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heylittleriotact · 4 months ago

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𝐢 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖

𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐱 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐔

Emmrich works, Rook shops, dinner is imminent

Link to ao3 or read below the cut.

“Three times?”

“Yup.”

“And then this morning too?”

“Mhmm.”

“Damn. He must have been thirsting after you for ages.”

Rook tried not to look too pleased with herself as she regarded the shelf of dried pastas in front of her, purportedly deciding what shape she wanted, but in reality her mind was wandering down the enthralling path of recently forged memories from the night before.

The feeling of his lips on hers.

His scent.

The way he moaned while he was fucking her: not forced or put on. Instead, it was like he had never enjoyed anything in life quite so much as being entangled with her…

I’m in the grocery store with my best friend, picking up supplies for dinner - now is not the time.

Too late though: thoughts of Emmrich had already taken root, and sinful need slithered through her organs, twining around her guts and settling deep in her belly, impossible to ignore.

Later. Soon…

“Does he have Instagram? Facebook? I wanna see this silver-fox-fuck-machine for myself.”

“He doesn’t,” Rook said quietly, her lips curling at the absurdity of Emmrich having any kind of social media accounts. Most funeral professionals had nearly invisible online footprints - in an age where everyone you ever met was likely to look you up online, remaining largely unsearchable was the only sure way to guarantee your privacy.

“LinkedIn?”

Rook wrinkled her nose and pulled a box of linguine off the shelf, tossing it in the basket Leon held. “What? Cuz he’s old?”

“I mean… yeah?” Leon shrugged, his soft, dark brown eyes widening innocently.

“Shut up, Leon,” Rook squeezed past him, bumping her shoulder against his pointedly despite the abundance of space in the empty aisle.

“What?” He giggled, falling into step behind her, shaking his luxurious mane of thick black hair. “Nothing to be ashamed of - you were the one that couldn’t shut up about him at the Mussels Absinthe show a few weeks ago. You bagged yourself a sugar daddy - good for you! Wish I had that pull.”

Her cheeks heated as they wandered towards the produce section, “Can you maybe try not using your fucking radio voice while we’re discussing my sex life in the grocery store on a Thursday afternoon?”

“Just sex then?” Leon forged on, not bothering to lower his warm, booming voice at all. “Or have the seeds of romance been planted and fertilized?”

“Leon.” Rook ground out, looking around to make sure no one else was being subjected to this.

“Oh yeah,” he remarked observantly, “You fucking like him, don’t you?”

“What’s not to like?” Rook retorted, manhandling a practical, sound-minded bit of dignity into the conversation as she selected a basket of mushrooms. “He’s stable, supports himself, has a functioning vehicle that’s not filled to the windows with garbage, doesn’t bitch when I tell him to wear a condom, and knows how to get a girl off.” She dropped a mesh bag of garlic bulbs into the basket with unwarranted spite. “Bet he won’t ask me to buy weed for him and his band buddies, or go running to Mummy for rent money each month either.”

“I love it.” Leon said, rubber voice adopting a whimsical tone, as he switched the basket to his other hand and squeezed a grapefruit because Rook knew he’d eyed it and felt like he needed to. “The complete about-face rebound from pie-in-the-sky wannabe rockstar burnout to sophisticated man-about-town is truly inspiring. Tommy is gonna shit himself.”

“It’s not a rebound, and Tommy’s not gonna know a damn thing about it,” Rook snapped, sounding just as harsh as she intended to. “That fucking dickhead doesn’t deserve a window into whatever happens to be going on in my life. He lost that privilege when he fucked that stupid waitress at The Hanged Man… and that was after the shithead already fucked around once and got caught.” She shoved a few shallots into a bag, pretending she was shoving them down Tommy’s throat. “I know he asks around about me - I’m not stupid - and you’d better not be fucking telling him anything about me: I don’t want him knowing where I work, what I’m up to, who I’m fucking, or even what I’m doing with my fucking hair these days. He’s a piece of shit and I hope he chokes on his fucking tongue.”

“Point taken,” Leon raised his eyebrows. “And just so you know: I haven’t said a word to him - and I never would. I haven’t even seen him around at shows or anything for the past month at least.”

“Good,” Rook quipped, calm entering her voice. “Maybe he’s finally made himself useful and gotten a fucking job. Or better yet: done us all a favour and dropped dead.”

It was always one thing to make arrangements with a family that clearly didn’t know much about their loved one in life, but it was quite another thing altogether to sit in an arrangement office with the overwhelmed family trying to guide them towards decisions while simultaneously steering them away from ones that their loved one was blatantly disagreeing with in real time.

“Next! I really don’t care for gerber daisies and I haven’t a clue as to why they think I have some sort of attachment to them.”

Emmrich subtly glanced up from the pages of the binder of floral arrangements into the ghostly visage of the recently deceased octogenarian hovering around it with the rest of her family.

Over the years he had mastered the art of subtly urging the living towards the decisions of the dead, but it wasn’t always easy: it was a balancing act on both fronts that to his knowledge, no other funeral professionals but himself had to manage: the rest only had to worry about satisfying the living. Emmrich had to make sure everyone was pleased.

Try explaining that to the dead, though: the average person rarely considered it in life, but the reality was that funerals were - and always had been - just as much for the living as they were for the dead. Of course celebrating the life and legacy of the departed was of utmost importance, but the communal event itself: the ritual of a funeral, be it Andrastian, Qunari, non denominational, or anything in between was arguably more for the people left behind than the ones who did the leaving: an opportunity for the bereaved to come together and support each other through the heaviest days of their grief. To weep, and laugh, and share stories and regrets. But the world was changing, and fewer and fewer people saw the value in said rituals. Thought them trite and old-fashioned and impractical.

It was a shame, really. But as it stood, society seemed to prefer to grieve privately… or not at all, preferring to bury their sorrows in busy things like work, and commitments; happy to deny that they felt anything at all in favour of letting that vacuous wound inside of them fester and scar rather than accepting the laborious journey of grief and the healing that came with it. No one liked saying goodbye. No one enjoyed losing a loved one. But… that was life, wasn’t it?

And of course, what came after death was a mystery to everyone. Even Emmrich, who had been able to commune with the metaphysical imprints of the recently deceased since childhood was unable to say for certain what followed that final breath: not everyone became a ghost, it seemed, and those that did tended not to linger overlong - less out of choice, he knew: the echo of a soul could seemingly only sustain itself in this realm for a finite time, becoming progressively less substantial before eventually fading away forever. Where it went after that, he couldn’t say.

That was what kept him awake at night. Not the awful music someone might choose, or the fear that his funeral would be poorly attended. No - it was the creeping, uncaring entropy of death itself. The utterly dispassionate way it claimed everybody and everything. The way it would eventually claim him too.

“While we were working on your Mother’s obituary, I recall that you indicated she kept a garden at your childhood home in Cumberland. Are you able to remember if there were any flowers that she particularly enjoyed growing there?”

Of course he was asking her surviving son and daughter, but he was most certainly asking the ghost of Maude Laviolette as well. Something to go off of from any of them would be helpful at this point - they had been in arrangements for nearly two hours by then, and it was clear that everyone was growing tired.

“Delphiniums. Stock. Snapdragons.” Mrs. Laviolette ticked off garden flowers on her ghostly fingers, her voice an echoing melody composed of emotion and memory.

As the Laviolette siblings looked at each other over the table, trying to work out exactly what flowers their mother might have grown all those years ago, Emmrich flipped a few laminated pages of the binder, allowing himself to idly wonder what sort of flowers Rook liked - or if she even cared for them at all. It was so difficult to tell with her - assumptions almost always turned out to be wrong in her case, but she clearly had an affection for things that grew, so surely she appreciated the beauty of flowers?

“Perhaps an arrangement similar to this one here? The ‘Garden Stroll’ casket spray?” He tapped a ringed finger over the picture of a stunning arrangement of delphiniums, spray roses, mums, and iris that ranged from a delicate, powdery blue, to deep violet, to white.

“Oooooh you clever man!” The echo of the elderly woman clasped her hands under her chin and joy crept into her voice. “This is lovely! Could we swap out the mums for stocks and add in some snapdragons?”

“Oh yeah! Some of these look a lot like what Mum grew. The blue ones especially!” Eve Laviolette looked at her brother and pointed at the delphiniums in the photo. “Remember these ones, Aiden?”

Aiden Laviolette scratched at his dark brown beard and squinted at the binder.“I do. I do remember those. But there were others too that were kind of similar…”

“Snapdragons?” Emmrich prompted, for all intents and purposes, a senior mortician who was very well acquainted with flowers after so many years of doing this.

“That’s it!” Aiden exclaimed, “Snapdragons!”

“May I suggest if you’re adding the snapdragons, for the overall shape and spirit of the arrangement, you might consider switching out the chrysanthemums for some nice, gentle stocks? I’ve seen a similar arrangement where it was done to great effect.”

It wasn’t lying. Not really. Just… massaging the truth such that everyone - whether they had a pulse or not - was happy… or as happy as they could be given the circumstances…

He flipped to another page to show them an arrangement that featured some stocks.

“Eve, don’t you think that maybe Mum grew these too?”

Eve leaned over the page to take a closer look and gasped. “She did! What are the odds?” She looked up at Emmrich, her thin lips curving into a generous smile. “If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think she was giving you instructions from beyond the grave!”

Emmrich returned the smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling warmly as his face took on the oft-used expression that imparted comfort and peace to those living through dark days.

“A happy coincidence only, I’m afraid, but one that Mrs. Laviolette would be pleased with, I hope.”

His eyes strayed ever so slightly over Eve’s shoulder to see the phantom of Maude Laviolette, looking chuffed as anything as she looked over her daughter at the picture of the chosen floral arrangement.

“Thank you, young man,” she said, rubbing her daughter’s upper arm with the tender familiarity that only a mother could impart. Eve’s expression changed to one of surprise as she looked up at the touch, looking over her shoulder and seeing nothing. “You really are a credit to your profession. Thank you for taking such good care of my kids - Maker knows they need it right now.”

Emmrich entered the customizations for the casket spray into the file, went over the remaining details that needed to be decided that day, and printed the contracts to the administration office.

Taking the navy blue garment bag containing the clothing that Mrs. Laviolette’s family had brought for her to wear, he excused himself, stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind him. He would see to the contracts and give Eve and Adrien a few minutes to chat openly amongst themselves and have some space without the pressure of a near-stranger sharing the room with them.

Rebecca (‘Becks’ as she was known to most) handed him the itemized clothing intake form he’d gone over with the family and printed out, and he folded it in half and placed it inside the garment bag before writing Mrs. Laviollete’s name on a manila tag and attaching it to the clothing hanger with a rubber band.

“Thank you, Rebecca,” he handed the permanent marker he’d used to sign the tag back to Becks and took the contracts from her next. “Oh, could I trouble you for a jewelry envelope? They also brought her glasses, her wedding rings, and a pair of earrings if memory serves.”

The relief admin reached into a drawer under the desk and surfaced with a self-sealing, manila envelope, adding it to Emmrich’s growing pile of paperwork.

It was always strange seeing someone else sitting at Rook’s desk. He’d gotten so used to seeing her there over the past months. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Rebecca - quite the contrary: she was very good at her job, and a lovely person, but she wasn’t Rook.

“Did you get permission to post the obit on the website?”

“Ah! I thought I may have forgotten something… my apologies, Rebecca - I’ll be sure to ask before they leave.” He treated her to an apologetic smile and scrawled a few x’s on the contract to better indicate where the family needed to sign.

“Forgetting things, Emmrich?” Remarked Joan, the other permanent chapel administrator from her own desk. She was in her forties and had tightly curled hair the exact colour of nutmeg. She twirled her pen in her hand and smirked at Emmrich - this sort of harmless teasing was not unusual from Joan. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with the fight you clearly lost with an octopus last night, would it?”

Oh dear - his collar must have slipped down, revealing the deep mauve love bites Rook had left on his neck.

“That’s hardly any of your business, dear Joan,” he retorted curtly, adjusting his collar with dignity as he continued to review the funeral contracts.

“You gonna bring them to the Wintersend dinner?” She demanded, and Emmrich threw a cautionary glance at Becks as she failed to subtly lean over her desk to try and catch a glimpse at his neck.

“Perhaps,” he flipped the page, circled the price of the casket upgrade that they had discussed. His phone vibrated in his breast pocket, heralding the arrival of a text message - he already knew who it was from, and his stomach fluttered pleasantly. “We shall see.”

“You haven’t brought a date in years,” Joan said. “Was just talking about it with Wayne-“ ah yes, Wayne: Joan’s husband who worked at the nearby cemetery - somewhat rough around the edges, but a lovely fellow all the same. “- last one was that uh… what was she an art appraiser or something?”

“An art dealer,” Emmrich sighed, focusing intently on the contract hoping that Joan would take the hint: he saw little reason to stand around discussing a former flame with colleagues. Not with a family next door.

“That’s right!” Joan pointed her pen at him. “Any idea what she’s up to these days?”

Emmrich bit back his annoyance and forced his expression to remain stoic. “I haven’t any reason to, so no.”

He preferred not to think about Philomena. Preferred not to think about how the avant-gardé and eclectic Orlesian patron of the arts was initially swept off her feet by his charm and eccentricity; his passionate need to understand death and all of its facets, and his almost poetic talent for finding splendour and hope amongst decay and putrefaction.

He felt terrible about himself whenever he thought too hard about her, and he was reminded by his subconscious that she’d gone back to Orlais about a year into their relationship and stopped calling him, texting him, and emailing him without a word of warning.

He never really understood why - never got a tidy explanation - but he had a few guesses: likely a culmination of many things - one too many cocktail or dinner parties amongst the elite creatives of Nevarra where he misread the room. One too many anecdotes about death or decomposition delivered with the casual ease of someone describing the process of preparing an omelette: “It’s a commonly held misconception that rigor mortis is a permanent affliction, however, the stiffening of joints and muscles after you pass on only lasts for a few short hours. Admittedly it can make it challenging for one to manipulate the extremities during that time, but simply massaging the affected areas causes rigor to subside in short order, restoring flaccidity and range of movement so the limbs can be moved freely once more.”

“… Ohhh!” Someone would say with feigned enthusiasm after too many moments had passed without anyone saying anything. “How… interesting!”

The slightly agape mouths and raised eyebrows told a different story.

Add to that one too many declarations of love and romantic intent: words trotted out in flowery verse; expensive gifts lavished with the unspoken hope that they could make him enough in her eyes: I can provide, see? You will never want for anything. I am safe. I am kind. I love you, I love you, I love you - will you love me?

He knew he got too attached too quickly and too easily. He always had, and when he was inevitably left to clean up the aftermath of another lover’s hasty departure from his life, his old friend and colleague, Johanna was always quick to point out that of course he had managed to frighten yet another one away with his saccharine yearning - as if he needed reminding.

Not that he cared what Johanna thought, but he could practically hear her calling him a cradle-robbing pervert upon learning about Rook.

And would she be wrong?

Sighing again, he marked up one more place on the contract before heading back to the arrangement office.

As he vanished around the corner, he heard Joan say to Becks too loudly for it to be accidental, “Seems pretty miserable for a dude that just got laid.”

I really should have taken her out for dinner first. How thoughtless of me…

The guilt hadn’t subsided by the time he arrived home to shower, change, feed Manfred, and return to Rook’s apartment.

She’d messaged him twice throughout the day. Once in the morning to say she’d had a nice night, and once in the afternoon to say she was looking forward to seeing him again shortly - that one had been accompanied by a picture of her wearing nothing but a towel, the curves of her perfect breasts just barely concealed by the grey terry; drenched hair dripping tantalizingly over her skin.

He was grateful he’d waited to look at that one until after the Laviolette family left, because within minutes of opening it, the utterly gorgeous still frame of her had him rock hard, and he found himself shamefully jerking off in a stall in the staff bathroom, desperate to finish so he could refocus himself and concentrate on his final arrangement meeting of the day like he wasn’t some sort of lurid sex obsessed deviant who had successfully reduced a woman like Rook down to a vapid sex object.

He was grateful for a change that the family he was assisting wanted a direct cremation with no service, no viewing, and no obituary. The sole executor brought the will, and was the only person attending the meeting. Everything had been prepaid in advance by the deceased, so there were no changes nor any new decisions to be made: simple, quick, and to the point.

Despite this, Emmrich still managed to spell the word ‘preparation’ incorrectly three times in a row, and almost gave the son making the arrangements Rook’s business card instead of his own.

There was nothing for it: he was a mess.

A besotted, smitten, horny mess, and at this rate it wouldn’t be long before he frightened her away too. What was he thinking? That this young, beautiful creature with a lifetime of promise and possibilities before her would be in a hurry to tie herself down to a man old enough to be her father?

That she would happily embrace the strange looks they would almost certainly get in public as people drew conclusions they had no business drawing?

That she would quickly come to know the worst of him that dwelled beneath the thin veneer that was the ‘best’? The insecurity and loneliness and self-loathing; the irrational fears and anxieties that kept him awake at night and overwhelmed his mind at times, leaving him little more than a quivering, hyperventilating wreck, curled up under the blankets and praying for the Ativan to kick in soon.

She would figure out that he was too much. Too different. Too weird - even by the very broad definition applied by morticians.

He would have to tell her that he could see and speak with the dead.

He would have to tell her that more than anything in life, he was afraid of dying - a wildly contradictory fear for one in this profession.

She was going to know before long that the carefully crafted facade of Emmrich Volkarin was a lie - brazenly thrust into the world, and effective only because of the sheer amount of time he’d been insisting upon it.

She doesn’t deserve this.

She deserves a future full of joy and potential and dreams that are entirely attainable, should she only dare to wish for them.

I didn’t even ask her to dinner before I slept with her…

It seemed stupid to get hung up on that, but he was: mutual feelings or not, it fell to him to take the lead, and rather than controlling himself and treating Rook with the respect she was due, he took her to bed and didn’t even have the decency to spend the entire night.

She deserves respect, and here I’m treating her like a fantasy…

Tuning out Manfred as he twined around and through his ankles, coating the hem of his pant legs with white fur, Emmrich sighed and pulled out his phone, preparing to call Rook and tell her he couldn’t do it - he wasn’t coming over.

But before he could place the call, a banner appeared at the top of his screen.

Another message from Rook.

‘Are you on your way yet?’

A reasonable and fair question - that wasn’t the part of the message that made his eyes prickle unexpectedly. It was the words that followed.

‘I miss you.’

‘I just made it home - I’ll be over soon - close to 7:00. I miss you too, Rook. I missed you all day.’

Just as he said he would, Emmrich arrived right at 7:00. Rook had spent the last twenty minutes stationed at the window again, staring down the length of her street, her stomach leaping whenever she saw headlights turn off the main road.

When she finally saw the recognizable shape of Emmrich’s lights, her stomach flip-flopped even harder, and she pushed away from the window, taking a moment to check herself over one last time in the mirrored closet doors to make sure she had dressed herself properly: her hair was nicely pinned up in a bun with stray wisps pulled loose to frame her face, and she turned her back to the mirror, looking over her shoulder to check for the twentieth time that she hadn’t accidentally tucked the hem of her stretchy burgundy velvet mini dress into her thong. Her stockings were free of runs, and she hadn’t managed to soak sweat stains under her arms yet - though she suspected that was about to change. Her makeup still looked pristine, and the softly tinted gloss she’d chosen over her traditional matte red lipstick still looked good.

Satisfied, she slipped out of her apartment and down the stairs where she waited at the front door for Emmrich to appear, emerging from the dark to stride up the walkway, as elegant and refined as ever.

Her breath caught in her throat at the sight she’d been waiting all day to see: him - with his perfectly styled silver hair and his angular, distinguished face. He wore the same black pea coat from the night before, and had switched out the brown chinos for charcoal grey tweed trousers that bore the same impeccable tailoring. With his expensive looking Antivan wingtips and his cream coloured scarf he looked like a bougie fashion journalist or something.

He looked fucking hot.

“Fuck me…” she murmured under her breath before flinging the door open and grinning at him. “Hey.”

“Hello, Rook,” he beamed, stepping inside and taking the weight of the door from Rook, letting it close shut gently behind him.

He was holding a white paper shopping bag, and his glasses fogged up again the same way they had before, and for a moment she was at a loss for what to do with herself as they occupied the small vestibule.

Making a decision for both of them, he swept her against him with his unburdened arm and brushed his lips over her left cheek, then her right, before releasing her.

“I’m sorry it took me so long - traffic and Manfred, you see.”

Hoping he couldn’t see her sway in place as the elation of being touched by him again negated her ability to balance properly, she unlocked the main door and he followed her inside and up the stairs.

“Oh no… no problem at all. I know it’s a long drive. How was Manfred?”

“Oh he managed to break into the pantry today and ate an entire loaf of bread. I think he’s rather upset that I was absent last night for far longer than I usually am.”

Guilt wrung Rook’s gut then. “Sorry,” she glanced over her shoulder at him, offering a sympathetic grimace as they continued their ascent. “I’d say you could bring him with you next time, but there’s a ‘no pets’ policy and my landlord is a real prick about it - last year the old man in 204 got a hermit crab to keep him company after his wife died and the prick made him get rid of the little guy.”

“How sad,” Emmrich frowned, looking genuinely sorrowful at this.

“I brought him a house plant - a cutting of Perry, actually - and I try to visit him once a week for coffee. He’s grateful, but I think he’d be happier with his hermit crab… or his wife for that matter.”

Emmrich’s mouth curved in a soft smile, though the melancholy didn’t leave his eyes. “That’s very sweet of you, Rook.”

“It’s not,” she argued placidly. “It’s just the right thing to do: people should look out for each other, but for some reason they just… don’t and it annoys the fuck out of me.”

“That makes two of us,” Emmrich agreed, wincing slightly as they made it to the landing of Rook’s floor.

“Shit, sorry - are you okay?”

“Oh yes, just the ever-present protestations of knees that I should have cared for better in my youth.”

Rook didn’t know what to say to that. She certainly couldn’t render solidarity in the form of a believable ‘Ugh! Me too! Fucking achy joints amirite?’

She didn’t have achy joints: she was 25.

So instead she just nodded and opened the door to her apartment, ushering Emmrich inside with the same elevated politeness that she ushered families into visitation rooms with.

“What have you got there?” She asked, pointing at the bag that he had set down in the entryway so he could undo his scarf and slip out of his coat.

“Give me a moment to sort myself out and I’ll show you,” he retorted with the tempered ease she’d come to know. He hung his coat and the scarf on a hanger and put them in the closet before removing his shoes. “You look lovely, by the way.”

Damn right I do - I don’t dress up in my own house for just anybody.

“Thank you.”

Emmrich straightened and pushed his shoes to the side of the mat with his foot. He was wearing dark green dress socks with a beige diamond pattern on them, and a black turtleneck that made for a decidedly Warhol-esque look.

They regarded each other silently for moments that lasted far longer than they had any right to, clearly both at a loss as to how best to proceed.

“I uh… haven’t started dinner yet, but if you want some wine, I—“

Something seemed to snap into place in Emmrich’s brain and his eyes widened at her words. “Wine. Right!” He scooped the white paper bag up from the floor and reached inside, withdrawing a visibly dusty bottle and handing it to Rook. “You must forgive me - I didn’t think to ask what was on the menu tonight, so it might be a poor pairing - foolish of me - but the… the wine I brought you last night is… well it’s…“ he sighed wearily, “This will be far more palatable, trust me.”

Rook looked at the bottle in her hands, swaths of dust cleared away to reveal dark, shining glass where her fingers and his had touched it.

She was far from a connoisseur of wines, generally opting to drink anything that had a price tag of $10 or less - or came in a box - and would surely get her drunk faster than beer.

“This is… this is… really nice wine, isn’t it?”

Emmrich made a dismissive sound in the back of his throat, “Hardly the nicest, but a definitive improvement on anything with a screw-top.”

Rook swallowed, feeling out of her depth: poor… stupid… uncultured.

Seeming to pick up on her discomfort, he plucked the bottle from her hands and wiped the remaining dust from the label. “It’s from my personal collection: one of a few that I have left from a good year. I think I purchased a case of these for eighteen dollars per bottle, so it’s less that I broke the bank, and more that I stumbled upon something good and decided I wanted to hold onto it.”

“I don’t even know if I have a corkscrew,” she admitted, still feeling sheepish.

“Well we’ll sort that out if we need to,” he treated her to that easy, nonjudgmental smile again and picked up the bag again, handing it to her. “For you.”

Rook’s eyebrow raised when she accepted the bag. She peered into it, then back to Emmrich, then she abandoned the entryway, placing the bag on the kitchen counter and reaching inside.

Her fingers closed around a hard ceramic pot, swaddled in cardboard and plastic. Carefully lifting it, she set the pot on the counter and pried the plastic away, revealing a plant with deep green leaves and a woody stem. Its delicate limbs curled prettily upwards, and small white buds were nestled in the fragrant greenery.

She gently rubbed a leaf between her thumb and forefinger, saying hello to her new friend.

“You brought me a plant?” She asked, staring at the fledgling creature, her heart filling. “What florist is even open at this hour?”

“Odella’s, of course,” Emmrich answered, naming the florist that McDermott & Rafferty had contracted out for funeral flowers for years.

She felt his presence drawing close to her, heard him place the wine bottle on the counter gently, then felt his hand on the narrow curve of her waist - almost tentatively at first until it became obvious that she was not going to flinch away… only then did it settle. With his other hand he brushed a sprig of leaves and stooped slightly behind her, placing his face alongside hers.

“I thought to bring you flowers at first, but this seemed a more fitting offering than an impermanent and fleeting bouquet, given your passion for growing things.”

She didn’t understand why at the time, but the fact that he remembered - or even cared - about her affinity for houseplants made something tighten in her chest.

Tommy hated them. He thought they were a waste of time. Told her if she was gonna bother putting so much energy into growing something, it might as well be smokable.

“Do you… like it?”

Rook realized that she hadn’t spoken. Hadn’t said anything. Not so much as a ‘thank you’.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, though she hadn’t any clue what it was. “It’s… it’s a…?”

“A jasmine plant,” Emmrich assisted. “It will bloom for you in time, so the flowers are forthcoming.”

Rook pulled her gaze from the small potted plant and turned against the edge of the counter so she was facing Emmrich.

“Something to look forward to, then,” she smiled, looking up at his kind face. She curled her fingers into the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. “Thank you. For the plant, and the wine… you didn’t have to.”

“But I wanted to,” he entreated, his sweet, spearmint scented breath washing over her cheeks as she fixated on the enticing shape of his lips.

She still needed to start dinner. She hadn’t even put music on. She promised him a meal, and here she was, wasting time…

“You been tested recently?”

The amorous look in Emmrich’s eyes vanished, replaced with confusion. “Tested? I—?”

“STI panel.”

“Oh!” The faintest blush crept over the bridge of his nose and he looked at the cupboards over her shoulder. “Every year, or after a new partner, whichever comes first, but… I haven’t had a new partner in some time and-“

“You’re clean?”

The flush deepened, diffusing over his cheeks. “W-well yes, of course, but-"

Satisfied, Rook pushed away from the counter enough to drop to a crouch, one knee brushing the floor as she undid Emmrich’s belt buckle and slipped the button of his trousers loose.

Catching on, he managed to babble, “Rook, darling, y-you don’t have to-“ before she dropped his zipper and pulled his dick out of his underwear, casting one cheeky look up at the stammering man in front of her before taking him in her hand and dragging her tongue up the underside of his cock.

“Ah!” He moaned unbidden at the sudden wet warmth when she took him into her mouth, buckling slightly against the counter behind her. “R-Rook!”

Her other hand found the back of his thigh and she locked him in place, filling her mouth with his semi-hard length, hollowing her cheeks and sucking him in, her pussy immediately responding to the high pitchy breaths - little half groans and whimpers - that poured from his lips.

He was surprised by this sudden turn of events, yes, but he didn’t pull away; didn’t tell her to stop. Instead, his gasps gave way to deep elated sighs as she worked him with her mouth and her hand, taking her time and worshipping his long, thin cock, tracing every handsome vein; revelling in the salty tang of his skin and the slickness of his precum on her tongue as she knelt in front of him.

“S-so good…” he whispered, carding the fingers of one hand through her hair, his head tipping back, “Oh… that feels so, so good…”

I know it does, handsome…

Rook hummed approvingly around him, feeling him throb against the roof of her mouth. She let go of his cock, wrapping her wet fingers around the back of his other thigh before slackening her jaw, opening her throat, then taking him deep, deep, and deeper still until she felt him butt against the space just beyond her tonsils. He squirmed in her hands, biceps femoris fluttering coyly under her fingertips. His hand tightened in her hair, but not enough to hurt.

She inhaled deeply through her nose, filling her lungs and belly, lost in the cathartic victory of the bliss she was subjecting him to; the smell of him; the dainty sweetness of the viscous, anticipatory fluid that continued to seep from his sensitive slit...

He moaned her name quietly again when she eased him further down her throat, exhaling slowly… so slowly through her nose as she went, bobbing her head slightly and going further with each stroke until he was fully seated and her nose brushed skin beneath the coarse thatch of hair on his lower belly.

He positively vibrated in her hands - ass clenching, thighs spasming, hips jerking, the nails of his free hand scrabbling over the smooth surface of the counter as Rook swallowed around him and fucked him with her throat, each lewd wet thrust punctuated by the unseemly sound her vocal cords made as they were repetitively prodded by his intrusive length.

“Darling…” he whined, a man toeing the chasm of abandon. “D-darling please… I can’t… oh - I’m going to— ohhh!”

His words were cut short and he went rigid as a corpse before uttering a strangled yelp and collapsing against the counter with a thud, propped on an elbow as his hips jerked gracelessly against Rook’s face and she felt his hot, thick cum spill down her throat - one satisfying, relieving pulse after another.

She moaned as she swallowed him, cunt aching as she drank him deep, his warmth spreading through her, her name falling raggedly from his mouth over and over and over, each repetition more reverent than the last.

When he was done, she twitched her jaw, let him slip wetly from her, traced her lips with her tongue, and smiled up at his fucked-out face.

“I was looking forward to an appetizer, and it was delicious…” she rose, tucking his cock back into his pants and doing them up. “So… how about that glass of wine, handsome?”

It was actually pretty funny, the way that Emmrich was gaping at her with his unusually clumsy fingers absently trying to configure his belt buckle, his face flushed and shiny with post-orgasmic bliss.

“Wine,” he swallowed, throat bobbing, hazel eyes blown out behind the lenses of his glasses. “Yes, yes… allow me.”

He seemed to grasp onto some scant flotsam of rational thought amongst the pitching sea of post-nut clarity and finished with his belt, sliding his sleeves up his forearms and clearing his throat before saying (roughly), “If you did happen to have a corkscrew, where might it be?”

#emmrook #emmrich x rook #modern funeral home au #emmrich #emmrich volkarin #dragon age emmrich #this is an emmrich thirst post #emmrich romance #emmrich smut #rook is a grimy mall goth #dragon age #datv #dragon age the veilguard #dragon age fan fiction #dragon age fan fic #this old man needs to have his mind and dick blown frequently okay

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andmaybegayer · 2 years ago

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On Coffee

I, for one, do not know basically anything about coffee. However, if I had to trust one person to explain coffee to me it would be our beloved coffee nerd/machinist/librarian/man-about-town @morrak and he was kind enough to do just that, helping me pick some coffee from the local speciality shop.

Given the extremely rudimentary prompt:

My closest reference is probably tea, so like, I enjoy the texture you get from oolong, and the scent experience you get when drinking assams. As for dislikes, not a big fan of green tea.

We ended up with these

Square Mile's Filter Blend and Lady Marmelade Kenyan from Chroast. Brewed two 125ml cups on 7.5g of beans in an Aeropress.

I have tasting notes, which should be taken with a grain of don't know what I'm doing.

Just sniffing the beans, the filter blend is very neutral, smells very much like what you think coffee smells like. The Chroast beans smell strongly like something tagged in my head as aldehydes, whether that's an accurate association or not.

Square Mile Filter Blend

Mild flavour, very smooth texture, note here is "oily/buttery". Sweet, not very bitter at all, minimal aftertaste that wasn't just the taste slowly dying out. Citrusy, but in the way that the zest of an orange or a grapefruit is citrusy. Makes me think a little of what would happen if I made a kind of too strong black coffee and tempered out all the bitterness and astringency with milk without adding enough to actually taste a milk flavour.

Chroast Lady Marmelade

Much stronger flavour, drier texture but still less astringent than something like black tea. Not really coffee-like in my head at all, also very low bitterness, less than plain black teas by far. A very plant-y aftertaste, but in a different way from how green tea has a plant-y aftertaste, because I don't mind it here. Aldehyde thing isn't present in the taste, instead it is just kind of sharp. Aftertaste goes up the back of your sinuses in a nice way, tastes like it smells when brewing.

Conclusion

I have not done a comparative coffee taste before, although I've done it for teas. These two are quite different when directly contrasted and I'm certain I'd not have picked up on it without them side by side, the Square Mile is very smooth and sweet, while the Chroast is much more strongly flavoured and has that dry texture I like from black teas. Both felt better than what I had before this, so definitely good recommendations from Morrak here.

I do wonder if brewing half my usual amount here threw something off, the Aeropress drains real fast on only 7.5g of beans. I will try making full cups of these the way I normally would and see how that goes but this came out pretty good, I enjoyed and wanted more of both of these.

It's noticeably different from the coffee I get in the machine at work, which I also happen to know is all extremely old because they are using pre-pandemic coffee that is now hitting its end of shelf life and being dumped in the staff kitchen as freebies.

#coffee #thank you morrak #food

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poppyseedoncaffeine · 2 years ago

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Sun and Moon show quotes because my sleep paralysis demon said so

Most of these aren't in character and I think its funny, Also Rays is good Eclipse and ya'll know who jigsaw is.

Monty, looking at their watch: It has been 2 hours and sixteen minutes since I’ve been insulted. Monty: It’s been about 5 seconds since I’ve been assaulted, but let’s not talk about that.

Monty: Lunar… Why did you draw a pentagram on the floor? Lunar: Your text told me to satanize the house before you returned. Monty: Monty: I wrote sanitize, Lunar.

Lunar: Can we get a birthday cake? Sun: It’s not your birthday. Lunar: The cake won’t know!

Monty: So according to the cease and desist order I got, apparently you can’t ‘legally’ be a lawyer if your license is ‘cut out of a cereal box’.

Shapeshifter: transforms to look like Monty Monty: Okay, are you like BLIND? You look nothing like me. First off, I'm way taller. Secondly, I DO NOT look so sleep deprived and lastly, if you could drag comb through that hair you're like a 7 on a good day and I've been told I'm a constant 10.

Eclipse: Look at the buns on that guy! Lunar: lying on the floor, covered in hamburger buns Monty: This is the comedy police! The joke's too funny! Eclipse: I'm not going back to jail!

Eclipse: Could you be anymore annoying? Goast!Lunar: Yes.

Goast!Lunar: Like they say, "If you can't beat them, curl up in a ball and protect your organs."

Lunar, holding a scooter: Monty! Can I go outside and play with this? Monty: Sure, whatever. I'm not your parent, okay? Lunar, running outside: Thanks Monty! Monty, running out after them and screaming: NOT ON THE STREET! STAY AWAY!

While the Squad is in a battle Goast! Blood Moon, trying to warn Sun about the location of an enemy: To the left! Sun, Extremely sleep deprived: Take it back now y'all! *gets decked in the face*

Moon: Did you two buy eggs like I asked? Lunar: Even better! Moon: What did you- Earth holding up a chicken Her name is Fluffy.

KC: What’s the status up here? Rays: Fucked up, about to die, Sun’s a nerd. The usual.

Monty, holding a kettle: Coffee or tea? Rays: Tea. Monty: Wrong. It's coffee.

Sun, in a room with Monty, Moon, and KC: It’s calm in here. Sun: It scares me…

Lunar: sharpens knife We've got ways of making people talk. Lunar: cuts piece of cake Jigsaw: …Can I have some? Lunar: Cake is for talkers.

Sun: How would you rate your pain? Rays: 0/10. Would not recommend.

Sun: Lunar, I don’t think I can handle any more of your tomfuckery. Lunar: Oh yeah? Well I can keep going until you’re all tomfuckered out!

Eclipse: What's two plus two? Monty, has a concussion: Math. Eclipse: …I will accept that answer.

Lunar: Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Foxy: Why start now?

Monty: Fruits that do not live up to their names; passionfruit, grapefruit, honeydew and dragonfruit. Monty: Fruits that do live up to their names? Monty: Orange.

Rays: According to the footage here, you shook the vending machine and when the shake alarm went off, you punched the glass and broke it. Rays Moon: …I was hungry.

Bloody: I called you like ten times! Why didn’t you pick up? Lunar: remembers dancing to the ringtone Lunar: I didn’t hear it.

Moon: …I'm pretty sure that place is fire-proof, or something. Eclipse, grenade in hand: Alright, but is it explosion-proof?

KC: Uh, Moon? Rays is in the pool and I don't think they're waterproof. Moon: What? Bloody: I think they meant, Rays is drowning. Moon: WHAT?! Meanwhile Rays: is drowning Lunar: OH MY GOD, RAYS! KEEP SWIMMING! Rays: I can't swim, dumbass— sinks Lunar: RAYS!

out grocery shopping Rays: takes a free sample twice Rays: Robbery and Fraud. I am a Rebel.

Earth: We all have our demons. Sun, grabbing Blood moon: This one’s mine!

Monty: Prepare to feel really bad about yourself. Rays: I’ve been prepared for that my entire life. Monty: Rays: Or something mean about you.

Sun: I’m so tired. Rays: Did you get to bed late? Sun: No. Rays: Did you do something strenuous? Sun: No. Rays: Then why are you tired? Sun: I’m alive. Rays: Sounds exhausting.

Monty: Hey, how did my phone break? Sun: You were drunk yesterday. Monty: And? Lunar: You threw it. Monty: Why? Eclipse: You turned on airplane mode and kept screaming “FLY DAMN YOU!” Monty: And why didn’t you stop me?! Foxy: We were busy laughing our asses off.

Monty: I’m not lazy, I just find it hard to put effort into things I’m not passionate about. KC: What are you passionate about? Monty: Sleeping.

Moon: You’re a loose cannon, Eclipse. Eclipse: No, I’m not. I’m a cannon, maybe, but a loose cannon? Is that what you think of me? Monty: I think you play by your own rules. Earth: No way, they think rules were made to be broken. Moon: Those are all attributes of a loose cannon. Eclipse: No, I’m just a reckless renegade. Rays is a loose cannon. Rays: smashes a chair Aah! You shut your trap, Eclipse! Earth: I’d say Rays’s more of a cop on the edge with nothing to lose. That’s an entirely different thing. Monty: Now I’m just confused. Is Eclipse a loose cannon or not? Moon: All right, put on a pot of coffee. We’re gonna get to the bottom of this. Eclipse: groans Rays: Aw, man.

Monty: Yum, thanks! Kidnapper: puts more tape over their mouth I said stop eating it.

KC: I ran into Monty in the kitchen at 1 AM last night and when I asked them what they were doing, they just shrugged, said “these are my roaming hours,” and wandered off, strumming vaguely on their Bass guitar.

Eclipse: I’ve been sleeping so little the past few nights that when I go to the alarm app, I click on the “power nap” button. I don’t set up alarms, I set up timers, Lunar.

Foxy: Sorry I'm late, I was doing stuff. Monty: YOU PUSHED ME DOWN THE FUCKING STAIRS!

Monty: You know, people treat me like a god. Foxy: How? Monty: They ignore my existence unless they need something.

Monty: The floor is lava! Sun: helps Blood moon onto the counter Lunar: kicks Eclipse off the sofa Moon: lays on the floor Monty: …Are you okay? Moon: No.

Sun: Who hurt you? Rays: snorting What, do you want a list? Sun: …Yes, actually.

Eclipse: I feel so burnt out. Monty: Don’t worry, it'll be over soon. Eclipse: Are you gonna… assassinate me? Monty: Well not if you’re expecting it.

#sun and moon show #sun and moon show eclipse #sun and moon show lunar #sun and moon show kill code #sun and moon show earth #sun and moon show montgomery gator #sun and moon show sun #sun and moon show moon #Sun and Moon show Good Eclipse #Sun and Moon show Jigsaw

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biomorphakash · 20 days ago

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Lycopart 3GX A Simple companion to What It Is and Why It Matters

Did you ever step into a drugstore and notice there was a product named " Lycopart 3GX " and have no idea what in the world it is? You're not alone! The name does have some resemblance to a sci-fi gadget, but Lycopart 3GX is indeed a healthful supplement created to enhance general health — particularly in individuals who could use some extra life from vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Let's get it apart together in a pleasant, easy- to- digest manner.

What Exactly Is Lycopart 3GX?

Lycopart 3GX is a nutritional supplement that contains multiple vital nutrients in one panacea. It usually exists as a soft gelatin capsule, and it's often prescribed by croakers for individuals who may have deficiencies, are convalescing from sickness, or simply wish to provide their body some redundant assistance.

Think of it like a " power smoothie " in lozenge form — loaded with such delicacies as

Lycopene

Multivitamins

Minerals

Antioxidants

Each of these elements contributes to maintaining your body running smoothly. Let's examine each one more closely almost.

Get to Know the Key Players in Lycopart 3GX Lycopene – The Red Defender

Lycopene is a natural pigment that is responsible for the red color of tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit. But it's not merely cosmetic ! Lycopene is a significant antioxidant. That is to say that it assists in shielding your body's cells against harm triggered by " free revolutionaries " — unstable particles that can damage your cells with the passage of time.

Picture free revolutionaries as bitsy fairies flitting about your body causing trouble, and lycopene as the superhero that keeps them under control.

Perks of Lycopene might include

Promoting heart health

Enhancing skin protection against sunlight damage

Assisting in lowering inflammation

Vitamins – The Building Blocks of Health

Lycopart 3GX contains a selection of necessary vitamins such as

Vitamin A – excellent for eyesight and weak strength

Vitamin C – aids in healing and impunity

Vitamin E – another antioxidant to keep your cells covered

B-complex vitamins – support energy and brain function

Imagine vitamins as the tools your body employs in order to repair effects and maintain everything running smoothly like a well- waxed machine.

Minerals – The Silent Workers

Your body requires minerals to perform well too, just like

Zinc – crucial for your exposed system and repairing

Selenium – helps thyroid functioning and serves as an antioxidant

Bobby and Manganese – assistance with generating energy and protecting cells

Actually even though you don't require minerals in big amounts, they're totally vital — sort of like the screws and bolts on a bicycle. You don't always notice them, but without them, nothing functions properly.

Antioxidants – The Body's Cleanup Crew

Antioxidants are essentially mini vacuum cleaners that help sweep up destruction within your body. Our über-sophisticated life — pollution, stress, junk food — can cause free radical destruction. Antioxidants level that out and maintain healthy cells.

Who May benefit from Lycopart 3GX?

Although everyone requires vitamins and minerals, not everybody requires a supplement such as Lycopart 3GX. nevertheless, it may be particularly beneficial for

Individuals who have had surgery or illness

Those with nutritive deficiencies or inadequate diets

individuals with chronic health conditions( such as diabetes or cardiovascular disorders)

Elderly adults who can absorb lesser nutrients from nutrition

Individuals who are sensitive to high levels of stress or pollution

Always consult a croaker prior to taking a new supplement, particularly if you are on other specifics.

How Should You Take It?

most individuals take one capsule daily, usually after a meal. This aids your body in better absorbing the nutrients. Because Lycopart 3GX has fat-responsible vitamins( such as A and E), consuming it after a meal that includes a little fat — such as nuts, yogurt, or eggs — can actually improve how well it performs.

Key hints

Don't go beyond the suggested cure unless instructed by a physician.

Keep it in a cool, dry environment below from sun.

however, breastfeeding, or possess a medical illness, If pregnant.

Are There Any Side goods?

Overall, Lycopart 3GX is well-tolerated when used as directed. But similar to any supplement, some individuals may observe

Mild stomach discomfort

Nausea( if consumed on an empty stomach)

Antipathetic response( although a rare case)

still, it's always best to pause and ask your healthcare provider, If anything seems amiss after taking it.

Real- Life Example Why Ramesh Takes Lycopart 3GX

Ramesh is a 52- time-old office worker. With juggling deadlines, coping with megacity pollution, and missing refections, he had set up himself feeling weary all the time. His croaker recommended Lycopart 3GX as a means to assist in filling in the nutritive gaps.

In a few weeks, Ramesh observed he'd have more energy throughout the day, lesser headaches, and indeed slept better at night. Though not a magic lozenge, it provided his body with the duplicating support it required to perform better.

Final studies

Lycopart 3GX isn't a wonder medicine, but it's a useful ally for your body — particularly when life interferes with healthy eating. think of it as an unnecessary gadget in your health arsenal. Just remember no pill can take the place of a healthy lifestyle. So munch on some fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and sleep well.

And if your body requires a bit of reinforcement? Lycopart 3GX may be the support you need.

nevertheless, do n't hesitate to consult a croaker or druggist, If you wonder whether Lycopart 3GX is the right thing for you. For your body's sake, after all, should always be accompanied by good advice.

#pharmacy

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soulojapantrip2025 · 25 days ago

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5/2/25: Mount Kaimon to Ibusuki to Nagasaki

Mount Kaimon was a workout. It took me an hour and 45 minutes to get to the top. The journey included gravel (tiny stones), medium-sized rocks, and boulders. It actually felt kind of nice to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Thoughts came and went. The view at the top was incredible and totally worth the sweat. Couldn't not take a selfie.

Vending machine drink deliciousness: this lemon soda which apparently has 50 lemons worth of vitamin C. So refreshing. Coca Cola makes some decent drinks outside of the US.

Lunch was at Tosenkyo Somen Nagashi in Ibusuki, where you're supposed to have your noodles swim in a bath before you take them out and dip them into sauce. Where else can you catch your noodles in a circulating bath.

Didn't take any pictures at my next stop, Saraku Sand Bath Hall, because you're not really allowed to. I really enjoyed being buried in sand. I couldn't help but crack up when I looked around and noticed that I was surrounded by a bunch of heads poking out of the sand. I was in there for 20 minutes. When I got out, my body limbs felt pretty weird...not exactly numb, but let's just say it wasn't a great feeling. It's supposed to be good for you though. Of course I public bathed before I left.

At the Ibusuki souvenir shop, I got an okra and sweet potato swirl soft serve and it was by far the best I've ever had. So earthy, so creamy, so good.

On my way to Nagasaki, I saw the kanji/Chinese character for wood and couldn't not stop at this shop. I'm so glad I stepped in because the wood products in there were beautiful. I walked out with 4 cups turned from Japanese cedar. The woman who sold me the cups was adorable. She kept running back to the shop owner with her calculator every time I asked what the discounted prices were going to be. They tried to convince me to get a bowl, but I stopped myself because I was out of cash.

The drive to Nagasaki took 4.25 hours. I thought about how it was the first time I haven't fallen asleep driving alone, which I usually do back in the US. Maybe it's the Japanese roads. Maybe it's the adrenaline. Maybe I've tapped into a new part of my brain.

My room at Belleview Nagasaki Dejima. I liked the yuzu and grapefruit bath salts they provided. From my journal: I am tired of being a good ________ (fill in the blank). Idek what!!! I'm just going to be however, lol.

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grassearoma · 1 month ago

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How Casinos Use Scent Diffusers to Control Your Luck (and Wallet)

The Science of Casino Smells: Why Your Brain Can’t Resist

Casinos don’t just smell good by accident. Scent diffusers pump carefully chosen aroma essential oils into the air to hack your brain. Studies show smells trigger dopamine — the “feel-good” chemical — making you gamble longer and bet bigger. Here’s how they do it:

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1. Fresh Start at the Door: Citrus Traps

The moment you walk in, lemon or grapefruit oils hit your nose. These scents trick you into feeling energized and optimistic.

- Real Example: A Vegas casino used lemon-scent diffusers, boosting new player sign-ups by 18% in a month.

- Why It Works: Citrus wakes up your brain, making you alert and ready to take risks.

— -

2. Slot Machine Zones: Lavender Keeps You Hooked

Ever wonder why you can’t walk away from the slots? Casinos use lavender and bergamot blends near machines.

- Brain Hack: Lavender calms anxiety (so losses don’t sting), while bergamot keeps you focused on the next spin.

- Pro Tip: Macau casinos saw a 35% revenue jump after adding coffee-scented diffusers — players stayed awake for 3+ extra hours.

— -

3. VIP Rooms: Sandalwood Makes Whales Feel Invincible

High rollers get the luxury treatment with sandalwood and vanilla oils.

- Psychological Play: Sandalwood’s rich, woody scent boosts confidence (think private jets and Rolexes). Vanilla creates comfort, so losing $10k feels “worth it”.

- Secret Move: Casinos hide diffusers in AC vents — VIPs never realize why they tip 25% more.

— -

4. Bathrooms: Eucalyptus Erases Regret

Casino bathrooms smell suspiciously fresh for a reason. Eucalyptus and tea tree oils kill germs and clear your head.

- Trap: Players rush back to gamble instead of leaving to “take a break”.

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5. The Whispered Scents You’ll Never Notice

- Jasmine: Used in Macau’s high-stakes areas to spark impulsive bets (it’s linked to “lucky” feelings).

- Pine: Neutralizes cigarette smoke without smelling fake — keeps oxygen levels high so you don’t get tired.

- Cinnamon: Triggers nostalgia (reminds you of grandma’s kitchen = safe to keep betting).

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How Casinos Save Millions with Wholesale Aroma Diffusers

Big chains buy wholesale aroma diffusers to cut costs:

- Central Systems: Connect to HVAC to flood entire floors with scent (like Venetian’s “Venice spice” aroma).

- Bulk Oils: A 1-gallon aroma essential oil bottle costs 70% less than retail — casinos use 5+ gallons a month.

- ROI: A $1,500 scent system boosted one casino’s weekend profits by $50k.

— -

The Dark Truth: Scents Are Silent Con Artists

Casinos know smells manipulate you:

- Time Warp: No clocks + soothing scents (like lavender) make hours feel like minutes.

- “Win” Illusion: Citrus and jasmine create false optimism — you chase losses harder.

- Addiction Loop: Dopamine from smells pairs with slot machine lights = brain can’t quit.

— -

Why You Can’t Win

The house always wins because scent diffusers are part of the rigged game. As one Macau gambler said: “The air smells like money… and I always leave without it.”

#aromatherapy #scentdiffuser #aroma #scent

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torusjuicerau · 2 months ago

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Smash Celery and More: Discover the Power of Torus Cold Press Juicers

In the ever-evolving world of health and wellness, juicing has secured its place as one of the easiest ways to nourish your body. Whether you’re smashing celery for a morning detox, juicing carrots for an afternoon boost, or pressing leafy greens for a nutrient hit, the quality of your juicer makes all the difference. And in 2025, more Australians than ever are discovering the power of cold press juicing with Torus.

If you’re searching for the best way to get the most out of your fruits and veggies, it’s time to explore why so many health-conscious households are choosing to buy a cold press juicer online from Torus Cold Press Juicers Australia.

What Makes Cold Press Juicing Different?

Cold press juicing, also known as masticating juicing, uses a slow-speed auger to crush and squeeze the juice from produce. Unlike centrifugal juicers, which rely on fast-spinning blades, cold press juicers work with minimal heat and oxidation.

This gentle extraction method keeps nutrients, enzymes, and antioxidants intact—making your juice healthier, tastier, and longer-lasting.

Why Celery Juice is the New Green Gold

Celery juice has exploded in popularity, especially among Australians focused on gut health, inflammation, and hydration. But celery is notoriously fibrous and tough to juice efficiently—especially with a standard centrifugal machine.

That’s where the Torus Solo Cold Press Juicer steps in. Designed specifically to handle tricky ingredients like celery, kale, and wheatgrass, this juicer extracts more juice, with less waste and more nutrition.

Ready to smash celery with ease? You can now buy the Torus Solo cold press juicer online and enjoy consistent, smooth celery juice in seconds.

Smash More Than Celery: Versatility at Its Best

While celery might be the star of your green juice, the Torus Solo isn’t a one-trick pony. This powerful juicer handles a wide range of produce:

Root vegetables like beetroot, carrot, and ginger

Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruit

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and parsley

Soft fruits like berries, watermelon, and kiwi

Whether you’re prepping post-workout blends, immune-boosting concoctions, or refreshing summer juices, the Torus Solo has you covered.

If you're looking to buy a versatile cold press juicer in Australia, Torus is built to handle your juicing lifestyle, no matter how diverse your diet is.

Health Benefits You Can Taste (and Feel)

Switching to cold press juicing offers a range of health benefits:

More nutrients per glass – Retains more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes

Less sugar spike – Pulp-rich juice slows sugar absorption

Better digestion – Ideal for gut health and cleansing

Longer shelf life – Store juice for up to 72 hours without compromising taste or nutrition

By incorporating daily juices into your routine, you’ll feel energised, hydrated, and ready to take on the day. And with a Torus cold press juicer, you can trust that every drop is packed with the nutrients your body needs.

Built for Aussie Homes

Torus Cold Press Juicers aren’t just imported machines—they're designed with the Australian lifestyle in mind. With a compact footprint, whisper-quiet motor, and minimal parts to clean, the Torus Solo is ideal for busy families, early risers, and apartment dwellers alike.

Plus, Torus offers local support and warranty coverage, giving you peace of mind when you choose to buy a cold press juicer online in Australia.

Why Torus Solo Stands Out in 2025

There’s no shortage of juicers on the market, but the Torus Solo Cold Press Juicer continues to stand out. Here’s why:

✅ High Juice Yield – Extracts more juice from every fruit and veggie ✅ Simple Assembly & Cleaning – Fewer parts and no fuss ✅ Premium Materials – Durable, BPA-free components ✅ Quiet Operation – Perfect for morning routines ✅ Aussie-Based Support – Local team, fast delivery, and warranty service

Whether you're a first-time juicer or an experienced wellness warrior, the Torus Solo is a smart, long-term investment in your health.

Don’t Settle for Less Juice, or Less Nutrition

Centrifugal juicers may seem appealing due to their speed and low cost, but they often come with compromises: lower yield, higher oxidation, and a much shorter shelf life for your juice.

If you’re serious about juicing—and especially if you're on the celery juice trend—investing in a cold press juicer is the way to go. With Torus, you’re not just buying a product; you’re investing in a lifestyle of wellness, efficiency, and nutrition.

Now is the perfect time to buy the best cold press juicer in Australia and experience the difference firsthand.

Real Stories, Real Juicers

Thousands of Aussies have already made the switch to Torus. From parents making daily green juice for their kids to fitness enthusiasts smashing post-gym blends, the reviews are clear: Torus Cold Press Juicers deliver.

Don’t just take our word for it—explore customer testimonials and see why Torus is quickly becoming the go-to cold press juicer in Australia.

Smash Smarter with Torus

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my-chaos-radio-2020-list · 4 months ago

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Easy - Pale Waves

Edge Of Midnight - Miley Cyrus feat. Steve Nicks

Edge Of The Night - Sheppard

Ego - Halsey

Elastic - Kylie Cantrall

Electric - Darin

Elevator Eyes - Tove Lo

End Of Beginning - Djo

Endless Summer - Alan Walker & Zak Abel

Enough - Jess Glynne

Erase You - Mimi Webb

Escape & Retreat - Holiday Sidewinder

Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter

Ever Seen - beabadoobee

Every Second - Mina Okabe

Eye Of The Untold Her - Lindsey Stirling

Eyes Closed - Ed Sheeran

Fake Friends - PS1, Alex Hosking

Fall Into Me - Forest Blakk

Fancy Like - Walker Hayes

Favorite Nightmare - Blanks

Fearless - Rolling Quartz

Feather - Sabrina Carpenter

Feel - Pet Shop Boys

Feelings Back - Olivia Addams

feelslikeimfallinginlove - Zerb x Coldplay

Feels Like This - Drenchill feat. Indiiana

Flashback - ÁSDÍS

Flirting - mimiirose

Flowers - Miley Cyrus

Follow You - Imagine Dragons

Following The Sun - SUPER-Hi x NEEKA

For Life - Kygo, Zak Abel feat. Nile Rodgers

FOREVER - BABYMONSTER

Forever 1 - Girls’ Generation

Forever 21 - Bonnie McKee

Forget About Us - Perrie

Forget Me - Lewis Capaldi

Forget You - Fast Boy & Topic

Fortnight - Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone

Freak In Me - Mild Orange

Freedom Of the Night - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Freezing - Mimi Webb

Friday - Riton, Nightcrawlers, Mufasa & Hyperman

Friendly Fire - Linkin Park

Get Him Back! - Olivia Rodrigo

Get It? Got It? Good - Jessica feat.Amber Liu

Get Out My Head - Shane Codd

Ghost Of You - Mimi Webb

Ghosts Again - Depeche Mode

Glad You Did - Sasha Alex Sloan

Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo

Good For You - Dimitri Vegas, Chapter & Verse

Good Luck - Mabel, Jax Jones, Galantis

Good Ones - Charli XCX

Grapefruit - Tove Lo

Greedy - Tate McRae

Green Green Grass - George Ezra

Guy For That - Post Malone feat. Luke Combs

Hands On Me - Jason Derulo feat. Meghan Trainor

HAPPY NEVER AFTER - FLØRE

Hate Being Alone - Dagny

He's My Man - Luvcat

Head & Heart - Joel Corry, MNEK

Head Shoulders Knees & Toes - Ofenbach & Quarterhead

Heart Burn - SUNMI

Heart Over Mind - Alan Walker, Daya

Heartbeat Highway - Cannons

Heartbreaker - Purple Disco Machine, Chromeo

Heat Waves - Glass Animals

Heather On The Hill - Nathan Evans

Heaven - Niall Horan

Heaven Ain't Calling - Kiesza, Sugar Jesus

Heavy Is The Crown - Daughtry

Here's Your Perfect - Jamie Miller

Hero - Alan Walker, Sasha Alex Sloan

Heya - IVE

Higher Ground - Martin Garrix feat. John Martin

Higher Power - Coldplay

Highlights - Sasha Alex Sloan

Hold Me Closer - Elton John, Britney Spears

Hold On Me - Kygo, Sandro Cavazza

Holiday - KSI

Home To Another One - Madison Beer

Honey - Lenny Kravitz

Honey Boy - Purple Disco Machine

Honey Or Spice - LIGHTSUM

Hot Honey - Tiesto, Alana Springsteen

Houdini - Dua Lipa

Houdini - Eminem

How Do I Say Goodbye - Dean Lewis

Howl - CHUU

Hurricane - Ofenbach & Ella Henderson

Hurricane - Cannons

Hurricane - The Castellows

HUSH - Rhea Raj

Hypnotized - Purple Disco Machine, Sophie And The Giants

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heylittleriotact · 4 months ago

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👻 WIP WEDNESDAY 👻

Have I vindicated myself? Will I be flagged as a pervert again? Only one way to find out!

Thanks for the tag, @by-ilmater! Already loving your bodyguard AU!

Tagging @emmg @razildor @mageofquandrix @allofthebarks

Emmrich x Rook Modern Funeral Home AU

“Three times?”

“Yup.”

“And then this morning too?”

“Mhmm.”

“Damn. He must have been thirsting after you for ages.”

Rook tried not to look too pleased with herself as she regarded the shelf of dried pastas in front of her, for all intents and purposes supposedly deciding what kind she wanted, but in reality her mind was wandering down the path of recently forged memories from the night before.

The feeling of his lips on hers.

His scent.

The way he moaned while he was fucking her - not forced or put on. Instead, it was like he had never enjoyed anything in life quite so much as being entangled with her.

I’m in the grocery store with my best friend, picking up supplies for dinner - now is not the time.

Too late though: thoughts of Emmrich had already taken root, and arousal was already coiling deep and heavy in her core.

Later. Soon…

“Does he have Instagram? Facebook? I wanna see this silver-fox-fuck-machine for myself.”

“LinkedIn?”

Rook wrinkled her nose and pulled a box of linguine off the shelf, tossing it in the basket Leon held. “What? Cuz he’s old?”

“I mean… yeah?” Leon shrugged, his soft, dark brown eyes widening innocently.

“Shut up, Leon,” Rook squeezed past him, bumping her shoulder against his pointedly despite the abundance of space in the empty aisle.

“Just sex then?” Leon forged on, not bothering to lower his warm, booming voice at all. “Or have the seeds of romance been planted and fertilized?”

“Leon.” Rook ground out, looking around to make sure no one else was being subjected to this.

“Oh yeah,” he remarked observantly, “You fucking like him, don’t you?”

“What’s not to like?” Rook retorted, injecting a practical, sound-minded bit of dignity into the conversation as she selected a basket of mushrooms. “He’s stable, supports himself, has a functioning vehicle that’s not filled to the windows with garbage, doesn’t bitch when I tell him to wear a condom, and knows how to get a girl off.” She dropped a mesh bag of garlic bulbs into the basket with unwarranted spite. “Bet he won’t ask me to buy weed for him and his band buddies, or go running to Mummy for rent money each month.”

“I love it.” Leon said, switching the basket to his other hand and squeezing a grapefruit because Rook knew he’d eyed it and felt like he needed to. “The complete about-face rebound from pie-in-the-sky wannabe rockstar burnout to sophisticated man-about-town is truly inspiring. Tommy is gonna shit himself.”

“It’s not a rebound, and Tommy’s not gonna know a damn thing about it,” Rook snapped, sounding just as harsh as she intended to. “That fucking dickhead doesn’t deserve a front row seat to whatever happens to be going on in my life. He lost that privilege when he fucked that stupid waitress at The Hanged Man - despite having fucked around and gotten caught before.” She shoved a few shallots into a bag and tied it off, imagining she was shoving them down Tommy’s throat. “I know he asks around about me - I’m not stupid - and you’d better not be fucking telling him anything about me - I don’t want him knowing where I work, what I’m up to, who I’m fucking, or what I’m doing with my hair these days. He’s a piece of shit and I hope he chokes on his fucking tongue.”

“Point taken,” Leon raised his eyebrows. “And just so you know: I haven’t said a word to him. Haven’t even seen him around at shows or anything for the past month at least.”

“Good,” Rook quipped, calm entering her voice. “Maybe he’s finally made himself useful and gotten a fucking job. Or better yet: done us all a favour and dropped dead.”

“Next! I really don’t care for gerber daisies and I haven’t a clue as to why they think I have some sort of attachment to them.”

Emmrich subtly glanced up from the pages of the binder of floral arrangements into the ghostly visage of the recently deceased octogenarian hovering around it with the rest of her family.

The average person rarely considered it, but the reality was that funerals were - and always had been - just as much for the living as they were for the dead. Of course celebrating the life and legacy of the departed was of utmost importance, but the communal event itself: the ritual of a funeral, be it Andrastian, Qunari, non denominational, or anything in between was arguably more for the people left behind than the ones who did the leaving: an opportunity for the bereaved to come together and support each other through the darkest days of their grief. To weep, and laugh, and share stories and regrets. But the world was changing, and fewer and fewer people saw the value in said rituals. Thought them trite and old-fashioned and impractical.

It was a shame, really. But as it stood, society seemed to prefer to grieve privately - to bury their sorrows in busy things like work, and commitments; happy to deny that they felt anything at all in favour of letting that vacuous wound inside of them fester and scar.

What came after death was a mystery to everyone, even Emmrich, who had been able to commune with the metaphysical imprints of the recently deceased since childhood was unable to say for certain what followed that final breath: not everyone became a ghost, it seemed, and those that did tended not to linger overlong - less out of choice, he knew: the echo of a soul could only sustain itself in this realm for a finite time, becoming progressively less substantial before eventually fading away forever. Where it went after that, he couldn’t say.

“Delphiniums. Stock. Snap Dragons.” Mrs. Laviolette ticked off garden flowers on her ghostly fingers, her voice an echoing melody composed of emotion and memory.

As the Laviolette family looked at each other over the table, trying to work out exactly what flowers their mother might have grown all those years ago, Emmrich flipped a few laminated pages of the binder, allowing himself to idly wonder what sort of flowers Rook liked - or if she even cared for them at all. It was so difficult to tell with her - assumptions almost always turned out to be wrong in her case, but she clearly had an affection for things that grew, so surely she appreciated the beauty of flowers?

#v writes #wip wednesday #dragon age wip #emmrook #emmrich x rook #emmrich romance #modern au #funeral home au #emmrich volkarin #dragon age #this is an emmrich thirst post #emmrich #datv #dragon age the veilguard #dragon age emmrich

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amazingbotanicalsstuff · 7 months ago

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How To Prepare Our Kratom Tea for Sale

Kratom tea is gaining popularity. It’s even rivaling coffee in some circles. And despite what some may think, it’s not a difficult or time-consuming process to make, especially with pre-measured Kratom tea bags. The acidity of the drink is comparable to a strong green tea.

There are two common ways to make Kratom tea. One is with crushed leaves, and the other is with powder.

Method 1: Kratom Powder

All you need is Kratom powder, a pot, water, and a heat source. Acidic ingredients like lemon or grapefruit juice extend its effects and soften Kratom’s natural herbal taste.

For tea, mix your measured dose of Kratom into a pot, add hot (but not boiling) water, stir well, and let it brew for 5 to 7 minutes. Let the powder settle at the base of the pot before pouring your cup.

You can combine the resulting tea with other herbal teas, sweeten it with sugar, syrup, or honey, or cool it with ice. You can even prepare it in advance and store it in the refrigerator. And yes, you can use a coffee maker to brew Kratom tea, though it may acquire a coffee flavor. Use the machine as you would for coffee, but with Kratom powder instead of coffee grounds.

Method 2: Crushed Leaf Kratom

If you’re using crushed leaf Kratom, either loose in a filter or in a Kratom tea bag, you’ll need to brew the tea for longer. Here are the simple steps to follow:

Heat water, but do not boil

Add the crushed leaves

Wait for 20-30 minutes

Serve and enjoy!

If you have extra tea bags or loose leaves, store them in the fridge in a sealed container to keep it fresh. Be mindful of strong-smelling items in the fridge that could affect the tea’s flavor.

#kratom tea

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stubborn-society · 2 years ago

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Kam Theory: “everything that’s meant for me will come.”

Photo Credit: Kam Theory

Cheers, I apologize for being absent from my post. I’ve been busy af, then I got sick with covid for the first time. Take it easy on me, would you?

I’m so excited to be back. Things have been steadily moving along here at Grapefruit HQ. Our house is growing, and given the state of western civilization, I think everyone is more or less happy. I feel booked and blessed.

As is my style, I am bringing you fresh, new artists to keep your eyes and ears on before anyone else. I’m no paycheck patsy out here lazily sowing seeds for the machine. I’m just one woman, the boss, out here putting her BST in the game every day. Mark my words. This is a threat and a promise.

I’ve waited a long time to get this interview under my belt and it’s finally come to fruition I’m so stoked:

Another Friend of Grapefruit - this is the lovely and gifted Kam Theory. I’ve put her 2020 single, The Process, on 5 playlists already. Check it out for yourself.

Hi, Kam Theory!

Hi!

How’s it going?

It’s going haha.

First, in your own words, tell us who you are.

I am an ATL-based artist and producer from Savannah, GA.

I love Atlanta, especially the artists from there. How long have you been making music for this project? Is there a story behind it?

I’ve kinda always been making music for this project but I just didn’t know what I’d call myself at those earlier stages. I’m always aiming to discover and hone in on what exactly I'm doing and slowly but surely I'm finding my sound and as a result, a name that stuck came about. I don't exactly even recall why I chose it. Partially it was my nickname Kam that my friends started calling me to shorten Kamiah. And Theory I think just resonated with my personality, interests, and the subject matter of my music, haha.

I got my first project name from a joke someone made when I worked in a call center when I was 20 and had it for 15 years, there’s no rhyme or reason! So tell me more about your path as a musician and what got you to where you are now.

My music journey started as a child, I instantly gravitated toward music. I showed interest in it from my earliest memories. Through elementary school I would bang on any keyboard I could get my hands on, I played violin in 5th grade (but quit sadly haha), and then picked up a guitar at 13. I kinda always had these fleeting moments with being able to learn or play because I didn't actually have an instrument that was mine (or could afford lessons) until my first keyboard and first guitar at 13/14. But from there I taught myself how to play guitar by learning songs I loved and by writing my own songs. Naturally, I wanted to record myself and my own creations, so that bred my love for production. At 14 or 15 I got my first USB mic and MIDI cord to connect my lil casio and begin teaching myself programs like Mixcraft and eventually Ableton Live. I spent many hours just creating and trial and error learning music to get where I am today with it.

That’s cool you started producing songs so early! Kids really didn’t have that kind of access to recording programs and all that comes with that when I was that age but it’s really cool to see.

We started following each other on TikTok a few months ago; that’s where I discovered you are crazy talented. What made you decide to start promoting your music on TikTok?

Mostly being encouraged by people around me to post my music on the platform, because it can be a great tool for discovery. And it can just be fun! I’m not always as consistent with it as I should be but it’s definitely cool to connect with others as a result of posting.

I notice some artists are very aggressive with their promotion on the app and others prefer to take a much more organic, real-life approach to it and just put their work out there and let it reach who it reaches. What has it been like for you as an artist promoting their music on social media?

It’s a good tool when I am consistent with it, but sometimes I find it draining if I find myself feeling like I have to create content to be seen or not drowned out by the algorithm. But overall it's helpful when I am intentional about it and just remember that everything that's meant for me will come.

Yeah for sure, it’s stressful to be on there trying to get a song to go viral; I kind of think that ship has sailed anyway (definitely for the better). But it’s such a great tool for connecting with people and building community. Do you use it to connect with other artists or creators on there?

I do find music there occasionally, from specific artists that I might discover down to accounts that actually make lists of artists/or songs to listen to.

Has TikTok been a good platform to build community and find other musicians?

I think it is or can be. Social media overall has the potential to be that. Just depends on who you meet, connect with, and how you plan to move based on that imo!

Totally. Musictok can be a very energizing place, especially now that things have chilled out and it’s not so much like The Hunger Games or something. But some people do still have that energy vampire vibe that’s annoying. Do you enjoy the other music content that you see? Do you think on TikTok the content matters more or the music?

I do. I love to see artists/musicians play and discover new ones via the algorithm that I potentially wouldn't have otherwise. Usually, it’s the music but also I enjoy how an artist can kind of curate a short-form video to reach a wider audience. A good visual is satisfying too, but especially when it compliments the music that’s already happening!

I’ll be honest, I don’t think anyone has mastered the art of seamlessly merging their content with their music on TikTok yet. But it’s not shade, I guess that doesn’t necessarily have to be the goal. Besides, a lot of artists on TikTok are solo. You also write and play all the instruments, record, and produce everything yourself. How do you feel about that? Is it your preference?

I think it has its pros and cons like with everything. I like not having to wait on anyone to get things done or made as a result of being solo. But I do miss collaboration when I've gone through a long period of time without it. And it's nice to have a creative control break when working with others because the work is spread out over multiple brains vs just one haha.

Yeah, I used to get weird about collaborating but when you are really vibing with someone it’s really hard to go back to juggling everything yourself. This is sort of a non-sequitur, but how do you feel about competition in the music industry? Do you feel affected by it?

I think competition tends to stem from competing for an opportunity as opposed to competing for the sake of it. Also competing for attention because attention can lead to such opportunities. But there’s more room in this now than ever before because of social media and the internet. So it’s just interesting to witness or experience. I think it can bring out the worst of some personalities tho haha.

ABSOLUTELY. I think if there’s anyone to compete with it’s the stories we tell ourselves that hold us back.

Lately, there has been a lot of conversation around indie artists maintaining control and ownership over their music and working independently of a label. Do you have any personal thoughts on signing to a label?

I kind of touched on this in the previous question without even knowing haha. It’s absolutely an important conversation. The industry can be predatory, so I'd say my hope is that every single artist has the ability to decide what works for them. I would hope that everyone makes informed decisions vs hastily made ones that they might regret later on or ones made in the face of deception. In a perfect world, all artists could pursue the career in music they desire without the aid of a label to eventually leech off the fruits of that labor. But on the flip side, that same aid gets you the resources to execute your vision to a higher degree. So it can be subjective. I personally know that I want to maintain ownership and control of my music so I will move accordingly.

I respect that, and I think it means a lot to certain fans these days, too. But as you mentioned, there are a lot of great labels that are run by people with good taste who truly want to help artists, too. I think staying open to the right opportunities always helps the artist. So, what does the end game look like for you right now? What are your most immediate goals?

Definitely building a platform to get my music heard and connect to more people. And to create more opportunities for myself in music as a result of that, so yes, playing more live shows and finding more collaborators. I really don’t know if I’m seeking a label or ever will be because I would like to keep my autonomy, haha. But as I continue to learn more about the industry and business aspect of music maybe that will change, who knows. I’m kind of going with the flow right now but I would like to continue down this path and just grow organically.

I’m all about organic growth, I think it serves the artists best. Another non sequitur, but I really want your perspective. How do you feel about the expanding space for black artists and black music right now? Does it inspire you to witness and participate in the shifting of people’s perception of what Black music is?

I love that the perception is changing surrounding the expanding space for black artists. And the reason I say perception is because, to me, black artists created many if not all of the genres many other artists take credit for so this was ours to begin with! It absolutely inspires me because while marketing is important and influences so much, I think social media has given black artists back the power to create space for whatever we want to do. We can create our own lanes.

We absolutely can. Personally, I think TikTok has been a great platform to bring greater visibility to Black alternative artists. Would you agree it’s more instrumental to this than other platforms?

I would say yes! All of the algorithms have their bias (we know this for sure) but the main thing I like about tiktok’s algorithm is that it seems to really tailor itself to its specific audience and as a result, we can uplift our own people more. I love that.

For sure. I love the music community, seeing artists’ creativity and the way people engage each other on topics there. So…here’s a prompt for you. What are two of your favorite albums that you consider polar opposites?

This is such a good and hard question haha. I’d say The Beauty In Distortion by J*Davey and Homogenic by Bjork. The reason I say this is because while both albums are beat-centric and make use of distortion at times, the end result was so different. Another pairing imma list is Girl In The Half Pearl by Liv.e and Strange Mercy by St. Vincent. I love these albums and both have a melancholic vibe but in different ways. The music nerd in me wants to point out how both of them are from Dallas, Tx haha.

I still haven’t listened to Liv.e. I keep hearing she is amazing, I really need to get it together. So with artists releasing singles and really taking their time to release a full album now, I have to ask - especially younger artists - what do you prefer more, full albums or singles/playlists?

I love full albums to the core. I love the concept of bringing to life a whole project with such an intention and tying something together like that. And the way an entire album can become like a capsule of a certain time over a collection of songs as opposed to one. The rollout, the aesthetic, the concept/theme, the sonic choices that tie everything together is just the most satisfying thing. And to experience it the way the artist intended. I love it. (Singles/playlists are great too tho! haha)

I agree so much. I love it. I accept other answers, but I love this answer.

Your content is really fun to watch because you’re wholesome yet so confident! I can tell you really love guitar and the process of constructing songs. Do you draw a distinction between the songwriting process and production or are the lines more blurry?

Thank you, haha. It took and is still taking a long way to exude confidence in it so I appreciate that. I would say it's more blurry for me because I tend to do both interchangeably. When I write it's not just about the song structure and content but I usually also have an idea of how I want it to sound once it's clearly conceptualized in my head and I'm trying to get it out and recorded. So for example, I might write a lyric and a melody but I also hear that it HAS to have this kind of delay on it or it doesn't feel complete haha. If that makes sense.

It makes perfect sense. That’s part of why I think the recorded medium really adds to the experience of songwriting. You have that control, but a responsibility not to exhaust yourself or exhaust the song. Do you believe in the concept of a magnum opus? Do you think people can strive for it or do you think it just happens?

I think it’s subjective. But in the case of it happening, I tend to believe it just happens, and the best way it happens is when an artist has grown into themselves and found a sound that is THEM. I’ve thought about this in terms of when an artist self-titles an album. They believed after however many projects they previously put out that this one embodied THEM fully. Yet, that could still not be the album of theirs that is considered magnum opus to listeners haha.

Haha, true! True. When I was a kid a self-titled album used to really bother me and I think maybe that had something to do with why but I never articulated it. Or I just thought they were lazy. I don’t know.

So here’s a wild card question. Do you believe in reincarnation?

Yes. Energy just recycles and we are energetic beings having a human experience.

Me too. I really hope next time I get to be something other than human. How much do you feel like you infuse your life philosophies into your songwriting?

A lot haha. I’m very interested in the metaphysical and spiritual. And it’s just natural to sneak in those existential concepts when that’s what all of this is haha. Art and creation fragment themselves and are imitating and experiencing themselves. Ourselves!

I’m definitely a sucker for artists who do this, probably because I vibe with it pretty deep myself. So What’s on deck in 2023 for Kam Theory? What are you looking forward to? What can your new fans look forward to?

I definitely have goals in mind for this year musically but they are also dependent on my personal life goals at the moment haha. I definitely will just be taking opportunities as they present themselves and making more of them. But if all goes well I'll be performing more and collaborating more, and I'll finally release a project as opposed to just singles. Let's hope for and manifest the best! :)

WE HERE HOPE FOR AND MANIFEST THE BEST FOR KAM THEORY <3

(Originally published on beastsunltd.com March 8th, 2023)

#new music #neo soul #rnb #black alternative #diy #kam theory #Spotify #stubborn society

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