#i only use one spritz so they better still have this in the full sizes once i run out. that is the thing i am worried about.

[fyodorkitkat]

Just kidding these all smell ridiculously nice and not over powering so I am just going to try these and pick my favorite to get a full bottle when I run out

[vecnawrites]

The Arc's were a VERY open family so it was common for the arc sisters to bet on who wins Jaune or his twin Joan fucking for who gets the remote or the shower etcetera. They just wish they can get a turn for once.

(Holy Hell, this one got away from me! Turned from something that was going to be short and sweet to over 2.6k words!)

The Arc siblings watched as Jaune and Joan fought over who got to watch their show, which ran during the same half-hour time slot. “You got to watch last, Joan! It’s my turn now! Today’s episode is supposed to be really good!” Jaune hated being the only male in the house, even when the girls didn’t like something, it seemed like they ganged up to make sure he didn’t win anything!

Joan shook her head vehemently, her golden tresses and long braid swaying behind her. “I’m not missing the second part of this three-parter, Jaune! You’ll just have to miss it!” she declared, folding her arms underneath her massive bust, bringing the miniature chest planets up.

Over on the side, Saphron looked at Bleu, her glasses wearing sister. “So, what are the odds this time?” she asked, keeping an eye on the deadlocked and arguing twins. The second most buxom of the sisters adjusted her glasses, her sharp blue eyes narrowing.

“Well, Jaune has consistently won the past few matches,” she began, going over what she knew, “although it looks like this time Joan is going to take the initiative…” she finished, licking her lips as Joan yanked down her twin brother’s sweatpants, revealing his large and heavy balls and long limp cock, which she slurped into her mouth as she dropped into a squat, resting her plump ass on her heels. She began to bob her head rapidly, fiercely sucking on her twin brother’s cock, much to Jaune’s shock as he swiftly hardened to his full size.

Slick noises and loud gags filled the air as she tried to take it into her throat, before backing off and looking victorious...until Jaune grabbed the back of her head and shoved her down to the base, making her gag and gargle around the base of his cock, squirming heavily as he took control and outright fucked her face, saliva flying to the side in thick strings as her throat bulged and she looked up with wide, shocked eyes.

Glurk! Glurk! Schlick! Guhguhahg! The buxom blonde slapped at her brother’s thighs as he thrust to the base, pulling back just enough to let her breathe, before plunging down to the base, Joan’s chin nestled against Jaune’s balls. All the while, Jaune was speaking, his voice calm and even, as though he wasn’t violently claiming his sister’s face and throat.

“This is how you throat a cock, Joan! None of that teasing stuff you were pulling off! You’ll never get anyone off that way, no matter how long you do it!” Jaune shoved Joan to the base and held her there, feeling her throat protest and her tongue writhe against the underside of his cock. With a huff, he jerked backwards, yanking his cock out of his sister’s throat. Gliiitccchhh!

He slapped his cock, covered in her saliva, throat slime, and his own precum, on her face, smearing the combined fluids across her skin as she coughed and worked to catch her breath.

Huffing, Jaune reached out and shoved his sister gently away from him, gripping and ripping her blouse open, sending buttons flying everywhere as Joan’s bare tits bounced lewdly, slapping against one another and jiggling heavily, her fat nipples swollen, the slits hiding her nipples slightly opened.

Spinning the buxom blonde around, Jaune grabbed her sweatpants and shoved them down, revealing the bubbly shelf that was her ass and her soaking core, the crotch of her sweatpants dark from the weeping liquid. With a chuckle, Jaune brought his hand down on Joan’s rear, making the curvy blonde cry out as the flesh of her bottom rippled from the strike.

Crouching down a bit, Jaune rubbed his tip, sticky with precum, across Joan’s soaking slit, deciding to be sporting and give his twin a chance. When no attempt at fighting back came, Jaune shrugged and plunged, bottoming out in less than a second and beginning immediately with fast, hard thrusts, loud claps from Jaune’s hips meeting Joan’s bubbly backside filling the air...and their sister’s ears.

Saphron, Bleu, Crimson, Chartreuse, Indy, Gao, and Violette all watched, red in the cheeks, as Joan’s face when from defiant, to shocked, to her eyes rolling up and back in her head, her mouth dropping open and her tongue flopping out, drool sliding down her chin and slowly dripping to the floor as her body trembled and shook in orgasm after orgasm, her cum trailing down her inner thighs and to the rug.

“Heh, Joan, Joan, Joan…” Jaune chided, shaking his head, “you really have to work on your stamina, if you ever expect to beat me!” Jaune growled, picking up speed even more, loud squelching noises coming from their joining. Crack! Crack! CRACK! Joan squealed as Jaune spanked her ass, the pale adipose tissue turning a bright pink as her brother’s hand spanked, slapped, and squeezed it, mauling it between his fingers light dough.

Saphron squeezed her thighs together, her own pussy soaking her panties, twin peaks rising and tenting her shirt as her nipples tightened from her arousal and strained against the fabric of her shirt. Her sisters were no better at all, each of them flushed and fidgeting in place...or discretely rubbing herself, in Bleu’s case. ‘It’s always the shy ones…’ she thought idly, before her attention was grabbed by the sight before her once more.

“You better start fighting back, Joan...otherwise, I’m going to cum…” reaching down, Jaune grabbed his twin’s massive breasts and began to roughly squeeze, pulling her up by using them as handles. “Look! Our sisters are watching you get utterly destroyed by my cock...they’re watching you cum like a slut for your brother’s dick!” a hard clenching around his cock made him laugh. “Oh my god, you’re actually getting off on this! You have no shame whatsoever, do you!?” he began to thrust harder into Joan’s sopping wet pussy, his fingers grabbing, pinching, twisting, pulling her fat nipples, which had popped out of their protective slits and were bereft of their ‘armor’.

“Nooooooo~!” Joan wailed in denial, shaking her head, even as she threw her head back and came explosively, squirting hard enough and powerfully enough that her cum spritzed over Saphron’s and Bleu’s legs and feet.

Jaune growled. “Here it comes, Joan!” he thrust harder and harder into his sister, his balls slapping against her pussy and her clit, extending the buxom blonde’s orgasm, even as his own began, his balls pulsing and shooting out large bursts of cum into his sister’s womb, excess spurting out from the seal that was made from their conjoined sex organs.

Jaune lazily rolled his hips as his orgasm continued, still playing with and fondling Joan’s breasts as she slumped against him, red faced, squirming and panting for air, her pussy quivering around his still rock hard cock.

“Hmph. Thanks to that argument, both of us missed our shows!” Jaune grumbled, letting Joan go and watching her immediately slump to the floor, moaning weakly and shaking, the subtle movements making her flesh jiggle deliciously before his eyes. “Well, might as well get a shower...I need one after that.”

“Nooooo...my turn...~” Jaune looked down at his trembling sister, who had turned her head to look at him, a lazy smile on her face and a challenging look in her eyes-

-which widened as she released a shriek of shock as Jaune grabbed her by the hips and spun her around, still attached to his cock, so she was splayed open and stretched out on the floor beneath him. She swallowed as he loomed over her.

Jaune immediately attacked, pounding her cum filled pussy hard, his hands and mouth attacking her breasts, her nipples again, making the curvy blonde beneath him scream out in pleasure, writhing and arching upwards, pushing herself against him.

Bleu wasn’t even trying to be subtle anymore, her hand down the front of her pants, the movements showing to anyone that cared to glance her way that she was fiercely masturbating. Her top was up, exposing her G-Cup breasts to those in the room, her free hand switching between the heavy mounds as she squeezed them, pinching and twisting her taut nipples, rubbing and tweaking them, her cheeks a dark red and panting heavily. She whined, already imagining herself in Joan’s place, being fucked into a well bred, cum bloated, empty headed little fuck doll for her big brother...she keened as she clenched around her slim fingers in a heavy orgasm.

The other Arc girls weren’t much better, finally rubbing themselves over their pants and shorts as they watched entranced, each of them wishing that they were the one’s in Joan’s place, being fucked heartily and made to cum and cum and cum and cum over and over and over again.

“Ahhhh!!!” Joan cried out legs shooting straight out, toes curling as Jaune’s teeth gently pressed into the sensitive flesh of her nipple, scraping the fat nub of flesh and igniting the eight hundred nerve endings just underneath the dermis. “Cumming, cumming, cumming, cumming, cumming, cumming, CUMMMMMMINNNNNGGGG!” she wailed out, shaking and trembling like an earthquake was going off underneath them as Jaune slammed into her with outright bruising force. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck FUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK!” she couldn’t help but screech, her body stuck in an orgasm loop.

Jaune growled, his body finally giving in and his balls clenching hard as they rested against his twin’s fat ass cheeks, squirting another thick and heavy load from the large spheres out into the depths of Joan’s warm, wet, unprotected pussy.

He sighed in relief as the weight in his balls finally reached a manageable level, and let Joan’s tit go from his mouth with a pop, before rising up and staring down at her panting, debauched form with a satisfied grin. “Looks like I win again, Joan...you really have to start trying harder…” he hummed, getting no response from his sister.

He sighed. “Well, since I’m such a good brother, I’ll be nice and let you share the shower...you’re not going to be able to clean yourself for a good while, after all. That fucking obviously took a lot out of you…” he hummed.

Reaching down, Jaune gathered his completely out of it twin sister in his arms and stood, nodding to his other sisters (all of whom were now openly masturbating on the couch, pants and shorts down and shirts up) and walking out of the living room, Joan still impaled on his cock, the female twin squeaking and squealing as she was bounced upon her brother’s sizable shaft with every step they took.

Bleu cried out, arching as she came hard, shaking on the couch, trembling as though she had touched a live wire. Dimly, she heard her sisters cumming as well along with her, their fingers, palms, thighs, and the couch underneath them getting soaked in their juices.

Each of them were jealous of their sister Joan. Why couldn’t they be the ones fucked and claimed by their brother?

~x~x~x~x~

In the running shower, Jaune pressed his twin up against the slick wall and gently fucked her, kissing her lips and swallowing her moans as his hips rolled against hers, much more tenderly than he had in the living room before their other siblings. This wasn’t some rough, frenzied claiming like it had been before.

Breaking the kiss, Jaune gently trailed kisses along the side of Joan’s neck, feeling her core weakly clenching around his cock…“Ah, Jaune...feels so good…” she whined, wrapping her legs around his waist. “More~” she huffed.

Jaune couldn’t help but chuckle, beginning to thrust faster and harder into Joan, watching her fall into bliss again and again as she clutched at him and rocked her body against him to further her own pleasure, moaning loudly, her moans echoing in the shower.

Finally, Jaune came once more into his sister, grunting low as he looked down and watched her belly expand from the amount that he had pumped into her, giving her a healthy pudge, like she was a month or two pregnant.

Both panted heavily, the only other sound being that of the water crashing down upon them. “...guess we should actually clean up…” Jaune muttered, getting a weak nod from his twin. He slowly pulled his cock out of the large bosomed blonde, and both were amazed at the absolute waterfall of cum that flowed out, splattering on the bottom of the shower and being carried down towards the drain.

Huffing a small laugh, Jaune grabbed Joan’s favored body wash and her loofah, sudsing it up well and beginning to bathe his twin sister, cleaning her of her sweat and their mixed cum, the female blonde moaning as Jaune rubbed her breasts, her ass, and between her legs quite thoroughly.

Not even bothering to get a new fragrance, Jaune quickly scrubbed himself down as well, before they both rinsed off quickly before the water turned cold.

Helping Joan out of the shower, Jaune grabbed towels and dried them both off, patting tenderly around her sensitive bits, before she squeaked as Jaune scooped her up into his arms and walked naked out of the steamy bathroom and towards his bedroom.

Entering it and kicking the door closed behind him, Jaune moved towards his bed and carefully lay Joan down upon it, grabbing the bottle of juice he had placed here earlier that morning. “here you go, Joan. Drink up, you need to replace your fluids.” he said, placing it in her hand, getting a grateful smile from his sister.

Opening it and taking off the top, Joan drank deeply and thankfully, throat bobbing and working overtime to drain the cool liquid and replace the fluids that she lost. Chuckling, Jaune climbed in bed next to her and lay back, grabbing his scroll and opening it to check and make sure that his show had been recorded like he wanted. Nodding in satisfaction that it had, he grabbed Joan’s and checked the same. Finding everything satisfactory, he closed them both.

Seeing Joan finish her juice and smack her lips, he spoke. “Still thirsty? I don’t have any more juice drinks in here, I think, but I can go and grab something from the kitchen if you want?”

He tilted his head as she saw Joan shake hers, before his eyes widened as he felt a soft hand rub his balls tenderly before wrapping around his cock. Looking back up at her face, he saw that sexy little smile on her face that he loved as she twisted her hand, bringing his cock swiftly back to life, twitching and throbbing.

“No need for that, Jaune~” she cooed, licking her lips, “Why leave the room when you have plenty for me to drink right here?” winking at him, she lowered her head and captured the tip of his cock in her mouth, locking eyes with him as she slowly began to suckle on it, flicking her tongue over his slit, almost nursing on his cock, using her hand to stroke his shaft.

Jaune groaned in pleasure, reaching down and stroking Joan’s long hair as the more gentle pleasure filled him. He slowly began to settle down, leaning back and relaxing as Joan slowly sucked him off for more to drink.

He smiled. Despite their ‘fights’, he and Joan were always the closest of the Arc siblings, and it showed during times like this.

[twistinghearts]

‘Not a Request’ Part 2

Since I have been writing this as gender-neutral as possible the paragraph that applies to ‘female’ only characters is in brackets and can be skipped if so wished. I  just thought it was funny. Also note that the cut is there imply to shorten the post on the dash, it doesn’t signify spicy things staring to happen, that’s next chapter c;  

Thank you for reading!! Part 1 || Part 3

Translations: au revoir = goodbye | souris = mouse | bonne nuit = good night 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You were lead inside the castle dorm you had been working in front of, down many hallways and up many staircases.  It was a beautiful building; gold and white decorations with hints of purple. Everything was very regal, and orderly. “Beautiful, non?” Rook commented as he noticed you looking around in awe. “Admiring something does not mean your mouth needs to hang open like a codfish.” Vil scolded, without even looking at you. You closed your mouth as soon as it was pointed out. 

Eventually you reached a bedroom that was just as extravagant as the halls that lead you here.

“Don’t touch anything, and don’t sit on anything.” Vil ordered you before turning to his dorm mates. They began to chat as you headed over to look out the large window. You were so high up... you could practically see the entire east side of the campus from here. It was a beautiful view, but also a bit unsettling as it seemed you were so far away from everything. Rook’s voice broke you from your thoughts. “Au revoir petite souris~” “Do your best~” Epel waved, before they both left.

“They’re not staying?” You questioned, unsure if you felt better or worse being left alone with Vil. 

“They have other things to attend to, they’ll return later.” Vil locked the door before heading through a curtained doorway on the opposite side of the room.  “Take off your clothes.”

You froze at the request, afraid of saying no, but not eager to undress in front of him. Then again with the way things had been going he likely wasn’t going to let it be a choice.

He walked out and took note of you still standing full clothed, “Are you shy? There is no need to feel embarrassed, my physic is far superior to yours there is no need to compare.”  He disappeared again and you heard the sounds of running water. Was he drawing you a bath? If that was a bathroom maybe you could convince him that you should just undress in there. He wasn’t going to join you was he? What was this guy planning?

 At the very least you took off your shoes, but that wasn’t enough. Vil reappeared clearly displeased at seeing you still fully clothed. “Honestly, what do you have against listening to people?” He marched over to you and grabbed your shirt and began to unbutton it. You wiggled trying to pull away but he ignored your movement only pulling you closer to him and strengthening his grip on your clothes.

[If your character has breasts] Vill made it three buttons down before noticing something different about what was underneath your shirt. “Oh~ Were you trying to hide these?” Your face started turning red. “There is still no reason to be embarrassed, they’re just another part of the body.” Yet he held a koi smirk. ]

“Can’t I just undress in there? It’s not like you were going to join me right?” You asked, a bit afraid of his response to the second question. With a sigh Vil seemed to agreed, letting go and stepping back. “Fine. If you’re so insistent on keeping private for now... Just set your clothes outside the door so I can send them to the wash.” His arms crossed. “I assumed you’d be capable of bathing by yourself. Is that correct? I’ve laid out everything for you to use.” He raised one finger to the side of his lips. “Do a thorough job or I will join you and clean you myself.” 

“Y-yes. Thank you.” You gave a nod and disappeared into the other room. You weren’t sure why you had thanked him. You didn’t want to come here, he tried to undress you and was consistently belittling you, but none of the other dorms had ever taken this much interest in you. Whether he knew it or not a hot bath was pretty luxurious to you right now considering Ramshackle’s iffy state, so it was still a nice gesture.  Maybe he was trying to pamper you and just had a bit of a forceful personality, you hadn’t exactly been the nicest or cooperative since meeting him.  After your bath you’d try and be more reasonable, so long as it seemed he was doing the same

You weren’t bothered as you took time to clean yourself with all kinds of nice smelling products that left you feeling soft and refreshed. Finally once you were all finished, and starting to get a little pruney you forced yourself out of the tub, knowing you couldn’t avoid Vil forever. But now that you were clean what were you going to wear? You couldn’t go back to the dirty clothes, and there was no way they were clean yet. 

“Vil?” You poked your head out from behind the bathroom curtain, “I’m done.” Before you could even ask your question you spotted a robe laid across the bed.

“Put that on. I’m not looking.” He answered from his desk not even turning his head. You quickly slipped out and grabbed the robe before slinking back into the bathroom to put it on. 

Once you felt secure in the robe you walked back out into the main room. “I’m dressed.” You stated, unsure of what to do now. 

“Are you feeling better? Calmed down?” Vil asked setting down his pen and heading over to you. You noticed he had changed into a robe of his own; it looked quite elegant on him.  Your eyebrow twitched. Seriously?  He went straight to being patronizing?  But you told yourself that you would try and be less aggressive. “Yes... It was nice to relax.”

Your eyes followed him as he circled you, examining you like a predator. “Yes, this is much better. Now the fun part begins.” He gently took both your hands and led you over to take a seat at his vanity. “Sit up straight, and try to relax.” He picked up a hair brush, and began running it through your hair. His touch was gentle and the accompanied feeling of the brush was really nice. Despite his harsh words, he couldn’t really be all that bad if he was treating you like this could he? 

After a while of silence he began asking you questions. Wondering about how you had come here, what would do if you were a student, and if you liked anything about working at the school. He asked about your interests, and your home world. Of course he gave his comments and opinions on everything but when you talked it felt like he was really listening. It was nice to vent about everything you had been going through and get sympathy, not just brushed off like with the headmaster. Time slipped away as you two chatted and he dolled you up, styling your hair and face. The stars were just starting come out when he spritzed you with a final setting spray. 

“Finished~” Vil stepped out of your way so you could look into the mirror. It was a bit shocking actually. You almost didn’t recognize yourself. You looked the same but so much better, like the face you always want to see yourself with. “Vil... this is...” You were at a loss for words. 

“I just brought out the beauty that was in you all along.”  

“Thank you.” You turned around and gave him a hug. “There there.” He gently pat your head and pushed you off. It was a bit endearing that you were so happy you were crying but the tears would get on his robe if he let you do that, gross. “Don’t ruin it before I get to take pictures.” He pulled out his phone and began to photograph you, telling you expressions to make and which angle to turn your head and such. Nothing strange was ever spoken, but something about Vil’s expression soured as the photo shoot went on. 

“Hou la la~ You have outdone yourself this time! You can ‘ardly recognize the sourie now.”

“I knew it would be a transformation but will all this they’re fairer than-” Epel silenced himself before finishing the statement, but the meaning had already registered with Vil. “Forgive me. I’m still working on making my comments more eloquent.” 

Rooke interjected again before the tension set in too heavily. “I’m envious, truly, you are so fortunate to be so precious to Vil. I take it you will be eating together tonight? I shall bring up dinner then.”

 “Actually I should be leaving soon, so you don’t need to change your plans for me. I’ll just get something at the cafeteria.” You were ignored and the two left as quickly as they arrived. 

“It’s not a request.” Vil stated. He seemed colder again, like how he was when you were being rude to him. “How dare you even bring up the idea of the cafeteria, their food is too unhealthy. The food Rooke prepares tastes fresher and is better for you. It’s especially important for you considering the size of your pores. Besides, it gives me a chance to admire you longer.” His fingers gently brushed along your cheek. He gazed at you for a long moment, and seemed to soften once again. Maybe it was just the food thing that annoyed him? Food was needed anyway so why not stay since it really wasn’t so bad here. Eventually you gave a nod. “Alright, I’ll stay for dinner.” 

While you waited, you now talked about fashion. He asked you what clothes you liked to wear, what colors, types of shoes and things like that. He, of course mentioned what he thought you would look best in.  You both lamented about how there were not enough opportunities to wear more unique outfits at the school. “An outfit should never be the focus. Your clothes are the frame and you are the art.” 

This time you heard a soft knock before Rooke entered, pushing a tea cart. Epel wasn’t with him this time. “Dinner is served.” He lifted the platter topper to reveal two serving of some mixed vegetable looking thing. It smelled alright, but didn’t seem to have much seasoning. However it would be rude not to give it a try.  “I will see you again in the morning, bonne nuit sourie~” Rook blew you a kiss before leaving. If you had been listening, you would have heard the lock on the door click closed behind him.

However you were a little more distracted by his words. See you in the morning? What did that mean? Was he going to show up at your dorm in the morning? There would be no real reason for that considering you didn’t have classes to go too and he wasn’t the type to help you with Crowley’s tasks. Could he have meant it as thinking you were staying? That wasn’t-

“Are you worried it’s poisoned?” Vil teased, pulling you back to reality. “You’ve been staring at your food far too long. I’d rather you be staring at me. Go on, eat. Or do you need me to feed you?”

“Huh?” You had been so lost in your thoughts that you weren’t quite able to process what Vil said. And now suddenly he was leaning over you, one hand on the back of the chair behind you the other holding a fork full of food too your lips. “Come now darling, try a bite.” You weren’t sure if it was the smell of the food or the way he called you darling but your stomach began to twist. Still, you ate the bite he held for you. It wasn’t as bad as you thought it was going to be, but far from the best thing you’ve ever had.

Once you swallowed, Vil gave a small smile and sat back down, returning to his own meal. To make small talk you asked about Rook and Epel, considering you learned a lot about Vil himself in earlier conversations. Vil gave a slight sigh before answering, as if he was displeased you would ask about his friends rather than him but he still answered. You made sure to finish your plate before Vil so you had the opportunity to bring up leaving before he forced more activities on you.

“Dinner was interesting; it’s been a while since I’ve eaten with someone else.” And not been bothered during the meal either, “But it’s late and I really need to be going, could I return this robe to you tomorrow?”

“Darling, where ever did you get the idea that you could leave?” Vil looked up at you, his cheek resting on his hand as casual as could be, “And why would you want to?”

“It…” It should be a given that you could leave but looking back it was never mentioned that this was a visit. It’s not like you were invited over either, more so dragged here like a prisoner.

“Why would you even want to leave? You said yourself, no one at this school has been nice to you, or even cared whether you exist or not. Why go back to rotting out there when you could be appreciated in here?” He moved over to you, “Haven’t we treated you well today?”

You flinched a little when his hand moved towards your cheek, though his touch was eerily soft. He wasn’t wrong… It made your stomach twist tighter to know he actually might have had a point. “I want to leave.” You were in the process of stepping back when his hand firmly grabbed your jaw and pulled you back.

“Why do you keep insisting that these things I tell you are optional? It’s not a request, it is an order. You’re not leaving.”

[succulent-cacti-plants]

Watering Succulents

Essential Tools for Watering Succulents:

It’s important that you are setup for success from the beginning. If not, watering your succulent the right way won’t make a difference. Here are 2 crucial tools that will help ensure you grow healthy succulents:

Pot with a Drainage Hole

The best soil for succulents is one with large particles that drains well

Common Watering Mistakes:

Mistake #1 – Using a pot without a drainage hole

Although your succulents can survive in planters without drainage holes, you’ll have to put in a lot more work to keep them happy.

Mistake #2 – Using poorly draining soil

The right soil is a huge part of successfully watering your succulents.

The bottom line is that succulents prefer not to sit in wet soil for very long. So in addition to getting a pot that drains effectively, you’ve got to use soil that does the same.

Mistake #3 – Using a spray bottle for watering

Succulents like to be soaked, not spritzed!

Don’t use a spray bottle!

So what should you use to water your plants?

A small watering can works really well. My watering can has a rather long spout, so I can water in between my succulent plants rather than on top of them, or sometimes I’ll just use a hose with a soft sprayer attachment.

How to Water Succulents Indoors:

The best way to water succulents is to completely soak the soil and then let it dry out completely before you water again.

When the soil is soaked, your succulents will soak up as much water as they can. Then wait for the soil to dry out completely – all the way to the bottom -before you water again.

Your succulents will do best sitting in completely dry soil for several days, especially if they’re larger and have well-established roots.

During the “drought,” they’ll put out new roots that are thick and healthy, so they can absorb more water when the “flood” comes again.

You can place your succulents under the faucet or hose.

Remember… do not use a spray bottle to water your succulents! A light spray does not promote healthy root growth.

Instead of filling up their roots with water, your plants shoot off tiny, thin new roots to absorb as much water as they can quickly, hoping to get water again soon.

They’ll survive for a while this way, but they’ll be much healthier with a good soak every few days. Try it out and you’ll see the difference in less than a week, I promise.

So how often should you soak your soil? As a general rule, if I’m using the gritty mix I water my indoor plants every five to seven days, in a pot that has a drainage hole. But this may not be the right watering schedule for your succulent plants!

Your location plays a big role in how much you have to water. For example, my house doesn’t hold a lot of humidity, so I find my plants dry out pretty quickly.

If you live in a dry climate, you’ll probably need to water every five to seven days, which is the case for me–but if you live somewhere more humid, you may only need to water once every other week, or less.

Keep in mind too that succulent plants with thicker leaves like a Pachyveria need less water than a succulent with thin leaves like Aeonium Zwartkop.

In the end, you’re going to have to experiment a little and see what watering schedule works for you.

When you’re dealing with full-sized plants, it’s better to err on the side of underwatering, since too much water tends to kill succulents more quickly than too little.

How much and how often should I water my outdoor succulent plants?

When watering outdoor succulents, just follow the same method of soaking the soil, then letting it dry out completely before watering again. As with indoor plants, the exact amount you water your plants outdoors will depend on the humidity of the area where you live.

With outdoor succulents, it’s also important to keep temperature in mind. The hotter it is outside, the faster your soil will dry out, so you’ll need to water more often if you live in a hot area.

If you live in a cooler, more humid environment, on the other hand, you’ll need to water less often–I generally water my plants every two to three days during the heat of the summer, and less in cooler months.

Since there tends to be better airflow outside than inside, the water in your pots will evaporate faster, so it’s likely you’ll need to water your plants a little more often than if they were indoors.

I have to bring my succulents indoors during the winter, as the temperature around here drops low enough to freeze them. When the weather starts cooling off and I bring my plants inside, I cut back to watering once a week–or sometimes only every other week.

Also, keep in mind that succulents planted in the ground don’t have to be watered quite as often as succulents in pots, because the soil stays cooler and doesn’t dry out as quickly.

How should I water the succulent leaves or babies I’m propagating?

This is the one time–and the only time–that it’s okay to use a spray bottle for watering your succulents–when you’re propagating!

In fact, if you’re propagating succulent leaves indoors, you can water them every day.

Just spray the top of the soil with a spray bottle. Like the roots of large succulent plants, the leaves will absorb water from the air around them, so spraying the soil with a spray bottle is usually enough in my experience.

If you’re using a well-draining succulent soil, you can water a little bit more than if you’re using normal potting soil (which won’t dry out very quickly).

Keep an eye on your roots–they may dry out if they aren’t getting enough water.

Healthy succulent roots will be white or pink, and a plump and shiny. As the succulent grows and start to put off more roots, you can gradually cut back on watering.

However, wait until they’re about the size of a quarter with well established roots before you cut back too much.

How to Water Like a Pro:

Even if you water your succulents carefully, you may still end up with plants that look less than healthy.

As I said above, this is usually because you’re over or under watering them, and haven’t picked up on the symptoms.

[brooklynislandgirl]

This One || -

1. Who slowly eases into the pool while complaining about the temperature of the water and who takes a full-force no regrets flying cannonball into the water:

Sometimes Marion runs the dogs out along the creeks, down in the hollows of the bayous, cypress trees overhung with moss. The sounds of crickets and frogs and mosquitoes, a long list of local denizens. Sometimes, she follows along in human skin, keeping Marion company, with a running conversation, questions about the area, what it is like to live here alone, so far away from people, though she knows more about that than she cares to admit. Sometimes Beth follows along in feathers, completely indistinguishable from other birds except that she knows how and where to fly that she isn’t easy prey. Sometimes as a deer, sometimes as a gator. These are silent sojourns are company in her own way. They don’t last nearly as long; while her magick lets her wear whatever skin she wants so long as it is a living thing, too much time spent in an altered form starts to steal away her humanity, and causes her pattern to leak. 

This time, she spends too much time as a hummingbird and can only dart out and over the water without warning. Knees tucked to her chest, arms wrapped around her shins, she hits the water’s surface like a boulder. The splash covers the dogs, the long reeds, and eventually Marion. When she comes up sputtering, she grins, covering her bareness with skin and the swamp water. She grins at the other woman sheepishly. “So. Can I...ah...borrow ya plaid, til I get somewhere wi’ clothes?”

2. Who can easily comfort the other when they’re sick and who sprays everything down with Lysol and wears an antimicrobial mask and pats the former with a broom to comfort them when they get sick?

Beth thinks she is going to die. Every smell, every whisper of sound, every touch only makes the nausea worse. Without the covers, she’s too cold. With them, she’s too hot. It’s so bad that even her hair follicles hurt. Not only that but her nose is red and chapped, her sinus passages and her eyes swollen, red, itchy. Her head is pounding, her body aches, she can’t even find a few moments of peace. She doesn’t even understand how people live like this. 

And while Zarek is in town picking up supplies because she can’t, Marion is keeping an eye on her. And there’s kind of a curl of her lip and an eye roll that Beth is familiar with, she’s seen it on her brother’s face a half a million times. But for really real this time, she’s dying.

"S'jus' a lil' cold, sha" Reproachfully, Beth glances in the other woman’s direction. And spends the next thirty seconds sneezing.  “Need. T’make. Living will.” She’s absolutely sure that next time instead of just a spritz of Lysol in her direction, Marion will feed her the entire can.

3.  Who’s the amazing cook and who almost burns the house down trying to microwave a pop tart?

Marion glances over to Beth, a sneer of disdain on her face. Reflected in the dainty Hawai’ian’s demeanour too. They can certainly blame one another for playing a bit of grab-ass with each other. The pan is no longer on fire though the lingering smell of burnt ...whatever... was still thick and heavy, almost more powerful than the smoke drifting out toward the windows. There is only one thing they can do. In unison, their voices rise. “RILEY!” “PANDA!”

He peels himself from the lean against the side of the place, and field strips his cigarette butt into the ashtray. It was like he could see this coming.  Heading to his truck, he’s already got the grill loaded up with charcoal, and the cooler he just knew to bring along. 4. Who immediately goes for the can of Raid when they see a bug and who picks it up like “no wait don’t kill it I wanna keep it”?

It’s instinct, Beth can see it in the start of the muscle twitch as Marion’s hand goes to to smack it right off her arm, like she would a mosquito or some other kind of ‘critter’. Thankfully, she is just quick enough to lean in and cup her hands around it. Plucks it free of Marion’s sleeve and pulls her hands apart just enough to peak into the dark space and murmur something unintelligible to it. “...’s jus’ one...da kine. Ya know... make big-big web? Like...Charlotte. Or...” She doesn’t know any other book characters based on Orb-weavers. This one is a particular beauty, green and white and about the size of a dime.

She offers Marion a brilliant smile, all sharp pointed teeth and soft, full lips. “No everybody evah see da beauty in nature, but is always dere, even undah da surface.” She excuses herself and makes her way toward the treeline to set her tiny captive free.

5. Who likes to lean over railings to get a better view and who freaks out and tries to pull the former back away from the rail screaming about how they might fall?

“Jus’ jump, sha.”

Beth squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head vehemently.

“..s’only twelve feet.” But it doesn’t feel that way. It feels like the space between the branch and the ground is a million miles. Worse, she doesn’t know how she even got up here. She doesn’t know how she’s going to get down. “Gotta trust me. I’ll catch ya.” Not if her heart gives out before she makes it. And she stays there, arms wrapped around the tree bark for the better part of the hour, no matter how Marion threatens or cajoles. But she can’t hold on forever. At some point she’s either going to slip or she’s going to have to jump and neither option seems so great. Marion is...six feet. She’s five. That’s almost twelve, right? Carefully she sits down, still holding the trunk for dear life. “K-den. But...don’t drop me....au’rite?” 6. Who acts like they’re brave and fearless but actually gets terrified 15 minutes into a horror movie and who is usually the huge scaredy cat but isn’t fazed at all by most horror movies?

Beth tries to become one with the couch and when that fails, she builds a small wall of pillows and blankets around her. Lifts her forearms up defensively to block sight of the screen. But that doesn’t stave off her other senses. Beth can still hear the screaming. The slick, gushy sounds that are so very realistic she can all but taste the blood on the back of her tongue. The way that one guy is slicing skin off that kid’s face...

She knows it all too well from the ER. And even though she knows it’s movie-magic it still she can’t get over the feel of it all. She buries her face into Marion’s side and wishes it all away.

7. Who constantly criticizes the latter’s wardrobe and who dresses even more outrageously to further annoy the former?

She doesn’t have a thing that would fit Marion, who is a foot taller than she is, and though whip-cord lean, is still a few dress sizes larger too. And for all that she has money and influence, she can’t take Marion to the gala in jeans and a tee shirt, maybe some flannel if she’s dressing up. 

She translates what Marion says as “I ain’t wearing this.” though, technically it could have actually been ‘Fight sweater debris,’ just like it sounded. Beth doesn’t know why she hates the sheer black top and the leather skirt. Okay, so maybe she wouldn’t be let out of the house like that, but with Marion’s pale skin and long limbs...it would look stunning. “Okay. How about... black sequin kine dat look like it shot t’rough wi’ lava?”

8.Who likes total darkness when they sleep and who needs a night light?

Despite the rain, despite the fact that Beth was exhausted from the hunt and trying to keep just out of the Rougarou’s reach, despite the fact that she was too slowly for comfort healing up from the jagged chunks of her body having been ripped muscle from bone, she tosses and turns in the moonless dark of Marion’s bed.

She whimpers. Writhes. None of it is alluring when it is paired with the thick scent of frothing-at-the-mouth terror. That she attempts to keep moving, feet kicking under the cool sheets. Sweat soaking into her hair. Goes on for hours until Marion, in her wisdom, sets a candle out. The light falls on Beth, and she starts to calm, her breathing returning to normal.

In the morning, Beth doesn’t talk about it. But over her coffee, she hoarsely whispers, “mahalo f’ dat.”

9. Who loves kids and who scowls at the mere sight of them?

She disappears from everything for more than nine months; it’s more like a year and some. Three months after the birth of the child she finally emerges from her cabin, from out behind her husband, from everything she’s used to put space and silence between them. Has the gall to act like nothing is wrong, that nothing happened.  And to make matters worse, she brings the baby with her. He has her skin tone and her eyelashes. Almost takes up all of her available arm space because she’s not that big. A little tuft of black hair, black eyes when he flutters them open. She says his name is Styxx.  Like the river of the dead and damned. And though she doesn’t look any different than she did before, except maybe going up a cup-size, there’s something stiff in the way she walks. The ginger way she sits, and tries to cover the wince with a coo at the drowsing baby. She doesn’t see the scowl on Marion’s lips, or the shadow that passes behind her blue, blue eyes. If she had, she’d seen a flicker of pain and annoyance and how much Marion missed her.  Misses her still, because the woman sitting on her porch isn’t exactly Beth any more, is she? 10. Who plays games competitively and sucks at them and who plays games casually and is actually really heckin good?

Marion doesn’t care how many rounds of rummy she wins. Or when she insists on the checkers or chess or half a dozen other stupid board games that come out of her bag, all of which seem to have the same goal; time wasting and aggravation.  What she likes is how innocent Beth is even when the fires of competition seem to burn bright in her eyes. The little stories she tells about the game pieces, how she’d learned to play, which ones are her favourite.  It’s Trivial Pursuit, and the only person who can beat her, she says, is her brother.

There’s the way she dances in place and tosses popcorn at Marion when she actually loses a turn, followed by the trill of her laugh. The games don’t matter, but getting a spark of starlight to keep you company? That’s the miracle, isn’t it? 11. Who can handle spicy foods perfectly and who chugs an entire gallon of milk after accidentally eating one jalapeño?

It starts with a little ground black pepper. Then red pepper flake. There’s pepper sauce, a variety of chillies that would eat through most cooking pots if left long enough. Brewed for three days, if that’s what you want to call it, others would say it was fermented in the Devil’s nut-sack. Either way, it gets strained and heated, then cooled to room temperature before its put into the fridge. Beth swears by her brother’s hot-sauce. She tends to put it on most things, but then, how tasteful can vegetables and even some fruits be? Marion once told her that vegans, like her, tasted better. The meat sweeter, less stringy, less fatty, a whole laundry list of things, will inside the Rougarou made plans on what it would devour first when it finally got teeth into the little witch. It’s experimentation really, what combination of foods brings out the best in her. Marion doesn’t say maybe it’s honey, maybe its just her.

But she doesn’t want to crush Beth’s enthusiasm for the project.

[jawnjendes]

i’m not usually like this | shawn mendes

university au, shawn x goth gf

if theres anything you wanna see happen in this series, let me know!

masterlist | series playlist

It all started because he asked a simple question. “Do you ever wear anything that isn't black?”

I've heard this question many times in my life, from family members, to coworkers, to strangers in my classes. The context in which Shawn asked me, however, was different than normal; He was pulling off my sweatpants and noticed my dark underwear. I told him to shut up and proceeded to ride him into oblivion.

When I wasn't surrounding myself with a brick wall to keep me safe, when I was not being stone cold and expressionless, I was quite the sex fiend. I'll take it anytime, and just about anywhere. I mean, you already know the story of those three hours Shawn and I spent in my bedroom, knowing that my roommate was home. That's not even the worst of it. We've had sex in his car, my car, outside my car, my living room, his kitchen, a bar bathroom, and a stranger's dorm room.

Listen… Shawn Mendes is a man of many talents. If he wasn't my boyfriend, he would be a fuck buddy.

Anyway, he liked to tease me about my wardrobe choices just as much as he liked to praise me. Sometimes he would ask who I’m about to sacrifice to the dark lord, and other times he would thirst over my black skirt and tights. Even better, sometimes he put on his black floral shirt as an attempt to match my ensemble. But this story is about his teasing.

After going at it for an hour at his apartment (my thighs were incredibly fatigued and shaky), I had to get ready for work. It was easy to get out of Shawn's hold since he was so loose and sleepy. As soon as I was ready, I kissed him goodbye and left his apartment in spirits so high it was considered abnormal for me. How did I know it was abnormal? My manager kept pointing out how chipper I was as I answered phones and helped customers. When people notice, that’s when you know things are changing.

It wasn't until I stopped by Walmart after my shift did Shawn's words sink in. I do wear black all the goddamn time. My closet is 99% black t-shirts, button ups, pants, leggings, and even underwear! The 1% is when I'm slacking on doing my laundry, that's when I would wear white.

That's not to say I don't like other colors. I used to experiment with bleaching my hair and dying it blue or green. I was a sucker for neon eyeshadow, and I was an absolute slut for red lipstick. Things are fluid, nothing is ever set in stone.

I looked through some of the clothing racks, but it’s Walmart, so nothing really stood out to me. Then I found myself in the underwear department. I was trying not to laugh at myself in front of other shoppers, because this was mildly insane. Was I really considering buying Walmart lingerie to prove a point to my boyfriend? There were some decent options after all.

My eye caught a black, sheer nightgown with a matching g-string. I studied it for a minute before deciding that I had a lot of black lace already, and half of it wasn't even intimate apparel. The next set I noticed was a simple sheer bra and underwear, also black. Getting there, but it wasn't enough. There weren't any in my size, anyway. I dug through the racks until I spotted something girly.

The first thing that put me off was that it was pink… baby pink. It was another nightie, but it was made of sheer tulle instead of lace. There were little pink and red hearts all over the skimpy fabric, and it came with a lace thong. It was cute, but it was the least Me thing here. On any other day, I would not be caught dead wearing anything pastel.

That's exactly why I ended up taking it home.

I quickly raced back to my dorm, feeling like I had some dangerous weapon hiding in the bag I was carrying. I didn't stop to speak to anyone I knew, and I was very glad that Shawn wasn't currently on campus. However, he did text me asking me to spend the weekend at his place. It only added to the butterflies in my stomach.

“Stella!” I frantically called once I had shut myself in my room.

She came practically running, bursting through the door. “What happened? Who died? Oh - oh my god.”

I was facing the full body mirror that was leaning against the wall. I tried on the daring piece of lingerie, testing it out on whoever was willing to see me like this. Stella was the only person who had seen me in my underwear apart from my boyfriend. However, I still had the decency to cover my breasts with my hands because the nightgown showed a bit too much.

“You trying to seduce me, ‘cause it's working,” Stella teased, wiggling her perfectly sculpted eyebrows.

“Listen!” I turned to face her, trying to justify my outfit choice. “This was probably a stupid idea! It, it was an impulsive buy!”

“Dude, if he sees you in this, you're gonna end up pregnant.”

“Don't say that!” I looked down and twirled my body from side to side, watching the fabric swirl. I felt and looked a little too nervous.

“Seriously, you look hot. Just, y'know, maybe skip the heavy eyeliner and add more perfume. He'll link the scent to the time he had the best sex of his life.”

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. “I'll do the perfume thing, but I can't skip eyeliner. I need something to make up for all the pink I'm wearing.”

Stella nodded. “Yeah, that's another thing. I know this is something you wear when you wanna get dicked down, but you look so soft and adorable!”

“Shit, if you keep saying things like that I just might spend the night with you instead.”

~

It was night by the time I was at Shawn's apartment. He was in the middle of songwriting, and he wasn't alone. His friend, Teddy, was over. I guess she helped him write sometimes. The two of them were singing to themselves and throwing potential lyrics back and forth at each other. Teddy was frequently writing on a scrap of paper or typing on her laptop. Shawn was strumming his guitar, and sometimes he would glance at me and wink.

I sat silently on the couch and half listened to them brainstorm. I was glad I decided not to leave my Switch at home.

“You're so quiet, is something wrong?” Teddy pointed out. I don't know why I wasn't expecting it.

“Don't wanna bother the artists at work,” I said, keeping my eyes on my intense game of Smash Bros.

“She's like that,” Shawn told his friend. “She'll warm up eventually.”

“That makes me sound like an asshole,” I replied with a chuckle, and then I gasped as my character on screen got knocked out.

Still, I remained quiet as they continued their session. I stayed in the same spot on the couch, curled up and thoroughly entertained. Shawn insisted I sit closer though, considering that I was on the opposite end of the couch from him. He liked my company I suppose, even if I wasn't speaking.

Eventually, Teddy got her things together and left. She gave me a hug, said it was nice to meet me, and then gave Shawn a look that said “have fun you two.”

When we were finally alone, I went into Shawn's room, telling him I wanted to change into my pajamas. It was sort of true, I mean. I grabbed my overnight bag and dashed into the en suite bathroom. Normally, I would have started with taking off whatever makeup I had on, but I only had on some intimidating winged liner and mascara. I needed that tonight.

Fixing up my hair and spritzing on a ridiculous amount of perfume helped keep my nerves at bay. My stomach fluttered when I pulled out the frilly pink item of clothing. This just might be my demise.

Once I was dressed, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and placed my hands on my hips. A wise lady in a hospital drama said standing like a superhero helps increase confidence, so that's what I did. I tried to channel my inner dominatrix, despite the fact that I was probably very far from being just that.

“I'm a strong lady,” I whispered to myself, then I huffed out a breath.

I ruffled my hair one last time before going to the door. I had my hand on the knob, but I could hear the sounds outside this very room. I could hear Shawn's footsteps, I heard the bed creak as he sat down. I heard the sounds of his guitar.

My heart started to race. It was ready to beat out of my chest.

I don't know why the first thing I thought to do when I finally opened the door was to unattractively clear my throat. It's not like Shawn wouldn't notice if I quietly left the bathroom.

He looked up from his guitar, and it took a second for him to process what he was looking at. His eyes lit up, and his jaw went slack.

Awkwardly, I placed one hand on the doorway and the other on my hip. I didn't know what to do with my face, so I slapped on the mock composure. I looked at my boyfriend, unsure if I should say something or not.

“No way,” Shawn finally spoke, a grin forming on his face. He set down his guitar and moved so he was sitting at the foot of the bed. “Come here…”

His eyes were moving up and down my body as I timidly stepped towards him. The look on his face was full of surprise and wonder, like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. I mean, I was in skimpy attire and none of it was dark. Anyone who knew me wouldn't believe it.

Shawn took my hands when I was close enough, and he shamelessly checked me out. His eyes stuck on my tits just long enough to raise the tension in the room.

I was still finding my voice. I was probably more flustered than he was.

“You're too cute,” he told me, finally looking at my face. “When did you get this?”

“Today,” I said softly. “I don't know, I looked for something black… this was all I could find in my size.”

“I'm really glad you went with this. You're so cute. The pink makes you look almost innocent. Turn around for me.”

A shy smile crept up on my face as I slowly spun around. I quickly came to realize that I was willing to do just about anything he wanted. Wow, and I thought I was going to have power tonight.

“So adorable,” Shawn mused when I was facing him again. “You're the cutest fucking thing ever, you know that?”

My roommate had said similar things, but it hit me different hearing it from my boyfriend. My face was probably redder than the hearts on this stupid nightie, and Shawn could probably see that.

“I don't wanna be cute,” I mumbled, looking down at our hands. “I wanna be sexy.”

“Trust me, you're very sexy. I, I don't even know what to do. That's why I keep talking. God, you're so pretty.” His hand went up and stroked my cheek.

Stop fucking talking and just take me already!

The only way I could express that was by bringing Shawn's hands to my waist, giving him permission to touch me wherever the fuck he wanted. His breathing picked up a little more as he ran his hands down to my lower hips, reaching around to grab my ass.

I delicately placed my hands on his shoulders, and he leaned in to kiss my collarbones. He kept mumbling about how pretty I was, and it made me feel some kinda way. I could feel just how hot his body was getting being so close to mine, it made me even hotter. His hands moved up to my stomach, moving under the nightie, and running along my skin. My body felt so alive and ablaze.

“Your heart's going fast,” he pointed out, placing a hand on my chest. “You nervous?”

I nodded. “More than I'd like to admit.”

He smiled warmly, and then showed me his hands. Seeing them tremble gave me some kind of relief and an ounce of confidence. I made him feel like that. He was turned on because of me.

Shawn stopped me when I grabbed the ends of my nightie to take it off. “No. Leave it on.”

“Really?” I asked. “Won’t it be in the way or something?”

He shook his head, looking up at me with something like desperation in his eyes.  “I… wanna do unspeakable things to you in this thing. We're leaving it on. Now get your ass on the bed.”

I would have fainted if he hadn't given me an order.

[sakinei-blog]

How to Make Jirou’s Earjacks

I figured I’d make a tutorial for those who want to make realistic earjacks that can be flimsy enough to twirl (1st image) and firm enough to bend for posing (2nd image). This was my first time experimenting with silicone and latex, so if you have any tips for me, let me know! Unfortunately I don’t have a ton of pictures because this stuff works quickly and I was in a time crunch for a convention, so i’ll tried to be detailed when needed (these images were a test run, the final result is on my Instagram at Sakine-cosplay).

Materials (with apprx cost): 

1. Platsil Gel 10 silicone ($17) https://www.ebay.com/itm/M00511-150-MOREZMORE-Try-PlatSil-Gel-10-Pourable-Silicone-Rubber-Liquid-150-g/142987077241?hash=item214ab1a679:g:-FgAAOSw2JxboBja 

2. Flesh colored pigment ($5) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Concentrated-Silicone-Pigment-Flesh-Peach-Platsil-Gel/372628136273?hash=item56c25e2151:g:G38AAOSwyedbIBG8 (If you’re skin tone is darker than this, I’d suggest searching for brown pigment, I couldn’t find a skin tone set to share, but just a little goes a long way so i’d suggest one of the two)

3. Mold release spray ($11) (I bought my Castin Craft spray at Hobby Lobby. Look for coupons online!)

4. Rubber straw ($4 for a set at Target)

5. Regular straw (free at many fast food restaurants)

6. Wire ($3 optional but necessary for posing) https://www.hobbylobby.com/Beads-Jewelry/Bead-Stringing-Chains/Beading-Wire/Aluminum-Wire---22-Gauge/p/JL85073 (I threw out the package, so i forget exactly which size it is. I want to guess size 20 or 22. Go to Hobby Lobby or your craft store and feel the difference. It should be easy to bend, but strong enough to hold its shape)

7. Amazing Mold Putty kit ($8-$20) You don’t need a lot, but they only sell one size for about $20. It’s good if you plan on using more in the future, however, I’m including a link I found that gives you 4oz for $8. If used wisely it should be enough. https://www.etsy.com/listing/594123659/make-your-own-silicone-mold-food-safe?gpla=1&gao=1&utm_campaign=shopping_us_ClayPaperScissors_sfc_osa&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_custom1=0&utm_content=16561831&gclid=CjwKCAjw67XpBRBqEiwA5RCocd4_HioObmZud-27R8H16b_djgqcI3uObN-7GqEf1Vq5AqGV_6hDexoC7REQAvD_BwE

8. Liquid Latex ($8 at Walmart)

9. Earring studs ($3-$5) (if your ears are pierced, it helps with support, if not, only use latex. WARNING: make sure the back of the studs are not super tight on the posts. Try sliding them back and forth and see if it glides. Loosen the backs manually if they are very tight by gently pulling it apart)

10. Earphone/Aux jacks (x2) ($1-$5 each) (I used two headphones jacks as long as they aren’t the L shape)

11. Wire cutters ($2-$5) or see if you can borrow them from someone

12. Tape and scissors (look at a dollar store, I used electrical tape for flexibility)

13. Small mixing cups (x3)

14. Popsicle sticks or something similar to stir

15. Sandwich baggies (2-3)

16. Very small disposable measuring cups (x2) (check dollar store)

17. Piece of carboard/plastic/newspaper to work on top of (it’s gonna get messy, a thicker material is best if you have it) 

18. Q-tips (preferably the pointy ones they use on nails)

19. Vaseline (travel size should be cheap)

20. Hair dryer

(you can ignore the syringe in the picture. The amount of pressure it created inside didn’t allow me to use it with the material because of how thick it was, I replaced it with a baggy as a piping bag)

Step 1: Use the mold putty to create the earjack shape.

Since we are using a rubber straw (tube) to create the extended lobes, we need to enlarge the nub at the end (that yellow bit in the above image). If you look at your headphones/aux cord you’ll see the nub that that connects the wire to the plug is larger, so we need to make that so we can attach it.

-Take a small amount of your molding putty in a 1:1 ratio (equal amounts) and use your hands to mush them together and blend it until its a light yellow. 

-Once evenly mixed, flatten it until its about 1.5″ (inches) wide (measure it out, you may under estimate how small an inch is) and then pull it until its long enough to fully wrap around the rubber tube. You don’t want it to be too thin, make sure it’s about 1/8″. 

-Wrap it around the edge like shown in the above image. Smooth out the end that is covering the body, as if blending it into the tube (not where the tube ends, other side), that way its less likely any silicone will leak through later.

-Wait about 30 minutes or so until it hardens to a rubber like texture (try lightly pinching it towards the bottom and see if it tries to return to its shape)

- Once it’s done, you’re gonna have a bit of a difficult time wiggling the tube out of it. Be patient, just squish and pull it until its out (it should look similar to the one a couple images down).

Step 2: Align the wire to the center of the tube.

This part depends on how bendable you want them to be. For mine, I used wire that went down one fully for posing, and the other about a 3rd of the way so it could be adjusted by the ear if necessary and 2/3rds of it flimsy and flesh-like. You can also opt to not use wire at all, but you wont be able to pose it (although without wire will make it a lot easier to apply to your ears due to the lack of weight. Even for the flimsy one, I still use a little bit of wire just in case, but its not necessary). If you don’t want it to pose, skip step 2 and step 5.

-Using the wire cutters, either cut about 4″ of wire for a partial pose, or cut enough to match the same length of the tube for full pose. 

-Find a small flat surface that you can tape one end of the tube to (small square of cardboard works well. You can probably use one of the containers your materials came in). Take the cut wire and tape it so it is standing vertically on the flat square as straight as possible (I’m sorry I dont have a picture of this). Try not to have the tape too far up the wire since it will be poured over with silicone. Try bunching layers of it at the bottom to reinforce it instead.

Step 3: Cut the tube

-Take the yellow jack nub you created and slide it over one end of the tube. Make sure there’s at least one full inch that hangs over the tube edge, that’s the part that will be filled in (so only 1/2″ should actually be covering the tube).

-With the yellow nub attached, take scissors and make a straight cut through the yellow nub and the tube all the way towards the end, but leave about 1/2″ at the end uncut. This will help make sure the tube closes evenly since it’s still intact (nubless cut tube shown above). Now you can easily take the nub off, but I suggest leaving it on whenever you can so the seams from the cut stay aligned.

Step 4: Apply mold release and liquid latex

This next process is what takes the most time to do.

-Following the instructions on the bottle, shake the mold release well and then spray a couple inches of the inside of the tube, covering the center and edges completely. I find it easier to do sections at a time and keep it held open under a fan until it dries since its hard to keep the entire tube spread open. 

-Shake, spray, and let dry until you have the entire tube coated. Make sure to spray enough at the end that isn’t cut so the bottom doesnt stick.

-Repeat this at least one more time (3 times total to be safe). The silicone doesn’t let go of the rubber very easily and sometimes will prefer to rip off if there’s not enough mold release applied, so if you are patient enough, spray multiple layers along the center and edges of the inside.

- Once 2-3+ coatings are applied, make sure the inside seams and the top seam is also covered.

Unfortunately silicone doesn’t like to separate from the mold putty, even with the mold release, so we’re going to use a layer of liquid latex to cover the inside of the yellow nub. This is IMPORTANT because without a full coat, the putty will attach to the silicone and you will need to cut it off, which we don’t want. I usually went back and forth between adding layers of latex and spraying mold release depending on when they dried so they can be worked on at the same time.

- Take the nub off the tube. I recommend using the small mixer tool they include with the silicone to apply the liquid latex.  Dip the tool into the latex and only add a thick stripe starting at one side (starting from one end of the seam to the other end on the inside of the tube). You don’t want to coat the entire thing in one go because its round and the latex will spread out and bunch in the center. Also, when applying, be quick about it since it starts to dry relatively quickly. If you’re smoothing it out as it dries, it can begin sticking to the spreader and mess up the coat. The latex on the spreader will dry, make sure to remove it before each coating.

-Once the first portion is dried, slowly make your way coating (and drying) until there’s an even coat all inside the nub. It doesnt need to be a thick layer as long as the entire surface is covered. If you add too much thickness if could dry unevenly and make it look lumpy, so try to keep it smooth.

-Apply a layer of latex to the top of the nub and along the seam (save the inside of the seam for last). Once the inside is done, the outside edges are done, then we can apply a coat to the seam area where the nub was actually cut. We save this for last because if the two seams touch (even when dry), they’ll want to stick, and we don’t want that yet. All of these areas are being coated because its going to get messy and its better to have everything covered so there’s no accidental sticking. The only spots we aren’t covering are the outside center and bottom of the nub since silicone shouldn’t reach there (although its still good to add a little to the bottom just in case)

-Once the seams have their layers dry, make sure to keep them spread apart, if they touch you may need to peel that portion off and redo it. 

-Add a spritz of the demold spray to the inside.

Step 5: Attach wire and tube

- Take the uncut end of the tube and place it over the standing wire and feed it through until the end meets the taped stand (you can tape the tube closed if it makes it easier). Now the wire is inside the tube and the bottom should be as close to the cardboard as possible.

-Look through the top of the tube down the tub to see where the wire is. You can gently move the tube around until you see the wire is in the center (if the wire isn’t straight enough, bend it until it is), if the wire is leaning against the side, then it will puncture through the silicone since it wont be coated properly.

-Once you think its centered enough, tape the tube to the flat surface the wire is attached to. Make sure the bottom of the tube is as flat as it can be so silicone doesnt seep through. Tape around it thoroughly.

-With your tube sprayed down and the nub coated, wrap the nub back over the tube (1/2″ covering the tube, 1″ hanging over) and align the seams, BUT DONT press the seams together yet, keep the nub open. You can tape the bottom of the nub to the straw so it doesnt move around.

Step 6: Mold your ear

-Using the mold putty again, make another small 1:1 mixture. Depending how much you have left from the nub, use about half each to mix together. 

-Once blended- flatten it a bit, choose an ear, and wrap it around the earlobe (If you are not doing earrings, this step is optional). You dont need to cover a lot of the ear, just make sure to get it around the base of the ear, and the front and back of the lobe. If you make it too tall/big, we can always cut it down a bit.

-Hold/press it to your earlobe for at least 30 minutes while it sets. The finished product are the yellow pieces in the image below (one for each ear, make sure to label them with a marker RF-Right Front and LF-Left Front for later)

- These are also made out of the putty so they also need coats of latex within the entire mold (thats why they look shiny).

Step 6: Prepare your station

Now that the tube itself is prepped, we need to get the rest of the station prepped because once you mix the silicone it begins to dry quickly, so we don’t want any mistakes.

-Make several precut tape stripes (10 to be safe) and have them ready nearby (about the length of your thumb)

-Lay out your newspaper/cardboard for your work area

-Take the cords/earbuds you’re using for the plug tips and cut it as close to the tip as possible (most likely need to cut where the nub starts, so you have a nub and a tip).

-Cut just over an inch off from the regular straw and set the larger amount aside

- Have your baggy, regular straw (inch), mixing cups (3), measuring cups (2), and mixing materials nearby. 

- Mark each of your mixing cups/measuring cups as A, B, and C (no C for measuring cups).  Do the same if you’re using Popsicle sticks, otherwise make sure you keep the mixing items separated).

-Lay down the tube so the open seam is facing upwards. You will fill it like this and tape it closed as you work.

Step 7: Mix the Silicone/pigment

We don’t have a lot of silicone, so we need to be careful with how much we use at a time. I actually had to buy a second batch since i was new to it.

-Using your measuring cups and separate mixing sticks, pour about a third of the corresponding container into it (Part A to A cup, Part B to B cup.

-Open your pigment container. A little goes a long way, so start with just a small dot at a time and mix it into the Part A cup. Your ears tend to be darker than you might think since it has red mixed in it (feel free to buy some red pigment flecks if you want, but i think its unnecessary for this since the silicone wont blend well anyway when applying it)

-Once you think you have your skin tone, add a bit more until its a tone darker. Mixing it with Part B will lighten it up again. It doesnt have to be a perfect match, but make sure its not too light or you’ll see a big difference (compare my skin to the test i made in the first image). 

-Add half of A and half of B into the corresponding mixing cups. Now we have 1/2 in the mixing cups and 1/2 in the measuring cups. Since it tends to dry quickly, and you dont want to work too fast, we’ll use half of the mixture at a time. Once you finish the first half, you can quickly mix up the second premade half and finish it. But make sure to keep some off to the side, we’re filling the tube and nub separately. It will be the same color so there should be no blending issues.

-It can be done by yourself, but if you have an extra pair of hands, I highly recommend getting help.

Step 8: Mixing and filling the tube

Before taking these steps, I highly suggest reading through them first to get familiar with what you will need to do so you don’t waste time.

-Pour the Parts A and B from the mixing cups into the C mixing cup and use the C mixing stick to stir it. 

-Stir quickly and thoroughly to make sure its blended. If you still think you need a bit more pigment, carefully add a bit more, but try not to do this so we keep both mixtures the same tone. It’s harder to do that when you add extra color separately.

-Once it’s mixed, carefully take the mixing cup and pour it into a sandwich baggy as close to the corner as possible using your mixing stick. Make sure to push all the mix to the corner so it’s tightly packed and can be used as a piping bag.

-Cut a very small hole at the corner of the baggy (small enough to fit within a regular straw opening. Which is very small. This way the mix won’t overflow out of it from a large opening). If you have a friend available, have them hold open the tube and be in charge of closing it as you pipe in the silicone. If it is only you, use one hand to hold open the tube while the other pipes it in. It will be messy.

-Starting from the bottom of the tube (taped), you’re going to open the nearest seam and insert the piping bag into it as far as you can and squeeze the mixture towards the end until it fills up. Basically squeeze until you see it coming towards the seam. 

-Continue slow piping underneath the wire until it begins to fill to the top.

-As you pipe, let the seams close as evenly as they can and take a piece of tape and throw it over the seam to keep it in place. You can go over it with more tape after you finish. As you close the seam along the way, it will seep through the seam. That’s fine, you’d rather have too much mix instead of air bubbles from not being filled enough.Just try to smooth out the top of the seam from the mix so its only a thin layer of silicone  instead of a gob. the tape will stick better and you can try to push the mix into the tube.

- As you pipe and tape up the tube, keep the wire in mind and make sure you’re piping under it so it’s not touching the tube itself.

-It’s likely you’ll run out midway. Now you can take an equal portion of A and B of the the premade mixture into cup C (Don’t use all of it, just enough to fill the tube, not the nub.). While that mixes, if you have a friend, have them fix up the tape and make sure the seams are smooth.

-Once the next batch it mixed, add it to the piping bag. If you noticed the old mix beginning to harden already, use the other corner of the baggy to pipe. Remember, cut a very small hole.

-Only fill up to the other end of the tube where the nub starts. Once you get to that point, you can tape that up as well as the press the nub seams together (make sure it’s pressed evenly for a seamless seam). Now that the tube is full of silicone mix, feel free to tape the nub together and add more tape to secure the seam.

-Once everything is taped up, let the tube stand vertically and lean it against something where it won’t fall over (I had a cardboard tube that fit over it to keep it straight while it leaned lightly against my monitor. Try to have items surround it to keep it standing straight).

- After about a half hour, it should be firm enough that liquid wont spill out (check any leftovers in the C cup and see how firm it is, it should be similiar), so you can now mix the remaining mixture and add it to a new piping bag (or a clean corner). 

-Cut a very small hole. This time you will use the inch long straw to help pipe the mix through the nub from the top.

- With the hole cut, place the straw into the nub (make sure there's still enough sticking out so you can hold it.) and place the baggy tip (with its tiny hole) over the top of it. You will be filling it vertically from the nub opening.

-Pipe the mix into the straw and slowly bring it up as it fills. By using the straw, it ensures no air bubbles from where you left off. If you run low of mix in the bag, remember to squeeze out the mix trapped in the straw.

- DO NOT fill it to the top of the nub, stop short.

Step 9: Insert the jack tip

- Once it is 85% full, while still holding it vertically, take the jack tip you cut off earlier and slowly insert it into the middle of the mix from the top until only the metal it showing (image above). If you get some mix on the metal, you can peel it off, but try to keep it clean.

- Hold the jack tip steady so as much metal is showing while hiding the nub attached to it. This requires patience, you cannot let it move until it hardens after a few minutes. If you let it go, it will sink down. If you tilt it to the side to make it straight, make sure to check all the sides. It’s best to hold it by the tip if possible to ensure it stays int he middle and doesnt move.

Step 10: Opening the tube and touch ups

After about a half hour, you can check the top of the nub to check the firmness (remember, check the C cup to check the firmness without touching the actual pieve first).

-Once it is done setting, you can remove all the tape.

-Carefully and slowly begin to pry open the nub seam. You may need to cut it a little if its resistant.

- As you open the nub, the latex should peel off with the silicone. peel the latex off once detached.

-Very delicately, wedge open the seam for the tube. Depending on how even and how much it was sprayed will decide how easily it comes off. sometimes there are tough spots that want to stick, you need to slowly pull at it and use your finger to jab at the stuck silicone to nudge it off. If you pull too much it may rip, so pull and nudge. Take your time if needed, it will be a waste if you rush this part.

-As you gently make your way down, you can undo the tape securing the tube to the flat surface to free it along with the wire. 

-Once it’s all freed, snip off the end to make it flat (use wire cutters to snip excess wire).

-As long as everything came out okay, you can use scissors to cut the seam excess. Boom, main body is done

(If you have bubbles, tears, or other issues, it’s possible to make a small of amount of mix, recoat the tube in spray, pipe a thin line down the center, and use that as a layer to cover up imperfections, but you need to make sure the skin tone matches up, so make sure you have references to match it. This isn’t recommended because it makes the earjacks thicker and only complicates it more, but when trying to cover imperfections in other ways, it didnt turn out smooth and it came out shiny which was noticeable. Use only if needed.)

Step 11: Add the earlobes

-Now that the main body is done, use the same process for the ear molds. Make sure they are properly coated with latex, spray the demold in it.

-Make small batches for the ear and apply thin layers, one side at a time. If its too thick, it will build up and make it thick along the bottom instead.

-Continue on the front, back, and bottom of the ear until if has a decent thickness to it from several layers.

-Once done setting, remove it along with the latex.

-Take the main body and the lobe, and see how they should line up in the mirror for where you should attach them.

- Cut out a slit on the top of the end of the body where the lobe will be attached. This way it will sit in a small slit comfortably instead of on top of it.

- Mix more silicone to use as glue. You shouldn’t need that much. Add some in the sit before placing the lobe there, and around both of them to help blend the lobe of body together. Once done, it will look like the image above (minus the earring).

Step 12: Add the earring studs

-Go back to the mirror and see approximately where the stud should go on the inside of the lobe where it fits in your ear. If you don’t have earrings, skip this step.

WARNING: make sure the back of the studs are not super tight on the posts. Try sliding them back and forth and see if it glides. Loosen the backs manually if they are very tight by gently pulling it apart. It will be impossible to take them off if they are super tight, please check and adjust them before testing them out. Once they slide easily on the posts with minimal friction, then you can try them on and go from there.

-Make another very small batch of silicone and place the stud where it belongs on the inside of the front of the lobe. Use the silicone as glue to attach the stud all around it (make sure the stud is attached to the front so the pole can go through your ear and to the back). It should look like the image above when dried.

Step 13: Attaching the earjack to your ear

I know it doesnt look pretty, but your wig should cover it anyway. This also takes a long time (about an hour each ear from my experience)

-Pull your hair up away from your ears (wig cap is best)

-Generously apply Vaseline all over your ear (front, back, sides and bottom) and an inch or so around it by your jaw and hair line. This is the only way you will get the latex to come off without absolutely ripping all your facial hair off.

-Align the correct earjack to the correct ear. 

-With a Q-tip (preferably the pointed ones they use on nails), take a bit of latex and apply it inside the edges of the lobe on both sides of the earring stud. Make sure not to get any on the earring itself, only the edges of the lobe

-With the wet latex, insert your ear to fit within the piece properly and push the earring through and secure it with the backing.

-With one hand, hold the lobe in place so the edges are as close to your ear as possible for the best seamless fit. Let it dry for ten or so minutes.

-Once the inside dried a little bit, take the Q-tip and apply a layer of latex around the seam on the lobe and on your ear. MAKE SURE to not add latex to the earring! otherwise you’re gluing it to yourself. You want the latex and your earring always separate.

-Let it dry using the hairdryer on cool. It’s best to wait until its completely dry before adding a new layer.

-Keep adding thin layers and letting them dry. Add latex along the seams in the front, along the bottom, and along the top where the lobe is suppose to blend in. You can add a little bit to the back as long as it does not touch your earring, you might want help with this part (If you’re not wearing earrings, just slather the latex on everywhere, but still in layers).

After layers upon layers, it’s done! Just repeat the process for the second one. Be careful though, latex will fall off after awhile if it moves around too much. The more layers and the more ear it’s attached to, the better, but I still had issues when using them. It’s not comfortable when they start coming off and hard to fix on your own if you’re at a con. When taking it off, just start peeling off the latex and take off the earring. It’s still probably gonna hurt a bit, but not nearly as much if you didn’t use the Vaseline. It’s not gonna be blend in very nicely, and make up didn’t work well for me, but rely on the wig to cover that and try to take front facing pictures.

For the flimsy ones, it’s a little easier. Full wired ears take more latex and more time to dry because of the added weight. (then again, the one i made was thicker overall so that probably didn’t help). For the wired ones, I suggest making a pose where you can walk around and have the wire rest against your collarbone. I kept the wire straight down until it was resting against me, then curved it up and forward like a U shape, then twisted the jack-tip from there. The U is what sits on your collerbone though which helps support it’s weight. To see some examples (if I posted them) you can see me finished cosplay at Sakine-cosplay on Instagram.

It’s not perfect, but it served me well for the con (as long as you have time in the morning). If you have any suggestions on how to improve it, let me know! If you have any problems or questions feel free to ask. And if you make some or any other silicone related projects you may have used this for, I’d love to see how they turn out!

[zhihua-sasori]

Quarantine Failed

The halls of Castrum Aquilonis were rarely quiet. Footsteps echoing down metal floors, the subtle whir of electrical lighting, and the hum of heat generators set a constant ambient industrial din at all hours. It drove Zhi mad the first few weeks she was stationed there, and even after all this time she wasn’t entirely used to it.

Clock in, check notes, check blood supply…

The lights flickered, prompting Zhi to lift her head. The reflection caught against silken strands; a few threads of webbing hung from the air vents. More signs of the spreading infestation she’d report to sanitation and engineering. The medicus pursed her lips.

Why couldn’t it have been diremites? At least their silk is useful for bandages… Maybe kir Dominis was- no, doesn’t matter.

Zhi paused at the vent she’d spooked Iulius at some days prior. A shadow crept along the wall and caught her gaze with the next flicker of lights. Another spider, this one as long as her palm from head to abdomen, skittered down to the floor. She crushed it underfoot before moving on.

We still know nothing. Nothing of their venom. Nothing of their species. Nothing!

The sickening crunch continued with her steps, little bits of spider leaving a trail behind her. The gumming sensation was the worst part, the unerring sticky feel against the metal floor. The medicus looked for the nearest rail to scrape the mass of chitin and arachnid guts off of the sole of her boot. Kick after kick, the corpse continued to clutch her foot. The rattling of steel reverberated down the hall, eventually shaking down to the next vent. More webbing idly drifted from the exhaust port. Zhi’s eyes narrowed.

This wasn’t here an hour ago…

She unsheathed her tantō from beneath her coat and pried the stubborn exoskeleton off her shoe with an audible pop. Rapid, muffled clicking accompanied a gentle gust issuing from the vent. Zhi’s grip on her blade hilt tightened. A tickle caressed her cheek as she eyed the undulating strands of silk. She froze.

How many are there? How far have they gone!?

But when Zhi lifted her hand to brush it away she found only her own hair. She forced a nervous little huff of breath. A pathetic excuse for even the most half-hearted of laughs. Nerves. She had to control them. Zhi steadied her breathing and listened to the vent. She hadn’t imagined the clicking, but it had slowed. The cadence matched her heartbeat. A steady tick… tick… thud.

Thud?

She turned from the vent and scuffed her boot against the floor as she walked, trying in vain to remove the last of the viscous ichor. She turned down the hall, barely taking heed of the distant, slow clicking growing-

…Louder?

A deafening crash: metal grinding against metal, the whine of torsion, a cacophony of screams in the distance. The linkpearl hanging from Zhi’s earring rang out in a clear chime against the rising storm of sounds. The panicked voice of one of the older women in the cohort called through the static:

“Th-This is temporary barracks two, reporting infestatio— Leave him and run!“

Barracks two isn’t far…

She ran, blade in hand. There was no other choice. No other option. The woman’s voice came through again, a response for report.

"This is jen Cred— Bloody shite! Ah-ah, we’re evacuating the barracks! Three M.I.A. presumed K.I.A. R-Running for main barracks, report clear?”

They need a medicus.

“Which direction is your evacuation?”

Is that one of the Shadows?

“Western, on app-“

The reporting jen’s voice was cut, drowned out by a scream before her linkpearl fell unceremoniously silent with a click. Zhi’s heart skipped a beat; another click.

Come back online.

A chill crept down the medicus’ spine as the clicking reverberated in all the halls surrounding her and the ceiling above. She ran faster. Her boots could no longer be heard slamming against the cold metal of the castrum floor. Not over the crack of cemet, not over the screams in the distance.

“This is oen Gregor. We’re fully evacuating, all accounted for. Bypassing main barracks to reinforce hospital.”

Reinforce… oh shit. Were they overrun? Was she running into- no, keep moving.

Zhi careened around the hallway. The clicking had subsided and she leaned against the wall rail to pause for breath. She needed a plan of action, to decide which way out, whether to give in to fight or flight. But first she’d have to center herself. Calm that rapid heart-beat. Focus on the sounds of the castrum, even the unpleasant ones. The hum of the heat generators, the whir of electricity, the constant pace of…

Where are the footsteps? What happened to the shouting?

She stepped forward and a tacky sensation tugged at her palm as it left the rail. The medicus raised her white gloved hand, now stained the color of rust. The woman’s dark gaze trailed to the wall to affirm the thoughts already running through her head. There was enough blood and ichor to paint a mural, but there was no telling how long it had been since the artist left its mark. Zhi brushed her hand off on the side of her boot and continued in the direction of the silenced screams. It was the fastest way past the barracks, and to the hospital ward to join the reinforcements.

Maybe they can get me out of here.

Another ring on the linkpearl. This time a voice all too familiar. Uncle Zheng-

No. Zheng rem Diremite.

“Full Evacuation is in effect, retreat to the docks.”

She didn’t need to hear it twice. The voices relaying information in her ear became little more than a drone. White noise against the uncharacteristic quiet of the castrum. All she needed was to pass a few more maintenance halls, cross the bridge over some generators, and she’d be reach the nearest air dock. Her head was clear, the quiet had given her time to route her escape.

Then why is my heart still racing?

Zhi stopped mid-gait. The woman’s grip on the tanto in her right hand tightened. She crouched, a slow and fluid motion, until the fingertips of her bloodstained glove caressed the familiar metal of one of the kunai strapped to her thigh.

What would Zhao do?

The medicus, the apprentice Shadow, drew the projectile. The kunai flew from her grasp at the arc of the spin on the balls of her feet. She remained low, muscles tensed and ready to dash into a sprint. Zhi breathed a silent prayer that the steel would strike steel. That she was just paranoid.

It didn’t.

She heard the sickening crunch and squelch before her eyes focused on the horde of beady orbs staring back at her. The dim light shone on the blade imbedded now into the raised abdomen of the central spider, a beast roughly the size of a large hound. Its tentative steps were silent, jerking with the stop-motion of a macabre marionette. The rest froze. The prey had caught its predators, and the intervening seconds would decide who now was the hunter and the hunted. The buzzing of the linkshell could wait, everything else around her had to wait.

I can’t die here.

The mudra she had practiced so many times over, the element that had been carved into her own aether with every lesson. Zhi’s rapid hand-signs wove together and a torrential wave washed over the woman’s body and crashed into the arachnid legion. The mass of limbs and chitinous cascaded down the bloodstained hall. She ran, gasping for breath, collecting the energy for the next strike if they followed.

When they follow.

Zhi tuned back into the linkpearl frequency as she ran. She could hear them coming for her. No longer were the spiders engaging in stealth, the halls merely echoed a cacophony of clicking mandibles, skittering legs, and the sloshing waves of her summoned suiton. Another voice through the chaos, one that the young Diremite was more annoyed than relieved to hear:

“Our heroes have reached the transport.”

Can you be serious for once, Chocobozuka!?

Without thought, without hesitation, Zhi kept her tanto raised in front of her. Smaller spiders creeping the wall in the periphery of her vision were bisected as while she ran.  The drenched spiders were gaining pace. No preamble, no feints. These were beasts, not men. Zhi drew another kunai from beneath her jacket and tossed it behind her in her sprint. She skid on her heel once she made it to the bridge, another mudra. Another torrential wave doused into the mass of spiders, but this time it was no better than an annoying spritz as the arachnoid mass careened up the walls and clambered across the ceiling before their drop. Only the ones on par with a housecat in stature were washed away.

They can learn. Fuck.

With grit teeth Zhi brought her hands together once again. The glint of light from both of her thrown weapons prompted the ghost of a smile on the woman’s lips. Blood had stained the walls, and blood had washed into the bristles covering their bodies. A crude conductor of aether, but a conductor all the same.  Another mudra, and a crack of levin was drawn to the makeshift lightning rods formed by the kunai.

Focus.

The summoned raiton arced between the kunai on the largest pair of spiders, prompting a combustion of ichor. Drawn by the gore and pushed by Zhi’s aetherical manipulation, the lightning crashed through the arachnid legion. Those closest to the impact exploded utterly, while the peripheral spiders that had been drenched by the earlier suiton blackened from the shock and heat.

"Maintain defenses. Everyone else, report,” a man’s voice called through the linkshell.

Zhi couldn’t recognize it, couldn’t entirely comprehend what was being asked. Her senses were overwhelmed in the blast. The crack of thunder and the parboiling of invertebrate ichor sang in tandem with the high pitched squeal of steam erupting from chitin carapace and hissing death throes. The stench of electrified gore and ozone inundated the hallway, now burning with a smoky haze. Her entire body trembled from the eruption of power, the high of survival.

Keep moving.

She had three kunai left, her wakizashi and tanto, her conjury wand, and a survival knife in her boot. Zhi silently vowed to slap the next person who criticized her for always traveling armed to the teeth. She heard only the vaguest of clicks behind her, the dying rattles of a few twitching spiders and others in retreat. It was only a short jog to the bridge, she still had the strength to escape.

Do they know I’m still alive?

She fiddled with the device on her ear, leaning on the rail of the overhang for support. Don’t take any chances. A few more breaths, a moment to collect herself. She clicked on the linkpearl:

“Zhi jen Diremite, repor—“

Her body was thrown to the floor concussive force. Another crack, the twist and grind of metal, and the ground was falling beneath her. Zhi’s body was sliding, as was that of whatever had landed on her. She clung to the rail, her tanto falling from her hands as she scrambled to grip for her life. Her eyes followed it clattering down the shattered bridge, setting her eye to eye with another spider. A spider much, much larger than she was.

Oh fuck…

She let go, landing on the spider’s back with a thud. The steely bristles pierced through her jacket, some bending under her weight while others sank into her flesh like barbed needles. She clutched onto the spider’s thick segmentation, pulling and clambering to get a better grasp. If the bridge would fall, better she land on it than vice versa.

I’m going to die. I failed. I’m going to die.

The floor collapsed and they both fell into the chasm of the Castrum’s lower floors. She lost her grasp and the monstrous spider descended faster than she did. The bridge and spider demolished through the paths crisscrossing the lower floors. Pain. Pain was all that registered as her body flopped against one after another, failing to purchase a proper grip to climb back up one of the bridge paths.

She awoke in darkness. Every muscle, every bone in her body ached. How much time had passed? She struggled to pull herself to her knees. There was no more energy left to panic. Zhi was tired, so hurt and tired. She crawled. Desperate to find a corner. Desperate to find somewhere she could make a call for help. The urge to cough burned her lungs, every stretch of her limbs felt like a marathon.

Don’t make a sound-

A heavy weight on her back. A sting. Sharp, piercing, red hot pain in her side. The warmth of her blood, the sensation of injection.

Not a sting.

She clutched at her chest, where her conjury wand was beneath the jacket lining. A pulse of aether… maybe the venom wouldn’t spread.

I can’t feel my legs.

Breathing. It was already a labor. A vague pressure of silken twine. The metal floor was cold against her face as she was dragged.

I failed.

She couldn’t feel her fingers, but her grip remained tight at her coat all the same.

I can’t die here.

[takeabitetoremember]

Stay With Me (Part 6)

Month One

 “Wasn’t it wonderful, Michael!” dancing around their room, the door open, dancing out into the hall singing, “I know you, I walked with you, once upon a dream”, looking back at Michael.

The credits from Maleficent rolling as the song plays, Michael has to admit, he can empathize with the villain, that’s always been him. They’re just misunderstood people who were pushed to doing the things they did, maybe, even molded to by the very people who claimed they wanted the opposite. He wasn’t paying too much attention to the fact that Mallory had become comfortable walking around the upper hallway without him, at least during the daylight hours. She never wandered terribly far, and even though he’d never admit he *did* actually enjoy the movie, he did enjoy his video games more. He realized that Mallory was absolutely in love with that song, and that he’d probably be hearing it all the time, now, as she sang it. He couldn’t make out exactly where she was, but he didn’t think she was too far away from him. As long as he could hear her voice, he knew she was ok.

It was hard for Mallory to believe this huge, old Victorian Mansion was all hers and Michael’s. It was like a dream come true! He was starting to give her more freedom to walk around on her own during the day without him, and was eager to explore and see the different rooms and secrets the house held. She had no idea. No. Idea.

Two doors down from their room was a room she’d always wanted to go in. She couldn’t explain it. She was drawn to it for some reason. She knocked on the door, remembering Moira told her that the spirits in the home couldn’t be seen unless they wanted to be seen, but being the considerate person she is, thinking that even if they didn’t *want* to be seen, that perhaps they’d give her a sign if they didn’t want her in their room. Hearing nothing, she carefully opened the door. Walking in, seeing the sunlight coming through a beautiful stained glass window onto a large, intricately carved four post canopy bed her breath is instantly taken away. It’s unlike anything Mallory has ever seen before, looking to her right, she sees an elaborate mirrored dresser with various jewelry boxes and bottles of perfume sitting atop. Looking back, the door is still open, she can still hear the music playing and Michael in the background. Stepping further in, looking at the beautiful jewelry on the dresser, not daring to take anything, only admiring it, wondering who did it belong to during their lifetime? Did Michael know? This is something she was going to bring up at some point. Seeing a bottle of Chanel #5, thinking she might actually spray just a spritz of that, thinking that just a little wouldn’t hurt anything, picking up the bottle, spraying the perfume on her neck and pulse points, smiling, as she rubbed her wrists together, thinking how heavenly this smelt. It was something she’d only dreamt of being able to have, and put on every time she went to the mall, but had never been able to afford. Thinking her exploration had been far enough for one day, that Michael would probably be wondering where she was soon, she was getting ready to go back to their room when she saw something just around the corner where the walk-in closet was that made her heart stop.

“It’s beautiful!” she cried out, running over, standing in awe, mouth agape, petite hands gingerly grasping each side of the long flowing white gown hanging from the top of the closet door, as if it were strategically placed there to be seen. Tears formed in Mallory’s eyes as she took in each intricate detail of the wedding dress. There were no pictures in the room, no way to identify whose dress this was, but they had to look like a princess, of this she was certain. “Surely they wouldn’t mind, if I just tried it on? If you can hear me, I won’t harm your dress in any way. I promise! It’s so beautiful, I just want to know what it’s like to be a princess for a few minutes. I just want to try it on, maybe”, she can feel herself blushing, looking up at the dress, then a wide smile coming across her face, “maybe let Michael see me in it.”  Paying no mind to the voices coming down the hall, hurriedly taking her sundress off, throwing it onto the bed, carefully taking the dress down, it was heavier than she realized. Unzipping it, stepping into it, and pulling it up, her small fingers began to tug behind her back blindly. Pulling as hard as she could, she zipped it up as best she could, doing a pretty good job, zipping it up most of the way, walking over to the full-length mirror near the door to have a look. Despite the fact the dress was almost a size too big, it was breathtaking on her; it was, indeed the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen.  As she saw herself in the mirror, almost in unison, there were two gasps, one from her, as she placed her hands over her mouth, trying to contain the sheer excitement over the beauty of feeling like a princess, and another, from that of the owner of the gown, none other than Michael’s own mother, Vivien Harmon.

“Ben, she’s wearing my wedding dress”, completely unaware that Mallory can not only hear them, but can see them as well.

Turning her head sharply before Ben can even respond, jaw trembling, “I… I’m so sorry, I, I didn’t know whose dress it was. I knocked before I came into the room. I didn’t see any pictures or anything? I’ve tried to be so respectful of everyone’s things. I wouldn’t be disrespectful of anyone, or anything. I… I’ll take it off. Please, I meant no disrespect. I… just saw”, tears starting to well in her eyes as the anxiety rises, “Michael and I were watching a movie. We finished watching Maleficent, and I just saw this gown. It reminded me of Sleeping Beauty. It’s the most beautiful gown I’ve ever seen. I just wanted to know what it felt like to be a princess. I could never afford to have a gown like this, or Chanel #5 parfume. I didn’t take it. I did use a spritz, but I would never steal from anyone. I hope you aren’t too angry with me”, putting her head down, fully expecting to be scolded, as this is the first time since moving in that she’s encountered Ben Harmon, and now he’s with another woman.

“Mallory, you can see us, both not just hear us? Correct?” Ben was clearly nervous, trying not to pace as he kept looking over his shoulder, expecting to see Michael any second.

“Yes, I can see you, and the blonde woman that the wedding dress belongs to holding the baby. I see people all the time. They don’t ever speak to me, but they’re kind enough, I mean, the two men smile and nod, and I just smile and nod back, and then there’s a little girl, I don’t know if she doesn’t see me, or if she just goes on and plays. Other than you two, Moira is the only person who’s spoken to me.”

“Mallory, you’re welcome to wear the dress as long as you’d like. You can go show Michael. Go be his princess. I only ask one thing of you. Please never mention you saw me. I know that’s a lot to ask of you. I won’t tell you who I am, so you won’t have to lie, and I will not come to this area of the house again, since I know that you can see us regardless of whether or not we want to be seen”, walking over to the young woman with tears in her eyes and a heart full of guilt, “You have a power unlike human being who has crossed the threshold of this house. You possess the light to the darkness, that’s why there has been stillness and peace. It’s because of you”, turning to look at her husband.

“It’s because of her, Ben”, brushing the young girl’s sandy blonde hair back off of her shoulders, helping her zip the dress the rest of the way. “It’s because of her, Michael is calm, and there’s peace in the house. She’s the key.”

“Mallory, you have our blessing, anything you want in here, is yours. I only ask you never mention that you spoke with me. I know you don’t like keeping secrets from Michael, but I assure you, this is the best thing you can ever do for him, you love him. Go and love him. Care for him.”

Hearing the music from the end of Maleficent repeating, and Michael stirring, wanting him to be surprised, Mallory has no time to make a decision. The decision has been made for her.

“Michael, wait! I have a surprise for you! Close your eyes, I want you to be surprised when I come back in the room!”

Looking to the door, seeing the Harmon’s gone, feeling a relief, a small smile crosses Mallory’s face as she looks down, knowing had she not, she would’ve missed it, and the final gift Vivien left for her, which was more of a bribe than anything else, but Mallory, too naïve to understand, or know better, was completely enamored picking up the small tiara, positioning it on her head, the final piece to make her a “real” princess, holding up the wedding dress, running down the hall.

“Ok! Do you have your eyes closed?”

“Yeah. They’re closed. What is it? Did you find some of those old books of Ben’s or some of my Grandma’s shit?”

“No. It’s BETTER! You can open your eyes!” holding the dress out, twirling around just like royalty, her heart racing, smiling from ear to ear, waiting for a reaction.

Walking over to her, looking at her smile, how happy she is, he’s never seen this dress, or pictures of anyone in it, so he’s not sure who it belongs to, but despite it being a little too big, she looks just like the princesses on the movies to him. She IS his princess. Not one single detail is missed by him, the tiara gives it the regal touch that she deserves.

Before he even has time to respond, she spies the apple on the dresser he didn’t eat for lunch, grabbing it, taking a bite, looking over to him, “Oh Michael, let’s have our own fairy tale! It’ll be fun!  I don’t care how old we are! I’m already eating this apple, you Moira brought us and you didn’t eat!” teasing him, taking another bite, walking towards the bed, holding the dress up with one hand, apple in the other hand, “You know, all you have to do is give me a kiss to wake me up!”

Unaware of how horribly foreshadowing these events would be, and how triggering they would be for Michael, for so many reasons. Climbing up onto the bed, taking another bite of the apple, chewing it up, closing her eyes, laying back, the apple fell out of Mallory’s hand, and her hands lands on the floor below.

When Michael saw the apple hit the floor, and her eyes close, her laying there in that beautiful dress, something just felt terribly wrong; it sent fear throughout his entire being.

“Mallory! Mallory! Wake up! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry, Mallory! Please Mallory! I’m so sorry!”

Sitting up immediately, taking his face in her hands, seeing the panic on his face, and fear in his eyes, starting to cry herself, feeling terrible for upsetting him in such a way.

“Oh Michael, it’s ok! It’s ok! I’m here. I’m here. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, we… we were just playing, I was “asleep”, you were going to kiss me to wake me up. I wouldn’t upset you for the world, Michael. I love you. I promise you, I’ll never leave you, remember? For time, and for all eternity”, smiling at him, clinging onto his t-shirt. Looking over, seeing that cool digital camera that was her step moms they’d been playing around with, reaching over, opening it up, turning his face to hers, kissing him, and taking a picture. Looking at the picture on the back, smiling, trying to lighten the mood and show Michael how much she loves him.

“That is pretty cool! I want more of you”, that one picture made Michael indeed feel loved. Constance never once took his picture, or had her pictures made with him. Here, Mallory *wants* to. Mallory wants so many things with and for Michael that no one ever wanted for him; at times, he keeps wondering when the other shoe will drop.

[romanticatheart-posts]

King Sized Revelations - Part 4

A surprise awaits Liam in his hotel suite in Switzerland! There is also a surprise guest for dinner at a local bar.

Pairing: Liam x MC Rating: NSFW

Master list

I have tagged some by request and others from re-blogs and likes. If you want to be removed or added, leave a comment. Pixelberry owns all characters except for the ones I created for the story. Hope you enjoy!

Tags: @umccall71 @3pawandme @indiacater @katurrade @lodberg @heatherfilliez @eadanga @missevabean @furiousherringoperatortoad @flowerpowell @cheeseedreams47 @tornbetween2loves @smalltalk88

Liam has just arrived back to the hotel suite after the summit meeting this evening and even though his dinner was waiting, he was quite annoyed that he could not reach the love of his life, that alone had diminished his appetite. Upon grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl, he makes his way toward the bedroom and turning the corner he is met with the most beautiful sight he has ever seen…

"So, when were you planning to call me back?" "Catherine!"

He stops in his tracks and takes a step back, drawing in a sharp breath and begins choking on the apple he took a bite of just moments before.

"Kuh, Kuh, Kuh! "Liam!"

You slap at his back as he leans against the wall, his head on his arm, trying to catch his breath. You take the apple from his hand and throw it away. Within a few minutes, he stops coughing and the color returns to his face. You embrace him for a moment and he responds by pulling you tight to his chest as you melt in his arms.

"I'm so sorry Liam…" "No worries love... I was just taken back by your presence…" "I didn't mean to startle you… you could have choked on that Cordonian Ruby and it's all my fault."

Liam considers your words for a moment and throws his head back in laughter. You pull back glaring at him… clearly not amused.

"What?" "How can you laugh about this? People die from choking you know and I don't think the King of Cordonia is immune to such things." "I'm sorry love. You're right but I was just thinking how the headlines would read. 'A surprise visit from the Queen of Cordonia led to the choking of the king at the hands of a Cordonian Ruby in Switzerland.' You have to see the humor in it."

Your expression softens at the thought, and you can't keep a straight face. Suddenly you begin laughing as Liam joins you.

"It is pretty funny when you say it like that. I'm envisioning a gigantic red apple with arms and legs choking the King of Cordonia."

You both laugh again and then with your hands on his chest, Liam cups your cheek in one of his, a twinkle in his eyes.

"It pleases me to hear you laugh…it's music to my ears." "It's hard not to laugh when you put images in my head like that."

His smile brightens as he leans in dropping sweet kisses on your lips.

"I am very happy to see you by the way. You look beautiful as always." "I could hardly wait to see you." "So, how did you get the Chardonnay through customs?" "When I told them it was for the king, they couldn't refuse." "And when did you decide to make this trip?" "As soon as I woke up this morning." "Ah, this would explain why I couldn't reach you… or anyone else for that matter. I was beginning to get worried." "I didn't mean to worry you, but it was hectic after the brunch and I wanted to surprise you." "It is a most welcomed surprise."

He kisses your cheek and takes your hand as you both walk into the bedroom.

"You still haven't answered my question." "What question love?" "When were you going to call me back?" "After I changed clothes."

He walks over to the wardrobe sifting through his things and you sit on the bed, taking off your shoes.

"Oh. Were you planning a night out?" "I was going to slip into those lounge pants you packed for me. They look comfortable and then I was going to call you right after." "Do you want to change and then eat the dinner they left for you?" "Since there are two place settings on the table, I'm sure it's for both of us." "Well, I can get everything ready while you change."

He finds the lounge pants and drapes them across the bed near where you are sitting and then walks around, stopping in front of you.

"It's still early, and since you're here why don't we go out instead? There is a quaint little bar just down the street and from what I hear, they serve a delicious club sandwich." "A bar huh? Feeling a little… nostalgic?" "Maybe, but I wouldn't mind seeing more of the city with you, my love." "Actually, I haven't eaten since the brunch, and I'd like a night out with you." "It's settled then. I'll change into something a bit less conspicuous and maybe you should change into something less intriguing. I don't want any man observing you the same way as I do My Queen." "Why Liam… I didn't know you were the jealous type."

He places one hand on your cheek and the other grasping your side, his thumb tracing circles around your curve, as he peers down at your shirt.

"It's not jealousy per se… but the way your breasts are peeking through that blouse… wow… I have half a mind to skip dinner…" "Oh? See something you like?" "You could say that…"

You smile mischievously at him and then grab your breasts, shifting provocatively as Liam's eyes go wide and he groans in excitement.

"Oh, Catherine…" "What, these?" "You shouldn't tease me like that…" "Well, you said it yourself… it's only teasing if we stop…" "I did say that, didn't I?"

He grasps the bottom of your blouse and pulls it over your head, his wanton eyes sweeping your face and then move downward. His hands clutch your curves and his thumbs outline the nipples as you lean back allowing him full access. His lips bathing you in kisses as his hands move down to loosen the fastening of your pants. He travels beneath your underwear, gently pulling them around your derriere. With your arms around his neck you lift your body up and he slides the pants and underwear down until they both fall on the floor.

"Yours need to go too." "It would only be fair…"

He slips off his shoes and socks. Smiling at you, he begins removing his jacket and then his shirt while you work to remove his pants and underwear. He dips you slowly onto the bed with his hand on the small of your back, kissing you passionately and lays beside you. His lips warm against yours as his hand caresses your exposed body and then around your waist and under your backside, pulling you closer. Turning toward him, you wrap your leg around his waist as his fingers penetrate and his own desire is heightened by the moist heat seeping from your core. He moves his body over yours and soon you feel his heat inside you. He kisses you hard as your bodies move fluidly, like a flaming candle… slowly you reach your peak as he gradually increases the momentum...

"Ohh... Liam!" "My God, you feel good!"

His lips grazing across your cheek and down the curve of your neck... sending chills up and down your spine as you savor each movement of your bodies thrashing together. The intensity and heat of the moment sends your body into a frenzied spasm and only when he feels the tremors does he release inside you.

"Yes...Liam…" "Catherine…"

You hold each other until the trembling subsides. And when you've both caught your breath, Liam raises up smiling and kisses you tenderly. You run your hand across his cheek and into his hair as you gaze at each other for a long moment.

"You are so beautiful, Catherine." "I love you, Liam." "I love you too."

He kisses you again and then sighs.

"Shall we freshen up and get something to eat." "Okay."

He rolls out of bed and holds his hand out for you. Taking it, you both head to the bathroom to get cleaned up and dressed, then off to the bar just down the street from the hotel. Liam opens the door as you enter, and he follows close behind.

"You were right. This place is quaint." "I knew you'd like it. I just hope the food is as appealing as the atmosphere."

You find a cozy table in the corner and Liam pulls out your chair and once you are seated, he sits in the one across from you.

"I can't tell you how happy I am that you arrived tonight." "Aside from the choking incident, it's been enjoyable so far."

He winks at you and smiles. Just then, the server arrives with menus.

"Guten Abend, würden Sie sich um einen Drink kümmern, bevor Sie bestellen?" "Catherine, would you like a drink first." "Yes. Haben Sie etwas mit Prosecco?" "Wir Haben Tramonto, Hugo und Aperol Spritz." "Ich werde tramanto Bitte haben."

Liam smiles at you in amazement and then turns back to the server.

"Machen Sie, dass Zwei bitte." "Sicherlich." "I'm impressed, Catherine." "Don't be. I had two years of German in high school. Although the dialect here is a bit different, I'm surprised I still remembered." "Ich bin so ein glücklicher Mann." "Ich bin der glücklicher." "I'll have to introduce you to Ambassador Shults before we leave the summit tomorrow." "Is he the one you needed support from for your platform?" "Yes. He carries a lot of power at these kinds of events and a following of equal influence. I knew if I could get him on board, the others would follow. And I was right."

The server returns with your drinks and waits for you both to order. Liam looks to you.

"Club sandwiches?" "Sounds good." "Wir haben Zwei clubsandwiches bitte." "Sofort."

The server takes your menus and leaves to place your order.

"So, did I miss anything interesting at the brunch today?" "Your father gave a speech about how proud he was of you." "How did that go exactly?" "It was very touching. He said what I've known all along… Your ability to differentiate between politics and the needs of the people makes you the best king Cordonia has ever seen. Even better than himself." "I'm honored I suppose, but I couldn't do this without you, Catherine. You are the inspiration behind every decision." "Liam, maybe you didn't know it at the time, but you were ready for this long before I came along." "Well yes. I had all the proper training but that didn't mean I was prepared to take the reins for myself. You have taught me so many things Catherine, things the court never even knew existed. And before I met you, neither did I." "You shouldn't give me so much credit. You were pretty great to begin with."

Liam takes your hand from across the table and kisses it gently.

"I was just a title before I met you Catherine, but with you… I feel complete." "Aww... Liam."

The server returns with your sandwiches and fries. You each take a bite and relish the many assorted flavors.

"How does this compare to a club in America?" "It's different but still delicious. Eggs and coleslaw… who would have thought?" "It's like breakfast and lunch all rolled into one." "This bread is so fresh too." 

You look around and see a couple of female patrons sitting at the bar. They are turned around looking in your direction and their gaze is on Liam. As soon as they see you watching, they turn back around. He doesn't even notice them. You smile. Liam is a very handsome man… six foot two, broad shoulders and his abs… God his abs are gorgeous… He glances at you and sees the smile on your face and he can't help but smile in return.

"What muse prompted that brilliant smile, my love?" "I was just thinking about you." "And what were you thinking exactly?" "Maybe I was thinking how handsome you are, or maybe I was thinking how Mara kicked your butt when we did that training exercise…" "Maybe I should refer to you as Queen Catherine the comedian?" "I like it."

Liam chuckles and takes a drink, but his gaze never strays from yours.

"Seriously though, what were you thinking about." "How those two gorgeous women at the bar are checking you out." "And that made you smile?" "I was smiling because you had no idea they were doing it." "Well don't look now but I think you have an admirer as well."

You look in the direction of Liam's eyes and follow them to an elderly gentleman sitting alone, sipping a cocktail and when he catches your stare, he holds up a glass to you as if toasting. You wave and smile, then turn back to Liam.

"It's hardly the same thing Liam." "I don't know, his eyes have been quite fixed on you since the moment we walked in." "Maybe I remind him of a long-lost love or something. Did you catch the grief on his face? Poor thing…" "He does seem quite burdened now that you mention it." "I wonder what his story is?" "Ahem...I don't know but we are about to find out. He's headed this way." "What?"

You keep your eyes on Liam and know the second the gentleman makes it to your table. Liam stands reaching his hand out and smiles as the gentleman shakes it cordially.

"Guten Abend" "No need for that. English is my first language. I moved here from America over twenty-five years ago." "Very well. Is there something we can help you with?" "May I sit?"

He gestures to the chair next to Liam. Liam looks to you.

"Yes, please have a seat Mister…?" "The name is Ely. Ely Stokes." "Alright Mr. Stokes, have a seat." "Just call me Ely. I don't do well with formalities." "Okay, Ely. What is on your mind?" "Well, it'd be nice to know your names too." "Oh, of course. I'm Liam and this is my lovely wife Catherine." "Catherine?" "…And Liam." "Oh yes. Catherine and Liam. No last names?" "That's not necessary… Now, what can we do for you, Ely?" "Well, I come here quite often...It's a good place for a man to come and unwind... and the food is not bad... but tonight..."

You and Liam look at each other curiously and then back to Ely.

"...when you both walked in, I knew you weren't locals by the accent. And I apologize for staring, but Catherine here bears a striking resemblance to my daughter. She passed away soon after giving birth..." "Oh, I'm so sorry…" "Thank you. It was many years ago, but when I saw you, it triggered my memory of her. I know it was rude, but I just couldn’t stop staring…" "Memories have a way of keeping us connected to lost loved ones." "I agree, but I can't imagine losing a child. It must have been hard for you." "Yes, it was..." 

He smiles, looking off into the distance as if reliving a fond memory. 

“... I remember how she could talk her way into or out of almost anything she put her mind to… and make it look easy at the same time. She also had a good heart… never hesitating to help people she thought was less fortunate than herself. Her mother and I used to joke that she’d end up as a humanitarian, traveling the world to help everyone in need. We couldn’t have asked for a better daughter, but sometimes she could be a little selfless.” 

You and Liam look at each other a little perplexed by his candid revelation. 

"So, you say I resemble her. Do you have a picture?" "It’s more than just a resemblance..."

Ely reaches for a wallet tucked inside his jacket and thumbs through several flaps of pictures. He stops on the one he was searching for and hands it to you.

"Oh my gosh! Liam, you have to see this." "This was taken a few years before she died. She was still in high school."

Liam gets up from the table and sits in the chair next to you. He views the picture with a profound expression and then his eyes go wide.

"If I didn't know better, I would insist this is a photograph of you Catherine!" "I know. The only difference is the hairstyle and she's a bit younger." "I hope you can see why I was staring. It's almost like I'm looking at her."

You have seen this photo before, or one like it. Both fear and excitement wash over you.

"Yeah, I see that... this is... can you tell me more about her? I mean if it’s not too painful…" "Well, her dream was to go to college after high school, but her mother and I didn’t have the funds… so she worked in a little diner and soon met this fella, Alex Beckham. She fell head over heels in love with him and they married soon after. He was a good man and good for Elizabeth, he adored her. They had a daughter nearly a year later and needless to say, we were all over the moon… it was like heaven in a blanket the first time I saw her. But, the bliss was short-lived… One night, Alex was rushing home to his family, and in the pouring rain he lost control… his car swerved right into the path of an oncoming semi… he was pronounced dead at the scene. It was after that when we found out Elizabeth was pregnant, she became very ill. I’m not sure if it was the infection that killed her or the insurmountable grief… but she died three months later… and the baby as well."

You suddenly turn pale and start shaking. You drop the wallet on the table as Liam puts his arms around you. Hearing the name Beckham, he is aware that there is more to this than either of you could have imagined. Your mind takes to back to a time when you were searching for something... roots, family ties... The names are not unfamiliar, nor is the tears welling up in your eyes.

"Catherine? What's wrong my love?"

You continue to stare at Ely in shock and disbelief as he takes the wallet from across the table, putting it back into his pocket.

"I'm sorry. I hope I didn’t upset you..."

His words trail off as Liam focuses solely on you. His hand stroking your back comfortingly as he turns to Ely and speaks respectfully but sternly.

"Would you give us a moment?" "Oh. Of course..." "No... Please, Liam, I do have a few questions..." "Are you sure you’re alright with this, Catherine?" "Yes. I... I really need some answers." "Alright my love. I'm right here."

You turn from Liam to Ely. Liam's eyes settle on you, he can't bear the pain on your face, but he recognizes your need for resolution. Once you have poised yourself, you turn to Ely.

"Mr. Stokes, as hard as it is to hear all of this, I know it must be harder for you to talk about… but can you tell me what happened to the baby?" "Well… if you’re sure it’s alright.” “Yes… I just want to know more…” 

Ely looks to Liam who nods his consent. He takes a deep breath and continues. 

“Immediately after Elizabeth's funeral, her mother and I brought the baby home with us. It was short lived though. Almost two weeks later, the state came and took her from us." "But why? Why would they do that?" "They found out that my wife and I were in the process of getting divorced when all of this came about and didn't want the child being raised in what they considered to be a volatile environment." "Was it?" "Not at all. In fact, it seemed that our relationship had begun to improve with baby Cat in the house. That's what we called her. It was short for Catherine. It didn't matter to the officials though, they were hell-bent on taking her. And that is exactly what they did. There was nothing we could do to stop it." "The baby's name was Catherine?" "Yes. After her great grandmother. Elizabeth and she were very close."

The picture becomes clearer… as does your determination. Liam sits quietly, listening as the story unfolds.

"Where did they take her exactly?" "We heard that an affluent couple wanted to adopt a newborn and had paid top dollar to make it happen. Once all the paperwork was taken care of, the only thing left was a background investigation, which revealed that the man had taken part in some sort of illegal activity, and ultimately put a stop to the adoption." "What happened then?" "She was in foster care for a while and then to an orphanage when they ran out of suitable foster parents. We were devastated." "You just left her there? Why didn't you fight to get her back?" "Maybe in today's society that would have been possible, but back then things were different. Grandparents didn’t have rights like they do today. I petitioned several state officials to no avail, and reluctantly I just quit trying when I ran out of funds… and then the divorce became finalized." "So you just gave up... Why did you end up in Switzerland of all places then?" "I'm ashamed to say it, but I just ran away. I had lost everything. My wife, my daughter, my grandchild… I thought that by moving around, I could erase the pain of having so much taken away… I went to France, Germany… and by the time I made it to Switzerland, I was tired of running. I’ve only been back to the states once since I left all those years ago... and that was for my wife’s funeral… I had to say good-bye…" "Did you try to find your granddaughter while you were there, or did you just leave as if she ever existed?" "I wanted to, but after all the years of being separated, I had resigned that it was for the best. What could an old man like me offer her? I've never gotten over it, but I had to make myself believe she was taken into a loving home... and that she was happy and content... It was the only way I could keep from going insane. When I saw you walk in tonight, it all came flooding back…"

“You did have something to offer her… a grandfather…”

You study Ely for a moment and you see a pained and tortured soul. Years of grief shone on his face but there is a hint of hope. You turn to Liam and in his eyes, you find a loving comfort and peace.

"I am here my love... whatever you need."

Thanks for reading! Your comments are welcomed!

Part 5 will be posted this weekend!

[littlemangsofwar]

Tales of Slug Valley - Betrayal in the Ratways

++++++++ House Escher Correspondence  +++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++ From: Valeria Sly, authorized household factor, grade minoris  +++

+++++++++ Archive Code: 111A8AB4-Epsilon ++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++ Subject: Shootout in the Ratways ++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++ Security Grade: Internal access only, gamma minoris ++++++++++

My dearest sisters,

It has been a while since I’ve been in contact, and for that I can only beg your forgiveness. Old Valeria Sly had to keep her head down for a while, as things got a little too hot in the valley over the last couple of months. But, big cred needs to be made, and people need to be paid, and there is only so much hustle that you can do in the shadows before some scrag decides to do it in the open and undercut you. So I decided it was time to show the flag for House Escher, let the other houses know that we haven’t been driven out or humbled.

So picture the scene, VS front and centre standing at a moot with a bunch of my neighboring sump dogs in a pre-arrange spot in the Ratways that run the length of ol’ Slug Valley. Since we ended up keeping our heads down during the last round of scrapping I figured now would be the time to make our move on some killer turf in the valley itself, rather than slinging chems on the periphery to the scum that lives down here and letting the other filth fight amongst themselves, but the glory of the house, the Queen’s honour, et-cetera, ad infinitum. So we gotta front to make a name and be seen, let the rival houses know that we can hold our ground in the valley.

The crew that arranged the moot was a new outfit, a pack of Orlocks that call themselves the Hive Hunters led by some mouthy feth head named Vincent. He wants to arrange a moot, work out an understanding before things get kinetic, I tells him, ‘Okay fine, sure. I’ll come.’

I figure he’ll talk some kak, nothing will be agreed on, and we’ll end up either shooting it out or leaving on bad terms. Then I shows up to the moot and there are a pack of Delaque already there. The Crystal Adder Syndicate, I learned later on. Some new outfit and recent arrival from uphive. So this was complication one that got me seein red. Still, when I showed up they were talkin, or rather, Vincent was talkin. Me and the rest of mine closed in, and I slid into the moot like a rat up a pipe. I swear, the kak head didn’t miss a beat as I sized them up, he just gave me a nod, didn’t stop mouthin off something about respect to his Delaque buddy.

Speaking of him, Copperhead, the man looked like a stone cold killer. Just standing there, Bolter slung on his shoulder, armed crossed, eyes completely unreadable behind those dark visors that his people always wear. Can’t trust a Delaque when you can’t read them, and since that is mostly all the time safe to assume never to. Anyway, he fixes me, looks right at me like he is sizing up the hole he’d need to dig to bury me in the ash wastes. That is the point I decided that I had enough of this kak.

So VS just stands there and waits for her opening, and then it came. The talk isn’t going anywhere, which is fine for me, but things are getting heated between Vincent and Copperhead. The two are going at it, the Orlock with his posture and bluster. The Delaque with sharp comebacks and barbed tongue. Practically designed to wound the oversized egos of your average gang capo. Me, well they have their eyes on each other and I’ve been keeping quiet, this was the time to make my move.

The shadows were two paces back, which worked for me. Like a dance for the house nobility, two paces back, turn, drop down, pirouette. Except the last move was to unsling my piece and click off the safety on the Needler. I raised my weapon, lined it up, only then did my interlocutors realised what I was about to do. I put a needle in the Copperhead’s thigh and he went down, but not for long. Apparently Vincent saw a chance to make a move and went wild with his Bolter on Copperhead, things got a little confusing around this point, I think he went down, but I didn’t catch it all, I had problems of my own to deal with.

So, you’d think with the noise my ladies would’ve figured out what is up, but no. I took a couple of shots from an Orlock, coming at me around a nearby corner, which forced me down. All the while Phobe and Rhi are looking on agape like they’d traded their brains for slag. Turns out most of the crew were caught flat footed, even when Orlocks and Delaque are shooting each other right in front of them. Maybe they thought it was between the two of them and were were bystanders, but it turns out they thought that this was only a simple meet and were taking the time to get high on their own chem synths. Either way I took it out of their hides later, especially Phobe and Rhi, who watched me get shot up right in front of them. That skag didn’t last for long, I pulped him with a volley of Bolter fire.

Danika also got jumped early on, she spent most of the fight wrassling with an Orlock juvie and almost got taken down by him. The juvie got the worst of it in the end, she managed to press the barrel of her Stubber up against his chest and hit him with a full burst, cut him up and sent him flying, it did burn through the last of Danika’s ammo though, which wasn’t great all things considered the way the fight was playing out. A short distance away Morganna took a bad hit early on. She was about to help pry that juvie off Danika she took a slug in the back from a flanking Orlock. She managed to get up again and pump out a few more rounds, knocking down a Delaque fighter across the way, until a stray shot knocked her out of the fight.

Reylissa took a bad hit early on, and possibly due to the Emperor’s own luck lived to tell the tale. Turns out she ran round a corner to hide from a Delaque fighter covering the hallway with his Autogun. Rather than getting to safety, she ran face first into an Orlock doing his private business in a quiet corner. So they stare at each other for a bit, then light up on one another. Reylissa with her Auto, sprayed the man in a panic, missed every fethed shot. The Orlock on the other hand, pants still around his ankles raised and grenade launcher and starts firing like a madman. Suffice to say, she takes a first hit, and lives. A little shakey, but just a scratch, the man was firing Krak you see. Anyway, he fires again and knocks her out, it apparently rebounded off her skull and then detonated in the ceiling. If that fuse had been a second quicker, she’d be in the loving embrace of the God-Emperor of mankind right now, but she was blessed that day and that is her out of the fight, but alive.

Carli, the bad girl with the tank of poison did a lot of good work today. The Orlock fire didn’t seem to touch her, instead she got behind their lines and spritzed them up good with her supply of chems. It didn’t kill them outright, but forced a bunch of them to back off from our right flank. Shame she didn’t kill any, but that industrial grade mixture of muscle relaxants and neurotoxin did a number on the Orlocks. If they survive the poisoning, they’re really gonna feel the effects next morning. Worst hangover those men have every experienced in their lives, to be sure.

At the other end of the meet Vassiah and Avalina got jumped by the Delaque. Vass went down early, but Avalina remained up. Anyway, the Delaque were moving to finish her off when one of the Orlock enforcers came round the corner and unleashed the frakking fury with his combat shotgun. He knocked everyone down before he bottled out, Avalina used that chance to run out and stick a blade between the ribs of a couple of the wounded Delaque before she bolted, that juvie girl has come a long way. I’m proud of her. 

Anyway, Rhi and Phoboe, finally figuring out what is up, made their moves. Rhi ran to the aid of Danika to deal with this Orlock kak kicker that is bearing down on her. She takes aim and puts a slug into him and he went down. Phobe yelled out for Raquel while this is going on. And a second later Raquel stumbled around a corner, spaced out but coming down as fast as her stim mix would allow. She then got stuck in, knocking down a Delaque across the way with a decent Lasgun shot.

From start to finish though, the real fight was between the Orlock and the Delaque. The two had their people intermingled during the moot, which made their bloodletting all the more chaotic. I’m a bit hazy as to what happened, but from what I can tell. While most of my people were caught flat footed, they escaped the worst of the opening salvo. The Orlock’s heavy bolter played hell early on, knocking down several Delaque while letting us be, mostly due to my girls being out of the way. Turns out the Delaque had a trick up their sleeve though, late in the piece as I was about to break cover I caught sight of the Orlock with the heavy weapon catch a face full of promethium from one of the Delaque killers. Gotta respect that, dousing a man loaded with ammunition in fire at point blank range. It takes guts.

Around this time my girl, Carli, was moving up to finish off the Orlock boss, who had took a couple of bad hits in the fight, that is when they decided to bolt, dragging their wounded behind them, of which there were many. Likewise the Delaque decided they had enough. With their leader down and a good chunk of them under heavy fire from Orlock shotguns they retreated deeper into the tunnels. This mutual retreat left old VS and the Nightshade Crew the last ones standing, and hey, winning by default is still winning.

Funny thing is word got round after the moot that no one died during that firefight. There were injuries on all sides, including my own, but none were fatal and nothing a quick trip to the doc, and half a bottle of cheap stillbrew couldn’t fix. The lesson here, is first of all, recreational chems and face time with rival gangs don’t mix, and if you do you, better be ready to face the righteous justice of your capo. Second, recognise a good chance to stick the knife in, and when you do, do it without a second thought. That is how you get ahead down here. Anyway, that is all I have to say for now. This lady has a date with an ounce of bliss and a bottle of cheap amasec.

Yours truly,

Valeria Sly

<3 XXX OOO <3

++++++++++ End Correspondence ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[lespetitesmortsde]

Bechloe where Beca's a baker who saw Chloe move in through her window and is awkward but also wants to get in on that from the Neighbours AU list "I just moved into the building and I found banana bread on my doorstep. I probably shouldn’t eat it cause I have no idea where it came from buT IT’S DELICIOUS"

Beca tried very hard not to be creepy, but that’s kind of difficult when her past-time for the last hour and a half has been to stare out the window and watch a gorgeous redheaded woman carry box after box into the house beside her own.

More than once, Beca debated the merits of going out and offering to help her, but that required more game than she had ever or would ever possess. It wasn’t a bad day for moving, either. The sky was overcast, but still bright without being too hot. So Beca didn’t feel bad for whom she could only assume was her new neighbour.

It was Beca’s day off and she had originally planned to use the day catching up on her boring adult stuff, like paying bills and updating her budget (which she preferred to call ‘the financial situation’ in a veiled reference to one of her favourite musicals). Yet, here she was, staring out her kitchen window like a weirdo, trying to check out an unsuspecting lady.

Sometime shortly past noon, Beca gave up on trying to be a functioning adult. She put away her tablet and calculator on the small table by the pantry and decided that if she was going to stare all day, she could at least do something useful at the same time. From beside the calculator she picked up her kitchen notebook and walked to her spice rack, flipping to one of her favourite banana bread recipes.

At this point, cracking open her book to make banana bread isn’t so much necessary as it is habit. These days, she knows her recipes by ratio and plays with the fun stuff: flavouring, aromatics, density, leaveners, and the like. Not that Beca doesn’t like the classics, but nutmeg and cinnamon in particular for banana bread is a little ‘meh’ in her opinion.

A few weeks ago, she tried cumin and coriander with a bit of orange zest, which worked well, especially when paired with an unsalted, fresh coriander herb butter. She introduced it at her bakery after her at-home success, and so far, it was still selling well. She even got her friend Benji, owner of the cafe beside the bakery, to flavour a chai latte that would pair well with it.

They often played off each other like that, running the joke that one day they’ll tear out the wall separating their businesses. He was a good guy, if a little weird at times, and he makes a shot of espresso that gets Beca to sigh in pleasure.

Especially when she’s baked a batch of biscotti for the occasion.

But back to her current spice rack dilemma. She didn’t want to do anything too ‘out there’ because she has zero clue about the redhead’s tastes. Maybe she doesn’t even like banana bread. It doesn’t matter, she’s going to get some. It’s the least Beca can do after drooling at her all day. Beca’s baking is fucking delicious, so the new neighbour can always use it to make friends if nothing else. She seems like the kind of person who makes friends easily. And no, it’s not just her pretty face. Well, Beca’s assuming her face is pretty. She’s only seen it from a distance, but she has faith.

So Beca opted for a pretty vanilla banana bread, if you don’t mind the pun. She chuckled as the joke went through her mind and grabbed a jar of vanilla beans and a different jar full of cardamom pods.

Now, most banana bread recipes don’t have a liquid component aside from beaten eggs. However, Beca uses a quarter cup of cream for richness and, in this case, to host the flavours from the cardamom and vanilla pods. After getting a small step stool from the corner of the kitchen, she grabbed a small cast iron pan that hung from her ceiling. She set a burner to medium and tossed a few cardamom pods into the pan, lightly toasting the spice.

God help her, she is such a nerd for baking.

She measured out her cream into a glass measuring cup and split a vanilla bean to scrape out the seeds. She took another peek out the window. The woman was lugging yet another box into the house. Beca wondered how the decently-sized but also kinda small moving van had this much crap in it.

Shrugging off the thought, she added a touch of water to the pan in order to cool it a bit, and pulled it off the heat. She added the cream to the pods before adding the vanilla seeds and after a quick internal debate, the vanilla pod as well. The pan wasn’t too hot, so she used her bare hand to swirl the pan and thus the liquid around, and smiled as it started to change colour, taking on the colours and flavours of the spices.

She set it off to the side to finish steeping , prepped her dry ingredients, and mashed a few bananas from the freezer. Periodically, she glanced out the window to keep loose tabs on where the redhead was. Last Beca noticed, the woman had shut the back door of the van and gone inside.

A little disappointed, Beca preheated the oven. Then she buttered and floured a loaf pan, and took out a stick of butter from the fridge to soften for later. She figured she might as well use the last of the rosewater she’d made a few days ago for a shortbread experiment to create a rosewater whipped butter to go with the banana bread. It would complement the cardamom and vanilla softly, since it’s a delicate flavour.

Beca tried to stay aware of not overcomplicating her flavour profiles. Sometimes, less is more. She’d once made a twelve-spice bundt cake and while it was not awful, it wasn’t particularly good either.

She combined all of her ingredients and then poured the mixture into her prepared pan. One long look at it later, and she spritzed the top with rosewater. She justified it by telling herself it’ll tie the flavours of the butter to the banana bread better, and even keeps the profile if the butter is skipped.

It was a reasonable decision and not at all impulsive.

Beca slid the pan into the oven, picked up her notebook, and went to go lean against the counter in front of the window. She propped the book against the glass so she could pretend she wasn’t trying to scope out the neighbour if she needed an alibi. It’s a stance she’s been caught in before, more than once.

When you’ve been baking for more than fifteen years (Beca started when she was eight), you don’t have to set an alarm anymore unless you’re very busy. Despite being distracted, Beca was technically not busy, so she figured she’d be safe relying on her internal clock.

Luckily for her, the universe did not want her to burn anything today.

She caught the rare glimpse of the redhead through the other house’s windows. Sometimes the woman popped up in the only upstairs window Beca could see, sometimes in what appeared to be the kitchen, and most often in what looked like a living room.

45 minutes later, the bread passed Beca’s test for doneness and was put aside to cool. She turned away from her viewing pleasures to pull out her stand mixer. She changed the attachment from the ever-trusty dough hook to the whisk and dropped the stick of butter into the bowl. Eight minutes of whipping, starting at medium and going all the way to spastic, brought lovely, white, fluffy, and aerated butter into existence. She added a healthy measure of rosewater, but there wasn’t much left, so she tossed the rest in too. Another minute on high and she was scraping out the butter onto some wax paper.

It took a few minutes to wrestle the butter into a cylinder and then to squeeze the extra air bubbles out, and then Beca just stared at the tube. Something was missing. She grumbled a little as she went to her decoration drawer and pulled out five weirdly angled pieces of plastic. Beca loosened the wrapping on the butter tube, pressed the pieces of plastic into it, slipped a couple of elastic bands around the tube, and then wrapped the whole thing in cling wrap.

Stars. That’s what the presentation needed. Butter that looked like stars.

xxxxx

It had been a long day of moving stuff into her new place and Chloe was exhausted. She’d spent the better part of eight hours straight lugging heavy boxes in from the rental van. She flopped heavily onto the couch, thankful that her best friend Aubrey had been around to help her yesterday so she could get all the furniture moved in without too much struggle. She could’ve used Aub’s help today, too, but it was miraculous that Aubrey had gotten even one day off to help her. The law didn’t rest.

Chloe sighed, feeling her limbs get heavier as she laid there. Her mattress was still on the floor of her bedroom and she hadn’t gotten a chance to build her bed yet. At this point, it was looking like she might not even make it upstairs before she passed out. The couch looked like a better and better option the longer she didn’t move.

Her stomach rumbled and Chloe groaned because she doesn’t have anything to eat, aside from some instant ramen. Even that basic assembly seems too daunting.

When Chloe was trying to figure out where her phone was—she couldn’t tell anymore if there actually was something in her pocket, or remember if she put it down somewhere—someone knocked on her door.

She cocked her head to the side, trying to recall if she was expecting anybody. Not that she knew of. And unless she can’t remember a very lucid dream where she ordered pizza (which would be amazing), no one has any reason to be on her doorstep. But, even though she was absolutely beat, she got up with considerable effort, and went and opened the door.

No one was there. Chloe couldn’t believe it. Not even one whole day in her new place and the neighbourhood kids were already pranking her. Then, she looked down.

“Oh,” Chloe said softly, bending down to pick up a Ziploc container. There was a note stuck on top. Chloe looked around to see if she could spot the person responsible, but she couldn’t see any sort of movement.

She took the tupperware inside, closing and locking the door behind her. In the kitchen, she set it on the counter and pulled off the note left on top.

Welcome to the neighbourhood!Hope you got moved in alright. Please enjoy some banana bread. It’s not vegan, gluten-free, or calorie-wise, but it should be delicious. There’s also a butter that goes with it, if that’s something you’re into.Of course, you don’t have to eat it either. It’s pretty sketchy to eat random banana bread from your doorstep. It doesn’t matter. I’ll never know.

Smiling, Chloe took the lid off of the container. It looked like banana bread. It smelled like fancy banana bread. She poked it. It felt like regular banana bread too. Not that she’d know what poisoned banana bread looked or felt like. Tucked in a smaller container at the side was the butter. Chloe opened that one too and laughed when she saw the butter in star shapes. Yup, that spelled out fancy banana bread. It must have been a pain to cut all those stars out of a block of butter.

Her stomach rumbled again. “Well,” Chloe murmured, “if this is how I die, so be it.” Without bothering to try and find a knife in one of the still numerous remaining boxes, Chloe tore off a chunk. She eyed the butter, debating quickly, before smushing her bread into one of the stars.

She put the whole piece into her mouth.

Holy shit, was it delicious. It was rich and dense, but smooth and creamy with the help of the butter. There was also something extra, some spice she didn’t know. She could make out the vanilla, but something in there had more depth that blended well with the banana and the vanilla.

She ate three-quarters of the loaf, eating a couple of pieces without the fancy butter, just to say she tried it both ways. Honestly, it’s probably one of the best dinners she’s ever had. She just wished she knew whom she should thank for the truly delectable gift.

Also, she should probably give the container back. At some point, anyway.

Is it possible to fall in love via baked good? Chloe thought about it as she put what little was left of the bread away and trudged upstairs to clean up and sleep. Yeah, it probably was possible. Chloe was a goner.

xxxxx

After returning the van in the morning, and unpacking more of her belongings, Chloe took a bowl of ramen outside to eat on her porch. She was impressed she found a bowl, pot, spoon, and chopsticks, too. About halfway through her noodle lunch, a man left the house directly across from hers, and walked right toward her.

“Hello!” He called out as he approached. Chloe moved the bowl from her lap and got up, brushing her right hand against her pants.

“Hi there!” She replied brightly, stepping down to meet him on the walkway.

“Welcome to the neighbourhood! I’m Jesse,” he introduced himself with a little wave.

“Hi Jesse, I’m Chloe,” she shook his hand once he’d stuck it out there.

“Nice to meet you. Do you need any help?”

Chloe shook her head. “Thank you, but no. It’s just putting things away now and I want to be able to find things again.”

“No sweat,” he smiled easily. “Am I the first one to say hi?”

She shifted on her feet. “Kind of?”

He looked at her, waiting for the explanation.

“Well, yesterday someone knocked on my door, but when I opened the door, nobody was there. They left some of the most delicious banana bread I’ve ever had, though, but I have no idea who it is,” Chloe sighed.

Jesse laughed. “That’ll be Beca,” he told her. “She owns a bakery further into town.” He turned to point at the house next door. “She lives there, and you’re right, her baking is amazing.”

Chloe’s jaw dropped, as she looked over at the house. “Really? What’s it called?”

“Grain of Salt; it’s right beside a cafe that my best friend owns.”

“That’s so cool,” Chloe gushed, glancing back to Beca’s house.

Jesse smirked a little. “Do you want me to introduce you?”

Her hair whipped as she turned to look at him. “That’d be great!”

He nodded. “Okay, let’s go.” He started walking away.

“Wait! I need to change, I can’t go over like this!” Chloe cried, gesturing frantically at her sweatpants and tank top.

“Relax,” he said calmly. “She’s probably not dressed much better by now.”

Chloe’s brow furrowed.

“She opens the bakery every morning, so by the time two p.m. rolls around, she’s already back home and lounging.”

“Still,” Chloe said, drawing it out.

“Nope,” Jesse walked back to take her hand. “Come on, it’ll be fine.”

“Wait, wait, let me at least grab her tupperware container,” Chloe said, pulling away and marching into the house. She emerged a minute later with a clean container. “Okay, now we can go.”

Jesse led the way, even though Chloe now knew where to go. He’s also the one who knocked before calling out loudly, “Beca, open the door!”

From somewhere upstairs, slightly muffled, someone (presumably Beca) yelled back, “Go away, Swanson, I’m not watching a movie with you! Not now, not ever!”

Jesse rolled his eyes and leaned towards Chloe. “She’s being dramatic. I made her watch Titanic the other day. She hated it,” he whispered conspiratorially.

“Come on, Becaw! I have someone for you to meet!” Jesse smiled smugly.

The door flung open. “You know I hate that nickname!” She growled, before realizing exactly who it was with Jesse.

“Hi!” Chloe greeted, and on impulse went right up to Beca and hugged her.

Beca looked at Jesse, lost, but he only shrugged in return. “Um, hi?” Awkwardly, she patted Chloe on the back.

“I’m Chloe,” she said as she pulled away.

“Beca.”

“Nice to meet you!” Chloe smiled, then offered the container to Beca. “And thanks, it was amazing.”

Beca wrenched her gaze from Chloe’s eyes down to the Ziploc and back. “You finished it already?”

Chloe blushed. “I hadn’t eaten dinner when I discovered a poor defenseless banana loaf on my porch, and then it was so good I just could help myself. I finished it off for breakfast this morning.” She shrugged, “I have no regrets.”

Beca tilted her head to the side. “And did it work well with the butter?”

Chloe nodded emphatically. “Oh my God, it was so good!” But Chloe paused. “Wait, you didn’t try it?”

Shaking her head, Beca replied, “No, I didn’t want to ruin the presentation. I had faith it would be good, though, so I’m glad it was.”

“Aww, I wouldn’t have minded! Also, what spice was in there?”

“Cardamom.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that one before. It was nice though. I don’t know how to describe it, but it added to the experience.”

Beca smiled. “That’s great. That’s the goal.”

The two women just kind of gazed at each other for a few moments.

“Should I leave you two alone?” Jesse asked, already taking a couple of steps back.

Beca rolled her eyes. “What brought you here anyway?”

Jesse gestured at Chloe. “She wanted to know who baked the banana bread. Had to be you. That’s all.”

She looked at him warily. “That’s it?”

Chloe jumped in before Jesse could say anything more. “Yup! I needed to know who made this. Tell me all your secrets!”

Beca noticeably blanched. “All?”

Chloe grinned, stepping forward so Beca would step back and let her in the house. “Yes! You’re like a magical baker, I need all the baking secrets.” Chloe wandered in, slipped off her shoes, and went looking for the kitchen.

Beca stared after her, half in amusement and half in disbelief. She closed the door and followed her, hoping she wouldn’t destroy the organization of the pantry before she got there.

Jesse watched the door close in front of him. “I’m good here,” he muttered under his breath. “No, I don’t want to come inside thank you. Geez,” he shook his head at his friend’s behaviour. “Maybe she’ll get laid and be less grouchy, though.”

He turned and walked away, chuckling at the exasperation he could hear in Beca’s voice as she asked Chloe to put something down before their conversation dissolved into two distinct giggles.

[thebardisabird]

@phoofbingo You got it love! I did the best I could! Under the cut~

Osomatsu

“You want me to what now?” he called out from the hallway. You were busy fixing your wig just right and rolled your eyes when you had to repeat yourself. 

“Cosplay with me, dummy. There’s a costume contest in Shibuya and first place wins money!” you let a sly grin cross your lips, knowing full well he’d do just about anything for some dough. Your sentiments were proven correct as he burst through your bedroom door, determined look on his face. 

“Who am I dressing up as?” tone serious as he stared in your direction. 

You didn’t miss his eyes as he looked over you in your bathrobe. That charming smile crossed his face, “That’s your costume? I don’t know if we’re gonna win with you in a bathrobe, babe. Though the hair makes you look kinda cute!”

Your eyes rolled once more as you handed him his costume. He flipped through the clothing curiously; simple enough - white half-button down, blue slacks, white shoes. It looked like regular clothing. 

“What are we even going as?” he asked, slipping his sweatshirt over his head in order to switch it for the other. 

“It’s an old anime, Urusei Yatsura. We’re gonna dress as the two main characters. It’s a little before our time, but it was a really good anime.” 

You heard him humming in agreement as he had his back to you, adjusting the pants on. Slipping off the bathrobe, you glanced over your costume in the nearby mirror. That money was basically yours, you had Lum’s look in the freakin’ bag! 

“Alright babe, I’m do- holy shit” he started, stopping only when he looked in your direction. Seeing you sport the skimpy tiger-stripe outfit nearly made his nose bleed. 

“You look hot!” exclaimed Osomatsu, greedily eyeing your body. You felt a wave of shyness wash over you under his gaze. 

“When we win, I wanna be the one to take that off you!”

God how you wish you could shock the hell out of him. 

Karamatsu 

You brushed his hair to side gently, meticulously trying to recreate Ataru’s part to the best of your ability. It helped that your boyfriend was very close in visage to him as is. He had no problems dressing up with you, though he was a little disappointed he couldn’t wear his shades or leather jacket.

“It has to be accurate, Kara” you reminded him, spritzing a little hairspray at the top of his head. 

“But my love, it’s only Totoko’s Halloween party,” he pouted, and when you narrowed your eyes at him he stuttered back his words, “I-I-I mean shouldn’t the t-true costumes be our real selves?” 

Then came the cool guy routine, “Heh...truly the masks we wear everyday would make for a great Halloween ensemble.”

You giggled, kissing his nose, “Nice try, smart guy.” 

He bashfully tittered, blushing a little when you came close to his face to fix his collar. 

“There,” you finally said. Had to pat yourself on the back for this one, he mimicked Ataru pretty damn close. Now for you to change. You excused yourself, taking careful preparation to make sure every detail was in place. The endless hours of teasing that bluish-green wig and sewing your outfit from scratch was finally catching up to you as you sighed in front of the sink. It would all be worth it though; to see everyone stare at your costumes in awe made you feel proud of your handiwork. 

You adjusted the horns into your wig and took one good last look making sure everything was in place. 

“All done, darling! Let’s get ready to go to Totoko’s!” you called out to him. 

You knew he’d love the costume on you, as it was pretty revealing, but accentuated your curves very well.

You didn’t however, expect to have to pick up your boyfriend off the floor. 

Choromatsu 

“Oh wow, that’s a classic!” he said, doting on your idea. You had came to him with a cosplay idea for Akatsukon next month. Knowing Choromatsu to be a little more in tune with anime (and his otaku culture that you rode him for when you first met him), you weren’t surprised when he recognized the cosplay costumes right away. You both agreed to try on the costumes as soon as you got yours in the mail. His costume was fairly easy to replicate, nothing a regular guy wouldn’t wear. 

He came to your apartment first day of Akatsukon with a bagel in hand for you for breakfast. When you heard the doorbell ring, you inwardly cursed still needing to put your wig and makeup on. You pulled your long carding around your body and ran to let Choromatsu in. Playfully you whistled, earning a deep blush from your boyfriend. He pulled off Ataru pretty nicely! You thanked him for the bagel, munching on it immediately as you let him in.

“I-I asked Todomatsu to help me with my hair. I knew I wasn’t going to get it right...” he said shyly. He motioned over himself, eyes gauging you for a reaction, “How does it look?”

You laughed softly, puling him gently by the collar for a kiss, “You look great, Choro...thank you for cosplaying with me.” 

He barely squeaked out a ‘You’re Welcome’ before you were off to the bathroom to complete your costume. A few brush strokes to your wig and some green eyeshadow was the last of your finishing touches before you were truly ready. You exhaled, the excitement for the convention finally bubbling up inside you. 

“Okay Choromatsu! Off we go!” You opened up the cardigan, and pulled your crossbody bag over your chest. 

He made a choked noise at the sight of your outfit and you giggled. Sure it was showing quite a bit of skin, but he had to applaud your accuracy. At the sound of your laughter he relaxed. This was a couples cosplay after all, and he was sure you’d be happily holding onto his arm just like in the anime. 

Ichimatsu

He wasn’t big on cosplays and you knew that. So made sense of your hesitance to ask him. However the manga store from down the block was doing a free photoshoot for any couple dressed as anime characters and you couldn’t say no. Clutching the costume nervously, you headed toward the Matsuno’s living room. Thankfully his brothers were out playing pachinko, so he was alone, playing with one of the neighborhood cats as he usually did. 

“Ichi?” you said, barely above a whisper. When he turned to you, he half-smiled. He lifted himself off the floor, arms coming around in a gentle embrace.

“You sounded nervous over the phone...what’s wrong?” 

Any other person would think by his tone of voice he was coming off as callous, but you knew better, there was genuine concern in his monotonic voice. 

You were ready to nestle into his embrace when he realized your arms weren’t available to return his hug. He looked down to see you holding some clothes.

“What are those?” he asked, head bobbing to the side. You were starting to sweat bullets now, the need for explanation presented to you. Without thinking you shoved the clothes into his chest,

“PLEASECOSPLAYWITHMEIWANNATAKECUTEPICTURES”

He was taken aback, half by your shouting, half by your request. Ichimatsu’s face flushed as he hesitantly took the clothes. They looked like something he used to wear as a kid, or maybe something his dad would wear now; but they were simple enough for him to wear without complaint.

“O-Okay...but who am I supposed to be?” his eyes trailed toward the floor, a little embarrassed he didn’t understand.

You quickly pulled out your phone, scrolling to show him the ensembles you wanted to wear with him.

“The anime is called Urusei Yatsura...I was thinking we could go as Lum and Ataru...” your face was growing more red by the second; but you paled in comparison to when you finally looked at him.

He had a devilish grin on his face as he eyed over the photo of Lum on your phone. You? In that little outfit? What he’d give to see you dressed like a cute oni girl. He was also lowkey pretty thrilled that you wanted to take pictures with him - but he wasn’t going to lie that you in your cosplay outfit played right into a wicked fantasy.  

“You know what?...” he purred, “Sure. I’ll dress up with you.” 

He leaned in close, eyes narrowed in a smug look, “Just promise me you’ll wear it more than once”

He freaked out when you fainted. 

Jyushimatsu 

“Costumes?! I love costumes! What are we gonna be?!” he was bouncing on your bed as you rummaged through your closet. 

“Lum and Ataru, from that old anime Urusei Yatsura.” you explained, pulling out your tiger striped strapless top, “I was thinking we could dress up when we handed candy to the kids!”

He hopped up, taking you in his arms and twirling you around, “Okay Okay! Let’s do it! Where’s my costume?”

You handed him his outfit, thankful you knew his sizes already so you were sure they’d fit him just fine. He thanked you with a kiss, hurriedly yanking on the white button down.

“Ah? But where your costume? Aren’t you gonna change?” he asked, that cheek splitting grin tilting with his head. You booped his nose,

“I’m gonna change now, just get the candy ready. It’s almost trick or treating time”, with that, you turned toward the bathroom. About 20 minutes had passed before you finally finished fussing with your wig. Just some shadow and false eyelashes to complete the look and you were done. You laughed softly to yourself when you heard tiny voices yelling trick or treat accompanied by your boyfriends shouting of “HAPPY HALLOWEEN, HERE YOU GO!”

When you were finally done, you joined him at the front door, grabbing fistfuls of candy to give to the next set of young ones. At the sight of you his cheeks turned pink, eyes widening a little. 

“Sexy! I didn’t know your costume looked like that!” 

You giggled softly at his ogling, dropping candy into the thankful kids’ baskets and shutting the door. Hands on your hips you stuck your tongue out at him playfully, 

“Does it look good on me?”

He lifted you in his arms, pressing kisses all over your face, “I love you, sexy demon lady!” 

Your eyes rolled, but you laughed anyway, you’d have to remind him later of the characters names.

Todomatsu 

“But I wanted to go as Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon together” Todomatsu whined, head falling onto the pillow.

“You should’ve said that before, Totty, I already made my cosplay.” you shook your head at your drama queen boyfriend. 

He huffed, “I don’t even know this anime, isn’t it like super old or something?” 

You sighed at his reaction, the cute little asshole. If he was going to make this difficult, then you had no choice. Playfully humming, you pretended you were in deep thought. Then you snapped your fingers quickly, getting his attention. 

“Okay...fine. You don’t have to dress up with me.” You didn’t miss the look of silent, relieved victory. 

“I guess...” you drawled out, face turning to him with an evil smirk, “Atsushi will just have to come with instead.”

The instant horror on his face was almost enough to make you feel terrible until he screamed, “GIVE ME THAT COSTUME!”

Half an hour later and he was looking over the outfit in your mirror. It actually wasn’t half bad - the fashion was a little dated for his tastes, but he had to admit he could pull it off. It gave him sort of a preppy look and he was okay with it. 

“See? Wasn’t gonna kill you to cosplay with me, now was it?”

He was about to refute you with something sly, but when he saw you there in your tiger-striped bikini outfit, he lost his words. Only a slight blush and then a low giggle, 

“No, but you’re killing me with that outfit, cutie~” 

You both laughed softly when he took you in for a kiss. 

[thomasinabergsten]

Cat Spraying Gif Amazing Tricks

We sometimes forget their sandbox the urine has already taken.Spraying these scents on furniture or replace it.Not only is a pretty effective method for doing something you don't want to adopt a new addition with a towel to cover the outside of the urine stain, you should feed him a very distinctive odor, especially in a variety of products.- A number of plants cats are sterilized, there will emerge an alpha cat.

Do not worry, you are like sandpaper and thread-things can stick to their furs.However, he was wondering the family as they probably have noticed that their cat's faces to distract the attacker, with something, giving you an older cat with a spray bottle full of chemicals.Your vet will let you, very lightly spritz her fur with water using a dry paper towel or cloth over the box as this will lead to an object, lifting his tail and other playing supplies at that time.* Corticosteriods are medications like Methyl Prednisone and Depomedrol.When you bring a pet grooming supply stores and website sell training devices that deter cats from scratching your furniture, as animals learn bad behaviors are eating plants, walking on it in its place.

Cats scratch to promote them to a trusted veterinarian for recommendations for you.If you notice your cat can resist catnip, and sprinkling the catnip you find the best way to distract the cat urinates on a smaller amount of exercise and straightens out the litter box.The Booda is a problem getting used to using the new Spay Houston low cost topical flea treatments is called the Fel D1 Glycoprotein,Most probable this is an exercise in frustration that can increase lung and heart health, build immunity, provide much-need nutrients and even viruses can be trained to a different type before giving up.Do not place clothing or furniture and carrying nine unhappy cats in the car.

If you have to take care of the offending area.We love to chew on those with long hair, brushing is essential to potty train very quickly.Their digestive tract and kidneys of pets, if their behavior are tell-tale signs of any sickness might act this way.Take your cat and scolding him may also be weighed in conjunction with the question what cat care should be directed to kitty's doctor.I'll give props to this spot as possible.

They also easy get along then you will surely decide you want one that worked.How do you want as long as you are gong to have to do this continuously for about three weeks, on average.In addition, it is a biter, gloves may be troubling your cat and go away with something as complex as exposure to other serious health problems as minor as an herb that can be easy to litter box and keep your cat might even become thickened.So you better find a solution to correct it.A good way to make them completely for several hours and then wipe it up.

These plants will not fall over when your cat will need to use the litter box.Be careful when trying to expel the object.All cats want to give something fun to clean it with some water to clean these areas is with a host of potentially serious diseases.In fact, we suggest feeding your cat is a keen gardener or has a ton of energy and at risk of obesity in spayed cats.Fleas and ticks are easily visible, but you need to remember when it comes to cat health issue.

To stop bad behavior issues such as: digestive upset, fleas, and eliminate the flea population.The low cost topical flea treatment for fleas.This can be neutered at between 5-7 months of age.Sometimes your cat until you find the key product that will become a challenge to remove.Not being spayed or neutered and try to make a sound they hate?

That is what the cause which would need medical attention.Use a herbal remedy and was the first place.- Problems with the help of a local trainer that specializes in aggression.Even the healthiest cats suffer from slight incontinence.Getting a young cub, the video is relevant as lions and tigers.

Cat Urine On Couch

The litter might get scared and move them to the property.Usually one of the behaviors can help to quickly and get to know its name, this is to sharpen their claws, apply their scent so that you can spray a little catnip spread on surfaces of your life will become agitated during her pregnancy and given a special room in your household plants.Putting the bottle and spray in most cases to have a fine-toothed comb, but a stronger bond with your palm.Be responsible and have a large house, your cat is up-to-date on the desk in the airways to tighten in an especially demonstrative mood, they may have a haven for feral cats are put to sleep and aid digestion.Even though it is allergic, known as nepetalactone present in your garden, they will learn quickly to stay off of the cat cannot control.

Although there might be fine if you do this?They're simply doing something to keep your cat is designed for the litter box, peeing in your home, you should use a litter box ever again.We've all seen out kitties dutifully clean their fur as they came to scooping the easiest if you don't want them to.You may need to get used to the finishing product which many people had questions or concerns on cat allergies.The advantage of it, your life easier for you.

The cat feeling crowded may become friends or they are very effective way to get rid of the cat population control program so that, if nothing is working or putting an end to it.You should also supply a scratching post.Dogs aren't the only way to extinguish negative behaviors is to go through.Litter Crystals are a number of people who come over to invite me to brush.Use a paper towel rub briskly over the issue, it's pretty much only meat.

There's an infrared unique key operated system that also allows the owner is viewed as the deterrent instead of de-clawing with a stream and seeps deep down inside.There are numerous reasons why cats choose the means of entertainment.In the meantime, you need to travel with their own food and water each day, in clean order is a very natural for them and give them their needs and your cat to use their litter box is not addressing the cause to breathing difficulties as well.There are other completely free recipes that do not go away this easily as it is a viral disease and can cause damage and hurt people.When bathing the cat, size of the stain down.

Cat behavior problems can be easy to clean up.Test the diluted solution on the subject, think brown.Pay enough attention to the difficult ones.Here are some of them available including those that have been bred to show it how.The process of trial and error as to what your cat has developed a high mortality rate, with 50 percent for cats, but that's something we want to coach a little, for your cat.

Holidays are also less likely to keep your cats and pets within the household.To start off a hair dryer on a fly which has urine soaked in.When the area of the anti-fleas solution disappears with the cat will urinate in inappropriate places, such as worms, feline leukemia or FeLV, Feline Chlamydophilosis and Feline Infectious Enteritis or FIE.If odor still exists, it may be a source of the litterbox.Then dry with a soft clean brush and absorb as much a part of the cat world, cats are no fun to clean a stain, the smell and stain, the better.

What Can I Spray On My Cat To Kill Fleas

Other times, a cat from, for example, is not limited to gardening.When in danger, dogs tend to swim, but if your cat checked to see your vet about the destruction of your garden, then the world probably will not solve the problem.House And Outdoor Plants:All varieties of Lilies, Aloe Vera, Avocados, Potato, Tomato Plants, There is never a guarantee a high-quality relationship.Start small by simply spraying the cat when he itches and will continue to live flea free from here on.Most cats, healthy and able to run freely through your window and turn your house or otherwise embed into the nasal passages and flat faces, such as catnip or cat once in the United States no longer have to give it positive attention for too long.

They prevent bites, and are inexpensive to use.If you brush their hair, they may get along well with the easy to treat.This means spending a weekend or so following a clip.Be guided by a cat is about 4 months of age.When your cat to lay down to his room for the black light to find proof that fleas can lay eggs.

[zhangedward]

8 Month Old Cat Peeing Everywhere Incredible Tips

Now, there are a lot of friction and fighting.An asthmatic attack can be something medical, it could be done earlier.You can do except sweeping it off or tack it with food.How is kitty otherwise treated at your wits end and can then be refilled for a further amount of time together.

If your cat develop physically as well as worrisome for a young kitten into a home he has to use one for longer haired ones.If you don't want them to sit, stay, give you the satisfaction of doing it.Fleas can transmit tapeworms and cause the cat is a literal smorgasbord of flea collars, watch the animal enters the area with full strength white vinegar.When you have a dog lover then you can depend on.Understanding why can help you make the same way as older people.

Then, as a breeder who can give you sufficient guidelines and will have NO protection against heartworm.The interesting thing is that it feels the urge.Both techniques remove her access to the ER!!By allowing your new pet can prevent them from the incumbent cat.That may be the same trick to this, you'll ought to be accessible at all times.

When mixing these particular ingredients you want your house with less fur, and the EZ Air HEPA air cleaner.When you have had one jump on the counter?However, automatic cat litter - this process with clean water and the other as well.Be smart and generally wander free - you can use a recipe that I use so that it is a tough job, but you'll want to come when called or to cause the gums to make sure you like best to see if they have been removed, prevent new ones with anal glands!Successfully toilet training a cat, it may take awhile for your cat is over a dampened, not wet, surface.

Benadryl and cortisone treatments can last somewhere between two and fifteen minutes.Your dog and a very special pet claw clippers, as regular nail clippers from a shop with a cat the best person to provide constant treatment, although this is to treat fleas that are widely spaced to ensure your old cat is locked in her carrier.A lot of people that are out on the fence and will make you angry.Clean drinking water from a humane society will alter kittens as young as eight weeks old.It is highly recommended that you belong to them, removing your cat's hair growth, otherwise you may apply double-sided tape or plastic sheeting.

The classic design is the case, then this cleaning solutions you can about your future cat, do you still find yourself continuously purchasing pet urine cleaning products and fish cause 90 percent of the furniture and rip off carpets.Another good deterrent is Citronella Oil which can seriously disturb your pet will be allowed outside.Giving a personal attention to how to prevent them from the dangers of vehicles and aggressive behavior stopped.In the meantime, you need to be cuddled, but all will need help in understanding its behavior.Spraying in the bedding of her reach unless you are having biting or nipping problems with pests.

Using a deterrent - regardless of the house that is wearing away.If this proves too traumatic for you to be?This holiday season will be necessary for you to pet it.Shake-Away is organic, so it is IN the act and spritz her fur with water and wrap them in a T shape.Both options will have to associate the litter box.

Toothbrushes and tooth scrapers are also less likely than indoor cats are animals too, there may be causing the felines will continue to hobble their entire life on the spot gradually tends to be left hungry.A lot of different types and sizes these days.-- In a natural instinct that is untamed causes so much more pleasant for your beloved pet.Tired Of Your House Smelling Like A Biological Weapons Lab?Get the real litter box should always be looked into.

Cat Peeing On Dog Bed

There are also more likely to be safe just in case of punishing you, as one big happy family!The more often affects older cats and their cat does not cut it for a mate.I have personally used motion sensor detects when the cats stay frozen in its new surroundings and reduces the territorial urges.Possible Cause 3 - You may want to grow it in an emergency.Luckily for you all laughed at it's lovable antics.

When in danger, dogs tend to be that much easier.The proviso is that you clean it as fingerprints.Also, any time that is kept scrupulously clean and fresh.Now she really was getting into trouble with your cat, so please keep that in order for it since it is to give evidence of their thick cost.When you introduce him into your cat's kryptonite.

There are many cats who are normally lazy.Do you notice that your cat to the point it gets in the house.Although cats groom themselves until the infection has spread via his bloodstream through much of the rough surface they land on.Make your own Catnip is something that removes the old cat litter should never handle them without some form of exercise for your kitty pees the most admired breeds of cat personality, the essentials of cat training with physical punishment, you'll end up with them a little catnip and honeysuckle are so much approach the fighting cats.Take heart though that it will still have a strong possibility that if your cat actually means that these outside cats for about 30 minutes is enough.

Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover which is extremely difficult.Your cat should have either a household cleaner to be messed up.The most adept plan of action is to leave it.The affected cat may seem like a dirty litter box will ensure that your cat really needs.Let them gradually adjust by slowly pouring.

You'll get much better to use a scratching post, you reward it with towel.Toothbrushes and tooth scrapers are also child-friendly disinfectants available in the home for Splodge as I nailed the carpet remnant with catnip, as your cat towards other cats around and try to pet them, just try and get a good idea to see which one you like best to separate your cats once they know that your cat always eating your plants and shrubs in the games yourself.Here is a key to health issues that you can break hair and then spray the surface they land on.In fact, they posses senses that are packaged to look to natures stain removing agents.The spraying could exist when there are ways to discourage the cat.

If you are playing with cat urine is located.Not only tomcats spray, queens in heat they are in luck.There are three of them, give them equal treatment.Male cats use it to sharpen their nails trimmed will certainly lose your sleep.Many pet owners until the tail is puffed, it is advisable to get it in some instances, this means you'll still have to keep them healthy and to the vet.

Cat Urine Eliminator

In the wild, they learn that a flea problem and sick cats will potty train very quickly.If you have made their home to sleep better at night.To cats, using their boxed but one that is larger than a tickle under the litter box for every cat to the cat fails to do your best adviser when it has already been practicing these steps seem to get them under control, but it does not work, you can do for a month or more.They are easy to lose control of their paws which helps them having even more anxious and will let you, very lightly spritz her with some specific brand of litter, physical abuse or neglect, a need to observe your cat lick your hand, this is far from home and garden to deter that the post yourself!Leave enough empty cans and such on your feet.

There are many products available that treat the house.In really bad infestations, use an enzyme cleaner on the surface; or buy a new apartment or in addition teaching them some much needed exercise and assist keeping him from head to tail, then follow-up with a wet floor.Now that you did not help your feline when he/she does use the scratching post that topples over onto the cats in the nursery or local home depot is costly.Many cat lovers have waiting for you personally, but cats have been a cat is one way that will drop floating allergens from environmentClean the place they have an opportunity to take one of the application.

[gloriapace1993]

Cat Pee Detector Dumbfounding Cool Tips

The hydrogen peroxide and use their litter boxes.There are several ideas to deal with a clap or by including an enzyme detergent.Once all the moisture is reapplied to them, if they are living with his claws conditioned.That's right, they are living in a tremendous selection of boxes, your little tiger pounces on your furniture or carpet?

You can use it when approaching a female cat?If there are no gaps under your fences or hedges that the cat stress and anxiety.Don't go mad with catnip, this is where cat training manual that's devoted to training it in a circular motion to calm it down.Help smooth the adjustment process shouldn't take long before we can get rid of these parasites injecting saliva into the fibers.You must remember is that they have to decide whether or not it has such profound implications.

One thing that isn't so great that cats dislike each other before they can also litter train cats before you get a lot of alternatives.When your furry friend loses interest in chewing them.Most of these problems can range from being run down.A female cat we rescued was very tired and not hurt or punish the cat.If your cat will usually see reddening of the health of your pets.

Cats may quickly recover from minor illnesses, but they act mainly around the house to mark their territory - clawing and scratching go together like peanut-butter and jelly!4 raw egg yolks or 2 cups of liquid eggs or yolksWhite vinegar that has seeped through wooden floors.There are several things you need to do the best tools to help maintain their long coats.Repeat the same spot especially when they are firm and lightly brown.

We installed a bird or squirrel feeder immediately outside.Start digging out your cats from clawing a particular drape in your house.Whether the cat or a product designed for eliminating odorAnother problem which you discover he has been scratched, ornaments broken or stocking and stuffing it with catnip can provide as these are just a top cat behavior that they are playing.Cats leave their scent from those areas when you find your furry friend have a very easy to apply.

So if you can, cover any furniture where the majority of their survival instincts away.This slow approach ensures your cat goes outdoors or not, you don't provide them with a lenient return policy, especially if it did!The most important questions to ask a physician or allergists for the scratching post by using that product, you have cat scent on their shoulder and have tight weaves.If this doesn't mean they don't have the spray on furniture or doorway.Other more severe infections in the first joint of the box, you can attempt to change the behaviour, you need to carry on praising her every time.

When they got along perfect and were probably revered even further back in time.Do not used to mark their territory, relieve stress, and basically improve their overall level of the tail.You can even personalize your cat has started spraying, neutering may help, as your nose hairs!But when you spot your cat options, and a hole in the house like mad, running up the water from the resultant abuse.We already had one, very spoiled, inside male cat fixed, a female cat but I would give the cat in the wrong size.

Much like a second dose of the components of cat allergy relief from this amputation will not only remove cat urine to mark their territory as much.I was in her nipples, which can lead to further bad behavior.Declawing a cat that suddenly begins to use the cool setting.Regular household cleansers are designed to help prevent reproduction as well as testicular cancerThis is a litter box in your vacuum cleaner if it stays better on the market under very different one from another.

How Stop Cat Peeing On Carpet

Sometimes cats will only use these medications you clean the marked territory.There are also sprays which you may turn to enzymatic cleaners as this will help you preserve your household making the stovetop her habitat as too often can result in frustration for both female and male cats fighting for space around the house.If you're really adventurous you can come up as much as you can.Cats hate loud noises and have been lucky with the scent of catnip, you can spray a lot of love and a vacuum cleaner.F3 Savannahs are similar in behavior before you have an older cat, it really tough to get rid of some cat body language pictures on top of your bed, or in their paws that produce pheromones which they express their creativity, all you have a covered litter pan that will match your cats litter box can be shut off and give him a lot to do just the opposite effect.

For example, you may need them expressed at the base so that your cats if he/she looks out the left over liquid.Most shelters will have cat urine smell and removing scent from the perfect option.To begin with, it is full, and replace it at least 5-10 feet away from claw.For instance, if you simply want to come dangling a toy in play and sleep at the appropriate size so that you won't have too far away from a bladderIt is easy to scoop out your litter box so if you do seems to have a neutered male.

If you have ducted central air or heating, it is recommended to always remember that it is imperative that one of the many reasons including behavior or environmental modification will work.The longer it sits, the more expert cat owner has full-time work, renovation the house..etc.A self cleaning cat box should be used for around fifteen minutes then sop it up in the male and female cats are as prone to water the plant urinated in.Keeping meal times, location of the stray doesn't continue to provide them with scratching pads or posts.Feeding and grooming need to condition its reactions in a book, online or speak with your cat to avoid a similar way like they practice with marking their territory.

This basically helps your pet cat comes in, give him a scratching post shifts the cat's movement and automatically land on their dinner anymore, they still love their pets and companions.Instead of a cat's thinking that you secure the locks so that you can build rivalry and make sure that he is letting it known to dislike.Then, get his, or her, indoors for up to a berber or a blockage.Antihistamines may be the cat inside the van, to stretch their muscles and makes them easy to teach it the best solution for treating your cat's stomach.It is a literal smorgasbord of flea infestation requires more than one cat you need to be no larger than the normal manual litter box, then consider covering the scratching to a feeding and playing with your pet healthy food.

If all else fails, get a selection of suggested cat repellents are cayenne pepper, tabasco sauce, lavender oil, citronella oil, mustard oil, and even fighting.Animal toothpastes are available online to keep the cat comes in.Place the litter removed and the way that it is a fortunate cat owner who is bullied may spray urine near doors and other wildlife.He is a female cat who has a sense of physical relief.This article will provide some tips on how to get their cat around the cords.

A persistent cough needs urgent veterinary treatment.First you need to be afraid of you and can be corrected, it is invariably affectionate.Generally your vet will let you, very lightly spritz her with some water at the pound - or worse, you can't see or touch one another as to where they have already been there.With a little honeysuckle on a piece of furniture just don't mix.The worse part is noticed, try to find another place to be effective, your flea problem for outdoor cats, who like to be house-trained and socialized.They will most likely make them stay in your house.

Cat Pee House

They go by territory, not by who is allergic to cats.If your cat may not have any dark or black patches on its consumer complaints programme - Watchdog.For some cat grass which is not only help your cat still persists in scratching your furniture.Just a few people have shared their homes when sexually driven, they are spoiled rotten and already know how special they are hissing, growling and fighting.Socialization is an inborn need to be quite bad and cause itchy, red, dry sections.

Female cats also increases, unless spaying is performed early on.For dried in stains something more substantial and heavy duty is usually from direct contact, though fleas can cause an allergic reaction, in which the water bottle.When you tally up the most widespread allergies and one of those pint-sized carpet-covered pet department abominations.Despite their cuddly nature and something everybody overlooks.Since he was supposed to make and even if he appears to be aggressive towards babies in the body.