#author: sunken-standard

[em1i2a3]

What if the gang were out somewhere and Bob saw someone who reminded him of his father so he starts having a panic attack and y/n has to calm him down <3

Never Let Me Go

Pairing: Bob/Robert Reynolds/The Sentry/The Void x Thunderbolts!Fem!Reader!

Summary: On a day off, the team arranges to go to a farmers market to do a bit of R and R. But what happens when Bob has an unexpected encounter with a ghost of his past?

Warnings: Spoilers for Thunderbolts (will put this here because there is some plot from the Thunderbolts in here and some of Bob's story in here) Angst baby…Angst, Hurt/Comfort, and some fluff at the beginning. Descriptions of a panic attack, Mentions of Trauma. Bob and Reader are in an unlabeled relationship, they care deeply about one another and they are each other's comfort person they just don’t say they’re in a relationship, there are very minor discussions about sex (nothing graphic or extreme)

Author's Note: I love writing angst for Bob. The sugar puff doesn’t deserve the sadness but writing it is so simple and my brain eats it up like it’s junk food, and things fall into place so easily. Thank you for the request!! I enjoyed writing this very much, and building a backstory and everything. We love creative freedoms lol

Word Count: 5,583

Two nights before everyone’s scheduled day off, the Thunderbolts compound turned into a battleground–but not the kind with blood and broken glass.

No, this one was somehow worse.

It was filled with groaning, dramatic sighs, petty barbs, and the very serious politics of trying to plan a group outing with seven people who had wildly incompatible definitions of “fun.”

The common room buzzed with late-evening heat and lived-in clutter–dim overhead lights flickering slightly, a half-eaten bag of pretzels on the table, the low whir of the box fan doing a poor job of circulating the stale air. The couch cushions were sunken in all the wrong places. Someone had abandoned a trail of dirty socks that led ominously into the hallway like breadcrumbs. No one was taking credit.

Yelena had draped herself upside-down over the back of the couch like a melting spider, boots propped on one armrest, braid dangling down toward the floor.

“How about we don’t do another bar,” She said, idly twirling a throwing knife between two fingers. “Last time we went, I don’t even remember how I got home. And I’m positive Alexei smuggled out at least three ramekins.”

Alexei, currently half-submerged in the compound’s fridge, called out in his usual booming tone, “We didn’t have any here. Useful little things!”

Walker groaned from his claimed spot in the worn recliner, legs extended so far into the walking path that everyone had given up trying to step over them. “I’m all for anything but a cat café,” He muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Last time we did that, Alpine almost clawed my eyes out.”

Bucky, sprawled on the other end of Yelena’s couch, arms folded and expression unreadable, didn’t look up from the book in his hands. The aforementioned Alpine–elegant, pristine, and smug as ever–was nestled in his lap, purring like she owned the room.

“You sure it was because you had other cat fur on you,” Bucky said evenly, “Or because she just doesn’t like you?”

Walker rolled his eyes with the resigned aggression of a man who hadn’t experienced real peace since being assigned to this team.

“Oh, please. Like that little cotton ball has a moral compass.” As if on cue, Alpine–silent and serene just moments before–let out a sudden, loud hiss, her ears flattening dramatically. Ava snorted from her perch on the windowsill, one leg curled up beneath her as she scrolled through her tablet.

“Seems like she’s the only one of us with actual standards.”

While the rest of the team spiraled into another round of chaotic banter, you were tuned out–half-listening, half-smiling, but your attention was rooted in him.

Bob was stretched out on the far couch beneath you, lying on his stomach, shirt rumpled and ridden halfway up his back from where your hands had worked their way under the soft fabric. One of his arms was folded under him to cushion his face, while the other reached lazily backward–his hand resting on your calf, thumb rubbing idle, slow strokes over your bare skin like he couldn’t help himself. It wasn’t sexual to either of you. It was instinctive, he just needed some part of him touching some part of you to stay grounded, that’s how it had been since the beginning of your friendship and it led into your odd romantic relationship as well.

You were perched on his lower back, straddling him comfortably, your knees braced on either side of his hips as you worked at the tense knots nestled deep in his shoulder blades and neck. The heat of summer lingered in the room, making everything feel a little slow, a little hazy, and super super hot. Bob’s skin was warm under your palms, and the muscles beneath flexed subtly with every careful dig of your fingers, trying to protest the intrusion.

Bob had come to you earlier that day–sheepishly, voice low–as if you hadn’t touched him a hundred times before.

”G-Got a spot I can’t really shake,” He murmured hand drifting to his shoulder, “Kind o-of feels like someone stuffed glass i-in there.” You’d been hunched over your laptop trying to finish your mission report, but without hesitation you immediately responded.

”Give me ‘till tonight,” You said, “I’ll work them out for you.” And you always kept your word with him no matter how chaotic your life got, because here you were–on top of him, pressing out tension filled knots caused by months of stress, uncomfortable nights on the couch, and bad posture.

He groaned loudly as your thumb found another tight point near the base of his neck.

”O-Oh god–yeah right there–w-what is that?!” You leaned down, mouth close to his ear, your voice dropping to a teasing whisper as your fingers kneaded deeper into the knot.

“It’s from you being curled up on this damn couch all the time,” You murmured, letting your teeth graze the slope of his shoulder before giving him a soft, playful bite right where the muscle dipped, where you had left a mark two nights before.

Bob let out a surprised noise–half a laugh, half a groan–and his grip on your calf tightened slightly. “You bite me, t-then go straight back to causing me unbearable pain, you can’t be giving me these mixed s-signals.” You smirked at this comment.

“I don’t make the rules,” You said sweetly, pressing your thumb into the lump again. “I just remove the knots.” He let out another groan, louder this time–squirming under you like he was trying to make some sort of escape from the sensation of you digging your fingers into the coiled lump.

“Does the sadist and her little masochist have any opinions on what to do for our day off?” Ava called dryly from the windowsill, without even looking up from her tablet. “Or should we give you a safe word and circle back?”

Yelena choked on her water.

You didn’t miss a beat. “It’s ’hot lava,’ if anyone’s asking.”

Bob snorted weakly into the cushion, his voice muffled but amused. “I thought i-it was you who suggested that l-last time.”

“Only because you got too cocky with the hot stones and almost passed out. I told you they would be too hot for your skin and you’d get all sweaty.”

“That was one time,” He mumbled. “And I was fine.”

“Fine doesn’t come with tunnel vision and almost putting your head through a wall…’”

“I hate both of you,” Walker grumbled from the recliner, dramatically swinging a leg off the armrest to sit up. “Can we please pick something before I throw myself out a window?”

“Promise you will?” Ava murmured.

“I think we’re all just a little too warm for rational thinking,” Bucky muttered, reaching up to gently scratch Alpine’s ear as she blinked lazily at the chaos. “We should do something low effort that we don’t have to put a lot of thought into.”

Alexei perked up from the kitchen where he was still chewing through what had to be his fourth slice of cold leftover pizza. “How do we feel about outdoors? I could go for rollercoaster ride. Or smoothie. Something festive!”

Ava finally held up her tablet. “There’s a farmers market across town. Live music. Local vendors. Fresh produce, kettle corn, homemade baked goods. Says there’s a guy who does wood-burned art and fireblowing.”

There was a moment of silence.

“I could go for some homemade pie,” You said, half to yourself, still working your fingers gently through the muscle beneath your hands. Bob twitched a little when you brushed against a sore spot, but didn’t flinch away.

“Mmh,” He hummed, shifting beneath you with a drowsy sigh. “If you’re going, I-I guess I’m in too…”

You glanced down at him, an amused curve lifting your lips.

“Yeah?”

He nodded against the cushion, his voice muffled but sure. “We’re a p-packaged deal, after all…Don’t l-like going anywhere without you.”

You smiled, feeling your cheeks heat up slightly.

And then–with surgical precision–you pressed down on the knot you’d been circling, just a little deeper. Bob let out a startled, half-choked yelp, his back arching under you before he sank back into the couch with a whimper.

“I was hoping my c-compliment would stop y-you from doing that.” He groaned, as you let out a small laugh.

“Then it’s set! Farmer’s Market it is.” Ava announced.

——————

Two mornings later you found yourself in your room as the sun rose—half dressed, half awake, thumbing through your closet like your brain hadn’t quite caught up to your body.

Sunlight filtered in through the slats of your blinds, striping the hardwood floor in long, amber bars and cutting soft golden edges along your furniture. The light glowed against the rumpled sheets on your bed, warmed the metal frames stacked against the wall, kissed the edge of the mirror you hadn’t quite cleaned. The air still held the hush of early morning. No shouting yet. No Alexei slamming cabinet doors like he was chasing down enemy intel. No scent of Walker’s industrial-strength coffee-sludge. The whole place felt like it was holding its breath.

The rest of the team was still asleep–or pretending to be–but you and Bob had been up since just before five.

It hadn’t been loud, the way he woke. There was no scream, no flailing, no sheets twisted in panic. Just a sound–a single, sharp gasp. Like his lungs had suddenly remembered they were supposed to be working.

You’d jolted upright before he even spoke, your hand already reaching for him.

He wasn’t panicking. But the way he laid there with his chest rising and falling in quick, greedy pulls, told you everything you needed to know. His eyes weren’t wide with fear–just vacant. Like something had pulled him under, and the shore was still a little too far off.

So you didn’t ask.

You just shifted closer, let your hand curl gently into the hem of his shirt, and breathed with him until the rhythm returned to something human again.

When he could finally speak, his voice rasped against the pillow: “I think I’m up for good.”

So were you.

You’d shared a bed most nights since the early weeks of the Thunderbolts forming–before anyone knew what to do with Bob. Back when he couldn’t stand the idea of being alone and you hadn’t yet admitted how much you needed someone to need you. It had happened gradually–shared exhaustion turning into silent rituals. He never asked. He just showed up, and you let him in. That had been the way he communicated everything he needed.

He only ever slept in his own bed when he wasn’t feeling well–emotionally, physically, psychically. And when that happened, no matter how gently you protested, he always said the same thing: “I don’t want to hurt you.”

He never had.

But you understood. You always did.

So this morning, when he pulled away after the nightmare, you let him. You watched him leave quietly, silhouetted by the hallway light, and whispered “Okay” to the empty air after him.

And now, you were here, scanning your closet, still thinking about the way his breathing had sounded—too loud in the silence, like someone had pulled him from deep water.

The knock came softly. Just three taps.

“Hey,” Bob’s voice came from the other side of the door–low, rough with sleep. “Y-You decent?” You padded over from the closet, lips quirking at the way he still asked for permission to come inside the room.

”It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked, Bob,” You said, twisting the doorknob, “We’re way past the point of asking if I’m decent.” When you opened the door, his ears were already pink.

He stood there in a loose, heather-gray t-shirt that clung faintly to his chest from where he hadn’t fully towel-dried, and a pair of soft navy joggers that hung low on his hips. His feet were bare, hair still slightly damp at the ends, curling around his ears and brushing his jaw. It had grown a lot since you first met him–past his collar now, lighter at the tips from all the sun lately. He looked sleepy, and a little shy, and like something beautiful that had just barely survived the night.

In his hand, he held a single black hair tie looped loosely around two fingers.

You stepped aside, sweeping a hand toward the room in invitation. “Come on in.”

He entered quietly, the door clicking shut behind him, and his eyes drifted around like he hadn’t really seen your room in daylight before—even though he’d spent more mornings here than anywhere else in the world. It was familiar, yet it still made him nervous in the smallest ways, like your presence still overwhelmed him just a little. Like he couldn’t believe you kept letting him in.

He turned to you, holding up the tie.

“C-Could you…?” He asked, hesitating slightly. “You always…Y-You do it better than I can.”

You smiled—soft, fond. “Of course.”

He didn’t need any more prompting. Bob crossed to the foot of your bed and sat down on the floor, like it was his spot–like he belonged there. You sat behind him on the edge of the mattress and let your fingers ease through his hair–combing it gently, smoothing it back from his temples, parting it the way you knew he liked. It was soft, a little tangled at the ends, still warm from the shower. You moved with care, as if you were touching something breakable.

“You’re gonna need a trim soon, got some split ends.” You murmured, running your thumbs behind his ears.

“I like it long,” He said quietly, voice reverberating through the hush like it didn’t want to disturb the peace. “Y-You like it too.”

“Mmm. I do,” You admitted, smiling as you gathered the top portion into your palm. “Especially when you let me braid it.”

“That was once.”

“And you looked hot.”

He ducked his head with a flustered breath that almost passed for a laugh, “Y-You just say that so you can make m-me blush.” You didn’t answer that—just wrapped the tie once, twice, and secured the knot neatly at the back of his head, a soft half-up twist with the front strands falling just the way he liked.

He reached back, fingertips brushing the base of the tie, testing the tension.

“…Perfect,” he whispered. Then, quieter still: “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

You paused.

Your hand was still on his hair, your other braced against the mattress. The warmth of his body radiated through the space between you, and when he tilted his head slightly–craning his neck to look up at you–it hit you again, just how much of your heart this man held without even trying.

You leaned forward without a word and kissed his forehead.

It wasn’t romantic.

It wasn’t not romantic either.

It just…Was.

Soft. Slow. Steady. Your lips pressed right against the crease above his brow, where his worry lines always gathered, where the night had lingered like a bruise.

He exhaled through his nose, leaning into it like he was trying to memorize the moment. Like it was the only thing keeping him here.

“I’m right here,” You murmured, thumb brushing behind his ear. “Always.”

Bob swallowed, then reached up–fingertips barely grazing your knee. “W-We should get dressed,” He said softly, not quite moving. “Before Alexei starts a s-small kitchen fire trying to make pancakes again.”

You smiled faintly. “Good point. We’ll tag-team the fire extinguisher if we have to.”

He turned just enough to glance over his shoulder. “P-Partner system?”

“You know it.”

——————

After breakfast–which was somehow miraculously fire-free, though only because Bob caught Alexei trying to flip pancakes with a chef’s knife–everyone eventually piled into the SUV like clowns in a circus car. Bucky had claimed the driver’s seat with a resigned kind of authority, while Yelena took the passenger seat, sunglasses already perched high on her head

Alexei and Ava were wedged into the middle row behind them, their usual brand of bickering already in full swing before Bucky had even started the car. Something about what counted as an appropriate booth at a farmers market.

You ended up squished into the very back row–one of the fold-out benches, technically meant for three, but realistically comfortable for maybe one and a half. Bob had climbed in after you without hesitation, knees bumping yours, and Walker–who drew the short straw after loudly insisting he “didn’t have enough leg room and should technically be at the front”–ended up next to you, with his arms folded and his head against the window.

This left you pinned between Bob’s warmth on one side and Walker’s long-limbed discomfort on the other, with nowhere to stretch his legs. You wouldn’t have minded normally–but the heat was already starting to build, and the SUV’s AC unit definitely didn’t sound promising to you.

Bob, as always, had found you without needing to ask. His hand was resting gently on your thigh, fingers curled softly into the hem of your shorts, not possessive, it was just to know you were there. His thumb brushed back and forth in slow, rhythmic strokes just above your knee, and you didn’t say anything about it. You never did.

He was wearing a pale blue t-shirt now, cotton thin and a little too big, sleeves hugging the curve of his biceps, his tied-back hair still damp at the tips where it clung to the back of his neck. He smelled faintly of cedar soap and laundry detergent, and the lingering trace of your shampoo from the bottle he sometimes used without asking.

Walker huffed beside you, shifting his elbow dramatically. “If either of you start making out back here, I’m tucking and rolling out of this moving vehicle.”

Bob blinked, innocent and mild as ever. “W-We weren’t–”

“You will, though,” Walker muttered. “I can already feel the sexual tension radiating off you like a goddamn space heater.”

“Can’t blame them,” Yelena called from the front, twisting around just enough to shoot you a knowing look over her sunglasses. “At least someone’s getting laid.”

“We’re not having sex,” You said flatly, eyes fixed on the fraying seat fabric beneath your thumb. You weren’t lying when you said it. Both you and Bob had your own reservations about the whole act itself, but it didn’t mean neither of you had your moments of wanting to do it then getting scared to ask. Nothing in the compound was a secret so exposing that to the group wasn’t really a big deal…Or so you thought.

The comment earned a beat of silence–just long enough for everyone to register how serious your voice was–before Ava spoke up.

“…That’s worse,” She said, blinking. “You mean all that flirting and massages haven’t gone anywhere?” Bob’s ears turned a shade of red so deep it looked biblical.

You didn’t flinch. “No. Not yet. We do other things,” You said pointedly, still not looking at anyone. “We’re just…Taking our time.”

“‘Other things,’” Yelena repeated, raising both eyebrows. “So you’re edging yourselves now?”

“Okay–nope,” Bucky snapped from the front seat, his grip tightening on the wheel. “We are not doing this. I don’t want to hear the word ‘edging’ in here for the rest of the car ride please.”

“Sorry,” Yelena muttered, not sounding sorry at all. “Didn’t mean to scare Grandpa.”

“You do realize this means the tension is worse than we thought, right?” Ava added, adjusting her sunglasses without looking up from her phone. “You’re not sleeping together yet, but you’re still all over each other like a pair of Victorian lovers with a shared brain cell and a strict no-penetration clause? That sounds like psychological warfare.”

Walker groaned and slumped deeper into the seat. “Honestly, it sounds like a Cold War for sex.”

“P-Please don’t encourage that line of thinking,” Bob murmured weakly, looking like he wanted to disappear into the upholstery.

“Can we talk about this when we’re out of the car so I can make an escape at least?” Bucky muttered, signaling with more force than necessary before changing lanes.

You exhaled, closing your eyes for a moment. The heat of the van. The smell of sunblock and leather and too many bodies. Bob’s thumb–slow, steady–brushing along the inside of your thigh like it was the only thing grounding him. You felt him shift slightly, his shoulder brushing yours as he leaned closer. His voice was low, meant only for you.

“Y-You okay?”

You turned toward him slowly, met his gaze. Soft, steady, still a little fogged from the early morning–but so achingly present. Like he never really looked at anything else when you were in the room.

You nodded once. “Yeah,” You said, quiet as the hum of tires on the road. “Just thinking.”

He didn’t ask what about. He just squeezed your leg gently, his palm warm against your skin, and looked out the window like the worst of the day was already behind you.

The SUV kept rolling–toward sun and stalls and small-town charm–and you tried to breathe past the flutter in your chest.

Because you felt that something was off in the air, you just couldn’t put your finger on it.

——————

The farmers market sat at the edge of town like something out of a picture book–sunlight caught in cloth-draped canopies, booths lined with jam jars and hand-poured candles, the air scented with kettle corn, grilled peaches, and the distant trace of burning sage. People moved in lazy loops past flower stalls and chalkboard signs, kids with balloon animals weaved through legs, and a folk band played off to the side under a vine-covered gazebo.

You stepped out of the SUV, blinking against the brightness, the warmth of the pavement radiating up through the soles of your sneakers. Bob was right beside you, stretching once with a soft grunt, hair tied neatly back, putting on a pair of sunglasses that hung low on his nose. You didn’t even have to reach for him–his hand found yours naturally, fingers curling between yours like it was the easiest thing in the world.

The others peeled off in separate directions almost immediately–Alexei making a beeline toward the smell of roasted nuts, Ava dragging Walker to a pottery booth under protest, and Bucky already halfway to the honey stand, which was conveniently located near one of the coffee tents, with Yelena following close behind, with a shout of “I’ll be back if I get bored!”

Bob stayed with you.

You walked side by side, fingers linked, your shoulder brushing his with every step. It was light between you–breezy, easy, with the kind of soft comfort you’d built slowly over time like a house made of quiet affirmations and gentle touches.

At a booth shaded by a white parasol, Bob picked up a toothpick sample of fresh mozzarella and sun-dried tomato, his eyes flicking to you like he was offering you it instead of him, and you shook your head, watching as he immediately popped the little stack into his mouth, slowly biting down on it like he was worried he may not like the taste. His facial expressions were unreadable to you.

“Is it good?” You asked, nudging him with your hip as he chewed.

He nodded, then grabbed a second one for you, a small pleased smile playing on his lips. “M-Maybe too good. W-We might have to come back.”

You grinned, leaning in to bite it off the toothpick, your fingers brushing his. He was right in the fact that it was indeed too good, even for just a little bit of mozzarella and sun-dried tomato. “We definitely have to come back.”

There were fresh apples dipped in honey, a booth with carved soap that smelled like lavender and woodsmoke, a ceramic artist who pressed your hands into clay to make little thumb-heart tokens. Bob pocketed the one with your prints on it without a word.

And then the shift happened, the one that you were expecting from the beginning of the car ride.

It came all at once–subtle, but immediate if you knew what to look for. Bob stopped mid-step beside the stall with the pressed flower jewelry. His hand slipped from yours. His shoulders stiffened like someone had tugged a wire tight inside him. You turned to ask what was wrong–and followed his line of sight, laying eyes on what he was looking at.

The man was tall. Broad-shouldered. His white shirt was tucked into a pair of work-worn jeans, and his arms were tanned from years in the sun. His hair was cut short and neat, parted sharply to the side. And the mustache–thin, severe, like it had been trimmed with a ruler–made your blood go cold.

He was laughing at something the vendor said, shaking a paper bag open. Just a man. Just a stranger.

But to Bob, he was not, and you didn’t have to guess where his mind was going.

You’d seen that face once before–through the dim gray light of a memory that didn’t belong to you, in a space that pulsed like a wound. You’d seen that man through Bob’s eyes.

You’d been caught in one of his shame rooms with him. Not just as a witness–but trapped. Both of you pulled under by the twisting, coiled maze of Bob’s worst fears and guilt. It had taken hours to find a way out–at least it had felt like hours. You’d fought alongside him against illusions that clawed and mocked and whispered. And when you’d finally made it to the attic of his childhood home, where the air didn’t taste like blood and grief, he’d collapsed beside you like his bones had given out.

You remembered the stillness. The way he fixed your hair with shaking fingers. How he apologized–not for dragging you into his trauma, but just…For being like this. For not being able to protect you from what lived in his head.

You’d caught his chin, tilted his face up with a hand soft as a promise.

“Don’t apologize to me, Bob,” you’d whispered. “You’re the one who went through that. And you didn’t deserve a single thing that happened to you… You were just a kid.”

He’d cried. Silently, terribly, eyes shining like shattered glass. You wiped them away with your sleeve and pulled him against your chest, holding him like you could stitch the pieces back together just by keeping him close.

That was when Yelena had found you both, crouched in the attic like kids hiding from a thunderstorm.

Now, standing in the golden light of the farmers market, you saw the exact moment the past cracked through Bob’s present.

His chest rose too fast, too sharp. The edge of a panic attack wasn’t always violent with Bob. It was quiet. Internal. A collapsing spiral. And you could see it now—the way his eyes were locked on the man across the market, not blinking, like if he looked away for even a second the world might split open beneath him.

You stepped closer, slow but firm. “Bob,” you whispered. “Look at me. Just me.”

He didn’t move. His lips parted like he might say something, but no sound came out. His shoulders trembled. You saw the way his hands curled into fists at his sides—tight enough his knuckles were pale, as if his body was bracing for something that hadn’t hit yet.

And then you saw it. The first shudder in his breath.

You reached for him. “Come with me,” You murmured, and gently–without tugging–you touched his wrist. “We’re gonna move, okay? Just here. Just around the corner. You’re safe. You’re safe.”

Somehow, he followed. Wooden, barely lifting his feet off the ground, he let you guide him past the flower stall and behind a canvas tent stacked with baskets of late summer peaches. There was a quiet pocket of shade there, near a fold-out chair and an old milk crate someone had turned into a makeshift stand. The noise of the market faded just enough for you to hear the sound of Bob’s breathing–fast. Frantic. Hitching like he was fighting against his own lungs.

He dropped into a crouch the second you stopped, like his body couldn’t take the weight of standing anymore. His hands clawed into his hair, dragging back against the tied strands, and his whole frame bowed in like he was trying to fold in on himself and disappear.

“Bob,” You said, dropping to your knees in front of him, voice steady despite the panic clawing at your own chest. “I’m right here. I’ve got you. You’re not alone.”

His eyes were wide, glassy with unshed tears, chest heaving. “I–I can’t–” His breath caught like he’d swallowed broken glass. “I can’t—get—air—”

“Yes, you can. You can, just follow me, okay? Just follow me.” You reached out and cupped one of his fists–clenched so tight it trembled–and gently started to peel his fingers apart, one by one.

“Easy,” You whispered. “ Give me your hand.” When his palm was open, you pressed it flat against your chest–right over your heart, where it pulsed at a normal pace against touch.

“Feel that? That’s me. That’s real. I’m here. You’re here. We’re not back there.”You took his other hand next, gently, carefully, and placed it flat against his own chest. “Now match me. Just match me, okay?” Bob choked on a breath, sharp and wet, like he was trying to breathe through water. His heart was pounding wild and disoriented–like it was trying to break out of his body.

“I can’t–” He rasped again, and his voice cracked so violently on the last word that tears spilled from the corners of his eyes.

“You can,” You said, firm but soft. “Just one breath. Just one. In through your nose, nice and slow, okay? Just copy me. That’s all you have to do.” You exaggerated your own breath for him–deep, steady, slow. One hand guiding his against your heartbeat, the other pressing gently into his own chest. “Come on, Bob. In.” You watched his shoulders rise shakily.

”Good. Now hold for one, two, three…” You could see tears welling in the corners of his eyes.

“Now let it out.” You instructed. He shook violently as he exhaled, his hands twitching under your palms. You did it again. And again. Coaching him through each one. Repeating it like a litany.

“You’re doing so good Bob…You’re safe, you’re not back there, he’s not here, and he can’t hurt you…You’re not alone…I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”

Eventually, his breath started to sync with yours, and his heartbeat began to ease slightly. Some inhales were a bit shaky and hitched, but it was still an improvement. You watched the color slowly return to his face, the tension bleeding out of his shoulders in uneven jerks. His fingers clenched reflexively into the fabric of your shirt, right over your heart, like he didn’t trust it to keep beating if he didn’t hold onto it.

His head dropped. His forehead pressed into your shoulder. And the dam broke.

Silent, shaking sobs wracked his chest—like everything he’d held in since that attic was clawing its way out now. You wrapped your arms around him, cradling the back of his head, letting him bury his face into your collar as his tears soaked into your tank top.

“I’m right here,” You whispered again, rocking him gently. “You’re okay.”

He didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. But you felt his arms come up–slow, hesitant–and wrap around you, clutching you like you were the only thing anchoring him to the present.

You stayed like that until the worst of it passed.

Until his breathing settled.

Until his hands stopped shaking.

Until the world tilted back into something resembling solid ground.

And when he finally lifted his head, eyes red and puffy, lips parted with the remnants of a thousand unsaid things–you just brushed his hair back from his damp forehead and kissed it once, like you had that morning, before giving him a small kiss on the lips.

Steady. Soft. A reminder that he was here with you and you weren’t going anywhere.

You stayed with him in the silence, until the panic ebbed like a tide pulling back from the shore.

[victonair]

“Was it really Casual?” - Azul Ashengrotto x reader

Since childhood, you had always been unsure about romantic relationships - tending to avoid them at all; you didn’t know how to feel when people often confessed to you. Unfortunately, you were always a magnet for things you didn’t want, weren’t you? Which led you to the ultimate form of trouble itself, the calculating and dealmaking Dorm Head of Octavinelle, Azul Ashengrotto.

Or rather

In which, Azul falls in love with you, and you don’t know what to think or do.

Author’s Note: I’ve been writing too much fluff in both my drafts and blogs, so this is a nice refresher. Once again, I am open to requests! I really need something to motivate me to write more, so a couple would be nice! I wrote this within an hour so please don’t have that high of a standard for this! I consider this a drabble since it’s only 1600+ words, so please do enjoy!

Content Warnings: Angst, Reader and Azul being in a situationship, and Reader’s gender being ambiguous! Both Azul and reader are childhood friends and both of them are toxic in some way, but they’re toxic together! Azul is an unreliable narrator, and lastly, this fic is left with an ambiguous ending.

-

Azul had been in love with you for a long time. And that was an understatement; the feelings he had, had boiled, marinated, and developed for years. It took him so much time to realize the fact that he had been in love with you that he didn’t even know when his feelings started to develop. He wondered when it first sparked to life: was it when you took to exploring the sunken ships under the sea with him? Or was it when he first arrived on land, and for the first time, you gazed at the stars and looked at him so adoringly that it was almost sickening. He didn’t know, but all he knew is that he couldn’t bear to hide it from you anymore. It had took him years to accept it, and another year to gain the confidence to confess to you.

He didn’t know exactly what went wrong when he did confess; the plan was perfect, he’d woo you and charm you till you fell for him, that was if you didn’t fall for him like he did for you in the first place. He calculated his odds and although he wasn’t sure of it - he took the risk.

So, why was your answer like this?

You stood across him, the lounge empty from the private dinner you just had. Your eyes looked off to the side, refusing to look at him - this wasn’t the worst scenario he had expected, but it wasn’t the best. Little did he know that he’d see that your answer was the worst one he could’ve ever expected - not because of the answer itself, but the outcome that he would see through due to it.

“…I don’t know.”

What do you mean by that? You didn’t know? Were you in love with him or were you not? When was there ever a middle-ground? Perhaps, you were still in the stage of discerning, and to him, that was okay. He would help you discern your feelings for him, and he’d make sure it’d be all right for both him and you.

For a while, he was silent, before smiling at you. The same smile he’d use on his clients, and you clearly saw that. There was clear tension in the room as he hid the unsure hurt he felt, because then again, based on your answer - he did have a chance to convince you that both you and him were perfect for each other.

“I see.” His eyes stared at yours, whilst yours looked down to the ground, anywhere else. You looked like you wanted to be anywhere else in the world, and for some reason, his hurt began to ache with a pain, similar to the pain he felt when he loathed himself for getting these feelings in the first place, and by extension: you.

He kept the same business-like smile on his face, taking a deep breath before speaking once more, “Are you unsure? If so, then at least give me a chance to convince you that I’m good for you, or that you have feelings for me.” His hands clenched tightly underneath the table, something to still his heart from the pain he felt.

And for a few moments more, silence was present within the room - it was eventually broken by you giving him a nod and one word:

“Okay.”

And so began the hell that you put through him to, starting with your answer.

-

From that point on, he had done everything in his power to have you make the decision to love him: from showering you with gifts, to offering to do everything for you, and everything in a typical romance novel - he had done it. And each time, you had accepted it with a smile, almost like your answer and tune had changed regarding your answer to his confession. He took it as a positive.

But each time he had tried to bring it up, you looked uncomfortable and shied away from the subject as a whole - you instead tried to change or deflect the topic. And not wanting to lose his chances, he foolishly let you do it, always complying with what you wanted regarding the subject. If you didn’t want to talk about it, then he wouldn’t force you to.

However, with months of this development, it drove him insane. You did everything he wanted you to do to him - you smiled at him adoringly, took his courting gifts, and made it clear to the world that both of you were meant for each other - so why were you so annoyingly persistent about not bringing up the topic of defining what you were? When he asked, you - you looked uncomfortable and proceeded to say that you just weren’t ‘ready’.

He understood, it took him years to come to terms with his feelings. However, you couldn’t do this to him, not when he had already waited for months, years if you count when he didn’t recognize his feelings and one more year for when he did. It was hell. And for how rare it was for him to feel helpless in life, he felt so helpless to you - only you could end his suffering and you could do that by just doing something, anything.

He didn’t know what to do with you anymore, really.

-

The moon and stars looked so beautiful, but it couldn’t compare to you - you looked especially radiant as you laid down on the grass beside him. You had invited him to stargaze for one night, and he had taken you up on your offer. He couldn’t understand how beautiful you were; he was sure God existed, because if he didn’t - why wouldn’t he have given you to him? You were both his blessing and curse to bear - your existence and friendship was a blessing, whilst his unaccepted feelings for you were a torturous curse, he was sure that God had planted for his greed and all he had done to deserve this.

But it didn’t matter if God existed or not, because either way - he would have you do something to end his pain.

“…Sometimes, I imagine myself in your arms, dancing with you and laughing with you. And at times, I think that I want you to be the first thing I see when I wake up, and the last thing I see when I fall deep into my slumber within your arms.”

You had always said things like this to him since childhood, always things that made his heart race and when he was a child - he didn’t know what the feeling was, but now he knew. And this time, his feelings were laced with bitterness and hurt.

“Then, why don’t we make it official? We can do all of that, if you want. Just…say yes to me.”

Immediately, he could tell you were uncomfortable, but before your mouth opened to change the topic like you always did - he interrupted you, “And don’t tell me some nonsense about you not being ready, I’ve been courting you for months - doing the best I can to make you see reason. But you won’t see it.” His fists were clenched as he stared at you eye-to-eye.

A breeze rolled onto both of you as silence permeated the environment, the only noise coming from the woods that were filled with peaceful creatures, harmless ones unlike yourself. Finally, you met his eyes and after a while of hard staring, once more, you had one more answer.

“I know. I know I’ve been leading you on, but I can’t- I’m just not ready for a relationship-“

Azul immediately interrupted you with his own response, “Then reject me. Reject me and be done with it. Do something about it. Don’t lead me on and toy with me like I’m something to be stringed along and played with. I don’t understand why you couldn’t have just done it.”

You didn’t know what to answer to that, and so silence took your words once more. Azul knew that it was just two options and you had to choose, or else everything be damned - he would never look at your face once more. Despite the pain and hurt he had endured, he still wanted you to choose; he wanted you to choose him.

But with the way you looked so unsure, he already knew your answer.

“I like you. There I said it. But, I-I just don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship. Please, just give me more time.” Words fell off your tongue like venom disguised as pleasure; it hurt so damn much, and most of all: he felt so angry. He felt angry with you and himself. You couldn’t decide if you loved him, and him? He let you walk all over him and his feelings. Why the hell were you leading him on? He couldn’t fathom how you felt about him, it was two options to him: either love him or reject him. If you wouldn’t choose, he would force you too.

“It sure didn’t seem like it when you accepted all my courting gifts and said all the things you loved about me. Why are you doing this to me?” His heart hurt so much as he proceeded to say this, but he wasn’t willing to back down. You, on the other hand, went silent - not able to defend your actions nor say anything.

“…I don’t know.”

“Choose. Right now. Or leave this forest and in turn, leave me.”

And so you chose. The choice wasn’t easy, but either way Azul was satisfied with both options.

[star-farer]

change

Summary: To be cradled by a bed, or to be cradled by love AU: Ik'aad Taglist: @kybercrystals94 @fionas-frenzy @padawancat97 @margindoodles2407 @dreamsight73 @groguandthebadbatch @sskim-milkk

Author's note: This was inspired by the first conversation Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson strike up in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Divider from here.

The first time Omega tries to fall asleep in their new home on Pabu, it’s an utter failure.

“What—”

“Bed’s too soft,” she mutters, coming to curl close beside Crosshair where he’s sat on their bench outside. If there’s a stutter of confusion from his part, she ignores it in favor of the arm wrapping around her and tucking her warm into his side.

“That’s not an excuse,” he reprimands quietly, even as his cheek rests soft atop her head.

She yawns and settles with her ear over his beating heart, no apology in either action or voice. “Bed’s too soft.”

She doesn’t do any better the second time round.

“Ad’ika, it is—”

“Bed’s too soft.” With little to no ceremony, she plops down beside Tech on their couch, dropping her head onto his shoulder. A startled noise erupts from the back of his throat, but his arms move to encircle around her and hold her close.

“You ought to have fallen asleep two standard hours back,” he declares, a lithe staccato as his fingers card sweetly through her hair.

Humming a high note of humor, she clasps the fabric of his shirt and times her breaths with each of his. “Bed’s too soft.”

Her success evades her on the third night too, like water trickling past vainly grasping fingers.

“Omega? Kid, you’re supposed to—”

“Bed’s too soft,” she interrupts with a huff, leaning heavily against Hunter who’s leaning against their balcony’s railing. He freezes still a moment, but it passes as he wraps an arm around her and presses her close.

“Sleep’s important, you know,” he tells her, and the urge to call him hypocrite is replaced by the warmth of his thumb kneading her shoulder.

Her lips pull up at their corners and she closes her eyes, sleep tugging her away from any semblance of regret. “Bed’s too soft.”

As for the fourth night: it sees her giving up altogether.

“Aww, what’s—”

“Bed’s too soft,” she whines, as she pads into the kitchen, sagging into Wrecker’s outstretched arms. With a quiet inhale, he lifts her up into his hold, cradling her close to his chest as if she’s only a tubie once more.

“I know, ner tracyn,” he rumbles kindly, a large and gentle hand stroking her back, “It’s nothing like the racks we’re used to, huh? Back on Kamino, or even the Marauder.” He pauses to sigh once, heavy with emotion. “Don’t worry too much, though. We’ll get through this. We’ve got through worse anyways. We’ll get through this too.”

Sunken deep and fast asleep, she gives no response, head lolling beneath his chin, hands clasped above her chest, mouth drifting agape, snoring a little.

And Wrecker smiles, presses a kiss amidst her bright curls, draws her close as he watches the stars glitter in the navy sky outside their little kitchen window.

Whispers when he’s certain she won’t wake up, as silently as a man of his measure can:

“My bed’s too soft too.”

[valy-gc]

Had some fun

I imagined for a moment already some OCs school.

Now I decided to see a little more in details.

I may make uniforms later, but you're free to use them in fics or anything, or make characters from them

Lilystar Academy (All-Girls, Pyroxene/Shaftland)

Inspired by Classic Disney Princesses

Location: In a serene, enchanted forest bordered by lakes and mountains, reminiscent of the environments associated with classic Disney princesses.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: Known as “The Graceful Five,” these figures include historical figures inspired by princesses who valued kindness, intelligence, bravery, beauty, and loyalty. These figures resemble Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, and Rapunzel, each believed to embody a unique virtue.

Dorms:

Edelweiss (Snow White-inspired): A focus on resilience and kindness. Dorms are nestled in a secluded glade surrounded by flora and fauna, and members are trained in leadership and care for magical creatures.

Glassentia (Cinderella-inspired): Emphasizes determination and charm. Their dorm is located in an elegant manor and focuses on resourcefulness, personal development, and endurance.

Rosa (Aurora-inspired): Represents grace and poise. Dorm rooms are within a magical tower surrounded by roses, and members are known for their keen magical talent in healing and defensive spells.

Asteria (Belle-inspired): Focuses on intellect and courage. The dorm resembles an old library tower, and members excel in research, ancient languages, and magical history.

Starlight (Rapunzel-inspired): Encourages creativity and exploration. Students in Starlight study unconventional magic, including potion-making and alchemy.

Description: Lilystar Academy has high academic standards, though it values compassion and personal growth more than prestige. It's moderately prestigious but less widely renowned than NRC or RSA, attracting students who wish to hone their magical abilities alongside artistic and social skills.

The Abyssal Institute (All-Girls, Coral Sea)

Inspired by Disney Villainesses

Location: A sunken palace deep in the Coral Sea, designed to look like an underwater castle with spired towers, and illuminated by bioluminescent plants.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: “The Dark Coven,” modeled after notable female villains: Ursula, Maleficent, Queen Grimhilde (the Evil Queen), Cruella, and the Queen of Hearts. Each is revered for traits like ambition, cunning, and power.

Dorms:

Vortex (Ursula-inspired): Known for studies in potion-making and enchantments. The dorm is shaped like a spiraling grotto with tidal pools for experiments.

Thornhelm (Maleficent-inspired): Focuses on dark magic and transformations. Dorm rooms are nestled among eerie kelp forests.

Glassgaze (Grimhilde-inspired): Students specialize in divination and mirror magic. The dorm resembles a palace wing with ornate, reflective walls and focuses on personal power and allure.

Bloodspade (Queen of Hearts-inspired): Emphasizes strength and authority, with a fondness for magical games of strategy. The dorm is modeled after a coral fortress and encourages students to master illusion and strategic magic.

Roguecrest (Cruella-inspired): Focuses on creative magic, illusion, and spellcraft with high visual effects. This dorm takes after Cruella’s daring style and values students who push boundaries in visual and auditory illusions.

Description: The Abyssal Institute is highly exclusive and selective, drawing a wide range of skilled students from the Coral Sea region. It's known for producing powerful magic-users, and students here often clash with RSA and NRC graduates in international magical competitions.

Ironclad Academy (All-Boys, Pyroxene/Shaftland)

Inspired by Disney Heroes and Warriors

Location: A secluded mountain fortress in a northern, snow-capped region that resembles a medieval military training ground.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: Known as “The Noble Six,” inspired by valiant Disney heroes and warriors such as Hercules, Mulan, Aladdin, Tarzan, Maui, and Robin Hood. Each figure represents physical and mental attributes important to Ironclad's philosophy, such as strength, honor, resourcefulness, adaptability, resilience, and cunning.

Dorms:

Aegis (Hercules-inspired): Focuses on strength, courage, and heroism. Dorm rooms are fortified with magically reinforced materials, and members are encouraged to master spells for physical enhancement.

Fangblade (Mulan-inspired): A focus on tactical prowess and strategic magic. The dorm resembles a hall filled with weaponry and artifacts, and students train in combat techniques and tactical planning.

Daggerfall (Aladdin-inspired): Specializes in agility, resourcefulness, and charm-based magic. Dorm rooms are located within intricate desertic maze-like structures, teaching students evasion and trickery.

Wildclaw (Tarzan-inspired): Emphasizes survival skills and beast magic. Dorms are within a lush, magical forest attached to the academy, and members bond with various creatures.

Skyfury (Maui-inspired): Studies environmental magic and elemental control. Dorm is built atop a cliff with an open view of the sky, emphasizing storm and ocean magic.

Greenbow (Robin Hood-inspired): Focuses on stealth, precision, and speed. Dorm rooms are located in hidden alcoves, emphasizing agility and archery-based magic.

Description: Ironclad Academy is well-respected among other magical institutions, known for producing graduates who are both physically and magically powerful. While it’s not as academically esteemed as NRC or RSA, its students are highly regarded in security and guardianship roles.

The Gilded Institute (All-Girls, Sunset Savannah)

Inspired by Disney's Animal Kingdom Characters

Location: Located deep in a vibrant, mystical jungle teeming with magical flora and fauna. The institute takes after ancient jungle temples.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: Known as “The Wild Four,” representing figures similar to Disney's most iconic animals: Simba (leadership), Baloo (wisdom), Kaa (cunning), and Bambi (grace). These legendary creatures embody different aspects of primal power and the wisdom of the natural world.

Dorms:

Roarvale (Simba-inspired): Teaches leadership and courage. Dorm rooms are within an elevated area of the jungle, resembling ancient ruins, and students are encouraged to take on leadership roles.

Leafden (Baloo-inspired): Focuses on wisdom, patience, and knowledge of nature. This dorm is centered around a large treehouse, where students study medicinal herbs, druidic magic, and potions.

Fangshade (Kaa-inspired): Known for stealth, agility, and charisma. Dorm rooms are spread out along winding forest paths, hidden in the shadows. Students focus in illusions and mental enchantments.

Gladepaw (Bambi-inspired): Focuses on agility and empathy. Dorm rooms are on ground level, surrounded by streams and lush vegetation. Members are encouraged to study healing magic and natural spellcasting.

Description: The Gilded Institute is lesser-known than the prestigious schools but respected for its unique approach to magic through a connection with nature. Graduates often become conservationists, animal tamers, or rangers within the magical world.

Tidebreak College (All-Boys, Coral Sea)

Inspired by Pirate and Sea-Themed Characters

Location: A maritime fortress on a series of floating islands within the Coral Sea, accessible only by boat or through underwater passages.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: Known as “The Salty Five,” based on infamous sea-faring figures resembling Captain Hook, Davy Jones, Captain Jack Sparrow, Maui, and Ariel’s Father King Triton. The figures represent aspects like exploration, mystery, treasure-seeking, respect for the sea, and adventure.

Dorms:

Skullcrest (Captain Hook-inspired): Focuses on leadership and strategy. The dorm is located within a cave-like fortress, and students learn navigation, naval combat magic, and illusion spells.

Eelspire (Davy Jones-inspired): Centers on fear, respect, and power over the sea. This dorm, filled with eerie nautical relics, teaches binding spells and oceanic curses.

Tidesong (King Triton-inspired): Focuses on marine harmony and defensive magic. Dorms are adorned with coral, shells, and bioluminescent plants, and students study aquatic creature-taming and protective magic.

Mistrider (Jack Sparrow-inspired): Teaches charm, trickery, and quick thinking. Dorm rooms resemble rustic ship cabins, and students excel in persuasion and illusion.

Starcurrent (Maui-inspired): Focuses on environmental magic and water-based spells. Dorms resemble a series of small atolls where students connect with marine currents and weather.

Description: Tidebreak College is a unique school that teaches an unconventional style of magic, with an emphasis on teamwork, creativity, and navigation. It is well-regarded within maritime communities and recognized as a solid choice for aspiring seafarers.

Hearthstone Institute (All-Girls, Queendom of Rose)

Inspired by Disney’s Hearth and Home Characters

Location: A grand castle-like estate on the edge of a magical village, designed to feel warm, welcoming, and safe, with every hall adorned in rich, earthy colors and cozy fireplaces.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: Known as “The Matrons of Virtue,” inspired by Disney’s caring and wise figures like the Fairy Godmother, Mrs. Potts, The three fairies, and Mama Odie. They represent kindness, support, wisdom, resilience, and creativity.

System: Mentorship Halls Instead of Dorms

The Hall of Enchantment (Fairy Godmother-inspired): Specializes in charm-based spells and transformation magic, focusing on personal growth and confidence. Each student has a mentor in advanced charmwork.

The Hearth Hall (Mrs. Potts-inspired): Focuses on protection and enchantment of objects. Students here are trained in household charms, protective spells, and potion-brewing for the home.

The Luminous Hall (the three fairies-inspired): Studies light magic and healing. Students here are paired with healers and trained in physical and emotional healing spells.

The Mystic Hall (Mama Odie-inspired): Teaches voodoo-inspired magic, charms, and fortune-telling. Each student is paired with an elder who teaches intuitive and unconventional magic practices.

Description: Hearthstone Institute emphasizes nurturing relationships over dorm living. Each student is matched with a mentor from her hall, who oversees her magical development, often creating a family-like atmosphere. Hearthstone is well-respected for producing compassionate, community-focused mages.

Mirage University (All-girl, Scalding Sands)

Inspired by Adventure and Exploration Characters

Location: A desert oasis city with elements of ancient architecture, vast libraries, and archeological ruins, with a focus on adventure and magical research.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: Known as “The Compass Council,” inspired by legendary explorers like Sinbad, Indiana Jones, Moana, and Milo Thatch. These figures represent exploration, resourcefulness, curiosity, and bravery.

System: Wanderer’s Houses Instead of Dorms

The Sandstorm House (Sinbad-inspired): Specializes in desert survival magic and treasure-hunting spells. Members of Sandstorm House are trained in combat and desert traversal.

The Seeker’s House (Indiana Jones-inspired): Focuses on artifact discovery and ancient languages. Students learn ancient magic, glyphs, and restoration spells.

The Tidal House (Moana-inspired): Trains students in water manipulation and aquatic exploration. Members are often seafarers and focus on maritime spells and coastal survival skills.

The Horizon House (Milo Thatch-inspired): Specializes in academic and research magic, including archeological magic and knowledge preservation. Members work in grand archives and study ancient tomes.

Description: Mirage University encourages exploration over academics. Students are organized into “Wanderer’s Houses,” which function like guilds that focus on particular regions or types of exploration. Mirage is less prestigious but known for fostering daring researchers who often make historical discoveries.

Silverpine Conservatory (All-boy, Pyroxene/Shaftland)

Inspired by Disney’s Magical Animals and Forest Creatures

Location: Set in a magical woodland area with cabins, trails, and open glades. Students live among the trees in small communal spaces, fostering a strong bond with nature and animals.

Equivalent to the Great Seven: Known as “The Spirit Council,” inspired by legendary animal protectors that resemble figures like Bambi’s mother, Mufasa, Chief (The fox and the hound), and Baloo. These spirits represent harmony with nature, wisdom, protection, and kinship.

System: Communal Cabins Instead of Dorms

Pineclaw Cabin (Mufasa-inspired): Focuses on leadership, courage, and survival skills. Members learn protection spells and defensive animal bonding.

Moonlight Cabin (Bambi-inspired): Teaches empathy, gentleness, and nature harmony. Students excel in healing, camouflage, and weather spells.

Echo Ridge Cabin (Chief-inspired): Focuses on cunning and forest strategy. Students learn scouting, stealth, and tracking magic.

Bearpaw Cabin (Baloo-inspired): Studies resilience and self-sufficiency, teaching students to forage, fish, and survive in nature.

Description: Silverpine is a peaceful institution that emphasizes learning from nature, with students staying in small cabins within the forest. Each cabin is like a family, with seniors acting as guides for younger students, passing down spells that enhance nature and animal bonds.

[dramioneasks]

Novel Length Fics (> 200,000 words) (Part 8)

Title: Unsinkable Author: Gingersoup  Rating: T Genre(s): Romance, Drama, Angst Chapters: 38 Word Count: 250,812 Summary: After a fight gone wrong in the Department of Mysteries, sworn enemies Draco and Hermione are thrown into a mysterious pensive-like portal and come out the other side onto the RMS Titanic. In a race against time and without their wands, the unlikely duo will have to fight against the binds of their new identities as well as their animosity toward each other in order to survive.

Title: Anchor and Rose. Author: sixth_senses Rating: E Genre(s): Romance, Drama, Angst Chapters: 38 Word Count: 200,220 Summary: "Is it really a good idea to run away from war with the person you despise the most?"A hotel, A boathouse, Narcissa Malfoy's safe-house, and the world's most powerful wand left behind by Regulus Black. What else could Hermione add to the list to make her absolutely insane?Ah yes, Draco fucking Malfoy.ALSO AVAILABLE ON MY WATTPAD (sixth_senses)

Title: selfxconclusion Author: spicyxpisces Rating: E Genre(s): Romance, Drama, Angst Chapters: 40 Word Count: 424,687 Summary: One year after the death of her husband, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger is trying to navigate her way through her loss. While trying to discover who she is without her husband, her friends move through their own forms of grief within their relationships.

Title: The Stars Above Us Author: embersofapril Rating: M Genre(s): Romance, Fluff, Angst Chapters: 40 Word Count: 200,988 Summary: He remains silent at first, clearly unsure of what to say next. The temperature feels hot, he thinks, especially for the dungeon's standards. He feels as if he can see the air particles between them, perhaps even count how many separate them from one another.It feels odd for him to be alone with Granger in the potions lab after all this time.He catches the faint scent of strawberries and honey, reminding him to order the ingredients for his lesson on Amortentia for his NEWT classes next week.-A slow-burn, flashback-filled dramione fanfiction with a side of wolfstar.

Title: A Game of High Stakes Author: in_dreams Rating: E Genre(s): Romance, Angst Chapters: 51 Word Count: 263,110 Summary: In theory, the task is simple: kill Draco Malfoy. In practice, putting a curse through the Dark Lord's favoured lieutenant will take everything Hermione has―especially since he's trying to kill her, too. Even more so when the lines between them start to blur. Sometimes, the only way out is through.

Title: Who We Are Now Author: LiloLilyAnn Rating: E Genre(s): Romance, Angst Chapters: 60 Word Count: 398,717 Summary: She lived through the war, but did she actually survive it? She didn't recognize the girl who looked back at her in the mirror, sunken eyes and protruding ribs, covered in scars. This wasn’t Hermione Granger. She died alongside Lavender, Fred, Sirius, Remus... Her name wasn’t up on any walls in memoriam, but she felt like a casualty nonetheless.*****When Hermione can't seem to get past the trauma of the war and all that happened to her, she's convinced to get help for her mental health issues. Unfortunately, the Wizarding World has none... yet.

Title: Redemption/Atonement Author: LordoftheManor Rating: E Genre(s): Romance, Angst, Drama Chapters: 75 Word Count: 448,946 Summary: Draco Malfoy has had a crush on Granger for years. When Blaise tells him he's heard Granger has a crush on him--Draco decides to seize the opportunity. The only problem is, Granger wants to keep things quiet. Oh and he's a Death Eater working for Lord Voldemort. Hermione Granger has been secretly pining after Draco for years, telling no one. When he suddenly confronts her after class her world turns upside down. This is a 7th year fic as if Dumbledore hadn’t been killed and Voldemort hadn’t taken over the ministry yet. Draco redemption arc. This will cover books 6 & 7.Really just an excuse to write smut about a curly haired witch and her platinum haired beau. There will be dark themes, I’ll try not to stray too far from the books with that though. Explicit sexual content.

Title: A Dangerous Collection Author: Lia_Redrose Rating: E Genre(s): Romance Chapters: 34 Word Count: 208,277 Summary: Eight years after Voldemort's defeat, Draco Malfoy has left England for good. He has become a potioneer and works in a Potion Shop in Florence. He thinks he has done with the past, until one day a famous girl with messy curls and curious eyes storms inside and asks for a cure.The words and the newborn smile died as the woman turned to face him. Her mouth opened and her facial features became confused and astonished. “Malfoy?” There were surely some deities - three at least - that hated him and conjured for that to happen, because there was no other explanation to what was happening to him. It was a catastrophe. A catastrophe Draco couldn’t escape unless he bolted out of the shop to never come back again, which was something he couldn’t do. That’s why he cleared his throat and proceeded to greet his customer with a simple and clear “Granger.”

Title: Redemption Author: gnrkrystle  Rating: M Genre(s): Romance, Drama Chapters: 45 Word Count: 237,960 Summary: As an Unspeakable, Hermione has been tasked with a very complicated case. All the Marked Death Eaters in Azkaban are falling ill - Draco Malfoy and Theo Nott the worst among them. She has to find out why and cure them.

Title: Finding Hermione Author: ebookdragon Rating: M Genre(s): Romance, Drama Chapters: 51 Word Count: 217,753 Summary: Fifteen years after the end of the Second Wizarding War, former Hogwarts' students are sending their own children off to school for the first time. As the train leaves, Hermione makes a startling discovery about her husband and the secret life he's been living. Draco witnesses Hermione's world shatter and comes to her rescue, helping her pick up the pieces and find herself again.

Title: The Education of a Lady Author: thewanderers'wanderingdaughter  Rating: M Genre(s): Drama, Horror Chapters: 34 Word Count: 365,605 Summary: Fourth and final (for real this time) part in the His Little Bird series. The story of survival, betrayal, and tragedy. A monster took everything from her. Now she's expected to be a willing participant in the world he's built for them. They want her to become one of them. She only wants vengeance, and now that she has her power back, she can make that a reality.

Title: Snow Angel Author: SunflowersXx Rating: M Genre(s): Romance, Drama Chapters: 31 Word Count: 353,142 Summary: ‘To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves’- Federico Garcia Lorca. Hermione hated secrets, she hated the idea that their lives were already decided in the stars; but mostly, she hated that she had to break Draco Malfoy’s heart.Draco didn’t think he would ever know what love felt like, he didn’t think he would find it in the sun, in whiskey and in that one curl. He certainly didn’t think he would loose it just as he had it in his grasp.

Title: The Hardest of Hearts Author: WillowingScribe1709 Rating: M Genre(s): Romance, Humour Chapters: 34 Word Count: 219,508 Summary: Hermione, driven to become Minister of Magic, reluctantly joins a matchmaking agency, only to discover Draco Malfoy as her top match.Initially scoffing at the idea of marrying her old nemesis, Hermione is forced to reconsider when their paths intertwine, unraveling not just their past but also new layers of deceit. Among these Draco's connection to the Seven Devils, a group wrapped in secrecy and rumoured to have been founded by his father, Lucius.What starts out as a simple match of convenience soon blossoms into a profound connection that catches Hermione completely off guard. With a menacing new threat casting a shadow over their future, their growing bond becomes the crux upon which destiny hinges.---------“It’s not that simple,” he said, and his eyes flashed with something dark that curled around her airways and choked the breath out of her. “Even if we never consummate our marriage, I need to know that I can touch you in public without you flinching. That you can touch me in return without looking green in the face.”“Of course I can,” she said with more bravado than she felt.“Is that so?” Malfoy asked, more darkness swirling in his eyes. “Care to demonstrate?”

[miz-joelys-sherlollilists]

What’s everyone’s favourite newer fics! I feel like I’ve read the best from the good ole days but haven’t been around in the last few years. Anything compare to some of the top fics lately?

Oh heck yeah! Oodles of great stuff, especially post The Final Problem (I'm using 2017 as the baseline cos I assume by the good ole days you're talking PetraTodd and DietPlainLite and broomclosetkink and Nocturnias, to name but a few).

@sunken-standard has some awesome one-shots in her ficlet cemetary and a fantastic post TFP fic Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

And you can't go wrong with anything by any of these authors, imho:

@englandsgray

@ellis-hendricks

@mrsmcrieff

@mae-jones

@darnedchild

@hobbitsdoitbetter

@asteraceae-blue

@ukthxbye

@itssweaterxweather

@strangelock221b

@stlgeekgirl (aka Mouse9)

@ashockinglackofsatin

If anyone has more specific newer faves to recommend, please sing out!

[typezerostudios]

@avatar-the-dead-moon

Bastion: Fire Nation Floating Fortress

Created after the Great Flood, Bastion was cobbled together out of the surviving ships of the Western Fleet. When the flood waters did not recede, the Fleet Admiral had to make decisions about continued operations. Rather than disbanding the fleet, allowing ships to scatter and fend for themselves, they decided to consolidate.

Former soldiers were repurposed as welders to combine the more damaged ships into a semi-coherent base of operations. Even sunken ships were sealed, purged, and grafted onto the sides and bottom of the growing monstrosity, acting to buoy the Fortress and add valuable living space, as rescue missions brought in waves of Fire Nation colony survivors.

Without a steady supply of coal, they were forced to rely on Fire Bending to power the steam engines, limiting their ability to function without trained specialists. This lead to the majority of the functional ships to be integrated into the Fortress. Most were fully integrated, while a few were partially assimilated with the hope that future improvements would allow them to detach from the Fortress to resume standard operation.

Only a few ships were excluded from this endeavor, mainly Empire Class command ships , and smaller, faster cruisers. Bastion acts as a regional power, able to relocate based on needs and its current missions. Most often it resides near trouble prone regions as a threat to pacify any rebellion. Military Command is unwilling to commit to anything else, as even minor damage could lead to a catastrophic loss of life if the right ships are sunk.

Major Areas:

Command Tower: One of the few structures intentionally crafted, the Command Tower is built atop the Empire Class Flagship of the Western Fleet, allowing military command to assess the status of Bastion at a glance. While initially planned as a command center once the Fire Nation regrouped following the Flood, it is mainly used as civilian oversight, ensuring that everything is working at peak efficiency, and everyone is fed. Some say that the bones of the Moon Spirit are hidden at its base, a prize kept by Zhao the Accursed for his "victory" against the Northern Water Tribe, but no one has ever seen them, and if it were true, the Ocean Spirit would not stand for such desecration.

Farming Platforms: Distributed throughout of Bastion, these wrecked ships have been repurposed to provide food. Some of them are kelp farms, others are fisheries. A rare few have been filled with soil to produce crops, mainly Fire Nation specialties, or sustain livestock.

Fleet Dock: Little more than a massive ring of decommissioned ships, the Docks act as the first line of defense against any attack, and a source of emergency parts as the ships composing it are stripped to maintain the remaining fleet. There is never a moment of silence on the docks, as workers labor every hour of the day to refit, resupply, and repair the still functioning ships. Inside of the ring are several ships in disrepair. Rarely, one of them will sail out to join the fleet, if it can be repaired and sufficient firebenders can be spared to power it. More often they are merely moved to join the ring, as their parts become more useful than a fully functioning ship.

Trade Dock: much smaller in scale, the Trade Dock was authorized when the loss of supply chains became apparent. Unable to produce many of the goods they rely on, the Trade Dock allows for trade with other survivors without compromising Bastion's Security. Most recently, four cruisers have been recommissioned to act as a Trade Fleet, hollowed out to maximize space for bulk purchases. Most often they are loaded with rice or other bulk crop, feeding the entire Fortress for days or weeks.

Landing Field: A few of the Airships build before the Flood survived, and space was quickly set aside to preserve their aerial advantage. Rarely used in combat, they act as mobile command centers to oversee the area, and coordinate with deployed fleet assets. While they represent a major advantage, without the equipment to repair or replace them, military command is reluctant to commit them as military assets. Most often they serve as luxury observation posts for warlords with delusions of grandeur, allowing them to watch their army fight and die from a secure position, as they gleefully redraw a map to show their accomplishment. The crew always tolerate them with a smile, knowing that their petty wars are nothing compared to the Hundred Years Wars, and that the final price will always be the same.

Life Ships: The vast majority of Bastion is made of of Life Ships, military vessels repurposed into civilian housing. Cramped and uncomfortable, they nonetheless allow for some facsimile of how life used to be. Families are able to gather for dinner, discuss their day, and sleep in relative peace. Most of them have been decorated with momentos of the time before the Flood, or drawing depicting life outside of Bastion. While many still hope, most have learned to content themselves with life on Bastion.

[dr-octavio-kalev]

TW: Jimmy Savile, sexual abuse and exploitation, child abuse, psychological trauma, hospitals and terminal illness, manipulation and gaslighting, death and grief

Jimmy Savile and Margaret Thatcher at Mandeville Hospital (1977):

"The nurses tell the children to pretend to sleep when Savile came to visit."

Identification: Gaunt Scout

Lead Researcher: Dr. Öctavio Kalev

Abomination #: ANM-622-KV

Classification: Neutralized ✖️

Type of Anomaly: Manifesting, historical, humanoid

Type of Damage: Trauma, psychological, auditory, dream-related, public, child-related

Containment: ANM-622 must be contained within a standard humanoid containment cell located in Department-██. The cell should be constructed of reinforced steel and equipped with infrared and motion-activated cameras to monitor any erratic behavior inside. The lights within ANM-622's containment area should be kept at a minimum of 1000 lumens to deter the entity's activity.

An emergency set of strobe lights is installed outside the containment chamber and can be activated remotely by authorized personnel in case of any containment breach or unusual activity. Thermal sensors are positioned around the perimeter of ANM-622's cell to detect any abnormal temperature fluctuations. Any personnel assigned to observe ANM-622 must do so from a separate, sealed observation room.

Direct interaction with ANM-622 should be limited to testing protocols authorized by at least two Level 3 staff members. No one under the age of 18 is permitted within 30 meters of ANM-622's containment area at any time, including other anomalies. Any reports of ANM-622 appearing outside its containment cell should be treated as a potential containment breach, and immediate lockdown procedures must be enacted.

Description: ANM-622 is a humanoid entity resembling an extremely emaciated elderly man, approximately 3.92 meters tall, weighing 120 kilograms. Its skin is abnormally pale, with the bones of its ribs, shoulders, and limbs visibly protruding beneath the surface. The entire body of ANM-622 is covered with fine, depigmented hair, except for sparse reddish patches in certain areas of the chest, groin, and arms. The eyes are disproportionately large and dark, with severely dilated pupils, suggesting a high sensitivity to light.

The entity's posture is typically hunched, likely to facilitate movement in narrow spaces. Its chest is deformed, with a pronounced sunken area near the sternum consistent with pectus excavatum. ANM-622's hands are characterized by abnormally long fingers, each of similar length, including an extended thumb that is disproportionately long. The nails are thick, discolored, and sharp at the tips.

Behavior: ANM-622 exhibits a compulsion to observe human subjects through windows, with a particular focus on children. It is more active during nighttime or in low-light conditions, including rainy weather. When ANM-622 identifies a potential subject, it approaches the nearest window offering a clear view and begins to tap on the glass with one of its long fingers. The tapping sound produced is notably louder than expected, resonating with a deep "click" that unnaturally reverberates throughout the surrounding area.

Once ANM-622 has gained the subject's attention, it will maintain eye contact, remaining outside the window and staring directly at the individual. Witnesses report an overwhelming sense of dread and an inability to look away. In cases involving children, recurring nightmares often follow the encounter, with dreams frequently depicting ANM-622 whispering, waving, or lightly touching the back of the subject's neck or shoulders. If the subject remains in place for more than five minutes or continues to focus on ANM-622, the entity will attempt to vocalize. The sounds produced are a mixture of guttural noises, harsh breathing, and clicks, none of which resemble any known language. Prolonged exposure to these sounds has led to reported symptoms, including temporary auditory hallucinations, headaches, and vertigo.

Although ANM-622 has not demonstrated the ability to physically pass through solid barriers such as windows, there are several documented cases of its appearance inside rooms under certain conditions (see Incident Report 622-2 for details). The entity does not appear to show any interest in adult subjects unless they actively interfere with its focus on a child.

[[collapsible show="+ Incident Log 622-2" hide="- Close"]]

Incident Log 622-2: Containment Breach on ██/██/20██

During a routine observation of ANM-622, the entity was observed repeatedly approaching the glass of its containment cell and tapping in a rhythmic pattern. In response, Subject P (P-9742), equipped with a tracking collar and infrared camera, was dispatched to guide ANM-622 back to its cell. As P-9742 approached the entity, he reported auditory hallucinations of a voice resembling that of his deceased grandmother, speaking to him from inside the cell.

ANM-622 then placed its hand against the glass of an adjacent observation room, resulting in a rapid dimming of the internal lights. Thermal readings showed a sudden drop in temperature of nearly 15°C, with frost forming on the interior surface of the observation room window. Despite the environmental controls indicating no changes in external conditions, P-9742 described a profound sense of comfort and an irresistible urge to approach the entity.

The situation was resolved when the supervising researcher activated the emergency strobe lights, causing ANM-622 to retreat violently and return to its containment area. Subsequent investigations revealed that the dimming of the lights was not due to any known electrical failure, and the source of the temperature drop remains unexplained.

[[/collapsible]]

Addendum 622-3: Discovery

ANM-622 was first documented following a series of reports at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, United Kingdom. The reports described cases of children waking up in the middle of the night and seeing "a tall, old man" outside their bedroom windows. Local police had previously investigated multiple occurrences of sexual abuse within the hospital, as well as erratic electrical disturbances and sudden cold spots. A recorded photograph of a vaguely humanoid silhouette outside a child's window led to the deployment of MOTHRA Institute agents for investigation.

Field agents discovered that ANM-622 exhibited a pattern of appearance in low-light conditions, primarily targeting children. Following the identification of ANM-622, Class A amnestics were administered to the affected families, and a cover story was disseminated about disturbances and local hysteria.

Addendum 622-4: Ongoing Research

Several tests have been conducted to understand ANM-622's compulsion towards children and its ability to affect the environment. Initial theories suggest that ANM-622 is attracted to feelings of fear, particularly from younger individuals, which may act as a stimulus or form of sustenance. This hypothesis is supported by observations of increased activity during heightened emotional states.

Addendum 622-5: Jimmy Savile

Researchers examined historical records involving Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and the analysis revealed multiple cases mentioning an abnormally tall and thin figure observed near orphanages, children's hospitals, and private properties associated with prominent figures.

A review of public records uncovered a disturbing pattern of unexplained occurrences and reports of a "tall, pale man" at locations connected to the late entertainer and convicted sex offender known as "Jimmy Savile," who was accused of involvement in over 400 cases of sexual abuse, including young children and terminally ill patients. The MOTHRA investigation into these reports aimed to determine whether ANM-622 had a connection to Savile's documented activities, potentially serving as an accomplice, facilitator, or a manifestation resulting from the extreme psychological trauma inflicted on his victims.

On ██/██/19██, a nurse working at the hospital reported seeing a tall and emaciated figure outside one of the children's wards at night. The nurse described a "skeletal man" hunched near a window, slowly tapping on the glass. Security footage from the night in question showed an indistinct figure matching Jimmy Savile's physical shape; no alarms were triggered, and no evidence of entry was found. The affected child, aged six, later reported having nightmares about "a tall man" who spoke to them "with voices that sounded like many people."

The hospital was a frequent destination for Savile, who was known to visit under the pretext of charity work. Similar reports from other institutions visited by Savile over the years emerged during the investigation. Most notably, these accounts included statements from children describing recurring dreams of "the man at the window," often coinciding with times when Savile was present in the same building.

Research into ANM-622's activities raised the possibility that its behavior might be connected to cases of significant psychological trauma, especially involving children. Some researchers theorize that ANM-622 may act as a "fear feeder," attracted to intense emotional distress and sustaining itself on fear, dread, or despair. The correlation between its sightings and locations associated with Jimmy Savile's abuse suggests that ANM-622 might have been drawn to the lingering trauma in these areas.

The theory further speculates that Savile himself may have been aware of ANM-622, either intentionally or subconsciously. Some survivor testimonies describe feeling an overwhelming sense of cold and a sensation of "being watched" that did not align solely with Savile's physical presence. In several instances, these descriptions were accompanied by mentions of a tall, skeletal figure in the background of the rooms.

Although there is no direct evidence linking Savile to ANM-622 beyond circumstantial connections, there is a hypothesis that ANM-622 may have manifested more frequently or with greater activity near places where Savile's crimes occurred, possibly as a reflection or amplifier of the collective trauma.

In an effort to establish more concrete evidence of ANM-622's presence, researchers conducted interviews with individuals who had been exposed to Savile's abuses and also reported sightings of a "tall man." The following excerpts summarize notable findings:

Survivor 622-A: The subject was a former patient at [REDACTED] Hospital in the early 1980s. They recalled a strange figure outside the window one night, described as "white and bony, like it was starving." The entity allegedly tapped on the glass and stared directly at the subject, who experienced recurring dreams afterward. In these dreams, the subject reported hearing Savile's voice along with a faint clicking noise that grew louder as the entity approached.

Survivor 622-B: The subject, a former resident of a children's care home visited by Savile, claimed to have seen "a very tall man" lurking near the property's outer fence at night. The subject's nightmares after the incident involved both Savile and the figure, with Savile speaking to the tall man in an incomprehensible language. The subject reported feelings of sleep paralysis and cold sweat during these dreams.

Incident 622-7: Anomalous Manifestation During Testing

On ██/██/20██, during an authorized psychological test involving ANM-622 and a Subject P with a history of childhood trauma associated with abuse, ANM-622 displayed unexpected behavior. When the subject was instructed to recount their traumatic experiences, ANM-622 approached the observation window and began tapping rapidly, producing a clicking sound described as resembling human speech when analyzed with audio software. The sound pattern, when processed, matched phonetic markers consistent with Savile's voice as recorded in archival footage.

Following this event, the room's temperature dropped abruptly, and the subject entered a catatonic state, remaining unresponsive for several hours. After recovering, the subject claimed to have heard a conversation between two distinct voices during the event: one they recognized as ANM-622's guttural tone, and the other they identified as Savile's. The nature of this connection remains speculative but suggests a deeper relationship between the entity and environments or individuals connected to extreme trauma.

[[collapsible show="+ Interview Log 622-8" hide="- Close"]]

Date: ██/██/2008

Interviewer: Dr. ███████

Interviewee: Jimmy Savile

Location: [REDACTED]

Context: Following increasing reports of an entity resembling ANM-622 manifesting at locations previously visited by Jimmy Savile, Institute personnel arranged an interview under the pretext of an investigative documentary. The aim was to assess Savile's potential knowledge of ANM-622 and its possible connection to the anomaly.

[BEGIN LOG]

Dr. ███████: Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Mr. Savile. I'd like to discuss some of your charity work, particularly at hospitals and care homes. You've spent a lot of time visiting children's facilities, haven't you?

Savile: Oh yes, I've been a regular visitor to many hospitals and care homes over the years. It's always good to bring a bit of joy to the children, you know? [Smiles]. You'd be surprised how much a friendly face can do.

Dr. ███████: Yes, I'm sure. During those visits, did you ever notice anything... unusual? Perhaps something outside the buildings, or even inside?

Savile: [Laughs]. Ah, now you're talking! People always say these old places are full of ghosts, don't they? But I've never seen anything like that, unless you count the old nurses. [Winks].

Dr. ███████: Actually, I'm referring to reports from children who mentioned seeing a "tall man" outside their windows during your visits. Some described him as pale and thin, with a hollow chest. Have you ever heard anything like that?

Savile: [The smile fades slightly. He looks away before shrugging]. Children, eh? Good heavens! They have such vivid imaginations. Maybe they saw someone passing by, perhaps a gardener or a security guard. Kids get frightened by all sorts of things when they're stuck in those beds, poor little things.

Dr. ███████: Some of these reports also mentioned unusual sensations. Cold spots in rooms, flickering lights... even a knocking sound on windows. Does that sound familiar to you?

Savile: [Leans back, appearing slightly agitated]. I've heard the stories, of course. But that's all they are, stories. Nothing more than kids making things up or trying to get a bit of attention. You know how it is. [Smiles again, but it seems forced this time].

Dr. ███████: Mr. Savile, I'll be direct. We have information suggesting that during some of these incidents, you were present at the locations where the children reported seeing the figure. It seems to happen more often when you're around. Why do you think that is?

Savile: [The smile disappears completely. Savile's tone becomes defensive]. I don't know what you're implying, doctor. I've done nothing but good for those children. I brought joy and raised money for their hospitals. Are you trying to say I had something to do with some bogeyman stories?

Dr. ███████: I'm not implying anything, Mr. Savile. I'm simply trying to understand why these sightings are so often linked to your presence. Some children even described hearing a voice resembling yours, speaking alongside the knocking on the windows.

Savile: [Visibly uncomfortable, he shifts in his chair, making a smiling yet irritated expression]. Kids say all sorts of things, don't they? Sometimes they hear voices in their dreams, things that scare them. But those are just nightmares, nothing more. I can't help it if they have overactive imaginations.

Dr. ███████: Let's talk about a specific incident from 1982, at [REDACTED] Hospital. A nurse reported seeing a tall, skeletal figure outside the children's ward. Security footage captured a figure identical to you. You were there that night. Do you recall anything out of the ordinary?

Savile: [The subject's demeanor changes, becoming unusually calm]. I've been in many hospitals, many nights, doctor. There are always shadows. There are always noises. If you're trying to pin something on me, you'll need to come up with more than ghost stories.

Dr. ███████: I'm not accusing you of anything, Mr. Savile. I'm interested in knowing if you've ever felt... accompanied during these visits. Some people have described a feeling of being watched. Have you ever experienced anything like that?

Savile: [Long pause. Savile's expression is unreadable. He speaks slowly]. There are always eyes watching, doctor. In hospitals, on the streets, everywhere you go. [Leans slightly forward, lowering his voice]. Sometimes, it's the people you least expect who see the most. But you already know that, don't you?

Dr. ███████: What do you mean by that?

Savile: [Sits back, smiling again, but his eyes remain cold]. Oh, nothing really. I'm just an old man who did a bit of good in his spare time. If you want to go chasing after fantastic stories about bogeymen, be my guest. But don't come knocking at my door when you find there's nothing there. [Pauses]. Or maybe... it's not nothing. Maybe it's something you don't want to find.

Dr. ███████: Mr. Savile, one last question. Do you believe in the idea that some things can feed on fear? That perhaps the terror experienced by children could attract... something?

Savile: [The smile returns, wider than before]. Oh, doctor, fear is a powerful thing. It can drive people to do all sorts of things, see all sorts of things. If there's something that feeds on it, well... there certainly isn't a shortage of food, is there?

[END LOG]

---

Jimmy Savile demonstrated a complex ability to manipulate his own body language, often using evasive or ambiguous speech patterns to deflect questioning or obscure the truth. His conversational style frequently employed nonlinear responses, digressions, and humor to create confusion or redirect attention away from sensitive topics. These tactics allowed him to manipulate interviews and investigations, consistently avoiding consequences by shifting narratives in his favor.

Some linguists at the MOTHRA Institution theorized that Savile's use of language went beyond mere rhetorical skill and bordered on the anomalous. In several documented cases, interviewers and law enforcement agents reported feeling disoriented, forgetful, or mentally impaired after prolonged interactions with Savile. This phenomenon may suggest that Savile had an unconscious or latent ability to influence others through his speech, possibly compelling them to disregard or downplay any allegations against him.

Savile maintained close relationships with various influential individuals, including former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, members of the British royal family, and senior BBC officials. His connections granted him not only access to powerful social circles but also a level of protection that extended far beyond the reach of the average celebrity.

Several reports indicate that Savile's ties to figures like Margaret Thatcher may have played a crucial role in shielding him from prosecution. Internal documents and testimonies suggest that allegations made against him were repeatedly dismissed, suppressed, or "lost" by law enforcement agencies. Requests to investigate Savile were often met with resistance or completely derailed, possibly due to his network of powerful allies who were complicit in his activities or fearful of the potential consequences if his crimes were exposed.

Following Savile's death from pneumonia on October 29, 2011, all reported sightings of ANM-622 ceased completely. Before Savile's death, ANM-622 had been observed intermittently, with manifestations predominantly occurring at locations associated with trauma or where Savile had frequented during his lifetime. The abrupt end to these activities after his death suggests a potential connection between Savile and the entity, either as a direct or indirect influence on its manifestations.

The cessation of ANM-622's activity raised questions about the true nature of its existence and whether it was somehow linked to Savile's life force, influence, or actions. Further research into residual anomalies and long-term psychological effects on individuals exposed to ANM-622 is ongoing, although no new manifestations have been reported since Savile's death. As of this latest review, ANM-622 has been provisionally classified as Neutralized, pending any future reappearances.

The content of this interview has been classified as Level 4 access due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter and possible connections to anomalous phenomena.

[ashtonreadpoetry]

No Heaven for Man

See the old man.

Solitary, on my rocking chair,

They have all left me there.

Miserable, sick, my lungs turned black,

Only now I realise I can’t go back.

My cracked visage fades, once and for all.

But worry not, I am still here. I remain for the fall.

I sink in my chair, no comfort to attend me.

The old man perishes, for what man is he?

Something is wrong. Very wrong.

I expected Heaven, perhaps Hell.

But the world carries on.

I am dead, my body rots!

But aware is my mind- dead, I am not!

For days I rest there,

Comfort to only those vermin who pick at my wrinkled flesh.

I do nothing but sit.

At least I am fresh.

Shakespeare, Wilde, Plato.

We are but equals in the silent misery.

All men are equal. All in death’s embrace.

All bones are equal. All flesh is grass.

My neighbours smell me.

That face is sunken, my yellowed eyes blank.

It takes three days for them to free me.

They take my identity,

a tag of lies hanging from my toe.

I scream for help, for them to stop,

I am alive!

I am still alive!

They drain my blood- I feel every second of it.

I feel weary, still my torturers continue.

My eyes are pressed shut with needles.

They call me ‘it’,

For I am no longer Human.

The mortician slides me into the cold, metal dark.

But I do not fear, I am surrounded by friends!

Other souls in other tombs,

Doomed to identical fates.

After another week they put me in the ground,

Oh the wretched ground!

I stay there to this day.

My grave is unattended by my grandchildren,

They leave me there,

Not knowing I can still hear them.

I am still here.

——————————————————————————

This was the first real poem I wrote a year ago, and despite it being rather awful by my current standards it was apparently good enough to land me as a finalist in that year’s Hertfordshire poetry competition and cement me as a published author; and, if you believe in being able to call yourself such a thing, a poet.

[almanoelscraft]

Pressed with Personality: DIY Letterpress and Embossed Cards

You’ve ironed, etched, stamped, stitched, and painted your way through this crafty jungle. But now, dear artisan, it's time to press your point—literally. Welcome to the beautifully tactile world of letterpress and embossing.

These techniques have been wooing paper lovers since the Renaissance, and they’re still the gold standard for elegance. Whether you’re crafting wedding invitations, thank-you notes, or business cards with bite—today’s projects are all about giving typography some serious texture.

🖨️ What Is Letterpress & Embossing?

Let’s define our new playthings:

Letterpress involves pressing inked, raised type into paper for a deep, crisp print.

Embossing creates a raised design (no ink necessary!) by pushing paper between two dies—one raised, one recessed.

Debossing is the reverse of embossing: it presses inward for a sunken-in effect.

For home crafters, we’re keeping it manual and DIY-friendly (read: no $20K letterpress machines today, folks).

🧰 What You’ll Need:

Blank cards or thick paper (at least 200gsm)

Embossing folder or DIY embossing stencil

Embossing tool (or blunt stylus)

Letter stamps or letterpress plates (can be 3D printed!)

Optional: Die-cutting/embossing machine (e.g. Sizzix, Cricut Cuttlebug)

Ink pad (for letterpress effect)

Washi tape, ruler, pencil, and a steady hand

🔠 Typography Tips for Pressed Crafts

Serif fonts shine here—think traditional, classy, and deeply readable.

All-caps serif gives authority to invitations and formal cards.

Avoid hyper-thin fonts—they don’t press well and may look like faint bruises on paper.

Bold script fonts can add elegance when embossed.

🧭 Step-by-Step: Handcrafted Press & Emboss Projects

✉️ Embossed Greeting Card

Sketch Your Layout Lightly draw guide lines in pencil.

Place Your Paper in Folder Or use a DIY stencil (cut from cardboard) for single words or initials.

Rub with Embossing Tool Trace the stencil edges with pressure—work slowly for smooth outlines.

Flip & Admire The reverse side should show a raised effect. Simple, clean, chic.

🖋️ Letterpress Effect (Without a Machine)

Ink Your Letters Using alphabet rubber stamps or carved wood blocks.

Align & Press Firmly Onto cardstock. Apply even pressure—use a book on top if needed.

Optional Deboss Touch While ink is still fresh, press a clean stylus around the edges of the letter to add depth.

🧠 Unique Fact of the Day:

The first movable type letterpress dates back to the 15th century, invented by Johannes Gutenberg. This single invention sparked the modern printing revolution—and yet here you are, doing it for fun, with ink-stained fingers and homemade stencils. The full-circle moment is chef’s kiss.

💌 Typography-Based Project Ideas

Thank-You Cards: Embossed initials or words like “GRATEFUL” or “YOU ROCK.”

Wedding Invitations: Classic serif fonts, letterpress-inked dates.

Quote Cards: Letterpress a motivational phrase, frame it, or slip it into a gift.

Mini Business Cards: Debossed logos + your name in clean serif = classy AF.

Gift Tags: Use small stencils to emboss monograms or festive words like “JOY” or “LOVE.”

✨ Crafting Wisdom:

For embossing: dampen paper very slightly—a light mist can help it mold better.

For letterpress: always test your ink pad and spacing on scrap paper.

Don’t be afraid to combine embossed designs with ink for mixed-media style.

🧪 Experiment Ideas:

Use metallic ink for a luxe letterpress.

Try blind embossing—no ink, just texture—for an ultra-minimalist vibe.

Pair embossed words with hand-lettered embellishments for a “hybrid typography” look.

🔤 Font Pick of the Day:

Try Playfair Display, Cormorant Garamond, or Lora for elegant serif type. For something whimsical, try Bodoni Moda or Libre Baskerville—they look amazing when pressed!

https://letterhanna.com/pressed-with-personality-diy-letterpress-and-embossed-cards/

[dizcoverpraveg]

What Makes Nagoa Beach Different from Other Beaches in Diu

Nagoa Beach distinguishes itself from other beaches in Diu through its unique features and offerings that cater to a diverse range of visitors. Its semi-circular coastline not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also creates a calm environment ideal for swimming and relaxation, making it a favourite among families and beachgoers. The lush palm-fringed shores provide natural shade and beauty, setting it apart from other beaches that may lack such scenic surroundings. Additionally, Nagoa Beach offers a variety of activities, including thrilling water sports and horseback riding, ensuring that every visitor can find something enjoyable to do, whether they seek adventure or tranquillity.

Key Differences of Nagoa Beach

Semi-Circular Shape: Nagoa Beach is renowned for its striking semi-circular coastline, which not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also creates a calm and inviting atmosphere. This unique shape results in gentle waves that are perfect for swimming and relaxing, making it a more serene option compared to other beaches in the area, such as Ghoghla Beach, which can be more exposed to stronger currents and may not be as suitable for leisurely activities.

Natural Beauty and Flora: The beach is lined with swaying palm trees and is home to rare Hoka trees, which were introduced by the Portuguese. These unique trees not only add to the exotic ambiance of the beach but also provide natural shade for visitors, enhancing the overall experience of lounging on the sand or enjoying a picnic by the shore.

Variety of Activities: While many beaches offer standard activities, Nagoa Beach stands out with its extensive range of options, including camel and pony rides along the shore, as well as various water sports like jet skiing and parasailing. This diverse array of activities ensures that there’s something for everyone—whether you’re a thrill-seeker looking for adventure or a family wanting to create lasting memories together.

Cleanliness and Maintenance: Visitors often note that Nagoa Beach is cleaner in comparison to other beaches in Diu, thanks to regular maintenance and efforts by local authorities. The well-kept sandy shores contribute to a more enjoyable experience, allowing guests to relax without the distraction of litter or debris commonly found on busier beaches, fostering a sense of peace and tranquillity.

Accessibility: Located just 8 kilometres from Diu town and near the airport, Nagoa Beach is easily accessible for travellers, making it a convenient choice for day trips. This proximity allows visitors to quickly enjoy the beach without extensive travel time, making it an ideal first or last stop during a visit to Diu, especially for those looking to maximize their time on this beautiful coastline.

Accommodation

Praveg Beach Resort, located just steps away from the stunning Nagoa Beach, offers a luxurious and serene getaway for travellers seeking both comfort and adventure. With 31 premium tents and 4 lavish dual-bedroom accommodations, the resort is designed to provide a unique blend of nature and opulence. Guests can indulge in a range of amenities, including a sparkling swimming pool, a sunken bar, and exquisite vegetarian dining options that highlight local flavours. The resort's prime location allows easy access to the beach, where visitors can enjoy various water sports or simply relax by the shore. Whether you're planning a romantic escape or a family vacation, Praveg Beach Resort promises an unforgettable experience filled with relaxation and coastal charm.

Conclusion

Nagoa Beach offers a distinctive combination of natural beauty, unique flora, diverse activities, cleanliness, and convenient access that sets it apart from other beaches in Diu. Whether you're seeking relaxation or adventure, Nagoa Beach offers a variety of activities with an exceptional experience that appeals to all types of travellers.

[skinqurederma]

PRP Treatment For Face: Cost, Benefits & Procedure

PRP therapy is a medical treatment that involves the use of a concentrated solution of a patient's platelets to stimulate tissue regeneration and healing. It is applied in sports medicine, dermatology, orthopedics, and aesthetics, among others. This blog explores Face PRP in Delhi in detail.

What are the benefits of Face PRP in Delhi for facial rejuvenation?

The FDA has authorized platelet-rich plasma therapy for face rejuvenation for decades, showing that treatments have stood the test of time. Plus, your body must be receptive to the Face PRP treatment in Delhi because it utilizes your blood.

Face PRP in Delhi carries some major benefits:

Reduce wrinkles and fine lines

Improve the texture of your skin

Revive lost fullness and volume in your sunken face areas.

Minimize the appearance of acne scars and other imperfections

Minimize the look of large pores

How Does Face PRP in Delhi Work?

Concentrated platelets and natural growth factors from your blood are injected during PRP skin treatment to restore youthful facial areas. This enhances the skin texture and minimizes wrinkles by stimulating the production of collagen and tissue repair.

PRP restores elasticity and firmness of the skin during the process of sessions, thus returning a youthful and radiant look. PRP is a non-surgical procedure involving no artificial product. The Face PRP treatment in Delhi ensures lasting regeneration. The process of PRP skin therapy works this way:

Stimulates Collagen Production: PRP assists in stimulating the collagen that your skin requires in order to preserve its smoothness and firmness. The outcome is better skin elasticity, texture, and anti-aging effect.

Promotes Cell Renewal: PRP's growth factors help renew and repair cells in the skin, reducing scarring, wrinkles, and fine lines.

Improves Blood Flow: Best Face PRP in Delh  enhances overall skin rejuvenation by enhancing blood flow, oxygen, and nutrient delivery to the treated area.

PRP Skin Treatment Procedure

The following is a detailed, step-by-step procedure of Face PRP in Delhi for skin renewal:

Sample of Blood Drawn

Similar to a normal blood test, a dermatologist will extract a small sample of the patient's blood from his or her arm.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Segregation

The healthcare professional will then isolate the platelet-rich plasma through centrifugal machinery that the US FDA has approved. The equipment rapidly spins the blood sample so that the red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets are isolated in distinct layers.

Growth Factor Activation: In this process, your doctor will activate the platelet-rich plasma's growth factors, which are critical to tissue repair and regeneration.

Giving the PRP Injections: Your dermatologist will now be preparing the PRP that is extracted for an immediate injection while taking great care to preserve its bioactive properties for effective renewal of the skin. PRP injections can be injected to cure facial areas that display very apparent signs of aging, like sagging, wrinkles, and lines.

PRP Treatment Prices in Delhi

The size of the body area being treated and your medical history decide how much PRP treatment in Delhi will cost. A PRP hair treatment may be priced differently depending on your baldness, the area to be treated, and the number of hair follicles used. Best Face PRP in Delhi can cost between 10,000 to 15,000 INR per session.

Conclusion

Based on a number of clinical trials, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can be helpful. Condition, patient factors, and preparation influence its effectiveness. This Best Face PRP in Delhi can be useful for dermatology, hair growth, and wound healing. More comprehensive research is needed to determine its long-term efficacy and establish a standard of use.

[sunaleisocial]

Artificial reef designed by MIT engineers could protect marine life, reduce storm damage

New Post has been published on https://sunalei.org/news/artificial-reef-designed-by-mit-engineers-could-protect-marine-life-reduce-storm-damage/

Artificial reef designed by MIT engineers could protect marine life, reduce storm damage

The beautiful, gnarled, nooked-and-crannied reefs that surround tropical islands serve as a marine refuge and natural buffer against stormy seas. But as the effects of climate change bleach and break down coral reefs around the world, and extreme weather events become more common, coastal communities are left increasingly vulnerable to frequent flooding and erosion.

An MIT team is now hoping to fortify coastlines with “architected” reefs — sustainable, offshore structures engineered to mimic the wave-buffering effects of natural reefs while also providing pockets for fish and other marine life.

The team’s reef design centers on a cylindrical structure surrounded by four rudder-like slats. The engineers found that when this structure stands up against a wave, it efficiently breaks the wave into turbulent jets that ultimately dissipate most of the wave’s total energy. The team has calculated that the new design could reduce as much wave energy as existing artificial reefs, using 10 times less material.

The researchers plan to fabricate each cylindrical structure from sustainable cement, which they would mold in a pattern of “voxels” that could be automatically assembled, and would provide pockets for fish to explore and other marine life to settle in. The cylinders could be connected to form a long, semipermeable wall, which the engineers could erect along a coastline, about half a mile from shore. Based on the team’s initial experiments with lab-scale prototypes, the architected reef could reduce the energy of incoming waves by more than 95 percent.

“This would be like a long wave-breaker,” says Michael Triantafyllou, the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Professor in Ocean Science and Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “If waves are 6 meters high coming toward this reef structure, they would be ultimately less than a meter high on the other side. So, this kills the impact of the waves, which could prevent erosion and flooding.”

Details of the architected reef design are reported today in a study appearing in the open-access journal PNAS Nexus. Triantafyllou’s MIT co-authors are Edvard Ronglan SM ’23; graduate students Alfonso Parra Rubio, Jose del Auila Ferrandis, and Erik Strand; research scientists Patricia Maria Stathatou and Carolina Bastidas; and Professor Neil Gershenfeld, director of the Center for Bits and Atoms; along with Alexis Oliveira Da Silva at the Polytechnic Institute of Paris, Dixia Fan of Westlake University, and Jeffrey Gair Jr. of Scinetics, Inc.

Leveraging turbulence

Some regions have already erected artificial reefs to protect their coastlines from encroaching storms. These structures are typically sunken ships, retired oil and gas platforms, and even assembled configurations of concrete, metal, tires, and stones. However, there’s variability in the types of artificial reefs that are currently in place, and no standard for engineering such structures. What’s more, the designs that are deployed tend to have a low wave dissipation per unit volume of material used. That is, it takes a huge amount of material to break enough wave energy to adequately protect coastal communities.

The MIT team instead looked for ways to engineer an artificial reef that would efficiently dissipate wave energy with less material, while also providing a refuge for fish living along any vulnerable coast.

“Remember, natural coral reefs are only found in tropical waters,” says Triantafyllou, who is director of the MIT Sea Grant. “We cannot have these reefs, for instance, in Massachusetts. But architected reefs don’t depend on temperature, so they can be placed in any water, to protect more coastal areas.”

MIT researchers test the wave-breaking performance of two artificial reef structures in the MIT Towing Tank.

Credit: Courtesy of the researchers

The new effort is the result of a collaboration between researchers in MIT Sea Grant, who developed the reef structure’s hydrodynamic design, and researchers at the Center for Bits and Atoms (CBA), who worked to make the structure modular and easy to fabricate on location. The team’s architected reef design grew out of two seemingly unrelated problems. CBA researchers were developing ultralight cellular structures for the aerospace industry, while Sea Grant researchers were assessing the performance of blowout preventers in offshore oil structures — cylindrical valves that are used to seal off oil and gas wells and prevent them from leaking.

The team’s tests showed that the structure’s cylindrical arrangement generated a high amount of drag. In other words, the structure appeared to be especially efficient in dissipating high-force flows of oil and gas. They wondered: Could the same arrangement dissipate another type of flow, in ocean waves?

The researchers began to play with the general structure in simulations of water flow, tweaking its dimensions and adding certain elements to see whether and how waves changed as they crashed against each simulated design. This iterative process ultimately landed on an optimized geometry: a vertical cylinder flanked by four long slats, each attached to the cylinder in a way that leaves space for water to flow through the resulting structure. They found this setup essentially breaks up any incoming wave energy, causing parts of the wave-induced flow to spiral to the sides rather than crashing ahead.

“We’re leveraging this turbulence and these powerful jets to ultimately dissipate wave energy,” Ferrandis says.

Standing up to storms

Once the researchers identified an optimal wave-dissipating structure, they fabricated a laboratory-scale version of an architected reef made from a series of the cylindrical structures, which they 3D-printed from plastic. Each test cylinder measured about 1 foot wide and 4 feet tall. They assembled a number of cylinders, each spaced about a foot apart, to form a fence-like structure, which they then lowered into a wave tank at MIT. They then generated waves of various heights and measured them before and after passing through the architected reef.

“We saw the waves reduce substantially, as the reef destroyed their energy,” Triantafyllou says.

The team has also looked into making the structures more porous, and friendly to fish. They found that, rather than making each structure from a solid slab of plastic, they could use a more affordable and sustainable type of cement.

“We’ve worked with biologists to test the cement we intend to use, and it’s benign to fish, and ready to go,” he adds.

They identified an ideal pattern of “voxels,” or microstructures, that cement could be molded into, in order to fabricate the reefs while creating pockets in which fish could live. This voxel geometry resembles individual egg cartons, stacked end to end, and appears to not affect the structure’s overall wave-dissipating power.

“These voxels still maintain a big drag while allowing fish to move inside,” Ferrandis says.

The team is currently fabricating cement voxel structures and assembling them into a lab-scale architected reef, which they will test under various wave conditions. They envision that the voxel design could be modular, and scalable to any desired size, and easy to transport and install in various offshore locations. “Now we’re simulating actual sea patterns, and testing how these models will perform when we eventually have to deploy them,” says Anjali Sinha, a graduate student at MIT who recently joined the group.

Going forward, the team hopes to work with beach towns in Massachusetts to test the structures on a pilot scale.

“These test structures would not be small,” Triantafyllou emphasizes. “They would be about a mile long, and about 5 meters tall, and would cost something like 6 million dollars per mile. So it’s not cheap. But it could prevent billions of dollars in storm damage. And with climate change, protecting the coasts will become a big issue.”

This work was funded, in part, by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

[beverlyhillswellnessclinic]

The Noteworthy Reasons For Choosing Cosmetic Dermal Fillers in Dubai

In enhancing one's appearance, cosmetic dermal fillers have recently gained significant popularity. These injectable treatments offer a non-surgical solution to address various aesthetic concerns. 

Whether you wish to restore volume, reduce fine lines, or achieve a more youthful appearance, cosmetic dermal fillers can be an excellent option. In this article, we will explore five compelling reasons to consider choosing cosmetic dermal fillers in Dubai.

Effective and Immediate Results

Cosmetic dermal fillers provide instant results, making them an attractive option for individuals seeking immediate improvement in their appearance. Unlike surgical procedures that may require a lengthy recovery period, dermal filler treatments offer a quick and efficient way to achieve a youthful and rejuvenated look. 

Within minutes, you can notice a noticeable difference in the targeted areas, such as plumper lips, reduced wrinkles, or enhanced cheekbones.

Non-Invasive and Minimal Downtime

One of the most significant advantages of cosmetic dermal fillers is their non-invasive nature. Unlike surgical procedures, dermal fillers do not involve incisions, general anesthesia, or extensive recovery time. 

The treatments are performed in-office by qualified healthcare professionals who skillfully inject the fillers into the targeted areas. Following the procedure, most individuals can resume their daily activities immediately, with only minimal redness or swelling, which typically subsides within a few days.

Versatility and Customization

Cosmetic dermal fillers offer various options to suit individual needs and preferences. Various fillers are available, each designed to address specific concerns and target different areas of the face. 

Whether you desire to plump up your lips, restore volume to sunken cheeks, or smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, a filler is tailored to meet your specific goals. Additionally, fillers can be customized to achieve a natural-looking result that enhances your unique facial features and preserves your individuality.

Long-Lasting Effects

While cosmetic dermal fillers are not permanent, they provide long-lasting results compared to alternative treatments. The duration of the effects depends on the type of filler used, the area treated, and individual factors. 

Generally, fillers can last anywhere from six months to two years, with some newer formulations offering even longer-lasting effects. Regular touch-up treatments can help extend the results, allowing you to maintain your desired look over time.

Safe and FDA Approved

Regulatory authorities, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have extensively studied, tested, and approved cosmetic dermal fillers. These treatments are considered safe when administered by trained professionals in a controlled medical environment. 

However, consulting with a qualified healthcare provider is crucial to ensure you receive treatment from a reputable and experienced practitioner. By choosing a licensed professional, you can have peace of mind knowing that your treatment is being performed with the highest standards of safety and care.

Conclusion

Cosmetic dermal fillers provide a convenient and effective solution for individuals seeking to enhance their appearance without invasive surgical procedures. Regarding your appearance, making an informed decision and choosing a skilled practitioner is key to achieving the best possible outcome.

[holidaysat221b]

Rec of the Week - 2/9/22

Over the years we’ve had a lot prompt fills submitted to us.  I thought it would be nice to shine a spotlight on those individual submissions.  Please give the author or artist a bit of love.

Stainless, Captive Bead, 11mm, 14 Gauge. by @sunken-standard - Molly has a bellybutton ring.

Original Prompt - Molly has a piece of body piercing jewelry or a tattoo located somewhere that surprises and titillates Sherlock.  -  @mel-loves-all  

[vampiretendencies]

request; hi! i love your writing! if you could maybe do “tell me about your day.” with jj! maybe he’s your first boyfriend & you’re taken back by such a simple question/gesture since nobody has ever cared about you in that way before.

warnings; fluff

pairing; jj x fem!reader

authors note; writing blurbs rn bc of writers block (sorry to keep saying that btw i just repeat myself in case there’s a new reader, though i am currently starting to get over it) but still send in requests for one shots, imagines, etc. you may choose a blurb from the list below or send in your own idea.

other ways to say i love you prompt list

2 months.

So fresh, and so perpetually new.

Honeymoon phase striking JJ as something that would actually last this time. Not that he had many relationships to base it off of, but the past few he had typically went sour within the first few weeks.

None of them could get along with his way of life, or they just simply didnt appreciate the wholeness of everything that was JJ.

But he sensed it with you; he felt it in his bones, under his skin, on the tip of his tongue, every ounce of his being felt you, even if you weren't in the room.

This was his most serious, longest, emotionally involved, admiration filled relationship he'd been in.

This was your first relationship, but after being underwhelmed in his past endeavors he found this to be his first too.

And he's thinking about you first thing when he wakes up in the morning, last thing when he goes to sleep- unable to function properly if you weren't near.

JJ was your first everything; first kiss, first time holding hands, first time cuddling, first time being sexually involved with a boy.

But, Christ were your standards low about yourself.

Initially thinking a human with such with breathtakingly confined gestures didn't exist like JJ.

He proved you wrong, convincing you that everyone else in this world were heathens.

He taught you how to create such passion for another, how to know someone's heart and you did the same.

"How was your day, baby?"

It rolled of JJ's tongue, finitely. The two of you were entangled in the hammock at the Chateau, and you were cradled into JJ's arms. Attached to his side, whilst he studied your features; peering down at your scrunched up nose as if you were heaven sent. You thumbed over the material of his beer-stained Heyward's t-shirt, coming to a halt at that question. Almost like the hammock stopped swinging, the unearthly beaming sun stopped shining on the two of you, and as if you'd sunken into the mucky ground.

You were in awe, glaring up at JJ like he'd grown two heads.

Was he being serious? You thought.

"Something on my face? It's okay you can tell me-"

"No m'just ... you meant to ask me that?"

Stunned, was an understatement, as you are now propping your chin onto JJ's muscular chest, needing a better view. Almost uneased and taken aback as that wasn't an everyday question anyone asked you— lead alone a boy.

"Course' I did ..." and then he noticed your furrowed eyebrows. "C'mon, what's goin' on in that pretty little head?”

"Nothing J, you're the first guy to ask me that."

""Let's keep it that way, baby. I'll be the only one."

He's repeatedly pecking the skin of your forehead leaving you to say, “Since I've met you all of my days have been perfect."