#how reduce to bloating

[be-moreyou]

Say Goodbye to Bloating - #bloating #sygoodbyetobloating #howtoreduceblo...

[housecow]

hair is looking healthy again, my skin is clear asf, i can barely squeeze thru the bathroom door where i’m staying, double chin has somehow greatly reduced after not being able to eat for 3 days… i’m kinda cute rn ngl

[blackrevell]

If I witness 4k textures on yet another 10 pixel big clothing mod, I'm gonna scream at a frequency that shatters glass globally

[wellnessnutritionnerd]

How to Reduce Puffy Face and Facial Bloating | Say Goodbye to a Bloated ...

[surinderbhalla]

Beat Bloating Fast- Top Tips

Bloating is a common gastrointestinal issue that many individuals experience at some point in their lives. It occurs when the abdomen feels full, tight, and swollen, often accompanied by discomfort or pain. While occasional bloating is usually benign and may result from overeating or consuming certain foods, persistent or severe bloating may indicate an underlying health condition. This article:…

[liviawildrose]

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝟏

listen up, pookie your kitty (yes, her) deserves to be treated like royalty. she works overtime for you, keeps you feeling good, and deserves top-tier maintenance. if you’ve ever wondered how to keep your girl fresh, healthy, and thriving, then sit back, grab some tea (preferably one that benefits her—more on that later), and let’s dive DEEP into the one and only guide you’ll ever need on vaginal health, hygiene, and overall reproductive wellness.

taking care of your kitty isn’t just about hygiene, it’s about honoring your femininity, connecting with your body, and embracing your divine energy. when she’s healthy, fresh, and balanced, you feel more confident, radiant, and in tune with yourself. a well-cared-for kitty enhances your sensuality, self-love, and overall well-being, making you feel empowered in your femininity. it’s an act of self-respect and self-care, a ritual that reminds you that your body is sacred. when you nurture her, you’re not just maintaining hygiene, you’re cultivating a deeper connection with your womanhood and stepping into your most powerful, feminine self.

1. internal care: what you put in is what you get out.

your kitty is a self-cleaning queen, but she still needs your help to stay in her best shape. what you consume directly affects her smell, taste, moisture, and overall health. let’s break it all down:

🎀 water is your bestie

first things first “drink your damn water, babygirl.” if your kitty has ever smelled a little “off,” felt dry, or just hasn’t been vibing right, chances are you’re dehydrated. dehydration leads to:

• stronger vaginal odors (not the good kind)

• increased risk of infections

• dryness and discomfort

how much should you drink? at LEAST 2-3 liters a day. and if you struggle with drinking plain water, add:

• lemon (helps balance pH)

• cucumber (hydrating AF)

• mint (cooling & refreshing)

🎀 lemon water = ph queen

starting your day with warm lemon water is a game changer. why?

• it flushes out toxins

• it helps balance your vaginal pH (prevents infections, odors, and irritation)

• it keeps your skin glowing (bonus win)

make it a daily ritual, and your kitty will thank you.

🎀 tea time = kitty care time

certain teas work wonders for your vaginal health. here are some of the best ones:

• ginger tea → reduces inflammation, fights infections

• red raspberry leaf tea → strengthens the uterus, great for periods

• chamomile tea → reduces bloating & period cramps

• green tea → full of antioxidants, helps with vaginal odor

sip on these daily and watch the magic happen.

🎀 probiotics: the real MVPs

your vagina needs good bacteria to stay healthy, and probiotics help maintain that delicate flora balance. if you’re prone to yeast infections, BV, or UTIs, adding probiotics to your routine is non-negotiable

best probiotic sources:

• greek yogurt (plain, no added sugar!)

• kimchi & sauerkraut

• kombucha

• probiotic supplements

🎀 best food for your kitty

pineapple

watermelon

strawberries & berries

coconut water

citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits)

plain yogurt (probiotic-rich foods)

cucumber

celery boosts pheromones and gives a clean, light scent.

ginger & mint.

pheromones are natural chemical signals your body releases that can subconsciously attract others and enhance your sensual presence. they play a huge role in sexual attraction, confidence, and even how people perceive you. the more balanced and active your pheromone production, the more naturally alluring, magnetic, and desirable you become.

foods to limit or avoid (can cause strong or unpleasant odors)

asparagus

onions & garlic

red meat

too much dairy

excess sugar & processed foods

alcohol & coffee

2. external care: keep her fresh & clean (but not TOO clean)

your kitty is a self-cleaning goddess, which means less is more when it comes to washing. over-cleansing, using harsh soaps, or douching = disaster. let’s talk about how to properly care for her.

🎀 washing: gentle, gentle, gentle

• use only warm water to wash your vulva (external area)

• if you need a cleanser, pick one that is pH-balanced and fragrance-free

• never wash inside your vagina (she cleans herself)

avoid:

• anything scented (no bath bombs, no perfumes, no harsh soaps)

• douching (throws off your pH and causes infections)

🎀 menstrual care: keep it fresh

your period is not dirty, but you need to maintain proper hygiene:

• change your pads/tampons every 3-4 hours

• if using a menstrual cup, sterilize it before and after each cycle

• wear breathable cotton underwear during your period

• drink iron-rich teas and foods to replenish nutrients

during your period, your body is already working hard to clean itself, so you don’t need to scrub down excessively. instead:

wash with lukewarm water & a gentle pH-balanced cleanser

avoid harsh soaps, fragrances, or douching — these strip your natural protective bacteria, making you prone to infections.

if you need a quick refresh, use unscented, pH-balanced feminine wipes (no alcohol, no fragrance!)

pads & tampons – change every 4-6 hours to prevent bacteria buildup. leaving them in too long can cause bad odors, irritation, and even infections.

menstrual cups – empty every 8-12 hours, wash with mild, unscented soap, and boil between cycles for proper hygiene.

drink 2-3L of water daily – helps flush out toxins and reduces bloating.

eat fresh fruits (pineapple, watermelon, oranges) – these keep your kitty’s natural scent light & sweet.

take probiotics (yogurt, kimchi, kombucha) – maintain a healthy vaginal pH & prevent yeast infections.

avoid too much caffeine, alcohol & processed foods – these can make you smell stronger and increase cramps.

drink herbal teas (ginger, chamomile, raspberry leaf) – these help relax muscles & ease cramps.

do light movement (yoga, stretching, walking) – keeps blood flowing & reduces bloating.

apply a warm compress or heating pad – this soothes your uterus & relieves pain.

take magnesium & vitamin B6 – these reduce cramps & mood swings.

cut down on salt & sugar – excess sodium & sugar make bloating & cramps worse.

🎀 underwear game: cotton only, babes

ditch the synthetic panties and switch to 100% cotton. why?

• it’s breathable

• reduces sweat buildup

• prevents yeast infections

also, sleep without underwear when possible, let your kitty breathe. (i don’t wear at home at all lol)

🎀 yoni steams: ancient but powerful

yoni steaming is an old practice that helps:

• cleanse the vagina and uterus

• balance hormones

• improve circulation

• relieve menstrual cramps

how to do it:

1. boil water and add herbs like mugwort, lavender, and rosemary.

2. sit over the steam (like a chair with a hole or squat over it but please don’t burn yourself, pookie).

3. let the steam cleanse and refresh your kitty for 15-20 minutes.

subliminal for yoni (listen whenever possible)

3. maintaining, tightness & strength

a strong kitty = better bladder control, better sex, and a healthier reproductive system. let’s talk about keeping her snatched and healthy.

🎀 kegels = tight & right

doing kegels daily helps with:

• stronger orgasms

• bladder control

• postpartum recovery

how to do it:

• squeeze your pelvic muscles (like you’re stopping pee)

• hold for 5-10 seconds

• repeat 10-15 times

do this every day, and you’ll notice a difference.

how to do kegels exercises?

pelvic exercises for women

🎀 waxing, shaving, or au naturel?

how you groom is completely your choice, but here’s the tea:

• waxing → lasts longer, reduces ingrown hairs

• shaving → quick but can cause irritation

• lasering → best long-term option, reduces hair permanently

• natural → totally fine but at least trim it time to time and clean it nicely to avoid any odour or infection

🎀 wipes: do we love them?

YES—but only the right ones.

• fragrance-free

• pH-balanced

• alcohol-free

use them after sex, gym sessions, or when you need a quick refresh.

4. sex & post-sex care: protect, cleanse, and glow

listen up, pookie—what happens in the bedroom affects your kitty’s health. whether you’re getting spicy on the regular or once in a blue moon, proper aftercare is a MUST. neglecting this step can lead to infections, irritation, or discomfort, and we don’t want that, do we?

always, ALWAYS pee after sex

i don’t care if you’re tired, cuddly, or just feeling lazy—get up and pee. this flushes out bacteria that might have entered your urethra, preventing UTIs (urinary tract infections).

wash her up (gently)

• rinse your vulva (external area) with warm water

• if needed, use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser

• pat dry with a soft towel—don’t rub! (also keep a separate towel only for her) (her means your vagina)

does pineapple really change taste?

yes and no. diet does influence how you taste down there, but it’s not just about pineapple. your diet plays the biggest role in how you taste. the goal is to eat foods that are light, fresh, and naturally sweet.

• sweet, hydrating foods = milder, pleasant taste

• too much processed food & dairy = stronger, unpleasant odor

foods that help:

drink at least 2-3L of water daily – keeps your juices light, clear & fresh.

add lemon or cucumber to your water – natural detox, makes your fluids lighter & more neutral.

drink coconut water – packed with natural electrolytes & lightens your natural taste.

chlorophyll water = internal deodorizer – helps your kitty and cum stay fresh & clean.

pineapple, mango, strawberries, watermelon – these are nature’s candy and make your cum sweeter & fruitier.

oranges, lemons, grapefruit – full of vitamin C, which neutralizes strong odors.

apples, grapes, kiwis – naturally sweeten your fluids.

cinnamon, honey, vanilla – add natural warmth & sweetness to your juices.

cucumber & celery – high in water & help flush out toxins, keeping you light & clean-tasting.

mint & parsley – natural breath & body fresheners.

sweet potatoes & yams – help maintain a balanced, natural sweetness.

foods to limit:

onions & garlic or strong spices

too much red meat and processed

alcohol and coffee

excess dairy

🎀 protect your pH: condoms matter

raw is fun and all, but if you’re not in a committed, tested relationship, you NEED protection. unprotected sex can:

• throw off your vaginal pH

• increase risk of infections (BV, yeast, UTIs)

• expose you to STIs plus girl you don’t wanna get pregnant especially if you’re not committed

if condoms make you itchy or irritated, you might be allergic to latex switch to non-latex condoms instead.

5. infections & odor: keep things fresh & problem-free

let’s be real sometimes, your kitty acts up. you might notice a smell, unusual discharge, or irritation. this is your body talking to you pay attention!

what’s normal vs. not?

your vagina has a natural scent—it’s NOT supposed to smell like flowers, vanilla, or candy (despite what some brands try to sell you). HOWEVER, extreme changes in odor can be a sign of something off.

when to worry:

❌ fishy odor → bacterial vaginosis (BV)

❌ strong, foul smell → possible infection

❌ yeasty, bread-like smell → yeast infection

🎀 infections 101: yeast, BV, and UTIs

(please go see a gynaecologist)

yeast infections

• symptoms: itching, thick white discharge (like cottage cheese), redness

bacterial vaginosis (BV)

• symptoms: fishy smell, grayish discharge, irritation

urinary tract infections (UTIs)

• symptoms: burning when peeing, constant urge to go, lower belly pain

6. gym, sweat & hygiene: stay fresh all day

your kitty is working overtime when you’re sweating it out at the gym. here’s how to keep her fresh, dry, and happy:

🎀 gym tips for vaginal health

• wear breathable cotton underwear or moisture-wicking fabrics

• change out of sweaty clothes ASAP

• wipe down with pH-balanced wipes after workouts

• carry baby wipes for quick fresh-ups

7. pregnancy, birth control & hormones: long-term kitty care

your reproductive health is more than just hygiene. hormones, birth control, and pregnancy all play a role in vaginal health.

🎀 birth control & vaginal health

obviously there are so many different types of birth controls like hormonal birth controls like pills, shots, etc. even non-hormonal birth control like using of condoms, copper iud etc. all of them have their own set of advantages and disadvantages so please please please chat with your dermatologist which is well suited for your needs and body

🎀 pregnancy changes everything about your kitty—expect:

• increased discharge (normal, but should be clear/white) and even month long periods (my mom faced this)

• higher risk of yeast infections

• vaginal stretching (kegels help postpartum recovery!) ask your gynaecologist when to start cause possibly your vagina tears during parturition (delivery)

8. womb care

whether you’re planning to have kids one day or just want to keep your reproductive system strong and healthy, taking care of your kitty and womb right now is one of the best things you can do. think of it like preparing a garden: the healthier the soil (your body), the better the flowers (your future pregnancy and baby). even if you’re not sexually active yet, you can build a strong, fertile, and balanced reproductive system so that when the time comes, you have an easy, smooth pregnancy and a strong, healthy baby.

your hormones control everything. your period, ovulation, fertility, and even your mood. keeping them balanced now will make pregnancy much easier later.

eat hormone-balancing foods

• healthy fats: avocados, salmon, olive oil (support hormone production).

• leafy greens: spinach, kale, broccoli (flush out excess estrogen).

• seeds: flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds (help regulate your cycle).

reduce stress

• high stress = high cortisol, which can mess with your fertility.

• try meditation, journaling, or long walks to calm your nervous system.

limit processed foods & sugar

• too much sugar can cause hormonal imbalances & irregular periods.

avoid plastic food containers & BPA

• these contain chemicals that mess with your hormones & fertility.

tip: try seed cycling (eating specific seeds during your menstrual cycle) to keep your hormones naturally balanced.

maintain a balanced vaginal pH (3.8-4.5)

• drink water with lemon to help detox & balance your system.

• take probiotics (yogurt, fermented foods, or supplements) to maintain good bacteria.

• avoid harsh soaps, scented products, & douching—these strip away natural protection.

practice proper menstrual care

• switch to organic pads or tampons (regular ones have chemicals that disrupt vaginal health).

• if using a menstrual cup, clean it properly to avoid infections.

protect your womb

• avoid sitting on cold surfaces for too long (cold affects circulation to your uterus).

• practice yoni steaming with gentle herbs like lavender, rosemary, & chamomile to cleanse your womb.

EAT FERTILITY-BOOSTING FOODS

• avocados → full of folate, which is essential for pregnancy.

• eggs → contain choline, which helps with baby brain development.

• berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) → full of antioxidants that protect your eggs.

• walnuts & almonds → improve egg quality.

• leafy greens (spinach, kale, broccoli) → rich in iron & folate.

DRINK WOMB-FRIENDLY TEAS

• raspberry leaf tea → strengthens the uterus & prepares it for pregnancy.

• ginger tea → reduces inflammation & improves blood flow to your womb.

• nettle tea → full of minerals to keep your reproductive system strong.

AVOID FERTILITY-KILLERS

too much caffeine (it affects egg quality).

alcohol & smoking (lower fertility & harm future pregnancy).

too much processed food (affects your hormone balance).

START TAKING PRENATAL VITAMINS EARLY

prenatal vitamins aren’t just for when you’re pregnant—they help prepare your body years before conception.

folic acid (B9) → prevents birth defects & supports healthy eggs.

iron → prevents anemia & strengthens the uterus.

vitamin D → improves fertility & hormone balance.

omega-3s (DHA & EPA) → support baby’s brain & eye development.

final words: love your kitty, and she’ll love you back

babygirl, your kitty is a queen and deserves royal treatment. stay hydrated, balanced, and mindful, and she will always be fresh, tight, and healthy.

this guide? your new bible. bookmark it, re-read it, and share it with your besties. your kitty care era starts NOW.

[maisha-online]

15 proven strategies to help you debloat and kickstart your weight loss journey

15 proven strategies to help you debloat and kickstart your weight loss journey #Debloat #weightloss #fruits #detox

Are you feeling bloated and sluggish after indulging in holiday feasts? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we will explore 15 proven strategies to help you debloat and kickstart your weight loss journey. These tips are backed by nutritionists and experts, ensuring that you achieve your desired results in a healthy and sustainable manner. Table of Contents Fuel Up on the Right…

[honeytonedhottie]

wellness for the hotties⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🪞🎀

this is honey's updated wellness post for the girlies who love to romanticize their routines, listen to their bodies and take impeccable care of themselves. these r my routines and rituals that keep me glowing…💬🎀

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE ;

lymphatic drainage massage has been an absolute GAME changer for me like OH MY GOSH?? and it literally takes no more than ten minutes a day and its lowkey like giving myself a massage 💕.

one thing i will say though, the order in which u drain is SO important so make sure to do it in the proper order. this is the lymphatic drainage massage that i do every single day, i rly love this one bcuz the doctor in the video actually explains it and shows u how to do it so i rly love it.

HOT OR NOT ;

so i drink hot drinks while eating and i drink cold drinks when im not. drinking warm drinks while eating/before eating help relax your stomach muscles and improve blood circulation to your digestive organs. and cold drinks cause blood vessels in your stomach to tighten, slowing down digestion. it also helps with other things like...

🫖 reduces bloating

🫖 helps with detoxification

🫖 gentle on ur throat and stomach

HOW TO MAKE A GINGER SHOT ;

so i own a juicer but assembling it and disassembling it is soo tedious and i'd rather just use my blender so im going to be talking about how i make ginger shots using a blender. all ur going to need are the following...

🌟 a few pieces of ginger (i usually just use one or two small pieces)

🌟 some water

🌟 cayenne powder if u want an extra kick (optional)

🌟 some lemon

🌟 strainer

and all u have to do is lightly peel ur pieces of ginger, dont worry about getting all the skin off but just get as much as u can off. put it into ur blender with some water and squeeze half a lemon into it before blending. next ur going to take ur strainer and separate the pulp from the juice and ur all done!

HOTTIES REPS ;

i always start all my workouts briskly walking for 30 minutes on the treadmill at an incline. i watch kimora lee simmon's life in the fab lane show while i do this because each episode is around 30-40 minutes so i keep myself distracted. or if im feeling for something different i'll go on the elliptical instead of the treadmill.

at the moment... the workouts that im doing consistently everyday are 10 minute waist + tummy workout, 10 minute hourglass abs workout, 5 minute stomach vacuum, 5 minute abs and small waist pilates workout routine, 5 minute everyday pilates lower abs for abs. and then for booty i love to do 12 minute booty workout (with resistance bands or weights), and 10 minute bubble butt burnout. now for my arms and back i do 10 minute slim back & better posture, 5 min slim and toned arms workout, and 8 minute victorias secret angel arms. if u guys want more on working out and stuff i can make a post on that too!

MENTALLY MOISTURIZED ;

i've been consistently journaling for about three years now and its been fabulous. i can get all my thoughts out onto paper and not feel like im carrying a million pounds of stress on my head. i feel overwhelmed a lot because i do SO much and journaling has really helped me.

also i have a super fabulous therapist who helps teach me how to ground myself, and just take care of myself better so shes great. if u can't have a therapist right now, journaling is great... and between me and you... chat gpt makes a great therapist.

i love meditating every now and then when i feel like i wanna just immerse myself in my brain, another thing i do to keep a good mental space is digital detoxes. every other week i get off of tiktok and it has been SO great for me. i also don't use my phone in the mornings because i just need time to get ready and have a screen free morning, its rly so pleasant. if im sad, i cheer myself up with shopping.

SIP PRETTY ;

i follow this one girl on youtube, i'll link her right here ❤︎ but she has amazing juicing recipes and healthy lifestyle content in general that rly inspires me. i make the same juices she does and they taste generally good and are good for you. i like to make juice once a week, maybe twice. whenever i feel like i need it essentially.

IN BED BY 9... GLOWING BY 8 ;

SLEEP IS A NON NEGOTIABLE. even if u eat super healthy and workout everyday, if ur not sleeping enough it's like shooting yourself in the foot! you need ur beauty sleep. sleep is when your body heals, resets, and literally glows up from the inside out. it helps balance your hormones, support your metabolism, and keep your skin clear and glowing. not to be dramatic but… no amount of eye cream or green juice can fix chronic exhaustion. and thats the real gag.

FEET UP THE WALL POSE ;

when u elevate ur legs, ur letting gravity do all the work for you. draining lymph, reducing swelling, and boosting circulation. it’s perfect after a long day or when you’re feeling puffy and need a moment of calm.

CYCLE SYNCING ;

so there are four menstrual phases. luteal (before period, when u start to feel sluggish) menstrual (during ur period) follicular (after ur period so improved mood and brain function) and ovulation (ur feeling confident, like the summer of ur body). the way i incorporate cycle syncing is just, during my luteal phase i won't over-stuff my agenda bcuz ik i get super sluggish and cranky.

i also make sure to pour into myself during the menstrual and luteal phases. i plan my bigger projects during follicular and ovulation. i plan my workouts accordingly too, and set aside extra time for rest. i eat a lot of soups during my period -> red meat and fermented foods during follicular -> fibrous foods during ovulation -> and healthy fats and chocolate during luteal.

its super simple! and to make it simpler think of it like seasons. ur menstrual phase is the winter -> follicular is the spring -> ovulation is summer -> and luteal is fall.

to finish off this post, start noticing what drains you, what fills your cup, and having the self-respect to choose what’s good for you…💬🎀

[rebouks]

Keeping Lag to a Minimum...

I was chatting about a few things I do to combat lag over on discord and realised I do quite a bit of maintenance to reduce lag/load times. I decided to write em all down and before I knew it, I had a big ol' list. Here's hoping it helps!

Save/File Tips:

Clear your caches (located in the same spot as your mod folder fyi) I usually delete the onlinethumbnailcache, avatarcache and localthumbcache caches every time I exit the game, the main one to delete regularly is the localthumbcache file, they're just temporary files but it can get pretty big after a while.. if you're having any mod issues, particularly ui ones, it's always worth deleting that to see if it helps.

Remove any saves you're not using from your saves folder, and keep an eye on save file sizes. In my experience, any saves over around 30-40mb start to get a bit laggy. Things that bump this size up are the amount of townies in game and the amount of lots/objects in the world.

Regarding the above point, I regularly bulldoze lots I don't need anymore, just to save the game from having to cope with extra shit to load in the background and reduce save file bloat.

Similarly, I delete a lot of unnecessary townies. Also, try to keep the amount of outfits on townies to a minimum, ain't no townie need four swimsuit outfits, the game will thank you..

If you have cheats enabled you can usually shift-click/delete object on things like random coffee cups or stray cupcakes sims foolishly drop around the world (or eat em.. whatever tickles ur pickle) just get rid!

Whilst we're keeping objects in game to a minimum.. I try to clear sims inventories now and then, including townies. You can do this via mccc even if you're not currently playing that household by heading to MC Cleaner -> Sell Sim Inventory/Sell Household Inventory. RANDOM LUMPS OF CLAY BEGONE!

Think of a save file like a lot.. the more objects in it, the laggier it gets! Try your best to remove anything or anyone unnecessary where you can.

Hit "Save As" instead of "Save" now and then - the more you overwrite a save, the more chance it has of going wonky, treat your game to a fresh one now and then and remove the old one from your saves folder (maybe don't delete it right away in case you wanna roll back, keep it somewhere safe).

If you can (although ik it can be a pain) set up a new/fresh save, you'd be surprised how bogged down old ones can get! For legacy players, it's usually best to do this whenever you have a small family to save yourself some pain, since you can just save the household and take em to a new save (you will lose sims inventories/household inventories/relationships with sims outside the household tho so beware! Pictures/other collectables can be saved to a lot however, and you can always cheat back relationship bits etc.. bit of a last resort but new saves are shiny and fast!)

Make sure your Screenshots/Video folders are empty - move em somewhere else, it works, trust me. If you have a lot of custom music installed try n' clear some of those out too.. the smaller that Sims 4 directory is, the better.

Delete any last exceptions/last crashes (same spot as your mod folder again) you don't need em unless you're planning to upload em somewhere for help.

Settings Etc:

If you get a bad lag spike, opening the main menu and/or saving can randomly stop this. If it doesn't, try exiting the game, clearing your localthumbcache and restarting.

Clearing all notifications from the game panel can also help.

If you can, close all other apps and background apps you don't need whilst playing, ts4 is super memory hungry so it can definitely help.

The GraphicsRules Override file by Simp4Sims can reduce lag/latency and make your game look a little better in the process!

Srslysims Simulation Lag Fix mod can help reduce lag too (if you've altered the game speed via mccc tho, don't use this unless you plan on resetting it to default).

If you aren't keen on, or barely use a pack, consider disabling it.

Not ideal, especially for those of us taking screenshots, but lowering the graphics settings whilst playing definitely helps.

If you use re/g-shade, consider switching it off whilst playing and only turn it on for screenshots.

A clean and tidy pc/laptop runs better in general. Remove anything you're not using/don't need anymore to free up space, remove temp files, clean up your folders now and again etc etc.. especially that dreaded mod folder, speaking of...

Managing Mods:

SORT OUT YOUR MODS FOLDER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.. skdsjdjs it doesn't have to be immaculate but at the very least try n' clear it out now n' then. Also try to separate your script mods/overrides from the rest, patch days don't need to be so stressful ;-;

Personally, I don't merge my mods; if something breaks it's much harder to pinpoint! It makes it easier to find/delete specific mods too.. and let's face it, there's usually one or two items in that set you could do without lmaooo.. also, don't think it helps much tbh! Yeah you could say the game doesn't have to work as hard to load merged files but that's debatable, it's still the same amount of items/polys at the end of the day ¯\(°_o)/¯

If you like merging files and/or see results from doing so, you can merge stuff you definitely know you're never getting rid of, especially CAS/BB stuff.. but steer clear of merging gameplay/script mods! If a merged file seems to be the culprit when using the 50/50 method, try unmerging it and 50/50ing it again! You might not need to get rid of everything if something's borked.

Bulk Rename Utility can be used to remove all spaces and special characters from your mod files, the game doesn't particularly like loading those so it'll thank you.

The Sims 4 Mod Manager is a great way to sort through your mods, you can easily see, move and delete files from here (not great for build/buy, poses etc as thumbnails are usually missing, but great for CAS stuff). An extra hint with this that I've noticed is that if any of my mods get renamed with [D1] at the beginning after looking through them via the mod manager, it means it's a duplicate file so you can get rid.

I also use the Sims 4 Tray Importer to help me sort through mods. Simply save a sim/lot with any cc you don't want and find it in the importer, you can then go through all the cc in the cc tab and delete/sort it (I also use this to sort cc if a bunch has the wrong tags etc, makes it easier to find in my folders by saving em to a lot or w/e - it also spots duplicates which is handy).

It's a ballache, but the 50/50 method is tried and tested if you're having issues.

I like to keep an abandoned cc folder tucked away somewhere, that way you can remove mods willy nilly without stressing about losing them. If you change your mind, you can always grab it back!

[dark-and-kawaii]

Who would babytrap you out of the bg3 men 🙈

୨♡୧ Baby Trapping ୨♡୧

Halsin - Gale - Haarlep - Raphael - Gortash - Rolan

⋆˙⟡♡ Notes: Yes. Absolutely Yes. I got you babes xoxo

⋆˙⟡♡ NSFW | Breeding | Creampie | Baby Trapping

╰› Halsin’s obsession with you reached dangerous heights, fueled by a possessive jealousy that consumed his every thought. He knows the depths of his actions are morally wrong, but his desire for you overrides any rationality that remains within him. The way that other Druid looks at you, their eyes hungering for your body, it stirs an animalistic rage within Halsin.

Feigning urgency on important matters, deceiving both you and the unsuspecting Druid whom he pulled you away from, Halsin leads you deep into the forest, where his intentions come to fruition. Overwhelmed by his uncontrollable lust, he takes you forcefully, ravishing you until you're reduced to a quivering, moaning mess. The ecstasy of the moment blinds you as he spills his seed inside you without restraint, his desire to impregnate you driving him further.

Halsin wrestles with the weight of his actions, he knows it’s wrong to wish you pregnant like this, but the beast inside him demands otherwise. You, his chosen mate, his partner, you are his alone and he’ll make sure all the others know this.

╰› Haarlep is both possessive & greedy, always wanting more, especially if you’re Raphael’s little mouse. Haarlep’s not afraid to claim you as their toy if you’ve truly caught their attention. Through a combination of enchantment and manipulation the incubus ensnares you, captivating your senses and dominating your every thought. They exploit your deepest desires, using their irresistible allure to draw you deeper into their web of possession.

Your mind becomes foggy, a euphoric haze engulfing you, but it feels so damn good. The pleasure is intoxicating, so intense that the means by which it is achieved becomes inconsequential. All you crave is more. Haarlep's beautiful cock slides effortlessly into your eager depths, fitting you perfectly, as if it were the only thing that could ever satiate your desires. They make you yearn for their touch, their love, their vile seed. They use you as they please, taking what they desire from your body while painting your gummy walls white, leaving you begging, pleading for Haarlep to cum deep within Raphael’s precious little mouse, “P-please~ Cum n’inside Raphael’s s’little m-mouse!~”

By the time you come to your senses it’ll be too late. You’re nice and bloated with the creatures cum, they’ve claimed you, your body belongs to Haarlep now, and you will serve them well as the mother of their demon spawn.

╰› Raphael is filled with insecurities and has been his whole life but never dares show it. Not until you feel how how desperate his thrusts become, it’s almost pitiful. He’s so desperate to fill you with his offspring, it’s his way of proving to the infernal realms that he is the strongest, capable of producing the finest progeny to aid in his conquests and ruling.

Master manipulator, skilled at using his charm he'll make sure to bend your will to his desires, will purposely breakdown your defenses, prey upon your deepest fears and own insecurities, exploiting them to gain complete control over your body and soul.

“You need me,” is all he says, his eyes fixated on the way your tight cunt accommodates him with each forceful thrust. Each time he goes deeper and deeper causing you to whimper and clench his luxurious sheets… You can feel the bulge in your stomach each time the head of his shaft brushes against your cervix. It becomes evident that he places his ambitions and pleasure above all else, including your own needs and desires.

╰› Gortash deeply adores and values your presence, which is why he indulges in serving you drinks until you reach a delightful state of inebriation. Although you had expressed how you don’t wish to have another child, Gortash holds a different perspective on the matter. Not only has Bane compelled him to father more offspring, but Gortash himself yearns to create more beautiful children with you. And so, he will pursue that desire.

You hate how good it feels to have his cock filling you up, how euphoric and mind numbing it is. The alcohol in your system heightens the pleasure, it’s what has you creaming and cumming around Enver’s cock as he violates you, fucking you as if you wanted this. Gortash thrusts into you with a fervor that momentarily blurs the lines of consent, disregarding your wishes and capitalizing on the intoxication he facilitated.

"My dear, you are meant to grant me the joy of having the children I long for," he grunts. You attempt to shake your head, genuinely striving to communicate your objections, but the overwhelming pleasure drowns your attempts, leaving your mind awash in a sea of pleasure. He captures your lips in a possessive kiss, his desire evident in the intensity of his embrace, while his fingers dig into the softness of your thighs, marking you until you bleed. Finally, he releases a torrent of his cum deep within your fertile womb, leaving the possibility of new life to blossom within you.

╰› Rolan never really liked the idea of children, especially to sire his own. They were loud, smelly and a massive responsibility. However, once you came into his life that all began to change… Especially after your precious visit to Lorroakan’s tower… The way that man took hold of your hand and kissed the back of it as if he was paying homage to a queen or goddess made Rolan want to tear him apart limb from limb, his tail whipping back and forth.

That night something snapped within Rolan, the tiefling wanted nothing more than to make sure you were his, not that he feared of losing you or anything but it was as if his body needed to ensure that no other male could take you away. After all, who would want you if you were swollen with a “Hell spawn’s” child?

Rolan had never released himself inside you, so you were shocked when you felt a thick warm substance coating your insides as well as the his cock. You gasped at the feeling, looking back up at Rolan who was biting his lip, he didn't look at all fazed by this. No, instead he looked as though a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Rolan held your hips tightly as he pulled out of you, a small bit of his cum escaping and sliding down your inner thigh before thrusting back inside you. one load wasn’t enough, he needed to be sure…

╰› Gale is obsessed with creampies and breeding along with the idea of you carrying his children. He becomes consumed by the singular desire to impregnate you, their beloved. The images that flood his mind of you and him walking around Waterdeep, his hand on your swollen belly, it drives him insane.

He’d tell you there’s nothing to fear, that he won’t cum within you, instead he’ll decorate your perfect tummy with his cum… Only for him to lie and actually release his seed against your cervix. His grunts fill the room along with false apologies.

The kind of man to spike your drink so you sleep soundly as he fucks you nice and deep. It only takes a few mere moments until he's cumming deep inside you. Don't worry, he always does his best to clean you up so you aren't suspicious. The next morning he'd feign concern when you awake drowsy not feeling the best, a new cup of tea awaiting you in his hands.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also Preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

What if the pandemic safety net cobbled together in 2020 had been a new beginning?

What if when Joe Biden came into office in 2021, the Covid-19 safety net he was handed had become a new floor?

What if that was his baseline—and the newly elected Democratic president, sold by his most ardent supporters as FDR 2.0, had used our Covid-19 response as the bare minimum of a new social contract with Americans?

What if the caring nature of the best aspects of the US Covid response became the map for international relations—leading not just to international cooperation on infectious disease, but on matters of war, climate and genocide?

What if, instead of dismantling the vaccine-delivery infrastructure—which, at its height, delivered some four million shots in a single day—the Biden administration built upon and made some version of it permanent, so that everyone could easily get annual Covid boosters, annual flu vaccines, or get specialty vaccinations during outbreaks of unusual viruses (such as for mpox during the 2022 summer outbreak among queer men) whenever they needed it?

What if the viral surveillance and communication mechanisms utilized for learning about SARS-CoV-2, treating it and telling the public about it were being used to address H5N1—a virus which has been moving from birds to farm mammals to humans with so little notice that dead cows were killed by the “avian flu” and left on the side of a road in California’s Central Valley, as “Thick swarms of black flies hummed and knocked against the windows of an idling car, while crows and vultures waited nearby—eyeballing the taut and bloated carcasses roasting in the October heat”?What if the leaders of the Democratic party had used Covid as a blueprint to make a national platform based on care?

What if all the ways Covid had made clear how farmers, industrial butchers, kitchen staff and other food workers are the most at risk people amongst us to viral infection led to meaningful, permanent protections, such that they were much less likely to contract not just SARS-CoV-2 but H1N1, H5N1, influenza, or any other existing or novel pathogens?

What if all the all the ways Covid exposed how unsafe industrial food production is (for the workers who make it and the people who eat it alike) had triggered safety reforms, instead of having these warnings ignored and leading towards record numbers of safety recalls for e-coli, Salmonella, and Listeria?

What if an airborne pandemic had led to indoor air being as filtered, treated and regulated as drinking water?

What if everyone with a child was still getting a $300 check from the US treasury, so that having a child was not a gambling-style risk, but a responsibility shared with all of society?

What if the paused-for-years student debts were forgiven, so that young people could actually begin their lives?

What if Biden built on Americans’ experience of just showing up somewhere to get the medical care they needed to create a universal healthcare system?

(What if Kamala Harris built upon Americans’ taste of not getting charged at the point of such service—and campaigned on Medicare for All?)

What if once the link between Covid and homelessness was established, the Democrats had pushed infectious disease as just one reason for an end to evictions and a robust, public-health-backed campaign to end homelessness and stop the United States from having more people living on the streets than any other country?

What if after the link between Covid and incarceration was established, the Democrats had pursued decarceration as a public health measure and—instead of throwing weed and cryptocurrency at us—had made reducing incarceration a centerpiece of the Harris campaign to earn the votes of Black men?

(What if after 100,000 Californians died of Covid and the links between Covid, homelessness and incarceration were clear, residents of the Golden State chose to allow rent control and to abolish legal slavery in prisons—instead of voting to ban rent control and to continue prison slavery?)

What if the leaders of the Democratic party had used Covid as a blueprint to make a national platform based on care?

Would we be in the lethal position we are now—with a genocide raging abroad, Covid deaths in the hundreds every week at home, a poisoned food supply, $17 trillion in household debt, oligarch goons ready to dismantle government regulations, and a sociopath heading back into the White House—if Covid had been the floor?

[woodywood101blog]

Rusty thought it was an incredibly generous allowance being offered by Defence to join the Preparing Regimental Excellence for Geo-strategic Objectives (PREGO) Program. "$100,000 for the first phase, then an extra $125k for every subsequent phase you sign up for? Hell yeah!"

Rusty was like any other officer in the Army - tired, overworked, underpaid and sick of command. So when the PREGO Program came up, he was hoping it would allow him to be posted to a separate area of Defence. Of course, if he read the fine print, he'd realise that there is no change to duties during and following participation in the PREGO Program.

Regardless, Rusty signed up and agreed to be part of a specific element of the program, called PREGO-Max. He didn't really get what that was about, but all Rusty needed to do was "stay the course, embrace the program and listen to your body".

He was a little bit confused by the last tip, but it all clicked when he went to his first networking session 3 months into the program, where he met Ryan, one of the longer-serving members of the PREGO Program. He had a slightly bloated belly that almost looked perfectly round like a -

"Let me guess, you signed up for either the money or for steroids?" Ryan asked, lightly caressing his belly.

"Oh, well, out of those options, I joined for the money?"

"Ha, well! $100k a year is roughly how much it's costing me to look after each of my children. They eat like horses, and they're all under 5."

"Sorry, what?"

"Clearly you didn't read the details, just like me. It's kinda in the name... PREGO... sounds like..."

"Oh shit!"

"Bingo! You're up the duff, mate. And sounds like you joined the new stream of the research, called PREGO-Max. I've been asked if I want to join, and I've said hell no. So, good luck..."

Rusty turned away, feeling a deeply sick feeling in his stomach. "Listen to your body" kept ringing in his head.

***

And Rusty well and truly listened to his body. The PREGO-Max program is specifically looking at how elastic the male body could become, allowing more men to become pregnant either more frequently or with multiples, and then safely and healthily return to their pre-pregnancy physiques sooner than those in the PREGO Program. In other words, it's the PREGO Program on much stronger hormones.

Rusty was mortified by how rapidly his body was transforming. He lost a lot of his muscle mass, which clearly converted to energy for the huge baby growing inside him. One of Rusty's fellow officers jokingly poked him in the chest one time, which triggered a wave of pleasure across his body. It was the first sign that he was growing fully-functioning breasts to feed plenty of milk to his child.

After finally reaching the end stage of his first pregnancy, Rusty was keen to move to Part 1B of the first phase - transition back to pre-maternal physique. He worked out incredibly hard at the base gym, and made the most of the incredible hormones provided by the Max program. Sure enough, after 3 months of work - made easier by the fact he was off-duty on parental leave for that time - he looked almost exactly how he did before he signed on. For the researchers, they were amazed by how malleable Rusty's body was.

The only part that appeared to not budge in changing back was Rusty's chest, which made some sense as he was still producing milk for the baby. He was a bit peeved that he couldn't reduce the swelling, but he hoped it might change once all the hormones are completely out of him. Otherwise, he noticed that he wasn't quite able to fit into his pre-pregnancy pants due to his hips and butt blowing up, so he had to go a size or two up.

After a couple of months away from the Max program, it became clear that Rusty was struggling to afford to look after the child. Ryan was right when he said that the kids coming out from this program are ravenous, and that's just with Rusty trying to feed formula to his child to make up for his weaning breast milk supply.

So, after some careful thought, Rusty decided to sign up for the PREGO-Max Program one more time. The researchers were ecstatic, and made some minor tweaks to Rusty's program to see if he could handle the most extreme option available.

"Listen to your body" was ringing in Rusty's head.

***

Rusty slowly waddled into the photography studio. All he was told by the Max Program researchers was to arrive for some photos, notwithstanding this was not his regular weekly progression photos at the research lab. One of the researchers explained that they wanted to celebrate Rusty being the first male in the program to carrying quadruplets safely. Rusty bristled at the thought of this gargantuan excuse of a belly being worthy of celebration, but he put on a brave face and took part in the photoshoot.

Rusty became a star of the PREGO Program very quickly due to his unique situation. The researchers would beg Rusty often to present at networking sessions, but Rusty continually refused the offer. He would arrive at the sessions, say hi and vent to Ryan, then leave the session.

At the next networking session, Rusty came early to grab a seat near the back of the mess so that he could make his quick exit as usual. Ryan quickly sat next to him, holding his newborn baby.

"So, do you know what today's speaker topic is?" Ryan asked.

"I have no clue at all... all I know is that I want it to be a quick speech so I can get out of here. I can feel these babies sitting at my ass."

"Well, you're the one who decided to -"

"I didn't fucking sign up to carry four!"

At that moment, a researcher got up on stage and began a presentation on developments with multiple pregnancies across the PREGO and PREGO-Max Programs. Most people dozed off, including Rusty. However, Ryan very quickly nudged Rusty awake when they showed off Rusty's photoshoot to the crowd, acknowledging his achievement.

"Those motherfuckers." Rusty muttered under his breath. One of the kids kicked him directly on his prostate, causing his penis to accidentally cum. "I am actually done after this."

"Yeah yeah, you say that, then next year you're going to see the money dry up and come back for more... You know, 'listening to your body' and all that?" Ryan said as the presentation ended.

Rusty grunted as he slowly got up from his seat and waddled out of the venue, trying to avoid engaging with anyone, particularly the fucking researchers of the PREGO Program.

[hidden-behind-the-fourth-wall]

For Rome - Chapter 1

Summary: A weary Roman General, Marcus Acasius, sets out to find the so-called "Angel" his soldiers speak of—a woman with a gentle touch and an even softer voice. What he discovers is far more extraordinary than he ever imagined.

Pairing: General Marcus Acasius x F!Reader

Warnings: a description of injuries (I'm not a doctor or do not have any medical education so apologies), nothing here yet. English isn't my first language so all mistakes are mine for which I apologise.

Words: 6K

The life of a soldier was never an easy one, but the life of a Roman soldier? It was a crucible of steel and blood. General Marcus Acasius knew this better than most. War had carved its lessons into his flesh and seared them into his soul. He had lived through campaigns that churned the earth with rivers of blood, watched comrades fall like broken reeds, and seen hope flicker and die in the eyes of too many men. This was not a life he would have wished upon his worst enemies—let alone himself.

And yet, here he was. Bound by duty, chained to Rome’s legacy, and crushed beneath the weight of serving not one, but two emperors whose names would forever leave a bitter taste on his tongue.

Two boys drowning in power they neither earned nor understood. They were spoiled by their station and cruel in their ignorance, wielding authority like a child might a blade—clumsy, reckless, and devastating. Marcus had long since lost count of the orders he had executed on their behalf, justifying them under the banner of Rome. Yet he knew the truth. He had not fought for Rome in years. He fought for their whims, their games. And the cost? Endless bloodshed. Endless grief.

The screams haunted him most—the keening wails of mothers clutching lifeless sons, the choking sobs of widows, the silent, hollow-eyed children whose futures he had stolen with the sweep of a sword. He had grown sick of it all. Sick of blood-soaked glory, of starving masses, of men reduced to mere tools in the grotesque machinery of imperial ambition.

Perhaps that was why he found himself here now, in the shadowed underground of the subcity. The stench of rot and despair clung to the narrow alleys, and the skeletal frames of the impoverished haunted every corner. It was a place forgotten by the sun and abandoned by Rome, yet it thrummed with whispers.

Whispers of you.

An “angel,” his soldiers had called you. At first, he had dismissed their reverent tones as the drunken ramblings of battle-weary men. What could an angel possibly look like in a place like this? But the way they spoke of you lingered in his mind, drawing him down into this forsaken part of the city.

It was not the talk of your beauty that intrigued him. He had seen beauty before—false and true, fleeting and eternal. What struck him was the way his men, hardened and stoic, described your hands, your voice, your presence. They spoke of the way your touch could ease pain, how your smile softened the sharp edges of their suffering, and how your words, simple and kind, could light the darkest of days. They described you with an almost childlike awe, as though you were something beyond their comprehension, something Rome itself could not tarnish.

Marcus wanted to scoff at their adoration, but the weight in their voices told him otherwise. Could someone like you truly exist in this ruined city? A city bloated with greed, corroded by power, and built on the bones of the desperate? He needed to see for himself.

You were said to help those Rome had cast aside—the soldiers, the beggars, the orphans, and the broken. While the wealthy insulated themselves from the rot, you faced it head-on. Even Lady Lucilla, a shrewd and guarded aristocrat, spoke of you with an uncharacteristic fondness. “A stubborn creature,” she had called you with a rare smile. “She takes only what she needs, no more, even when I insist. She’s maddeningly selfless, like a fool chasing the wind.”

It was those words that lingered as he descended into the subcity. They painted an image of someone unyielding, someone who refused to be swallowed by the darkness around her. Someone who, perhaps, could remind him of what it meant to fight for something greater than power.

The streets grew narrower, the air thicker. His boots crunched against the broken cobblestones as he approached the small gathering place where you were said to tend to the sick and weary. His heart, hardened by years of war, beat faster, not with fear but with something he couldn’t quite name.

The room was not what he expected.

Makeshift beds lined both sides of the narrow space, occupied by men, women, and children in various states of weariness and healing. Yet, unlike the countless barracks and field hospitals Marcus Acasius had seen in his lifetime, this place radiated an unusual serenity. The faces of the sleeping bore no trace of the gnawing fear he had come to associate with suffering. It was as if some invisible spell had been cast here, lulling their troubled souls into a rare and precious peace.

He inhaled deeply, preparing for the sharp sting of blood and rot so common in places of injury and despair. Instead, the air was clean—remarkably so. It smelled faintly of herbs, maybe lavender, and something subtler, something soothing. It reminded him of the private quarters back at his villa, of the rare nights when he could sleep without the shadows of war pressing against his chest. A ridiculous thought, he chastised himself.

And then, he saw you.

You stood with your back to him, entirely focused on the child sitting on the small, battered chair in front of you. Marcus had made no attempt to move quietly—he was a soldier, not a thief—but you hadn’t turned at the sound of his boots on the stone floor. It wasn’t fearlessness; it was trust, an unshakable calm that marked every movement of your hands as you adjusted the sling cradling the boy’s injured arm.

The child couldn’t have been older than eight. His tear-streaked face glistened under the dim light, and yet his lips curved into a smile—soft, hesitant, but undeniably genuine. A smile on the face of an injured child. Marcus stared at the sight, unmoored. He had never seen such a thing before. In the chaos of war, even when children were treated, their screams and sobs were met with indifference, their pain an afterthought. But here, this boy laughed—a pure, light sound that bounced off the walls like a small rebellion against misery.

“General.”

Marcus turned to his right, startled from his reverie. One of his men lay in a bed nearby, his head wrapped in clean bandages, his arm in a sling not unlike the boy’s. He bore the marks of battle but looked far better than Marcus had expected. There was color in his cheeks, and his voice, though tired, carried a note of gratitude. “I didn’t expect to see you here, sir.”

With a quick wave of his hand, Marcus silenced the man’s attempt to rise and salute. Before he could reply, a burst of laughter drew his attention back to you.

The boy was laughing again, his small body shaking with mirth. From where Marcus stood, it seemed you were scolding him, your finger jabbing lightly into his tiny chest. But the smirk tugging at the corners of your lips betrayed you. Whatever you were saying, it was no reprimand. It was a game, a tease, an effort to pull the child out of his fear and into the safety of his own joy.

You lifted the boy off the chair with ease, steadying him as his bare feet touched the floor. His brows knit together as you handed him a small cloth bag, but his frown vanished the moment he peeked inside. His wide, shining eyes spoke volumes. To him, whatever lay within was a treasure.

“Food,” the soldier beside Marcus murmured, his voice low as if sharing a secret. “She always sends them off with something to eat and a few bandages, in case they need more later.”

Marcus turned to him, his expression unreadable.

“We soldiers don’t take the bags,” the man added, his lips curving into a faint smile. “It’s our way of helping her, in a sense.”

Marcus’s gaze shifted back to you, just as the boy flung his arms around your waist. The child’s face pressed into the fabric of your tunic, and for a moment, Marcus expected you to flinch, to recoil from the dirt and grime clinging to him. But you didn’t. Instead, you wrapped your arms around him, holding him as though his small embrace was a gift you treasured.

The light in your eyes was unguarded, pure, as though you had managed to unearth something sacred in this forsaken world. And in that instant, Marcus understood. It wasn’t just the calm you brought to the room or the kindness in your actions. It was the way you saw them—not as burdens, not as broken things to be fixed, but as people.

His gaze landed on you then. You had paused in your work, looking at him with a flicker of curiosity. For a moment, your eyes studied him, piecing together who he might be. Then came the realization, settling over your face like a shadow. Marcus braced himself, expecting anger, distrust, or even fear. He was, after all, the embodiment of the Rome that so many here had suffered under—a man of war, destruction, and discipline.

But no such emotion crossed your features. What he saw instead was recognition and something that startled him even more: worry.

You moved toward him with a grace so natural it seemed deliberate, your steps soft and careful, as though you were wary of waking the injured souls around you. Not that the child’s laughter hadn’t already done so—it rang through the space like a bell, impossible to ignore. Yet your gentle tread felt like a habit born not of necessity but of respect.

“General Marcus Acasius,” you greeted him, your voice low but warm, your lips curling into a soft smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes. The worry lingered there, quiet but unmistakable. “Whatever brings you here? I hope you’re not injured?”

Your voice was something else entirely. It carried a tenderness he had not heard in years. It reminded him of a mother soothing her child after a nightmare. No wonder his men had spoken of you the way they had; he could see now how easily they must have fallen under your spell.

“Nothing to worry about,” he replied, surprised at the gravel in his voice. “Just a few bruises—annoying more than painful.” He didn’t know why he admitted it out loud. Perhaps it was the way your eyes held his, unwavering and full of quiet concern, or the way your tone invited truth without demanding it.

“I can take a look at them, if you’ll let me.”

You stepped closer then, as if reaching out to touch him, but your hand hesitated mid-air before falling back to your side. It was almost imperceptible, that moment of pause, but Marcus saw it. It wasn’t fear. It was something else—an acknowledgment, perhaps, of who he was and what he carried. You were cautious, yes, but not timid.

Your attention shifted to the soldier in the nearby bed, and the smile on your face broadened into something softer, brighter. “Emascus,” you murmured, moving to his side. Your hand brushed gently against his forehead as you checked his temperature, your touch featherlight. “You’re not running so hot anymore. That’s a relief.”

The soldier nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Marcus watched the exchange, a strange mixture of emotions stirring in his chest. Gratitude was chief among them—gratitude that someone cared for his men in a way he no longer could. Your hands, your voice, your presence—it was a balm for these battle-weary souls. But beneath that gratitude was a deep sadness. It pained him that such care could only be found here, in the forgotten corners of Rome, among those cast aside by the empire he had given his life to defend.

Your voice drew him from his thoughts.

“Would you be so kind as to wait for me in that room there?” you asked, gesturing toward a door at the end of the corridor.

For a moment, Marcus didn’t register that you were speaking to him. When he did, his brows lifted in surprise. There was an unexpected firmness in your tone—not commanding, exactly, but resolute. Though your words were phrased as a request, there was no mistaking that you fully expected him to comply.

“I like my patients to have an ounce of privacy while I take care of them,” you continued, your smile returning, this time with a hint of mischief. “If you allow it, my lord.”

Something in your tone almost made him laugh. He hadn’t been spoken to like this in years—not with such quiet authority, not by someone who seemed utterly unshaken by his presence. You didn’t seem to see the weight of his title, only the bruised man standing before you.

His lips twitched, amusement threatening to break his stern facade, but he merely nodded and turned toward the door. He left the soldier in your care and entered the room you had indicated.

The space was small but neat, with a wooden bench against one wall and a table holding an assortment of salves and bandages. It smelled faintly of herbs, the scent even stronger here than in the main room. As he sat, Marcus felt a strange sense of anticipation, as though crossing the threshold of this room had marked the beginning of something he couldn’t yet name.

He leaned back, his gaze drifting to the door as he waited. For the first time in years, he wasn’t thinking of battles or emperors. Instead, his mind was filled with you—your quiet confidence, your steady hands, and the unexpected strength in your voice.

He hadn’t even noticed when his eyes closed. The stillness of the room wrapped around him, lulling him into an unfamiliar calm. It was unlike him to let his guard down. Years of war had taught him to remain vigilant, always aware of his surroundings. Yet here he was, letting his defenses crumble in the quiet warmth of this strange place.

The great General Marcus Acasius, lulled into a fleeting peace by a mere slip of a woman. He almost chuckled at the absurdity of it. Somewhere in the heavens, the gods were surely laughing.

When he woke, the room was darker than he remembered. The soft glow of a single candle now lit the space, casting flickering shadows across the walls. He blinked, his eyes adjusting, and realized the other candles had been extinguished. The lone flame illuminated a desk cluttered with papers, small jars, and bundles of herbs.

You sat there, leaning over a parchment, your brow furrowed in concentration. The light caught the curve of your cheek and the faint smudge of ink on your fingers. There was an endearing focus to the way you worked, your nose scrunching slightly as if deep thought required such a gesture.

A strange thought crossed his mind—you looked almost...adorable.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

His voice was rougher than he intended, and he regretted it when you jumped, startled by the unexpected sound. Your hand flew to your chest, but the alarm faded quickly, replaced by that familiar, calming smile.

“You seemed like you needed the rest, my lord,” you replied, standing to light the other candles. The room grew warmer, brighter, the flickering light chasing away the shadows and revealing more of the space. You moved with practiced ease, each motion deliberate yet unhurried.

Moments later, you handed him a cup of wine. “It may not be as fine as what you’re accustomed to, but my father always said it’s good manners to greet a guest of high rank with wine rather than water.”

There was a playful lilt to your voice, a teasing cheerfulness that felt out of place yet oddly welcome. It caught him off guard—not just the tone, but the fact that you spoke to him as if he were merely a man, not a general burdened by the weight of Rome’s empire. There was respect in your words, yes, but also a grounding quality that made him feel human, rather than the untouchable figure most people treated him as.

He took a cautious sip of the wine, raising a brow in surprise. It wasn’t the finest vintage he’d ever tasted, but it was far from the worst. Given your introduction, he’d expected something barely drinkable.

His surprise deepened when he noticed you pouring yourself a cup of water.

“I prefer to keep my wits about me,” you said, catching his expression. “A clear head is important, especially if someone comes in need.”

But when he didn’t respond, still staring at you with mild bewilderment, you reached for his cup and took a small sip of the wine yourself. The casualness of the gesture startled him. You drank as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then placed the cup back in his hands with a smirk.

“See? I’d make a terrible healer if I poisoned my patients.”

“And since when am I your patient?” he asked, his tone caught between amusement and disbelief. Few dared to address him so directly, let alone with such nonchalance.

“Since you admitted your bruises,” you replied, settling onto the edge of your desk with an easy grace. You leaned forward slightly, your gaze locking with his. “Speaking of which, will you let me see them? I might be able to make them less...annoying.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, almost forming a smile. The way you quoted his own words back at him carried a lightness he hadn’t felt in years.

For a moment, he simply looked at you. In a world that demanded so much pretense, you were refreshingly unguarded, completely at ease in your skin. There was a peculiar strength in your openness, a quiet defiance of the world’s harshness that left him disarmed.

And against all odds, he found himself nodding.

“Let me help you with this,” you said softly, gesturing to his armor.

Your tone was steady but not commanding, leaving the choice entirely to him. Marcus hesitated for a moment before nodding, a small gesture that carried more weight than you realized. You hadn’t moved an inch until he gave his permission, a restraint he found rare and striking. You valued dignity, it seemed—not just your own but that of others—and in a world like his, where power often crushed such considerations, it felt like a delicacy.

Your hands, though small, moved with confidence. It wasn’t the first armor you had removed, that much was clear. Yet there was a care in the way you handled the clasps and buckles, as if you weren’t simply working with steel but touching him directly. That thought made Marcus uneasy, though not unpleasantly so. You were a mystery, a curious creature that didn’t fit into any category he knew.

When you finally peeled away the layers of armor and his tunic, leaving him in his undergarment, your sharp intake of breath didn’t escape him.

“Those look a bit more than just annoying bruises,” you chided, your voice carrying both concern and a quiet reprimand.

Marcus felt strangely exposed—not just physically but in some deeper, more vulnerable way. He had been treated by healers before, but those were men, soldiers like himself, who patched him up with brisk efficiency and little ceremony. This was different.

Your fingers brushed over his scars and bruises, light and careful, yet purposeful. Some of the older wounds bore the telltale signs of sloppy care: reddish bandages, poorly healed scars, and swelling around the stitches. Your grimace deepened as your gaze settled on two scars that had become infected.

He watched your face, noticing the way your lips pressed together in frustration, your brows knitting with disapproval. It wasn’t directed at him, though. That much was clear.

“You don’t look too happy,” he said, his voice laced with dry humor.

You sighed, your fingers continuing their examination. He winced when you pressed gently against one bruise, testing for deeper damage. But when your hand moved to the large bruise near his ribs, the pain was immediate and sharp. Marcus flinched, a curse slipping through his clenched teeth as his hand shot up to grab yours, stopping you from pressing further.

“Forgive me, General,” you said, your tone clipped, “but at least now I know you do feel pain. You’re just a complete moron for ignoring it.”

“Excuse me?” Marcus exclaimed, genuinely taken aback. For the first time in years, someone had spoken to him with such boldness, and he wasn’t sure whether to be offended or impressed. “Do you care who you’re speaking to?”

Your expression didn’t waver. In fact, you seemed entirely unbothered by his title or his irritation. “You can sentence me to death for my words if you wish, my lord,” you said, your voice firm but laced with a frustration he could only describe as maternal, “but it doesn’t change the fact that you have multiple broken ribs. And you’ve neglected them. Not to mention whoever last treated your wounds should be stripped of any right to practice medicine. Two of these scars are infected, and I’ll need to reopen, clean, and stitch them properly.”

You glanced up at him then, and his breath caught. The anger in your eyes wasn’t for him—it was for his neglect and whoever had failed to care for him properly. There was something about that look, fiery and determined, that melted something in him he hadn’t realized was frozen.

“So you can do whatever you wish with my head,” you continued, your tone softening slightly but still resolute, “but only after I’ve taken care of you, my lord.”

Marcus stared at you, speechless. No one had ever cared for him enough to risk their own well-being for his. You had to know the danger of speaking to him this way, yet here you stood, unwavering.

And, to his surprise, he didn’t mind. He found that when it came to you, he didn’t care about his status or authority.

“Where do you want me?” he asked at last, the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.

You blinked, caught off guard for the first time. Your reaction was subtle—just a few moments of hesitation—but it was enough to make him smirk. A small, childish triumph stirred in his chest, a victory that felt sweeter than any battle he’d won.

You were good. Really damn good. It didn’t take long for Marcus to understand why his men preferred you over the hardened healers in the camps. Your hands were smaller, gentler, moving with a precision that was both calming and mesmerizing. But it wasn’t just your touch—it was the way you talked him through each step, explaining what you were doing as though giving him a measure of control. It was a strange thing for him to find comfort in, but it steadied him in ways he didn’t expect.

When the time came to reopen his infected scars, you hesitated. Your expression faltered, guilt flashing across your features like a crack in the calm façade you wore. “Brace yourself,” you said softly, almost pleading. And when the scalpel touched his skin, you winced, as though the pain you inflicted was your own to bear.

It hurt, of course, but it was nothing Marcus hadn’t endured before. Yet the way you worked, with such care and purpose, made it impossible to look away. Your movements were swift but deliberate, your focus unwavering. You cleaned each wound with an attentiveness he had never experienced, as though the scars on his body were more than just marks of survival—they were something sacred.

“You’re better behaved than your men,” you teased as you began cleaning the second wound.

Marcus raised a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Oh?”

“I remember Euthris once proposing that a kiss would make him feel better,” you said, a grin tugging at your lips.

He chuckled, the sound surprising even himself. He had known women who would have slapped a man for such a comment without hesitation. And yet here you were, laughing about it.

“I do apologize for my men,” he said, his tone warm, amusement lacing his words. Truthfully, he understood the poor soldier’s sentiment. He surprised himself by realizing he wouldn’t mind a kiss from you either. But he was no longer as bold as he once had been—age and experience had tempered him. “I assume he left thoroughly disappointed?”

You shook your head, a playful glint in your eye. “I kissed his cheek to thank him for donating his food bag to someone else.”

Marcus blinked, taken aback by your words. His expression softened as he processed them. Perhaps his men were flirtatious, even bold, but they were also honorable.

“They’re good men,” you continued, your voice quieter now. “I’ve noticed the way they leave their bags behind, or how they slip coins into places they think I won’t see. They could spend those coins on something for themselves, but instead, they choose to help. You should be proud of them, my lord.”

“I don’t believe I’ve had much to do with their actions…” Marcus began, but his words faltered as you began stitching the reopened scar.

Your apologies came soft and quick, almost teary, as the needle pierced his skin. He wanted to tell you it was fine, to reach out and brush the concern from your face, but he remained still, letting you work.

“I didn’t know about your existence,” he said after a moment, his voice quieter now. “I came here because I overheard my men talking about you during one of their drunken nights.”

You flushed at that, your laughter turning awkward and small.

“They spoke of an ‘Angel,’” he continued, his eyes fixed on your face. “And I had to see for myself.”

“You must be disappointed then, my lord,” you whispered with a hint of humor, turning to the next wound. Again, you apologized softly when the needle broke through his skin.

“I never had an image in mind of what an angel might look like,” he said. His voice dipped, becoming almost reverent as he reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear. The movement was instinctive, unplanned, and when your body froze beneath his touch, he hesitated. Had he crossed a line?

“But if someone were to ask me now,” he continued, his hand retreating slowly, “I would give them your description.”

Your breath hitched, and your wide eyes lifted to meet his. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the air between you thick with something unspoken.

You had heard of General Marcus Acasius. His name carried weight, whispered among soldiers and citizens alike. He was a formidable force, a man whose strength and cunning had turned the tide of many battles. But more than that, he was spoken of as a good man—merciless in war but fair, unwavering in his duty.

When he had walked into your space earlier that day, the first thing you noticed was how unfairly handsome he was. You had wondered, fleetingly, how a man like him could ever be sent to a battlefield. But now, as you stitched the last wound and felt the weight of his words sink in, you realized he was more than his reputation. He cared for his men, even as he neglected himself. He spoke without arrogance, treated you with respect, and carried a depth that made you want to know more.

“Forgive me, my lady. It seems I’m as ill-behaved as my men,” Marcus chuckled, the sound warm yet apologetic. His gaze dropped to your hands, which had frozen mid-motion after his words and touch. You swallowed hard, regaining your composure, and quickly returned to stitching the last wound.

When you finished, your voice was soft, almost hesitant as you asked him to remain lying down. If the room hadn’t been so quiet, he might have missed it entirely. Without waiting for a response, you turned to your table, busying yourself with a small bottle and herbs.

The smell that wafted from your work was unlike the harsh medicinal odors he’d grown accustomed to—sharp, biting scents that clung to battlefields and camps. This was different, a subtle and soothing aroma that seemed to fill the space with peace. He found himself breathing it in deeply, drawn to its unfamiliar comfort.

“You have nothing to apologize for, my lord,” you said after a moment, your voice steadier now. When you turned back to him with a medium-sized bottle and a piece of gauze, he noticed the faint flush on your cheeks. His lips curved into a small, unbidden smile, his ego growing slightly at the sight.

“Rather than ill-mannered,” you added, a shy smile tugging at your lips, “it was quite charming, I must admit.”

Marcus chuckled again, his gaze resting on you as though you were some kind of art—something rare and unexpected in his world of violence and chaos.

“But I am no lady,” you continued, meeting his eyes briefly before glancing away. “I’m just a girl from the lower classes, trying to carve out a place for herself in this cruel world.”

“You are the reason my soldiers are still standing,” he replied, his voice steady and sincere. “If anyone is worthy of the title, it’s you.”

His words took you off guard. There was a weight to them, a charm so effortless it almost felt unintentional. “Not to mention,” he added with a faint smirk, “you still haven’t told me your name.”

Your reaction was almost comical—your hands paused mid-action, and your mouth opened as if to reply, only for you to close it again, too embarrassed to speak. Marcus couldn’t hold back the laugh that burst from him. It was deep, genuine, and so free of burden that it surprised even himself. He hadn’t laughed like that in years, and you, caught in the sound of it, found yourself smiling despite your flustered state.

Finally, you managed to stammer out your name. The way he repeated it, soft and deliberate, made your heart skip a beat.

“I…” You cleared your throat, willing the warmth in your cheeks to fade. “I’ll apply this oil to the bruises on your ribs, then wrap them with bandages. I assume you won’t accept the bandages from me.”

When he nodded, the smirk on his face grew, earning a roll of your eyes.

“Fine,” you said with mock exasperation. “But I insist you take the oil and use it before bed each night.”

He hesitated for only a moment before accepting the bottle. He knew well enough he couldn’t find anything like it elsewhere. But as you began to pull your hand away, his fingers closed gently over yours, stopping you.

From beneath the folds of his armor, Marcus retrieved a small leather bag. Without hesitation, he placed it in your hand. The weight of the coins surprised you, and you immediately began to shake your head.

“I cannot accept this,” you said firmly. “I won’t—”

“You can,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument, “and you will, my dear.” His smirk softened into something warmer, his voice quieter as he added, “You’re doing an incredible job—not just for my men but for everyone who comes to you. If not for yourself, then take it to help them.”

You looked down at the bag, then back at him, your throat tightening as the emotions you had kept at bay finally broke through. Tears welled in your eyes, spilling over before you could stop them.

“Thank you,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “From the bottom of my heart.”

Marcus, sensing your discomfort at showing such vulnerability, simply nodded and looked away, giving you a moment to collect yourself.

Steeling yourself, you poured some of the oil onto the gauze and began to gently apply it to his bruises. Your touch was soft but deliberate, your movements careful as you worked. The warmth of the oil seeped into his skin, its soothing scent filling the space between you.

As you finished and prepared the bandages, Marcus watched you with quiet fascination. He hadn’t expected to find someone like you in a place like this—someone who treated others with such care and dignity, no matter their station. He couldn’t help but admire you. There was a quiet strength in everything you did, a resilience that didn’t demand attention but couldn’t be ignored. Yet, alongside that strength, you carried a gentleness that was rare in a world like his—a softness that didn’t falter, even under the weight of the pain and chaos you confronted daily.

“I want this oil to be gone in three days,” you said at last, your voice steadier now, though the lingering care in your eyes hadn’t wavered since he first saw you. “Every night, it should be applied.”

You looked at him then, something sterner flickering behind your gaze, and for a moment, he saw the fierce determination that lay beneath your calm exterior. “And please,” you continued, the words firm but kind, “do not overwork yourself. Those ribs need time to heal, and they won’t get it if you keep pushing yourself.”

He smiled at that, a quiet acknowledgment of your concern, and nodded. His eyes never left you as you worked, wrapping his torso with bandages. Despite the size of your hands, your touch was confident, and your movements were precise. To his surprise, when you finished, he found himself able to breathe a little easier.

“The dressing of broken ribs is crucial for your health,” you explained, as though anticipating the thoughts running through his mind. “Even if it hurts a little, it needs to be done tightly enough to provide support.”

You glanced up at him, your smile gentle but teasing. “My biggest concern was that one of the ribs might puncture your lung. And, well, no one wants that.”

He chuckled at the light humor, his chest rising and falling more easily than it had in days.

“I won’t waste your hard work on me,” he said sincerely, his voice warm with gratitude. There was something in his gaze—a softness, an intensity—that made your breath catch for just a moment.

You nodded, stepping back and surveying your work with a satisfied expression.

“Do you need help dressing?” you asked, tilting your head slightly.

Marcus moved his arms tentatively, testing the bandages’ hold. To his relief, the sharp pain had dulled significantly. “No, I think I’ve got it,” he replied, shaking his head with a small smile.

“Good,” you said, turning back to tidy your workspace. “I want to see you again in three days for an inspection.”

He pulled his tunic over his head, watching you as you worked, your movements fluid and purposeful. He couldn’t help but notice the care in even the smallest gestures—the way you arranged the jars, the precise manner in which you cleaned your tools. His gaze lingered, and a soft smile touched his lips when he realized how intently he was observing you.

You continued speaking without looking at him. “Of course, if you decide not to take my head before then.”

At that, Marcus frowned. But when you turned to him with a playful smirk, his confusion gave way to quiet laughter.

“And who would take care of my soldiers the way you do?” he replied, his tone gentle but sincere.

Your expression softened at his words, and you rolled your eyes in mock exasperation. “Three days, General,” you murmured, turning to leave.

As you disappeared into the hallway to check on your other patients, Marcus remained where he was, his mind lingering on the sound of your voice and the way you had looked at him—not as a general, but as a man. He was already counting the hours until he’d have an excuse to see you again.