#i think I'm going to wash them and clean them appropriately then list them and donate what i make!

[kedreeva]

Same anon who asked about the max for an enclosure here - To answer where I heard it: Uh... Reddit. Sometimes they seem to have good advice but I've heard some other advice that I know sucks so That said, I'm not an owner yet but I'm making plans to become one, and I was actually hoping to get mice from you when I am because I'm in the state. I ordered a 90 gallon tank and it hasn't arrived yet, but I'm also spending over 400$ on hides, toys, and other stuff. (Honestly I might end up spending even more, but I'm waiting until it gets here to see what kinds of things I want to prioritize to fill up more space.) Would you say a big enclosure is inherently bad if the space is utilized properly? I absolutely agree that a big enclosure without enough hides/cover would be far more stressful than a small one with more cover, but I fully intend on going the extra mile and Making It Cluttered Enough even if I have to spend an obscene amount of money on it. (Not to say I haven't already bc. I imagine a lot of people don't spend that much on toys/hides/etc)

I can't fathom the amount of mice that would have to go into a 90g aquarium to make it not stress the mice out. 50+ at least. And the biggest problem is that you would need to literally stack hides upon hides upon hides, and that inherently means that you would lose all airflow, and that's bad. The stink will be tremendous because it can't dry out properly, not to mention the ammonia buildup in the lower levels and the possibility of mold where air isn't moving enough (and when you start blowing air the mice Do Not Like That, at work a lot of the mice would shove things into the air vents to try to stop it). And that's not even really touching on the idea that it's very difficult for you to make sure you're health checking every mouse routinely; can you tell all 50 apart at a glance? Can you check them for health issues well enough? Will you have to disassemble the entire setup to do so appropriately? How do you know if one is sick at the bottom or just didn't come out today because they were asleep?

Honestly, aquariums aren't ideal past the small like 10g or a 20 longs, really. The ONLY reason I'm using a 30g is because it was already in the room and I have a single-morph colony project that's all on the same F generation.

It's also not really about the money spent, the mice 100% prefer garbage cardboard they can chew up to any store bought hide I've ever put in with them. If you give them a choice between plastic, ceramic, wooden, and cardboard, you will almost certainly find them all crammed into the cardboard, MAYBE the wooden, but the problem with wooden equipment is that it's really difficult to sanitize and it can hold stink and bacteria and parasites even through being washed. Think like... You wouldn't use a wooden cutting board for meat, because you can't really clean it properly to ensure food safety? Same thing with wooden hides and gear for mice. It's also about the health of the mice due to airflow and ammonia. It's about the stress of having that much open space unless there's a lot, a LOT, of mice and tight spaces built into it. Even with aquarium fans to help move air, I'm not sure you'd be able to keep it dry enough.

There are a lot of animals where bigger enclosures are better... Mice are not on that list. Ideal caging is a 20g long or a storage tote that's been modded with hardware cloth on the sides to provide airflow. Lab bins are actually really comfortable for them because they're usually small and opaque and feel like a secure place. Wire cages can be 'okay' but again, those kind of have too much airflow such that even though it's enclosed to YOUR perception, it still FEELS like an open space to them because they have terrible eyesight and just feel a bunch of moving air and Sounds.

Reddit... Is a bad place for animal advice usually. I don't go there, but I get sent stuff from there. I see horror stories. I see I'll advised attempts at "bioactive" setups for mice (please... never do this to them, they create too much waste,eat the cleaning crew and all the plants, and can pick up parasites). I see people saying you need a 40g minimum for a single male (please... I'm ill just thinking about anyone doing this to Him). I don't know who is giving them these ideas but I would like to arrange a meeting behind the Denny's. I just want to talk.

I'm very very very sorry that someone convinced you a 90g for mice would be a good idea. I absolutely cannot recommend it no matter how much stuff you put in it. You might be able to figure out a way to make it safe and healthy, with airflow and no chance of mold etc, but I just... there are so many better and easier ways to have a bunch of happy mice. Even if you want 50+ mice, having a shelving unit with bins or something is still going to be healthier for them than 1 huge enclosure; not because they don't love a big colony group, but because human limitations on maintenance of that kind of setup. Like if you maybe got a 50g Lowboy with a custom lid setup, you could have a workable 50g setup like I did for my rats, because you'd have airflow and for space easily. Idk man. You can always try it but up front I don't expect you will like it in practice, and it would be really difficult to maintain it safely enough for them.

[hellowhisperingstars]

Chapter Three: The Luncheon

Summary: Your day is disrupted when your father comes calling demanding you join him and his new partners for lunch.

Pairing: Rockstar/Bar Owner!Eddie Munson x Baker!Reader

Words: 5K

Warnings: 18+ MDNI, cussing, Y/N used, alcohol, overly pleasant people and one smug bastard. I think that's it. Let me know if I missed anything!

A/N: Chapter three! Sorry it's taken so long to get out. I'm taking my time with this story to make sure it flows correctly! Please let me know if you would like to be added to the tag list! Enjoy!

Previous - Masterlist - Forward

It’s been a few days since you woke up in Eddie’s bed and you haven’t heard from or seen him, which honestly didn’t surprise you since you didn’t exactly leave anything for him to contact you with. Well, there was always Steve. But you didn’t want to put that on your cousin, so you just shrugged it off and got back to your normal routine. 

Before you left the front to Marty and Emma who were helping customers at the two registers you wandered around the front of the shop making sure everything was in place, shelves were restocked, and cafe tables were clean. Satisfied, you headed into the kitchen and over to the corkboard filled with all the orders that had been placed within the last few days; an anniversary cookie cake for Thursday pickup, a batch of cupcakes with a smash cake for a one year old for tomorrow, a pie for Saturday, another cake for Monday. Cupcakes and smash cake it was. “Vanilla and chocolate marble smash cake with vanilla and chocolate cupcakes. Blue and red whip cream frosting with Elmo on the cake. Easy Peasy.” 

Pulling the order from the board you slipped it into your apron pocket and got to work. The three of you girls worked around each other seamlessly. Not once did one of you get in the way of another as you moved around grabbing mixers, bowls, cake pans, and other things you’d need to bake these cakes. 

For you baking was easy, simple science, the best kind of science. The kind you get to eat after it's done. Eggs, milk, oil, sugar, flour, and all the good things that make your little science experiments successful, delicious, experiments. 

Glancing over the items on the counter in your section of the kitchen you rolled up your flannel sleeves and got to work. After years of doing this you were able to get both the vanilla and chocolate cake mixed up in almost no time. Grabbing two large cupcake pans you dropped some liners in and reached for the ice cream scoop to fill them. Scoop by scoop you fill the pans to the appropriate height first the vanilla and then the chocolate. With both cupcake tins now full, you grab the small cake pan and with the scoop you drop dollop after dollop of both the vanilla and chocolate batter into it until it's at the proper height before grabbing a spatula giving the batter a little swirl to make it look more marbled. Tapping the tins one by one on the counter to get the air bubbles out of the cake until no more popped to the surface. Satisfied, you grab both cupcake pans and take them to the oven smiling at Ada as she opened it for you. “Thanks Ada.”

“No problem.” She smiled watching you place the pans into the open mouth before she turned and grabbed the marbled cake pan for you and brought it back to be placed inside as well. “Last one.”

“Damn you’re good.” You laugh as you set the timers and move back to your spot to clean up before you could get started on the whipped cream frosting. You stacked the mixing bowls on top of each other with all the bits and bobbles that you had used and carried them to the sink to wash, turning on the faucet you checked the temperature and started scrubbing, placing the clean items onto the drying rack as you went. Taking the sponge from the sink you wring it out before moving back to your spot and cleaning the counter of any spilled batter before going to toss the sponge back into the sink and wash your hands. Drying them on the apron around your waist you checked the timers and started to set up your station to start on the frosting.

Tiffany does the toothpick test on the cakes when the timers go off and takes the cupcakes out to cool, leaving the cake inside to bake for a little longer. She winked at you as she grabbed a tray of macarons and took them out front for the display case. 

It was while you were mixing the ingredients of the frosting that Steve showed up. You heard his voice from the shop and Marty poked his head around the wall to look at you slightly confused. 

"Someone named Steve, is here to see you?" His thick dark brown brow quirked up in question.

“Oh yeah he’s my cousin. Go ahead and send him back.” You said over the sound of the mixer. You watched him nod and then disappear again.

“Hey Birdie,” Steve said as he sauntered into your kitchen looking around before he saw you and walked towards you. “You would not believe how annoying Eddie is.” 

“Hmm?”

“He has not stopped asking about you. 'Harrington, have you heard from her?', 'Steve! Is she going to come back?', and my personal favorite, the act of desperation, he got on his knees and begged me for your number.” 

“And you didn't give it to him?” You asked as you looked over your shoulder at him. 

“One, I didn't want to invade your privacy. Two, I didn't know if you even wanted him to have it since you left him without a word the next morning. And three, I think it's funny to watch him beg.” Steve said as he crossed his arms leaning back against the counter next to you. 

“You are both a great cousin and a horrible friend all in one. Kudos.” You laugh as the second timer goes off. Turning from the mixer you grab an oven mitt and open the oven doing your own toothpick test before taking the cake from inside, setting it next to the cupcakes to cool. Checking the heat you start tapping the top of the cupcakes and nod to yourself as you start to take the tiny cakes from the pan setting them to the side. "So,” You look over at Steve, “When should we schedule that taste test? And how many people?" 

“Oh shit yeah, how does Tuesday sound? The bar is closed during the day anyway and there will probably be four. Me, Robs, Dustin, and… Eddie I think…” Steve said as he counted on his fingers giving you a side glance to see your reaction. 

You smirked, “Okay… you really think Eddie would want to come to my little bakery?” 

“I think if I tell him you'll be here he'd be gone in a puff of Eddie shaped dust and here in five seconds.” Steve laughed as he scratched his neck looking at you with a narrowed gaze as he walked closer to you. “Are you a witch? I've never seen him like this about anyone.” 

“Maybe I have a magical vagin-”

“Do not finish that sentence.” He said sternly pointing at you. “I don't need to know about your sexu-”

Plucking an oatmeal raisin cookie from the cooling sheet next to you, you shoved it into his open mouth with a laugh. “Then don't ask stupid questions.”

He glared at you as he chewed on the cookie taking it from his lips to look down at it. “Holy shit that's good.” 

“Thanks!” Tiffany smirked as she walked back in from the front. “You should pick up some more before you leave!” 

“I might," He said with a wink to her. Tiffany just laughed as she grabbed a few more display trays and went back out front. 

“So what's her story?” He said, snapping his fingers at you with little finger guns. “Should I turn on the charm?”

“She's married and has a five year old.” You laugh as you move back to the mixer to check the consistency of the frosting. Once it was where you wanted it you separated the cream into two different bowls adding food coloring and folded it in so the white slowly became blue and red. “What happened to the brunette you went all Dracula on at the bar?”

“Turns out she's got a boyfriend.” He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest, “They got into a fight. So she and her friends decided to go out to spite him.”

“Did you sleep with her?!” You asked with wide eyes looking over at him. You stopped your mixing so you could lean your hip against the counter one hand braced on the top.

“No,” He shook his head. “I tried but she felt bad for leading me on and told me at the last minute.” 

“I'm sorry.” You mumbled as you looked back at your station and started to scoop the frosting into piping bags, twisting the tops and setting them aside. “That was really shitty of her. But at least she told you.”

“It happens," He shrugged. “Now. Enough about my sad dating life. Tell me about what happened between you and Eddie.”

“You just said you didn’t want to know about my sexcapades!”

“I wanna know!” Ada said around a mouth full of food from the lunch table by your office, a sandwich in her hands. “You didn’t tell us any kind of gossip on New Years day! Tiff! The dude's name was Eddie!”

Tiffany scurried in and looked at you in almost shock. “Eddie!? You slept with a guy named Eddie?!”

“Oh my god please say it louder,” You cried throwing your hands up in the air. “I don’t think they heard you in Chicago!”

Steve laughed at you and your friends. “He’s actually a really good guy!” 

“Oh I’m sure he is.” Tiffany said as she smirked at you. “He’s also pretty good in bed apparently. She was walking a little funny when she came in!”

“Tiffany!” You huffed as you chucked an oven mitt at her causing everyone to laugh in the room as she ducked and stuck her tongue out at you. 

Steve chuckled as he braced his arms behind him on the counter watching as you chased Tiffany around the island in the middle of the kitchen, Ada now standing by the lunch table pointing her finger at you while all three of you girls starting to bicker about your night with Eddie and how they needed to stay out of your sex life. He liked seeing you like this, open and carefree. It was great, so different from when you were living with your father. Having grown up with you in the same family he knows how much they can drag you down. Their constant need to be perfect and for the world so see them as such was exhausting. 

A loud cough sounded through the kitchen effectively silencing the loud bickering laughter of the girls. It was like all the air had been sucked out of the room. In the doorway leading to the back parking lot stood your father, in all his perfectly pressed suited glory. He was glaring at you with his hands behind his back.

“Uh, hey… Dad.” You said as you looked over at him the previously thrown oven mitt now back in your hand ready to be chucked again. The fun vacated your body in a swoosh the moment you heard his voice.

“Uncle Richard.” Steve nodded as he stood up straight. It amazed him how his mother was related to this man, she wasn’t great in her own right but at least she didn’t kill any kind of joy by just walking into the room.

“Hi Mr. Y/L/N,” Ada and Tiffany said simultaneously with little awkward waves. 

"Y/N. Steven. Ladies. Hate to interrupt." That was a lie you knew, he loved to butt in. “If I could have a moment with my daughter. Privately.”

“Uhh, yeah. We can talk in there.” You nodded and gestured over to your office as you looked at the others. Sticking your hand in your apron pocket you took the order card out and handed it and the oven mitt to Tiffany. “Will you finish up frosting this please?”

“No problem.” She nodded as she took the items and headed to your abandoned station.

Steve looked between you and your dad. He had a bad feeling about this. Watching as your dad moved to the office and entered waiting for you to join him. He pushed himself off the counter and moved over towards you giving you a hug. “Let me know what he says okay? I’ll get back to you about Tuesday.”

“Yeah. That sounds good,” You nodded, giving him a smile and a small hug as you walked towards your office. Clearing your throat you moved through the doorway and into the room with your dad. Closing the door behind you, you turned and smiled at your dad who was sitting on the old yellow couch that sat against the wall next to your desk. "You wanted to talk?"

“Yes.” He said as he stood up. He always had to be above the person he was talking to, trying to prove his authority over them. Over you. He wanted to make you feel small. “I'm having a luncheon Tuesday afternoon that will lead into a tea for the ladies while the men go talk business. I expect you to be there early, dressed appropriately, and ready to entertain.” 

“I can't on Tuesday. I just made plans with Steve to do a taste test. I'll be preparing for that all morning and then I have to clean up and then I hav-”

“Reschedule.” He stated like it wasn’t a big deal. To him it wasn’t. “Or have one of the girls do it. It's just a tasting for your silly little bakery.” 

You felt your back start to tense. He never liked the idea of your bakery, thought it was beneath you and a waste of time, since you come from the very distinguished Y/L/N family. It obviously wasn’t as important as his own company doing god knows what. You didn’t care. “This bakery isn’t silly. It’s my business and it’s important to me. Why can’t you just be proud of me for that?” 

“Y/N, this lunch is important to me.” Your father snapped as he looked over at you, his eyes narrowing. “The Malloy’s will be there. They are very big on family. I need the support of my family to make me look good. You owe me for skipping out early on the New Years Party. Peter Malloy was very upset that he didn’t get to talk to you that night.”

You bite your bottom lip in frustration trying to keep yourself from saying something you’ll regret, like how you didn’t give a shit about Peter Malloy, after a moment you took a breath and just nodded your head. You knew leaving early would come back to bite you in the ass. But then you thought of Eddie. Eddie with his big brown doe eyes and charming smile. Yeah, you didn’t regret that, you would leave a million parties to see him again. But you owed your dad this much. “I’ll reschedule with Steve. What time should I be there?”

“Ten. So you have time to get presentable. Lunch will be served at noon, with tea to follow for you, Evelyn, Mrs. Malloy and your grandmother. Bring some of your little desserts. I’m sure the ladies would love that.”

“Sure...” 

Tuesday afternoon was here and you had to stop yourself from rolling your eyes for the twelfth time. You’ve counted. Your father was boasting, as he does, about how much of a family man he was, how much he loved you and Evelyn, and how proud he was of you for your schooling. It was sick, quite honestly.

The before lunch re-introductions had been awkward to say the least, you had met them once before but since you avoided them at the New Years Party your father wanted to make sure you knew exactly who his new business partners were. Mr. Malloy, whose first name you learned was Lewis, was a quiet man, calm, and serious. Salt and pepper hair styled perfectly in no nonsense look and his tan skin was starting to wrinkle around the eyes and his mouth a little like it was stretched into a permanent frown. His handshake was firm when you greeted each other. Has this man ever smiled a day in his life?

Mrs. Malloy was almost the exact opposite. She was all smiles and slightly more energetic than her husband was. At least it looked like this woman had a passion for life. She was busy chatting with your stepmother when you entered the dining room and shook her husband's hand. She clocked you immediately, breaking away from Evelyn, who looked very annoyed at the rebuff, to come over to you as you walked from the two men towards your grandmother. 

“Y/N, it’s so nice to see you again.” She said getting your attention. 

You turn with a smile. “Hello Mrs. Malloy. How are you?”

“Charlotte, please, Mrs. Malloy makes me sound so old. I’ve been well, thank you for asking! How have you been? It’s a shame we didn’t get a chance to talk at the New Years Party.”

“I’m sorry about that. Something came up and I had to leave earlier than expected.” Like the fact that you didn’t want to be there to begin with. 

Mrs. Malloy, you probably would never call her Charlotte, waved her hand in the air like she was brushing away your excuse with a light smile on her face. “Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. I’m just glad to see you were able to join us for lunch!”

Glancing around the room she found the person she was looking for and waved him over. “You remember my son, Peter?”

“Of course.” You nodded as he walked over, more like strutted really. Once he was close enough you held your hand out for a shake. “It’s a pleasure to see you again Peter.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” He said as he grabbed your hand, but instead of shaking it he flipped it over in his grasp and kissed your knuckles trying to act like a gentleman. Out of the corner of your eye you see his mother smiling proudly. His hand was soft, so different from Eddie’s rough ones, like he hadn’t worked a single day of hard labor in his life and he probably hadn’t. The smile on his face made you want to rip your hand away. He thought he was charming. Smarmy was the term that came to mind when you look at him. He had a very punchable face in your opinion. You hated him already. It’s not that he wasn’t attractive. He was and the problem is he knew it, his green eyes stood out against his tanned skin and dark hair. Peter was the spitting image of this father. He was tall and muscular, almost too bulky, much different from the lean muscle of Eddie. 

Before he could utter another word your father announced that lunch was now ready and you could all take your seats. Slowly you slip your hand away from his grip as you force a smile that turns into a real one when your grandmother comes over handing you a tall glass of iced tea. 

“I think you’ll need this.” She says with a wink as she pats your back and gestures to the table.

Now you find yourself sitting at the long table in the dining room, all you had to do was get through this and the tea to get through and you are home free. The chairs were seated in such a way that your father and Mr. Malloy sat at the opposite heads of the table while you got stuck next to Evelyn and thankfully your grandmother. Peter, who was sitting across from you, his mother to his left close to his father, was being his normal creepy self and was pretty much just staring at you throughout the entire meal, throwing you sly smiles and the weird occasional eyebrow lift. If this was him flirting he was failing horrendously all it did was make you even more uncomfortable then you already were. Oscar, your fathers assistant, had also joined you for lunch and was sitting to the right of Peter, next to your father. Up his ass as always.

Taking in a deep breath you grabbed your tall glass of iced tea, that your grandmother had lovingly turned into a Long Island, and downed the last bit of it praying to any god that would listen for this to just be over with. You couldn’t handle your stepmother's fake laughter, Peter’s nonstop staring, or your father talking anymore. Placing the glass back on the table you pushed your hair from your face and smiled a little at Mrs. Malloy as she looked over at you. 

She wiped the corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin before setting it back in her lap. “Your father tells us that you like to bake in your spare time.”

Frustration bloomed in your chest. Baking wasn’t just a hobby for you, it was a passion of yours, it was how you made a living. You clenched your fist in your lap as you put on a fake smile for the lady. “I wouldn’t really say it’s ‘in my spare time’. I own a bakery called Sugar Cloud in Hawkins. It's in a small town about an hour away. I’m the head baker. I’ve always loved baking so I made it into my job. I enjoy sharing it with others.”

“How lovely!” Mrs. Malloy smiled as she looked over at Peter and her husband who didn’t look as impressed. “We’ll have to go and see it someday soon!”

“I would love that!” You nodded, hoping that they never stepped foot into your safe haven. 

“She brought some treats for us to have with our tea after lunch!” Evelyn said as she looked around the table also pretending to be proud of you. 

“I’m sure they will be delicious!” Mrs. Malloy said as she took a sip of her drink.

“I hope you brought those lemon squares.” Nana said as she finished the small sandwich on her plate. “You know how I love those.”

“I did!” You gave her a genuine smile and leaned over a bit. “I also brought a few extra just for you. They're in a different box in the small fridge.”

The pleased look your Nana gave you was worth all this. Her and Steve were the only two people in this family who were actually proud of all you accomplished. "Thank you Birdie."

“Anything for you Nana.” You grin, bumping her shoulder very gently with your own.

The rest of lunch went by with mostly the men talking and the ladies putting in their two cents every once in a while. Slowly you stood from your chair when everyone was finished, pushing it back enough that you could get out and step to the side waiting for your grandmother to get up. 

Nana stood gracefully and wrapped her arm through yours as you walked from the dining room towards the formal living room. The floral couches and chairs were definitely something you would never want in your house, it just continues to show Evelyn's terrible taste. 

“You ladies have a nice tea.” Mr. Malloy said as he pats his wife's back gently. “I’ll just be in the study with Richard, Peter, and Oscar discussing business.”

“We’ll see you soon.” Mrs. Malloy said as she moved into the room taking a seat on the first available plush chair as the four men headed towards the study. 

“I’ll be right back,” You mutter, making sure your grandmother is comfortable on the couch before you try and get away for a moment of quiet. You needed some time to breathe away from all the stuffiness of this lunch. 

“Go get some air.” Your grandmother said, patting your arm before waving you off gently with a smile. 

You smiled back with a nod and headed out of the room after you muttered a quick excuse. Taking the first left, you entered the bathroom and closed the door behind you leaning against it as you took a breath. This place was exhausting. Maybe Daniel and Alice would like some help. Taking a little more time in the bathroom to freshen up you nodded at your reflection before heading out of the room and walked down the hallway towards the kitchen, as you got closer you heard the hustle and bustle of your fathers personal chef Daniel and the housemaid Alice getting things prepared for tea. They were a lovely couple who met, fell in love, and got married all while working for your father. Peeking your head in you smiled at them. “Need a hand?”

Daniel laughed as he looked over his shoulder at you as he set the two teapots on the burner, “My god, where have you been, young lady?”

“Ah! Y/N!” Alice grinned as she looked up from setting four tea cups on a tray. “How are you? Get in here and give me a hug!”

“I’m okay! Living in Hawkins now!” You say as you walk into the kitchen laughing as you hug the older woman. “How are you doing? How are the kids?”

“They are just fine!” Daniel said as he turned to grab the box of treats you brought with you from the fridge and placed it on the island counter. “Justin is student council president of his eighth grade class and Kayla is graduating high school this year!”

“That’s amazing! Come to Sugar Cloud and I’ll give you a great deal on a cake for her!” You smiled widely as you let Alice go so she could get the plates that sit in the three tier serving tray. Holding your hands out for the plates that Alice held you got to work helping them get the trays set up nicely making sure everything looked presentable. “In the small fridge next to Nana’s lemon squares is another box that has a triple chocolate cake slice and a strawberry shortcake for you guys!”

“You didn’t have to do that!” Daniel smiled as he poured some hot water into the waiting teapots to warm them up before dumping that and adding more water through the tea strainer to let the leaves steep. 

“I wanted to. As a thank you for putting up with all of this!” You said your hands gesturing towards the tea items. 

“Thank you Dear!” Alice said as she placed the now ready pots on the tray with the tea cups. “Best get these out!”

“I’ll grab this!” You said pointing to the three tier tray. Giving Daniel a quick hug you carefully grab the stand and head out with Alice back into the formal living room, just wishing for this to be over already.

Finally this awful afternoon was over and as soon as the guests were gone you could book it out of this hell. Mrs. Malloy praised you for the delicious treats, you just smiled and thanked her graciously standing to the side just waiting for them to get out. 

Peter took a moment to separate from the group and come over to you. “It was nice seeing you today. I’m sorry we didn’t get to chat at the party.”

“Yeah,” You said with a forced smile. “Something came up and I had to leave. I hope the lunch was to your liking?”

“It was. Your fathers chef is fantastic.”

“Daniel will be pleased to hear it!” 

“Peter,” Mr. Malloy called, waving his hand at his son getting both of your attention. “We’re leaving now.”

“Be right there.” Looking back at you he smiled and placed his hand on your upper arm making your skin crawl and you tried hard not to pull away from him. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Sure,” You nod a little, as he gave you a wink and walked away from you grabbing his jacket from his mother before shaking your dads hand and then headed out the door.

Turning away you start back to the living room to help clean up. You didn’t want to leave it all to just Alice.

“Y/N.” Your father called as he walked after you grabbing your arm to turn you back towards him. “I need you to play nice with Peter. He likes you. Give him anything he wants.”

Pulling your arms out of his grasp you nod your head with a small frown as he turns to leave. What the fuck was that about?

You find out what your father meant when only a few days later while you were about to head down for a day of work in the kitchen, your house phone rang. Sighing in annoyance you moved quickly to it and grabbed the phone from its perch. “Hello?”

“Y/N? It’s Peter.” He said, you could hear the smug grin in his voice. 

Rolling your eyes you put your forehead against the wall cursing yourself for not just ignoring the call. “Peter. Hi. How are you?”

“Great thanks for asking! Listen,” He didn’t even ask how you were. Rude. “I was wondering if you were free tomorrow night?”

“Tomorrow night?” Glancing up at your calendar you see the blank spot where Saturday sat and glared at it. You could make something up, but your fathers voice rang through your head. ‘Play nice with Peter.’ “Uh, no I have nothing planned.”

“Great! How would you like to go with me to dinner? Say seven? I know a place in Indianapolis that you are going to love.” 

Biting back a groan you bang your head against the wall as quietly as possible. ‘Give him anything he wants.’ Through gritted teeth you force yourself to play nice. “Sure. That sounds awesome.”

“Mark your calendar. I’ll call you tomorrow with the details.” He laughs, “And wear something fancy. I’ll see you then.”

He hung up without so much as a real goodbye. Glaring at the phone in your hand you stick your tongue out at it and slam it back into its home. “Fuck.”

Tag List:

@theonlyh3artbreaker @eddiesprincess86 @haylaansmi

[andswarwrites]

It's the weekend!  Which means I am getting my word count the lazy way, by creating a ranked list of items.  So far it's just been movies, but I can go on and rank shows, albums, food, activities: my laziness and desire to categorize things will see me through many a weekend, I am sure.  We're going to see Elemental later today, so how appropriate for this week's list to be my personal ranking of Pixar movies. 

First, however, I have to explain that I have not seen:

Lightyear (2022) Turning Red (2022)

Soul (2020) Onward (2020)

Coco (2017) Cars 3 (2017)

As for the Pixar movies I have seen, I'm going to start with the most recent and move back in time.  I'm also grouping all the sequels together, and treating them as one story.  Here goes.

Luca (2021)

I was delighted with Luca.  On its surface the story seems very simple: a young sea monster meets a friend who introduces him to all these new experiences, and then they escape to a small village where they meet a girl who widens Luca's horizons even more, and the trio band together to win a race.  Pretty straightforward.  The subtle message, however, that always gets to me, every time I watch it, is (1) as parents, we cannot protect our children from everything, they need to live their own life and (2) don't call someone a "monster" when you simply don't know who they are.

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

This movie is a Western with dinosaurs.  There's the farm boy, there's the ranchers, there's the "native", there's the wild creature that befriends the hero, and there's the gang leader who has gone insane.  I don't love it, and I don't hate it. 

Inside Out (2015)

This is one of my all-time favorite movies.  It helped me, as a parent, to explain the different emotions to my child, and it helped my child learn how to convey to me what she was feeling.  I bought figurines of all the characters for her, and we would use them in our discussions.  Inside Out is not just an entertaining movie, it is a deep and wonderful lesson for all children (and adults) that their emotions are always valid, and should not be supressed.

Brave (2012)

I'm a mom.  I have a mother.  The mother-daughter relationship in this movie is so precious.  You see the conflict, and maybe at first the mother seems to be too rigid and uptight, but as the story progresses, you learn to respect her and cherish her, as her daughter does so as well.  Merida goes from treating her mom like the enemy, to seeing that her mom truly cares about her.  And Merida herself is such an appealing character.  You root for her, even when she is making mistakes, because she learns from them, and she can grow as a person.  What a perfectly delightful heroine.

Up (2009)

You know what I love best about Up?  It shows that a simple life with a loved one can be rich and fulfilling.  It also shows that after experiencing a devastating loss, you can forge new friendships and experience new things.  

WALL-E (2008)

Again, an all-time favorite movie of mine.  A teeny tiny robot, the last one still cleaning up the mess humanity left on Earth, is the protagonist who is primarily responsible for everything good that happens in the movie.  His simple friendliness breaks down barriers and inspires others.  To me, this story shows that no matter how humble you are, you can do good, just by caring.

Ratatouille (2007)

As someone who worked in a restaurant, the attention to detail in the animation of the kitchen blew my mind.  Right down to the fabric of the uniforms the cooks wear.  Honestly, if I saw a rat in a kitchen, cooking, I would be pretty grossed out.  But Remi is actually very hygiene-conscious: he washes his hands, he puts his fellow rats through the dishwasher.  "Anyone can cook" does not mean "everyone can cook"; it means give anyone who has a passion for cooking a chance to prove themselves.  That applies to other areas in life, too.  The more you think about it, the more profound the lesson is.

Cars (2006)

Cars 2 (2011)

I do not care for Cars 2.  I saw it once, and once is enough.  But the main reason I have affection for Cars is how much my dad loves that movie.  My dad worked in a garage as a vehicle inspector, so he is very familiar with everything from a sedan to a semi.  Whenever I watch this movie, I think about my dad, watching it for the first time, and hearing his delighted laugh at certain scenes.  He even has a toy Mater.  He lets my daughter play with it when she visits.  So I love this movie by proxy.

The Incredibles (2004)

Incredibles 2 (2018)

Until Iron Man (2008) came out, Incredibles was my favorite superhero movie.  And Incredibles 2 improved upon the first movie, balancing suspense with humor.  When I was little, sequels were disappointing most of the time.  Now, I view sequels, most of the time, as a continuation of a story I loved, that enriches and deepens the connection with the characters.  Incredibles 1 and 2 are just…incredible.

Finding Nemo (2003)

Finding Dory (2016)

This is another story where the sequel improved upon the original story, adding depth and color, introducing new characters but also allowing us to enjoy the characters we grew to love in the first movie.  As a parent, myself, I love stories that show parents who will go above and beyond for their kids.  In Finding Nemo, that's Nemo's dad.  In Finding Dory, that's Dory's parents.  Both of the movies are so wonderful, they are precious to me, and I can watch them repeatedly.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Monsters University (2013)

Every child worries about the monsters under their bed.  Monsters Inc. teaches us that those monsters only care about fueling their cities, and they are fighting an energy crisis!  Seeing the monsters' side of the coin helps children to have empathy for these scarers.  Then, Monsters University shows that sometimes we have to give up on our dreams, but that doesn't make us failures.  So yes, the movies are whimsical and quite hilarious, but they have a point.

A Bug's Life (1998)

How many kids are fascinated by underground networks of burrows and chambers and the complex structure inside an ant hill or a rabbit warren?  Me, I'm the kid.  I loved anything that gave me a glimpse of small, hidden worlds.  One of my favorite books is Watership Down.  So I have so much nostalgic affection for A Bug's Life.  And another reason it's so compelling is the underdog tale it tells.

Toy Story (1995)

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Toy Sory 4 (2019)

The Toy Story saga.  I thought Toy Story 3 was such an effective conclusion to the trilogy, I almost skipped Toy Story 4.  A friend told me that instead of being about the toys' relationship with their kid, they go off on their own adventure.  So I watched Toy Story 4 and it is my favorite of all four.  The thing about this series is that each movie adds a new layer.  I can binge them all, happily.

So you see why I cannot "rank" these movies.  I love them all, in different ways.  Pixar must be treasured.  The tales they spin take us to new places, show us new things, treat us to a journey of laughter and whimsy, but they tell us messages, underneath it all, that we need.

[muerteporfavor]

Hola!

It's been a bit again. I've been busy. (Not too busy for language study- although I do want to get a better structure for that soon.)

Today won't be a listing day. As it is pretty late where I am currently. But I wanted to write up an update about my life and this little Muerte Por Favor mission.

On Sunday of this week I made a decision that I would section off one day of the week to clean up one aspect of my space that I had been neglecting.

Monday: washing blankets. to be honest I had not washed my blankets for probably almost a year if not a little more. (granted I did switch out my comforter and one of my throw blankets during that time, but i didn't wash them. I just put on new blankets to replace them and moved on) Which is kinda gross but I have clinical depression so I get a pass.

Tuesday: (today!) I set up the mission to dust my room which I also have not done in about a year give or take. But I did it!! It took me like 4 hours because I also had to clean out my desk, reorganize my bookshelf, and hang some posters. But I did it.

Both times I did the thing even though I really did not want to. I wanted to curl up and not move or do anything. But I did the thing. And still had plenty of time to do fun things or work on other projects. I also called my dentist (got an appointment for tomorrow yay!) and I called a business about my application (to receive no response. Not so yay).

But I did the things and I'm proud of myself. I stuck to my goals and I followed through for me. The only point of this silly little thing. I didn't do the tasks when I intended to. I wanted to do them in the morning but alas I ended up doing them mid afternoon both times. Which I'm going to say is okay. Because they still got done.

Tomorrow I have to do laundry (which I'm actually going to have to force myself to get up early to do because I have dentist at noon so it has to get done before then).

Then Thursday I have to buy new jeans (I have none that are workplace appropriate- prior I had just been wearing leggings at my old job cause they allowed it but few other jobs seem to. So I'd like to get ahead of that) and clean out my car.

And then Friday is celebration for a long week of Getting My Shit Together. (I'm thinking I might go try out a cute coffee place that I've been meaning to for months now.)

I started this because I'm not sure what I want to do with my life right now. And I decided to completely reset my life in terms of cleanliness. Just to have something concrete to focus on in the meantime. I'm thinking I might go back to school but nothing is set in stone at the moment as I'm still trying to work on my commitment - follow through ratio.

So far I think its going well!!

That's all for now.

Its Muerteporfavor <3

[elminx]

A few quick things that I do before the New Year

I'm the kind of witch who will take any excuse to carve out a new start for myself - whether it be a new moon, the first day of the month, the solstices or equinoxes, of the made up day of our modern calendar - if its a brand new day, its good enough for me! (As you might guess, I also adore the Dagaz rune for a similar reason)

So, let's be quick and dirty and talk about witchy things that you can do in the last two days of 2021 to help bring it good vibes from the coming year.

1. Clean your house - I know, not so witchy, or IS IT?!? I've long since made my house cleaning rituals as witchy as can be by adding elemental chants to them. You wash your house with water - that's water magic! Do a smoke cleanse to work with air. Throw out/donate anything that you aren't going to use going forward. Tidy the stuff that has accumulated over the holidays. I do this all week leading up to the new year by taking a room a day and deep cleaning each. If you are good at keeping up with cleaning, think about your front door, windows, and mirrors, places people often miss.

2. Clean your altar(s) - I like to completely deconstruct my altars, clean every single item on them, and then put them back together. Add some fresh flowers or an offering while you are at it.

3. Consecrate a new candle for your kitchen altar - this is more a kitchen witch thing, but I like to have a "Hearth Candle" in my kitchen since I don't have an actual hearth. I often choose a candle that is orange or red for fire colors and consecrate it with abundance herbs (mulling spices mix works well for this) and happy house oils for the coming year.

4. Make an abundance simmer pot - through some hot water on the stove with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves in it and let it cook away spreading the gorgeous smells of abundance throughout your space. This is a great broom-closet tip because you can claim that you are making tea.

5. Perform a type of cleansing magic on yourself - take a sacred bath, or an egg cleanse, or an uncrossing - whatever is appropriate in your practice to sever the times you have with 2021 that will be unhealthy to carry with you into 2022

6. Write down a list of things you want to get rid of from 2021 and burn it in a fire safe way. Easy banishment - GO!

7. Write down a list of things that you want to accomplish in 2022 - sign over it with your full name 9x, fold it, and burn a jar candle on top of it. Easy intention setting - go!

8. Clean up your social media - is there anybody who you are following who consistently makes you feel unhappy? Is there anybody following you who needs to be blocked so that you stop feeling their ick every time they see your content? Are you still following your ex and you get that pit in your stomach every time you see them with their new fling? Fix that shit.

9. Give offerings in thanks to the spirits/gods/ancestors that have helped you get through 2021 - This may be going to the cemetery to say hello to Grandma, or putting out some water on your altar. Don't ask for anything - just say thank you.

10. Cut your hair - Our hair holds a lot of power and can accumulate a lot of junk energy over time. This doesn't have to big a big deal haircut (but you do you - chop it all off if it'll make you feel better!) - it could be a symbolic snip of a few strands or that bi-monthly mid Winter shave (no judgement lol). This could be a recolor instead. The goal here is to make a clean break with the past year - make it your own.

As always, these are just suggestions. Some may feel really right to your or some might feel super off - follow your intuition. Don't feel like you have to do them all - I wrote the list and given how close it is now to the new year, I won't likely get to them all before we get there!

The point is to do something. You can ritualize it as much or as little as you like. Your practice is, and will always be, yours. So act accordingly.

Do you like my work? You can support me by Buying Me a Ko-Fi or commissioning me to Write you a Natal Birth Chart OR purchasing a 2022 Reading For Me.

[heresathreebee]

Waters Brackish and Briny (four)

[Ralph Lamont X Female Reader]

Summary: the first of many strange and unusual occurrences to come in your new home. Previous Masterlist Next

Tags: 15+ | 2k words | hauntings, an argument, physical intimidation 😬, secrets, crying

AN: hey remember there were ghosts in Things Seen and Heard? Personally I hate angst so sorry y'all 😔 I will NOT leave it here for long

SECOND WEEK

Ralph went back to work and the house became empty once more. Empty except for yourself and the house. And possibly a rat or two. You set up traps and finished moving the furniture in the downstairs rooms into place. The previous owners left a decently conditioned upright piano behind when they moved. A few scuffs on the legs and a toy soldier in the strings, but perfectly playable and barely out of tune. Nothing a little warm up couldn't change.

You ate lunch on the piano bench, glaring at the unfinished archway leading to the solar room. Should you sweep first or measure the windows to be fitted for panes? Do you want regular clear glass or some stained glass? Get crazy with it? 

You waste a couple hours playing basic melodies and manage to squeeze in time to do all the measurements for the windows before 3 pm. You take down the paper on the floor most window holes and sweep the dust and leaves and branches outside. You mop till the hardwood floor shines but you hate the white beech wood and add varnish to the To Do list. 

You ring up the Vayle boys you met the day you unloaded your furniture. "Hey Eddie! I was planning on making something for you and Cole as a thank you but I need some supplies first." 

It rained in the afternoon and Ralph came home with mud on his pants. "Baby what happened? Did you fall?" 

Ralph looked supremely annoyed. "One of the kids took a tumble and grabbed me for support. We both went down." 

You know he's in a sour mood but you can't stifle your laughter. You coo at him, looking over the damage to his suit. He's got mud caked on the seat of his pants and flecks of it as high as the back of his neck. You help him strip as much as appropriate with guests in the house. 

Your husband sniffs the vanilla scent from the air and looks at you incredulously. "Did you make cookies?" 

"Yeah," you said, "for Eddie and Cole." 

The boys waved at your husband from the kitchen counter. He gives a lustless wave back and trudges upstairs in his under things. You tip the boys with the rest of the cookies in an old dish and send them on their way home. 

You open your bedroom door to find Ralph butt ass naked and on his knees looking for something. 

"We should do this more often," you tease. 

Ralph looks up and raises an eyebrow at you then notices the position he's put himself in. "Now's not the time for jokes: do you know where the luffa is?" 

You cross your arms. "Well it's not under the bed…" 

"Helpful." Ralph climbs to his feet and his nose bumps yours. "Where. Is. The luffa." 

"Behind the bathroom door on a hook." 

"Why?" Ralph takes three steps towards the bathroom, then quickly retraces them and this time his forehead collides with you none too gently. "And not saving me a cookie? Uncool." 

"Open your mouth." His eyes go dark for a second and you roll yours. "Do it." 

You plant the last cookie in his mouth and flop onto the bedspread. "Go. Shower. I'll clean up the kitchen." 

The house creaks at night. Sometimes the sounds make the hair on your neck stand on end, but you simply squeeze Ralph and drift back to sleep. In the haze of a dream you think you hear something small and glass break a few rooms over but you can't hold onto your memories for long like this. 

Except tonight there is more than sounds. Beneath the smell of your body wash on Ralph's skin, something tickles the back of your throat. It's acrid and raw pulling you from the fringes of sleep into reality fast. You sniff the air and the scent seems to grow ten times stronger. It's like… it's like… 

You shake Ralph by the shoulder. He doesn't stir an inch. The smell is so strong you're choking on it. You grab Ralph and shake him like a doll until he bursts into wakefulness. 

"What? What?!" 

"Do you smell that?" 

"What?" His eyes are completely unfocused, face pinched in annoyance. 

"It smells like…" you turn on the bedside lamp much to his dismay. "It's like gasoline or something." 

Ralph growls and rubs at his eyes. "Exhaust fumes maybe. Ralph! We have to get up– we have to get out!" 

Somehow you manage to drag him out of bed and down the stairs. The smell gets weaker but it's still there burning in your nostrils like actual fire. Your eyes search frantically for that yellow orange flicker in every room to no avail. It doesn't ease your fear. 

"Come on." You push Ralph outside and the man almost falls off the wrap-around porch. His eyes are glued shut, legs shaking as he stands, and trapped in that sleep state. 

You rack your brain for ideas. Is the car on fire? Should you check the garage? Do you have a working fire extinguisher? There's one in the garage by the door but you doubt it's up to date. 

"Ralph baby please wake up, I need you…" 

You cling to his arm and he manages to crack one eye open. "The fuck is going on?" 

"Something's wrong," you stutter, "I think he's here."

Ralph opened his other eye and looked at you. His head swiveled to and fro over his shoulders, trying to peer out into the dark cover of night to find anyone lurking in the dark. His grip on your arm is tight, almost hurts. He looks back at you, puzzled. 

"Where?" 

You didn't know where, in fact you don't know why you said that. He had no idea where the two of you were. For all you know he might not even be a he at all. You've never met them but you're haunted by them. 

You shake your head and focus on the danger of now. "Fumes. I woke up and it smelled like exhaust fumes in our room." 

"I didn't smell anything," Ralph says. 

You growl. "I did. We need to call someone, we can't go back in the house. What if it's filled with gas and there is an open flame somewhere?" 

Ralph looks around then tries to walk past you towards the door. You catch him with a look of disbelief. 

"Did you not just hear a single word I said?!" 

Ralph sweeps your bruising grip from his arm. He keeps walking but he never breaks eye contact with you. He's definitely awake now. 

"If there's fumes, it's coming from the garage. Lord knows you're not going to let me look knowing that," he says stepping past the threshold into the mud closet next to the kitchen, "so we need to call someone." 

He picks up the phone from its cradle and dials 9-1-1. "Unless you have some secret satelite phone hidden in the barn, I'm all ears on how we call someone…" 

He's right. He's being an asshole about it but he's right. You can smell the fumes as you step in, desperate not to be far from him no matter what happens. Ralph plucks the housecoat from the hook by the door and fits it around your shoulders. You didn't realize you were shivering. 

The sheriff comes out tonight and it's half past 2 am. You and Ralph are waiting outside, a reasonable distance from the house in case an explosion was imminent but it never came. Sheriff Laughton brought a fire team and they searched the house. 

Travis–  as he asked them to call him– asked a few meandering questions. Ralph held your hand and answered as many as he dared, looking to you for the questions you could answer better. They both noticed your thousand yard stare but said nothing. 

Travis came back with the fire team and a long, befuddled face. "They checked over every inch of that house and didn't find anything except a broken lightbulb in the laundry closet." 

Ralphie did not return your gaze, instead he asked. "Nothing at all?" 

Travis scratched his head. "If there was something, it's gone now. I might have your cars looked at just in case, there's a mechanic about 10 miles yonder I can give you directions to." 

Ralph's hand smoothed over your shoulder to try warming you up. "No, no that's OK, I have a mechanic right here." 

You slap his chest for teasing you but your weak smile falls not a moment later. How can that be? They found nothing? Had you imagined the whole thing? But it had felt so real… 

By the time you brought your mind back to the present, you found Ralph had moved you to the kitchen and offered Travis a cup of coffee for his troubles. The fire team was packed up and driving off the property, leaving only the sheriff's cruiser out in that empty night. 

"Ralph," you whispered over the sink. "I think we should call Reagan…" 

"No." 

You blinked. He hadn't even taken a second to consider it, just… dismissed you out of hand like you were an annoyance. You crossed your arms over your chest and glared. 

"If you won't, I will." 

Ralph beat you to the phone and blocked your path, you glimpsed Travis standing awkwardly in the door but paid him no more than a passing thought. 

This was about to get ugly. 

"I. Am not crazy." You keep your voice low but the quiver of anger still seeps through. "I know what I smelled. It was real. If you're not going to ask for help, then fine, but do not stand in my way because of your pride." 

Ralph had that look in his eyes– the dangerous look. "Oh, honey, no… I told you– we are not calling Reagan." 

He kept shaking his head minutely, like it was the only thing keeping him from screaming. "That's final. I mean it, baby. I will lock you in that fucking basement if you touch that phone. I will burn this fucking house down before I let you even look at that dial." 

Your jaw hit the floor but before you could protest, Ralph had your arm in a death grip as he began to drag you out into the hallway. He was probably trying to push you to the bedroom but his out of character threat had rocked you. 

"Let me go," you growled, "Ralph! Stop it!" 

Travis called out to you two and you tried to wipe that innate look of fear from your face. Ralph seemed to snap out of it a bit when he realized you weren't alone and he finally released your arm. It didn't stop him from bending over you until his nose brushed yours and in a growl commanded you to go upstairs. 

Now is not the time to cry. Crying right now feels like weakness. You're not sad– you're fucking furious with him right now. But you're not about to make a bigger scene in front of this cop, so you push past him and head for the stairs. 

The blood racing in your veins is making your face hot and head pound. You can hear Ralph follow you up shortly, likely to continue the argument further but you are beyond listening at this point. You turn just in time to see him look at you funny– why are you mad?-- before slamming the door so hard you hear the wood around the lock almost splinter. 

He doesn't try the door. The light of the hallway goes out and you listen to him sigh as he heads for the couch to sleep on. You throw yourself onto your bed alone and cry into your pillow until exhaustion takes you to a dreamless black sleep.

Tag list: @werwulfy @fundamentally-lazy @escape-your-grape @go-commander-kim @mimiscappinisideblog

[letsperaltiago]

I give up, I'm in love crying out to you |Jake x Amy|

So this is the post ”Yippie Kayak” fic I talked about! And honestly... I’m not super happy with how it turned out, compared to what I had in mind, but... I hope someone out there will enjoy it. Maybe

xx!

word count: 2.8k

The red and blue lights coming from the remaining police cars reflected back off his slightly pale face as he started the car, carefully driving away from the surrounded Goodwin’s before turning down the main street. Since Jake had quickly been pulled away from her to get checked by a paramedic as soon as they pulled back from their passionate reunion kiss, neither of them had gotten to say much to the other after Jake escaped the hostage situation. He’d quickly shrugged off his leather coat then hoodie before giving her the latter before he was pulled aside. Since then Amy had spent the time checking up on Gina and Charles, secretly feeling unsettled and almost burdened even though Jake was clearly safe and sound. Why?

So she wondered still as they quietly drove off and away from the chaos. It was just the two of them in Jake’s car. Maybe she didn’t say anything but on the inside Amy felt like screaming and crying, almost like she wanted to speak out but some unknown force pushed the words back down her throat. More than anything she didn’t want him to notice, because then he’d worry and he was the last person who should worry about someone else. He’d just been beaten by robbers and held hostage, for God’s sake! Although it probably didn’t help keeping her messy state of mind secret that she uneasily, shuffling in her seat, kept looking back and forth between the bypassing streets and his focused, slightly bruised face. Either his mind was somewhere else, which was completely understandable, or he chose to bite his tongue and not comment on it.

“Should I drop you off at home?” After such a long silence, his voice almost startled her, causing Amy’s head to quickly whip away from the window and in his direction instead like a deer caught in headlights. They usually slept at her place, almost everyday besides a few times a week whenever one or both needed a bit of me-time, so this caught the young woman a bit off guard. Did he ask because he wanted to drop her off and go home alone? Or was he just being polite? During the 7 months they’d been together, Amy had never turned to overthinking like this and it scared her. Jake would never have ulterior motives when it come to her - or anyone else, for that matter. What was wrong with her?

“Ames?” Without taking his eyes off the road for too long he allowed himself to take a quick glance of her, obviously confused by the lack of response he got from his otherwise always very clear and palpable girlfriend.

“Oh, sorry. I just-“ she bit her lip, silencing herself with her thinking. Honestly she wanted nothing more but to tell him no. No, she didn’t want him to just drop her off and act like nothing had happened. Actually the very last thing she wanted after coming so close to losing him was to go home alone - without him. Then she remembered that her bag (having held clean, warm clothes) from the polar swim and stinky, soaked jacket was still in his trunk, and last-mentioned item probably needed a good wash. She also did happen to have a full day of Christmas celebration with her enormous family waiting for her tomorrow on the 25th, so… Though every signal within herself told her that she didn’t want to, that it was wrong, it probably would be easier to just go home and get the last chores crossed off her mental list.

“Uhm, yeah. My place is fine.”

Out of the corner of her eye she could sense a nod, immediately sending her heart crashing into her gut. First the polar swim, then the hostage situation and now this? What a shitty Christmas eve. 10 minutes of silence later, he pulled over in front her apartment building and turned off the engine. Neither of them seemed to be able to break that eyes, staring straight ahead out the front window with stiff postures and mingled thoughts.

“So we’re here,” Amy finally mumbled, slowly and almost unwillingly reaching for the door handle.

Jake turned in his seat, scanning her up and down with his tired, yet always so gentle eyes.

Words were burning in her throat, making it feel like a muddy mixture of feelings and tears balling up in trachea. It was pure agony and it just wasn’t worth it, when she was with this wonderful man who’d never laugh at or dismiss anything she said. She needed to calm down and trust him.

“Would you mind coming upstairs with me? Just for a second,” she finally managed to almost gurgle out and finally looking back at him.

“No, of course not.” He smiled weakly, pausing for a moment, before leaning over the gap between their seats to peck her temple. “Let me help you with your stuff.”

So there they were, just 2 minutes later, after climbing the few stairs to her first floor apartment. The flicking of a switch by the entrance door drenched the living room/kitchen in a soft yellow light, which allowed them both to make their way to the center of the room.

“Should I just put it on a hanger it in your bathroom?” Jake asked sweetly, making Amy’s heavy heart do summersaults because of the fact that he’d read her mind before doing anything else.

She sent him a grateful smile, “Yeah, thanks. Just make sure to-“

“Hang it in the shower, so it won’t drip on the floor?”

Amy could tell by the way her boyfriend’s  eyes light up and his lips morphed into a crooked, boyish smile that he was proud of the fact that he’d managed finish her sentence just right. Sometimes she forgot that not only had they been dating for 7 months, but he’d also been her best friend for longer and partner against crime for even longer. There was no denying that he, more than anyone else and even herself, knew her the best. A weak smile growing on her lips at the thought let him know he was right, and then there was nothing else for her to do but to follow him with her eyes as he walked off to the bathroom with her icy ocean-coat.

Everything was so good between them and there was absolutely no denying it. Then why did she slump down on her couch with a heavy sigh and an even heavier her, she wondered. What was it about today; about her; about him, that made it seem like she was holding back and onto some kind of secret. A heavy slump back against the back of the couch seemed appropriate for the situation. Few steps wandered down the hall towards her, coming closer and closer. Next thing she knew he was back, standing by the kitchen at the opposite end of the room, freezing in his track when he noticed her hopeless expression. A staring contest between the two seemed to be initiated, but truth be told, she was not taking in just his eyes. Also the dark circles that surrounded them, his short, but nonetheless curls very messy from the day’s actions, his posture only emphasised how he probably felt - yet Amy Santiago had never before been so sure of one thing.

“Amy, is everything okay?”

Okay, the jig was up. He’d definitely noticed her being way off the entire night. Maybe he had been so too, but he, on the other hand, had an actual excuse.

“Yeah,” the following sigh did not reassure him. “Come sit with me for a second. Please?” She let her hands dance across the empty space by her side.

It truly did feel like walking into the belly of the beast, but ready for whatever she was going to throw at him, the eager detective made his way to the empty spot beside her and placed himself facing her. One leg bent on the couch, the other hanging off the side as he rested his side against the couch’s soft back. Another silence swallowed them both. Right in front of him, so close that he could reach out and touch her even though he didn’t dare to right then, Amy was nervously pushing her hair back behind her ears. Normally a double-tuck was a good sign, Jake couldn’t help but notice, but the current moment seemed to be way off and inconsistent.

“Ames, you’re kinda freaking me out here. Are we okay? Are you okay?”

The fact that he emphasised the ‘you’ more than the ‘we’ once again told her that he was the greatest man alive, obviously caring more about her than himself and them. A smile was not to be held back and her left hand, rebelliously in the name of love, expressed the same intractableness by reaching forward and cupping his cheek. Like a tear, though they weren’t present, Jake felt her thumb dance downards across his face and a million butterfly were set free in his stomach.

“Yes,” she nodded softly. “Both me and us. More importantly: Are you okay?”

He nodded softly into the her hand’s fingerhold, secretly wishing she would elaborate instead of redirecting the worry towards him. “I’m okay. Tonight was scary, but now I’m here with you. And though it might seem cheesy, it’s what matters to me.”

She nodded back, and though her mind was racing, trying to fight and make sense of all of her thoughts, her lips parted with willingness to speak. “It’s okay to be cheesy. It’s what matters to me too: Us…” She hesitantly allowed a pause, breathing in and unconsciously ran her tongue across her upper lip, considering if she should continue. This was Jake Peralta. With them it had always been this weird game of ‘in-between but never quite there’. The years of pining, the ‘never-single-at-the-same time’, keeping it light and breezy, almost breaking up twice within their first week together… It all came rushing back like an avalanche, pushing Amy over the edge of her emotional mountain. This time she wasn’t going to stay stuck in the middle; she was going big or going home - and she was already home, so there really was no way around it. “… Which I guess is why I’ve been so weird all night.”

Jake Peralta tilting his head slightly to the side in wonder was somehow the cutest and worst sight in the entire world - worst because she knew he did it out of confusion and precariousness. Amy Santiago wasn’t one to be overly confident with men, but these 7 months together had definitely taught her that she held his heart in his hands. His secretly very fragile, loving heart. On the other hand though, she also knew that he also held hers. Vulnerably and firmly all at once.

“You…” along with a heavy breath, her hand dropped from his face into his lap to hold his. Her gaze followed behind. “Being in danger like you were tonight really got me thinking about how important you are to me.” Her sincere brown eyes finally looked, to his relief, back up at him as those last words danced off her lips. Tender yet alert eyes and an understanding not from her boyfriend let Amy know that he was listening - he usually did whenever she spoke - and pushed her to continue. Taking this leap meant that there was no turning back around. “Li-,” her breath hitched, when tears suddenly welled in her eyes with urge to leap over the edge and down her cheeks. “Like it just got me thinking about the fact that just barely 3 years ago, I could never live with you. Never share a life with you, never be in the same room as for more than a few minutes without going absolutely insane,” she squeezed their joined hands in reassurance. “Never touch you like this. We seemed to be two opposites in all the worst ways. Impossible to unify.”

Though it was obviously with caution, seeing how affected by the matter his girlfriend was, Jake smiled remembering how they used to be cat and mouse. Those times seemed so far away these days.

“And now, today,” the hitch in her voice repeated itself; this time causing a tingle tear to stream down her face. Even soaked in tears, her eyes never left his and if Jake wasn’t completely delusional from all of the surfacing emotions, he could’ve sworn tears were welling up in his as well. “It just really hit me that I could never live without you.”

Almost like a bomb, silence dropped and blasted through the space around them. It sucked them into a black hole of everything from utter vulnerability to raw emotion and everything in between. Amy quickly noticed how her boyfriend’s eyebrows had cocked upwards, along with his suddenly much more awake eyes, in surprise.

“There’s before, now and after; me before you, me with you and I never want there to be a ‘me after you’, Jake Peralta.”

His jaw failed to keep his mouth shot, allowing his lips to part in awe like a kid having just discovered a secret treasure of gold, diamonds and pearls.

Her heart picked up pace as well as her termbling voice.

“God, I don’t know if this is moving too fast; if it’s right or wrong… But I’m just gonna say it. I desperately need you to know.”A brief pause pierced the moment, the three words welling up inside her mouth.

“I love you.”

His lips slowly merged back into a soft smile, his eyes glistening with joy as he brought his strong hands across the distance between them to hold her face and look into her eyes.

“I love you too, Ames.”

Finally, turning out to be what she needed more than anything that night, he used the hands attached to her face to pull her into a soft, tender kiss. A heavy weight suddenly dropped from her shoulders, her chest becoming lighter and fluttering as well. Within seconds her fingers wrapped around his wrists which were attached his hands that still cupped her now also smiling face. Their lips pressed together still, sparks flying like it was the first time instead of somewhere within the millions - probably - Amy knew she’d made the right decision. She loved Jake Peralta and he deserved to know.

His forehead pressed against hers, never disconnecting, as their lips parted and a dynamic energy travelled around them and the room. Amy could tell he was smiling; she was too after all.

“Tell me we’re end game?”  

When he slowly tilted his head just an inch back, Amy felt the tip and bridge of his nose gently stroke up her own. Upon having finally tilted it up and back far enough to reach her forehead, he pressed a tender kiss to it. It lasted longer than their rare, but yet sweet, little forehead kisses usually would. It almost felt like his lips had gotten stuck, but then suddenly to Amy’s secret dismay, he pulled his whole upper body back to look at her properly with glistening eyes and a happy grin. Amy’s heart on the other hand was anything but calm, thumping louder and harder than she ever imagined possible. Why wasn’t he saying anything? Maybe declaring her love like that was a bit too much for an otherwise emotionally cut off person like Jake. Maybe she should’ve just stuck to “I love you”… Or just nothing at all; she should’ve sent him back home and slept by herself tonight.

Yet suddenly it was clear to her that the confusion and anxiety must’ve been clearly written across her face, because once more and always preferably, Jake Peralta’s hands were buried deep within and messing up her glistening black locks like they were the last sensation he’d ever experience. His soft soft lips grabbed hers, telling her that she’d never be alone ever again though she still sometimes feared she would. More. She wanted it all and more, so she quickly reached across, grabbing the collar of his famous grey hoodie. If it was even possible by then, seeming to be as close as possible, she pulled on it and him. His lips scrunched into a smile against her desperate kiss. Suddenly his kiss wandered off too the side, onto her cheek; her chin; her hairline before ending on the top of her head with her cheek resting securely on top of his shoulder and arms wrapped tightly around her frame. Like they should be. Always.

“Amy Santiago, we’ve always been end game.”

[expatesque]

I'm sure you've received this question a million times before but--I'm starting the LPC soon, and I'd like to have a clear(ish) idea of the clothes I'll need when I'm working at my MC firm, so that I can start buying them slowly (read: cheaply) rather than in a rush in February. I'd like to have mainly good quality (cashmere, silk, wool, etc) clothes, and while my style is a bit more masculine and structured than yours, your tumblr is a huge source of inspiration. So what would be your list?

The absolute basics: • one pair of casual work trousers (fine to be from a cheaper source like uniqlo, zara)• one pair of formal work trousers or a formal work skirt (for client meetings/court – need to be a good fabric, not overly tight, if a skirt, below the knee when sitting down)• at least 6 work blouses (I’d recommend at least 5 you can wash at home – you will dry clean less than you think you will – and then one dry-clean, generally silk is a good call) – it’s a good idea to make them largely short sleeved so you can wear them in summer• one black blazer • at least 1 cardigan (grey, cream, black)• at least one long sleeved sweater ideally in grey, cream, or a muted forest green/burgundy (relatively thin to make it more work appropriate, slight v neck is generally the safest bet)• at least one pair of heels and one pair pair of formal flats (you don’t strictly need heels but for girls, it’s the quickest way to take an outfit from ‘office casual’ to ‘oh crap a client has unexpectedly shown up’)• those are the absolute basics and should be good for getting you through the first 6ish months and then you can top up with summer/warmer weather stuff as you go. At least one nice work dress is a probably a good call but they’re less versatile than separates. I would also probably recommend at least one long sleeved work top for when you’re feeling lazy in winter. Accessories-wise, I’m partial to a nice watch and a simple, every day sort of necklace. 

[gothify1]

For the record: I like my face, and I don't think it needs changing. But you know what else I like? Gorgeous, full eyelashes . I'm one of those girls who wear mascara to the gym. I honestly feel 100% more equipped to do life when I know those little hairs around my eyeballs are on point. Who's with me? Therefore, I'm a mascara enthusiast and have even tried my hand at wearing falsies on the daily. But I guess when it comes down to it, I'm just more committed to convenience than serving epic looks. I haven't dipped my toe into the more permanent solutions up to this point, partly out of fear of damaging my already-decent-looking lashes and partly because these things tend to be quite expensive and time-consuming. So when Sugarlash Pro , a company that specializes in lash-lifts and extensions, reached out with the opportunity to test its signature lash-lift service in the comfort of my office (where I spend more time than I spend at my own home), I jumped at the chance. Yes, this is essentially a perm for your eyelashes, but I'm no stranger to perms and hair treatments. I grew up in the 2000s when black women were all about relaxers, and, honestly, all kinds of women were still down with a good perm. (It was a wild time.) Could a lash-lift be the answer to that coveted I-woke-up-like-this confidence? Would it shave any time at all off my morning makeup routine? These were the burning questions I was eager to answer. Read on to learn all about the full experience from start to finish. I was instructed to come ready with a clean face and told that I would not be able to get my lashes wet for a full 24 hours after the lift. I did wear makeup that day since I had a few meetings and didn't want to look tired, so I needed to do a deep cleanse to make sure there was no trace of makeup left behind that might interfere. I dug into my collection of cleansers and grabbed three that would effectively remove every stitch of eye-makeup residue. And knowing it would be the last time I'd be able to thoroughly wash my face until the following day, I decided micellar water, a concentrated eye-makeup cleanser, and an allover foam cleanser were all necessary. Whether it's a one-step kind of wash or a three-step kind of wash, this Embryolisse micellar water is always in the mix. This targeted eyelash cleanser is perfect for removing even the most stubborn mascara, without having to rub too hard on the delicate eye area. This is my favorite cleanser right now because it delivers a thorough clean but never leaves my skin feeling dry or tight. Then came the actual treatment. My Sugarlash Pro technician showed up to my office carrying a folded-up table (kind of like a massage table) for me to lie down on during the service. The first step was to cover my bottom lashes with an adhesive eye mask to keep them out of the way. Then, she applied a soft silicone cover with a gentle glue on top of my upper eyelid to act as the apparatus for the perm. So far, so good. Next, the technician spread the same glue all over the surface of the silicone cover before brushing my lashes back and completely flush against it. A little curling rod at the base of the silicone eyepiece created the shape my lifted lashes would later mimic. Now that my lashes were plastered into the appropriate position, it was time to apply the actual lifting agent: three layers of chemical creams, which marinated for about 30 minutes altogether. Honestly, I think I fell asleep or at least slipped into a deep meditative state as I concentrated on keeping my eyes firmly closed. It wasn't uncomfortable at all, but I will say the smell caught me a little off-guard. It was similar to the familiar smell of a chemical hair relaxer because that's essentially what this substance is. After the perming cream was removed, I could instantly tell that my lashes had been altered. The second I opened my eyes, I could feel my them grazing the bottom of my brow bone, so I knew they were standing taller than usual. It was similar to when you open your eyes too wide with wet mascara on and you can feel the inky-black gel transfer onto your eyelid. So before I even looked in the mirror, I knew my lashes were, as the kids say, popping. When my technician handed me a mirror to examine my face, I was floored. My fringes were standing in full bloom like I'd just used a lash curler and a really good mascara. Overall, the lash-lift went off without a hitch, and I'm beyond pleased with the results. Although I don't feel like I could skip mascara altogether in my morning routine, I do see a major difference in my bare lashes. They look like they've been curled, even when I'm fresh out of bed. And as far as damage to my delicate lash hairs, I haven't noticed any. In fact, I've seen no change in the texture or health of my natural eyelashes. I'd caution anyone with highly sensitive skin to consult a physician before having their lashes permed, as the keratin cream used is pretty strong and could cause a reaction. Also, be prepared for some residual glue from the process to linger on your lids until you can go in with a real wash. I'm antsy, so I found myself picking at the stuff for 24 hours. The Sugarlash Pro team explained to me that the ideal candidate for a lift is someone who already has good length to their lashes, so that's definitely something to consider before taking the plunge. For a service that can cost upward of $150, you definitely want to be sure that the results will be up to snuff. There are Sugarlash Pro partners all over the world who can help you determine whether a lash-lift is the right solution. Maintenance-wise, I was advised that the lash-lift should last for six to eight weeks, meaning that I might be looking at two full months of beautifully permed lashes. According to my Sugarlash Pro tech, I'll know it's time for a touch-up when I see some of my lashes starting to revert to their original, less pronounced state. This OG lash-growth serum combines vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids into a serum that promotes naturally longer, thicker-looking lashes. You'll have to be consistent about application, but the results are worth it. If dense, glossier lashes are on your wish list, you might consider adding this gel by Talika to your regimen. One savvy Amazon reviewer came through with the major pro tip to store it in the refrigerator, which helps preserve the natural botanical formula. While wax is one of the ingredients that help mascara stick to your lashes to make them appear longer and thicker, it can be a pain to remove. This formula by Maybelline is wax-free, making it much easier to remove. This is a cult favorite for a reason. Just one swipe delivers plush, voluminous lashes. Strip lashes aren't for everyone, but if you want a more dramatic look, and you want it now, these wispy strips will get you there in minutes. These premium silk lashes have quickly become a staple in the kits of celebrity makeup artists for stars like Olivia Palermo, Kate McKinnon, and Natasha Lyonne. They offer a bit more flexibility than your standard strip lash, and the strip is substantially thinner, too. Up next, the exact products hairstylists use on celeb clients for ridiculously shiny hair.

[hella-free-space]

Hi :) I'm pretty new to rats I kept one when I was a child poor rat, my main questions are what bedding and food people use for their rats I'm really concerned about bedding because of their respiratory issues. What fun activities you can do with them and whether to get 2 or 3 and make or female for a beginner. I have a local breeder who desexes, vet checks and everything before they go, and what size cage I currently have a 2 story but will upgrade as they grow but not sure to what :)

@notalltreellamas I want to preface thisentire reply by saying that The Rat Gugu on Youtube is one of my favorite resources for rat care! TheRatGuru hasa playlist called “Rattiepedia | The Ultimate Guide to Pet Rats” and it coversall of the questions you asked PLUS a ton more stuff! :) I highly recommendchecking out the channel!! Also, Ratblr exists so I’m sure there are a ton of blogs that you could peruse or send asks to if you have any other questions or want to know about specific setups or ideas they’ve posted on their blogs :DThere’s also an INSANE amount of DIY enrichment, hammocks, and other cage decor on pinterest. Rattie toys don’t have to be expensive, either, since there’s a ton of “Dollar Store DIY” toys and enrichment ideas out there! Google is your best friend when doing research so don’t be afraid to ask questions or dig a little deeper to find an answer! more under the cut

HOUSING

[ Source: julieszoo74 ]I’m not sure what cage you have, but I highly recommend looking into whether or not your specific cage is a good fit for ratties :) Some cages that are labeled as rat appropriate by pet stores are not (same goes for hamsters, birds, bettas, etc.) so it’s a good idea to check that out or upgrade asap! :)The rule I’ve heard mostoften is 2 sq ft/rat but bigger is always better! Also keep in mind that ratslove to climb so make sure your cage has some vertical space to hang shelves, hammocks,tunnels, etc. The Critter Nation is personally my favorite rat cage. You canbuy a single or double critter nation and a single will comfortably house 2-3adult male or female rats! I definitely recommend using no-pill fleece bedding (shelfcovers + ladder covers + litter box) with this cage, since it makes cagecleanup a breeze. You can buy the shelf/ladder covers (usually on ebay or etsy) or sew them yourself! This cage has plenty ofspace to hang toys, hammocks, shelves, perches, baskets, and whatever else youcan think of :)

(note: you can buy a single critter nation, which has the shelfunderneath and the rolie feet, or the “add-on” which has no shelf or roliefeet. The add-on is usually a little cheaper, but the single critter nation’s shelf and roliefeet are handy dandy)

Martin’s Cages areanother popular choice among rat owners! :) Lastly, you can even DIY a cage!

[ source: reachthestars ]

I’ve seen C&C cages,cages made out of old cabinets or book shelves, and even custom-build ones!

Bedding

My twofavorite types of bedding are the Carefresh paper bedding (nonscented andnoncolored) and no-pill fleece bedding! Rats have sensitive upper respiratorysystems, so they shouldn’t ever be kept on any type of bedding that gives offdust (like cedar or pine shavings). You can use Carefresh if the cage has adeep enough litter pan at the bottom. You can also use fleece strips since they’rewashable/reuseable :) Whenever you use fleece bedding (whether it be asshelving covers or as strips) I’d recommend using a litter box (Yes! It’s possible to litter-train rats!) as well to helpkeep the fleece clean longer and to minimize having to shake out thefleece/pick poop out of the fleece strips before washing.

Food

Blocks arebetter than mixes when it comes to feeding your rats! If you use a mix, therats will probably just pick out what they like and leave the rest of the fooduntouched, which can be an issue since they wouldn’t be getting propernutrition! I love Oxbow and Mazuri for rattie staple diets! :D Now, youngratties and older ratties have different protein requirements and it’s veryimportant to make sure those needs are met! After I discovered this, I changedmy rats’ diet so I wanted to mention it to you since it might not be listed inarticles you find online! The Rat Guru covers this issue more in this video: 

Treats

Rats can eat a TON of different “people-foods” so varying a rattie diet is pretty easy! The video above lists some treats and foods to avoid, and this list is also pretty extensive! :) (dark chocolate seems to be debated and I don’t have any personal experience with feeding it to my rats, so if anyone has some resources or opinions about feeding rats dark chocolate, leave a comment or reblog!)

Water

Waterbottles work better than water bowls imo :) I like to have at least 2 waterbottles in the cage, usually one near the food bowl and one somewhere else inthe cage (like, one on the ground floor and one on another level). You can use water bowls, however, for enrichment! I’ve seen people give their rats a bowl for bobbing-for-frozen-peas! :p

Pairs vsTrios vs Groups

I had pairsgrowing up! However, my mom adopted a trio (and then a pair, for a total of 5ratties) so I feel like how many rats you own depends on how much time you haveto devote to them :) I don’t think I could have 5 rats out at a time unlessthey had their own room or tall large pen, and when I interacted with her rats,I’d take them out one or two at a time since that’s what I felt mostcomfortable with :) If you feel like 3+ rats would be overwhelming or if youwant to start with just a pair, that’s perfectly OK :) As long as they’re notkept alone, you should be good!

Males vsFemales

I’ve alwaysheard that males are a lot more laid back and relaxed than females. I’ve onlyhad 1 pair of male rats growing up, and they were older from what I canremember so that may have also played a part in their activity level. Youngfemale rats are super energetic for sure though! :D Adult males are also alarger than adult females, so if you want big fat ratties, go for males! If youwant energetic playful ratties, go for females! I should also mention, though,that not all ratties will conform to this gender stereotype, and this doesn’tmean that male rats aren’t playful or fun or that female rats won’t cuddle withyou! If you’re picking up ratties from a breeder, talk with them about whatpersonalities you’re looking for and I’m sure they can set you up with rattiesthat are a good fit for you! :)

I feel like it’s also important to address The Rat Fan Club and Debbie “The Rat Lady” Ducommun. She’s a heavily debated figure in the rat community and I have my own personal feelings about her, as do many others.The Rat Fan Club facebook group andwebsite are good sources for questions that might have hard-to-findanswers, however, I would not suggest these sources for *actually treating* medicalissues. Both the group and website are good resources and have aninsane amount of information on the nuances of rat care and ownership and recognizing certain illnesses.

However, Debbie “The Rat Lady” Ducommun is NOTA REGISTERED OR LISCENCED VETERINARIAN as far as I know (she has a degree in animal behavior and has worked as a vet tech, though)and is a proponent of at-home care and/or homeopathy and I do NOT agree with at-home surgeries of ANY kind unless they are performed by a veterinarian who has the proper and necessary equipment + environment to do so.

I’m not exactly sure if she’s pro-vet or pro-owner treatment, as she seems to feel like vets overcharge and can be a waste of money and details a TON of treatments for different illnesses and injuries on her webiste, but also provides a list of veterinarians and prefaces some of her pages with the suggestion that you should seek veterinary care if the situation warrants it. I would advise you to take her medical advice with a few grains of salt and consult a veterinarian as to whether a treatment can be given with otc meds or if a treatment needs to be performed by a licenced veterinarian!

There are some issues that can be fixed athome (i.e. if your rat is itching you might need to usehypoallergenic/non-colored/non-scented detergent to wash their fleece beddingor hammocks. However, your rat might be itching because s/he has mites and thatrequires medical treatment and you should consult a vet) but it’s never a bad idea to get your vet’sopinion! :)

Please, please, please consult a local veterinarian! You said thebreeder has a vet, so talk to the breeder about vets that they would recommendto you! :)

If anyone has anything else to add about rat ownership, rat care, enrichment suggestions, or anything else concerning ratties, please feel free to add on to this post! :)