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mysterious-moonstruck-musings · 9 months

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Destiny & Deliverance: Chapter 28

Destiny & Deliverance Masterlist ||| Main Masterlist Dieter Bravo X OFC

Series Summary: Natalia Cohen is experiencing major life changes, beginning with leaving an emotionally abusive husband. She is learning how to navigate life on her own while dealing with high functioning anxiety, depression, and mild PTSD. Everything is looking up for her. She is a highly respected consultant for a major LA firm, has her best friend, Lauren, by her side, and is on her path to healing. Everything changes when she meets a handsome and broken stranger on a work trip. He turns out to be a well-known actor, with a heart-breaking past. They quickly develop a connection that will forever alter their lives.

Warnings: Themes dealing with mental health, emotional trauma, alcohol use, and discussions about suicide. There will be fluff, tears, spicy language, and smut. This will be a slow burn type of story. Read at your own risk.

Chapter Warnings: Smutty stuff.

Chapter Quote: “Oh, you know me…I’m really good at operations management. Just working through things to figure out the most efficient process for peak outcomes.”

As I sat in the lobby waiting for Dieter to change into the clothes I had brought for him and complete the discharge process, I could feel my anxiety flaring. He and I hadn’t spent any length of time alone together since he was filming in Canada, and everything felt different now. We had made it clear to each other that we wanted to be together and make this work, but we knew there was going to be some initial awkwardness to get through. We had briefly discussed it with Dr. Rosenberg, but talking about it and experiencing it were two different things. I could already feel the hum of anticipation vibrating throughout my body, but I also still had a deep seeded fear that he was going to change his mind and realize he didn’t have feelings for me any longer.

Dieter soon emerged from the double security doors that led to the back. He was in a dark gray t-shirt, medium wash jeans that were slung low over his slightly trimmer waist, and sneakers. His shirt was working double time as it stretched across his much broader shoulders and chest. He had spent a lot of his down time exercising and it showed. His hair was still a curly mess, but it looked like he had tried to tame it back some. He had his tote bag stuffed with the small number of personal items slung over his shoulder.

Several staff members followed to give their goodbyes and see him off, Dr. Rosenberg and Sharon included. Sharon gave him a teary smile and hug as Dr. Rosenberg walked over to check in with me. I stood from my seat as she approached. I knew as soon as she grabbed my hand and squeezed it, that she could sense my nervousness.

“You doing ok?” She asked quietly with a concerned look on her face. I nodded, giving her a tight-lipped smile.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just a little anxious.” She squeezed my hand again.

“He is too. Just remember to talk through it and you’ll both be fine.”

I inhaled deeply, letting it out slowly before I nodded.

Once Dieter was finished with his goodbyes, he timidly made his way over to me with his hands clenching and unclenching into fists. He leaned in to give me a tight hug, reluctantly pulling away with a small smile. I reached down and grabbed his hand, threading our fingers together as I met his eyes.

“You ready?”

His eyebrows shot up as his eyes widened, “Yeah…I think so.”

We held each other’s gaze for a moment, the reality of the situation finally setting in. I could see several emotions playing across his face and could feel mine bubbling to the surface, threatening to spill out. I was suddenly aware of all of the eyes on us. Somehow, I managed to push my feelings aside as we waved to everyone and headed toward the exit.

Once we were outside, away from curious onlookers, I couldn’t hold it back anymore. By the time we reached the car, the flood gates opened, and my legs suddenly felt weak. I leaned against the hood of the rental to catch myself. Dieter quickly pulled me into a tight hug, cupping the back of my head and burying his face into the top of my hair. Both of us stood there, sobbing into our embrace and saying nothing as we allowed the waves of emotion overtake us. It was too much all at once. I felt thankful that he was still with us, relieved that he was healthy, happy he was finally coming home, nervous about how things were going to go, and excited about the possibilities. I somewhat composed myself and tried to verbalize my feelings to him, wanting him to know it was happy tears. He started to shake his head against mine as I mumbled into his neck, “It’s ok. I understand. I’m right there with you. It’s…a lot.”

He pulled back, looking at me with his tear-streaked face, reaching to wipe away the dampness from my cheeks with his thumbs, “If it makes you feel better, I got emotional about putting on a pair of jeans for the first time in three months. So, I get the overwhelmed feeling.”

We both chuckled, lightening the mood somewhat. I leaned my forehead against his chest as I grasped onto his biceps, squeezing to make sure he was really there, “It just felt like this day was never gonna come. It almost seems surreal.”

His rough hands slid up my arms as he kissed the top of my head, “Let’s get outta here before they change their mind about letting me leave.”

I raised my head, meeting his gaze. He seemed like he was holding back as he pushed my hair behind my ear, giving a small smile before turning to open the driver side door for me. After I got inside, he shut the door and hurried around to get into the passenger seat. As he was getting settled, I reached into the back and grabbed his tablet and handed it to him.

“Entertainment for the ride, if you need it. I also have your hat and sunglasses.”

He smiled, sliding the tablet between the seats, “I figured I’d just hang my head out the window the whole way and enjoy my freedom.”

I snorted, “I’m not sure you’ll wanna deal with the skin problems that would result from that.”

He laughed. I noticed he started to reach his hand toward mine but diverted to rub at his thigh instead. He suddenly seemed unsure of himself as he looked ahead out the window, a deep crease forming between his brows.

I figured he was most likely feeling overwhelmed and tried not to think too much about it as I started the car and made my way toward the interstate exit.

We drove in silence for a while. Every time I glanced in Dieter's direction, he was attentively watching the sights pass by, seeing them for the first time. I could tell the wheels in his head were spinning. I imagined this was a lot to take in after being in a facility for three months and hoped it wasn’t too much for him.

“You were good with driving back, right? I just assumed…”

He turned to look at me, pausing briefly to process my words. He had clearly been deep in thought, “Definitely. I’m not ready to deal with an onslaught of people at the airport. Or paparazzi. They’re always hanging out there…and I’m not sure if I can handle the questions. I need to talk to Elaine. I’m not sure how to answer…things. I know there are rumors about me being in rehab.”

I gave him a tight smile. I wasn’t sure how much he knew about the rumor mill. I knew he had talked to Ty some, but we hadn’t discussed anything related to his work much since it wasn’t the focus of our sessions.

“Are you worried about work stuff?”

He sighed, “Yes…and no. It’s gonna be a lot to deal with and catch up on. A lot of rearranging…maybe even dropping some projects. I’m not trying to rush back into things full steam either, so whatever happens, happens.”

He started rubbing at the top of his thighs with both hands.

“I don’t think I’ve even told you…Rylee quit after filming ended.”

I looked over at him, confused, but also not surprised. I reached over to grab his hand and gave it a squeeze. The topic seemed to cause him some distress, so I didn’t let go. Instead, I laced our fingers together. He stared at our entwined hands for a moment before he spoke again.

“I was such a dick to her even though she was just trying to keep me outta trouble. I don’t blame her for quitting. I would’ve too.”

He sighed heavily as he turned to peer out the window. Eventually speaking up again without looking in my direction.

“Do you think she’ll forgive me and come back to work?” He asked quietly as he rubbed at his scruffy chin with his free hand.

“I think if you’re honest with her and tell her what was going on…she might.”

He pinched his brows together, “Yeah, maybe…and apologize…or grovel at her feet…”

He briefly laughed to himself. After a few minutes of contemplative silence, he spoke up again, “I’m also thinking about letting Ty go. I’m not sure how much I trust him anymore…I don’t feel like he has my best interest in mind...and I need people on my team that are gonna be supportive…and not…whatever he is.”

“You know…you don’t have to get all of this stuff figured out immediately, right? There’s no rush.”

He finally turned to look at me, his brows drawn together as he pursed his lips in thought.

“I know. That’s just two things that’ve been on my mind. The rest of it…I’m just gonna go with the flow and not stress about it. There are people that will figure that shit out for me. I was just curious about your thoughts.”

“Well, you know I like Rylee. Hopefully she’ll come back…and if you want me to talk with her, I can. As far as Ty goes, I’ve really only had one interaction with him. So, I’m not sure I can have an opinion on that, but I’ll support whatever decision you come to.”

I glanced in his direction with a smirk, “He was a dick though…”

Dieter snorted, nodding in agreement.

Once we reached the halfway mark of our trip, we stopped for food. Dieter really wanted a greasy burger from a fast food place just to make up for the last three months of eating “healthy shit”. He felt like he deserved a cheat day. So, we went to the first drive-thru we saw and ate in the parking lot. From the way he ate, you would think they had starved him to death.

I smiled at him, “Ya know, you’re probably gonna regret that later.”

He took a quick drink, shaking his head, “I don’t even fucking care. Worth it. Get me some tums and I’ll survive.”

He shoved a few more fries in his mouth before he looked at me with a lopsided grin. I finished my meal and wiped my face with a napkin as I turned toward him.

“So…we really haven’t talked about it…but where do you wanna stay?”

He knitted his brows together as a look of confusion and panic crossed his face. He visibly tensed, “I thought I was staying with you?”

My eyes widened as I realized how my question sounded, “You are. I just mean…would you rather for us to stay at your place or mine? Together.”

He immediately relaxed, “Geez, don’t give me a heart attack like that. I’m too nervous about being alone as it is.”

I reached over and rubbed his arm, giving him a tight lipped smile, “Sorry. I should have worded that better.”

He stared at the half-eaten burger in his hand, picking at it as spoke, “Honestly, I’m not sure how I’m gonna feel being back at my place. It makes me anxious to think about it after what happened.”

I nodded, “That’s understandable. We can stay at my place then. We do need to stop by and get some of your things though. I’ve not been back there long enough to do that.”

He chuckled, “Yeah, I guess I do need clothes, huh.”

After he finished eating, we got back on the road. By the time we were turning onto his street, it was late in the evening, and we were both stiff and tired from the drive. We had planned to grab what he would need for a couple of days and return for the rest later.

As we walked toward the front door, I noticed he was wringing his hands together and his face looked tense. After keying in, he walked in behind me, stopping in the middle of the living room to look around.

He had a mix of confusion and anxiety on his face, “Who cleaned?”

I walked over to him, placing my hand on his shoulder for comfort, “I did.”

His eyes turned glassy as he surveyed the area, “Everything?”

I cleared my throat as I felt a lump form, “Yeah…I ugh…fixed the drywall damage in the bedroom too and had the broken furniture hauled off. Technically, all you have for a bed right now is mattresses on the floor.”

I laughed dismissively as he turned to look at me, “You know, you didn’t have to do any of that.”

I met his eyes, fighting back my own tears, “I know. I just didn’t want you coming home to that. It was the last thing you needed to worry about.”

He pulled me into a tight embrace, “Thank you. For everything. I know I’ve said it a lot already, but I don’t deserve you.”

I sighed, leaning back to meet his gaze, “Stop saying that. You do too.”

He nodded, turning away from me as he wiped at his face. He took another moment to look around, shaking his head slightly.

“Alright, let’s…umm…get this done. Being here is making my chest hurt.”

“You sure it's not from that greasy ass burger you ate?”

He squeezed his eyes shut and snorted out a laugh. When he looked back at me, I could tell that helped him relax some, “You might be right.”

We worked in silence as we gathered his things. He was entirely focused on the task at hand, obviously trying not to think of other things. It took no time at all between the two of us and soon we were loading his duffle and backpack into the car to head over to my place.

We grabbed our bags from the trunk before heading inside. As I moved toward the bedroom, I noticed he had stopped just inside the living room, seeming unsure of himself.

I quirked an eyebrow in his direction, “Something wrong?”

He laughed nervously, “Umm, where do you want me to put my stuff?”

I tilted my head, confused by his question, “In the bedroom…”

He shifted the bags on his shoulders awkwardly, “Sorry…I just didn’t wanna assume and make you uncomfortable…”

I couldn’t help smiling at him. He was always thinking about my feelings, and I appreciated that more than he would ever know.

“I’ll work on making some space in the closet for you. I don’t want you living out of a bag anymore while you’re home.”

The cheesiest smile slid across his face as he took in my words. When I turned to continue toward the bedroom, he followed.

He stood digging through his bag that was perched on the edge of the bed as I approached him from behind, snaking my hands under his arms to rest on his chest and leaning my forehead between his shoulder blades. He tensed slightly before relaxing into the embrace and grabbing hold of one of my hands, rubbing it gently with his thumb.

“I can’t believe you’re here. I’m almost afraid I’m gonna wake up and realize it’s a dream.”

He pulled my hand up to his mouth and kissed my fingertips, “I’m not going anywhere, mi estrella.”

I took a minute to inhale his scent before kissing the back of his neck.

“I think I’m gonna go shower.”

He paused his movements, looking down toward his bag, “I’m probably gonna journal for a while. I’ve been doing that in the evenings before I go to sleep…to wind down.”

I reached up to rub the hair at the nape of his neck as I moved to his side, looking up at him. He gave me a tight-lipped smile before he started to dig through his bag again, not meeting my eyes. I felt like he was suddenly putting up a wall. He had a long day, so I tried to not let it bother me too much as I headed toward the bathroom.

After showering and towel drying my hair, I made my way back to the bedroom. To my surprise, Dieter was on his side of the bed and appeared to be asleep. This was certainly not how I saw the evening ending. I sighed, making my way over to my side to get settled in, moving carefully so as not to disturb him. I laid there staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore my intrusive thoughts as I listened to his steady breathing. I was concerned that he was already regretting his decision. However, the rational side of my brain kept reminding me that he would need time to adjust. I eventually managed to fall into a restless sleep.

When I awoke the next morning, Dieter was already up. I wasn’t surprised given his previous schedule the last three months at Sanctuary Hills, but I had to admit that I was a little disappointed. I really wanted to wake up with him. I took a moment to stretch before sitting up to reach for my phone on the nightstand. I immediately noticed the open journal beside my phone. It was ours, the one we had both been writing in. I grabbed for it instead, closing it slightly with my finger still marking the page. I had a sinking feeling, suddenly worried it was a goodbye letter or something else equally distressing. I took a steadying breath as I leaned back against the headboard and opened it. My breath caught in my throat once I saw what was on the pages.

On the left side, was a rough pencil sketch of me sleeping. On the right, a journal entry from today.

This is the picture I’ve had in my mind since you left Canada…beautiful and at peace. While you were there, I stayed awake and watched you sleep for hours, trying to memorize everything I could. It’s what kept me going all this time even though I felt like I could never get the details right. Seeing you sleeping this morning made me realize my memory could never do you justice. I was naive for thinking otherwise and for trying. Today I woke up feeling whole. I can’t remember the last time I felt that. Thank you for making it possible. For the first time in my life, I’m actually excited about the future, and I can’t wait to spend it with you. D.

I could feel my heart clench in my chest. Any doubts I was having were now shattered by his words. We just needed to find our rhythm and he needed time to decompress.

After reading his journal entry a couple more times, I finally crawled out of bed. It was a little chilly, so I threw on my robe and tied it shut as I made my way toward the kitchen. As soon as I walked out of the bedroom, I could smell food cooking. I couldn’t help smiling to myself as I rounded the corner and found Dieter standing in front of the stove in nothing but gym shorts, cursing and jerking his hand back as the bacon grease popped at him. I took a minute to admire the lean muscles of his back, and how they flexed as he moved. He looked so fucking good.

I padded over and hugged him from behind, laying my cheek against his bare back. He rubbed one hand up my arm as he turned his head toward me to say good morning. I nuzzled my nose into the back of his neck and inhaled his scent before responding.

“Thank you for the note this morning. I needed that.”

Sensing the sullen undertone to my words, he turned to face me, letting one hand settle on my hip while the other reached to stroke my hair away from my face as he held my gaze.

His brows pinched together, “Is something wrong?”

I gave him a weak smile, “No, nothing now. I was just feeling a little insecure yesterday. I thought maybe you were shutting me out or holding back a little…But I realize you need time to adjust. It’s not a big deal. It’s just me being in my head.”

He sighed, pulling me against his chest, “I’m sorry. You’re not wrong. We probably should have talked about this in a little more detail…”

I felt my heart rate spike as the anxiety kicked in. That was not the response I expected. I pulled back, trying to keep my face neutral as I looked up at him. However, based on his panicked expression, I clearly wasn’t doing a good job of it. He rubbed at his face with one hand, shaking his head.

“Fuck. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded…I was…holding back some…but only because I didn’t want you to feel pressured to immediately pick up where we left off. In case you needed some time or…wanted to take things slow. I was just gonna try to follow your lead, ya know what I mean?”

I could feel the tension leave my body as he spoke. I smiled up at him, nodding in understanding, “I appreciate that you took that under consideration, but I can assure you that it’s not necessary. I said I was all in for this and that means everything that comes with it. If you wanna hold my hand, kiss me, or anything else, just fucking do it. You can trust that I’ll tell you if you’re doing something that makes me uncomfortable.”

He visibly relaxed some, smiling as he placed both hands on my hips and pulled me against his body. He nuzzled his nose against my ear, speaking quietly, “I’m sorry. I should’ve just brought it up yesterday. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, fingertips twisting in the soft curls at the nap of his neck, “It’s ok. We’ve just gotta make sure we’re communicating about everything so there aren’t any misunderstandings. Ok?”

He nodded as he leaned his head against mine. I closed the space between us, gently taking his plump bottom lip between mine. I could feel his grip on my hips tighten slightly as the kiss deepened. I pulled away, breathlessly glancing over his shoulder, “Your bacon is burning.”

His eyes widened as he quickly turned toward the stove, “Fuuuck.”

Just as I started to laugh at him, the doorbell rang.

“You expecting anyone?” I asked, surprised that someone would be here this early. He shook his head as he moved to get the bacon out of the pan.

“Huh…me neither. I’ll get it.”

As I passed into the living room, the doorbell started to ring again. Clearly someone was impatient this morning. When I opened the door, I found one of the absolute last people that I expected standing there with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked in disbelief.

She rolled her eyes, “Ty told me that Dieter is back and that he’s staying with you.”

“Did Ty give you my address too?” That guy was starting to get on my nerves now.

“Yes, because I want to see him.”

I scoffed, “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up like this. I’m pretty sure Gabby told you that he didn’t wanna see you.”

She sneered, “Like I’m going to believe anything she says. If he doesn’t want to see me anymore, I want to hear it from his mouth.”

I felt the door push open further as Dieter came to stand behind me. I could sense how tense he was from his close proximity to my backside and his sudden and firm grip around my waist. His voice was low and full of frustration when he spoke up.

“What're you doing here, Anna?”

She seemed taken aback by his tone and appearance, staring at him wide-eyed for a moment before responding.

“Ty said you were back from treatment. I wanted to see how you’re doing.”

Dieter scoffed, “Of course he did. Did he tell you what kind of treatment too?”

Anna shook her head, “No. I didn’t ask. I just assumed it was rehab given what happened.”

Dieter moved forward to stand beside me in the doorway. One arm stayed around my waist while the other rested on his hip.

“Rehab…of course. That is the rumor, right?”

Anna's eyes widened in surprise to his response, like she didn’t know what he was talking about.

Dieter continued, “I wasn’t in rehab. I was in a mental health facility.”

She had the nerve to look concerned, “What? Why? Are you ok? Did SHE con you into doing that?”

I was the one with the scowl on my face now. I glanced up at Dieter, I could see the muscles in his jaw tightening.

“She had nothing to do with it. In fact, the hospital was gonna make me go if I didn’t do it myself. It actually wasn’t a bad thing…I learned a lot about myself and I’m a lot better now. Happy even. It might do you some good to give it a try.”

Anna’s eyes flashed with anger, “Excuse me?”

Dieter chewed on the inside of his cheek, fighting back a smile before he continued, “Given my diagnosis, it’s important that I manage my stress levels, which means cutting the problem people out of my life. That includes you. I don’t need your drama…negative influence…or lack of support. So…this is me telling you that we’re done. For good this time.”

Anna’s nostrils flared as she took in his words, “So what, she comes crawling back and suddenly I’m the problem again?

Dieter shook his head, “You know that’s not how it went down. I told you to fuck off before all this other stuff happened because you wouldn’t stop running your mouth and pushing me to do things…and I’m not stupid. I know you’ve been leaking shit to the tabloids.”

This was new information to me. I couldn’t say I was surprised by it. I was actually proud of him for having the sense to cut her off before now. I gave Anna a smug look. She knew she shouldn’t be here.

“You know I would never do that to you. How do you know she’s not the one leaking stuff? You really think this is gonna work out between you two this time? You already got rid of her once. You know she’s fucking with your head. Why are you allowing it to happen? You deserve better.”

Dieter inhaled deeply, pursing his lips as he eyed her. He shook his head slightly, stepping toward her, “Not that I need to explain any of this to you, but I think you need to hear it…I’m in love with her. She’s an amazing person with a good heart. I’m never leaving her again. It should have never happened the first time.”

He paused briefly, watching the fight leave her as her shoulders slumped at his words. He continued in a calm voice, “Ya know, this is exactly what I’m talking about…I’m not dealing with your toxic, mind fuck shit anymore. You need to leave. Don’t come back. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. We’re done. You understand? Is that clear enough for you?”

Anna was staring at the ground now, unable to look at him as she nodded in understanding. She gave me one last look of contempt as she slowly turned to leave.

Dieter moved to close the door, immediately turning to pull me into a hug, “I’m sorry you had to deal with that. Don’t let what she said bother you. She’s just trying to manipulate me like she always does.”

I leaned back to look up at him, “I don’t care about anything she says to me. It’s fine, I can take it. Are you ok though?”

He let out a measured breath as he rubbed up and down my arms, “Surprisingly…yes. Nothing she says matters to me anymore. She’s not worth the energy to be upset about it.”

My eyebrows arched upward, “I didn’t realize you two had a falling out…”

“Yeah…she kept saying she was tired of me being down and not partying with them, so she was pushing drugs and women at me constantly. When I said I wasn’t interested she would get mad and start running her mouth. I just got tired of it.”

I narrowed my eyes at him playfully, “Women? Hmm...”

His eyes widened as he vehemently started shaking his head, “Oh no, no, I didn’t…not with anyone.”

I chuckled, “I’m just messing with you. Even if you did…we weren’t together.”

His face relaxed, “Don’t worry, you were the only woman on my mind.” I cupped his cheeks, taking in the calm expression on his face before leaning in for a soft kiss. He smiled, nuzzling his nose against mine, “Let’s go eat breakfast and forget this happened.” I nodded as he took my hand and pulled me toward the kitchen.

It didn’t go unnoticed by me that he handled this confrontation with Anna completely different than the one at the restaurant. He remained calm and present the entire time. It was obvious that he was in a different place now. I actually felt proud of him and hoped it hadn’t caused him any undue stress.

The next couple of days kept us pretty busy. Ty had lined up several meetings to start getting Dieter’s contract obligations figured out before lawyers started getting involved due to delays. Since I had taken time off work, Dieter asked me to come with him to ensure he didn’t get talked into anything crazy.

As I sat listening to the conversations around me, it was obvious that Ty had a complete disregard for Dieter’s recovery as he pushed him to take on too much, too soon and couldn’t be bothered with the finer details of what would be needed for Dieter’s routine and self-care measures. I could see why Dieter wanted someone else there with him that knew his boundaries. Dieter did push back though. He got what he wanted and if concessions couldn’t be made for him, then he backed out of the projects. Ty was furious, but we ignored his outbursts. By the end of the week, Dieter had decided that he was ready to let Ty go. After discussing the change with Elaine, she happily put Dieter in touch with some new prospects that she felt would be a better fit.

After Ty got the news, it didn’t take long for new rumors to start making their rounds in the media about where Dieter had really been and the state of his mental health. We all knew Ty and maybe even Anna were behind it but had no proof. Elaine had recommended that we not address any of the rumors and deflect if questioned. However, after some thought, Dieter decided that he wanted to release a statement with the truth and maybe even eventually do an interview. He felt like it was his opportunity to address an important topic that didn’t get enough attention and was rather taboo to discuss, especially amongst actors out of fear that it would ruin their reputation. Given his own history and what had happened with his mom, he felt like it was a cause worthy of his support and he felt pretty strongly about it.

Elaine eventually acquiesced and drafted the statement. She ended it with a request “to respect the privacy of Mr. Bravo, his siblings, and Ms. Cohen as they continue to work through his recovery as a family.” Dieter had insisted I be included. He was making another statement without really saying it. I didn’t mind. We were back in LA after all, so we were bound to be seen together. Elaine agreed and thought it might cut back on some of the frenzy and speculation if we were open about being together, rather than trying to hide it. Dieter was anxious, but he didn’t second guess it as he told Elaine to hit send. The news was everywhere within the hour and the response to it was overwhelmingly positive.

Surprisingly, Dr. Rosenberg gave us a call later that afternoon to check in after seeing the press release. She was very supportive and actually thanked Dieter for being willing to share his story and raise awareness on the topic. We were still having regular calls with her until she found someone in LA that she was comfortable referring us to, but she wanted to continue to check in with us no matter what. We of course were thankful for her continued involvement and care for our wellbeing.

Later that evening, we had dinner at Gabby’s house. Everyone had called Dieter to check in since he had been home, but it was the first time they were getting to see him. Gabby wanted to give him some time to settle in before overwhelming him with a family get together. On the ride over, he admitted that he was nervous and worried that it would be awkward. However, his fears were quickly put to rest as he was welcomed with excitement and hugs from everyone. Lauren even shed a few tears. There was no awkwardness, only happiness to have both of us home.

Dieter stayed glued to my side the entire evening, constantly touching me in some way. He seemed happy and was having a good time. He didn’t appear to be anxious at all, so I was hopeful that meant he had other things on his mind. The glances that he kept sending my way seemed to confirm my thoughts.

We still hadn’t been intimate since coming home. He had relaxed significantly and had been extremely affectionate toward me after our conversation, but somehow, it hadn’t come to that. There were even a couple of instances where I felt like he was avoiding it. I had to tell my brain to stop thinking that way. However, when we got home that evening and a somewhat heated make out session started in the bathroom as we were getting ready for bed, he quickly pivoted by saying he was tired and still needed to do his journal entry before he fell asleep. I struggled to ignore it that time. My gut told me that something was up.

Several days later, we were sitting on the couch watching tv. I had thrown my legs over the top of his as I laid back onto a pile of pillows. His right hand was resting just above my bare knee, thumb occasionally rubbing in small circles. His other hand was gently massaging my feet. I absentmindedly stuck my hand up my tank to scratch at my stomach. From the corner of my eye, I noticed he was watching my hand, but trying not to be obvious about it. I did a small stretch, causing the hem to ride up further as I slid my fingers into the waistband of my shorts, looping my thumb over the top to rest there as I stayed focused on the tv. I felt the fingers on his right-hand twitch slightly before his whole hand started to rub and massage at my thigh.

He continued to stare blankly at the tv for several minutes, but I could feel the hardness forming under my legs. I moved slightly, grazing against him. His eyes shifted over to mine, and I smirked, moving my legs again. He grabbed hold of both my feet with his large hand, stalling my movements.

I bit my bottom lip, narrowing my eyes as I looked at him, “What’s going on in that head of yours today?”

He cleared his throat, “I’m watching tv. The show is on my mind.”

I slid my hand downward slightly, tugging the waistband of the shorts with my thumb. I slowly brought my other hand upward across my stomach, raising the hem of my tank further, letting it rest just under my breast. Then, I loosely clenched my thighs together. I knew he could feel it because his eyes darted down in that direction before going back to the tv. I could tell he was fighting a smile as his right hand continued its movements. The heat of his touch radiating directly to my core, now causing my thighs to involuntarily clench together, tighter this time. He closed his eyes and tucked his bottom lip between his teeth as his fingers dug into the soft meaty area above my knee.

“Sorry, I’ve got a little bit of an ache…maybe that’s something you can help me with?”

He opened his eyes and gave me a tight-lipped smile, “Alright, fine. You win.”

He laughed quietly as he shifted to move up my body, placing open mouthed kisses on bare skin as he went. When he made it to my chest, I felt his hand tentatively sliding toward the waistband of my shorts. I covered it with mine and guided it underneath to where I wanted it. Once he realized I wasn’t wearing any panties, he groaned into my neck. As his hand sunk lower, he groaned again, “Fucking hell, your soaking wet.”

My breath hitched as he slid his fingers between my folds and got to work. My hands found their way to the back of his head, tightly gripping his curls to pull him upward so I could kiss him even though I was already breathless. It had been too long, and I already felt like I was floating. It wasn’t going to take long for me to finish at this rate.

Our tongues tangled together as my hips moved in rhythm with his motions. I moaned into his mouth, pulling away to catch my breath. My eyes involuntarily squeezed shut as I could feel the familiar tingle building in my core. Dieter placed his forehead against mine, “Look at me…I want you looking at me when you come undone.”

My eyes met his as my thighs started to tremble. I mumbled something unintelligible against his lips as my release ripped through me. He nudged his nose against mine, watching as I lost it underneath the weight of his body.

Before I had a chance to completely recover, he was kissing me again. It was almost frenzied as he bucked his hips against my center, nearly making me come for a second time with minimal effort. My hand slowly moved down toward the front of his gym shorts. He broke away, leaning his forehead against mine, squeezing his eyes shut as he shook his head slightly. He sighed and moved to sit up, rubbing at his face with both hands.

My brows knitted together in concern as I set up at his side, “Hey, what's wrong?”

He laughed in disbelief through his hands before dropping them to his lap and looking at me with an odd expression that I couldn’t read.

“I can’t fucking believe this is happening…I’m sorry, I should have said something the other day, but I was hoping it wasn’t actually an issue.”

I was completely lost, “What’s going on?”

He looked at me wide-eyed, his mouth hanging open slightly for a moment before any words came out, “I think I’m having…performance anxiety or something.” He laughed again. “Talk about being ironic.”

My eyebrows arched upward, “Ooooh...Are you sure that’s what it is? Maybe it’s your medication? I mean, the doctor did say that could be a side effect.”

He shook his head as a deep crease formed between his brows, “I don’t think it’s that…I mean, I still get aroused and can…you know…”

His lips formed into a line, “Fuck. I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.”

He put his hand back over his face out of embarrassment. I reached over and squeezed his knee.

“So, you can take care of things yourself then? Is that what you’re saying?” I wasn’t sure how I wanted him to answer that question. It was going to sting either way.

“Yeah, I mean after the other night…When I woke up the next morning…in the shower. I felt like an asshole afterwards though.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, looking away from him. I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I couldn’t help feeling insecure over it and he could sense it.

“It’s got nothing to do with you. You’re not doing anything wrong. You’re…fucking perfect.” He reached over to grab my hand, lacing our fingers together, “If it makes you feel better, I was thinking about you when I did it…”

I gave him a look that fell somewhere between a grimace and a smile, before I let a small laugh escape. Meanwhile, he was slowly descending into panic.

“I promise, it’s me. I’m just getting all in my head about everything and it kind of ruins the moment.” He gestured toward his crotch with his free hand and had an annoyed look on his face.

I somehow managed a neutral expression, “Do you wanna talk about what’s bothering you then? Maybe it’ll help.” I shrugged, giving him a sympathetic look.

He sighed heavily, “I just…I dunno…I think I’m worried it’s gonna be different somehow…that I’m gonna be different. What if I can’t connect emotionally or feel things like before? I mean that’s always been kind of an important part of it for us…the emotional connection. You know what I mean? That makes me worry it’s gonna be bad for you if I can no longer give you that part of myself because something’s different in my brain.”

I could feel my chest tightening as I realized this was really getting to him, “I mean, Dr. Rosenberg said how you feel about things wouldn’t change. It’s not like your emotions are turned off. You still feel things.”

“Yeah, but it's not always as intense as before.” His dark eyes were giving me a pleading look. Like he was expecting me to up and leave over this.

“Well, that’s not necessarily a bad thing in some instances…and who knows, maybe it’ll be even better now since you’re more present and in control of everything.”

He chuckled, “God, if it gets any better than it was, I may not be able to handle it.”

I smiled at him. At least his sense of humor was still intact.

“It’s kind of a compounding thing too, because now I’m just like…fuck, I have to be able do this or she’s gonna be unsatisfied and unhappy you know? I don’t want to mess shit up again. Then it’s just…like…these negative pressuring thoughts on repeat, and I can’t make it stop.”

I gave him a smirk as I moved to wrap my arms around his neck, “You’re more than qualified to satisfy me in a couple other ways…as you just demonstrated. So, don’t even think about that anymore. I’m not going anywhere. We will figure it out together, ok?”

He nodded, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me onto his lap for a comforting embrace.

I kissed the top of his head, “Thank you for telling me.”

“So, what do you think we should do?” He asked against my neck.

“Well, I say we just try again when the mood strikes and see what happens. Maybe now that you’ve told me what’s going on…it’ll get better.”

He nodded before turning to give me a quick kiss. (More after the gif)

Over the next week, we had a few more failed attempts. It only seemed to be discouraging him further. I could sense it happening each time and there was no way of stopping it. I could tell it was starting to weigh on him, so I decided to give Dr. Rosenberg a call. Apparently, this was a pretty common issue, and she offered a few suggestions. Starting with giving him tasks to focus on while I was in charge of things. I felt like I could work with that. He did like my bossy side after all. So, I started to formulate a plan of action to solve the problem at hand.

The following morning, I was awakened to the feeling of Dieter’s rough hand slowly sliding up my bare hip to the middle of my waist, then back down again. Once he realized I had nothing on underneath the t-shirt I had worn to bed, it seemed to have the desired effect. His grip tightened, fingers digging into soft flesh as he pulled my ass backwards against the hardness that he had woken up with. I couldn’t help the sly smile that slid across my face, hoping that this might actually get somewhere if I could keep him focused on what he was feeling rather than what he was thinking.

I did a full body stretch, humming from the feel of it as I leaned my back against his chest. He nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck as he groaned, tightening his grip on my hip further and grinding into my backside. I reached up with my right hand and gently tugged the soft curls at the crown of his head as he ran his nose up the length of my stretched-out neck, then around the edge of my ear. The feel of his hot breath against the sensitive area caused me to break out in goosebumps, putting every nerve ending in my body on alert.

I turned my head to meet his lips, pulling him down into a slow and sensual kiss. I removed my hand from his hair then lightly slid it down his arm to sit atop his hand on my hip. I laced my fingers through the top of his and guided his hand up under my shirt to rest on my breast, encouraging him to knead it in the palm of his hand. We both moaned quietly through locked lips from the contact as I scooted to lay flat on my back. He settled between my thighs as I hooked my leg around his hip, rubbing my bare center against the hardness in his shorts. He pressed his forehead to mine and closed his eyes momentarily as I continued moving against him. When he opened them, I could tell he was starting to get lost in his head again, hesitating before he leaned down to kiss me.

I broke away from the kiss, snaking my left hand up into his hair, gripping it firmly between my fingers and pulling his ear down to meet my lips. I gently sucked on the lobe before whispering, “Lay down on your back and close your eyes.” The distraction of my words brought him back to the moment as he pulled away, looking down at me with a playful but questioning grin on his face. He was clearly intrigued by my instructions as he did what was asked.

Once he was situated, I moved to slide his shorts down. He raised his hips off the bed to assist in removing them. Once they were discarded on the floor, I slowly crawled up his body, making light grazes across his skin along the way. Placing open mouthed kisses on his muscular thighs before nipping and sucking on them playfully. Eventually, I moved to straddle his hips. I pulled my t-shirt over my head and tossed it on the floor before leaning down to suck on his bottom lip. After grabbing both of his hands in mine, I pulled away from the kiss with a pop. I moved to whisper in his ear again, “Don’t open your eyes. If you do, I'll stop. Just focus on my voice and what you’re feeling. Nothing else.”

Dieter’s breath stuttered as he slowly shook his head in agreement. The anticipation and not knowing what to expect causing his skin to flush. The idea of giving him a task to focus on was clearly keeping his intrusive thoughts at bay for the time being as he continued to harden beneath me. I sat upright, pulling his hands with me, and placing them on my breast. Encouraging him to let them roam and caress my body. I guided them down to feel up my thighs and around to grip my ass. As his fingers dug into the meaty flesh, I rolled my hips, rubbing my aching wet center against him.

“You feel that? You did that to me.”

He groaned at my words and bucked his hips up against me, seeking more friction. I grabbed his right hand and brought it down to rub the slick at my center.

“This is all for you,” I added before bringing his hand to my mouth and sucking his fingers clean. I watched as his eyes snapped open in shock to meet mine. I stopped and pulled his hands away from my body.

“Eyes closed or it stops.”

He huffed loudly, “You’re gonna make me have a fucking heart attack,” as he closed his eyes again.

I couldn’t help the mischievous smile that slid across my face as I took in the sight of him, already panting and his skin beading with sweat. My plan appeared to be working.

I took his hands and guided them to lay above his head, momentarily pinning them there to give further instruction.

“No baby, I’m gonna make you feel good. Then you’re gonna make love to me. Don’t open your eyes again or move your hands. I mean it, I’ll stop.”

He whimpered quietly as he let out a measured breath, nodding in agreement. I went to work, worshiping every inch of him. Starting at his neck, licking and sucking his flushed skin as I worked my way down his torso. Alternating between light touches in the sensitive areas and deep massaging over his taut muscles. With every movement my wet center rubbed against his hardness as he continued to grind his hips against me, causing that electric tingling sensation to build. However, this time was about his pleasure, not mine. So, I started to move backward to straddle his legs as I continued to work my way down his body with my mouth. He groaned at the loss of contact until I took his dick in my hand and started stroking it, spreading my wetness up and down his shaft as I nipped and sucked on his hip.

He was beginning to squirm beneath me. It was clearly becoming harder for him to keep his hands in place as he knotted the sheets in his fingers above his head and tightly squeezed his eyes shut. A sweat covered crease formed between his brows as he fought to control himself. I let my hot breath blow against him as I spoke up to remind him not to move or open his eyes before taking him into my mouth.

His elbows jerked up off the bed and I immediately pulled back, ceasing my movements. He mumbled something in Spanish that I couldn’t quite make out as he put his arms back in place. This was driving him crazy, but it was also keeping all of the negative thoughts out of his head, and I was loving every second of it.

I took as much of his length into my mouth as I could and used one hand to stroke the remainder of the shaft while the other moved to massage his balls in a wave motion with my fingertips. I could tell it was taking everything in him not to look down at me or reach for my hair. He tried to move his legs, but they were pinned under me, further limiting his response to my actions. He was quickly melting into a sweaty, groaning, writhing mess underneath me as I licked and sucked on his sensitive head.

Once his thighs started to shake and his balls began to tighten, I removed him from my mouth and stopped my motions. He growled and pulled a pillow over his face, yelling expletives into it. I couldn’t help the laughter that escaped me. I was enjoying this too much. Once he had calmed down some, I worked to bring him back to the edge, again ceasing my motions once he was there.

After allowing him to come back down a second time, I moved to straddle his hips. I placed him at my entrance and slowly sank down onto his length, allowing him to stretch me in the most delightful way. Once I was able to fully take him in, I leaned forward to grab his arms, pulling him to sit upright and placing his hands on my ass to help guide my movement. Realizing he still had his eyes closed as I placed my forehead against his, a smile spread across my face before whispering against his lips, “You can open your eyes now.”

Dieter’s eyes slowly opened, revealing that his pupils were fully dilated with arousal. There was no stopping him now. He was focused and determined as he crashed his lips against mine in a passionate kiss before tangling his hand in my hair, gently pulling my head backwards and burying his face into the crook of my neck. I continued to rock against him as he nipped and sucked at the sensitive area just above my collarbone, sending electrical shocks directly to my core with his touch and the scrap of his scruffy beard. My fingers moved to knot into his sweaty curls, pulling him tightly against me as we moved in unison.

We knew how to do this, how to read each other’s bodies and connect in the most intimate and emotional ways. Though he had been worried about it being different, about him being different, it wasn’t something we would ever lose. It was engraved into our very souls. He just needed to be shown the way back to me, to us. There was no hesitation from him now as he angled my face toward his, releasing his hold on my hair to bring his thumb to rest on my chin and stroke it gently. Our eyes locked into an intense gaze for a time while we continued to move together. My forehead eventually fell forward to rest against his as beads of sweat rolled down both of our faces from the exertion. Both of us taking turns stealing kisses from the other between the soft moans and heavy breathing. Our connection felt just as strong as it had been previously.

As Dieter got closer to his climax, he reached for my right hand, disentangling it from his hair and brought it to his mouth. After gently sucking and swirling his tongue around the tips of my fingers, he moved them to the bundle of nerves at my center, encouraging me to find my release with him while he worked to speed up our rhythm. With both of his hands placed firmly on my ass, fingers digging into the soft flesh there, he continued guiding my rocking movements against him. His eyes never left my face as he watched me come undone on top of him, quietly whispering praises against my lips as I got closer to the edge. Once my muscles started to clench down around him, he fell over the edge with me. Both of us letting out loud groans with our releases. His face fell forward into the crook of my neck, his hot breath blowing against me as I hugged him tightly, both of us trembling and sweaty from our activities.

We sat like that for several minutes, giving each other a chance to come down from our mutual high. He eventually lulled his head back to look up at me with a lazy smile on his face, which caused his eyes to crinkle in that way I loved. I leaned down to capture his pillowy bottom lip into a sensual kiss, knitting his hair in one hand while the other slid across the rough scruff on his cheek. He groaned into my mouth before breaking the kiss, then nuzzled his nose against mine.

Dieter let out a breathy laugh as he started twisting my hair around his fingers against the middle of my back with one hand, allowing the other to wander freely across my body as he studied my face, “I certainly wasn’t expecting to wake up to that. What has gotten into you this morning? Not that I’m complaining…”

“Well…it looks like you did.”

He snorted, “Seriously, where did that come from?”

I ran my hand down the side of his face to cup his cheek, “Oh, you know me…I’m really good at operations management. Just working through things to figure out the most efficient process for peak outcomes,” I said with a smirk.

He chuckled, “You know I think it’s hot when you’re all bossy. Give me fifteen minutes and we can test out that process again, ya know, and make sure it’s efficient…Actually, if you wanna take it up a few notches, I may only need ten.”

“Is that right?” I mumbled against his lips with a smile, he nodded in response before kissing me. We melted into each other, bodies pressed together as our tongues and hands explored every area of skin they could reach. It wasn’t long before I could feel him getting hard again.

Hours later, we laid in bed facing each other, with lazy smiles and blissfully spent. I had missed him like this, completely relaxed and carefree. Whatever block he had been experiencing seemed to now be non-existent as he lightly drug his fingers up and down the length of my bare side and randomly kissed me as we talked. The weight had lifted, allowing the spark of happiness to return to his eyes. His playfulness was on full display as he laughed at my words and threw in the occasional innuendo.

He grew quiet after a time, studying my face. His brows creased slightly as he took hold of my hand and brought it to his cheek for a moment, before closing his eyes and turning to kiss it gently. When he met my gaze again, I could see a range of emotions playing out across his expression.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?”

He smiled as he nuzzled his face into my hand, “You’ve always been able to read me so well. No one else knows how to do that.”

I scratched at his scruffy face and gave him an encouraging smile. He sighed, wrapping his arm around me to pull me snuggly against his chest before burying his face in the top of my hair.

“I was just thinking how lucky I am to have you…just kinda taking a minute to appreciate what I have and be hopeful for the future…Our future together.”

I could sense that wasn’t everything, “Is that all?”

He huffed out a small laugh into my hair, “No.”

Of course, I could tell it wasn’t. I pulled away some to meet his eyes, waiting for him to continue. He avoided my stare as he thought through his words. His brows knitted together, eyes turning glassy. I could tell he was fighting back emotions.

“I just…it’s hard not to be angry about the time we lost. It’s always gonna be one of my biggest regrets.”

I sat up on my elbow, cradling his face in my other hand, forcing him to look at me.

“You can’t move forward if you're dwelling on the past. You’re gonna have to let that go. I’m guilty of it too. I did it first, remember?”

His lips twitched upward at the memory.

“It was months. Why focus on a handful of shitty months when we have years ahead of us to look forward to?”

He smiled, leaning into my hand before pulling me down to meet his lips. It finally felt like we had gotten over our last major hurdle and could now focus on our future together.

A/N: And there we have it! Our two lovebirds are finally back together! How excited are you for that? And that journal entry - Swoon! 😍 How amazing did it feel for Dieter to tell Anna off for good and get rid of Ty? Do you think Rylee will come back to work with him? And how about him releasing a statement...Good or bad idea? Also, how adorable is he with all his worries? Poor thing with his performance anxiety...you all had to know his love of Talia's boss lady side was going to come into play at some point, right? So, it looks like I'm still on schedule to have one more chapter and an epilogue to finish this out. I almost split this one since it came in at over 10k words but decided against it. I threw in a few gifs to break it up a bit though. Can you feel that happy ending on the horizon now? Please feel free to show your enthusiasm with messages and reblogs. 😘 👉 In case you missed it, The Knight & His Queen was posted over the holidays. This is a four-part series I completed for the PedroStories Secret Santa event, and it has been posted in its entirety. It's another Dieter Bravo fic where our beloved trash panda takes a dive into the world of mystics, tarot readings, and love. Give it a read. It's fun, fluffy, and fairly angst free.

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#dieter bravo #dieter bravo fic #pedro pascal #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal character fanfic #Destiny & Deliverance Series #friends of juice collective

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madfantasy · 7 months

Text

Dear blogging

Wish you peace, always. Considering all, it been extra rough. My guardians were sick, and my fragile of a stability was about to break— but it okay now, and the pendulum of consciousness returned swaying in my head.

Somehow in the middle of everything, I was starting to feel okay and accept that this is the best it can get for this non verbal Mani. I honestly I stopped living as if there was tomorrow maybe the majority of 2023, zero drive or hopefulness, and lately started to accept that there's no denying that I'm not made to survive this life, and dropped all pretence that I'm able, set a 5 years counter. Because if mere looking at people's faces distress me so much that I blank out &/or go mute, since childhood, no amount of me forcing myself to watch videos/ pictures over and over can fix that. That's simply how I'm made and I know that now, and in a way it's bringing me peace.

Because I thought I'm bratting when I wore my headphones to cancel out noise that were literally going to drive me insane, or when I couldn't respond to messages knowing that I can articulate deeply in writing but ignoring all the endless times when I simply couldn't, and have forced myself to eat many things that set me days in nausea and abdominal pain while I only enjoy liquids more and get high off of fruits, I love them so much half my OCs are named after some.. and drew.. drew even before I spoke because it was my only outlit to express because how much I'm told I'm like a robot, I'm so expressionless and non reactive and disgustingly literal, even when they actively beat me black Nd blue to stop drawing, I couldn't.. where do you free those emotions when U can, i needed emotion displays and heartfelt trimmers, thrilling or killing, I needed to do them as if my life depended on it, and I haven't realised it back then, but my life was dependent on them, even when I had 'no talent ' , as I have always been told.

(commissioned by precious Julia ♥️🖤)

And besides drawing my needs, I actually, physically, started to feel better when I didn't do what my body said it literally can't do, all my life:

-Walked away from my guardians arguments, my chest stabbing pains became less frequent.

Stopped "practicing" my voice &/or facial expressions, I talk for 2 minutes, immediately my whole face muscles hurt, voice is cracking and gone, I don't feel like my eyebrows hurt as much. I'm okay being the monotone no expresso train c:

-stopped eating what I "don't like" (I mean it's not like I have much choice, but stopped feeling guilty over refusing it cuz food be tight) Nd now I can actually drink more water, and my tummy aches are on lower levels now

-i stopped dealing with Discord, or group chats in general cuz I don't expect accommodation over things I can't deal with. Stopped stressing over doing engaging material that no body seems to care about, cuz I'm not a good judge of demand, or stressing over either I should be thanking everyone who spams me with likes or not, (while I appreciate it to the moon) 90% of the time they don't respond Nd Im forced to think like I've done something wrong. I'm now at more ease with posting — (literally I have to fight the urges to delete my socials daily) just with interacting with who addresses me (I lov U guys sm) and I've been more relaxed from it.

I returned to "speaking in riddles" cuz if I don't use the words my brain spews no matter how weird they R, a tire will pop somewhere on the other side of an AU- idk lo'

-i rock, hum and laugh OUT my maniacal laugh, hard and strong, continued loving and talking to my plushies as I used to do, the easiest thing I could do to feel calmer again. As everyone should do

.. I stopped saying the word sorry. It's a naughty Mani era.

Accepting these facts and many, even with having no will to live had me saner than I ever been, at least I hope so.

I just know that I have a few to be grateful of: that I'm still here somehow, even with my dwindling income, Nd my internet not worth costing 120$± I'm always grateful for the sudden one or two commissions that keeps me here and buys me coffee and pumpkins seeds..

I still struggle horrindously with sleep. But I'm grateful at least I'm at pure ease playing games. Games been my go to media for knowing basically all based on books they were made about, like Severus and Tintin, I still play their ps1 games! Tho I got stuck on this game & their sleep has given me so much ease lo

I'm at my happy place rn, heh.

Bonus panel: ye they R hungry for that SHI- lo 🙈

And an honorary appearance of my OC with Tintin hehe

Stay safe, don't feed the overconsumption machine, don't give up on your heartstrings's stringers, don't worry— there are people who think and feel like you always between the crowds, and I'm thankful that I share the same timeline with you♥️🖤

Sweet dreams 🌃 19.2.2024

#text #drawing journey #non binary artist #on the spectrum #personal

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lshark-cs · 6 months

Text

Iron God Chapter 40 [Channei]

CW: Mentioned transmisogyny, graphic violence

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It was abnormally warm out the day Channei began her investigation. Not warm enough to remove a layer, but enough that the townspeople stirred a little more than usual. She passed by a house where Rizval was perched up on the roof replacing shingles. She waved up at them. "Hello!"

Rizval looked down and squinted. "Do I know you?"

Channei chuckled. Of course Rizval wouldn't recognize her in this form. She was a full head taller, her hair was black instead of blond, and her voice had changed entirely. She tried not to draw too much more attention as she passed by Rizval. As much as she wanted to greet them, she had a much more important job to focus on.

The Square Exchange would be a good place to start, she reasoned. She'd been to the weekly barter market many times before and picked up many delightful treasures, but today was different. She wasn't seeking anyone's wares. Only their words when they thought no Styzian was listening.

She joined a crowd that seemed to be heading that way. No one seemed to notice her. She was only another person, and unlike anywhere else, not everyone in the Wash knew each other. A new face was no cause for suspicion. She was virtually invisible.

That was, until tiny hands grabbed her sleeve.

Channei looked down and saw a toddler had ambushed her from his mother's hip. Her eyebrows rose. "Well hello, little one."

"Miss, I'm so sorry." The mother detached her child from Channei and hurried ahead. The disguised Styzian listened as she started talking to a man, probably her husband. "Our son needs to learn some manners."

"Give him to Styzia, then." The man chuckled. "They'll have him straightened out in no time at all."

Several other people laughed. Channei feigned a giggle to blend in.

"Was that Rizval fixing your cousin's roof?"

Channei's eyes darted to that conversation.

"Well yes. Take free help where you can, pal. Hey, do you have something I can give the hoof trimmer?"

She lost interest at the change of subject.

The square was abuzz with people exchanging their goods and services. At least one stand had to have food, she reasoned, and she was ravenous all of a sudden. With nothing to trade, she'd have to steal or beg. Obviously, a human would have a hard time getting away with theft or pleading, so as soon as she saw a dog in the market crowd, she ducked into a stall full of coats and shapeshifted under the cover of fabric.

Now a floppy-eared dog with a brown brindled coat, Channei trotted from the stall and sniffed around. When she picked up the scent of roasting meat, she headed in that direction. It only took one pleading puppy-eyed look to get thrown a handful of scraps. It wasn't the best meat she'd ever had, but it was enough to take the edge off, and she'd certainly eaten far more questionable things.

As she ate, a boy no older than twelve approached the stall, followed by a pack of what had to be his younger siblings. A young girl broke away from them and ran to pet Channei. "Puppy!"

Channei surrendered to the child's affection. She nuzzled into the girl's hands and wagged her tail.

"Wren, don't pet strange dogs." Her brother came and tried to pull her away.

"No worries. Otter's a good girl. She comes by my stall every day hoping for leftovers." The butcher came out and patted Channei's head. She played the part and listened. "Are you all the kids from Felltree?"

"Yeah." Wren came back to pet Channei again. "Miss Peck wanted us to ask people if they've seen Styzians anywhere."

Channei's ear twitched.

The butcher cocked his head. "What for?"

"Ma's obsessed with them for some reason." The oldest boy rolled his eyes. "Some man came along blabbing about justice, saying all these big things about how they're going to stop Styzia stealing children, all that. And she ate it up."

The butcher chuckled. "From what I hear, so did the town council. Suppose there's no harm in keeping my eyes open, but so far, I've not seen anyone."

"Thank you anyway." The boy bowed his head. "Sorry if we bothered you. Come on." He beckoned his siblings and they all ran after him.

Channei stalked them from a distance, hoping they wouldn't notice. She followed them out of the market, down a winding street, and watched them all disappear into one of the larger houses. She couldn't think of what to do next, so she flopped to the ground and let her aching joints rest.

She hadn't practiced the form of a dog in a long time, so it was no wonder she was tired. Some forms came so naturally she barely had to think about them. Others left her fatigued to the point of pain.

Half-awake, Channei remembered the first time she had given herself a girl's body. She'd only been a child. Someone – supposedly her father – had seen her transform and beaten her within inches of her life. Still, she remembered the day as the best in her entire life. It was the first day she'd been her true self.

Coming to Styzia had been frightening at first, then freeing. So unbelievably freeing. No one ever called her a boy at Styzia. Not even Xigon, who knew her origin. Whatever they asked of her seemed a small price to pay for a loving family.

When the aching became too much to tolerate, Channei hid herself under the house's front porch and reverted back to the shape she loved most. Human again, she rolled onto her back and stretched her slender arms. Her brand scars itched under her sleeves. She hoped she wouldn't have to add any more soon, but also knew it wasn't out of the question.

She'd gone to visit Xigon right before leaving. Channei had never seen him so visibly unwell. He'd given her two perplexing things. First, he'd given her clearance to use lethal force at her own discretion. Second, he'd given her a dagger. Not just any dagger, either.

Channei pulled the weapon from its sheath. The blade was narrow and came to a very sharp point. Respite, they called it. It was carried at every second ascension ceremony, though not as openly as the sword. Everyone knew what it was for and hoped they didn't have to see it used.

Master Qila claimed the ceremonial sword was a gift from the Iron God himself, and as such, she didn't want to see it used to deliver death. Should the ritual fail, Respite was there to end their new sibling's agony.

She remembered Master Xigon leaving Kolo's ceremony with Respite clutched tight in his hand. Then he'd come back with blood on the blade, blood all over him, and Azvalath carrying the slaughtered vermin. It had taken everything for her not to smile. Maybe she'd smiled a little anyway.

The dark joy hadn't lasted. Now a strange grief and dread lingered like a bad taste in her mouth. She'd been one of only four at his burial. They'd laid him to rest somewhere silent, marked only by a small stone inscribed with Xigon's prayer – may you and all the world be safe now.

Channei tried to push those thoughts from her head. When she couldn't, she seethed. He was dead. Why was he still hanging over all their heads like an oppressive shadow?

Footsteps on the front porch above made her eyes snap back open. Still somewhat drowsy, she forced herself to be quiet and listen.

"Simple. We get up there and kill the rats' nest," said a woman's voice. "I'll send my fledgelings up if need be. Those monsters would probably still hesitate to kill children."

"But they're not our enemies, Peck," A young man's voice insisted. "It's their masters we should be concerned with."

"Staffen, you don't understand. We have to get rid of all of them," said Peck. "To ensure no child ever becomes their slave again. And to ensure no more of our communities are exterminated."

Channei clenched her teeth together and choked back a snarl. This woman couldn't be allowed to keep dripping her poison. She knew she had to intervene. As soon as the moment came, she would –

More footsteps. Familiar ones, this time.

"Rizval!" Staffen sounded much happier all of a sudden. "What do you have for us?"

"Hey!" Rizval's tone was excited. "My task list is all done. Do you need anything else?"

Channei changed her shape to a rat and slipped out from under the porch. She tunneled under the snow and poked her head up to see what was happening. Rizval held a sheet of parchment out to Staffen. Peck shifted, looking uneasy. Then she went inside and slammed the door behind her.

Staffen cocked his head. "Any new craft projects lately?"

"I...I made this scarf. Well, I mean, I made the fabric. Lalek helped me sew it." Rizval untied their scarf and showed it to the young councilman.

"It looks very good on you," said Staffen.

"Thanks." Rizval glowed with the praise. Channei glowed a little too. She knew how much they loved others recognizing their talent. Then Rizval put the scarf back on. "Do you want me to make you one next?"

Staffen chuckled. "I'm all right, but thank you."

Someone opened the upstairs window. One shutter banged against the wall, startling Channei. She emerged fully from the snow. When she saw what was on the other side of the window, she reverted to her default form and yelled to warn Rizval a second too late.

The moment they turned to look at her, an arrow ripped through their back.

Up in the window, the child, a girl who couldn't have been older than ten, called to someone else inside. "One down, Ma!"

Staffen stared in abject horror, then fainted on the spot.

"Rizval!" Channei screamed her comrade's name and ran to catch them. She and Rizval both tumbled off the porch and into the snow. Rizval's shaky hands latched onto Channei. "What happened? I..."

Channei grabbed Rizval and ran for both their lives.

She took them as far away as she could, then ducked down by an unattended cart and propped them up against the wheel. Their blood was all over her and still spreading rapidly across their coat. A razor-sharp broadhead jutted from just below their collarbone, and from the spurting bright red blood, Channei knew an artery was severed. She pressed her hands firmly around the protruding shaft to slow the bleeding.

"Stop...that hurts." Their face was rapidly draining of color. "Channei, what's happening?"

"They want us dead. They want us all dead." Her heart was racing so fast she thought she might faint. She looked around and spotted some shocked bystanders across the street. "Help us! Don't just stand there. Someone get help!"

When they ran off, Channei turned her attention back to Rizval. "Help is on the way. Stay awake. Please."

Rizval brushed cold fingers against her cheek. Their eyes rolled.

"You bastard! I said stay awake!" Channei shook Rizval, startling them back to clarity for a second.

"Don't..." Rizval's eyelids fluttered. Their breaths came fast and shallow. "Don't yell at me, fuzzball."

Hearing Rizval's nickname for her made Channei finally break down in tears. She leaned her head against her wounded comrade's shoulder and hugged them tight. An unfamiliar hand patted her on the back. "Back up, dear."

Channei looked up to see two vaguely familiar women. One with black and white hair, another with a coat covered in patches of moss and lichen. The one in the patchy coat knelt with Rizval and examined the wound before turning to her companion. "Magpie, we've got work to do."

Channei sobbed. "Who are you?"

"Name's Ami." She adjusted her hat. "Call me what you will. Big bad Ami, bane of your existence, your guardian angel, whatever. At your service."

Channei raised an eyebrow. She recognized both of them now. Her mouth opened but no words came out.

"By any name, I'm not having any of you shits die on my watch." She rummaged through her pack to find a greenish salve. "Not when you could do me a big favor."

"Hold on." Channei reached to try and stop her. "What's your big idea here?"

She pushed Channei's hand away and started applying the salve to Rizval's wound. They jerked in sudden pain. "Calm down, pal. It stings, but it'll stop the bleeding." Ami spoke softly to Rizval and ignored Channei. "I'm going to pick you up now. Just relax."

Ami lifted Rizval into her arms as if they were a small child. Rizval whimpered Channei's name before finally losing consciousness.

"Let's go." It was an order, not a question. "And — fuzzball, was it? — don't you even think about causing any more of a scene."

#creative writing #original work #dark fantasy #fantasy #my writing #writing #web fiction #web novel #iron god #writer #original writing #writers on tumblr #writeblr #writerscommunity #writers #writers and poets

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orbitalpirate · 8 months

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Haircut related group of words?

Scissors

Clippers

Shave

Style

Cape

Razor

Sideburn

Swan Lake

It's almost like I'm writing a hair cut fic lmaooo

From Bring The Colums Down

Isaac sat him on the stool by his kitchen island. Opened his barber bag. Clippers, trimmers, edgers, scissors, guards, brushes, powder, and garb.

Also from BTCD

Bullshit. Isaac could think of a few things he'd change about Dani's hair. He's an artist with a set of clippers.

From BTCD

Isaac raised his eyebrows even higher in question and shock, "I don't do requests, I do what looks best, and why the hell do you want to shave your head you have the best hair on the team."

From my 5+1 double date WIP

His hair was styled in something other than a headband, and he looked hot. Sexy. Colin had been trying to pick an outfit for twenty-five minutes.

....also from BTCD

Moe is being quiet, and the snap of the cape securing makes him twitch slightly. Isaac is noticing every detail.

BTCD

["]So, solidarity, my hair goes too, even if it's ugly, but you're the only one who I'd trust with a razor at my head," Moe said softer then he was speaking before.

#asks #my writing #this is so goofy

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art-of-manliness · 1 year

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Odds & Ends: September 8, 2023

“In Praise of Heroic Masculinity” by Caitlin Flanagan. The phrase “toxic masculinity” has been thrown around a lot in our culture the past several years, particularly when high-profile men use their power and strength to take advantage of women. But Atlantic writer Caitlin Flanagan argues that “If the noun masculinity can be modified by the adjective toxic, then there must exist its opposite, which can be revealed by a different adjective.” Her choice for that adjective is “heroic,” and she argues that all the talk about the wrongs men commit overlooks the fact that they often use their physical strength and courage to protect and serve the vulnerable. Heroic masculinity manifested itself big time on 9/11 as male firefighters rushed into the World Trade Center, and, Flanagan says, it shows up every day when a young man stands up for someone getting picked on at school. She argues that if we want boys to become good men, we need to talk more about their potential for heroic masculinity and show them examples of what it looks like. “Dream of Mickey Mantle” by Bleachers. We’re big fans of the Bleachers in the McKay household. They were one of the best shows I’ve seen at Tulsa’s famed Cain’s Ballroom. All of their songs are great, but one I particularly enjoy is “Dream of Mickey Mantle.” The music and lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and longing for childhood. I always get chills down my spine when the song hits its crescendo. Frontman Jack Antonoff is definitely one of my generation’s greatest song-smiths. Philips Norelco Nose Trimmer 5000. As a middle-aged man, I’ve got to pay more attention to hairs growing out of my nose and ears. I’ve written about how to manage this hair before. My old nose and ear hair trimmer bit the dust a few months ago, so I picked up Philips Norelco’s latest. It’s just $20, and it gets the job done quickly and painlessly. You can also trim your eyebrows with it, which comes in handy if you have Sam Eagle eyebrows like me. Paddington. Our family finally got around to watching Paddington this summer. Can’t believe we waited so long to watch it! It’s such a delightful and charming movie, with lots of truly laugh-out-loud moments. Paul King did a great job of injecting whimsy in the movie without going overboard with it. It’s a great movie for the entire family, and you’ll wish you had a Paddington Bear friend in your home to eat marmalade with when you’re done. Quote of the Week Trust him little who praises all; him less who censures all; and him least who is indifferent to all. —Johann Kaspar Lavater The post Odds & Ends: September 8, 2023 appeared first on The Art of Manliness. http://dlvr.it/SvqXn2

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bestfitnesslook · 9 months

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#eyebrowliner #eyebrow #eyebrowshaper #shaper

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imusthav · 10 months

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Last Minute Gift Ideas Under 100 for Hair Removal Tools on Your List

As the holidays rapidly approach, you may still have some names left on your gift list. Fear not – we’ve rounded up affordable yet thoughtful ideas that will delight even the toughest to shop for. Enter beauty machines! Compact hair removal tools are perfect for holiday stockings or last-minute presents.

1. Mini EyeBrow Remover

For beauty junkies with brows on fleek, this product is a must. Its precision tip and mirror allow sculpting hair between waxes or threading appointments. The concept for this product came from an eyebrow pencil tip – with precision to cut individual hairs. While the Mini Eyebrow Remover was conceived with women in mind, its precise design makes it suitable for all. Keeping eyebrows, nose, and ear hairs trimmed is important for one’s appearance, regardless of gender. It’s an affordable indulgence for the skin care lovers in your life.

Product Details: https://www.iMusthav.com/MV100 Buy it on Amazon (US): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon/MV100 Buy it on Amazon (UK): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon-uk/MV100

2. Mini Facial Hair Remover

A perennial favorite is it. This pocket-sized wonder zaps peach fuzz with precision and ease, making it a joy to unwrap. Its 13mm ring blade head in a compact handbag-friendly “lipstick size” design and 360-degree LED lighting ensure a smooth complexion on the go. It’s an affordable indulgence for the skin care lovers in your life.

Product Details: https://www.iMusthav.com/MV200 Buy it on Amazon (US): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon/MV200 Buy it on Amazon (UK): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon-uk/MV200

3. Professional Facial Hair Remover

This product is a Professional Facial Trimmer with a 16mm dual ring floating head, for fast and comfortable facial hair removal.

Product Details: https://www.iMusthav.com/MV300 Buy it on Amazon (US): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon/MV300 Buy it on Amazon (UK): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon-uk/MV300

4. Dual Function Brow and Facial Hair Remover

For sisters, best friends, or that multitasking mom, the iMusthav Dual Function Brow and Facial Hair Remover is an incredible 2-in-1 tool. Sculpt brows with the pencil head or zap face fuzz with the 13mm rotary cartridge. Its USB rechargeable design ensures hair is banished without wire hassles. The gift of flawless brows and skin can’t be beat.

Dual heads provide a precision pencil tip head for sculpting eyebrows and a 13mm rotary head for removing facial hair. This product was designed for women but can also benefit men through tidy brows, nose, and ear hairs. Consider purchasing one for your routine and as a gift.

Product Details: https://www.iMusthav.com/MV400 Buy it on Amazon (US): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon/MV400 Buy it on Amazon (UK): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon-uk/MV400

5. DermaRazor

A body hair remover, it is the World’s First DermaRazor. A pioneering technologically advanced combination of a dermaplane and an electric razor in one easy-to-use device. While DermaRazor was initially conceived with women in mind, it offers benefits to men as well. It provides a quick and easy solution for smooth skin no matter one’s gender. Why not treat yourself and a loved one this holiday season? Purchase a DermaRazor for your own grooming needs and as a gift for her. Both you and your partner are sure to appreciate the convenience and results of using a DermaRazor in your routines.

Product Details: https://www.iMusthav.com/MV500 Buy it on Amazon (US): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon/MV500-G Buy it on Amazon (UK): https://www.iMusthav.com/amazon-uk/MV500

Conclusion

This holiday season, whether filling stockings or playing Santa for some last additions, these products are brilliant beauty bargains. consider purchasing one for your personal grooming needs and as a thoughtful gift. Just like maintaining tidy facial hair allows men to always look their best, maintaining tidy brows does the same for any loved one.

I’m certain your significant other will appreciate both the quality product and your consideration in selecting it as a gift. They’ll keep grooming routines gleaming through the new year and beyond. Your loved ones will thank you when their hair-free selfies are “liked” galore!

I hope this guide has provided helpful gift-buying tips for Ladies and Gentlemen looking to buy Brow/Facial/Body Hair Removal Products that are Under $100/ £100. Be sure to share it with friends so they can have a worth in Christmas gifts.

#lastmingiftideas #beautygifts #eyebrowgrooming #facialhairstyling #holidaysales #budgetfriendly #beautyonabudget #beautytech #stockingstuffers #earlyholidayshopping #iMusthav

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fitnessbeautyarts · 1 year

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The Importance of Eyebrows: How They Can Change Your Look (and Your Life) Section 1: The Functions of Eyebrows The Two Main Functions of Eyebrows Communication through Facial Expressions Eyebrows play a pivotal role in our ability to communicate through facial expressions. They serve as expressive markers that convey a spectrum of emotions ranging from happiness and sadness to anger, surprise, and fear. Numerous studies have demonstrated that people excel at interpreting emotions when they can perceive the eyebrows of the person they are engaged with. These seemingly inconspicuous facial features hold the power to facilitate profound emotional connections and exchanges. Prevention of Sweat, Water, and Other Debris from Falling into the Eye Socket Beyond their communicative significance, eyebrows also have a practical function in preventing sweat, water, and various debris from infiltrating the sensitive eye socket. This protective role is pivotal in shielding the eyes from potential infections and irritations. Through their cleverly designed arches, eyebrows act as a natural barrier, redirecting fluids and foreign substances away from the eyes. This evolutionary adaptation underscores their indispensable role in maintaining ocular health. Section 2: The Importance of Eyebrows for Facial Proportions How Eyebrows Can Improve Facial Proportions Eyebrows Can Balance the Face Eyebrows transcend their role as mere facial hair; they possess the unique capacity to harmonize facial proportions. By manipulating their shape and alignment, eyebrows can ingeniously create the illusion of facial symmetry. For example, if one eye appears slightly smaller than the other, skillful eyebrow shaping can rectify this visual imbalance, thereby fostering an appearance of evenness and proportionality. Eyebrows Can Add Definition to the Face The potential of eyebrows extends beyond symmetry to sculpting and defining the facial contours. They can act as architectural elements, bestowing the face with structure and angularity. If the face exhibits round features, eyebrows can be expertly contoured to infuse a sense of angularity and definition, crafting an aesthetically pleasing interplay of curves and lines. Section 3: How to Shape Your Eyebrows for the Perfect Look How to Shape Your Eyebrows for Your Face Shape Find Your Brow Bone Before embarking on the journey of eyebrow shaping, it is paramount to identify your brow bone, the natural curvature beneath the brow. By anchoring your shaping efforts to this distinctive feature, you pave the way for creating an artful, symmetrical eyebrow outline that complements your unique facial structure. Define Your Arch Central to the art of eyebrow shaping is the cultivation of a well-defined arch. This focal point of your eyebrow's contouring significantly influences the overall aesthetic. A meticulously defined arch endows your eyebrows with balance, lending a natural elegance to your facial appearance. Fill in Your Brows Once the arch is judiciously defined, the journey towards the perfect look continues with the artful application of brow powder or pencil. This strategic filling-in process enriches the eyebrows, fostering a lush, well-defined appearance that enhances your facial features with subtlety and grace. Section 4: How to Care for Your Eyebrows How to Keep Your Eyebrows Healthy and Looking Their Best Trim Your Eyebrows Regularly Elevating your eyebrow game involves regular maintenance through consistent trimming. Employing tweezers or an eyebrow trimmer, you can effectively keep your eyebrows neat and orderly, a small effort that yields significant aesthetic rewards. Use a Brow Gel Maintaining the impeccable shape and structure of your eyebrows necessitates the use of a reliable brow gel. Whether clear or tinted to match your hair color, a brow gel functions as a guardian, averting the risk of unruly, bushy eyebrows that can undermine your overall appearance. Get Your Eyebrows Threaded or Waxed

For those seeking professional intervention in their eyebrow grooming journey, the options of threading or waxing present themselves. This route is especially beneficial if you possess thick or obstinate eyebrows that necessitate deft hands and expert techniques to achieve the desired look. Section 5: Eyebrow Trends to Watch in 2023 Eyebrow Trends to Watch in 2023 Natural-Looking Eyebrows Embracing a natural aesthetic, 2023 heralds the reign of natural-looking eyebrows. This trend champions eyebrows that are elegantly shaped and defined, yet not overly polished. The focus is on celebrating authenticity and embracing one's unique facial features. Bold Brows 2023 also marks the triumphant return of bold brows. This resurgence is particularly advantageous for individuals blessed with substantial eyebrows, allowing them to make a bold and confident statement through their facial features. Colored Eyebrows In a realm of self-expression, 2023 ushers in the vogue of colored eyebrows. A vibrant and imaginative trend, colored eyebrows offer a playful means to infuse personality into your appearance, serving as a canvas for creative experimentation. By delving into the multifaceted world of eyebrows, we uncover a fascinating interplay of aesthetics, communication, and self-expression. Having explored the functional significance, proportion-altering potential, and meticulous care of eyebrows, we are primed to journey further into the realm of 2023's eyebrow trends. Next up: Unveiling the captivating allure of natural-looking eyebrows, the audacious charm of bold brows, and the vibrant palette of colored eyebrows, we embark on a quest to discover the most exciting eyebrow trends that 2023 has to offer. The Importance of Eyebrows for Facial Proportions How Eyebrows Can Improve Facial Proportions In the intricate tapestry of facial aesthetics, eyebrows emerge as the unsung heroes, wielding the remarkable ability to redefine and elevate the very proportions that shape our visage. This second section delves deep into the importance of eyebrows in crafting the illusion of symmetry and structure, ultimately reshaping the canvas of our face to stunning effect. Eyebrows Can Balance the Face Eyebrows are the artistic architects of facial balance. Imagine a face where one eye seems slightly diminished compared to its counterpart; it's here that the marvel of eyebrows takes center stage. Through meticulous shaping and skillful manipulation, eyebrows become a masterful tool to bridge this visual discrepancy. By adapting the arch, length, and angle, they orchestrate a symphony of visual equilibrium that renders the eyes more harmonious, captivating, and aligned. This artistry of eyebrow manipulation doesn't merely end at the eyes. The balanced eyebrows harmoniously extend their impact, enhancing the overall facial symmetry, amplifying the allure, and lending a newfound sense of aesthetic poise to the entire visage. The result? A balanced countenance that exudes confidence and charm, drawing admirers into the captivating spell of perfect proportionality. Eyebrows Can Add Definition to the Face Beyond the realm of balance lies the captivating promise of defined facial contours. Round faces, while undoubtedly endearing, might yearn for a touch of angularity to introduce depth and structure. Enter eyebrows, the sculptors of perception. A round face can be transformed into a play of angles and lines through artful eyebrow shaping. By sweeping the brows into a strategic arch and refining their edges, an illusion of heightened facial definition is effortlessly unveiled. The face, once a symphony of soft curves, evolves into a captivating canvas of lines and shadows. The result is a visage that marries softness with strength, creating an elegant equilibrium between the two. Such is the magic of eyebrows—an intricate dance between softness and structure that presents a face that's as captivating as it is multidimensional. As we

venture deeper into the world of eyebrows, the focus shifts from the profound impact on facial proportions to the artful techniques that bring these visions to life. In the upcoming section, we explore the meticulous journey of shaping your eyebrows for the perfect look, a process that requires precision, finesse, and a keen understanding of one's unique facial architecture. Next up: Embark on a transformative journey as we unveil the secrets of eyebrow shaping tailored to your distinct face shape, a revelation that promises to amplify your natural beauty and redefine your look. How to Shape Your Eyebrows for the Perfect Look How to Shape Your Eyebrows for Your Face Shape Amidst the intricate symphony of facial features, eyebrows emerge as the defining crescendo, their artful shaping capable of harmonizing and accentuating the distinct contours of every face shape. In this section, we embark on a journey into the realm of precision and aesthetics, unveiling the meticulously curated steps that guide us toward achieving eyebrows that frame our features with grace and symmetry. Find Your Brow Bone The foundation of impeccable eyebrow shaping lies in the identification of your brow bone, a natural arc that serves as the blueprint for the symmetrical beauty that's about to unfold. This foundational step, often underestimated, holds the key to sculpting eyebrows that seamlessly align with your unique facial architecture. The brow bone's subtle prominence sets the stage for the intricate dance of proportions, acting as a guidepost to ensure that your eyebrow shaping endeavor adheres to a symmetry that enhances your natural allure. The process, while seemingly technical, is a tribute to the art of honoring one's individuality, a sentiment echoed through the artful curvature of each brow's arch. Define Your Arch In the captivating narrative of eyebrow shaping, the arch emerges as the protagonist, the pivotal element that infuses personality and structure into the canvas of your face. The arch is not merely an aesthetic choice; it's a potent force that can dictate the manner in which your expressions and emotions are perceived. When honed to perfection, the arch endows your eyebrows with an equilibrium that resonates with your innate beauty. A deftly defined arch harmonizes with the contours of your face, aligning the natural angles and lines to craft an expression that is both balanced and striking. It's the subtle curvature that frames your eyes like an artist's masterpiece, inviting the world to explore the depths of your emotions through a meticulously crafted contour. Fill in Your Brows With the arch defined, the journey of eyebrow transformation continues, now delving into the realm of texture and depth. Filling in your brows is the art of creating an illusion of fullness, sculpting a look that is at once defined and dimensional. The process is akin to painting, as each precise stroke of brow powder or pencil contributes to the overall aesthetic tapestry. The once subtle arch now emerges as a striking feature, enhanced through the interplay of light and shadow. The result? A visual narrative that narrates depth, structure, and allure—an artistic expression that frames your eyes with captivating sophistication. As we conclude this exploration of eyebrow perfection, the focus pivots to the essential aspect of maintaining the health and appearance of your brows. The upcoming section reveals the secret to keeping your eyebrows healthy and looking their best, encapsulating the practices that ensure your meticulously crafted look endures with grace and resilience. Next up: Uncover the time-tested techniques to nurture and maintain your eyebrows, embracing the commitment required to sustain their elegant allure. How to Keep Your Eyebrows Healthy and Looking Their Best How to Care for Your Eyebrows In the enchanting realm of facial aesthetics, eyebrows reign supreme as the subtle architects of expression, balance, and allure.

This section embarks on an exploration of the art of eyebrow care, unveiling the practices that nurture their health, elevate their appeal, and ensure their enduring elegance. Trim Your Eyebrows Regularly Trimming your eyebrows stands as a testament to the commitment required to uphold their impeccable appearance. The act of precision trimming is akin to fine-tuning an instrument; it orchestrates an aesthetic symphony that resonates with tidiness and order. Armed with a pair of tweezers or an eyebrow trimmer, you engage in a ritual that bestows neatness and structure upon your eyebrows. This meticulous endeavor thwarts the encroachment of unruliness, ensuring that each hair aligns harmoniously to preserve the very essence of eyebrow allure. Use a Brow Gel A guardian of elegance, the brow gel emerges as the secret weapon in your arsenal, fortifying the elegance of your eyebrows. Whether transparent or delicately tinted to complement your hair color, the brow gel envelops each strand with a whisper of control, ensuring they remain poised and unwavering in the face of the elements. As a steadfast ally against the tide of bushiness, the brow gel steadfastly maintains the sculpted elegance you've meticulously cultivated. It's a touch of grace that accompanies you throughout the day, upholding the integrity of your carefully crafted appearance. Click here for information about Are Eyebrows Uneven Get Your Eyebrows Threaded or Waxed For those seeking the pinnacle of eyebrow sophistication, the realm of professional intervention unveils its allure. The choice to get your eyebrows threaded or waxed is a journey of transformation guided by expert hands. Threading, a delicate dance of precision, artfully removes unwanted hair with threads that twist and embrace, delivering impeccably sculpted results. Alternatively, waxing presents a swift and effective solution, where heated wax is employed to effortlessly uproot hair, unveiling a canvas of elegant contours. This avenue is particularly enticing for those with voluminous or stubborn eyebrows, as the touch of a skilled professional translates into a visage that exudes refinement and allure. As we wrap up this discourse on eyebrow care, our gaze turns toward the captivating realm of eyebrow trends. The upcoming section unfurls the trends that define 2023, spotlighting the avenues through which you can elevate your appearance with an infusion of contemporary charm. Next up: Brace yourself for a glimpse into the future as we unravel the eyebrow trends that promise to dominate 2023—a year that heralds the dawn of natural allure, bold statements, and vivid personality. Eyebrow Trends to Watch in 2023 Embrace the Future of Eyebrow Elegance As the sands of time usher in a new year, so do they unveil the latest eyebrow trends that will shape our beauty horizons. In this final chapter of our journey, we gaze into the crystal ball of aesthetics, unraveling the captivating forecasts that promise to elevate your allure to new heights. Natural-Looking Eyebrows 2023 emerges as the year of authenticity and individuality, and with it, the reign of natural-looking eyebrows. This trend champions the art of shaping and defining eyebrows without compromising their innate charm. Picture eyebrows that are meticulously sculpted yet unassumingly graceful—brows that mirror the symphony of your emotions without overshadowing your visage. This trend is an ode to the beauty that resides in the subtle nuances, a celebration of the harmonious balance between sophistication and simplicity. The result? A look that radiates an understated elegance, a canvas of beauty that whispers rather than shouts, drawing admirers into its alluring subtlety. Bold Brows Make a Comeback For those who dare to defy convention, rejoice, for the era of bold brows is making a triumphant return in 2023. This trend is a nod to the unapologetic, the audacious, and the empowered. It invites individuals with

thick eyebrows to embrace their natural fullness and amplify it, making a resounding statement that refuses to be ignored. Through deliberate arches and empowered contours, bold brows reshape the face with a striking audacity. It's a proclamation of individuality that emanates confidence, turning the spotlight toward the unique and captivating features that define your beauty. Colored Eyebrows: A Splash of Creativity As the world of beauty evolves, so does the realm of self-expression, giving rise to the intriguing trend of colored eyebrows in 2023. This creative avenue introduces a spectrum of vibrant hues, transforming your eyebrows into a canvas of artistic expression. With the use of eyebrow pencils, gels, or even temporary dyes, you can infuse a playful splash of color that harmonizes with your unique style. The result is a look that captivates attention, infusing your visage with a personality that's as vivid and dynamic as your spirit. As we reach the crescendo of our exploration, we find ourselves at the crossroads of beauty's evolution. From the fundamental functions of eyebrows to their profound impact on facial proportions, from the meticulous art of shaping to the nurturing care they demand, and finally, from the captivating trends that redefine elegance, the journey has been nothing short of transformative. In conclusion: Eyebrows, the unsung heroes of our expressions, hold the power to reshape, redefine, and elevate our allure. They are the conduits through which emotions flow, the architects of balance and structure, and the medium of self-expression. As trends come and go, one truth remains unchanged—the importance of eyebrows transcends time, turning them into a canvas where beauty, emotion, and art converge in a captivating symphony. Thank you for embarking on this journey of beauty, art, and self-discovery. Revisit the articles: The Functions of Eyebrows The Importance of Eyebrows for Facial Proportions How to Shape Your Eyebrows for the Perfect Look How to Keep Your Eyebrows Healthy and Looking Their Best Eyebrow Trends to Watch in 2023 As you embrace the trends of tomorrow, may your eyebrows tell a story of beauty, confidence, and evolution.

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