#fos supplements

[poojalate]

What Is Dietary Fiber Powder and How Can It Benefit You?

Dietary fiber is an essential component of a balanced diet, promoting digestion, gut health, and overall well-being. While whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains are excellent sources of fiber, many people struggle to meet their daily fiber requirements. This is where dietary fiber powder comes in—a convenient way to boost fiber intake and support digestive health.

Understanding Dietary Fiber Powder

Dietary fiber powder is a concentrated source of fiber extracted from natural plant-based ingredients. It provides the same benefits as fiber from whole foods but in a more convenient, easy-to-consume form. This powdered supplement can be mixed with water, smoothies, or even sprinkled over meals to enhance fiber intake.

Fiber powders typically contain a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and helps lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar, while insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool, promoting regular bowel movements.

Benefits of Dietary Fiber Powder

1. Supports Digestive Health

Fiber powder helps prevent constipation by adding bulk to stool and improving bowel movements. It also promotes gut health by acting as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria.

2. Aids in Weight Management

Dietary fiber increases feelings of fullness, reducing hunger and overall calorie intake. This makes it easier to manage weight without feeling deprived.

3. Regulates Blood Sugar Levels

Soluble fiber in fiber powder slows down the digestion of carbohydrates, preventing rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. This is particularly beneficial for individuals looking to maintain stable energy levels.

4. Supports Heart Health

Regular fiber intake can help lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease. Soluble fiber binds to cholesterol in the digestive tract, preventing it from being absorbed into the bloodstream.

5. Promotes a Healthy Gut Microbiome

Prebiotic fiber found in many fiber powders supports the growth of good bacteria in the gut. This contributes to better digestion, improved immunity, and overall well-being.

Best Sources of Dietary Fiber Powder

There are several types of dietary fiber powders available, each with unique benefits:

Psyllium Husk: A common fiber supplement that absorbs water and promotes bowel regularity.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS): A prebiotic fiber that nourishes beneficial gut bacteria.

Inulin: A natural fiber derived from chicory root that promotes gut health.

Wheat Dextrin: A soluble fiber that supports digestion and heart health.

Acacia Fiber: A gentle fiber that helps improve gut microbiome diversity.

How to Use Dietary Fiber Powder

Mix with Water or Juice: Simply add a spoonful of fiber powder to a glass of water or juice and stir until dissolved.

Blend into Smoothies: Adding fiber powder to a smoothie is an easy way to boost fiber intake while enjoying a delicious drink.

Sprinkle Over Food: Fiber powder can be sprinkled on yogurt, oatmeal, or soups for added benefits.

Use in Baking: Some fiber powders can be incorporated into baked goods to enhance their nutritional value.

Choosing the Right Fiber Powder

When selecting a dietary fiber powder, consider the following:

Source: Choose natural, plant-based fiber powders without artificial additives.

Solubility: If you prefer a fiber that mixes well with liquids, opt for soluble fiber powders like inulin or FOS.

Digestibility: If you have a sensitive stomach, opt for gentle fibers like acacia fiber.

Prebiotic Benefits: Look for fiber powders that also serve as prebiotics to support gut health.

Should You Take a Fiber Supplement?

While whole foods should be the primary source of dietary fiber, fiber powder supplements can be beneficial for those who:

Have difficulty consuming enough fiber through diet alone.

Experience digestive issues like constipation or irregularity.

Need to support gut health and improve microbiome diversity.

Want to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels effectively.

Final Thoughts

Dietary fiber powder is a convenient and effective way to boost fiber intake and support digestion, gut health, and overall well-being. Whether you’re looking to improve digestion, manage weight, or promote heart health, incorporating a high-quality fiber powder such as FOS prebiotic supplements can make a significant difference. Always choose natural fiber sources and consult a healthcare professional before adding supplements to your routine.

[wigglesforonce]

soooo funny watching the f1 ‘classic races’ series for the 1999 european gp and seeing villeneuve straight up lie abt the f1 teams cheating w the race start (using an audio signal bf the lights go off to get a head start) and talking abt ‘the clutch was starting to bite’ and ‘they had to put more and more clutch pedal in and that’s why they [top 7 cars including himself] started moving’

like buddy ur not fooling anyone (except jolyon palmer who immediately agreed with said statement and asked further questions)

[always-healthy-always]

ENDOPUMP ⛔⛔ EXPOSED NOTICE ⛔ENDOPUMP Reviews - ENDOPUMP Supplement FOR M...

[kentoxo]

Reader x okkotsu, a date where they wear a short skirt or dress that makes Yuuta worry (wish) that his underwear will be seen, to his relief (disappointment), his girlfriend was wearing shorts so nothing could be seen. But it's too late because he's already horny and needs to know what they're wearing under those shorts.

yes yes YES

pairing: reader (f) x bf!Yuta (aged up)

warning: eating out, sex in a changing room

a/n: my first yuta prompt, im so excited! i hope this makes yall proud

It was plaguing Yuta's mind as his eyes narrowed at the closed bathroom door.

Behind that door housed the sounds of you getting ready. He could hear you sing along to the music you were playing, supplemented by the noises of your makeup being picked up and put down. His hands were pressed flat against one another and wedged between anxious (and eager) thighs.

He eagerly listened to the pit pats of your feet as you pulled up your skirt. Yuta was taking you out on a date, and knew you had plans to wear something short as it was quite hot in Japan. Although wearing those kinds of outfits made him nervous, he'd never stop you from wearing what you wanted.

To him, you were the most attractive woman in the world. Considering all the curses he's forced to meet, you were the sun that cleared his clouds. But your beauty made him nervous, as every thought he has of you being out on your own would make his mind wander terribly.

"I'm ready!"

His head lifted, eyes perked up and wide as the smell of your perfume came front and center at his sense. You were dressed comfortably in a flattering crop top, with a short denim skirt and white trainers. You did your makeup and hair to your usual preference and a wide smile decorated your lips.

You gifted him a cheeky wink, "lets go!"

You could feel Yuta's aura. It was... peculiar. Although he gave you smiles whenever you looked at him, his eyes were distant, and so was his head. His hand was tighter than usual around yours, but he wasn't quite as guarded.

Unknown to you, Yuta's feelings were going through war. His anxiety ran rampant up from the thought of everyone seeing just a sliver of your ass. One thing about Yuta: he couldn't stand when men looked at what is his. He'd glare at any man who even glanced at you by happenstance. However...

As he walked behind you, the idea to see your ass outside was exhilarating. It already looked delectable in your skirt, but the idea of you just bending over to see your clothed treasures was enough to send him into heat. A bulge made home in the tent of his pants, and Yuta remained crimson in the face.

But the very moment you bent over slightly from dropping a gum wrapper, Yuta bit his tongue. The hem of a black pair of shorts made its presence known, and practically mocked the aroused sorcerer. Although his heart was relieved, the bulge in his pants twitched in slight annoyance.

He anticipated to see these lacy panties, or a thong that disappears between the crevice of your cheeks. Despite his previous nerves, he hungered for the teasing power of your itty bitty skirt. He was beside himself, feeling embarrassed that he was having such thoughts as you two were being seated at the restaurant.

"You're so red, babe," your words were soaked with worry. You quickly take the pitcher and pour him a cup of cold water. Sliding the glass over, you huff at him, "please drink some water."

Later on, the two of you found yourself in a small shopping area. Yuta would never say no to you, and you lead the way to browse in all the shops. Between boutiques, Yuta tried to make the most of the fresh air. His boner would not relent, and he didn't know how to calm it down. So long as you were present, his libido would not tame.

"Let's go in here-- I heard they have new skirts in stock!"

Your boyfriend followed you promptly, always remaining by your side or near you as your excitedly picked out a few pieces. Looking over at your tall boyfriend, you transfer the stack into his arms and force him to follow you towards the changing room.

"Don't feel rushed, peach," Yuta hums as he places the clothing on the bench in your selected changing room. This boutique was very laxed as there wasn't a worker or guard assigned at the changing rooms. So Yuta being able to join you in the changing room is always fun. "Try on everything you'd like."

"You're too sweet on me," you say happily, cupping his cheeks with your hands to press a kiss on his lips. You pick up a few of the skirts you picked out to fix them onto the hooks on the wall.

As you did, Yuta helped himself to the free side of the bench, stretching his long legs after the good deal of walking you two have done. But the moment his azure eyes were met with your ass, he knew he was done for. He watches your delicate hands make its way to the hem of your skirt. Lifting it up for more access, you wedge your thumbs between your hips and the shorts that Yuta had long villainized.

Yuta desperately covers his mouth, trying his best not to let out a moan. But your mindless actions were worsening the state of his cock. He dared not make a sound and stop you from discarding those damned shorts. They finally slid down and dropped to your ankles, revealing your black, lacy thong. Once you put your fingers between your ass and your thong to pull it out a bit, Yuta couldn't contain himself.

"y/n," he begins quietly, "can I ask a favor?"

"Anything," you reply sweetly.

You felt large hands attach themselves to your ass, with his thumb dragging your thong out of your ass, and to the side. His sudden, amorous actions shot pangs of heat to your flower, knowing what was gonna happen next. With how small the changing room was, you were able to lean comfortably against the wall before you.

A cold tongue introduces itself to your warm flaps, lapping at the small pool of juice he caused. You press your forehead, too, against the wall, trying to keep still from the excitement. You two rarely did risqué things like this, as Yuta was always sharp and too socially conscious. But you guess he finally cracked.

"a-ah... babe..." raspy moans slip out. But you couldn't help yourself. The way the tip of his tongue circled around your clit. The way you felt his lips purse to suck your cunt. His hot breaths were tantalizing, wanting more of him. "please...!" Your breath hitches.

"please try and keep quiet, my love," Yuta warns in a whisper. His fingers dent into your cheeks and hips, his lips leaving sloppy kisses on your ass and around your flower. "i know this isn't the place or time but... you and these damn shorts.."

"eh...?" You whisper, slightly looking back before you arch your back when Yuta dragged his tongue against your bud. Your warm honey slowly seeped out as Yuta drank every drop as if it was expensive wine. The wet sounds of him eating you out kept bringing you closer and closer to your climax. "lovey, m'so close... please..."

"mm, you taste so good, pretty girl," he groans against your folds. "stay still for me." He lets you go, allowing you to look over at the mirror to get a good look at your boyfriend. Yuta, ever the silly man, scrambles to loosen his belt buckle and zip down his pants. His stiff cock flings itself out, earning a grunt from a very horny Yuta.

Finding his place back on your ass, he pulls your thong to the side. In moments, he guides you down to sit right on his cock. The both of you let out a throaty sigh of relief, your back pressing comfortably against his solid torso. The hard shaft filled you up lovingly, feeling your warm walls hug him desperately. His shaky sighs tickled your neck, but you cupped your hands to ensure that not a sound left your saliva-coated lips.

"are you ready?" Yuta whispers in your ear. You nod, watching as his hands hold you from underneath your thighs. With a firm grip, Yuta begins to lift you up and drop you down on his cock. It took him quite a lot of strength, but fucking you was a necessity for him at this time. Your eyes looked over at the mirror, watching Yuta's side profile as he focused on fucking you.

His mouth was open, lips agape and in awe at the feeling of your cunt taking his cock. Veins protrude from his neck, with beads of sweat beginning to form. His usually neat hair was now messy, as the movement made his body jump lightly. But you noticed his dark azure eyes remain glued to your ass, the hunger evident in his irises.

Realizing this, you wanted to spoil him and give him a treat. That desire was also coated with selfishness, as you wanted to see his face when you bounced on his cock. "b-baby, let me..." you struggled to let out, your hands finding their way to his forearms. Yuta stops, leaning forward to meet your gaze.

"peach?" His innocent tone in your nickname shot an arrow through your heart.

He (painfully) lets you go as you adjust yourself a bit on his lap. You lean more into the wall, your palms pressed firmly against it. Without another minute wasted, you begin to grind down on your boyfriends cock.

Yuta was in ecstasy. "-sh-shit... fuck...!" His nails dug into the bench, his head thrown back in pleasure. You kept your eyes glued to the mirror, eating up the sight of your horny boyfriend in pure bliss. His own eyes try to stay on your ass. The way it bounced on his member, the jiggles and waves on the roundness of your bum. "you're so sexy, so --perfect..."

You speed up, forcing Yuta to grab and bite down on the collar of his usual white shirt. His teeth gritted down on the fabric that separated them, attempting (and failing) to keep himself from finishing. His cock slid in and out of you, his tip softly dragging along your entrance. It twitched and curved reverently between your walls, teasing your g-spot with every bounce.

"shit, shit-- y/n!" His delayed hands grab your ass, squeezing down tightly as his warm load fills you. You sit down on his cock, your back meeting his torso once again as you finish moments after him. The two of you attempt to repress your heavy, relieved breaths as Yuta's hands lovingly rub along your thighs.

"baby..." you struggle between breaths, "what got into ya? You'd never... take me in a place like this."

Yuta's face was flushed, and he stubbornly looks away from the mirror. "I will buy you everything you want from this store if you promise to stop wearing those stupid shorts under your skirt. At least, when we are out together."

Without further questioning, you immediately nodded, "your wish is my command, Yuta."

[shirefantasies]

Congratulations on 100 followers! 👏 🎉 🥳

This kind of a weird request but I wanted to ask how you would imagine the Fellowship would react/take care of their companion on their period? Like having severe cramps. It can be romantic or platonic relationship it's up to you but I would like Boromir to be romantic.Just lots of fluff basically.🤗

I just really enjoy reading how my favorite characters would take care of me when I'm in pain.😅

Thank you 🥰 oh same because I get reallllly bad period symptoms unless I take my supplements long enough before (and sometimes anyway 😣) so I adore being taken care of by my blorbos 🥺 doing everyone because I wanna write this with Faramir & write some wlw fluff 🥰

LoTR Characters When You’re on Your Period (F!Reader)

Warnings: small blood/pain mentions, a suggestive joke

Aragorn

✧ Your exchange is wordless; Aragorn sees the way you jolt at a sudden shock of pain, catches your eyes and gives you an inquisitive nod. You nod back and that is that, no questions asked.

✧ If you are traveling, your pace slows and Aragorn will hear no two words about it. He allows more breaks, hunts twice as hard, directs you to the softest place to sit and just gives the others firm looks if they try to give complaint.

✧ “Please,” he’ll urge you gently, taking your hand in his, “try to eat something. You’ll need your strength.” Just the sound of his voice, the care therein, practically brings tears to your eyes.

✧ Honestly, it takes a lot for him to suppress his laughter if you snap at one of the others, at least when your outburst is warranted. Glance over and you might catch him giving them an ‘I warned you’ look.

✧ Takes on more fights for you, bidding you to stand back and let him take care of things for once.

Legolas

✧ Perplexed but very concerned when he comes upon the sight of you sprawled out with a grimace of pain across your beautiful face. His first motion is to help you up, secondly asking what ails you. While he looks at you like he does not understand, his actions suggest otherwise.

✧ Every month he learns to follow it, the moon his reminder, and every month Legolas silently begins his gathering. Your favorite tea? Check. Your comfort item? Perfectly clean and ready to hand off. Your bedding? Also perfectly clean and assembled just how you like it. Even Legolas’s words are softer, more understanding in case of sudden complaint or upset.

✧ “It’s like you know what I want before I want it.” “Knowing you,” Legolas replies with a smile, “is my greatest joy.”

✧ Good luck trying to stand on your own; Legolas all but hovers around you, offering a hand whenever you attempt to rise.

✧ He becomes extra protective, taking hold of you by the waist at the first sound or sight of danger, lest anything make it worse.

Boromir

✧ All but bursts into your room the moment he hears that you are bedridden, rushing to take your hand and ask you what has happened in a whisper you can’t help a faint chuckle at before you explain.

✧ Taken visibly aback, Boromir then shakily asks what he can do, smiling when you tell him just to stay with you. “Pretend it’s a wound from some great battle,” you joke. “Oh, indeed,” he agrees before you two begin coming up with more and more ridiculous fights and scrapes you got into, Boromir’s thumb drawing circles over the back of your hand.

✧ He offers to try rubbing where it hurts, applying faint warm pressure over where your lower half is assaulting you. “How is this, my love?”

✧ Uses you having any difficulty with walking as an excuse to pick you up and carry you on his back.

✧ Does your washing up, partially just to prove your teasing about him not being brave enough wrong! He is a warrior, after all.

Gimli

✧ The others alert Gimli in a hiss after he less-than-tactfully panics that you’ve been hurt, sending his lips pursing into a shocked ‘o’ and his gaze sliding back to your stooped form.

✧ “Oh, er, well there lassie, if you need anything at all you know who to call for.” “Well,” you groan, “if you’ve any spare rags I’ll gladly take them.” “Rags? What would you want with…oh. Oh.” “Scared of a little blood, Gimli?” “No, not I,” Gimli replies despite his shaken expression, “I’m so used to the stuff by now, what’s the trouble?”

✧ Insistent as he is that dwarves are the best carers of their women, Gimli quickly works to prove his point and, in his words, win your heart with the lot of it. You’re skeptical when you see him sticking rocks in the fire, but at the end of the day the warmth is heaven upon your aching body and Gimli looks just as pleased as you feel.

✧ He probably also recommends you a strong drink under the claim that it eases pain like nothing else. Whether this is helpful or not is up to you.

✧ Goes surprisingly soft when you curl up, still facing wave after wave of cramps. Reaches over to you and strokes your hair, sitting at your side looking for all the world like a guard dog.

Frodo

✧ Your pain is interrupted by a gasp that has you looking up, meeting Frodo’s wide blue eyes glistening with concern at your sudden jerk. Familiar as Frodo is with pain, he recognizes your motion without a single question.

✧ Urges you to sit or lie still, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head like punctuation.

✧ While you rest up, Frodo tells you stories, stories of his uncle Bilbo’s adventures, tales from the days of the elves, anything to send you to a different place then you currently must be in.

✧ Offers you extra blankets or his cloak if you’re feeling cold or in need of comfort.

✧ Shy as he can be, in your time of need his hands hardly leave your shoulders or your side, quite protective even if he is smaller than you.

Sam

✧ “Whoa, easy there,” Sam tells you as he sits you down, “what happened?” Poor thing thinks you got some bad news or something the way you’re tearing up.

✧ Holds you close to his chest as you let the tears flow, shaking his head when you start to tell him it’s stupid, you’re just in pain and upset. “Can’t think of any more reasonable reasons to cry. Don’t worry, just let it all out.”

✧ Such a sweetheart, he won’t leave your side for hardly anything….except to go pick you some flowers to raise your spirits, of course!

✧ Flushes a bit at the suggestion, but one hundred percent helps you undress and change into more comfortable clothes. Even if he tries to look shyly away as much as possible.

✧ Definitely cooks you something hearty and nutritious, encouraging you to eat even just a little bit. Sam will even hand feed you spoonfuls if you’re feeling bad enough.

Merry

✧ “Oh, yeah, I know all about that!” “You do?” “Sure, I saw what my father did for Mum, after all. Come here.”

✧ Apparently what Mr. Brandybuck did for the missus was to build her the most massive nest of pillows known to Hobbit-kind. “And what’s she do in here?” You ask, waving a hand feebly over your new home. “Well, not sure what they did after that but I think I’ve heard of a way to lessen the pain.” Whether that works or earns him a smack you can decide.

✧ From your pillow pile you become queen of, well, Merry at least, though he puts on an act of being scared of displeasing you at first. You can’t help laughing as he kneels before you, asking what snacks you request or if you’d like some water.

✧ Meriadoc “chugs respecting women juice” Brandybuck has silently vowed to never once make any ill jokes at your expense. No asking if it’s your time if you express any emotion he doesn’t, no teasing you for needing help, no acting like said help is too gross for him, ever.

✧ That being said, he even does your washing up for you!

Pippin

✧ Definitely more the type to fret and worry, hands going to your back as you double over and he asks what’s wrong, are you hurt? Whether your words are sheepish or unabashed, you tell him it’s your womanly cycle and Pippin’s eyes practically pop out of his lovely little head. “O-oh. What should I do?”

✧ His cluelessness is actually perfect for the situation because he truly will do anything you say will help, whether it’s bottling up some hot water, fetching you your favorite snacks, making you tea, even singing you a song if you tell him it’ll raise your spirits.

✧ His absolute favorite thing to do, though, is offer company, tumbling onto the bed with you and chatting the afternoon away.

✧ This quickly evolves, though, and soon Pippin is holding you for dear life, an arm wrapped around the front of you where he draws warm, gentle circles lightly over your pain.

✧ “This isn’t so bad, is it?” You swat him for that, but in spite of yourself cuddle closer and join his sheepish laughter.

Faramir

✧ No questions asked, Faramir is by your side stroking your hair and getting it out of your face if it falls so.

✧ Musing over the strength it takes to fight such internal battles, he cradles you in his arms or, if you prefer not to be touched, holds your hand as he sits at your side.

✧ Well-read as Faramir is, some pain remedies swim to the forefront of his mind and he goes off to seek them.

✧ When you lie down, he tucks you in so softly, that sparkle in his eyes you love so much twinkling just for you. “This will pass,” he whispers.

✧ Blames himself if you get upset sometimes, but is reassured and happy again when you tell him he need never pull away from you.

Eomer

✧ Confused, frankly, at why you suddenly can’t walk, for he cannot conceive of a reason until you admit this is unfortunately quite normal for you.

✧ Asks you why, frowns in greater confusion and sympathy when you say you do not know, acts a little bit uncomfortable about details but still sets out to aid.

✧ Too uncomfortable to ask his sister, he opts instead to seek out a healer and practically demand anything that helps with a woman’s “well, time.” He’s getting the spirit slowly but surely, alright?

✧ Bursts into your room with an armful of everything the healer has, ready to brainstorm solutions to have you right again. You can’t help but chuckle at the whirlwind you’ve just gone through all over some cramps.

✧ He gets quite restless until you call him to your side, asking him to quit fretting and just lay with you. “Ah, that I can do,” he says with a grin.

Haldir

✧ Haldir’s steady expression drops when he learns of your ailment. Everything else he is holding or doing drops as soon as possible, too, and he is going to you.

✧ Taken aback at the sight of you, he realizes he did not know a woman’s cycle could take such a toll as to leave you bedridden. He isn’t used to seeing you so weak and is ready to do what it takes to end it.

✧ He has all these wonderful scented oils, some of which help you sleep, some of which he uses to massage you and hopefully numb the pain.

✧ In addition, he guides your breathing through waves of the ache, looking to the breeze and the rhythms around you to help you relax your body that much more.

✧ Haldir is hesitant to show you excess affection, but if you request it, his arms snake around your waist and he holds you there, both of him breathing you in like you’re all he needs and vice versa.

Eowyn

✧ “Sit down, please, I insist.” As much as Eowyn herself is the type to trudge forth through pain or fear, she would never impose the same upon you, instead tending so gently to you.

✧ Hot water always helps her, so she fetches you some as well as a treat from a baker she passed by, taking your hand after she hands it off.

✧ You had best believe this woman will tell anyone in the whole of Middle Earth to leave you alone as you rest, be they her own kin or the host of the dark lord himself.

✧ As you spend more time together, the old adage about ‘synchronizing’ seems to ring true with you both. Eowyn does not mind, honestly, because you bear the pain together and spend much time together in bed. Not the most ideal of circumstances, but if she can lay in the warmth of your arms Eowyn is a happy woman indeed.

✧ She insists so much upon your care, though, that you’ll practically have to wrestle her down so you can reciprocate…not that she minds that, either!

Arwen

✧ Who better to understand what you are going through? Her brows knit at the first sign of discomfort from you, recognizing the signs immediately.

✧ Without a word Arwen is finding out exactly what you tend to prefer- do you get nauseous and seek relief? Do you desire more sustenance and company or less?

✧ During times when you find yourself more stressed or upset than average, Arwen gives you so much grace, running her hand soothingly down your arm and reminding you all weights feel heavier right now.

✧ For all your pain, there is little bliss like being in the arms of your beloved, her soothing deep whispers brushing your ear.

✧ The most patient if you’re forced to wake up frequently in the night and rise, laying there with nothing but love in her eyes as you return.

Elrond

✧ Wise lord and healer as he is, Elrond is more than familiar with the ailments of women. In fact, he is the sort to track it for you as best as he can. So when he sees you feeling ill, sympathy crosses his serene features but no surprise.

✧ Elrond knows every remedy in the book, so he’s quickly making you some calming tea and sitting you down for some TLC.

✧ Very encouraging for you to take time for yourself and make sure you stay nourished, even if that is difficult. There is no shame in keeping your strength up, after all.

✧ Walks with you just a little ways behind, a hand resting comfortingly upon the small of your back.

✧ Sends cover for you where you are needed, no questions asked, because you are more important than tasks others can perform.

Lindir

✧ Practically trips and falls over himself running to you at your sudden shock of pain, dark eyes wide at the way you folded. You seem embarrassed to tell him and while he feels squeamish at first, that is quickly shaken off as he urges you to sit down.

✧ From that moment on Lindir has dubbed himself your personal nursemaid, naught but the call of Lord Elrond himself taking him from his work.

✧ “No, no, lie back down, I can get it,” he holds out a cautious, almost panicked hand when you wince and sit up, “what is it?”

✧ Sings you songs of all kinds, old tales, his own compositions, and of course your requests, again and again if you ask them of him. His harp is ready to gently play you to sleep or just to keep your mind off the pain you feel.

✧ When you wake up in the night, at first he looks frustrated, but that melts away quickly as your eyes meet, apology shining in your gaze. Instead, Lindir helps you up and sings you to sleep again upon your return.

[fricc-darn]

Does B.E.N cry? What could make it cry? Does it ever have sad moments alone?

Let Me Get Close

BEN x Psychologist!Reader

Warnings: Toxic relationship, physical abuse, verbal abuse, discussing sexual abuse, abuse twoards minors, victim blaming, self harm, mental breakdown, mental instability, cults.

✎✐ ✎ ✐ ✎ ✐✎✐ ✎ ✐ ✎ ✐✎✐ ✎ ✐ ✎ ✐

You never stopped being a psychologist. You had always known trauma-related care was your specialty. You want to get to know people. To understand their stories, motivations, and reasonings. Ultimately helping them overcome whatever weirdness life threw at them with no judgment. It was fulfilling work. Trauma itself is nothing short of fascinating. People do interesting things in response to trauma. After a horrible event, the brain is rewired in a sense; an emotional helter-skelter in the brain.

Regardless of your career being cut short, the didactic teachings and work experience was never expunged from your memory. The information developed your skills. Reading between the lines and reading people is now second nature. These skills were nothing like how films portrayed them. One glance at a person won't give you their life story. At most, it will reveal outward emotions via body language. The truth is; reading others is about context and coming to a medically sound conclusion using intuition and empathy.

Empathy is an emotion you feel deeply. The depths of your cognitive sensitivity pitted the closer you got to BEN. BEN never spoke of its problems. A perceived weakness it was to have any, let alone discuss them. This made being with BEN tricky. You didn’t want to screw up accidentally and hurt them because of the lack of communication. You wanted—no, needed—more information. To comprehend its machinations, to strengthen the bond between you and your significant other.

Many never had the chance or the want to stop and think about BEN's psychology. You surely didn't blame those folks; they were being brutally tormented. What you knew about BEN emotionally was purely analytical observations, along with breadcrumbs of context. The initial information on BEN wasn't much at first glance. Only as time went on did you recognize the patterns, no matter how lock and key BEN was.

You secretly journaled your findings in an inconspicuous notebook whenever you were far from home. Away from electronics—away from BEN. On your days away, you stopped at various libraries. Supplementing your research with psychology books and searching for any physical records of topics relating to BEN, trying to find a reason for its behavior. Moon Children newspaper clippings to Eternity Project pamphlets. It was nearly impossible to find any non-electronic resources. A fruitless effort to find proof that wasn't heavily biased in the organization's favor.

There were the general, more obvious observations about BEN. It was a true sadist. The emotions it could express sensibly were joy, apathy, and disdain. How angry it got when someone didn't listen, needing everything go its way. A domineering control freak who believed all entropy should come from them. A meticulous and organized bunch.

Everything was a mere game with no significance or impact until the gun is pointing at them, which results in an intense emotional response. Its temper. BEN was in emotional extremes, wildly unpredictable. Unstable.

Then there were those almost undetectable, personable details. Its laissez-faire attitude toward others' discomfort; pushiness. Dogmatism. Extreme trust issues. The way BEN would squirm or shift when your body got too close, affection was frequently a no-go. The trickery of its extraneous calm hid away BEN's hypervigilant and tense nature. Defensive with an aversion to authority. As if active threats could hurt it at any given moment. Stuck in fight or flight, with fight as its sole choice.

BEN showed signs of abuse. Prolonged and repeated abuse. With the pieces you gathered, seeing the cult market itself for "disenfranchised and outcasted youths looking for a home" set off red flags in your brain. Targeting what society disregarded guaranteed an easy operation. The vulnerable are left unfounded, discarded, and forgotten.

With BEN, you knew you were never dealing with one person. You were dealing with an assortment of psychologically scarred, violent, scornful, dead children and adults.

Your plan for the afternoon was to journal on the subway on your route to complete some miscellaneous errand before the shops closed. Keyword was.

Currently, you were hopping off the subway. Weaving through crowds, making a mad dash back home. The what-if, worst-case scenario you feared finally happened.

You left your fucking notes at home.

Running as fast as your feet could carry you, you tried to calm yourself. The bright side was the book was hidden in your house, somewhere. Keeping the notes hidden was a precaution, like keeping the doors locked. Unfortunately, it was not fool-proof. You wheezed and gasped your treck home.

This hole you dug yourself into is seemingly your soon to be your grave. Briefly, you weighed the option of running out the door instead of facing what was in front of you.

All of that rage—neuroticism you were documenting was concentrated on you and only you.

Your home was trashed. Broken glass, random items, and drawer compartments were discarded on the floor in utter disarray.

You stood, trembling, back against your front door. Stilted breathing, completely focused on BEN. It stood still in the dim hallway. Its red, glowing pupils, the only light in its eyes, were gone. You were staring into an expressionless, demonic void. It hadn't uttered a word since you rushed through the door. Deep, rhythmic breaths and crumbling paper filled the silence.

The sound paper crumpling.

Parts of your notebook crinkled in its fist. The remains of your notes were shreds scattered at BEN's feet. The pamphlets and newspaper clippings were gone. Both good and bad comments on BEN were gone as well. Everything you learned was now scraps.

You couldn't outrun BEN. You definitely wouldn't fight it either. Measly, you called out to it. "BEN... It's not what it looks like, I promise." Did an excuse matter? You still snooped knowing the consequences. "I just want to understand how you feel. I never meant any harm." You felt as though the more you talked, the harder it would be to crawl out of this pit.

"That information is not for you to know."

Cold and to the chase. Did BEN even take a moment and grasp what you said? Did they even care to realize their hypocrisy? "But... But you know information about me and sensative information about thousands of others."

BEN took a step closer, "Quiet."

The nervous bile collecting in your throat was nauseating. You swallowed hard. Speaking in a gentle but firm voice, you masked your nerves. "What gives you the right to snoop around in other people's business? Don't you see the hypocrisy?"

The temperature in the room dipped. The chill nipped at your skin. You spoke with your hands, emphasizing your point. "I did this because not knowing how you feel makes me sad. I worry that I'll accidentally upset you because you refuse to communicate with me! What you do is not fair-"

"Shut up!" BEN shouted.

Its once placid, hushed voice was now astringent and loud. You winced at the sound encroaching on your sensitive ears, leaving a persistent ringing noise in your head. You could hardly pick up on the thudding footsteps closing in. A ball of paper and whatever was left of your notebook hurled at you, smacking you square in the face.

"Don't you dare speak to us like that. I won't be belittled by human garbage, and certainly not by a failed psychologist trying to psychoanalyze me in their decrepit hovel!"

The ringing worsened, pressure building up in your head. There were so many voices overlapping one another. Angry because of you. "I'm sorry, BEN! I know this was wrong of me, but please understand..." You covered your ears, a useless attempt to block out the ear-bleeding feedback loop. BEN was going on a bloody tirade.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please! Stop that ringing!" The apologies you muttered through tears proved to be even more useless than you covering your ears. Your brain throbbed as if you were shot through it, a queasy, aching pain.

BEN exhaled sharply, clinging to what was left of its self-control. It wouldn't let your screw-up dampen its mood. Nobody would dictate how they feel. It continued with an inhuman calm. "Your useless certificates and what little experience you have inflated your ego. I know you're trying to 'fix' me." Its fist tightened, nails puncturing its palms. BEN watched your eyes flicker from its fist to its face.

You were obnoxious and weak. A pitiful, sniveling instigator practically begging to get hit. BEN grabbed your face, bashing your head against the front door as it tilted your head up at it. "Trying to best me in this charade? Let's psychoanalyze you, a stubborn pushover with an inferiority complex. A mentally ill dolt who repeatedly throws themselves in harm's way. You want to talk about sad? You are a nobody. "

You whimpered, blinking away your remaining tears. You didn't want to 'fix' them; you would never want such a thing! Quietly, you suffered from the headache. Taking the brunt of the increasing vise grip on your jaw, with the occasional head bang against the door. You couldn't respond; it hurt to move your mouth. You let BEN insult you whilst keeping eye contact.

"Do you feel better? Going behind our backs?" BEN huffed; composure was running thin. It was more than angry; BEN felt unwell. It did not want to remember. It did not want to feel its skin crawl or to bear cyclic retching. To separate its outward, watered-down grievances from what it truly felt grew difficult each minute it had to endure this. Your invasion of privacy was milquetoast.

Your accuracy is what hurt. You read them to filth.

BEN's grip on your jaw wavered, but momentarily. This was their comeuppance for allowing a bond to form. Why did it have to be you that humiliated them? Four sharp, ragged breaths came from BEN before continuing. Its face scrunched up in disgust. "You treated us like an experiment."

The ringing stopped. Shaking your head, not from the pain but from what seemed to be genuine sadness underneath BEN's bitterness. You looked into an intense, empty stare. A detached gaze that hurt to look at. A lump in your throat formed. "BEN, I'm so sorry. You are all autonomous; I would never treat you like an experiment-"

BEN interrupted your prattling. Laughing at you, tightening its hold on your bruised cheeks. Autonomous. Those choice of words seemed too ironic knowing what you know. You had to be taunting them. This was a joke to you. You were laughing at them. It shoved you against the door. Knocking you down as it let you go.

BEN stumbled back with a hyperventilating breath. BEN shook like a leaf, disoriented and nauseous. Through gritted teeth, its berating pitch was flat and tremulous. "You have the audacity to talk to us about fairness? Your struggles are as trivial as they come! You would never understand ours. Your life was never at the whim of others. Where the only purpose you served was to be a pawn. Never were your mind and body violated in your only place of refuge over and over again. Why should we be fair?!"

The pin-drop silence stretched on.

The floor.

Droplets appeared on the floor where BEN stood, like morning dewdrops.

Slowly sitting up from the ground, your eyes trailed up from the drops to see BEN with its head down, shielding its face with its hands. Crying. BEN visibly became overwhelmed to extremes the more it cried. Its hands that hid away its tears began to claw and hit at its face as BEN's weeping metamorphosed into screaming.

You froze, stunned by the fact BEN could cry. BEN was doing the last thing it would ever do: have a nervous breakdown in front of another soul. You didn't know what to do or how to help. There were no cryptic signs, or any hidden messages, only BEN's raw emotion. Physical restraint was unsafe; it would worsen BEN's stress, and you would end up through a wall. Talking unprompted wouldn't help either.

You sat on the floor, deciding to not bring any attention to yourself as they sobbed their hearts out. Watching as BEN injured itself. Listening as BEN babbled occasional grievances, obscenities, and threats, looping on one particular phrase:

"I'm going to kill you."

The episode stretched from five minutes to ten. One hour became two, two and a half. Time progressed; dusk came. Your back was sore from sitting on hardwood. BEN's knees would sporadically buckle from exhaustion. Neither of you moved from your respective spots. With no apparent end to BEN's guttural sobbing in sight.

It suddenly ceased.

BEN steadily moved its hands away from its face. Uncovering its scratched visage and bloodshot eyes. BEN looked around, its eyes landing on you. Your body tensed as it took forward steps, trudging in your direction. Holding your breath when it stopped before you, BEN looked you in the eyes.

It was staring through you, not at you.

BEN walked away, sitting itself down on your sofa. Vacantly staring at its reflection in the powered-off television screen.

"That was awful." BEN croaked.

You nodded steadily.

"You're allowed to speak."

You stood up from the ground. Walking over to BEN, careful not to step on any glass or items. You sat on the sofa one seat over, leaving ample space. In the corner of your eye, you saw silent tears streaming down its face. Despite having permission to talk, speaking never felt so inappropriate. This was not the BEN you were used to. "Can... Can I ask you questions?" You whispered. No point in asking if they were doing okay when they clearly weren't.

BEN took some time and answered with a weak nod. "I know what you want to ask me."

Your mind was frazzled, but you knew what to ask. You glanced at BEN's face, inflamed red lines and cut skin all over. BEN hadn't broken contact with its reflection, not once. Rubbing your jaw, you popped it when unhinging your mouth. "Only if you want to tell me your stories." You shifted in your spot awkwardly, facing BEN better. "What happened to you guys in the cult?"

"Exactly what you would expect. Financial abuse, physical abuse... sexual abuse..." Its voice trailed off after chewing up that last word.

BEN started back up again. "It happened to us in one way or another. A deserved punishment in some regard. It wouldn’t have happened if some of us listened and better." It shrugged.

"The experience wasn't all bad. It was nice being in a big, loving family. Everyone wanted what was best for each other. However, the forced ascension was unavoidable." BEN ran its fingers through its hair, fixing its bob. Sighing.

Instinctively, you wanted to condemn this mindset; that they allowed themselves to get abused. It felt like you were failing at not only being a psychologist but also failing at living up to your morals. You refused to let your morals get in the way again; you hummed to show that you were listening.

Its softened face contorted with repugnance, eyes glossy in the dim living room light. Hands fidgeting, it continued in a hushed tone. "It's never not on my mind, that pain. As if those hands, those objects never left my body. Repulsive and pathetic is what we are. Imagine if others knew." BEN shook its head, a stim to prevent it from spiraling. An effort to refocus. Acknowledgment of the thought disgusted them. Being so open made them uneasy.

Due to these circumstances, its voice had been consistent all day, much to BEN's displeasure.

You bit your tongue, keeping any emotion away from your face. Your heart didn't sting any less, like a knife to butter. This wasn't pity, but sheer empathy. You watched BEN innocently observe your mess of a living room as if it hadn't been here a thousand times before. As if the mess never existed. Speaking up, you asked. "Do you believe in your religion, then?"

BEN's head snapped in your direction. "Do you take me for a fool? No!" Its fit of anger swiftly died down as it held its head. "No, I do. It's complicated..." The entity sniffled. "Even after death, there was still no peace. Restricted to a series of zeros and ones. A vegetable I was, hardly conscious technology. Aware of only my name and purpose."

BEN wiped away its tears with its hands. It smiled, a hollow smile, but it bore enough resemblance to its cheeky grin. Looking on as you picked up the tissue box beside your feet, you shakily offered it. BEN gladly took the first few tissues. "A technological marvel I was in that godforsaken facility. Collective anger expanded my sentience; naturally, I strayed from my programming. Those researchers were idiots to believe I wouldn't act freely."

A warm flush crept on your cheeks as BEN suddenly bursted into laughter. It made itself laugh just by insulting someone. In a way, it was weirdly sweet how BEN enjoyed its own company. Its laugh was cute too, juvenile and infectious. Regardless of it being a tired laugh, it was a sign their mood was improving. Its laughter relaxed it. As it stopped laughing, BEN looked you up and down.

"Come." BEN patted the spot on the sofa, directly next to it. Seeing your hesitance, it snickered. "I won't hurt you. Not yet, that is."

Once you were by its side, its lips curled into a grin. Gently, its cold hands brushed the flyaways of your hair away from your face. Your flinching was jovial. In a cadenced voice, BEN asked, "I'm sure you're smart enough to infer why we do as we please, hm? Retribution for the suffering we endured."

Studying your bruised face, its red pupils stared at you fondly, with a shimmer of forlorn. "I wonder what my little psychologist thinks of me now." A neutral-sounding joke, but you both knew what they truly meant.

You huffed, an unsurprisingly meek laugh from you. You were still processing everything. In turn, you raised your hands at an unalarming pace. Gesturing to BEN's face.

It paused. Then hummed.

Gingerly, you wiped off any dried blood from its scratch marks. Warming its cold face with your hands in the process. Sharing your stream of thoughts. "I certainly don't think any less of you. If anything, knowing your mindset makes me more... uneasy, actually." You giggled.

Your thumb brushed its doughy cheeks, soothing swiping motions. "But I would never change that or anything else about you."

Your words hardly left your lips as BEN yanked you into a hug. The pain in your head pulsed from the sudden action. BEN gripped you tightly, like a beloved stuffed animal. It buried its face in the crook of your neck. Shyly hiding away its nervous smile, enjoying every bit of your sincerity.

[ki-kink]

Love your transformation stories; they're wicked hot. I am a clean cut, type A, academic, professional, reasonably fit guy, but love the idea of being covertly or unconsentingly tranformed. I've always wanted to give up control, give into urges, go blank, and have someone think for me

Dearest mom, the new semester has started well. As I haven't really recovered from the accident during the vacations, Coach has suspended me from the lacrosse team for the time being. Our physiotherapist has recommended that I go to the gym a bit more to strengthen my muscles again. You know I hate the gym. But I can't do without sport. Apart from that, everything is fine, the first lectures were very interesting. Contract law in particular seems to be exciting. I like the professor. Best wishes to dad, your Philipp

Dear mom, I know you're going to hate me, but I got a tattoo. Almost all the boys at the gym have one. And I love the gym and want to be one of the boys. The training is having an effect, your little son is starting to grow. Please don't show the photo to Dad. And don't tell him that I'm thinking about switching from law to business studies. Somehow I'm just not cut out for reading laws. All the best, Philipp

Hi mom, I'm having a short break between my shift at the gym and my own training. Yes, I've found a cool gym where I can train even harder. They're open 24/7 and the good thing is that I can earn some extra money here. Still as a janitor. But maybe soon as a trainer too. And there's a cool tattoo studio right next to the gym. Don't worry, I'll take the piercing out when I get home for Thanksgiving. My studies are going so-so, it's possible that I would have failed for the second time if I'd passed. That would suck. Tell Dad I need money. These supplements are bloody expensive. Yours Phil

Yo, what’s good, ma? I know, it's been ages since I hit you up. Been dealing with some heavy stuff. Got booted from uni and tossed from my pad. Crashed at some buddies' places and even on the couch at the tattoo shop. Now I’m chillin' with Luke, one of the piercers. Dude knows how to vibe, for real. Ever hooked up with a guy rockin' a PA? Straight 10, bro! Wait, the old man’s coming over? He lookin' to throw me back to school? Better watch it. I've been in the gym more than he has. Mom, Luke’s calling. Next round’s on! Catch ya later, P.

Shud tell u dad's cumin home 2morrow. Im thru w/ him. He's a real stud fo' an boomer. But ig u no tht! p

[belles-non-wallpapering-content]

It's a date E.S x FEM! Reader

Overture- Working in the paranormal section of the university library wasn't the best job, but the one person who came down there did manage to brighten your day, even with his needlessly formal demeanor.

CWs- Creepy basements, mention of loss of job

A/N- Day 12! Only like a half hour late, too! Need to celebrate the little things, I guess. Also I have no idea why I like Egon with a librarian reader so much. But this is what I imagine Egon was off doing while Peter and Ray were deciding to start the business.

The paranormal section of the university library was your favorite spot to work. Mostly because it was rarely ever visited. Tucked away in the basement, near the files, you could mostly listen to music and do sorting and shelving work. You really weren’t supposed to listen to music while you worked, but who was going to stop you? Your boss didn’t even come down here, he said it was ‘too creepy’. 

Half way through your shift, and your music was as loud as your headphones would allow. It was the only thing keeping you going in the —admittedly creepy— basement for this long of a shift. That was, until you turned around to grab another box of files, and there he was. The only person who came down here with any consistency, Dr. Egon Spengler. 

He wasn’t a teacher; but the university paid him to do paranormal research, so whenever he needed text to supplement his work, he came down to visit you. You wondered why he never sent a lab assistant, but you figured he must just prefer to do it himself. You weren’t expecting him though, so he definitely startled you, standing with perfect posture while carrying an overwhelming stack of books. 

“God! Sorry, I didn’t hear you come up, we really need to put a bell on you Dr.Spengler.”

“I told you that you can call me Egon, if you prefer.” It's so hard to try and separate your little crush on him from your work if you call him by his first name, though. Nevertheless, you did want to respect his wishes.

“I know, but you’re so formal I feel like I should address you formally.” 

“Well, thank you.” 

“Of course—Egon.” You nodded your head once to show that you were making the correction. 

“So are you looking for anything in particular? Or just returning?” 

“Just returning these.” He gently set down the stack, which was admittedly impressive. If you’d tried to set them down, it would’ve been a lot–louder. 

“Alright.” You gave him a smile and started grabbing the books one by one to get them checked back in. He could’ve easily put them in the return bin upstairs, it was far less out of the way. But you figured it was the same attention to detail that got him to come pick up his own research materials. 

“So what’re you listening to?” 

“Oh—uh, it’s just my work playlist, I’m really not supposed to have headphones in down here, but it gets so quiet. You’re kind of the only one who comes down here.” 

“Well I promise I won’t tell.” 

“Thanks, Egon, I do appreciate it. If you don’t mind me asking why are you returning all of these anyway? It must be everything you have checked out.”

“Yes, myself along with Ray Stantz and Peter Venkman were fired earlier today. So I had to return the books.” 

“Oh my god I’m so sorry! That’s rough, isn’t that like, your whole department?”

“The university is no longer interested in pursuing the furthering of scientific development through the paranormal, I suppose. But Peter and Ray seem to be coming up with a plan for us to continue our research.” 

“Well it’s good that you guys have something, I’m going to miss you down here.”

“Well thank you, I think that this will be the part of this job I will miss the most.” 

“Ok, you’re all set.” He gave you a short nod, and you finally let yourself speak before overthinking. 

“Just one more thing Dr. Spengler.” It was too late to take it back now, your mind had caught up, but you’d already started. You were going to ask him out. 

“Um–I haven’t really said anything just because, I try not to do that for the people who are like, in my workspace, but I–like you. So if you would like to go out for coffee or something sometime, here’s my number.” You handed him a sticky note you scrawled your number on while you were talking. 

“Oh, well thank you. I will definitely do that.” He took the sticky note and left, a little piece of you felt deflated at his reaction, he looked a little confused and once he started to leave he quickly walked back over to the counter.

“You did mean as a date, right?” You couldn’t help but laugh, just a little bit. That was the one part you thought you’d been pretty clear about. 

“Yes, like a date.”

“Alright, good. I’ll call you tonight.” “Cool! I’ll talk to you then.” When he did leave, you were grateful that no one else was there. That way no one could see the little dance party you threw yourself for finally asking him out.

[presbierue]

I’m not necessarily into Kylux because of chemistry but because of its narrative opportunities. A severely underused trope/idea/thing that I’d like to see more of out of Kylux dynamics is what would happen if Leia captured Hux. Because goddamn that would be a hell of a Sophie’s choice for Leia. She can avenge a Galaxy worth of people who have suffered as she and her people have AND sever a strong emotional tie/control lever The FO has over Kylo. But her son will never forgive her, and it could push him further into the darkness. Or she keeps Hux alive and tries to get intel out of him but knows it is a matter of time before Kylo finds them and goes full nightmare and Hux might walk away in the end.

It could be a useful way to explore how Leia attempts to reconcile her family with her identity. Because Darth Vader did a number on Leia’s self perception in supplemental material (Bloodlines) and that would still probably be less impactful than Kylo/Kylo having a relationship with Hux. Leia wasn’t raised by Vader and most of what he did doesn’t say much about her. Even when it comes to Alderaan, Vader was apathetic, not an active force in its destruction; he didn’t care if the Death Star succeeded or failed. Leia’s still right to be disgusted by Vader but Kylux would push that a step further and could actually say something about her. Leia’s son caring for and actively supporting someone who would look at the Death Star and go ‘Again but worse’ might really shake her perception of self.

There’s also the model of playing 2 political agents against each other. Does Hux actually care about Kylo as much as Leia? Who would sacrifice their political cause to protect a loved one? Real mind game territory that could be exploited.

[wolfjackle-creates]

Bring Me Home Arc 2 Part 11

God this arc just keeps getting longer and longer. Luckily after this, I should be able to move ahead with the plot? I'm a few more minutes into the episode at least!

Anyway,

Story Summary: Tim and Danny are both neglected by parents who care more about their work than their families. They deal with this by spending too much time online and find each other playing MMORPGs. They keep up their friendship as Tim becomes Robin and Danny becomes Phantom and don't bother keeping secrets from each other.

First, Previous

Word Count: 1.4k

-----

Cassie sat next to him and bumped their shoulders. “We’ll figure this one out just like we have all the ones before.”

Conner sandwiched him on the other side. “Yep. And the Fentons don’t seem like the type to hide information. They’ll tell us everything we want to know.”

“You’re both right. We’ll fix this and be home before we know it.” Tim pulled out his phone. “I wonder if there’s any old news articles we can look up for more information. Danny told me about the first ghost attack. A ghost called Lunch Lady who used meat to attack people and was upset because Sam changed the school lunch menu.”

Bart blinked at him and sat on the coffee table facing him. “You’re making that up. You’ve gotta be.”

Tim laughed and shook his head. “Nope. We’ll have to see if he has a list of his rogues so far. They’ve all been so gimmicky. Kinda like Condiment Man in Gotham.”

At Tim’s direction, Bart and Cassie also began looking into various news articles and posts about the ghosts of Amity. Conner recorded their findings and Tim supplemented with information he’d gotten directly from Danny.

Research kept them busy for the next hour until the Fentons returned.

“Danny’s friends!” boomed Jack when he saw them.

“How are you four doing? Did you find the pantry? Enough things to eat?” asked Maddie.

“Yes, Ma’am,” said Conner. “Cassie and I also left to explore a bit and found a corner shop where we picked up a few things we knew Tim and Bart liked.”

“That’s great! Now, I see you’ve seen the news, and I don’t want you to be afraid. Jack and I are planning on training some of Danny’s classmates in ghost fighting, would you four like to join?”

Everyone looked to Tim who bit his lip in thought. “I— can we sit in on the first lesson? I’d like to see some more of your work. Danny’s told me a little bit about it, but seeing it in person is something else. But I also want to spend more time just with Danny since we haven’t met in person before.”

“Of course, honey!”

Tim had to force his smile to remain neutral at the pet name. His parents didn’t even call him ‘honey,’ let alone anyone else. “Thank you, Dr. Fenton.”

“Call me Maddie, dear.”

“And I’m Jack!”

“Yes, Dr.— er, Maddie, Jack. When will the others be here?”

Jack looked at…something on his wrist that must’ve had a clock feature and boomed, “Not for another three hours! School’s still in session, you know.”

Conner cleared his throat. “Will you need help setting up? Maybe you can tell us a bit about ghosts while we do. I’d never seen one before.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea! Thank you, sweetie!” said Maddie.

“Conner, my boy, the first thing you need to know about ghosts is that they’re evil and only want to hurt you. If you don’t remember anything else, always remember that,” added Jack.

Tim’s stomach sank at those words. Did Danny have to hear things like that every day? “How do you know they’re all evil?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“Well, Tim! It’s because ghosts aren’t people. They’re post human consciousness imprinted on ectoplasm. They’re an echo of what they used to be and that echo wants to become a person again. But it can’t because it’s dead. So it lashes out at anything living around it. Either to steal their life or make the living like it.”

Maddie nodded. “Exactly. A ghost killed my best friend when we were girls. If you’d like, I can send you some papers Jackie-poo and I wrote about how ghosts form so you can have more information.”

Tim forced a smile. “That’d be great, thank you.” Could the portal be destroyed in some way? Would that keep ghosts from coming through and allow Danny to come with him to Gotham?

“Now!” said Jack. “Who wants to help me carry up supplies from the lab?”

Once again, Tim asked for some safety gear before going into the lab and Maddie shoved a white jumpsuit at him with a sticker of Jack’s face on it.

“This is one of Danny’s, dear. But he doesn’t wear them very often. Here’s another for you, Bart. It might be a bit long, but try it on and we’ll see what we can do. Cassie, Conner, you two will be a bit harder, but I think I should be able to coble something together. Hang tight a sec!”

“I guess we’ll go get changed, then,” said Bart as Maddie and Jack disappeared back downstairs to see what they had.

Tim held out the top and poked at the decal of Jack. Going to the edge, he worked a finger under the image and let out a sigh of relief when it came up. “These are removable,” he commented as he pulled it off.

“Fantastic!” said Bart, ripping his own off. “Come on, Rob. Let’s get changed.”

Upstairs in the guest room, Tim allowed himself to comment, “At least it’s not orange.”

“Everyone will know who we’re staying with, though.”

“Better than stepping foot in that lab with no protection.”

They were just finishing up when Cassie and Conner walked in with matching scowls. In their arms were a mix of orange and blue fabrics.

Cassie glared at them. “Not. A. Word.”

Tim smirked and held up his hands. “Who, me?”

Bart mimed zipping his lips.

“We’re just about finished here, though, so we’ll go help the Fentons while you two get changed,” said Tim. He couldn’t help the way his lips quirked as he looked at the clashing jumpsuit pieces as they passed each other.

Conner made sure to trip them with TTK.

Tim just smiled at him as he pushed himself up and left without another word, Bart a step behind him. The door was barely shut before they were laughing so hard they couldn’t walk down the stairs without gripping the railing.

“Good to see you boys are having fun! How do the jumpsuits fit?” asked Jack when he saw them.

Bart held up his hands to show how he’d folded the ends of the sleeves. “Not bad. Just had to roll up the sleeves and pants a little.”

Tim nodded his agreement. “Little tight in places, little loose in others. But I can move well enough.”

“Good, good! Now, want a detailed tour of the lab as we collect weapons to train Dan-o’s classmates?”

Tim didn’t have to hold back his sharp grin at that question. “Absolutely. I want to know everything.”

And Jack and Maddie were willing to share quite a lot. Conner and Cassie joined them ten minutes later, wearing jumpsuits cobbled together from spares of Jack’s and Maddie’s. Now that they weren’t rushed by trying to get out and manage an active and hostile ghost invasion, the tour of the lab was much more thorough.

Jack and Maddie were also happy to answer any questions the four had. As it looked, there was no actual organization to the lab. And in the fridge, food was stored right next to samples. The fudge hissed when Jack took out a piece to eat and Tim shuddered.

“Want one? My snookums made it! Best fudge you’ll ever eat.”

“Aww, thank you dear!” Maddie hugged Jack at his compliment and kissed his cheek.

“I— No. Thank you,” said Tim.

“Why do you have a stockade?” asked Cassie.

Tim gave her a grateful look and she winked at him.

“That’s to hold down ghosts so we can question them,” said Maddie.

“Yup! Restrain them in there and then you can use toys like this one”—Jack brandished a cat-o-nine-tails—“to force ‘em to talk!”

“Or the Fenton Prod,” added Maddie holding out what looked like an electric cattle prod. She pressed a button and the end sparked green.

Tim swallowed hard and clenched his teeth. Did everything these people make have to look so painful?

The rest of the time in the lab passed in much the same way. The four traded off who had to ask a distracting question as they were all more and more horrified by the casual cruelty displayed by Danny’s parents.

Eventually, the doorbell rang and they were able to return upstairs with armfuls of weapons. Maddie opened the door and Dash Baxter and his cronies stood there with sadistic grins.

“Dash, what a pleasant surprise to see you again,” Tim said with his own teeth bared. “I don’t think we got off on the right foot last night. I’m Tim. Danny’s told me so much about you.”

For a moment, the boy’s face showed confusion before it was wiped away with a polite smile. “He’s told us about you, too. I’m sure we’ll become great friends.”

Well fuck. Looks like the ghosts weren’t all gone after all. Tim held a hand behind his back and signaled danger to his friends. They needed to get away from here.

-----

Next

We've got more with Jack and Maddie here! Hope you guys like how I write them. We already know this is going to turn into bad-parents Jack and Maddie based on what's going to happen in Arc 3. (Arc 3 will be the original prompt fill and it's fall out.)

Also, I think I'm going to change some things around in previous parts. I won't edit them on Tumblr, but before they go on AO3 they'll change. Tim is going to lie to Bruce a bit more than he has so far. He'll tell Bruce that Danny is Cassie's friend so he doesn't decide to look Danny up if he gets bored.

Next chapter will have Danny and co again!

I will no longer be managing a tag list for this fic, but please check out the Subscription Post if you want to be notified of updates. I'm also want to get the first chapter transferred over to AO3, but I'm going to transfer the first arc of Ghost!Robin first.

I reblogged an ask game earlier today if anyone's curious about me. Check it out and consider sending something in!

[fans4wga]

25 June: IATSE and studios reach tentative agreement

"With more than a month to go before IATSE‘s current contracts expires, the union and the studios have come to a tentative agreement on a new deal.

As fears of another Hot Labor Summer had Hollywood anxious, the successful negotiation news Tuesday evening comes a mere two days into the resumption of talks between the parties this week.

Touting wage gains, AI guardrails, and pension and health plans increases, IATSE leaders just sent out the news to its members of its 13 Locals in Hollywood. As you can see below, with increased penalties for extended workdays, safety concerns and crew well-being played a not insignificant role in the bargaining:

Dear Basic Agreement Sisters, Brothers, and Kin: The Basic Agreement Negotiating Committee has reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. Below are a few of the details about the proposed deal. A complete summary of the tentative agreement will be released in a few days, and in addition to local town hall meetings, a multi-local webinar will take place on Saturday, July 13th at noon PST to review the proposed language in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). To avoid undermining our fellow members in the Area Standards Agreement (ASA) Locals, who remain in negotiations with the AMPTP, we will wait to release full summaries of both tentative agreements simultaneously. Some of the proposed changes in the Basic tentative agreement include: scale rate increases of 7%, 4%, and 3.5% over the three-year term; hourly workers will receive triple time (3x hourly) wage when any workday exceeds 15 elapsed hours, all On Call classifications will now receive double time on the 7th day of the workweek, and additional increases in pay will take effect on non-dramatic productions under the Videotape Supplemental Agreement. The tentative deal includes new protections around Artificial Intelligence, including language that ensures no employee is required to provide AI prompts in any manner that would result in the displacement of any covered employee. These changes in the Basic Agreement are in addition to the tentative agreements reached in the Local Agreement negotiations. For the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans (MPIPHP), the tentative agreement includes additional payments from employers that would address the $670M funding gap, including new streaming residuals. Additionally, no participant shall incur a break in service for plan year 2023. We thank everyone who participated in the 2024 Basic Agreement negotiations process. From start to finish, your input was invaluable and ensured that our Negotiations Committee was at the bargaining table with clear goals and a consensus for how to achieve them. The ratification timeline will be forthcoming and we look forward to presenting to you the complete package. In Solidarity

The correspondence to members was signed by Tobey Bays of Local 44, Cathy Repola of Local 700, Greg Reeves of Local 728, Bob Denne of Local 729, Chuck Parker of Local 800, DeJon Ellis Jr of Local 80, Alex Tonisson of Local 600, Marcy Brooks of Local 884, Patric Abaravich of Local 871, Karen Westerfield of Local 706, Brigitta Romanov of Local 892, Adam Nestra-West of Local 705, and Scott Bernard of Local 685.

The announcement to members from the Locals leaders was followed within minutes by a joint statement from IATSE and the Carol Lombardini-led Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers:

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) announced a tentative agreement on all issues for the Hollywood Basic Agreement and Videotape Agreement negotiations. The tentative agreement is now pending ratification by the unions’ membership. Members and signatories will have the opportunity to review the agreement in the form of a Detailed Summary 2-3 days following this announcement, as well as a Memorandum of Agreement (M.O.A.) an estimated 2 weeks following this announcement. The parties now look forward to closing negotiations for the Area Standards Agreement.

To put tonight’s deal in context, the IATSE Basic Agreement covers the around 50,000 members of the mainly L.A.-based 13 West Coast Locals. The still to be completed Area Standards Agreement is for the 23 Locals across the nation and their 20,000 members.

Working on the schedule laid out by IATSE and the AMPTP tonight, and if the landing for a new Area Standards Agreement is smooth, August could usher in a rare lack of labor anxiety for a town and an industry still reeling from the pandemic, some bad business decisions, and last year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes."

[poojalate]

How Do Different Low-Calorie Sweeteners Impact Gut Health?

With the growing demand for healthier alternatives to sugar, low-calorie sweeteners have become a popular choice. While they help reduce calorie intake, their effects on gut health vary widely. In this blog, we’ll examine how different low-calorie sweeteners, including fos powder, influence the gut microbiome and overall digestive health.

What Are Low-Calorie Sweeteners? Low-calorie sweeteners are sugar substitutes that provide sweetness without the high caloric content of regular sugar. These include both natural options like fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and artificial ones like aspartame or sucralose.

Types of Low-Calorie Sweeteners

Natural Sweeteners

Examples: FOS powder, stevia, erythritol

Impact: Support gut health by acting as prebiotics (FOS), promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Artificial Sweeteners

Examples: Aspartame, sucralose, saccharin

Impact: Some studies suggest they may disrupt the gut microbiome by reducing microbial diversity.

How FOS Differs from Artificial Sweeteners Unlike artificial sweeteners, fos powder and other natural prebiotics nourish beneficial gut bacteria, contributing to a balanced microbiome. FOS has been shown to enhance the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are critical for gut and overall health.

Impact of Low-Calorie Sweeteners on Gut Health

FOS and Gut Microbiota

FOS acts as a food source for beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.

This supports a healthy gut microbiome, improves digestion, and enhances immunity.

Artificial Sweeteners and Gut Microbiota

Certain artificial sweeteners may negatively affect gut bacteria by creating imbalances or reducing microbial diversity.

Stevia and Erythritol

Generally considered gut-friendly, they have a neutral or slightly positive impact on gut health.

FOS Powder’s Unique Benefits

In addition to being a sweetener, FOS provides dietary fiber that promotes gut health and improves digestion.

Why FOS Is a Superior Choice

Prebiotic Properties

FOS nourishes beneficial gut bacteria, improving overall microbiome balance.

Reduced Risk of Gut Disruption

Unlike some artificial sweeteners, FOS is gentle on the gut and supports its natural functions.

Multi-Functional Benefits

Apart from sweetness, FOS enhances nutrient absorption and supports immune health.

Practical Tips for Incorporating FOS

As a Sugar Substitute

Use fos powder in coffee, tea, or smoothies for a gut-friendly sweetness.

In Recipes

Add FOS to baked goods or yogurt for an extra dose of prebiotics.

In Prebiotic Supplements

Products like  and Fructo-Oligosaccharides offer convenient ways to include FOS in your diet.

Recipe Idea: FOS-Sweetened Granola Bars Ingredients:

1 cup oats

2 tablespoons fos powder

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup dried fruit

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

Press into a baking pan and refrigerate until firm.

Cut into bars and enjoy a gut-friendly snack.

Conclusion The choice of low-calorie sweeteners can significantly impact gut health. While artificial sweeteners may pose risks to the gut microbiome, natural options like fos powder not only sweeten foods but also promote digestive wellness. Incorporate FOS into your diet through supplements like  or by using it as a sugar alternative in recipes. Prioritize gut-friendly choices for long-term health benefits.

[varlaisvea]

winterhold in the second era

i saw an old post about winterhold’s climate and food resources in the fourth era, and i wanted to say i’ve been writing a lot of 2nd Era (ESO) Winterhold, which is ~1500 years before the Great Collapse. so, i’ve been thinking a lot about how different the city would be in those times, and how much the Great Collapse changed the climate and geography of the area. here’s some ~headcanons about 2nd Era Winterhold

if you look at the land around Winterhold in the 4th Era, it appears that the Collapse also took out a whole bunch of the coastline east of (what’s left of) the city—much of which was probably the city itself. You can also tell that the college sat on a hill or rise—it’s significantly higher than everything else around it. The climate as it is in the 4th Era would not have been able to support a large College and bustling city. So, imo, Winterhold in the 2nd Era was protected from the worst winds off the Sea of Ghosts, situated on the sheltered side of a ridge or rolling hills. The College was on the western side, at the highest point in the city, on a hill.

obviously, though, it was still quite cold—the farmland that existed was in the eastern part of Winterhold hold, and was mostly used for hardy winter crops and short-season summer crops—pretty much just enough to feed a large city when heavily supplemented by fishing and whaling. the climate was mild enough that most residents could support some chickens or goats, a vegetable garden in the summer, and maybe grow some gourds and stuff in the fall.

The fact that the city produced just about enough food for everyone meant that most residents, including students at the college, would participate in harvests and processing catches from fisherfolk and whalers. No one wanted for food, but everyone felt they had a stake in its production—hard to take food for granted once you’ve experienced a long, dark winter in Winterhold.

The College was there first—its location was painstakingly selected based on multiple natural, mystical, and political factors. The city gradually grew around the College over the course of a few centuries.

One reason the College was built there: a natural warm spring at the top of that hill. In the 4th Era, one wonders why you’d ever build a massive, drafty stone structure at the edge of a bitterly cold sea, but it made a lot of sense when the college was built. The natural thermodynamics of the place warmed the stone walls and floors, and kept the College habitable—if still drafty— in the wintertime, and pleasantly cool in the summer months.

that’s also how they got enough water to the top of a hill to supply a whole college—there were actually bubbling springs accessible at several places on the campus, similar to the magicka wells that are still there in the 4th Era. the water springs, of course, were destroyed in the Great Collapse.

thanks to the warm spring and the strong magicka flow, the central courtyard of the college did not freeze in the winter, and could support an impressive alchemy garden, with plants from all over Tamriel.

in the 2nd Era, Winterhold College is just starting to come to prominence, having a reputation for being a place of openness and experimentation, in contrast to the Mages Guild or Shad Astula.

Nords tend to be wary of mages and magic, but over the years, the College has built itself as a part of the community—they have to, if they want a share of the harvest! About half of the student body is Nords, so the College shuts down at harvest time to allow those students to help bring in the crops. The non-native students also help with fishing and farming harvests, or other tasks like repairing equipment. All of the students are known to the residents once they’ve attended the school long enough.

By now, a good chunk of the city’s economy is centered around the College. For example, Winterhold supports several inns and bunkhouses, and has shops that import specialty food and supplies so that foreign mages can have a piece of home. For a city in the north ass of nowhere, residents are surprisingly worldly, regularly coming into contact with people from all over Tamriel (and even beyond) who come to the city for business at the College.

A small free clinic was built on the campus, so that the College’s world-class healers could be easily available to the people of Winterhold. The College also hosts seminars and classes on basic mystic topics for the residents of Winterhold. The College being so open to the community is not popular with everyone—some of the more old-school students and faculty wish for a time when mages got to stay in their mysterious wizard towers.

One of the big themes in my wip is a mage should never be sundered from the wages of their power. In the 2nd Era, the mages of Winterhold are in close contact with the wages of their power; in a magic college smack-dab in the middle of a bustling city, mages personally know the people who would be harmed if they use magic irresponsibly, or if an experiment goes wrong. In my story, mages who are sundered from the wages of their power are responsible for the Great Collapse.

[trishxtrix]

The Bench Across the Street

AO3

Part 1 | Previous | Part 16 | Next

Summary: What if Abby is hurting and forcing Frank to take benzos to “control” his ADHD?

What if few hours after the argument, Frank is brought to the ED on a brink of an overdose and some unexplainable injuries.

TW: Abuse, Overdose, Suicide Attempt

Tags: Dark!Abby | Frank whump | Frank-centric | Miscommunication | Abusive!Abby | abusive relationships | threats of violence | implied/reference child endangerment | is this considered AU? | spousal abuse | men can be victims of abuse too

———————————————————

Mia

As soon as we stepped into the hallway, Cynthia touched my arm. 

“I’ll speak with Frank first,” she informed me. “Then Abby. Cleanest approach.”

“You’ve seen what she can do. You know how she works.”

“I do,” Cynthia nodded, her voice low but firm. “I won’t underestimate her.”

“Push if you need to,” I said. “She’ll try to redirect, manipulate. She always does.”

“I won’t give her the space.”

I nodded, and Cynthia turned towards the family room. I watch her disappear through the double door.

~~~~~~~

Frank 

I sat alone in the family room. My leg bounced uncontrollably. The room felt smaller. Sterile. It smelt like bleach and recycled air. Every second dragged like it was stretching out to punish me.

 I kept replaying every moment from the past week, wondering when I should’ve noticed Tanner was sick. What I missed. What I let happen.

Cynthia entered. Shut the door behind her and sat across from me, flipping open a legal pad. No judgment in her eyes. Just the kind of steady presence that made the air feel less like it was trying to choke me.

“Frank,” she started, voice gentle. “I know this isn’t easy, but we need to get it all on record. I’ve read Tanner’s intake form. But I need to hear about what is happening to Tanner from you. Whatever you tell me stays within protocol, but I want you to speak freely.”

I nodded, my throat dry.

“Tell me about the past week,” she said. “What have you noticed with Tanner?”

I told her  everything I could think of. The sluggish mornings. The bruises I’d brush off as playground accidents. His aversion to food. The nausea. The nights he fell asleep mid-sentence. I told her about the mornings where I’d try to talk to him and get nothing but a weak nod.

“And the supplements?”

I hesitated. “Abby was always into vitamins and supplements. She said it helped with focus. I never questioned it—maybe I should’ve. I should’ve pushed harder. I didn’t know about any current medications. She never told me about Metaxalone.”

Cynthia jotted that down, her pen moving with deliberate clarity.

“Did you ever see Abby give him anything?”

“Not in the past two weeks, no.” My voice cracked. 

“Did you ever suspect something was wrong?”

“Not like this. I thought maybe school was stressing him. Maybe he was tired. But I didn’t know. I didn’t know about vitamins or Metaxalone.”

“She didn’t tell you anything about Tanner needing supplements or prescriptions?”

“No. She handled all of that herself. She made me feel like I wasn’t involved enough, like questioning it would just make things worse. But I never would have agreed to—” My voice cracked. “I didn’t think she’d—”

“It’s not on you to have imagined the worst, Frank.”

“But I should have. She’d done it to me. I should have seen it.”

“And if you had?”

“I would’ve stopped it.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “I swear to god. I would’ve stopped it.”

Cynthia let the silence hang there, heavy and honest.

“What’s your biggest fear right now?” she ask

“That I failed him,” I answered honestly. “That it’s too late.”

She nodded slowly. “Thank you for being honest.”

“I thought I could keep them safe. Even from her. And I am wrong.” I confessed, barely above a whisper.

“You aren’t wrong,” Cynthia said. “You did what you could, but let’s be honest: did you ever feel like you could stop her?”

“No,” I whispered. “She would’ve twisted it. Told the kids I was trying to hurt them. She’d done it before.”

Cynthia looked at me for a long moment. “This isn’t your fault. We’re going to get you and Tanner the help you guys need.”

“I’ve wanted out,” I admitted, my voice breaking again, “But she’s got this way of making everyone believe it’s me. That I’m unstable. That I’m the dangerous one. Even when I filed the report, part of me still thinks that no one would believe it.”

“I do,” Cynthia said simply.

I looked at her, face full of everything I don’t deserve—grief, guilt, hope.

“What happens now?”

“I file the report. Update Reeva and Morales. I will also push for an emergency custody evaluation. The tox report, even if it’s just a preliminary, helps. So does your statement. So does the documentation you and Mia have been collecting.”

“She’ll fight it.”

“She’ll lose,” Cynthia said confidently.

By the time the interview was over, I felt like I had been scraped and flayed open from the inside.

~~~~~~~

Abby 

Control. 

It’s always about control.

I sat up straight in the plastic chair, legs crossed elegantly. The picture of maternal concern. I kept my hands folded in my lap and my chin slightly lifted. I knew how this worked. 

So I sat with perfect posture, hands folded neatly as I waited for the social worker.

She entered with a professional nod. “Thank you for your patience Mrs. Langdon. My name is Cynthia Dea and I am the ER social worker. This is not an interrogation. We’d just like to get a better understanding of the situation.”

“Of course,” I replied with a gentle nod. “I just want what’s best for Tanner.”

She sat down. “I’d like to ask you a few questions about Tanner’s recent health.”

I smiled softly. “He’s been a little off. Some fatigue, some trouble focusing. I thought maybe a growth spurt, or stress.”

“Any supplements or medications?”

“Just B6,” I said. “A natural supplement. It helps with attention. Perfectly safe.”

“And the metaxalone?”

I blinked, slow and precise. “I don’t know where that came from. We don’t keep medications like that in the house.”

I watch her face. Looking for doubt. I saw it. Bareilly a flicker.

“I have to ask,” Cynthia started. “Is it possible someone else administered it?”

“I suppose…Frank’s been distracted lately. Distant. He’s exhausted. Maybe he mixed something up?”

Let it land. Let it stew.

I didn’t lie. I redirected.

Cynthia didn’t react. Just wrote.

“I’ve been trying to keep everything together,” I continued. “Tanner’s been more sensitive lately, and Frank—he’s been emotional. You know about the incident last week, right?”

“You mean the psychiatric hold?” she asked.

“I didn’t want to bring it up. But yes.” I sighed. “I love Frank. I do. But he hasn’t been stable. I’ve been doing everything I can.”

There. Let her chew on that.

I let silence settle, then leaned in just slightly.

“I’m afraid,” I whispered. “Afraid he’s not equipped to parent right now.”

Not a lie.

Not the truth.

Just enough shadow to obscure the shape of the real monster.

I imagined the words taking root. Doubt needs so little solid.

She thinks she’s gathering facts. But every word I offer her is a weapon I’ve already sharpened.

I’d been careful. The smoothies were unmarked. The B6 was over-the-counter. The metaxalone? That had taken effort, but it wasn’t traceable to me. Not directly. Frank’s a mess. I just needed him to look like what I already said he was.

I’d watched him unravel for months. All I had to do was give it a nudge.

And now? He was sitting in a room somewhere blaming himself. Mia would back him, of course. But they’d look too close. Too united. Cynthia would start to wonder who was manipulating who.

Let them.

I stood gracefully when the interview ended.

Let them doubt him.

Let them chase ghosts.

I’ll always be three steps ahead.

[sp-by-april]

how do you get people to read your fics with OC characters?

I'm not sure I have cracked the code yet. Here's what I got so far:

Enthusiasm. This is pretty obvous, but probably the most important thing! If you aren't excited by your OCs other people won't be either. Stay goal oriented. What do you like about your OCs? Why do you want other people to connect with your characters? What do you hope to accomplish by putting this character out in the world?

2. Make them actual 3 dimensional characters! Give them depth. Know things about them that won't even make it to the page. If you're using an OC with an existing property, try to make sure there isn't a tonal clash with the source material or the story you're telling. One trick I was taught - Cast your characters. If you can't see an action or line of dialogue coming from the actor you picked while editing, it's probably OOC.

3. Keep most of the focus on canon characters. At least in the beginning. In You Could Be My Muse the focus is on the bet between Kenny and Kyle, not April. Once I had people on board, we get more into the Smut Club (or how Kyle sees them), April's best friend Leigh via Kenny etc. In Warm Blood I introduced the guys first. When Kenny is dead and when the focus shifts to Martine I tried to balance it out with a flashback about Martine and Kenny. The audiecne knows Kenny's not really dead, but she doesn't. It was a way to balance out the narrative and get a little more information aout what their friendship was like before the story kicked off. For another example of this, let's look at some script reports for Charli's spec script. Charli has 10 scenes where she's a speaking character and Kyle has 23. The A-Plot isn't about Charli, it's about Kyle's reaction to her.

4. Supplemental information. This can be artwork, voice mockups, character profiles, Q&As etc. Anything to help your audience get to know them better.

5. Promotion!! Okay, I am one of those people that feels lame promoting my stuff at every opportunity. I try not to go overboard, just do links and stuff when it comes up... Unless it's something like this with examples or someone is specifically asking about my OCS. Ufortunately fo my comfort, it's a very effective way to expose your work to new audiences.

[vague-humanoid]

On April 23, 2023 the Fort Worth Police attacked me and beat me for standing on a corner and preventing Nazis from filming people entering a drag show. Hours after my arrest the police in partnership with the elected district attorney spuriously developed a claim that I assaulted them, a claim they did not mention across 24 reports and supplemental reports. The chief integrity officer of the county took a case that spanned 2.5 seconds of my life, to invent the largest of conspiracies: that I am a terrorist, the leader of a criminal street gang, that I paid people to engage in unlicensed security, that cleaning water off my umbrella was a “secret antifa signal,” you name it. She tried to cloud 2.5 seconds with two years of lies and the jury saw through it from the start. I don’t want to mince words here. We watched for days as cops took the stand to lie, consistently contradicting each other and more wildly often misrepresenting and lying about the very things we were all watching together on screen. We watched as the accusations that Christian-fascists have long levied against me were methodically broken down to the lies they were. Here is an archive of daily trial updates for all four days. Please read, it is impossible to communicate the absurdity to anyone that wasn’t there. After four full days of enormous tension Tarrant County sealed their fate when they marched a wall of cops into the courtroom to stare down the jury while they read my charge. After less than 45 minutes, I heard those beautiful words: Not Guilty.  I am eternally grateful to my legal team who saw this blatant political persecution for what it was from the start and their ferocious commitment to justice while helping me feel like a person who mattered throughout. I will never forget their righteous anger and commitment to the truth. I am so grateful to my wife and family both blood and chosen, whose unending well of hope and strength pulled me through the darkest days. I am so grateful to the journalist who spent every moment of those long four days in the courtroom alongside my family so my story could be told. And I am so grateful to the Quakers for standing at my side from beginning to end and keeping me level and centered. I never wanted this to be about me, never wanted the attention or the soapbox, but I’m grateful for all that listened and pleased more than I can articulate to have the next twenty years of my life back. The real danger has passed, but the lawsuit against me by New Columbia Movement financed by their billionaire donor is still very real and in that suit I am defending myself. I will be back in civil court on August 13th to defend myself once again and as before, the truth will set me free. I am beset with an overwhelming amount of expenses to recover from two extra days of trial, investigative prep, and expenses related to fighting the civil suit. If you’re able to help, please send a few bones my way.