articuno told them courtly.

    “So will you,” Absol shot back, “just let us go. I will handle this.”

    Articuno hesitated, but then finally relented, “very well Absol. I trust that this fate is in good paws,” they said before zooming away into the clouded sky and disappearing.

    Absol sighed and turned to face the trio, offering them a friendly smile before turning away again and heading down the hill.

    “T-Thank you for helping us!” Keahi thanked nervously.

    “No problem, it was only right after all,” Absol replied, “now, come along then. This is the fastest and safest way down the hill, and we don’t want to linger here,” she continued, “oh, and by the way, my name is Tsuki. It’s nice to meet you, Team Galaxy.”

[oceantrust01]

How To Choose A Wetsuit (The Ultimate [year] Guide)

Unless you live in the tropics where the water temperature is warm all year round, wetsuits are magical rubbery suits that enable divers, surfers, and swimmers to stay warm, even in cold water. Picking the right wetsuit can make all the difference when you're out on the water. Whether you're surfing, diving, or just swimming for fun, having a wetsuit that fits well and is comfortable to wear will help you enjoy your time in the water even more. There is nothing worse like an hour dive feeling so cold you're chomping down hard on your regulator and shivering at your safety stop. So how do you pick a wetsuit that's right for you? We're here to help! ❔ What Is Neoprene? All wetsuits are made of neoprene, a versatile, synthetic rubber with a variety of applications. It is an excellent insulating material that traps a thin layer of water in the air pockets within the material. The water then gets warmed up by your body heat, which in turn, keep you warm and prevents heat loss. 🌊 Most neoprene wetsuits are petrochemical-based, and the thinner the neoprene, the less water it will be trapping. Thicker neoprene should be used for cold water while thinner neoprene can be used for warmer temperatures. The neoprene thickness can also be variable throughout the wetsuit. Often, the core areas of the chest, abdomen and back have thicker neoprene than the arms and legs, which increases mobility. For example, a 2/3mm wetsuit will have 3mm around the core area, and 2mm thickness around the arms and legs. 🩳 Can I Use A Surfing Wetsuit? Yes, you can, but you'll have to understand the limitations of a surfing or swimming wetsuit. Diving wetsuits are designed to work under pressure, and the neoprene thickness, although the same, is made of denser material. Surfing wetsuits work by having flexible neoprene panels to give a maximum range of movement. Divers on the other hand, only need to move their legs. The fundamental difference between a diving wetsuit and other suits is the density of the neoprene material. When a diver descends, the water pressure increases, compressing the existing gas bubbles in the neoprene. This makes the wetsuit thinner and less insulating. The denser material used in diving wetsuits compresses way less as you descend, while the same cannot be said for a surfing wetsuit, which compresses and results in thinner wetsuit thickness. In addition, diving wetsuits often have reinforced panels to protect from abrasion from the dive equipment such as weight belts, BCDs, and the tank. 🌡️ How To Decide Wetsuit Thickness - Water Temperature The thickness of the wetsuit you'll need is dependent on the surrounding water temperature. Of course, there is no hard and fast rule and if you are particularly susceptible to cold water (like I am!). Remember, the best suit is the one you feel most comfortable in! As a general rule, some guidelines on how much thermal protection you'll need are: - 85°F / 30°C & above - Rashguards and boardies for sun protection and for abrasions. If you are particularly susceptible to cold (like I am), you can wear a 1mm vest with short sleeves to keep your core warm. You'll be boiling in a full suit! - 80-85°F / 27-29°C - 3mm shorties or a 2/3 mm full suit - 73-79°F / 23-26°C - 3mm to 5mm full suit - 66-72°F / 19-22°C - 5mm to 7mm full suit - 50-65°F / 10-18°C - 7mm, 9mm, semi-dry suit or full dry suit - 50°F / 10°C and below - dry suit ❗️ Be warned, there is no hard and fast rule. Everyone is different depending on cold tolerance, what you are used to, your body temperature, and your body's physiological makeup. Fat is an excellent insulator! I get laughed at a lot, because I dive frequently in boardies and a rashguard in 85°F / 30°C, but switch to a 3mm full suit when the "cold" monsoon currents come in, dropping the water temperature to a "frigid" 78°F / 25°C. Climatization is not a myth! Looking for durable wetsuits? Check out the Best Wetsuits Here! 👈 Dry Suit Vs Semi-Dry Suit Vs Wetsuit In colder water, a wetsuit simply might not be enough, especially if you are a warmer water wuss like me! I choose to dive in a semi-dry at anything below 72°F/22°C. Brain freeze happens underwater too. A wetsuit traps a layer of water against your skin, and your body heat warms and retains it. A dry suit requires special training to operate, and is used in extremely cold water temperatures. It is exactly what its namesake is, keeping a layer of air between the suit and your skin, and you'll stay dry. This is especially helpful when you surface and meet cold air temperatures. The air remains warmed by your body, and you don't have to take off your suit immediately, staying warm and keeping out the wind chill. A semi-dry is the best of both worlds but also operates only in limited temperatures. The extremities of the arms and legs are made of 7mm neoprene which get wet, while the core panels have a thermal lining that are kept separate and dry. Toasty, but a pain in the butt to take on and off. 📝 Features Of A Wetsuit Thickness The first, and most important thing, is the thickness, as we've already explored. Neoprene Panels Some wetsuits have variable thickness across each of the neoprene panels, mainly the chest, abdomen, back, arms, and legs. The panels around your core like the chest, abdomen, and back can be thicker than the arms and legs. The thinner neoprene around limbs also maximizes mobility, giving you a greater range of motion in the areas that don't need full-on thermal protection or a thicker wetsuit. Seams Consider the type of seams the wetsuit has. Seams can either be flat or glued and blind stitched. Flat seams are more comfortable but glued and blind stitched seams are more durable. They cause some kickass (but temporary) marks on your body when you take off your wetsuit! Type Of Neoprene Neoprene comes in three types: open-cell, closed-cell, and a hybrid of the two. Closed-cell neoprene is more waterproof and will keep you warmer, but it is also less flexible than open-cell neoprene. If you are diving in warm water, you can get away with a thinner suit made from open-cell neoprene. Closure The vast majority of wetsuits are zip wetsuits. Some come with a chest zip which zips up front, but most wetsuits are a back zip wetsuit which the zip on the back. Chest zips have the added bonus of being easy to zip up yourself, but usually have a smaller opening and are more difficult to put on. In addition, chest zip wetsuits also have a tendency to feel tight around the shoulders. Back zip wetsuits are the diver's go-to. A long pull cord comes attached to the back zips, so you can easily zip yourself up, although many a helpful diver will offer to zip you up. 📖 How To Fit A Wetsuit Every body type is different, and while you can certainly shop for a wetsuit online, it is so highly personal that finding the perfect wetsuit requires you to try it on. A well fitting wetsuit will effectively trap water, while a loose, or ill-fitting wetsuit will simply let the gloriously warm water escape out from the suit and let cold water in. Brrrr. Most dive shops and sports stores will have fitting rooms. Be sure to wear a swimsuit or underwear underneath the wetsuit to properly fit your suit. 🥽 Pro Tip: Placing a plastic bag over each foot will have your leg slide more easily through the suit, making taking the suit on and off way easier. The wetsuit should fit snugly, but not be too tight. It should be comfortable and not restrict your movement. You should be able to easily move your arms and legs. When you have it fully on, do a couple of squats, or fin your legs a little and see if your movement is restricted. If you are still unsure about which size to choose, ask the store employees and other divers for help. They will be able to tell you which size is best for your body type. Often, each brand is known to have certain characteristics like wide hips or shoulders. Of course, everyone has a personal preference for different wetsuit styles. In addition to functionality, and a comfortable fit, the wetsuit should also be aesthetically pleasing to you. You don't need the best wetsuit or the most expensive wetsuits, but your suit will last several years, so don't be afraid to splurge a little. 🤿 Wetsuit Accessories Paired with a reliable wetsuit, you can also have a few accessories to give you just that little extra warmth. Hoods Your head loses up to 30% of your body heat. By keeping your head warm, you'll feel way toastier than if you continuously lost body heat through your noggin'. Probably not a must in warmer water. Neoprene Gloves Gloves are a great option for those who want to stay warm while diving, helping your hands and fingers stay warm in cold water and keeping you way more comfortable. Try the gloves out on your equipment, or you'll be fumbling around for the whole dive and constantly taking your gloves on and off to operate your equipment. Also not a must in warmer water. Note that if you are doing underwater photography, fumbling around with the controls will be trickier with gloves, so if you're bringing down the camera, you might want to leave behind the gloves. Boots Booties are a must if you are wearing open-heel fins anyway. However, make sure you have booties of the appropriate thickness. There is nothing worse than cold feet, so keep your feet warm! Ready for your own gear but don't want to splash out? Learn about the Top Beginner Scuba Gear for ! 👈 🥶 Do You Need A Dry Suit For Cold Water? Of course, it depends on your definition of "cold". As long as you are comfortable, always go for something that has you warm and toasty throughout the dive. Doesn't matter if you get laughed at! (I do, a LOT). Temperatures below 65°F/18°C can already warrant the use of full dry suits, while at a temperature below 50°F / 10°C, a dry suit is most definitely recommended. While shivering throughout the dive is obviously no fun, hypothermia takes it a step further and makes being cold dangerous. While most dry suits are back zip, try to find one that is chest zip. Taking on and off a dry suit is no joke! More Content: - Beginner Scuba Diving Depth - 13 Scuba Diving Rules: OWSI Explained - Scuba Diving Certification Cost 🧠 Frequently Asked Questions Chest Zip or Back Zip? Whether you want a front closure or back is a personal preference. While the most popular style of wetsuits is usually back zip wetsuits, chest zips are easier to access. However, chest zip wetsuits have smaller openings and are more difficult to get into. When Do I Need A Wetsuit? Whether you need a wetsuit depends on your cold tolerance and personal preferences. I for on, love to be nice and toasty throughout the dive, and will wear a 3mm full suit when the water temperatures hit 80°F / 27°C and below. Those with a high cold tolerance can probably wear a rashguard and boardshorts at those temperatures. How Do I Fit A Wetsuit When you're trying on a wetsuit, you want to make sure that it's snug but not too tight. You should be able to comfortably move your limbs. If the suit is too tight, it will restrict your movement and make it difficult to breathe. If the suit is too loose, it will let in too much water and you'll get cold. When trying on a wetsuit at a dive store, bring two plastic bags and use them over your feet. That will make your feet slide through the wetsuit way easier and make trying the suits on a breeze. How Do You Pick The Thickness Of A Wetsuit? When choosing a scuba diving wet suit, you need to pick the thickness of the suit. This will depend on the water temperature and your own body temperature. If you are diving in warm water, you will not need as thick of a suit as someone who is diving in cold water. As a general rule, a rashguard and boardshorts can be worn at temperatures of 85°F / 30°C & above. If you are particularly susceptible to cold, you can wear a 3mm shortie in the place of a full suit. Can I Use A Surfing Wetsuit To Dive? Yes you can, but the performance of a surfing wetsuit under atmospheric pressure is different from a diving wetsuit. Surfing wetsuits are made with neoprene that is less dense, and under pressure, will compress and give you less insulation. Diving wetsuits are made with dense neoprene that compresses less under pressure. You can certainly use a surfing wetsuit to dive, but you'll be less protected with a thinner layer of neoprene. Read the full article

[thecoroutfitters]

Written by Wild Bill on The Prepper Journal.

Editors Note: Another guest contribution from Scott Hamilton to The Prepper Journal. If you have information for Preppers that you would like to share then enter into the Prepper Writing Contest with a chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards with the top prize being a $300 card to purchase your own prepping supplies!

You don’t have to hang up your hiking gear just because the temperatures are dropping. Hiking in the winter can be a great way to test your mettle and explore a literal winter wonderland. If you’re planning on heading out to hike, here is a comprehensive list of everything you need to survive a winter hiking trip. Keep in mind that we’re not talking about an afternoon hike though – this is a list of things that you’ll need to survive a more extreme winter hike.

Stay Warm

This might be a given, but it’s essential, so it merits mentioning. Don’t cheap out on your clothing or equipment if you’re heading out into the wilds. A good set of winter hiking equipment might seem expensive, but with a set of high-quality gear, you don’t necessarily even need to haul a tent with you! You could be perfectly warm sleeping in the snow- though we don’t recommend it.

Look for well-insulated clothes that are made with moisture-wicking material to keep you dry even if you’re sweating – wet clothing draws more heat away from your body than being naked in the snow, so it’s vitally important to stay dry.

Calorie Up

You already know how important it is to get enough calories while you’re out hiking. If you’re out in the winter, you will need even more calories than you would typically consume on a hike. Being out in the cold will make you feel hungrier, and eating can help to keep you warm due to the heat released during digestion. While you might not burn more calories when you’re cold, you will need to eat more food to stay fueled during your cold-weather hike.

You also need to make sure that you’re drinking enough water while you’re hiking. If it’s cold enough that your water supplies might freeze, keep them in insulated containers so you’ll always have something to drink. Don’t eat snow unless you have a chance to melt it and treat it – even clean looking snow can harbor bacteria that could make you sick which is the last thing you need when you’re miles from the nearest signs of civilization.

Pick a Location

Pick a place where you want to hike. You’d be surprised how many options to have available during the winter months. Even areas that are typically filled to the brim with tourists during the warmer months will be empty or mostly empty during the winter. Yellowstone, for example, is almost always packed with people when the weather is warm trying to get a glimpse of the bison that populate the park or crowding around Old Faithful for a look at the geyser.

In the winter in Yellowstone, you don’t have to go looking for bison – they’re all huddled around the hot springs trying to stay warm, and all the ordinarily crowded tourist attractions are nearly empty. You will likely also be able to spot a lot more wildlife than you would during the warmer months, as wolves and other animals venture out of their dens to find food.

Pick a Campsite

You need to be smart about picking your campsite if you’re hiking during the winter. In the summer, you would likely avoid low-lying sites because of the risk of flash floods. In the winter you don’t have the flood risk, but you should still avoid low-lying campsites. Cold air is denser and sinks into valleys and other low areas, making it colder there than it would be on a hill or mountaintop.

Keep an eye on the snow as well, and look out for animal prints. If you see a lot of prints, especially those of predators like wolves or big cats, you know that you’ve found a game trail and shouldn’t drop your tent there. Seeing wolves or other big predators on a winter hike is impressive – from a distance.

Mind Your Batteries

You probably have more than a few battery powered tools that you bring with you on a hike, from your cell phone and GPS to flashlights or chargers. If you’re going to be out in the cold, stick with products that use lithium batteries. Alkaline batteries – like D-Cell or AA – will start to lose power as soon as the temperature drops below freezing which could leave you in the dark or lost in the woods.

If you have to use products with alkaline batteries, keep them warm and insulated in your pack or near your body. Even rechargeable alkaline batteries are susceptible to this power loss, so keep that in mind when you select your hiking electronics.

Be Mindful of Cold Injuries

There are two things that you need to worry about when you’re hiking in the winter – frostbite, and hypothermia. Knowing the symptoms of both can help you prevent long-term injuries.

Frostbite is caused when the skin and surrounding tissue freeze due to exposure. Frostbite symptoms include skin that looks pale or waxy. The area might also be painful or numb. In its early stages, know as frost-nip, it can be treated by simply warming the effected area if warming the area results in blisters though it could indicate a deeper problem that needs to be treated by a medical professional.

Hypothermia is what happens when your body’s core temperature drops far below average. Mild hypothermia can show up as shivering and clumsiness, while severe hypothermia symptoms include significant changes in behavior. Shivering will also stop during the final stages of hypothermia because the body’s energy supplies are depleted. Getting warm is the first step toward treating hypothermia, but if you’ve progressed to moderate or severe symptoms, it’s time to head home or call for help.

Hiking during the winter months can be a transcendent experience, but only if you’re prepared and careful. Don’t hang up your hiking gear just because the temperature is dropping. Just swap out your warm weather clothing and equipment for thicker clothing and a tent and sleeping bag that can help you weather the cooler temperatures safely.

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from The Prepper Journal Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag

[hdeubevxsenxs-blog]

Life As A Healthcare CIO

Some locals and visitors wanted to keep the original name but were outvoted by the Corporation of Hamilton city fathers who stated it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity the city had to celebrate the diamond jubilee of a reigning monarch. ]xercises that amount to self-administered physical therapy, and are normally recommended by a health care professional who trains the worker in the proper frequency, duration and intensity of the exercise. I am in the process of making sure there are no holes by the different applicances, ac units hoses, etc., but there are still some rats. When you use a healthcare sharing ministry, you are responsible for making sure your medical bills are submitted. The U.S. Office of the Inspector General administers two databanks that collect adverse information about physicians and other healthcare providers. Embassy in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and obtain updated information on travel and security. For under the hood of cars open up the hood often if you park outside and spray with pine sol or Lysol disinfectant the moment you see or hear scurrying or can smell rat piss from 5 feet away. We’re saving money every month, and we get to see any doctor of our choosing. Money orders can also be a safe substitution for cash if you have to purchase something through the mail. Have rats that enter my yard through the fence from one yard and runs across my yard to the nest yard. What do you know about these electronic electric traps that electrocute rats? Therefore, many CEO phishers will zero in on new members of the finance department in the hopes that person does not yet know all the safeguards that may be in place to prevent the scam from working. 562.50 for a married person filing separately. We think of exercise as something that makes us sweaty. We think the rats are worse than usual this year because we all had a lot of flooding this summer, but regardless of the cause, we just want them to go away. Some people swear rats dislike the presence of humans and will run away the moment they feel you are messing too much with their ‘privacy’. I have Pack Rats in the home. Ensure Colorado Has a Voice in Federal Decisions on its Public Lands — Coloradans understand in our core that public lands have value far beyond industrial development. I will continue the work of formulating interstate contingency plans that benefit Colorado and which can be implemented as we face warmer temperatures, reduced precipitation, canadian pharmacy online and diminished reservoir levels. It will just be a small percentage of the person’s income and that is after they will probably lower eligibility by putting in place some factors as the income and the social benefits. The denser the metal on the cage, the more protected the electronic devices inside will be - another reason why metal trash cans are often used as Faraday cages. One of the most notorious cases of ransomware was the 2017 WannaCry attack in which more than 400,000 machines were infected. Leaving the city, even on foot, should be done during the immediate aftermath of the EMP attack when the populace is still stunned and trying to figure out what the heck is going on. I don’t know about you, but even if something was really helpful, I wouldn’t be able to function at all if I was stoned all day and night. Trust me, I know the feeling. However, taxes are payable only during the last calendar month in which the employee worked and the six months that follow. Consult Corporation Secretary for details of most recent taxes. OSHA believes that visits to a hospital for observation or counseling are not, of and by themselves, medical treatment. Such plans would include life insurance, medical and dental insurance, disability income, and retirement programs. Universal life insurance products give the insured the right to increase or decrease the death benefit from the level originally selected as circumstances change. In such cases, the coverage is provided under a separate group insurance certificate rather than a rider. Politicians, payers, providers, and patients must work together to make it happen over the next 5 years. The active ingredient (Orlistat) blocks a percentage of fat (around 27%) from being digested and absorbed by your stomach from each and every meal. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of the active cannabinoids in cannabis. During this time, one can visit numerous local "pan yards" in the evenings to hear the world's premier steelband rehearsing intricate arrangements of specially commissioned competition tunes. The overpayment is another one for sellers to watch out for. They purchase tickets online and show up to the event to find out they’re holding fakes. In addition to comments about the first aid items OSHA proposed to consider first aid, a number of commenters asked for additional clarifications or recommended additions to the first aid list. Keep items in air-tight plastic bags. While many types of internet fraud can target virtually anyone with access to a computer, many are crafted specifically with the elderly in mind. Canadian Pharmacies are almost synonymous for online pharmacies.

[livingcorner]

How to Soundproof a Garden from Traffic Noise

For most a garden is an oasis and most likely a homeowner’s favourite spot to spend extended periods of time to relax and unwind – especially during the warmer seasons.

Whether a small courtyard, or a more expansive green plot with mature shrubs, plants and flora, it’s a place where we want to spend as much time as possible whilst the weather is at its finest.

You're reading: How to Soundproof a Garden from Traffic Noise

For some homeowners however, this is not always the case.

Many homes are unfortunately built close to busy roads and highways that emit the constant buzzing of traffic noise.

In most cases, the noise created can be overheard from nearby gardens, which spoils the ambience and ability to enjoy the space.

In short, noise pollution from nearby roads and traffic is a massive nuisance.

Apart from being off-putting to use your garden, you may also end up suffering healthwise in the long term.

So, if you’re one of the many people suffering from traffic noise or general nuisance noise in your garden, read on to discover a number of methods to soundproof your garden and dramatically reduce unwanted noise pollution.

Acoustic Principles/Treatment Methods

There are two or three acoustic principles or approaches you can choose from when tackling external sound mitigation – deflection, absorption and in effect both by energy conversion.

When dealing with external noise transfer, no two scenarios will be the same and it’s important to understand the basics of what you are trying to deal with, from where it’s starting and how it’s travelling to you in your particular location.

Traffic, by nature of what it is, is moving and varying in way of dB levels, speed, frequencies, power and pressure.

The sound waves propagate away through the air in all directions and will act differently with weather, atmospheric pressures and when bouncing from other objects.

This means that whatever barrier or principle you adopt invariably needs to be a little longer or wider or higher than just the area you think is causing the problem, such as a hole in a single fence panel or a gap in the bushes or tree line.

An initial and very basic approach would be to at least block line of sight (a straight line in which an observer has unobstructed vision of the noise problem) and then add a little bit more.

If you can see it, you are invariably going to be hearing it.

And remember, whatever barrier you adopt has to be not only effective acoustically but also fit for purpose, affordable, stand the test of time and be aesthetically pleasing.

Something which is often forgotten when desperately trying to get rid of an unwanted and seemingly never ending drone.

Let’s look at the differing approaches.

Acoustic Deflection

As the name suggests, this technique aims to deflect or reflect unwanted sounds in the opposite direction.

An example of this application in the garden is to install a high perimeter wall or fence around the garden, so that the traffic noise is effectively bounced back from where it came.

This technique will work better than attenuation but understandably, is a more expensive option than planting shrubs and hedgerows.

Consideration should be given to structures and objects on the opposite side of the road.

This may sound irrelevant however, sound waves travel in all directions and could therefore effectively travel away initially, only to be deflected from the other side of the thoroughfare and bounce straight back toward your barrier.

Worse still, they could be deflected straight over the top of the barrier depending on how tall it is. More on this later…

Acoustic Absorption

Sound absorption refers to the process by which a material, structure, or object takes in sound energy, absorbing to reduce the sound power and sound pressure, thus reducing sound propagation.

One way to achieve this sound muffling effect, is to plant thick shrubs strategically around the perimeter of the garden so that they can absorb sound waves from the road.

This method at best may muffle unwanted sounds in the garden, although seldom has the desired effect as invariably it is not dense and thick enough to deal with problematic frequencies to remove completely.

Read more: How To Use Garden Plants To Deter Midges And Mosquitos

Absorptive, open cell materials/media used as an external barrier have a limited effect and unless protected simply wick moisture, which reduces the ability to further absorb.

Acoustic Energy Conversion

Acoustiblok Isolation Membrane is a material which works by converting sound energy into trace heat energy.

When sound waves come into contact with the membrane, it vibrates the molecules of the materials which in turn creates friction which is cleverly converted to a trace heat energy.

Thus the material works by converting a more problematic acoustic energy into a less problematic heat energy, which is simply transferred through the material sideways to reduce flanking transmissions.

The material is highly effective as it does not have the associated issues and required thicknesses of absorbing materials, nor the rigidity or mass of dense materials.

Noise Barriers

Be it a wall, fence, or foliage, we’re now familiar with the simple process of how noise barriers work.

However, the type you choose will depend on a number of key factors including preferred type of construction, location, desired effect, height and length and budget.

Barrier Height & Length

Put simply, the higher the barrier, the more effective it will be at blocking or deflecting noise.

To close the line of sight is a good starting point, but the higher the proposed barrier is the better.

This is referred to as the ‘angle of incidence’ with an increased height or length offering an increased angle from the point of original source ignition of the noise to the top of the barrier to force change of effect to acoustic waves.

For example, a fence that is at least two metres tall is far less likely to allow sound to pass over it than a barrier at one metre high or lower.

Barrier Density

As you might imagine, as a rule of thumb the denser the barrier, the more likely it will prevent that noise from passing through it.

This is not completely true as a material’s own density comes with rigidity which in turn can provide a flanking route.

However, this does not tend to be such an issue externally compared to the problem of sound waves going up and over or around the proposed structure.

So if you live close to a particularly busy street that produces considerable levels of noise, you may need to invest in a thicker, denser solution combined with the appropriate or sufficient dimensions – height/length.

Barrier Coverage

Sound has the ability to find ways to pass through even the smallest of gaps or cracks.

So any barrier you build you must ensure that there are no gaps or obvious places where sound can pass-through whatsoever.

Even the tiniest of holes or gaps could considerably reduce the effectiveness of the barrier.

Barrier Placement

Barrier placement plays a crucial part in its efficacy when reducing unwanted traffic noise.

The closer the barrier is to the source of the noise, the more effective it should be at sound reduction by increasing the angles of incidence from the point of original source ignition to the top of the barrier.

Regardless, the most obvious positioning would invariably be at the perimeter boundary which may already have some type of existing structure in place.

Depending on the lay of the land and elevations, secondary barriers may be considered.

Perimeter Barrier Options

Garden fences come in various types, designs and styles.

You may wish to consider the most suitable soundproofing material and option that will be most effective at reducing unwanted noise.

Brick Wall

Brick walls are robust and durable providing increased levels of density and mass which we all know is a basic principle to mitigating sound.

If installed to a good height, they are effective at blocking unwanted noises, especially if built to a reasonable thickness.

This may however not be the preferred option for many people as it is invariably a very costly option when considering material costs, structural foundation and skilled labour to erect.

Local council planning permission may also be required for any reasonably effective height wall from the local authority.

Aside from the above, many people do not like the thought of having a giant brick wall surrounding their garden, as it creates a displeasing and enclosed feel to the space.

Timber Fencing

Timber fencing is one of the most common choices homeowners make when installing a garden perimeter sound barrier.

Apart from being fairly easy to install, they are also reasonably cost efficient.

However, standard timber fences do have a number of common pitfalls.

Wooden fences such as shiplap or feather edge slats can be erected to close the line of sight and be aesthetically pleasing, however they have a tendency to allow sound to pass through gaps in each of the slats.

This can become worse over time with weathering and shrink back of the timber slats.

Overall, timber is not considered a particularly effective sound dampening material.

So if your nearby road noise is particularly bad, a fence in isolation may not be enough to tackle the problem.

Metal Fencing

Some of the more common metal fences may be used more as security fencing and not be preferred as they are not particularly aesthetically pleasing.

In a lot of cases, the fully closed varieties are also quite ineffective at reducing unwanted road noise and add to a high level of resonance and regeneration.

Any open varieties such as wire or chain link quite obviously let acoustic energy pass straight through them.

Although they can offer a cost effective sound structure to create a perimeter barrier onto which acoustic barrier membranes can be applied.

Products like Acoustifence are ideal for this scenario and the results are very impressive to say the least!

Shrubs & Hedging

Shrubs and hedges are often preferred as they complement the garden nicely, offer an aesthetically pleasing site line and also reduce air pollution.

However any type of planting needs to be rather thick, dense and very mature to have any real effect as problematic frequencies will pass through foliage as if it is not even there.

They also come with the need for maintenance, needing regular pruning.

Read more: Grow Coriander at Home with this Simple Guide

Some types of mature shrubs come at a hefty price.

So if you need to block unwanted noise in a hurry, you can’t buy younger plants and be made to wait several years for them to grow to the desired height and thickness.

Even then the likelihood of success is rather slim.

Acoustic Fences

Acoustic fences are becoming increasingly popular as they are very effective at blocking unwanted noise.

Invariably built with much thicker, denser, tongue and groove interlocking timbers to increase acoustic values.

A sensible approach is starting from scratch and a new structure needs to be erected.

Although they may come with a slightly higher price tag, they are still far cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing than a gigantic brick wall.

They are also far more effective at blocking unwanted sound too.

Acoustic Membrane

In the majority cases, most gardens will already have a fence installed.

So the natural choice for any homeowner is to try to improve on what’s already installed on the basis the existing is structurally sound, sturdy and strong enough.

Acoustiblok AcoustiFence membrane is perfect for this scenario as it can be installed onto the existing fence and acts as a highly effective noise barrier by converting sound into energy.

The material is easily hung by attaching to the existing substrate or support posts by additional timber support or using the grommets/eyelets.

So installation is quick and hassle free saving on labour costs.

Products like Acoustifence are ideal for this scenario and the results are very impressive to say the least!

Alternative Ideas

Other options favoured by many garden owners include:

Water Features

Rather than focusing on reducing the traffic noise, you might consider ways of obscuring it or deflecting your attention away from it by altering the ambient values by adding other more pleasant noises.

With the sound from a fountain or water feature, you’ll be distracting yourself away from the undesirable sounds from the street, and instead focussing on the calming sounds of running water.

This changes the perceived levels of the nuisance noise.

Wind Chimes

By placing a number of wind chimes in and around your garden, you can help to create a more tolerable atmosphere that distracts from the road noise.

Even with a gentle breeze, wind chimes start to jingle and produce pleasing sounds that help you forget or at least ignore the traffic noise from the nearby roads.

Trees

The more trees you plant, the greener your space.

And the more you plant, the chances are you are increasing the sound attenuating properties of your garden.

That said, larger trees with larger limbs and branches can actually deflect the sound back towards the ground.

Deflection or reflection in this way is known as urban resonance.

Certain trees are more effective at reducing traffic noise more effectively.

Understandably, evergreen trees rather than deciduous varieties tend to be better due to their density and all year round foliage.

Examples include Leyland Cypress, Eastern White Pine, and Arborvitae.

These can become very large trees that grow quite quickly and as they grow they tend to create height whilst losing the lower growth and density which of course can then leave gapping at the bottom near the ground.

Conclusion

Reducing unwanted noise from nearby roads can be quite difficult especially once one tunes in to the particular noise/frequencies and the perceived levels are increased.

Ultimately, the level of the noise produced will determine the most suitable noise reducing application.

Budgets, aesthetics and convenience all play a part, so there’s rarely a single solution to suit all scenarios.

In some instances, small changes such as plants and garden accessories may suffice.

But in others, more robust solutions may be in order which require contractors to install more permanent structures such as high fences and walls, or even better, specialist acoustic noise reducing membranes to drastically reduce the sound of nearby traffic.

If you are unsure of which option is best suited to your needs, you can always speak to a professional acoustic consultant who can offer up the best ways to tackle your unwanted noise, and get back to enjoying the tranquility of a quiet and peaceful garden once again.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/how-to-soundproof-a-garden-from-traffic-noise/

[justowrite]

Late Night Stories(11)

genre(s): angst

summary:    

At first, I don't know if the shattering sound it's just in my head or if it's really happening. Until Baz hugs me and throws me to the floor. I don't notice the broken pieces next to us but the blood on my hand

words: 1400(ish)

warnings: cursing, violence, death, blood

a/n:  I feel like Natalie from Community Channel everytime I say I'll try to publish more. I have to accept that I suck. It's not like I don't try, it's just that when I have time to write my brain it's too tired to think anything decent...not an excuse but you know to avoid feeling too horrible...

Anyway, I hope you don't hate me too much and you are enjoying the story! :D Thank you so so so much for reading and the lovely the comments!PS: this story is close to ending. <3

AO3

Part 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 

***

Crack.

At first, I don't know if the shattering sound it's just in my head or if it's really happening. Until Baz hugs me and throws me to the floor. I don't notice the broken pieces next to us but the blood on my hand. Baz picks my face up. I see him talking. I see him move his mouth. Although, I can't hear him over the ring on my ears.

I look up and the first thing I see it's Agatha running. I want to go after before but I can't get up. I turn around and there's a growing puddle of blood beside Ebb's unconscious body. My eyes stay just on her for a second. I look up before settling them on the man on his knees next to her. He stops moving his lips and stares backs at me. He stands up and his eyes move away from mine to Baz next to me. It takes me a moment before I can recognize him. To understand what just happened. Finally, I can hear Baz calling my name as I start to get up. I don't think I'm breathing, I don't feel air going through my lungs. Instead, I only recognize the taste of smoke in my mouth, with a touch of a bitter flavor of the tears running my cheeks until they fall into my mouth. I can only focus on his madding eyes through the blurriness of mine. He stops in front of me, just before reaching Baz. 

"Sim-"

"No..." I stop him before he can even start. 

"I'm doing this for you," He gives a smile like he doesn't understand what I mean yet.

"Then stop." I clench my teeth, in an attempt to stop the sobbing from coming. 

He reaches for my cheek, I take a step back and lift the sword. He doesn't step away instead he gets closer again. My sword shakes, I can't do it. He cups my cheek in his hand, it feels wet. "You are broken Simon," He whispers to me, "I want to fix you, I need power, I need magic..."

I grab his shirt with my bloody hand. "You can have it. Take it. I don't want it." I cry to him, "Have mine."

"I'll fix it, my son. You are free of this horrible responsibility upon you." He promises. 

When I look up to his eyes, there's realization. I let go of the air I was holding, let go of his shirt, let go of the sword. The sound of it falling eco around the room. I fall on my knees before crying out. "It's...over..." I declare feeling my chest lighter between sobs, "Finally..." I look to my knees as the tears start to create a puddle. 

He grabs my shoulder and presses it. My magic flows in a way it has never done before. I can let go. "I'll-" 

"Bend over backwards!" I hear a shout before I do. "Hit the floor!" Penny yells again, but it doesn't work because the Mage is already on the floor. "Head over hills!" The spell pushes him away from me. It gives her enough space to walk over to me. Infront of me. She is still pointing her ring to the Mage. But he is not moving anymore. 

"Penny?" What...? What are you doing?" My voice breaks, unlike hers. Every spell came out steady, strong even if her eyes were tearing up. 

"What are you doing Snow?" I turn to Baz, he is standing up now. His voice is angry, desperate and a million other things I can't describe. He clenches his hurt arm harder. 

"But..." I try to think a comeback, an idea, something to say. Maybe there's something I can say or do but my head is only tornado of words and incomplete ideas.

"He was going to kill you." Penny finally puts down her hand, she keeps her hand on a fist. 

I turn to the Mage on the other side of the room. The tears roll faster on my cheeks like there's no end. Baz kneels next to me and hugs me. "It's okay love...everything is going to be okay..."

"I..I..." I gasp for air, "... can't...not...not any...anymore..." 

"It's going to be-"

"No!" I cry loudly, "It's...too...much..." The flow I felt before hasn't stopped. "I think...I...I going...to expode..." I clench my fist and close my eyes as hard as I can. 

"Simon?" I hear Baz's voice covered in worry. 

There's a voice I don't recognize in my head. Yelling. Pushing me to the edge. I don't understand what it's saying. It's calling for something, someone, me perhaps. Until it get's too loud. Until I can't hold the magic anymore.

I open my eyes; behind Baz a figure stands, looking down to their own hands.

"Who...who are you?"

It's a kid. 

Baz lets go of me and turns around. He and Penny gasp but don't say anything. 

The kid looks up and smile. "I'm what's left after you."

Finally, his features click in my mind. He is too thin, too short, too young. 

"Why do you look like that?" I mumble, frowning at the boy. 

"Because I come from you I guess." His mature expressions don't fit his body or pre-teen voice.

"What?" I start standing up. My legs shake but I don't give up. 

"You thought all that magic was yours?" He mocked.

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" I take a step forward in his direction. 

"Oh please get angry," He licks his lips, formed into a smile. His lips are chipped and fry. "Feed me more. Maybe I'll grow like you." He changes his stare to look at the red ball I used to play too many years ago in his hands. I clench my teeth. "Maybe I can change again."

"Stop mocking me! Show your face coward!" Baz stops me from coming close to him. 

I turn to Baz, "I don't think he is lying Snow." He looks at me dead serious. "I think he...he-"

"This is the first time he has a physical form, isn't it?" Penny finishes the sentence. 

"The attacks weren't to kill you," Baz looks down, frowning, "...it was to make you explode."

He stops throwing the ball in the air. "You sure are quick." He smiles pleased.  

Anger makes my blood boil. My fingertips start to tingle on magic again. Thoughts start to get tangled.

"Snow." I ignore him. My eyes are on the Humdrum but Baz pulls me forcing me to turn to him. "That's what he wants, Snow." 

"And what else can I do?" I pull away as the smoke around me gets denser. 

The Humdrum laughs, "Yeah, what else can you do?" I blink; before I can react his hand is on Penny's shoulder. Her yell jumps all over the room, she falls on her knees. There's a small moment where her eyes connect with mine. A small moment before consciousness leaves her eyes. Just before her head hits the floor. Before I run next to kneel next to her. He looks down at her body. "I've never done that with a mage before, you know? What an interesting result!" 

"What did you do to her?!" I yell between my teeth, hugging her cold body.

"Mmm..." he seems to stop to think, "I gave a little bit of my nothing, I guess you could say. I just pushed it. I guess she didn't like it." The enjoyment of his voice makes me want to puke.

I hug Penny's body harder. I hold on to her because I want her to be okay. Then there's that the flow of her magic again. I turn to her face. I let go again, just like before. I try to leave behind the anger, to just let the magic go through. Until her body is warmer, until I hear her gasp, until her magic well is full again. 

"What did you do?" The Humdrum says finally changing his smile. He doesn't sound in any way worried though, rather curious. "That was a lot...more effective..." He almost sounds impressed. 

"Simon? Is that you?" We turned to the voice. My stomach drops.

"Certainly Simon is a better name the Insidious Humdrum..." He rolls his eyes annoyed.

The Mage looks back and forth on between the boy and me. "The..the...Humdrum?" 

"Who comes up with this names?" He looks down to me. Is he really talking to me?

"I need to...Simon I need to..." Baz get's in the Mage's way before he get's to me. "Don't you understand Simon can't defeat him?!" There's a tone of desperation hanging in his voice that makes me want to give up. Until I turn back to the Humdrum.

I noticed his smile, his stare on Baz, the way he licked his lips just before extending his hand. 

[lovemychinchilla]

Why Can You Not Get a Chinchilla Wet?

There are lots of online guides that say you shouldn't get a chinchilla wet. They say that if you do, your pet might die. But how true is that?

Why can't chinchillas get wet? If it stays wet and cold for a long period, a chinchilla will die of hypothermia. If it stays damp, it can catch fur fungus. A few drops or a splash won't hurt your pet, but you should take care to avoid water anyway.

This is common sense: any species that could never even touch water would quickly die out. But nevertheless, there's lots for you to learn below...

What Happens to a Chinchilla When It Gets Wet?

As a chinchilla's fur coat is so dense, it absorbs water easily, but is difficult to get dry. As such, getting a chinchilla wet means it can stay wet/damp for a long time. This can cause health issues like fungus and hypothermia, the latter of which can kill your pet.

This isn't the case if you get one or two drops of water on your pet. But if your chinchilla gets loose and has water spilled on it, or it jumps in the toilet or into a bucket, then it will become sick if you don't correct the situation.

Note: This means you can't put a water bowl in your chinchilla's enclosure; instead, your pet has to have a water bottle. This is also why chinchillas bathe with dust rather than water.

How Much Water Is Too Much Water?

Several online guides state that even a few drops of water are dangerous to a chinchilla, but this isn't true. Otherwise, wild populations of chinchillas could never have existed. This would also mean that messy water bottle drinkers would die or become ill, and that any chinchilla which sprays urine (or is sprayed on) would be done for. But as any owner will tell you, that's obviously not the case.

So, if your chinchillas has come into contact with water somehow, it's not a death sentence. Your pet isn't even likely to become ill when damp, unless you neglect it.

The problem is if you allow a large amount of water to soak into your chinchilla's fur. Once the water is soaked in, it's difficult to get dry. This is the core issue, because fungus and temperature regulation issues occur when the chinchilla is damp for a long time.

Why Can't Chinchillas Get Wet?

Chinchillas can't get wet and stay wet because they become sick. The two issues which affect a wet chinchilla are fur fungus and hypothermia.

Fur Fungus/Ringworm

Chinchillas can be affected by ringworm. Ringworm is a kind of fungal infection (dermatophyte, i.e. fungus which grows on skin) which thrives in warm and moist conditions. So if your chinchilla gets wet, it becomes more likely that it will catch ringworm.

Once caught, a fungal infection of any kind is communicable. This means it can be passed from one chinchilla to another. This happens quickly, so prompt treatment is essential. Ringworm is easy to diagnose because it affects chinchillas in a specific way:

Bald spots first appear around the nose or eyes

These bald spots spread to the front feet or genitals, or the body

These spots may be red and itchy

A vet's visit will be necessary. They will recommend a topical antifungal agent such as Betadine which you must apply to your pet's affected areas using gloves (ringworm affects humans too). Don't allow a chinchilla with ringworm to take dust baths, as the spores are spread through the dust, which gets everywhere.

Temperature Regulation Issues (Cause of Chinchilla Water Death)

Chinchillas are more comfortable with low temperatures than high temperatures. However, if affected by damp, a chinchilla can get too cold. That's because your pet's fur is a core tool in its temperature regulation.

The purpose of fur is to trap air. Body heat warms the air within the fur, which stays trapped, and the density of the fur stops the cold air outside from reaching the skin. When fur is wet, it can't trap air because the water is where the air would be.

In addition to this effect, water cools the body down through evaporation. When sweat evaporates from your skin, it cools the skin down. While chinchillas don't sweat, any water that gets in their fur acts the same way. So, the water evaporating from your chinchilla's fur will further cool it down.

All of this means that your chinchilla gets far too cold. This can exacerbate illnesses, e.g. respiratory infection, although these are not caused by getting cold. It makes illness worse because the body has to expend lots of energy to keep warm rather than fighting the disease.

And like any animal, if your chinchilla's core body temperature drops too much then it will die (hypothermia). Chinchillas have a body temperature of 98.6 to 100.4°F (37 to 38°C); water can cool a chinchilla down far below this, and quickly. You have to dry your chinchilla to prevent this happening.

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How to Dry Off Chins

If your chinchilla has gotten wet, don't panic. You can correct the situation in several ways: warming the room, towel drying, blow drying, offering dust baths and lowering the humidity. Blow drying your pet is particularly effective, but must be done in a particular way to prevent further harm.

Warm Your Chinchilla's Room

Temperature is the core issue with a chinchilla getting wet, so you must do what you can to keep your pet warm.

Check the temperature of the room and move it towards the higher end of the chinchilla's acceptable temperature range (72 degrees Fahrenheit).

This gives you some wiggle room, because while your pet will cool down because of the evaporation of the water, it will stay slightly warmer because of the temperature of the room. By contrast, if the temperature was toward the lower end of the acceptable scale (e.g. 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) then the cooling effect would leave your pet at a dangerous body temperature.

Set the termostat to an appropriate temperature and monitor it to ensure it stays correct.

How to Towel Dry Your Chinchilla

You can use a towel to dry a chinchilla, although you must be careful. Take your pet from its enclosure and place it on a towel. Then, take the towel and rub it gently against your pet's sides, without squeezing it. Begin by stroking your pet with the towel from its head to its tail. Then, rub its fur in a light circular motion all along its body.

Don't expect this to completely fix the problem. This should get rid of some, but not all of the moisture in your pet's fur. Drying hair is difficult enough; drying chinchilla hair is harder because it's denser. To completely dry your pet, you must continue with the methods below.

Use a Hair Dryer (Blow Dryer)

Your chinchilla can easily get too cold when wet. But it's even easier for it to get too hot. Your initial instinct might be to warm your chinchilla up by using the blow dryer at its hottest setting, but this could kill your pet by overheating it.

Instead, blow dry your chinchilla at a cool setting. This will initially cool your chinchilla down because the water will evaporate, but if done in an a room at a suitable temperature (between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit) then your pet should warm up quickly enough afterwards. To blow dry your chinchilla:

Place your chinchilla somewhere comfortable. You want it to stay still. Distracting it with a treat might help.

Hold the blow dryer around 6in away from your pet. The loud noise and strange feeling of the air might unnerve your pet, so don't hold the dryer too close.

Take a grooming comb and run it through your pet's fur. You want to lift the fur up so that the air can access underneath it.

Many chinchillas enjoy blow drying. If you have had to bathe and blow dry your chinchilla before, it will know what to expect, and should sit still.

Try to get your pet's fur completely dry. If you can't , don't worry, as dust bathing will dry out the fur to its original state.

Offer Your Chinchilla a Dust Bath

Chinchillas bathe in dust rather than in water. The dust/sand acts like talcum powder: it keeps skin or hair dry by wicking up any oil or moisture.

This wouldn't be a suitable method for drying your chinchilla if it were still soaking wet. The dust would clump up and attach to the fur. Instead, only offer your pet a dust bath once you've dried it using the other methods above. Double the amount of dust baths you give to your pet overall.

Don't offer your chinchilla dust baths if you suspect it may have ringworm. Change the dust each time your chinchilla bathes.

Lower the Humidity in the Room

High humidity makes drying more difficult. That's because the air is already approaching saturation with water. The less humid a place is, the quicker the rate at which evaporation will occur.

In this context, that means lowering the humidity in your chinchilla's enclosure, and in the room that it's in. There are several ways of doing this:

Remove water from the room. Any bodies of water, e.g. a leftover cup of water, slowly evaporate and contribute to humidity in a room.

Don't stay in the room for long periods. When you breathe, you breathe out moisture and make the room slightly more humid.

Use a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers make a room dryer.

Turning on the air conditioning unit would also lower the humidity. That's because AC works by condensing water from the air. But don't do this to lower the humidity in the room, as the last thing your pet needs is to get colder.

Can You Bathe a Chinchilla?

Bathing should only be done if absolutely necessary, and is not recommended for novice owners; but it is possible. To do so, you must:

Use a 'gentle' baby shampoo, without sulfates if possible.

Use luke warm water: not too cold, and definitely not hot. Bathing a chinchilla is like bathing a baby.

Shampoo and scrub lightly at all times. Rinse the fur thoroughly.

Towel dry, blow dry and dust bathe your chinchilla.

To reiterate, there's no need for the average chinchilla to take anything but dust baths. These are enough to keep your pet's fur completely clean. But in certain cases, e.g. of disability, then a chinchilla will need help keeping its fur free of urine and bacteria.

Can You Shower a Chinchilla?

Showering isn't recommended as it's less gentle. Water droplets splash and could get in your pet's eyes; the force of the water may also be too strong, and would make your chinchilla uncomfortable. If you're gentle, though, it can be done.

The same caveat applies that this is only suggested for experienced owners, and is unnecessary in almost all cases. Stick to dust bathing your chinchilla instead.

How Do Chinchillas Not Get Wet in the Wild?

Wild chinchillas don't get wet in the wild for two reasons. The first is that they live in and around the Atacama Desert. This is officially the driest place on the planet; some weather stations there have not seen a single drop of rain since they were installed decades ago. That's because this desert sits in the rain shadow of two different mountain ranges, one on each side, which physically prevent rainy weather from accessing the area.

The area around the Atacama isn't as dry, but still only gets 1mm (3/110ths of an inch) of rainfall a year. Long tailed chinchillas live closer to the Chilean coast, which receives more rainfall, albeit still not much.

What Do Wild Chinchillas Do When It Rains?

If rainfall does occur, the chinchilla will run for shelter underneath a plant or in a rock crevice. Here, it will avoid the worst of what little rain there is.

It is also possible that the chinchilla is caught in the rain. If it is, then it may experience the temperature regulation/fungus issues described above. This is the kind of risk which animals encounter in the wild.

Can Chinchillas Swim?

Chinchillas are not natural swimmers. They don't swim across bodies of water in the wild, and for good reason.

If you have ever been swimming in your clothes, you'll know how difficult it is. That's because your clothes soak up water and make you heavier. It takes more effort to swim.

A chinchilla's dense fur coat is like your clothes. A chinchilla swimming in water will have its fur clog up and become heavy, so would quickly drown. So, don't force your pet chinchilla to swim.

Other than that, all good care guidelines apply. By spending lots of time with your pet chinchilla, for example, you should notice any time it gets wet and take appropriate steps to help it. And if your chinchilla gets wet and won't get better, take it to the vet for medical assistance.

Below, you can find our chinchilla quiz, new posts for further reading, and a signup for our Chinchilla Newsletter!

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#chinchillas #chinchillacare #water

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Are Infrared panel heaters a good way to heat a room?

Infrared board radiators at infraroodpaneel are a generally better approach to warm your home. They work distinctively to radiators, and have a few favorable circumstances with regards to energy proficiency.

Infrared board radiators use radiation to warm the room rather than convection. This implies that they convey heat straightforwardly to individuals and goods as opposed to attempting to warm the whole space. Power is costly, so electric warming is regularly viewed as an uneconomical choice, yet by moving warmth all the more productively board radiators can give a decent option in contrast to customary focal warming frameworks.

So what is the distinction among convection and radiation? Furthermore, what are the benefits of one over the other?

Warmth consistently moves from more sultry items to colder ones. There are a few manners by which warmth can be moved starting with one spot then onto the next. The most well-known are conduction, convection and radiation.

Conduction essentially happens through solids. Nuclear power is passed starting with one iota then onto the next, thus moves quickly through an item. A few materials, for example, metal, lead heat proficiently. This why the outside of a radiator rapidly heats up when high temp water is siphoned through it. Different substances send heat significantly less effectively, thus make great protection.

Convection is the development at infraroodpanelen Webshop of warmth through a liquid, for example, air or water. At the point when a liquid becomes hot its thickness diminishes, this is the reason hot air rises. At the point when it chills off again it gets denser, and sinks. This sets up a flow, and warmth is moved starting with one spot then onto the next by the moving liquid.

Radiation is the transmission of energy by electromagnetic waves. Warmth is principally sent by photons in the infrared scope of the range. These convey the energy from its source, and convey it to any object which ingests them. This implies that radiation can go through any straightforward medium, including a vacuum.

Most focal warming frameworks depend on convection to convey heat. Notwithstanding their name radiators warm up the air around them, which courses through the room. They produce some warm radiation, which is the reason we can feel heat falling off them. Anyway this isn’t their main role.

Infrared boards depend on radiation, which makes them a serious proficient warming framework insofar as we don’t attempt to utilize them similarly as an ordinary radiator. As opposed to warming the air an infrared board conveys heat straightforwardly to the inhabitants and goods of the room. Anybody sitting before a board will feel warm, regardless of whether the air around them is still genuinely cold. This implies substantially less power must be utilized than if the whole volume of the house must be warmed all together for the tenants to be agreeable.

This implies that infrared board radiators are especially successful in more established structures which have drafts or helpless protection. Absence of protection makes an ordinary warming framework hugely wasteful. The warmth created by the evaporator is continually lost through the texture of the structure. This isn’t an issue for infrared radiators since the warmth is conveyed straightforwardly to the inhabitants of the room. It is additionally consumed by dividers and goods, which store heat substantially more successfully than air.

Infrared radiators can be utilized to set up temperature drafting inside a room, since just the region in view of the warmer gets energy. This can be a preferred position in enormous and drafty rooms, especially on the off chance that you will be sat in similar spot for extensive stretches of time. Since the boards are independent units, without any lines, they can be situated to fit the format of the room, in any event, being held tight the roof so they point down at the individuals underneath.

The primary strength of infrared boards can likewise be their biggest shortcoming; they give a coordinated warmth source, instead of a space warming arrangement. This implies that they are exceptionally dependent on view. In the event that you are straightforwardly before the board you will feel warm, however once you switch off the radiator or move to an alternate zone you will be cold once more.

This implies that they work best on the off chance that you intend to remain in a similar territory for some time, however aren’t as acceptable in the event that you will be moving around a great deal. Infrared boards can’t be mounted in similar spots as customary radiators, since furniture will effortlessly hinder the board. Dividers and goods will reemit energy for a brief timeframe after the radiator quits running, yet generally you should maintain it on in control to feel warm. want Wholesale infraredheating panels Visit us now!!