#how can i lose weight without exercising

[undead-moth]

It’s amazing how fatphobes will swear up and down that they exercise for their “health” and that fat people need to exercise for their “health” too but the second someone says they exercise even though they aren’t trying to lose weight or a doctor says “exercise doesn’t cause weight loss but it’s good for your health” fatphobes are immediately like “UM why even do it then?” Like they expose themselves every time it’s amazing. They’ll keep insisting it’s about health though lmao.

Me: Exercise does not cause weight loss. This is a fact that has been demonstrated so robustly in research that even doctors, who hate and fear evidence, are grudgingly starting to admit this.

Someone reading that post: Cool, but have you considered that exercise leads to weight loss?

Me: I am going to eat you

[444lotus]

how i manifested (+revised) my dream body ౨ৎ

This is my first post on my new account, though I am NOT new to the law and NOT new to loablr either. This post is specifically about how I manifested my dream body instantly with no technique besides knowing :)

PART ONE - the old story

In the old story, I was so fixated on my body and my weight all of the time, I was tracking my calories and weighing myself and my food obsessively and constantly gaining and losing weight. Back then, my beliefs were that 1) Excess food causes weight gain, 2) If I don't track my food and weigh myself, I will become too fat/skinny, and 3) There is something wrong with my body, and I need to diet/exercise to fix it.

Noticing these beliefs were key to changing the way I viewed food and my body, and therefore changing how I knew food to effect me and how I knew my body to be.

When I was overweight, I knew my body was too big, I knew I was eating too much, I knew excess calories made me gain weight. When I was underweight, I knew I had no appetite, I knew I was too bony, I knew that exercise makes you gain muscle which is why I had none, etc. I had to identify the limiting beliefs that made me know my body was a certain way.

PART TWO - writing the new story

Once I identified the beliefs that were holding me back and kept me from my goals ("I know I eat too much, even if I affirm I'm skinny, I'm still going to gain weight."), I could then change them. I wrote down a list of these beliefs, like I did above, and came up with reversals. For example;

"I overeat, so I will gain weight" -> "Calories aren't even real, so I can eat whatever I want and stay the same weight."

"I eat junk food, so I'll never be skinny" -> "I love how fast my metabolism is, I can eat junk all day and still stay so skinny." or "Junk food is just like other foods. Raspberries can't make me fat so neither can hamburgers."

"I don't exercise enough to be toned" -> "It's crazy how I'm naturally so toned and fit without trying."

The key for me was changing key beliefs that kept me dieting and exercising to lose weight, to sever the tie between calories consumed and weight, and hours exercising and muscles. These are limiting beliefs. We literally create our reality. Not ice cream, not soda and chips, none of that can overcome YOU as a divine creator. It sounds silly when you spell it out like that, doesn't it?

PART THREE - how i did it

Okay, now we understand that the secret is to change the rules of our own reality to allow us to know a higher truth (my higher truth? I am a skinny legend). So how do we put this into practice?

All you have to do is know. You set these rules, so you know they are true, reality is bound to them. You must know you are successful, know that reality is in the 4d, and feel truly satisfied in that realm. You can do this using whatever method you need to, but personally, I just knew deep within me that I was my ideal weight, and that nothing could change that, that is simply the reality, that is simply the way things are. I thought about old pictures I took of myself, and remembered how skinny I looked in them, I thought about the last time I saw my friends and how much littler they said I'd gotten, I thought about the last time I stood on the scale and how it read the exact weight I knew myself to be. And I just knew, deep within me, that was simply how things were.

And the last step, for me, was to feel truly joyful at this realization. To feel satisfied it came into fruition. Without seeking confirmation, because I already KNEW.

And what do you know? Pictures of myself in my phone from weeks ago, they were my ideal body. The girl I saw in the mirror when I stood up from my meditation? She had my ideal body. My clothes? XS and S, all of them. I had revised my ideal body all the way back to the day I bought them. And confirmed this by checking pictures I took in the dressing room.

I'm telling you right now it is possible if you know in your heart you've always had your desire. It's always been fulfilled within you. You make the rules because you are a divine creator. Nothing outside of you can change what you know to be true.

That's all for now ౨ৎ

[saintshadow]

How can you sustainably & realistically glow up?

Hello lovelies! I wanted to focus today’s reading on self care & nurturing, over here we are ALL about wholeness, healing, & authenticity. So I wanted to give channeled messages to all of you regarding this particular niche. This advice is meant to be flexible and manageable, growth happens and increments and I want you all to be patient with your growth.

pile i

You guys are observers, you may enjoy connecting and love people but just can’t seem to fit in. The problem is that you are focusing too much on trying to mirror and match. Your authenticity is calling, and it’s trying to claw its way out. Some of you may struggle with feeling like you’re in survival mode or have bad relationship trauma. This can be romantic, platonic, familial, etc! It’s giving TRUST ISSUES, y’all have beautiful minds and fiercely loving hearts. Your honesty will set you free, your authenticity will cleanse the pain away. Set boundaries and stand on them, you don’t need them- THEY NEED YOU. You can’t be a pushover forever, stand on your own two feet who cares about rejection. You will find people that accept you for who you are, people who are loving and compassionate who hold space for the contents of your mind & heart without turning it against you.

For some, it may be time to consider therapy and or medication. Health, quality of life- go outside more, exercise (you don’t have to make this stuff a chore, stagnance can be difficult to remove. Why don’t you start by opening the windows, sweeping and saying “by broom and air and with delight I remove this stagnance and make room for life” set your intentions, and what energies you want entering your space)

Make cleaning easier for yourself, find better organizational habits, you DONT need to be spic and span- but just have better general organization and be less harsh on yourself. Maintain your routines to the absolute best of your ability and don’t be afraid of messing up or losing track. It isn’t about being perfect it’s about quality of life

Recommendations: Journaling, music, spending time outside (even if ur on ur phone, it’s better than nothing), stretching and light exercise (u don’t have to lose weight, it’s not about societal standards it’s about loving who YOU are, taking care of your mind, body, heart, and soul)

Signs: seashells, Aphrodite, classical romantic art, drama tv shows & telenovelas, Dolores from encanto, stomach pains from anxiety, trouble sleeping, fear of loss & fear of connection, chronic illness (mental or physical)

Zodiac: Lilith in Capricorn, Sagittarius, and Scorpio, Gemini sun/moon/rising, Capricorn stellium, Uranus 6h, chiron 6h Chiron in Libra chiron in Scorpio Chiron in Sagittarius.

pile ii

In a loving way I’m about to beat ur ass fr omg

You need to be creating, stop avoiding your creativity it’s WHO YOU ARE. When you create unrealistic expectations of your creativity & try to cage yourself in you start to feel drained and tired. You can beat your exhaustion by just being you. There’s a message about teeth, taking care of your teeth, water flossing, going to a dentist, make an appointment asap! They’re still salvageable if you take action and put forth effort. For some a big chop could be in order, or at least a trim & some shaping. You are meant to be putting yourself out there, people actually REALLY admire your beauty and your harsh overly critical nature often blocks you from being satisfied with what you create and what you do. Give yourself the chance to just be. Stop creating stipulations for everything you make, if it flops who fucking cares. You guys don’t trust in your own ideas, and it’s because you block out a LOT. It feels like you struggle to connect with others and the world around you.

You can level up by caring less and investing more into your creative endeavors. You might get so restless and moody because you aren’t actually living in alignment with this part of yourself. You have an incredibly active mind that you’re not stimulating properly, when you’re gifted with such a mind it should be sharpened and exercised! Honed to your liking, the power is in you to make that choice.

Stand in your ideas, and get up and do something with them before they are given to others who will actually do the damn thing.

Recommendations: connect with nature, jot down your ideas, don’t shy away from self expression, dress how you really wanna dress, be bold, be brave, be unapologetically you.

Signs: blackbirds, crows, ravens, Lana del Rey, charmed, whimsy gothic/celestial aesthetic.

Zodiac: Aquarius, Leo, Capricorn, Aries midheaven/cancer rising, Saturn in Taurus ?, Uranus in Scorpio, mars sextile Venus

pile iii

It’s time to stop focusing on image and start focusing on tact, you may have to put your ego on the back burner for a bit but that’s okay. We all have to do it one time or another, you’re being called to re-examine your approach to life and the skills you’ve developed. Have more balance, and think more thoroughly and skillfully. Idk I feel like this pile is genuinely very impulsive and at times an active participant in incredibly foolish behavior. You spend a lot of time justifying your egotistical responses and knee jerk reactions- you can glow up by being more open minded to change. Changing your outlook, changing your approach, etc- perhaps sometimes you treat yourself like a one trick pony. Some of you could have also experienced bullying or othering in school. Feeling like the odd one out, you can glow up by confronting this wound and releasing it. The fixation on the wound is unhealthy & seemingly subconscious. You can also glow up by not reacting so strongly to everything- learn to not crash the fuck out every time you feel triggered. Or learn not to quietly implode every time you feel triggered, aim for flexibility and call in clarity in these moments it WILL be brought to you.

Hmmm pile 3, I’m not sure what’s going on for you my loves- but I see that in order to help further glow up that you would benefit from more privacy and alone time? Perhaps you have a validation seeking issue? I’m not saying all of you aren’t working on this btw! I’m sure some of you are, but I see where spending the foreseeable future in a state of solitude would be super duper beneficial for you. You need to rest and recuperate from something. Perhaps you feel burnt out trying to upkeep an image or upkeep a persona and you’re unable to keep up anymore. I feel like you guys need clarity, and unfortunately you’re only going to find that within right now. Perhaps some of you could even have some kind of obsessive thinking patterns- addiction to tarot or divination- you’re being told to relax. Lean into the healing, allow it to overtake you. You will come out of the other side, but when the darkness beckons. It is not always an invitation but an inevitable occurrence.

Signs: swans, lace & ribbons, ripped fishnets, beat up converse, a densely wooded area, tj maxx (lol??), Ayurveda, denim, cadavers.

Recommendations: thinking before you speak/act, being slow & methodical- not allowing people to push you over the edge but also knowing when to back down and reflect. Surrendering to the change so you don’t get dragged by the hair 😭

Zodiac: Sagittarius rising, cancer moon, black moon Lilith in Aquarius, north node in Libra, Aries moon and mercury, Saturn in the 12th house.

[transformers-spike]

Since you were so graceful to deliver us that magnificent Optimus (and autobots) x Human in their heat cycle, another question arises. What are the autobots' thoughts on eating pussy? What about their styles?? Please and thank u

Good god, I’m going to assume this is general TFP pussy eating and nothing to do with the heatverse. For now I’ll stick to the main cast and add Wheeljack/Ultra Magnus/Smokescreen when I get a better feel for how I want to write them. (also fuck making gifs, thank you for existing, Tenor)

Back when he went by Orion Pax, he was as chaste as a lily. Not from lack of fuckability, oh no. His small frame at the time made him especially cute to onlookers, but it was nigh impossible to hang around him when he was too busy working as a clerk or researching Cybertron’s history in his downtime. There's certainly a possibility he ate at least (1) valve back on Cybertron. Whose? Who fucking knows. My bet would be on Megatronus, but he wouldn’t have horribly fumbled the bag if that was the case. Maybe cunnilingus could have saved their planet… Having, to an extent, merged his consciousness with the thirteen primes, he has gained their wisdom and become something akin to a demi-God by Cybertronian standards. Except with none of the praise, and the weight of the world on his shoulders. Anyway, let’s cease philosophizing about his nature as a Prime, what we’re looking for is how good he is at eating pussy with that extra knowledge. Answer: it depends on the receiver. Considering the size difference, he makes it work without catching your clit between his glossa’s mesh plating. He prefers supporting you in his massive servos, carefully wrapping his digits around your frame in case you start squirming too much and fall off. He applies slow languid licks between pauses, waiting to gauge your reaction in case he’s hurting you. It’s sweet of him, but please Optimus, you need to make your partner cum else they’ll die.

Ratchet has been alive for Primus knows how many slutty millenia. Of course he can eat valves. And if he can eat valves, he can eat human pussy just fine. The hard part is dragging him away from his workstation. Don’t get him wrong, he would love to bury his face between your legs, but he’s got things to do, nevermind a whole ass team to keep alive on top of manning the ground bridge and fixing whatever alien technical bullshittery Raf can’t help with (seeing as the little guy only takes care of the human technical bullshittery). He’s perpetually exhausted, and if Cybertronians had an equivalent to coffee, you’re sure he’d be downing it like a single father after losing everything in the divorce except the kids. So when he gets the chance to eat pussy, he takes his damn time with it, pressing his face against your groin for so long you think he’s fallen into recharge. When he gets to work, he’s savoring every inch of you, making a point to complain there isn’t enough energon to mass displace and taste you completely. The size difference is especially annoying to him, but he makes due nonetheless by slipping the tip of his glossa between your folds, pushing it as far as it can go without hurting you. His engine growls from desperate hunger as he grinds his spike against the ground, grunting and scoffing against your pussy as he has to contend with the smallest sample he’s ever received. Ratchet is going to kill Megatron.

Bulkhead is a complicated case. Yes, he’s tried valves. Any wrecker worth their weight in energon has eaten valves like no tomorrow. But the point is, when you look at his jaw, things get a bit complicated. An overbite in humans is mildly bothersome for a giver, but it gets even worse when you look at Cybertronian anatomy and realize that oh, he’s going to do some major jaw exercises to stick his glossa out properly and eat you out. Thank fuck you’re so small in this case, you have no idea much easier this makes his job. To be fair, his main worry is hurting you. Optimus is careful, yes, but Bulkhead has known destruction for the vast majority of his life, not only as a career, but as a way of life. So when he finds you naked in his servos, smiling up at him, his spike retracts into his panel from anxiety alone. If he so much as bruises you, he will shrivel up and offline. He can handle humans just fine, but during interface? He already has to take a breather before he tries anything in the Cybertronian equivalent of a panic attack. His cooling fans are screeching, and if he could sweat, he’d be causing a major flood in Nevada and all its neighboring states. In conclusion, yes, he can eat out. Not perfectly, but he puts in some valiant effort that’s sure to pay off sooner or later.

At first glance, you may exclaim “Wowzers! Bumblebee doesn’t have a mouth! How can he eat pussy without glossa or lips?” – well guess what! Take a vibrator and stick it between your legs. That’s Bumblebee right there. They should add him as a synonym for it in the dictionary. He may not be able to lick up your juices, but he can buzz incessantly against your groin at a near illegal setting until you come undone. He is so proud of himself. And for his own sake, let’s hope he never got to experience valves before he lost his oral equipment. He tries to be comforting, beeping words of encouragement that you absolutely do not understand but get the gist off anyways. Chances are, he’s either helping you balance on top of his face to get the full hitachi magic wand duct taped to the floor experience, or you’re both lying down while you’re cupped in his servos as he buzzes excitedly between your legs; equal parts cute and overwhelming. You feel bad for using him like this, but he beeps reassuringly and urges you to lie back in his servos and enjoy the ride. He’s such a hitachi toy it’s not even funny anymore. You start giving him setting levels which he eagerly follows like the boyscout he is, keeping the same vibration pace even as you start humping his face plate. You pray to Primus Raf isn’t looking for his guardian, else he’s going to overhear things you would rather die than explain.

Arcee is… way too good at eating out. On Cybertron, she could eat a valve like her life depended on it, sucking on the anterior node and wiggling her glossa inside of it well after her partners would overload, begging her to stop from overstimulation alone. Nowadays, she still has it. With her two-wheeler frame type, she can easily access a human pussy without any trouble, treating it like the cutest minicon valve she’s ever seen. She’s all rapid licks and wandering digits, stuffing you to the brim when she’s busy torturing your clit between her lips, then circling around it as she pushes her tongue between your folds. Arcee’s a fucking menace. She leaves you a crying hyperventilating mess as you plead with her to let you breathe. Yes, she’ll take your words into account and stop at some point. Key word: some. You get a break whenever she fancies. This, or you go into cardiac arrest and she has to deal with your metaphorical blood on her juice-soaked servos, all from eating pussy too good. No one should have that sort of power. But Arcee does, because she’s an unstoppable force. Prepare yourself from some light pillow talk after she takes mercy on you, stroking your cheek and leaning in for a kiss. You can taste yourself on her intake, and she wants you to contemplate the flavor as she wraps her arms around your squishy body in a protective hug, the blue glow of her optics dancing over your skin.

[222strawberries]

WHAT A WEIGHT PLATEAU REALLY IS

a weight plateau happens due to metabolic adaptation; where you have been in a calorie deficit or doing extreme diets for months without breaks and your weight isn't going anywhere. this is your body's way of protecting you or conserving energy.

a weight plateau is not rare and can happen at any time, especially once your body adapts to a certain intake. but, if you are truly in a calorie deficit, you will lose fat even if the scale shows that you're maintaining your weight.

metabolic adaptation is only a temporary response, if you follow the things down below, you'll most likely see a change and your metabolism will start to improve (with time) !!!

some things you should check if you suspect you might've hit a plateau:

✿ your water intake ❀ some people confuse a weight plateau with water retention. it is EXTREMELY important to note that water retention CAN cause the scale to maintain and can cause you to look "bulky" or "fat". make sure you're staying hydrated and drinking at least 2-4 bottles of water daily !!! i promise there will be a major difference.

✿ start tracking your calories for a few days (if you haven't been doing that already) ❀ this one is obvious. but sometimes we're prone to underestimating our meals or forgetting things we've eaten throughout the day. sometimes it's just out of plain embarrassment, where we're too ashamed to write it down. but it is super important to document everything you've eaten, especially if it's to see if you're truly in a plateau or if it's just miscalculations. if you're not into calorie counting, then portion control can be a good alternative.

✿ start exercising ❀ it doesn't have to be anything extreme, just moving your body might help. it doesn't matter if you get 4k steps or do a 10 minute video, all movement is good movement and might help break your plateau.

✿ while on the topic of exercise, make sure the exercises that you're doing aren't causing muscle gain. ❀ i have pcos and it doesn't help that due to my genetics, i tend to build muscle extremely easily as well. when i do exercises like cycling or leg pilates or any exercise in general that engages one point of muscles too much, they start to appear bulky after a few days and the scale ends up maintaining or going up. i've learned that just walking at a moderate pace is what works best for me and ever since i stopped cycling, the scale started dropping and i've gotten skinnier. with that being said, find out if your exercises are the reason for the scale maintaining, pay close attention to measurements and/or before and after photos, and check for symptoms of pcos if you suspect you have it!

✿ if none of these are the culprit, then it's definitely time for a metabolism/refeed day (or week... or month) ❀ eat somewhere close to your maintenance (TDEE) for a few days and then after some time you can start restricting again… that way your weight on the scale will start dropping.

❀ if you want to avoid these plateaus in the future, it's important to implement at least 1 or 2 metabolism days a week AND follow everything that i mentioned before !!

❀ it should be noted that you do not have to have metabolism days, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. it honestly just depends on the person. like for me, i've stayed around the same calorie intake since december 2024. i was steadily losing weight until one day the scale kept maintaining in february 2025 despite doing my workouts and being in my deficit. it was only until i started upping my water intake is when the scale started dropping again. i barely had to do any refeed days. however, this isn't guaranteed to work for another person. it all just depends on how your body reacts so do whatever works best for your body ♡

[gaywineauntsstuff]

I find it funny where in both comics and fanfiction

No one gets right how much Dick Grayson should be eating?

(Warning to everyone from here on bc I get into calories and plz don’t read on if you have issues around weight/ food thank you!)

“Oh Dick lives on cereal”

“Oh Dick eats like a bird”

“Oh he forgets to eat”

“Oh he’s prone to restrictive eating”

GUYS HES a heavily athletic young male who spent his LIFE in sport is around 6’0 and is vaguely dorito shaped

Like his basal metabolic rate even without exercise is HORRIFICALLY HIGH like at the conservative estimate it would be around 3.6k (since hes already accustomed to a heavily active life he’d burn more even laying down than say a sedentary person)

And EVEN if you didn’t count running around the city all night/ his day life/ the fact he’s usually on his feat even as a civilian.

If you just took in the calisthenics required to THROW yourself off of a roof

Baby that’s 700calories an hour

So again LOW END 2.4K + 3.6k = brother is packing away 6k calories

Without all the running, working out, training, gymnastics

And hes running/jumping across a city so i would also put in the average 2.6k calories the average person burns running a marathon?

Are you seeing what I’m putting down?

Bro is EATING like a bodybuilding

And PACKING on carbs on carbs on carbs for energy

Like at the LOW end Dickie boy is eating 7k calories for maintenance.

Which is also why I am a huge fan of the cereal thing in moderation. Bc yeah guess what a quick release cheap carb that can be consumed quickly makes sense

But I also believe Dick is eating fuck you amounts of high calorie low volume foods like 1000 calorie smoothie 2-3 times a day

Like Dicks grocery bill must be OFFENSIVE

Like bro must be putting sticks off butter in his coffee instead of milk bc idek how he wouldn’t be struggling

Like he’s losing 3-6% of his body weight in movement alone

AND LETS NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT THE LIKE 6 LITERS OF WATER

[beautifulmadnesss]

"I Can't Drown My Demons They Know How to Swim" xRiorson!Reader

Summary: After surviving Resson, Xaden's sister is now faced with RSC and Varrish has a personal grudge.

Part 1 if you're interested, but not required reading.

I gasped in surprise as I was dragged backwards and a hood was shoved over my head.

Breathe. I told myself, trying to force the panic down despite knowing I was being led across the school grounds and into the dungeons where I would be tortured. After Resson, there was no way this would be a normal RSC. The goal was to break me and Aetos would make sure they did everything in their power to do exactly that.

By the time I was sitting in a room with my squamates and we were each bound to a chair facing each other the panic was constricting my breathing. The lack of power and the silence in my head only brought that panic front and center. We were completely and entirely alone.

"I think you've all been kept waiting long enough. Let's begin, shall we?" I barely had a second to consider why Varrish was the one leading our RSC exercise before his fist hit me so hard I was momentarily blind. The anger erupting from my squadmates sounded like it was coming from under water. My breath caught as he followed it up with a kick to my sternum. Momentum propelled me backward and my entire body weight fell first on my bound wrists and then my head. Everything was blurry, but he didn't give me a single second to recover before he pulled me back upright. His pace was relentless as he delivered countless blows. Every inch of my body was screaming in pain. Eventually, my eyelids felt heavy and I could barely keep them open. "Oh, no. Keep your eyes open. If you pass out, I will start on your squadmates and I will make them suffer." I sucked in a painful, shallow breath and forced my eyes open. He smiled and I snapped, slamming my head forward with every ounce of force I could muster. Pain shot down my spine as my head fell forward against my chest without so much as brushing him. His laughter was humiliating and simultaneously fueled my anger. "How pathetic. Just like your father. All the fury and yet none of the power."

His hands threaded through my hair, slowly scratching his fingers against the scalp and I braced myself for the pain. Suddenly his grip tightened and he pulled hard. My head was forced back so I was staring directly into his eyes. I hoped my dark eyes mirrored the hatred in his. I'm not scared of him. This is just for a few days, I could survive. Every muscle in my body was taut with tension as I waited in anticipation for what he would do next. A gleam of sliver caught my eye and I looked to the dagger clutched in his hand. It was small, but sharp. Small green emeralds decorated the hilt just barely visible across the top of his hand which I knew was covering the small star engraved in the hilt.

"I was stationed at Samara, so I was unable to attend the executions. Tell me, did he scream? What did his burning flesh smell like?" The metal was cold against my collarbone. I didn't dare breathe with the pressure of the blade. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to imagine I was anywhere else. "Did he tell you this blade would protect you, that it would keep you safe?"

The memory of the last time I saw my father swam through the haze of my mind.

"I can help!" Xaden argued on his own behalf.

"I can help, too." I added.

"No, you can't. You can help by going with your aunt." Our dad's tone did not leave much room for argument, but that didn't stop either of us from pushing.

"You just gave us daggers to kill venin. What's the point if we never get to use them?" He ran his hand over his face in frustration. I saw the deep plum bags resting there. Sleep wasn't something he had time for anymore, not when so many people needed him and we were losing the battle.

"Those daggers are the last line of defense. If you have to use them, it means I have failed. So, no, you will not be staying. Neither one of you are ready for war." He turned to Xaden. "You will take your sister with you and you will meet Bodhi and Garrick at your aunts house. That is where you will stay until it is safe. That's an order."

"No, sir. She can go, but I'm not leaving." Xaden wasn't quite as tall as he was, not yet at least, but he was trying to stand to his full height.

"You don't really want to send us away to keep us safe. You're just tired of the inconvenience of being a father. I suppose we should be grateful that you're giving us the decency of a goodbye. It doesn't matter though, you're still abandoning us, just like her." My words had an immediate impact as he visibly flinched. As always, he paused, trying to formulate the right words.

"It's not fair and if you don't let us stay, we will never forgive you." Xaden stood by my side, a united front against our father as we tried to break him down. I held the dagger tightly in my hand, feeling the bite of the tiny emeralds embedded in the hilt.

"Your aunt will be here shortly. Make sure your things are packed." He turned his back to us and we both stormed out, knowing we had lost.

Guilt turned my stomach. I would give anything to take back the words I said. The last words I ever spoke to my father. He was right, I wasn't ready for war. The day I watched my father burn in front of me was a day that hardened me. It was the day that prepared me to be separated from my brother for five years. Everything I went through, alone, in that time prepared me for the hatred and brutality of the Riders Quadrant. Nothing prepared me for the screams of men, women, and children as they were ruthlessly slaughtered in their own village. Nothing prepared me for the chaos of everyone I loved being caught up in their own battles all around me while I was hopelessly outmatched in my own battle. Nothing prepared me for what it was like to see the creatures from my childhood nightmares living and breathing right in front of me. Above all, I was completely unprepared for the absolute soul crushing agony of losing one of my best friends. My father was right. We were not ready for war and yet it didn't matter, because now we were the ones who were responsible for holding the secret and we were the ones entrusted to protect the people of not only our home, but Navarre.

Pain blinded me, exploding across cheek and spreading white hot like wildfire down the side of my face. The scream I let out didn't even sound human. I had forgotten where I was, completely caught up in my own memories. I could feel the blood pouring from the gash he had carved in my cheek with my own blade. The one my father gave to me.

"I'll be back soon." He sneered, his hot breath making my skin crawl as it blew the wisps of hair across my face making it slick with my own blood.

He left without another word. The door slammed and I jumped, but I didn't break. I wouldn't let him see me break.

"We will be fine. You can't take this on your own." The blood obscured my vision, so I couldn't see his face, but I recognized the voice of Tate, the squadmate who took the longest to stop hating me for the rebellion mark curving from my wrist to just past my elbow.

I couldn't speak, the bite of my teeth against my lips was the only thing holding me together, so I simply nodded. We both knew I wasn't just going to let Varrish torture them on my behalf, but I also knew that I wasn't going to be able to withstand this for much longer. It felt good to know I wasn't alone.

"He can't really do this, can he? I mean, this is just RSC, so he can't just-"

Tate cut off the naive thinking of our more gentle squadmate, Mallory. "Did you hear him ask about any of our secrets?" He let the question hang in the air for a few moments before continuing. "He is just trying to torture her, for fun or hate or whatever else, but I know that we are not just going to let that happen." They all nodded. "Listen, I know you keep a lot of secrets and that's okay. Honestly with how we all treated you in the beginning, I don't blame you, but just know that we have your back."

I hated being vulnerable and feeling so weak, but the support of my squadmates means I'm not entirely at the mercy of Varrish. They continued to talk to each other, trying to distract from our current predicament. I tried to listen, but it wasn't enough to distract from the pain radiating throughout my body. We slept in turns or at least we tried to, but it was nearly impossible to relax our bodies enough to rest when we were constantly on edge waiting for Varrish to return.

Tate's yell cut through the fog of sleep and I jolted upright forcing a shockwave of pain. Varrish was standing over him, blocking my view, so I could only imagine what he was doing.

"Stop!" I yelled. "Please, leave him alone!" I didn't care that I was begging. This torture was for me and I would be damned if I let anyone else suffer.

"There she is. I thought I would have to flay his entire finger before you joined us." His smile sent chills down my spine, but I didn't break eye contact as he moved away from Tate. Blood dripped from the tip of my dagger, still in his possession.

"Leave him the fuck alone." I growled.

"My signet isn't one I usually share openly, but you should know, it allows me to see one's fears and weaknesses. Yours is the terror you feel at the realization that you aren't strong enough to protect everyone. You know that your father would be disappointed in you and that you shouldn't have survived this long. You can't protect your friends and you're too weak to help anyone." Emotions swirled in my brain. Shame that he was sharing this in front of my squadmates, guilt over the deaths of Liam and my father, anger at how easily he had pinpointed everything I fought to push aside, and even the resignation that he was right. I was so selfishly caught up in my own thoughts, I didn't see him move toward Mallory, but I didn't miss her yelp as he plunged my dagger into her stomach.

The dagger wasn't long enough to do catastrophic damage at least not until he dragged it across her abdomen eliciting an ear piercing scream. We were all yelling now, but Varrish simply turned towards me. "Leading a revolution has consequences that I fear you have yet to truly understand. I will be watching you and waiting for the mistake that will inevitably happen." He left without another word, but at least it sounded like our interrogation was over. We could get Mallory to Nolan and she would be fine.

Our platitudes were useless and after an excruciatingly long amount of time had passed, they were becoming harder to muster. We couldn't lie to her anymore. This wasn't over and help wasn't coming. It felt just as it did with Liam. She was dying and I was helpless to stop it. This time, it was directly my fault. She did nothing wrong and yet she was killed just to punish me. I couldn't even tell her how sorry I was. I couldn't say anything. I just watched as the life slowly bled out of her. She talked about her parents and her home. She asked us to tell them how much she loved them. She told us how much she loved each of us and how much she treasured being in our squad. The guilt felt suffocating. How long did it take for someone to bleed out? I knew there was no hope of saving her, but I just wanted her suffering to end. After a while, she couldn't talk anymore, when she tried only spurts of blood came out. Her short blonde hair was stained with it by the time her breathing stopped. Tate was the only one aside from me that didn't cry. I couldn't. The guilt was all consuming.

The worst part was how short the time span was from the moment Mallory took her last breath to the moment they open the door and dismissed us. They removed her body before they untied us. We were each given a cup that I knew held the antidote to whatever they had given us what must've been 3 days ago. None of us spoke as we emptied our cups. I didn't protest when Tate pulled my arm around his waist, letting me lean against him. There was no way I would be able to make the long trek back to our dorms on my own strength and right now I just wanted to get out of here. His blood smeared across my shirt from his injured finger. I forced myself to look at it, just like Mallory, it was my fault.

We had specifically been instructed to go to our dorms, not to class or to the healers. My room was the last on the hall and our only other living squadmate, Mason, opened my door, while Tate went to help me inside. He was stopped by the shield Xaden had put up before he left. I used it to my advantage and slipped inside, shutting the door behind me without another word.

I felt my dragon probing against my shields, but I kept them locked tight. I wanted to be alone right now. My body gave out as soon as the door clicked into place. I laid on the floor in a heap and gave in to the sobs. I screamed and I cried and I let the grief tear me apart. My chest ached and nothing I did would soothe it. Breathing felt impossible and pain flooded in from every angle. Eventually the exhaustion kicked in and sleep took over.

I let out a small scream the moment I felt the hands on my shoulders. My entire body was on edge and tensed for an attack I wasn't prepared to withstand.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I-" My heart fluttered at the soft sound of his voice. "I came as soon as I heard you were back.

When I picked my head up, he was sitting back on his heels a short distance away with his hands frozen in mid-air. So many different emotions were displayed across his face, but the one I felt the most was his pity. Bodhi was always gentle, even in training, but right now he was looking at me as if the mere weight of his gaze would cause me to shatter. I hadn't seen myself in the mirror, but I felt the cuts and bruises that littered my skin. It was hard to know, but I felt like at least a couple of my ribs were broken. My lower lip was painfully split and my right eye was completely swollen shut. The worst was the pain in my face. I remembered a mender coming in at one point to close it just enough so I could withstand more torture, but I'm sure it still looked awful.

"I didn't break." I whispered, my voice betraying just how close I had come. The resolution to hold it together during every ounce of vitriol thrown at me had completely crumbled the moment I stepped into my room. I didn't have the energy to stay strong anymore.

"It's okay-"

"It's not!" The force of my words through my broken ribs cut me off. I started again, but more softly this time. "I knew they were going to take the opportunity to torture me just because they hated how close my father came to destroying every dirty secret they tried to hide. I'm supposed to be like him, but I wasn't. He didn't even flinch while they burned him alive and I-" Anger flared "They killed Mallory. Varrish gutted her and left her to bleed out right in front of me and there was nothing I could do. He never even asked me to say anything. He just wanted to prove that he can destroy everyone and everything. In one weekend, he proved everything I'm terrified of. I'm not strong enough to protect anyone and I'm obviously not of any value to the war."

"RSC is all about trying to break you. Not just spill the secrets that you're given, but to make you confront all the doubts you have about being good enough to be a rider. You are more than strong enough to be a rider. Not just because of your signets, but because you are a damn good leader. We can't do this without you." He put his arm around my shoulders and let me rest my head against him. "You'll get through this, I promise." We stayed like that for a while until eventually I got up to take a shower and change into some clean clothes. The water burned, but I stayed until the red turned to pink and finally ran clear. Bodhi was still there when I finished. "Do you want me to stay?" I weighed my choice, torn between wanting to prove my strength and being terrified of being alone. After a few moments I nodded. He didn't say anything else and he gave me space, but with the warmth of his presence I finally felt safe enough to sleep well.

I told Bodhi I was fine the next morning, so he left me to get ready on my own. While, I wasn't looking forward to going to class, it was better than sitting here and being consumed by the memories of Mallory's last moments. I gathered my things and opened my door to head to class, but before I moved farther a glint of silver caught my eye. The dagger my father had given me was laying on the floor right outside. It was a clear threat that while we may have survived RSC, but this was far from over.

I picked it up and sheathed it at my thigh, deciding that it would be a reminder, not of the torture Varrish forced us to endure, but of how we would be the ones to win this war.

A/N this was kind of meant to be a part 2 to my previous post, but I got a little carried away, so I had to split it up. The next part will have Garrick, Xaden, and Violet in it. Maybe will be a mini series, IDK

[overfedsoul]

I’ve seen you mentioning your thigh gap—let me just say I truly admire you!

Can I ask how you achieved the body you have, your thigh gap, and how long it took to see results?

I’d love to get the same 😊

Hello!

I used to be a huge fan of intensive cardio but my thighs tend to bulk up really quickly. Every time I did HIIT, I’d lose fat everywhere except my thighs. It was super frustrating. Last year, I switched from intensive cardio to lower intensity cardio. It took me around 3–4 months to get a thigh gap, and I’ve been maintaining it ever since.

The biggest game-changer? Walking — a LOT. I set a daily step goal of 10K, but most days I walked until my legs actually hurt — up to 25K steps, though I usually hit around 15K. On top of that, I added low-intensity walking workouts (30 minutes to an hour daily), ate more protein, fiber and less carbs. I also did Pilates toning exercises.

I’ve tried many thigh workouts, and honestly, most of them didn’t give me any results. But these three? They always BURN (I use ankle weights or place a dumbbell on my thighs, but feel free to start without and build up):

Form matters more than reps, so make sure you’re actually feeling the burn and using your muscles. I do one or two of these (⬆️) videos daily.

My go-to low-intensity workout channels (for walking workouts) are:

— Walk at Home (very repetitive but effective)

— Growwithjo

— YanaFit

— EleniFit

If I'm too lazy to exercise, I just pace around my apartment at a fast pace while scrolling on my phone or studying!

[inmyglowupera]

Mindset shift #2: Plateaus are part of the process and key to the success of longterm weight loss.

Plateaus are not roadblocks—they’re milestones. They show that your body is adjusting to the progress you’ve made so far. Instead of seeing them as failures, view it as a reward for your hard work. As your body giving you a break so you can recharge and reevaluate.

Why Are Plateaus Important to Your Weight Loss Journey?

When you lose weight, your body needs time to recalibrate:

• Metabolism: Plateaus prevent metabolic adaptation, where your body slows down calorie-burning to preserve energy.

• Hormonal Balance: Hormones like leptin (which regulates hunger) and cortisol (stress hormone) stabilize during plateaus, reducing stress on your body.

• Muscle Preservation: Slower weight loss during plateaus gives your body a chance to retain muscle mass.

What to Do During a Plateau:

1) Don’t Rush to Make Changes: Give your body time to adjust to recent weight loss before altering your diet or exercise routine. Sometimes, patience is the key to moving forward.

2) Focus on Restorative Acts: Prioritize sleep management and stress management, as both play a critical role in weight loss. Poor sleep and chronic stress can disrupt hormones like cortisol, which can hinder progress.

3) Celebrate Non-Scale Victories: Progress isn’t just about the number on the scale. Look for improvements in strength, stamina, mood, energy levels, or how your clothes fit.

4) Reflect and Reassess:

Use this time to observe your journey without judgment. Ask yourself:

• What has been working so far?

• What feels difficult, and how can I make it easier or more sustainable?

• Have I become too restrictive or too lenient?

• Are my diet and exercise routines still aligned with my goals and needs?

Plateaus are a chance to adjust and refine your habits to better suit your lifestyle.

5) Consider Upcycling Calories:

Upcycling calories involves alternating higher and lower calorie days to prevent your metabolism from adapting too much. For instance:

• Increase your calorie intake slightly on one day with nutrient-dense foods like healthy fats or complex carbs.

• Return to your usual calorie range on the following days.

This strategy can help reset your metabolism and push past a plateau.

6) Reassess Your Workouts:

Once you feel ready to adjust, start by varying your exercise routine:

• Incorporate new movements or activities to challenge different muscle groups.

• Ensure your workouts include strength training, which boosts metabolism.

• Avoid overtraining—intense workouts with insufficient recovery can increase cortisol, working against your weight loss goals.

7) Review Your Diet: Plateaus are a good time to take a closer look at your eating habits with curiosity and without judgment. Ask yourself:

• Are you eating enough proteins and fibres to help you feel full and well nourished? Did you eat enough healthy fats to ensure proper satiety?

• Are you eating more calorie-dense foods than you realize, such as cooking oils, granola, nuts, nut butters, cheese, or avocado?

• Be careful of low calorie foods. These items are often ultra-processed with artificial sweeteners. Sugar substitute can negatively impact your gut microbiome and insuline response—paradoxically causing you to gain weight. Focus on fresh whole foods and bake your own little treats, even of they are higher in calories they will be more satisfying.

• Have recent stressors, celebrations, holidays, or vacations led to more indulgences than usual?

• Are you underestimating portion sizes or the amount of food you’re eating?

If you feel comfortable and it won’t negatively impact your mental health, consider tracking your food intake for a couple of weeks. Focus on accuracy by weighing your food rather than using cups or spoons, especially for non-liquid items. Be gentle and non-judgemental. The goal is to understand not punish.

If tracking feels too overwhelming, focus instead on visual portion control (e.g., smaller plates, filling half your plate with veggies, or limiting high-calorie extras like dressings).

[sunarc]

Rule Break

Synopsis: Nanami has one rule: never fuck a client. You may just be his one exception

Cw: trainer Nanami, semi public sex, reader is a big flirt, oral f receiving, fingering, unprotected sex, breeding,2.9k words

Nanami would consider himself a professional man. He knows his job can get a bit hot and sweaty sometimes, but he tries his best to keep his composure. He has a rule of his own: never fuck a client. It seems like a silly rule, but one would be surprised by how many trainers have had relationships with their clients. He likes to think he’s great at his one rule that is, until he takes you on as a client.

Something about you makes all the blood in his body rush to his lower half. You’re so beautiful, he whispers to himself each time you come in for a gym session. He’s never known himself to lose composure the way he does when you’re near.

“One more squat for me, you got this." His praise filled your ears as you lowered into your last squat.

“That’s it, good job” His clapping echoed in the half-empty gym as you finished putting the weight down.

You smiled at the tall, muscular man before high-fiving him. Nanami wouldn’t be wrong in believing you had an interest in him. Your eyes were always glued to him in ways he couldn’t really describe. The way you would lean into him when he showed you how to do something, or how you always stayed a bit later, asking him questions he was sure you already knew the answer to.

"So, Mr.Nanami, I was wondering if you could show me some more exercises for the legs.” You continued to explain how you wanted to strengthen them.

Nanami wanted so desperately to focus on your words, but his eyes could only seem to follow the sweat that dripped from your neck down to your breast. The zipper to your sports bra was down just enough so he could see how the fabric squeezed your chest. His mind was lost in thought, thinking of what it would feel like to push his length between them. He couldn’t help but think of how pretty they would look covered in his cum. Would you want a taste, or would you just let him cover you in his seed? Or maybe you’d prefer if he-

“Mr.Nanami?” You asked, titling your head with a faux look of innocence. “The leg workout?”

"O-ofcourse, I-um, yes, my apologies I have a lot on my mind today,” he excused his zoning out.

Nanami shook his head, ashamed at how yet again he had lost self-control. He was never like this, really. He almost wanted to plead with you to find another trainer. How could he possibly focus when his mind was constantly being plagued with thoughts of what you’d look like without your pink matching gym set. 

His body carried him over to a leg machine. He took a deep breath, trying to gather himself as he set up the machine to show you how to use it.

“I’m going to teach you about cable kickbacks.” He began lifting his leg to show you an example, “Now this focuses on the glutes."

His fingers pointed to the muscle. His eyes watched as your gaze scanned down his form to his toned butt with a soft smirk. He’d just brush it off as your excitement for a new workout.

"Alright, you try." His voice wavered, and you could swear there was a pink blush covering his cheeks.

You followed as he did, replicating the exercise. His hand smoothed against your lower back, angling your body.

“You feel it?” His voice was deep as he questioned you. You nodded your head, too focused on the pain of the exercise to speak.

"Yeah, just like that." His palm pushed deeper into your lower back, while his other hand focused on holding your core to keep you steady. Your eyes met his, and you could feel his gaze shift from professional to lust-filled. 

“Is that how you want me to do it, Mr.Nanami?” you questioned.

Anyone passing by would assume the question was referring to the workout, but from the look in your eyes, Nanami knew it had nothing to do with your actions.

"Yeah,” he breathed, his eyes still focusing on yours. “Just like that."

Nanami was very professional, but he’d be damned if he was going to miss matching your energy. You finished your last rep with ease. The tension in the air between the two of you was thick. The room was now empty, with everyone gone or preparing to leave.

“I guess our gym session is over. Would you care to walk me to the locker room? I have a few more questions before I go.” You said with an innocent smile.

Nanami nodded his head. Of course, he’d be willing to walk you. Any extra time he could get to spend with you, he’d take it.

You walked at a slow pace as you questioned him about what protein shakes he liked the best. Nanami had heard these questions before, but he’d be more than willing to entertain you for a bit more. You made it to the locker room and turned to face his tall figure.

“You did really great today, I’ll see you tomorrow for arms,” he said, giving a pinched smile before turning to walk away.

"Wait,” you called, grabbing his wrist.

He turned around wide-eyed

“I was wondering if you would be able to help me stretch before I go,” you whispered, suddenly feeling small at the advancement.

Nanami’s brain was wracked at the question, wondering if he should. What harm could a little stretching do? After all, he is your trainer, it’s a trainer's job to help their clients.

"Of course, I can help you do some stretches before I close up.” He led you to a room with privacy windows in the back.

The room was one you had never been in before. There were mats all over with a mirror wall. You picked up a mat and placed it near his own.

“We’ll start with a forward fold." He stood behind you with his hand on your waist while he guided your upper half downward. You folded into the stretch and pushed your ass against him. Nanami let out a low grunt before helping you to come back up. Your back pressed against his chest. You stared into the mirror, watching how he looked down at you with his lip between his teeth.

“What’s the next stretch, Mr.Nanami?”

His hands danced against your waist as he helped you maneuver through each stretch. Nanami’s breath grew heavier with each stretch. You seemed to be in a teasing mood today as you continued to press your ass against him each chance you got. Nanami didn’t think he’d be able to last much longer. The amount of pent-up energy in him was beginning to be too much to bear.

“Just lay down for me,” he whispered.

His hand dragged against your leg as he lifted it up and pressed it into your chest. He leaned his body down onto your leg to push you deeper into the stretch.

“I’m really flexible if you can't tell,” you giggled as you came face to face with him.

You were going to be the death of him. He could feel a bulge growing in his shorts, and he knew you could feel it too.

“How does that feel?” he asked, breathing in your scent.

You were so close to him. His eyes drifted down to your plump lips, memorizing the way your lips curved so perfectly into a smirk.

“It feels really good, sir,” you said softly. "Harder, please,” you were daring him. Your words were laced with nothing but pure filth.

Nanami leaned deeper into you, so close that his nose was almost pressed against yours.

“Like that.” His voice was nearing a growl.

He had a rule, one that he was willing to break for the first time.

“Just like that, sir."

Nanami silently asked himself for forgiveness because his next action would be very unlike himself. He leaned down and pressed his lips against yours. They were just as soft as he had imagined. You tasted sweet. Your lips danced against his in a hungry, passionate way. His hand moved to your waist, holding your body still as he grinded down on you. You let out a soft moan at the feeling of his clothed length pressing against your core. 

“Fuck” he whispered as he pulled away.

You let out a whimper at the sudden loss of his touch. He stood up and covered his flustered face as he tried to make a gap.

“Your rule, Kento,” he breathed out the words to himself.

You sat up on your elbows as you watched him pace back and forth.

"God, you don’t understand what you do to me,” he groaned as he turned to you, dragging his hands down his face.

You sat silently with a smirk playing on your lips.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" He ranted. His nose flared up as he stared at you. "I have a rule, you know.”

You sat up on your knees to face him.

“We don’t have to call it breaking the rule.” You played with the zipper on your sports bra, slowly dragging it lower. “Why don’t we just call it a little after-hour stretching?”

Nanami walked over to you, closing the gap.

“Just some stretching between a trainer and his trainee, right?” He was making an attempt to convince himself; it was not a rule break. He’s just being a kind trainer and helping his client stretch in all ways possible.

“Just a trainer and his trainee,” you repeated his words, and Nanami kneeled to be at eye level with you.

His hand softly grabbed your neck, pulling you in for a kiss. It had only been seconds, and he somehow missed the way you tasted. His tongue slipped past your lips and massaged against yours. You were everything Nanami dreamed you would be. The kiss was something he wanted to relive for the first time over and over again.

He bit his lip as his heart pounded in his chest. His cock strained against his shorts. He wanted to memorize every part of you, from the way your chest rose as he squeezed your breast to the way your hips rocked back and forth, desperate for friction.

“Lay down for me, pretty.”

Wanting to please him, you did as you were told. Nanami freed his cock from his shorts, and your eyes went wide. He was big. You were almost worried he wouldn’t fit inside. He stroked his cock a few times before straddling you.

He pushed his cock underneath your bra and squeezed his length between your breasts. He let out a low groan as his cock squeezed between the tight space. 

“Oh fuck baby,” his eyes fluttered shut as he inched his cock back and forth.

You let out a soft giggle and stuck your tongue out, swiveling around the tip of his cock each time he rocked his hips forward.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he groaned. “Taking my cock so well,” he breathed.

“You think you deserve my cock stretching your tight hole?” he asked.

You nodded your head as your eyes looked up at his dark ones.

“Use your words. Closed mouths don’t get fed.” His words were demanding.

“Please fuck me, sir. I need it so bad,” you whimpered. “My pussy’s so wet thinking of you,” your words died down into a whisper as if embarrassed by the lewdness of it all.

Nanami chuckled as he unzipped your bra, freeing your chest. He leaned down and placed your nipple between his teeth, nibbling and sucking softly. You chanted out soft pleas as his tongue swiveled around your nipple.

His tongue moved against your skin, sucking and kissing as he inched down towards your core.

“Don’t get shy on me, pretty girl.” His fingers curled underneath the fabric of your tights, pulling them down to expose your core. “You were just begging me to stretch you out.”

He placed a soft kiss just above your core. You sat on your elbows, watching as he methodically planted kisses around your heat, just barely grazing your clit. You felt shivers run through your body at the anticipation. His hand pushed your legs up to your chest so that he could get a good view of how wet the thought of him was really making you.

“Hold your legs up for me, okay, princess.”

His dark eyes looked up to meet yours as his tongue licked a long, slow strip between your folds.

“All this just for me?” His warm breath fanned against your core.

You let out a low mewl as his tongue flicked against your clit messily. Nanami was a very neat and well-kept man, but the way he was eating you out was the complete opposite of what you knew him to be. He messily slurped your juices. You turned away, shutting your eyes at the sound. You couldn’t believe how he was making you lose your mind. He dipped two fingers inside, curling them as he dragged them in and out.

"Aww,” he cooed. “Don’t look away. Don't you want to watch me make this pussy cream on my tongue?”

Nanami’s words made you feel as if you were about to explode. His fingers pressed in and out of you, forming a rhythm. Your legs trembled as you neared a release. His tongue messily lapped at your warmth as he groaned against your core.

“I'm so close, oh g-” You were cut off by your own moan.

Nanami’s fingers curled inside of you as he massaged a spongy spot inside of you.

"Oh, there it is,” he groaned.

You let out a loud gasp as your body shook from your orgasm. Your eyes rolled back as he continued fucking his fingers into you.

"Mmh, you're so pretty when you make a mess for me."

He pulled away and moved to meet your lips.

“You want a taste, baby?” He leaned down to press his lips against yours. You were still shaking from your orgasm as you kissed back weakly. He held your legs in place, folding you into a mating press as his cock dipped into your slippery hole without warning. You let out a gasp, but it was easily swallowed by Nanami as he continued kissing and sucking your tongue. His thrusts were long and slow as he allowed you to adjust to his size.

“Such a good girl taking my cock like this,” he groaned the words against your lips.

Your body was trembling as your mouth hung open, letting soft whimpers fall past your lips.

“This is what you wanted right?” He leaned down to whisper the silky words in your ear, “You wanted me to stretch you out right?"

His thrusts picked up speed, and you couldn't help the lewd moans dripping off your tongue. His cock glided against your gummy walls, leaving you speechless. He was taking his claim on you, making you his. No other man would be able to make you feel this good. He wanted you to remember this, the way his cock dragged in and out of you, the relentless pace of his hips slamming against yours, the way his warm tongue ran up your neck to your ear, sending shivers through your body.

“Yes, yes, yes,” you chanted.

“Then why aren’t you thanking me?” he growled

A string of thank-yous spilled past your lips. You were in a daze, stuck in obedience. He had you wrapped around his finger.

“There’s my good girl,” he cooed.

His cock felt so thick, spreading you out. Your mind was blurred, only able to focus on how his cock was able to reach places you had never explored before. He plunged his cock in and out of you, groaning at the sounds of your cunt squelching for him.

"Fuck, you don’t understand how long I've wanted this,” he breathed the words into your ear. “All those times I thought about sinking my cock into this soaking hole.”

His words were going straight to your core.

“I always thought about how badly this pussy needed me, how you needed my cum to fill you to the brim,” he grunted.

You squeezed your eyes shut, feeling yourself growing closer to the edge.

“Please, sir i- Please can I cum?” You whined desperately, pleading with him.

"Oh, you want to cum, huh? Go ahead, princess, make a mess for me. Show me how pretty this pussy looks cumming on my cock.”

Your orgasm flooded over you like a wave. Your body shook as your hands gripped onto Nanami, dragging your nails down his skin.

"Oh, that’s it, good girl,” he whispered as you trembled, releasing all over him. “Pussy’s squeezing me so tight, you ready for me, baby? Where do you want it?”

Your eyes rolled back as he continued fucking you through your orgasm.

"Inside, please," you slurred, barely able to think straight.

Nanami chuckled at hearing how out of your mind you were.

“My favorite place,” he dragged his cock roughly in and out of you, grunting with each thrust. He held your body close as he released inside, groaning at how you clenched around him.

He pulled out, smiling softly at the way his cum drooled from your hole. He stuffed his fingers inside, pushing the cum back in, before gently putting your clothes on. He held you softly as you calmed down, catching your breath.

“I think we may need to do some stretching after our sessions more often."

[dioslesbianwife]

Can you do bucci gang with reader who has The world as their stand? Or made in heaven.

I just wonder how they would react to a powerful stand.

But like also the reader is too afraid to use it? Feel free to ignore this request

sure, i hope you enjoy and thank you for requesting <3

Giorno

Giorno immediately recognizes how powerful your Stand is- and just how rare a gift it is.

But he’s also deeply compassionate. When you tell him you're afraid to use it, he doesn’t pressure you.

Instead, he gently encourages you to talk about your fear.

“You don’t have to be ready now. But your power is yours. You don’t owe it to anyone to be perfect with it.”

He gives you small exercises- pausing time just for a second, maybe to catch something before it hits the ground. No pressure. Just moments.

He wants you to understand that your Stand doesn’t define you. You define it.

Bruno

Bruno sees your fear, and it reminds him of when he first took a life in the name of justice. Power can be heavy.

He sits beside you, lets you speak, and nods softly.

“Fear is a sign of your humanity. It means you understand the weight of your power.”

He never tries to force you to use The World, but he does gently remind you of one thing:

“One day, your power may be the only thing standing between someone you love and danger. If that day comes, will you be ready?”

He trains with you when you’re ready. Quiet mornings. Supportive eyes. Not as a capo, but as a friend.

Fugo

Fugo immediately understands the sheer weight of having such a powerful Stand and being terrified of it.

“I’d be terrified too.”

His empathy comes from knowing what it’s like to lose control (hello Purple Haze) and how scary your own power can feel when it has real consequences.

He doesn’t push. In fact, he’s cautious with you at first.

“You don’t need to use it. Just… understand it. Study it. Know the rules. Fear thrives in the unknown.”

He offers you his notebook- pages of scribbled notes on Stands, yours included. Helps you analyze The World like a puzzle instead of a weapon.

Narancia

At first, Narancia is just STOKED like,

“YO YOU CAN STOP TIME?? THAT’S INSANE!!!”

But when he sees your discomfort, his whole energy softens. He’s surprisingly empathetic.

He doesn’t quite understand the fear, but he respects it.

He offers to go into stopped time with you. Like, just hang out.

“C’mon, just for a sec! We can toss popcorn in the air and unfreeze to see where it lands!”

You laugh. It's the first time you stop time without fear. Because with Narancia, it felt fun, not terrifying.

Mista

Mista is the king of jumping before thinking, so he has a hard time understanding why you’d hesitate.

But once he gets it, he becomes your biggest cheerleader.

“You could literally pause time to slap someone and then unpause and they’d never know. That’s awesome! You’re awesome!!”

He encourages you through humor. Makes silly situations for you to pause time.

The moment you accidentally use it to save him- like stopping a bullet or a fatal blow- it leaves him speechless.

He just pulls you into a hug.

“You saved me… You really are amazing.”

Trish

Trish relates to the fear. She didn’t even want to be part of this world at first. She understands what it means to be thrown into power unwillingly.

She’s firm, though- not because she’s mad, but because she believes in you.

“You’re allowed to be afraid. But don’t let fear write your story.”

Trish wants you to own your power the same way she came to own hers.

She’ll stand next to you as you practice. One second. Two. Three.

When you finally manage a full pause and don’t panic, she cheers louder than anyone.

“There she is! That’s my girl!”

Abbacchio

Abbacchio… is complicated. He doesn’t handle fear in himself well, so at first, he comes off cold.

“If you’re afraid to use it, someone else will use you instead. That’s reality.”

But he’s not trying to be cruel- he’s trying to protect you.

He softens in quiet ways. Leaves you notes with advice.

One night, he tells you the truth:

“I wasn’t strong enough to protect what mattered once. I don’t want you to make the same mistake.”

And after that, every moment you push yourself, even a little- he notices. He never says it, but you see it in his eyes.

[bloomzone]

2025 : #21 Hope.

✒️..hope. It’s something we all talk about, we all need, and yet, we seldom understand in its full depth. We hear phrases like “Keep hoping,” or “Don’t lose hope,” but what does hope truly mean, and why is it so vital to our well-being?

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ʜᴏᴘᴇ?

Hope is more than just wishful thinking . It’s not simply wishing that things will get better without any effort. True hope is the belief that a better future is not only possible, but within reach. It’s the feeling that even in the darkest moments , there is potential for light to shine through (we often see this in sad dramatic moment or anime lmao ). Hope is both an emotional state and a cognitive mindset that enables us to see beyond present circumstances, empowering us to take action towards a brighter tomorrow it's not motivation ! There is a diff ! (motivation is the drive to act and hope is the belief in possibility ) so It’s the force that keeps us going when life feels overwhelming, the quiet but persistent whisper that says, “You can do this, just keep going.”

Unlike optimism too , which is the general expectation that things will improve, hope involves a more active, personal belief in the possibility of change. It’s rooted in the understanding that our choices matter, that our actions can lead us to a better outcome, and that we are not at the mercy of fate alone.

ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ɪs ʙᴜɪʟᴛ

Hope is not something we are born with . It is something we learn and develop over time. It is cultivated through experience, through resilience, and through the belief that no setback is final. Just like any other muscle in the body, the more we exercise hope, the stronger it becomes. It’s built in the small moments when we face challenges and choose not to give up, when we take that next step even though we don’t have all the answers, when we look at a failure as a lesson and not a limitation.

It is fostered by connection. Having supportive relationships, where we feel understood and encouraged, helps build our belief in a positive future. Hope grows when we see others overcome difficulties and when we learn from those who have faced hardship and emerged stronger. In this sense, hope is contagious when we see someone else hold on to hope, it reminds us that we can too .

But most importantly, hope is built through action. It’s easy to feel hopeless when we are stuck in a state of passivity. When we take deliberate steps forward, even in small ways, we send a message to ourselves that we are capable of making progress, no matter how incremental. And with each small success, hope is reaffirmed.

ᴡʜʏ ᴡᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴏᴘᴇ

Hope is the antidote to despair frrr It gives us a reason to get out of bed in the morning, even when the weight of the world seems too much to bear. Without hope, we can easily fall into apathy or worse, depression. It is hope that helps us find meaning in our struggles, to see them as part of a larger journey rather than insurmountable obstacles. It is also crucial for mental health. Hope has been shown that individuals who cultivate hope are more likely to bounce back from setbacks, maintain a positive outlook, and experience better overall well-being. It is linked to resilience because when we have hope, we believe that we can navigate difficulties and emerge on the other side, stronger and more capable. is essential for personal growth. It fuels ambition and provides us with the courage to dream beyond our current limitations.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴀ ʜᴏᴘᴇғᴜʟ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴠs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴀ ʜᴏᴘᴇʟᴇss ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ

The difference between a hopeful person and a hopeless one is in the way they perceive the world. A hopeful person sees opportunities in challenges. They look at a difficult situation and ask, “What can I learn from this? How can I grow from this experience?” They understand that setbacks are temporary, and that their present situation does not define their future. Their mindset is one of possibility, of determination, and of a belief that they can influence their outcomes through effort and perseverance.

On the other hand, a hopeless person sees only limitations. They view challenges as insurmountable obstacles, and they feel powerless in the face of adversity. When things don’t go as planned, a hopeless individual may become paralyzed by fear or despair, believing that nothing they do will change their circumstances. The hopeless mind is often stuck in a cycle of negativity, where every setback is seen as proof that things will never improve. This mindset becomes self-fulfilling: the more they believe things won’t get better, the less they take action to change them.

✒️.It’s important to note that hope is not about denying reality. It’s not about wearing heart glasses or pretending everything is fine when it’s not. It’s about seeing beyond the present difficulties and understanding that change is possible. A hopeful person acknowledges challenges but believes they have the strength to overcome them like when u pass a final test and u have hope to pass the final test of next semester even u have to face the same difficult but u have "hope" to pass again

ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴜʟᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏɴǫᴜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀʀʀɪᴇʀs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ ɪɴ ɪᴛ

The good news is that hope is something we can cultivate, no matter where we are in life. It doesn’t require an innate ability or perfect circumstances. It requires intentional effort and a mindset shift.

To start, one of the most important things we can do is to ..

change our language

ur monologue intérieur bro need a mise à jour 🦅 . We must stop using words like “I can’t” or “It’s impossible” and instead adopt language that opens up possibilities. Even if you’re unsure about the outcome, saying “I’ll try” or “I can figure this out” signals to your brain that you are not giving up, that you are willing to take action despite uncertainty.

setting small, achievable goals.

Hope thrives when we experience progress, no matter how small. When we accomplish even the tiniest task, it reinforces the belief that we can make a difference, that our actions matter. This sense of achievement builds momentum, turning hope into a habit.

Surround yourself with inspiring stories

NGL I do this all the time when I feel hopeless. listening , read , or watch stories of individuals who have overcome adversity can be a powerful source of hope. These stories show you that no matter how dire the situation seems, it’s possible to rise above it. They can inspire you to believe that you too have the strength to get through tough times.

Surround ourselves with people who uplift and encourage us.

Hope is contagious, and when we are surrounded by individuals who believe in us and in the possibilities of the future, it becomes easier for us to believe the same. Our environment plays a significant role in shaping our mindset.

Find Purpose in Your Struggles

One of the most powerful ways to build hope is by finding meaning in your struggles. When you view challenges as opportunities for growth or as stepping stones to something greater, you begin to see them as part of your journey rather than obstacles. This shift in perspective can help foster a deeper sense of hope and resilience.

Reconnect with Your Core Values

Hope is strongest when you are deeply connected to your core values. When you live in alignment with what truly matters to you, even in challenging times, hope becomes a natural part of your life. Reconnecting with your values reinforces your sense of purpose and reminds you of the bigger picture, which can fuel your drive for the future.

Set and Focus on Bold Goals

Hope is driven by vision. Having a clear, compelling vision for your future helps you move forward with purpose, even when the journey is tough. The more you envision your future and set bold, exciting goals, the more hope you generate for what’s possible. It’s about seeing a brighter future and actively working toward it. For example u want to be a doctor and when u face struggles in ur study .. remind urself of the goal to keep going

💁🏻‍♀️: Set long-term and short-term goals that align with your vision for your life. Write them down, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate progress along the way. The clarity that comes from goal-setting provides a roadmap for hope.

Hope It’s the thread that connects us to a brighter, better tomorrow, even when today feels heavy. Hope is the fuel that powers our dreams, propels us through adversity, and reminds us that no matter how difficult the road may be, there is always a way forward.we can create a life that is not only full of potential but rich with possibility. Because when we hold onto hope, we hold onto the belief that no matter what happens, there is always something to look forward to.good luck 🍀

@bloomzone

[butchfalin]

ladies, are you unsatisfied with your life? then you HAVE to try this bra! it's basically shapewear so it smoothes out all those ugly bulges you get with normal bras that make tight shirts unwearable because of how disgusting and fat you look, regardless of how much you actually weigh! and if your man won't eat your kitty, it's probably because you stink 🫢 but don't worry girly, i got you! just take these natural supplements! they'll make you irresistible instead of disgusting! you can totally trust me, an internet stranger trying to sell you something! and if you're still ugly it's because you need to use this cortisol cream — it cleared up all of my skin imperfections in days, and now i can wear makeup without looking like peanut brittle! you should also try this at-home workout machine so you can exercise anytime you want to and no one has to see you! but make sure to wear these leggings that lift your butt and shape your legs while you do it! this meal plan is made for the girls, it's sooo easy and requires basically no cooking or thinking for your #girldinner and it's sooo small and low calorie that you'll lose weight suuuper quickly! hey girlypop! buy a hundred products so you don't have to hate yourself anymore, and if that doesn't work, buy a hundred more! there's nothing systemic to your dissatisfaction, it's all you! just keep buying! it's good for us!

[jetii]

Event Horizon

Chapter Thirty-One: The Weight of Command

Chapter WC: 9,771

Chapter Tags/Warnings: it's a battle chapter what can i say

A/N: Welcome to part two! Much angst, fluff, smut and clone shenanigans ahead. Sadly no Rex in this part, but absence makes the heart grow fonder (and more desperate) and all that.

Mind the time skip from chapter 30, we're about 3? months in the future now.

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Nadiem, 20 BBY

No matter how many battlefields you walk away from, no matter how many lives you save, no matter how much glory you win for the Republic, the weight of your vision still rests heavy upon your shoulders.

No matter how much you try to silence the echo of Rex’s voice calling you back or the memory of his blaster pressed against your chest, it still lingers, like an unseen shadow at the edge of your sight. You had chosen to turn away from the darkness in that moment, a decision you've made time and time again, but it's a choice you've wondered if you would continue to have the strength to make again.

After all, every Jedi is tested at some point, and each must choose whether to give into their anger or their fear. Every Jedi must conquer the temptation to reach for the power that comes from the Dark Side in order to embrace the Light. Every Jedi struggles to understand the will of the Force and the part they are meant to play.

But not every Jedi has seen their own death.

You know what awaits you in the dark, and the temptation is always there, a constant nagging voice in the back of your mind, a whisper on the wind, a promise of power, of strength, of safety. You've learned to ignore it, but you can't ignore the burden of the knowledge, the weight of the responsibility. You can't ignore the certainty that, eventually, you will be faced with a choice, and that choice will define who you are, who you were always meant to be.

It's a terrible thing, knowing that you will never be able to save everyone. But you haven't stopped trying anyway.

In the months since you've left Coruscant and Rex behind, the 419th has been inundated with missions, battles, skirmishes. It seems as if there's always another fight waiting around the corner, and you have a sneaking suspicion that the Council is hoping to distract you, or perhaps even exhaust you. But there's no denying that the galaxy is changing, and the threat of the Separatists is ever present.

It's easy to lose track of time, the days and weeks blending together into a blur of movement, a cycle of action and reaction. It's easy to lose track of yourself. 

And through it all, you've been training your men. Teaching them.

You've drilled them relentlessly, not just in standard combat, but in one very specific skill. Nearly every morning begins with sparring exercises, teaching them how to counter a lightsaber, resist Force-assisted strikes, and fight without relying on the idea that a Jedi would always be their protector. After all, not all Jedi are as noble as Obi-Wan. Not all Jedi will be there to save them.

Some might even have their backs turned.

The irony isn't lost on you.

You've also spent much of your time on the field, honing their skills, encouraging their growth, and learning their strengths and weaknesses. You've seen their potential, and you've worked tirelessly to bring it out, to shape it, mold it. You've pushed them to their limit, and they've surpassed every expectation, refusing to fall. Refusing to give up. 

And most importantly, refusing to let you go.

They follow your lead, no matter where you go. No matter what you do. No matter what the mission is, no matter the risks, no matter the danger. They're always by your side, and they always have your back. And it helps. 

The more time you spend with Booker and the men, the more at ease you feel, the less afraid, the less lonely. They've become your family, and their support is invaluable. 

Without them, you know you wouldn't have been able to make it this far. Without them, you'd be lost.

It's the only reason why you're here now.

The view from your perch on the lone tree among miles of open fields is beautiful, the rolling hills and valleys stretching out before you. The sky is a vibrant mix of blue and pink, the sun just beginning to rise. In the distance, you can see the outlines of a nearby town, sunlight warming the small hovels and cobblestone streets.

The wind is blowing softly, rustling the leaves above, and the smell of fresh rain hangs in the air, filling your lungs. It's peaceful, quiet, and you can't help but appreciate the calm. But you know better than most that the peace never lasts. It's a fleeting thing, a fragile illusion, and the war will soon find its way here. It always does.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" you murmur, not turning your gaze from the landscape. "I could sit here all day."

Snap lowers his binocs from his visor and looks down at you. He sways dangerously on the branch above as he shifts his weight before his hand comes down to steady himself. The kama attached to his belt, covered in gold swirls and lines that remind you of a sun's rays, flaps in the breeze. 

"Not the best spot for a nap, if I'm being honest," he quips, adjusting his position, the branch creaking ominously beneath him. A bird takes flight in alarm, and he sighs. "And if you ask me, the sun's a little too bright. Hard to get a good look at things."

"Careful, Snap. Sounds like Wise is rubbing off on you," you retort, shooting him a smirk. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were becoming a bit of a grouch."

"If that isn't the quacta calling the stifling slimy," he mutters, and the branch creaks again.

You snort and shake your head, shifting your attention to the horizon. The smoke is beginning to dissipate, and the first rays of sunlight are peeking over the trees.

"I happen to like the sunlight. It's...refreshing."

"You're only saying that because you didn't have to run drills for two hours this morning," he mutters. He sighs and reaches for the binocs, bringing them back up to his visor. "So what's the plan? Do we wait here until the droids show up or what?"

"Patience, Captain. Patience," you reply. He gives you a look that translates through the helmet, and you laugh again, raising a hand in surrender. "I'm kidding. Mostly."

He lets out a huff and returns his attention to the binocs, scanning the area. You've been camped out on this ridge for hours, waiting for the Separatists to arrive. The village has already been cleared out, and the town hall is wired with explosives. All that's left is for the droids to show up. Then, it's game time.

"We'll give them an hour," you say, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath. The scent of grass and flowers fills your nose, and you exhale slowly, allowing the Force to flow through you, reaching out and stretching. You can feel the faintest whispers of the enemy, the echoes of their approach. "Then we'll make our move."

Snap grunts, and the branches above rustle as he adjusts his position. He's impatient, and you can't blame him. The wait is maddening, but you can't afford to jump the gun again.

The last time you rushed the Separatists, things didn't end well. There were heavy casualties, and the 419th lost a lot of men. It was a hard lesson, but it was an important lesson, and you've taken it to heart.

You will be patient. You will be smart. And most importantly, you will protect your men.

"Hey, General," Snap finally says, his voice low. "Can I ask you something?"

"Always," you reply, your eyes still closed, the Force guiding your senses. 

You can feel the presence of the 419th tucked in the rolling hills behind you, the soldiers spread out along the perimeter, watching, waiting. Elsewhere on the planet, Master Luminara and her Padawan are preparing their own forces for an attack. If all goes according to plan, the droid army will be trapped between the two forces, unable to retreat or escape.

"It's about the training."

Your mouth twists. You've been expecting this conversation for a while now, and you're almost impressed that he managed to hold out this long. You're certain that the others have been whispering amongst themselves, wondering if they should bring it up. But Snap has always been the brave sort, and it seems that bravery extends to speaking his mind.

"I'm surprised it took you so long," you quip, and his breath catches, the branch creaking again.

"I..." he trails off, and the hesitation is thick, almost tangible. He clears his throat and takes a deep breath. "The men are...we're worried. About you."

Your connection to the Force snaps shut, and you open your eyes, the image of the landscape blurring before settling. You take a moment to gather yourself, the familiar pang of guilt tugging at your heart.

"Is that so?" you reply, forcing the emotion from your voice.

"Well, yeah. Of course we are," he continues. He lowers the binocs and looks down at you. "Look, I'm not trying to question your methods or anything. And I'm sure the Council has a good reason for doing whatever they're doing, but...we just don't understand why. We're fighting droids. Blasters will do the job just fine."

You let out a heavy sigh and shake your head, leaning forward and resting your forearms on your knees.

"Because the battle doesn't end the moment the droids drop," you reply, keeping your voice low. The wind is still blowing, and the last thing you need is for your words to carry back down to the camp. "The war is just beginning, and we can't afford to take any chances."

"With all due respect, General, that doesn't answer the question," he replies, his tone firm. "I don't know what kind of enemies we're facing, but I know how to fight, and I know how to win. And the men are capable of handling whatever comes at us."

"I'm not disputing that," you assure him. You keep your gaze fixed on the horizon, and you can't help but think of Rex. He would like it here. And he would be just as eager to charge into battle as the rest of them. "But this isn't about winning or losing. It's about surviving."

Snap falls silent, and the breeze picks up, ruffling your robes and tossing your hair. You close your eyes, reaching out once more, and the faint presence of the Separatist forces grows stronger, a steady trickle of droids flowing toward the village.

"I care about all of you," you continue, your voice strained. "And if the enemy ever wields the Force against you, I want you to have a chance to survive. To have a chance to fight back. I want you to have the tools to protect yourselves."

You open your eyes and look up at him, his expression hidden behind the visor. His shoulders are tense, his body stiff, and his hands clench and unclench at his sides. You can feel the emotions roiling beneath the surface, a storm of confusion and frustration.

You know it's selfish. You know it's foolish. But you can't help it. The idea of losing any of the men is unbearable, and the thought of losing Rex, the idea of him being forced to face the darkness within you, the idea of him having to kill you...it's a pain you can't even begin to comprehend.

You've already lost so much, and the future is a constant, looming threat, a shadow in the dark, a whisper on the wind. It's a burden that's always there, always lurking, and you can't shake the feeling that the worst is yet to come.

You will do everything in your power to prevent the future you've seen from coming to pass. You will not allow yourself to fall. You will not allow yourself to hurt him. Not again.

"General," Snap says, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to worry about that."

You can't help but huff a laugh, and you shake your head, your eyes stinging.

"But I do," you reply. You look away, unable to meet his gaze, and your fingers brush against the hilt of your lightsaber. "More than anything, I worry about that."

"General..."

Your comm beeps, and you raise a hand, cutting him off.

"We'll talk later," you promise. "For now, focus on the mission. Stay safe, and remember your orders. I want no heroics."

Snap hesitates for a moment, his hands flexing, and he sighs.

"Yes, sir."

You lift your vambrace up, and the holoimage of Master Luminara flickers to life. Her hands are clasped behind her back, her head tilted down, and her lips are pressed into a thin line. You immediately feel a sinking sensation in your gut.

"Master Luminara, I'm afraid you're a little early," you quip, trying to keep the anxiety from your voice. She doesn't respond, her expression unchanging, and you take a deep breath. "Okay, clearly, something's wrong. What is it?"

"We have a situation," she replies, her tone grim. She glances over her shoulder and turns back, a slight crease forming between her brows. "My scouts have reported movement to the north. A large group, and they appear to be heading in your direction."

You swallow and look up at Snap, who gives a nod. He's already moving, sliding from his perch and landing on the ground below. You watch as he hurries down the hill and back toward camp.

"How long until they arrive?" you ask.

"An hour, perhaps less," Luminara replies. Her frown deepens, and her hands clasp tighter. "But what troubles me is the makeup of their forces. They appear to be commando droids wielding blades. Cortosis blades."

"Fuck," you mutter, and her brow rises at the profanity. You sigh and shake your head. "Sorry, Master. It's just...I had a bad feeling about this."

Luminara lets out a small sigh and nods, the lines around her eyes softening.

"As did I," she murmurs, and she looks over her shoulder again before returning her attention to you. "The question is, what do we do now?"

You glance up at the sky, the first rays of sunlight piercing through the clouds.

"I'll take care of it," you say, looking back at her. Her expression shifts, concern etched on her face, and you raise a hand. "It's alright, Master. I have a plan."

"I do not doubt your capabilities," she replies, and the corners of her mouth curl upward. "However, I cannot help but notice that you tend to attract trouble."

"All the better for me to handle it," you say, smiling wryly. You're already moving, sliding down the hillside. "Don't wait for me. Attack on schedule."

"Very well," she says, and she reaches out, cutting the connection.

You pick up the pace, sprinting across the field, your boots kicking up the grass. The wind whips at your robes and sends your cloak billowing behind you. Your men are already moving, packing up the camp and waking the AT-TEs. Booker is barking orders, and the soldiers are falling into formation, their blasters at the ready.

"Booker!" you shout, and his helmet snaps up, his body tensing. He rushes over to meet you, his rifle in his hands, and the rest of the 419th follow suit. "I need a squad, and I need them now."

"What's going on?" he asks. He motions to the soldiers closest to him, and they break ranks, forming a loose semi-circle around the two of you. "Who am I shooting?"

"Cortosis blades," you reply. The color drains from his face, and he stiffens, his mouth falling open. "There's a detachment of commandos heading this way, and they're packing. Luminara’s scouts spotted them. We have less than an hour."

A ripple of tension passes through the men, a shift in stance, an adjustment of grips on rifles. No one speaks, but you don’t need the Force to feel their unease. Cortosis is rare, and the material is difficult to work with, fragile against most armor. But it can block a lightsaber, and it can kill a Jedi. It is, in effect, the greatest weapon a droid could wield against a Force-user.

Booker curses under his breath. "Great. That’s just great. So, what’s the play, General?"

You scan the gathered soldiers, your mind already calculating the odds, the risks, the potential. You could wait for the 419th. The droids won't arrive for at least an hour, and Luminara will likely send her own troops to assist, but it's not worth the risk. If the enemy is armed with cortosis, it means they're coming for you. And that puts everyone else in danger.

"I'm going ahead," you finally say, and Booker goes rigid. "You have your orders, and I trust you to carry them out."

"That's not gonna happen," he counters, and his grip on the rifle tightens, his jaw clenched. "You're not going out there alone. If the droids are really packing, you're gonna need backup."

Snap pushes his way through the group and steps forward, his shoulders squared.

"I'm coming with you," he declares. His voice is firm, resolute, and he lifts his chin. "And so are they."

He gestures to the rest of Maelstrom Company, and a chorus of agreements rings out, a show of support. Dash and Screwball take their place beside Snap, and the others follow, standing at attention.

"It's too dangerous," you argue, and Booker rolls his eyes, stepping closer.

"No, what's dangerous is sending a lone Jedi into battle against a group of commando droids wielding a rare metal known for cutting through Force shields and blocking lightsabers," he says, and his voice is quiet, his gaze hard. "So unless you're planning on telling me that all this training has been a waste of time, I suggest you let them help."

You look up at the soldiers, each wearing a fierce expression, a set jaw, a raised chin. They're not backing down, and neither is Booker. And the sight warms your heart as much as it fills you with dread.

"Well, I can't exactly argue with the entire company," you reply, and Snap lets out a snort. You shake your head and take a deep breath. "Fine. Snap, you’re with me. I need a fast, mobile team—no more than ten. We intercept before they reach the village. Cut them off in the ravine."

"Ravine’s tight quarters," Booker points out. "Could work in our favor… or trap you with them."

"I’m counting on the terrain to funnel them, limit their mobility. If they can’t swarm, we can pick them off in controlled strikes." You glance at your men, weighing each of them. "We’ll need explosives to destabilize the cliffs. Set the charges right, we could bring half of them down before they get close."

"Risky," Snap says with a low whistle.

"Only if we hesitate." You meet his gaze. "Do you trust me?"

He doesn’t waver, not for a second. "Always, sir."

That should reassure you. It should fill you with confidence. But it only serves to twist the knot in your stomach tighter. You nod anyway. "Then gear up. We move in five."

As the squad disperses to prepare, Booker lingers, his fingers tapping against his rifle. He doesn’t speak, his silence more meaningful than anything he could say. You can feel the concern radiating from him, the uncertainty, the worry.

"I know what you're thinking," you say, your voice low. His brow furrows, and his gaze shifts toward the men, watching as they grab their equipment. "But they have a choice. And I trust them."

"I'm not worried about the men, I'm worried about you," he replies, and he looks back at you, the lines around his eyes deepening. "You're taking a lot of chances lately. Don't think I haven't noticed."

"It's the only way we win," you retort. Your voice is harsh, your words more biting than you intend, and he flinches, his shoulders slumping. You let out a heavy sigh and place a hand on his arm, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"You better," he mutters, his hand coming up to cover yours. "If you get yourself killed, I'm gonna be really pissed. And don't think Rex won't be, either."

Your heart skips a beat at the mention of his name, and you pull your hand away, clearing your throat.

"You worry too much," you say, offering him a weak smile. "I'll be fine."

"Right," he replies. His expression softens, and his hand falls to his side. "Just...come back. All of you. Okay?"

"We will," you assure him. You turn and gesture for Snap to join you. "Come on, we're burning daylight."

The ravine is a jagged scar in the land, cutting deep through the valley, its steep cliffs lined with loose rock and vegetation. It's narrow, just wide enough for three men to traverse shoulder to shoulder, and the perfect place to bottleneck an enemy.

The plan is simple: let the droids enter, detonate the charges, and force the survivors into a close-quarters engagement. One they won’t walk away from.

You crouch behind a boulder at the ridge’s edge, peering down into the path below. The morning sun casts long shadows across the jagged rock walls, but it does little to ease the weight settling in your chest. You stretch your senses outward, brushing against the cold, mechanical signatures approaching from the north.

The droids are close.

Snap shifts beside you, his rifle braced against his shoulder. He's watching the ravine below, scanning the terrain, searching for any signs of movement. The others are waiting elsewhere out of sight, hidden in the shadows, ready to strike.

"I've got eyes on 'em," Snap murmurs. "Looks like... a full squad of commandos, maybe two. Moving in formation."

You exhale slowly, fingers curling around the hilts of your lightsabers. "Then we stick to the plan."

Screwball, perched on a ledge above, snorts.

"You say that like plans don’t go to hell the second we start shooting," he says, his voice barely audible through the comm. "We ready to light this thing up, or what?"

"Just hold your position," you reply. "Wait for my signal."

"Whatever you say, sir."

You glance back at him to see his posture is relaxed, his arms draped over his knees. The detonator is clutched loosely in his right hand, his thumb resting on the trigger. He seems calm, almost bored, and you can't help but envy his composure.

"Stay focused," you remind him, and he chuckles.

"Don't worry, General. I know how to handle myself."

You roll your eyes and turn back to the ravine. The droids march into view, moving with an unsettling precision. Unlike the standard B1s or even B2s, these commandos are sleek, built for agility. Their movements are eerily smooth, nearly silent, and in their hands are dual-bladed staffs made of a strange, dark metal.

Your pulse steadies. You can feel the moment hovering on the edge of action, that perfect, weightless second before a fight begins. The anticipation is always the worst, and the adrenaline is coursing through your veins, heightening your senses, sharpening your focus. Your heart is beating slow, your muscles coiled, ready to strike.

Then, with a wave of your hand, you give the signal.

The first blast rings out, echoing off the rock walls. It's followed by a second, a third, a fourth, the explosions rippling along the canyon walls in a cascade of rock and dust. The blast takes out the lead droids instantly, their metal forms crushed beneath tons of debris. The rest reel back, momentarily thrown into disarray.

"Go!"

Snap and the others move as one, blasters lighting up the smoke-filled canyon. You take a deep breath and ignite your blades, launching yourself over the ledge. You hit the ground hard, landing in the fray with a controlled burst of the Force, sending the nearest commando droid skidding backward.

Your lightsaber arcs through the air, slicing through the first droid, its body falling in two pieces. The second is already moving, its staff swinging down, and you move to block with your blade before remembering at the last moment that the cortosis will resist the plasma. You pivot, narrowly dodging the attack, and swing again, this time severing the droid's arm at the shoulder.

A bolt sizzles past you, slamming into the droid's chest, and it falls backward, collapsing to the ground. Another shot rings out, and the droid's head explodes, sending shrapnel flying. You duck, barely avoiding a piece of metal as it whizzes by.

Dash and Snap are beside you, their blasters trained on the remaining droids, their shots finding their targets with deadly accuracy. You spin, deflecting another bolt and bringing your blades down, carving a deep gash in the chest of a nearby droid. The commando falls back, its movements sluggish, and a second bolt pierces its head, causing it to fall limp.

A third and fourth droid approach, their blades swinging, and you deflect their attacks, pushing back against their onslaught. You're holding your own, but the enemy isn't faltering. The commandos regroup, adjusting, adapting. One of them moves with eerie precision, its blade slicing dangerously close to your ribs. You're forced to sidestep, throwing up a shield to block a second attack.

A warning flares in the Force.

You spin, deflecting a blaster bolt aimed at your head, and the commando is upon you, its blade sailing toward your left arm. The blade of Yaddle's lightsaber fizzles and dies as it connects with the metal, the shock nearly ripping the hilt from your hand. Your other lightsaber snaps up, cutting through the commando's arm, and the staff falls uselessly to the ground.

Your vision tunnels, your focus shifting, and the world slows to a standstill along with your heartbeat. You can hear the hum of your blade, the rasp of metal, the snap-hiss of Dash's blaster. The droids are closing in, and you're surrounded. A bolt grazes your thigh, and another glances off your shoulder. You're moving too slowly, and you can't block them all. You won't be able to keep up.

You can feel the stirrings of something whispering, calling out to you. It's there, just beyond the edge of your mind, a familiar, seductive power. You reach out, and it answers, filling you with a sense of strength, a sense of certainty. A sense of control.

It would be so easy.

So very, very easy.

You could crush the droids without a thought. You know you could. The Force is already singing, urging you forward, beckoning you, begging for release. Just a taste. Just a moment. That's all it would take. A snap of your fingers, a whisper on the wind, and the battle would be won. You could save the men, and no harm would come to them. Not if you did this. Not if you took matters into your own hands.

"General, look out!"

Snap pushes you out of the way, the butt of his rifle connecting with the side of a commando's head, sending it reeling. He ducks under the blade as you've seen him do a hundred times during training, bringing his rifle up and firing a single shot directly underneath the droid's chin. The commando goes still, its head jerking backwards before its body falls lifelessly to the ground.

He's panting, his helmet tilted, and his visor is locked onto you, his shoulders tense.

"You okay?" Snap asks, his voice tight, and you nod and swallow hard.

"Thanks."

"What the hell was that, sir? You stopped moving."

You shake your head and straighten, gripping your lightsabers tightly. Yaddle's blade hums to life again, and the hilt feels strangely cold, a chill creeping up your arm.

"Nothing," you reply. "Don't worry about it. Let's finish this."

"Copy that," he mutters. He lifts his blaster and fires, taking down a nearby commando, its head exploding in a shower of sparks. "Watch your six."

You glance to the side just in time to see a droid rushing toward you, its blade raised. You dodge, sidestepping and swinging your own blade, catching the staff as it sails past. The staff breaks in two, and both halves swipe toward you, striking your shoulder and knocking you back. The impact sends you staggering, your boots sliding on the loose dirt, and your feet slip from underneath you.

Dash is there before you can right yourself, stepping in front of you and ducking under the droid’s staff, his own vibroblade flashing in the sun. He slashes upward, severing the its arm at the elbow, and spins, his leg snapping out and catching the droid in the chest. It flies backward, crashing into the rock wall. Its body is mangled, the metal twisted and bent, and it crumples to the ground, unmoving.

Dash turns, his hand outstretched, and you can't help but smile.

“You’re still leaving your left side open,” you tease. You clasp his hand, and he pulls you to your feet, his helmet tilting to the side.

"What, that wasn't good?"

You can’t help but laugh before you wince, grabbing your injured shoulder. The blade failed to cut through your armor, but you can feel the bruise forming already.

"It was better," you concede.

Screwball lands on the ground behind you with a thud, his boots kicking up a cloud of dust. He raises his blaster, firing a series of shots, and a trio of droids collapse. They fall into a heap, and he lets out a whoop, spinning around and shooting another commando as it charges him.

"That's the last of 'em," he declares. He slings his rifle over his shoulder and gestures to the wreckage, a cocky tilt to his stance. "You should put me in charge of your training sessions, General. I could teach the men a thing or two."

You shake your head, still clutching your shoulder. "I'll consider it."

He lets out a bark of laughter and turns, surveying the destruction. You take a moment to catch your breath, the adrenaline starting to wear off, and your legs are shaking. You can feel the exhaustion settling in, the familiar ache spreading through your limbs, and the pain in your shoulder is worsening.

"That was easier than I expected," Screwball says. He nudges a nearby droid with his foot, his helmet tilting to the side. "Almost disappointingly easy."

Snap lets out a sigh. “Don’t jinx it, vod. We're not done yet."

The comm crackles, and a voice comes through, faint but distinct.

"Sir, this is Booker. We have a situation."

You and Snap share a look. Screwball snorts, and the captain shakes his head at him, pointing an accusatory finger. "Told you."

"Report," you say, tapping the commlink in your wrist gauntlet. "What's going on?"

“Our party guests never showed,” Booker answers grimly. "Looks like we got played."

"Shit," you breathe, and your gaze snaps up, scanning the area. The ravine is still, the morning sun casting long shadows across the rocky ground. Nothing stirs, and the only noise is the wind whistling through the narrow gap. But there's a heaviness in the air, an invisible presence, a cold sensation pressing down on your senses. “They could still be coming."

"I don't think so," Snap replies. His helmet tilts up, and he points to the sky, where a cloud of smoke is rising in the distance. "That's not a good sign."

The comm crackles, and a voice comes through. It's strained, distorted, and filled with static.

"—epeat, we—eing atta—"

"Luminara?" you ask, tapping the commlink. "Do you copy?"

"—eady?—an't—"

"Master, can you hear me?"

There's nothing but static, and you curse, tapping the link again. It's no use. The transmission has been cut off, and the heavy feeling in the air has only gotten worse. Your gaze shifts back to the sky, where the column of smoke is darkening, a thick cloud rising over the valley.

“Find a droid with its memory core intact,” you order, and the men scramble, searching the wreckage. "We need to know what we're up against."

You take a step forward, your gaze fixed on the smoke. The weight is almost unbearable, a pressure on your mind, an invisible fist squeezing. You can feel it trying to force you down, trying to make you bend. And it's only getting stronger.

“Booker," you murmur, your voice tight, and you can hear the unease in his response. "Tell me you're seeing this."

"I see it, General,” he answers. “Looks like it’s coming from the capitol. Whatever the hell this is, it's bad."

"Yeah, I got that," you reply, and the smoke continues to billow, a black plume against the blue sky. 

Your pulse is pounding, a lump in your throat. It's just like the visions. The smoke. The screaming. The bodies. It's all there. And it's happening right now.

"We need to get moving," you say. You turn and start walking, the men falling in behind you. Screwball props his foot on the chest of the droid he’s looming over and wrenches its head off, tossing it to Dash. "Now. Work fast. We need that data."

Snap catches up to you, his footsteps quick.

"Is everything okay, General?" he asks. He lowers his voice, glancing over his shoulder at the others. "You're not looking so hot."

"I'm fine," you snap, and he stiffens, his pace slowing. "Sorry. It's just...it's nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," you reply. "I'm not hurt."

"That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it," he counters. His voice is gentle, his tone cautious, and he matches your pace, his posture stiff. "You froze up out there. The last time I saw you like that, you…”

You turn away, avoiding his gaze. Snap is the only person who’s ever seen the extent of the ability you keep locked away, the only one to bear witness to the amount of destruction the blast of energy could cause. It was a mistake, a loss of control. He was the first person to see the true depth of the darkness in your heart. And you know he hasn’t forgotten.

"Don't worry," you mutter. You can feel the anger simmering in your chest, the frustration. "I have no intention of repeating that mistake."

He sighs. "It's not a mistake, it's just—"

"It is," you insist, turning back. Your eyes are stinging, and your hand curls into a fist, nails biting into the flesh of your palm. "It's not who I am. And it's not who I want to be."

He pauses, his shoulders slumping, and the silence between you is heavy. The wind blows, scattering the dust at your feet, and the smell of smoke fills your nose, the air thick with the scent of ash and burnt metal. You can't help but shudder, and you know Snap notices.

"It's just..." he says, and the words catch, his voice rough. "I've seen what that power can do. I've seen what you're capable of." He glances over his shoulder and looks back at you, his head tilted down, his voice dropping. "And if you're gonna go head-to-head with that thing, I want to make sure you're doing it on purpose."

"It's under control," you repeat. You take a deep breath, forcing your voice to remain even, your gaze focused. "I won't let it get the better of me."

"I trust you," he murmurs. He places a hand on your arm, his grip gentle, his fingers squeezing. "I trust you, but I also care about you, and I know how much you hate yourself for using that ability."

"Snap," you whisper, your heart aching. You don't deserve his concern. You don't deserve his kindness. But he gives it freely, and it only adds to the guilt twisting in your gut. "Please. I can't talk about this right now. We have a mission."

"Right," he agrees. He nods, his helmet bobbing, and his hand falls to his side. "Right. Sorry."

You give him a weak smile. "It's okay. We'll talk about it later."

"You always say that."

"Because we will," you assure him. "I promise."

The comm crackles, and Booker's voice rings out, cutting through the silence.

“General, just got word from Gree,” he says, and the knot in your stomach tightens. "They’re under heavy fire in the capitol."

You lift up your commlink, and the holoprojection of Booker flickers to life. He's pacing, his helmet tucked under his arm, and his expression is drawn, his jaw set.

"How heavy?"

"A full-on siege," he replies, stopping to turn toward you. He shakes his head, and the image stutters. "They've barricaded themselves in the central square. If we don't hurry, they won't last long."

You exhale slowly, steeling yourself. 

“Don't wait for us," you order. “Take the transports and get to the city now. Reinforce General Unduli and hold the line until we get there.”

Booker hesitates, his eyes searching yours. Then, with a nod, he replies, "Copy that, sir. See you soon."

The image flickers out, and you lower your arm, taking a deep breath. You stop walking and look over at the squad, where Screwball is holding the droid’s head out for Dash. The young trooper has jacked into the port on the back of its head, the other end tethered to his datapad. You can see the information scrolling across the screen, and you gesture for him to join you.

"Got something," he calls, and he jogs over, holding up the device. The data is streaming across the screen, and the map is flashing. You can see the layout of the town and the location of the main square. "Looks like they're moving on the capitol. They rerouted all of their forces."

"They knew we were waiting for them in the village," Snap mutters. He steps beside you, his helmet tilted. "But why still send a commando unit out here instead of using them for the siege?"

"That's a damn good question," Screwball agrees. "Maybe they figured the droids could handle us?"

"Unlikely," you reply, and the map is flashing again. It zooms in, revealing the path the droids took, a route directly toward the capitol. "They were leading us away from the main battle. Leading me away."

"Leading you away?" Dash asks. "Why would they want to do that? Seems like a waste of resources."

“Dooku had a shiny new toy he wanted to show off," Screwball suggests. He grins, his visor glinting. "Maybe he wants to play with our Jedi."

"He's playing with fire," you mutter. Your gaze shifts to the sky, where the smoke is rising, the plume dark and ominous. "We're going to have to move on foot. Send everything you have to Booker and Gree. Tell them what we're facing."

Dash nods, tapping the console before he looks up at the sky.

"You think Master Unduli and the 41st are gonna be okay?" he asks, his voice quiet, and his helmet turns, his visor gleaming in the light. "I mean, they're gonna have their hands full without us, right?"

You let out a slow breath and try to calm your mind. It's harder than usual. These past few months of constant battles have worn down your shields. You're struggling to find the stillness within, and your many attempts to draw the darkness into the light and transform it have been futile. Yaddle's teachings feel more and more like a memory of a bygone era, a dream half-remembered, a shadow of what could have been. A shadow of who you could have been.

You know that Luminara will succeed. She has a lifetime of training and discipline behind her, a lifetime of experience and wisdom. She's a beacon of light in the Force, a pillar of strength. She's everything you're not, and she's everything you should have been. And she has an entire legion of men to help her.

So, yes. You know she will succeed.

The question is at what cost.

"They’ll be fine," you say, the lie burning on your tongue. Dash relaxes slightly, and his helmet tilts back toward the sky, the clouds drifting lazily overhead. "Let's get moving. We've got a job to do."

By the time you reach the capitol, the city is already burning. Flames are consuming buildings, smoke billowing from shattered windows and crumbling walls. The defensive wall has been breached, and droid tanks are rolling through the streets, their guns firing incessantly into buildings with seemingly no pattern.

It's chaos.

You've fought for the Republic long and hard. You've bled for the Republic. And you've lost men. Too many.

But this...this is unlike anything you've seen.

Screwball's hand finds the back of your head, pushing you down behind the cover of the rubble as a squadron of vulture droids pass overhead, the whine of their engines echoing off the broken buildings. Two Republic fighters painted with the green of the 41st are in pursuit, but the droids are too fast, and they evade the blasts easily. They soar over the rooftops, and the fighters are forced to break off, looping around to regroup.

You take a deep breath and lean back against the broken concrete, the rough texture digging into your spine. The smell of ash is in the air, burning stone, metal, and something worse. Something organic.

“General Unduli’s position is—” Static erupts from your comm, and all ten of the troopers turn their heads toward you. “—east sector—cut off—heavy casualties—”

A sudden explosion racks the building beside you, and you throw up a shield to deflect the debris. Shards of rock and chunks of metal rain down around you, and a nearby AT-TE topples, its treads snapping as it crashes into the street.

You grit your teeth and close your eyes, reaching out through the Force, trying to locate Luminara and Barriss. You can sense them, but the connection is faint. Their signatures are distant, their presence shrouded by the fog of the battle.

"We need to get to the main square," you tell the men. "We're getting cut off. Luminara and Barriss are in danger."

"That's great and all, but how the hell are we gonna do that?" Screwball asks, his tone clipped. He glances over his shoulder and ducks down as another explosion rocks the city, sending a shower of dust and ash falling from the sky. "If those things spot us, we're toast."

He's right. The entire avenue leading toward General Unduli’s last known position is blocked by swaths of droids. Separatist reinforcements are pouring in faster than Republic forces can push them back. You can hear the clones fighting street by street, alley by alley, but the tide is shifting, and the droids are advancing.

You take a deep breath and center yourself, focusing on the task athand. It's not just about getting to Luminara and Barriss. There are civilians trapped in the crossfire. Families. Children. Innocents. You have a duty to protect them. And that means you need to find a way through.

Dash moves closer, crouching beside you. "I have an idea."

"Let's hear it."

"Well," he says, his voice low, and his visor gleams. "It's probably a really stupid idea, but I think it could work."

"Oh, boy," Screwball mutters.

"What's your plan?"

He points toward a series of cables dangling from the side of a nearby building, and your eyes narrow. "You're not serious."

He huffs. "Got a better idea?"

You glance at the cables again and shake your head. "Fine. But we need to make this quick."

"Then follow my lead."

Before you can argue, Dash launches himself out of cover and begins sprinting toward the opposite side of the street. You curse and follow after him, the rest of the squad close behind. The droids are still occupied with the AT-TEs, their backs turned, and the distraction buys you a precious moment of time.

Scaling the side of the building is a challenge, but you're able to use the Force to pull yourself up. You reach the roof just as the droids notice your squad, their heads swiveling toward the men. The first bolt is already flying, and it narrowly misses Dash's helmet, slamming into the building behind him.

You and the squad race across the roof, dodging shots and leaping across the gaps between the buildings. Below, the droids are scrambling, their cannons swiveling up toward you, and the sky is filled with a hail of fire. Blasts streak past you, and you're forced to throw up a shield, deflecting the incoming projectiles. One bolt skims past your arm, slicing through the cloth between your shoulder plate and rerebrace. You bite back a yelp and push forward, urging the men onward.

The gap ahead is wider than the others, the distance too great to jump. Instead, you leap onto the edge and push off, using the Force to propel yourself across.

"Two at a time, I'll catch you!" you shout.

"Copy that," Dash calls. He slows and turns to the nearest clone, shoving him forward. "You're up, Screwball."

"Why do I have to go first?" Screwball grumbles. He glances over the edge of the building, his shoulders sagging. "Shit."

"Because you're the slowest," Dash replies, his tone matter-of-fact. "And I want to make sure we get there in time."

Screwball mutters something under his breath, and he braces himself, preparing for the jump. Another trooper, Fuse, nudges him as he lines up his jump, and the two of them leap across the gap. You catch them with a wave of the Force, carrying them safely to the other side.

The rest of the squad follows, leaping across in pairs. Each time, you catch them and lower them gently to the ground. 

It's exhausting work, and you're beginning to feel the strain of the battle. The constant fighting, the constant running, the constant use of the Force has left you drained. Your limbs are heavy, your lungs aching, and your injuries are only getting worse. You can barely lift the arm that was wounded by the cortosis blade, and your shoulder is throbbing, the pain pulsing in time with your heartbeat. You're running on pure adrenaline and willpower. It's the only thing keeping you going.

Your arm wavers as Snap and another trooper make the leap, and you let out a gasp as they drop. They fall halfway across, their bodies crashing into the side of the building. You reach out, catching them and pulling them up, but the effort leaves you breathless. The men scramble over the edge and roll onto the roof, their armor scratched and dented.

"That was a hell of a catch, sir," Snap wheezes. He pushes himself to his feet and gives the other man a hand up. "Thanks."

"Anytime," you mutter. You stand, taking a moment to steady yourself, and the world tilts. You lean heavily against Fuse, his arm steadying you. "I think we're almost there."

"You're wounded, sir," he says. His fingers brush the raw burn bisecting your arm, and you wince, hissing between your teeth. "I've got bacta gel, let me patch it up."

"It can wait," you insist, shaking your head. You straighten and take a deep breath, willing yourself to stay upright. "We're close. We can't afford to stop."

He grumbles, but you don't give him a chance to argue, and you lead the squad toward the edge of the building. The main square is in view, the plaza choked with smoke, the buildings surrounding it ablaze. The battle has spilled into the streets, a sea of white and green and gold fighting against an army of metal. It's chaos.

"We're nearly there," you call, and the men pick up the pace.

"General, I'm detecting movement," Snap calls. "Incoming!"

A Republic fighter streaks overhead, and the droids shift their attention, their guns tracking the ship. A blast connects, and the fighter spins out of control, the engines sputtering. The ship crashes into the rooftop on the opposite side of the square, sending debris and shrapnel raining down into the fray.

“We drop in hard and fast. Shock and break their ranks before they realize what’s happening," you command. You pause, taking a moment to steel yourself, and your fingers curl around the hilt of Yaddle's lightsaber. The hilt is warm beneath your touch, a comfort. "Be careful. There are civilians in the area."

"Yes, sir," the men chorus.

"Good. Move out!"

With that, the squad launches themselves off the building, their armored bodies plummeting toward the ground. The troopers land hard, their boots pounding against the ground, and they move quickly, falling into formation. They spread out, weapons raised, and begin firing on the droids.

You land a moment later, and you're moving before the shock wears off. Your lightsabers swing wide, cutting through a pair of droids, and the troopers press forward, their guns blazing. They fight like a well-oiled machine, each man knowing exactly where the other is, where he needs to be. They work in perfect synchronization, and the droids are overwhelmed, their ranks crumbling.

But the fighting isn't easy. The droids are relentless, and the clones are outnumbered. Fuse takes a hit to the chest and goes down, a scorch mark seared across his breastplate. Screwball dives, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the line of fire, and a pair of troopers flank him, their blasters lighting up the air.

"Push through!" you order. You deflect a bolt aimed at a clone's head, your lightsaber flashing, and the droid explodes. "We need to reach General Unduli!"

Snap falls into step beside you, his rifle pressed against his shoulder. He fires a series of shots, taking down three droids in quick succession.

"She's holed up in the capitol building," he says. He points to a tower looming over the square, its walls crumbling, its windows shattered. A few troopers peek out of the upper windows every few seconds to fire on the droids before retreating, only to reappear a moment later. "That's where they're holding out."

You can sense Luminara's presence now. Her signature is unmistakable, her power rippling through the Force. She's still standing, but you can sense the pain radiating from her. It's like a physical weight pressing down on you, and it only adds to your exhaustion.

"We need to hurry," you say.

A pair of vulture droids scream overhead, their wings folding back as they dive toward the ground. A clone on a nearby rooftop fires a rocket, and the projectile connects, sending the fighter spiraling out of control.

You watch in horror as it spirals toward where Dash and several other troopers are engaged with a group of droids. The fighter crashes into the ground, and a wall of smoke and flame erupts, sending men and droids alike flying.

"Dash!" you shout. "Snap, find him! Go!"

"Yes, sir!"

Snap launches himself toward the crash site, his blaster held high. He ducks and rolls, firing a shot that blows apart a droid's chest, and he's up again, sprinting into the smoke. The rest of the men follow, and you force yourself to turn away toward the capitol building, where a line of droids has formed, blocking the entrance.

The battle rages around you, a blur of noise and fire and smoke. You can't tell the droids apart from the clones anymore. You just keep pushing, tears stinging your eyes as you slash and cut and slice. The droids fall around you, and you don't stop. You're not sure you even breath until you're inside the capitol building, the doors slamming shut behind you.

"Master," a voice says, and you turn to see Barriss, her expression drawn. Her robes are stained with blood, her head covering torn. "Thank the Force."

"Are you alright?" you ask, and she nods, her lips pressing together. "Where's Luminara?"

"She's resting," Barriss replies. She gestures for you to follow, and she leads you deeper into the building. "We were forced to retreat after our forces were pushed back. There's only a handful of our squad left."

You follow her up the stairs and into the main chamber. It's a functional room, plain and unadorned, a testament to Nadiem’s agricultural roots. Two troopers are positioned at the entrance, and a third is tending to a wounded comrade, wrapping bandages around his arm. Luminara is leaning on a pillar, her hand clutching her side and watching the scene. She straightens as you enter, her expression softening.

"You took your time," she teases, her smile faint. She looks weary, her eyes heavy, and there's a bruise blooming along her jaw. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten about us."

"Ah, well. You know me, always fashionably late," you reply. You return her smile and move toward her, your gaze shifting to her side. "How badly are you hurt?"

"Just a scratch," she says. She moves her hand, and you can see a deep gash in her side, the edges singed. But the bleeding has stopped, and the wound isn't as bad as it could be. "Barriss has handled the worst of it."

"Good work," you praise, and Barriss flushes, ducking her head. "I'm sorry we were delayed. The situation with the commandos was worse than expected."

Luminara sighs. "I should have known. Dooku is always full of tricks."

"We're just glad you made it," Barriss says. Her gaze shifts, and her brow furrows. "Are you alright? You look...unwell."

You try to hide your grimace at the question. It's one you've heard enough of today, and you feel a flash of irritation, though it's not directed at Barriss.

"I'm fine," you lie.

The wound on your arm throbs, and the smell of blood and smoke is everywhere. You can't tell the difference between the two anymore. It's all just death. All just pain. And you can't take it anymore. Your body is shaking, and you want to collapse, to curl up in a corner and cry, but you can't.

There's a voice in the back of your head that whispers to you, reminding you that you have the power to end this, to save the clones. It would be so easy. Just a snap of your fingers. A flick of your wrist. You could have the whole thing over in a matter of minutes.

You bite your cheek, tasting blood, and you squeeze your eyes shut. It's tempting. So, so tempting. But you know what will happen if you give in. The darkness will consume you. And what happened here on Nadiem will pale in comparison to what will happen elsewhere. To what you will become.

No.

You can't.

You won't.

But, Maker, you want to.

"It's been a hell of a day," you offer when the silence has dragged too long. You try to keep your voice light, but the words come out strained. "I'll be fine once I get a chance to sit down."

Luminara's eyes narrow.

"General!"

You whip around, your head snapping toward the entrance. Booker is standing in the doorway, his helmet tucked under his arm. He's out of breath, his hair disheveled, his uniform covered in dirt and soot. But he's alive. He's alive.

And he's smiling.

"You're not gonna believe this," he pants. "But they're retreating."

"What?" you gasp.

"I know," he says. He grins, and the rest of the men begin pouring in behind him. "Looks like they ran out of tricks. The reinforcements are pulling out."

The wave of relief that crashes over you is staggering, drowning out the pain and fatigue and worry. Your legs threaten to buckle, and you have to grab the wall for support, the stone rough beneath your fingers.

Booker pushes past the rest of the men and grabs you, his arms wrapping around your waist and lifting you off the ground. He spins you around, and the motion only adds to the dizziness.

"Put me down," you laugh. He obliges, setting you back on your feet, and you lean heavily against him, your eyes falling shut. "Kriff. I didn't think we'd make it."

He huffs. "Don't be so dramatic."

Your head lolls, and he steadies you, his hands on your shoulders. You force your eyes open, blinking away the black spots that swim in your vision.

"Dash?" you ask. "Snap? Is everyone...?"

"We're all fine, sir," Booker replies. His tone is soft, reassuring, and he holds up a finger. "Well, Fuse is a bit banged up, but he'll pull through. Wise is already reading him the riot act about not taking cover sooner."

Your shoulders sag. "Thank the Force."

"General!"

Your head snaps toward the door, and Snap is striding across the room, a smile on his face. You break away from Booker and launch yourself toward him, and he catches you, his arms encircling you.

"Snap, are you okay? Are the others—"

"They're fine," he promises. His voice is warm, and his hands rub circles on your back, his touch gentle. "We're all okay."

You relax, melting into his embrace. The world is spinning, but it doesn't matter. He's safe. Everyone is safe.

And you're so, so tired.

Your knees give out, and Snap's arms tighten around you, holding you up. "General."

"M'okay," you murmur, your forehead resting against his chest plate. His heart is pounding, his body trembling. "I'm okay."

He lets out a shaky laugh. "You're not."

He's right. But it doesn't matter.

You've won. You're alive.

And you're still holding on.

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[frownyalfred]

i don’t know if arkham prince bruce would be able to have the same level of sheer muscle mass as batman. the arkham cafeteria slop does not have optimized macros and the time/space bruce has available for exercise probably varies wildly depending on the whims of his doctors and whether or not he’s in solitary. i just reread the fic where clark, bruce, and batboys get stranded for three weeks without rations, so now my head is filled with thoughts of clark watching bruce do push-ups on his second day of the guards not bringing any food, morbidly fascinated by the function of a body so pared down to essentials. he doesn’t need x-ray vision to see the bones and muscles sliding beneath bruce’s skin when he moves. it’s equal parts horrifying and enthralling to see how well-adapted bruce is to his chosen environment

Absolutely -- I actually slid a line about this into Eye in the Sky, how Bruce needs that extra protein to maintain his muscle mass and how he's still insanely strong and muscular without it, but he's definitely much leaner. I imagine it takes some time though -- you don't lose all your muscle right away. If Bruce was bulked up from the LoA training and his crusade in Gotham, getting sent to Arkham means he'd probably drop a couple dozen pounds right away, and then less and less as time went on. It's much easier to hold onto what you currently have, if you're smart about it. You can prioritize fat loss during diminished caloric periods instead of muscle loss if you exercise the fuck out of said muscles. You still lose muscle of course, but you lose less than you would otherwise. That's why it's so important to eat protein and do resistance training when you're losing a lot of weight -- we see this with ozempic/GLP-1's right now, where people get down to a lower bodyweight but they lose so much muscle because they were completely sedentary and eating low protein the whole time.

That's all to say -- I'm sure Bruce knew this would happen, and has plans in place to maintain as much lean muscle and power as he can. He's doing as much resistance training as he can in his cell, he's bribing and trading for protein with the guards/other prisoners, and he's losing fat he can spare when he's locked up in solitary and can't eat.

[study-diaries]

Floor To Ceiling Method

This is something i found out recently. When you're trying to build a habit or if you want to achieve a specific goal or anything. You just have to put in a really simple chart like this.

Basically, let's say, i want to lose some weight. That's the habit that i want to build. So, that's your first step.

Step 1: Set your goal

Set your goal, whether it is losing weight or getting good grades or straight As. The trick is to be extremely specific. Write your Goal down. And write a single activity that you can do everyday to achieve your goal.

Step 2: Set your bare minimum as your floor.

Your bare minimum, let's say, a 15 min walk or 10 push ups or some jumping jacks. It could be anything. Literally no matter how small. Set a floor. Your bare minimum action that you do when you don't even feel like doing anything.

Step 3: Assign small goals for each level.

At level 1, set another action that is just a bit more challenging than the bare minimum. Then, at level 2, raise the action a bit more. And level 3 must be harder than that.

Step 4: Then set your ceiling which is a full on focus activity.

Set a ceiling which is the hardest action, let's say 1 hour of exercise. That's your highest peak action.

So, your aim must be to do your "Ceiling" activity everyday but on days which you feel that you are burnt out or are tired? This is the method that might help.

The trick is to actually never miss a day. Not a single one. You can do level 1, 2 or 3 depending on the day or even the bare minimum would be enough.

This method helps you to actually realize that you don't have to achieve your ceilings every single day. Sometimes, the floor is also enough and the trick is to not let a day go by without doing some actionable step towards your goals

This Helps In:

Maintaining Consistency

Improves Motivation

Isn't Toxic

Gives you a level that you can adapt to your day

It's easy to build habits

Hope it helps! :)