#react table component

[learntechsolution]

Deploying a Node.js application to Heroku is a straightforward process. Heroku is a platform as a service (PaaS) that allows you to easily deploy, manage, and scale web applications. Here's a step-by-step guide to deploying a Node.js application to Heroku

[learn-techsolution]

Deploying a Node.js application to Heroku is a straightforward process. Heroku is a platform as a service (PaaS) that allows you to easily deploy, manage, and scale web applications. Here's a step-by-step guide to deploying a Node.js application to Heroku

[learntech-solution]

Deploying a Node.js application to Heroku is a straightforward process. Heroku is a platform as a service (PaaS) that allows you to easily deploy, manage, and scale web applications. Here's a step-by-step guide to deploying a Node.js application to Heroku

[learn-tech-solution]

Deploying a Node.js application to Heroku is a straightforward process. Heroku is a platform as a service (PaaS) that allows you to easily deploy, manage, and scale web applications. Here's a step-by-step guide to deploying a Node.js application to Heroku

[aspenmissing]

ᴡɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪɴɴᴇʀ

ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ (ꜰᴇᴀᴛ. ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ) || ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ/ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ || 4252 ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ || ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ, ᴍᴀᴋᴇᴏᴜᴛ

ʀᴇQᴜᴇꜱᴛ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀ: ᴍʏ ᴅᴇᴀʀ ʙᴀᴋᴀɪ! ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴡᴇʟʟ. ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴠᴇʀʏ ꜰᴜɴ ᴛᴏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ;). ɪ ᴅᴏ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ɪᴛ! <3

ᴘᴀʀᴛ 1

ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ

The tension in the lab had shifted.

Ever since that fateful encounter—when Viktor had managed to turn the tables on Y/N with a single whispered retort—everything had been different. It was as if the foundation of their dynamic had cracked, and something entirely new had begun to take shape in the aftermath. The once playful, teasing energy between them had changed, charged with an intensity neither of them fully understood nor could ignore.

Y/N, usually the confident and flirtatious one, now found herself at an unexpected disadvantage. She had spent so long wielding her humor like a weapon, teasing Viktor with bold remarks and innuendos that he always met with exasperation or feigned ignorance. But now, Viktor had played her own game against her, and he had played it well. Too well. It had left her stumbling over her words, cheeks heating every time he so much as looked at her with that newfound glint in his golden eyes.

It wasn’t just his words that got to her—it was the way he carried himself now. There was a quiet, unshaken confidence in him that had never been there before. He still had the same sharp wit, the same dry humor, but now it came with something more. Something deliberate. His words weren’t just calculated in the way a scientist chose his theories—they were chosen to make her react. To make her blush. And it was working.

Before, Viktor had always been reserved, keeping himself at a safe distance both physically and emotionally. But now? Now he was making her second-guess every interaction. He stood a little closer than before, speaking in a tone just low enough that she had to lean in to hear him. When their hands brushed, he didn’t pull away like he used to; if anything, Y/N could swear he sometimes did it on purpose. A fleeting touch at the edge of a blueprint, a shared moment passing tools between them, his fingers lingering just long enough to make her breath hitch.

She couldn’t even pretend she wasn’t affected. Her usual wit, her endless arsenal of teasing remarks, had abandoned her. How could she joke when she was too busy being hyper-aware of Viktor’s every move? The way his eyes flicked toward her when he thought she wasn’t looking. The slight smirk that tugged at the corners of his lips whenever he caught her staring. The way his voice dipped into something smoother, richer, when he addressed her directly.

And then there were the moments that left her absolutely wrecked. The way he would lean just a little too close over her shoulder, murmuring some correction to her calculations, his breath warm against her skin. The way he adjusted his glasses with one hand, only to glance at her from beneath his lashes, the smallest, most infuriatingly smug curve of his mouth betraying that he knew exactly what he was doing to her. The way he would hum in satisfaction whenever she got flustered—an acknowledgement, a quiet victory.

=

The worst part? He was enjoying this.

Viktor, who once feigned indifference to her teasing, who used to roll his eyes and mutter under his breath in exasperation, was now thriving in this new dynamic. He was proud of himself, of the effect he had on her, and it was clear he had no intention of stopping. He had always been brilliant, always been perceptive—but now, he was using that brilliance to dismantle her confidence piece by piece, the same way he would carefully deconstruct an unstable mechanism to study its components.

And Y/N? She had no idea how to handle it.

Which, of course, left poor Jayce stuck in the middle of the chaos, watching his two best friends spiral into whatever this was.

Jayce had always been aware of the tension between them, but it had always been manageable. It had always been fun. But now? Now it was something else entirely. He watched as Y/N, once the undisputed champion of flustering Viktor, now fumbled her words when he so much as raised an eyebrow at her. He saw the way Viktor had come alive with this newfound confidence, the way he was clearly reveling in turning the tables. And while Jayce prided himself on being an intelligent man, he had absolutely no idea how to handle whatever this was evolving into.

It was like watching a high-stakes game where neither party wanted to fold, and yet both were too deep in to walk away. And Jayce? He was the poor fool stuck sitting at the table, forced to bear witness to every ridiculous, tension-charged moment between them.

At first, it had been amusing. He had enjoyed seeing Y/N thrown off balance for once. But the more he watched, the more he realized that something real was happening here. Something beyond just their usual banter. And, as their friend, he couldn’t help but wonder how long they would keep up this charade before one of them finally cracked.

Jayce had the distinct feeling that when that moment came, he was either going to be the first to congratulate them—or the first to flee the lab to give them some privacy.

The Confrontation

“Okay, what the hell is going on between you and Viktor?”

Y/N jolted, nearly dropping the wrench in her hand as she spun around, wide-eyed, to face Jayce. He had caught her at a rare moment of solitude, away from the hum of the machinery and Viktor’s ever-watchful gaze. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, an eyebrow arched in suspicion, exuding all the energy of a best friend ready to drag a confession out of her by sheer force of will.

Y/N’s heart leaped into her throat. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said too quickly, avoiding his gaze as she busied herself with absolutely nothing on the worktable in front of her.

Jayce scoffed. “Oh, come on. Don’t even try that with me.” He leaned in, resting a forearm on the table, watching her with amused disbelief. “You’ve been acting weird ever since Viktor pulled that little move on you the other day. And Viktor? He’s walking around the lab like a damn king.” Jayce shook his head, chuckling. “I swear, I’ve never seen him look so—so pleased with himself.”

Y/N groaned, squeezing her eyes shut as she rubbed her temples. “I know, Jayce. I know.”

“You do?” Jayce huffed out a laugh. “Because it sure doesn’t seem like you do. You’ve been all…” He waved a hand vaguely in her direction. “Flustered. Quiet. You! Quiet! You, who makes me blush with half the shit you say. Meanwhile, Viktor’s just been walking around like he won some secret competition.”

Y/N let out a long sigh, slumping forward onto the table with her head resting against her arms. “Because he did win,” she muttered into the table.

Jayce blinked, then leaned closer. “Wait. What?”

Y/N lifted her head just enough to glare at him before sighing dramatically and sitting up. “He won, Jayce. I don’t know how it happened, but somehow, somehow, he turned it around on me. Me.” She gestured at herself. “I was supposed to be the one in control, the one making him flustered. And now, every time I look at him, I feel like my brain just—” She made a spluttering noise, miming an explosion near her temple. “I freeze. I have nothing. I just stand there like an idiot while he smirks at me.”

Jayce laughed, delighted. “Oh my god. Viktor broke you.”

Y/N groaned again, dropping her face into her hands.

Jayce smirked, clearly enjoying this way too much. “You? The queen of innuendos? Speechless?” He whistled lowly. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

She shot him a glare, her cheeks heating up. “You’re not helping.”

“Not helping?” Jayce snorted. “I’m thriving. This is the best thing that’s happened in weeks.”

Y/N exhaled sharply, trying to will away the blush threatening to consume her. “It’s not just that he flustered me,” she admitted, voice quieter now, more hesitant. She stared down at her hands, fingers twisting together in thought. “I think I… I actually like him, Jayce. More than just a friend.”

Jayce’s teasing expression softened.

There was something fragile about the way she said it, as if voicing it aloud made it too real, too terrifying.

Jayce blinked, then let out a slow exhale before grinning. “Well, duh.”

Y/N frowned. “Excuse me?”

He chuckled. “Took you long enough to figure that out.”

She threw her hands up. “Oh, for fuck’s sake—”

“No, no, listen,” Jayce cut in, still grinning but with a warmth behind it now. “It’s so obvious. I mean, come on, Y/N. You don’t just flirt with him. You lean in when he talks. You listen to him like he’s saying the most important thing in the world. And you’re actually interested in what he has to say—which, by the way, not a lot of people outside of our work even try to do.”

Y/N swallowed, the weight of his words sinking in.

Jayce tilted his head. “And him? Have you seen him lately? That man is thriving off of this. He’s like a cat who finally caught the laser pointer.”

Y/N groaned, dropping her face onto the table again. “I knew it. He is smug about it.”

“Oh, beyond smug,” Jayce confirmed. “But—” His tone softened again. “I don’t think it’s just a game to him, Y/N.”

She hesitated before peeking up at him. “How do you know?”

Jayce sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before leaning his hip against the table. “Because I’ve known him for years, and I’ve never seen him this confident around someone before. It’s you. You bring it out of him. And trust me—he’s not just playing. He’s testing the waters, yeah, but he’s serious. You should talk to him.”

Y/N let out a shaky breath. “What if I ruin things?”

Jayce shook his head. “You won’t.”

She bit her lip, clearly unconvinced.

Jayce exhaled, then rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Listen. You two are already there. You’re already different with each other. The tension’s not going away. And if you don’t talk to him, it’s just gonna keep building until one of you combusts.”

Y/N let out a weak laugh. “You mean me.”

Jayce grinned. “Definitely you.”

She huffed but nodded, taking a deep breath as if bracing herself for battle. “Okay. I’ll… I’ll try.”

Jayce beamed. “Good.” He straightened, clapping his hands together. “And lucky for you, I’m such a great friend, I’m gonna make this easy. No distractions, no interruptions. You two get the lab to yourselves tonight.”

Y/N’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

Jayce smirked. “Yup. I’m conveniently gonna have some urgent business elsewhere.”

“Jayce—”

“Too late, it’s happening.”

Y/N groaned again, burying her face in her hands.

Jayce laughed, nudging her lightly. “Relax. Just talk to him. Worst-case scenario? He doesn’t feel the same—”

She shot him a look.

“—which isn’t gonna happen,” Jayce corrected quickly. “And best case? Well…” He waggled his eyebrows. “You get to make out with a smug, confident Viktor.”

Y/N turned bright red.

Jayce grinned. “That’s what I thought.”

As she sat there, mentally preparing for the most nerve-wracking conversation of her life, Jayce gave her shoulder one last reassuring squeeze before stepping back.

“You got this,” he said simply.

And with that, he left her alone with her thoughts, the lab far too quiet, the weight of her emotions far too loud.

The Confession

The lab was unusually quiet that evening.

No buzzing of machinery, no clanking of tools, no murmured conversation between Jayce and Viktor over the hum of hextech energy. Just stillness, thick and charged, stretching between Y/N and Viktor like a coiled wire waiting to snap.

She sat at one of the workstations, idly fiddling with a stray component, turning it over in her hands without actually seeing it. The cool metal pressed against her fingers, grounding her, but her mind was too tangled with anticipation to focus.

Then, the familiar sound of a cane tapping against the lab floor. A slow, measured rhythm.

Y/N inhaled sharply, straightening just as Viktor entered.

He didn’t speak right away. He simply stood there for a moment, lingering in the doorway, golden eyes watching her. There was something calculated in his gaze, something knowing. He was observing, taking in every microexpression, every shift in posture, as if already deducing what this was about before she could say a single word.

And, as always, he looked frustratingly composed.

He leaned against his cane, tilting his head slightly as if waiting for her to speak first. But she didn’t. Because her throat had suddenly gone dry.

The air between them pulsed with something unspoken. It wasn’t just tension anymore—it was weight. A heavy, invisible tether that had been pulling them toward this moment for weeks, maybe even longer.

Y/N finally opened her mouth, right as Viktor did the same.

“I—”

“You—”

They both stopped. Blinking. And then, they chuckled softly. A brief reprieve from the pressure, a flicker of warmth that cracked the tension just a little.

Viktor was the first to recover. He let out a quiet breath, rolling his shoulders before stepping further into the room. His cane tapped lightly as he approached, his movements as fluid and deliberate as ever.

“I wanted to test the waters,” he admitted finally, his voice carrying that familiar lilt of wry amusement. But underneath it, there was something else. A quieter, more vulnerable edge. “To see what would happen if I… pushed back.”

His eyes flickered over her, searching. “And, well…” His lips curled slightly. “Seeing you flustered was quite the reward.”

Y/N groaned, dropping her head back as she covered her face with her hands. “I knew you were proud of yourself.”

Viktor made a soft sound, somewhere between a hum and a chuckle. “Very.”

She peeked at him through her fingers, and, sure enough, his expression was insufferable. Not smug, exactly, but undeniably pleased. There was a glint of quiet satisfaction in his gaze, the kind that came from solving an impossible equation or outmanoeuvring a particularly stubborn problem.

But this wasn’t just pride. It was something else. Something deeper.

Something dangerous.

Y/N exhaled, dragging her hands down her face as she forced herself to meet his gaze head-on. “I wasn’t expecting it,” she admitted. “I’ve always been the one in control when it came to this sort of thing.”

Viktor tilted his head slightly, studying her. “I noticed.”

She swallowed. “But… I realized something.” Viktor stilled.

His amusement didn’t vanish entirely, but the shift in her tone made his posture straighten just the slightest bit. She wasn’t teasing anymore. And he knew it. She forced herself to keep speaking, even as her pulse pounded in her ears.

“I don’t just enjoy teasing you, Viktor,” she said softly, her fingers gripping the edge of the worktable. “I actually want more than that.”

For the first time since this whole game had started, Viktor’s expression faltered.

Not by much.

A flicker of something—hesitation, uncertainty—crossed his face so quickly she almost missed it. His lips parted slightly, but no words came.

Y/N swallowed, pressing forward before she lost her nerve.

“More than just playful banter. More than just friendship.” She licked her lips, barely noticing the way his eyes tracked the motion. “I… I want you, Viktor.”

Silence. She wasn’t sure how long it stretched between them. But it felt like forever.

For the first time, Viktor looked truly stunned.

The Kiss

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t empty. It was charged. Heavy. Electric.

The air felt thick, weighed down by the gravity of the moment, by the want that had been simmering between them for far too long.

And then—without warning—Viktor moved.

His hand found her waist, the heat of his palm seeping through the fabric of her shirt, fingers pressing into her just enough to ground her—to claim her. A soft gasp escaped Y/N’s lips, her body going still for just a second as the realization hit.

He wasn’t hesitating. He wasn’t holding back anymore.

And then his grip tightened, tugging her forward, and before she could process it, his lips crashed onto hers.

It was not gentle.

It was desperate.

Viktor kissed her like a man starved, like he had been waiting too damn long for this exact moment and refused to waste another second. His lips moved against hers with an urgency that sent her pulse skyrocketing, the sheer intensity of it stealing the breath from her lungs.

Y/N barely had time to react before her body took over, melting into him with no resistance. Her hands shot up, fisting into the fabric of his shirt, gripping him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded.

And maybe he was.

Viktor let out a low, satisfied sound against her lips, something between a hum and a growl, and the vibration of it sent a shiver down her spine.

His other hand slid up, fingers trailing along her ribs before settling at her lower back, pulling her flush against him. The sheer heat of him was intoxicating. He was usually so distant, so controlled, but now? Now he was pressed against her like he couldn’t stand the thought of space between them.

His cane clattered to the floor, forgotten entirely as he nudged her back toward the nearest worktable. The cold metal edge bit into the backs of her thighs, but she barely registered it, too lost in the feeling of him.

Y/N moaned softly against his mouth, unable to hold back the sound, and Viktor felt it—his breath stuttered slightly, his fingers digging into her waist with renewed intensity.

Oh.

Oh, he liked that.

The realization sent a surge of boldness through her.

She tilted her head, parting her lips just enough to let her teeth graze against his lower lip, teasing. The reaction was immediate. Viktor exhaled sharply, his grip tightening before he pulled her even closer, as if she wasn’t already pressed against him as much as physically possible.

And then, just to torment him, Y/N let her nails rake lightly down his back.

Viktor growled.

Not a groan, not a hum—a genuine, low, possessive sound rumbling from deep within his chest. A sharp thrill shot through her, her knees suddenly feeling weak.

And Viktor—clever, perceptive Viktor—noticed.

His lips barely left hers, only pulling away just enough for his breath to ghost against her mouth. She felt the faintest smirk tug at his lips before he whispered, voice thick with satisfaction, “Careful, miláčku.” (Darling)

Y/N barely had time to process the teasing edge in his tone before his mouth was back on hers, harder this time, hungrier. His hand slid up her spine, fingers curling at the nape of her neck, tilting her head just the way he wanted.

The control, the boldness of it made her burn.

This wasn’t the Viktor she had teased for months, the one who sighed at her playful remarks and rolled his eyes at her innuendos.

This was a Viktor who knew exactly what he was doing. A Viktor who had figured out exactly what unravelle her. And he was using it against her.

Y/N gasped against his lips, her whole body thrumming with a dangerous mix of frustration and arousal. She was supposed to be the one making him flustered, the one in control—but Viktor had flipped the script and was thriving in his newfound power over her.

And damn it, she loved it.

Viktor pulled back just enough to look at her, his golden eyes dark and intense. His breathing was heavy, his lips slightly swollen from kissing her like his life depended on it.

Y/N could barely focus, her own breaths ragged, her pulse thundering in her ears. And yet, despite the fire burning between them, Viktor’s smirk remained.

He was enjoying this.

He was proud of himself.

Y/N narrowed her eyes, her lips curling slightly in challenge. “Smug bastard.”

Viktor chuckled, his fingers tracing lazy patterns along the back of her neck. “You started this,” he murmured.

Y/N swallowed hard, her resolve slipping as his thumb brushed

against her skin, gentle but calculated. Teasing.

Damn him. Damn him and his sudden confidence. She refused to be the only one falling apart. So she did the only thing she could think of.

She grabbed the front of his shirt, yanked him forward, and crashed her lips back against his.

This time, she took control.

Viktor made a surprised sound against her lips, but he recovered fast, meeting her intensity with equal force. Their bodies pressed closer, their hands desperate, wandering, searching.

She didn’t know how long they stayed like that, lost in each other, lost in the heat of the moment. Minutes? Hours? It didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered except the way Viktor was kissing her like he needed her, the way his hands gripped her like she was something precious.

Jayce’s Horror

Jayce had been feeling particularly smug that evening.

He had done good work. No interruptions, no distractions, just a little push to get Y/N and Viktor alone together in the lab. A genius plan, if he said so himself. A little matchmaking between friends. And now, like the responsible, caring best friend that he was, he was returning to check in—just to see how things had gone.

Maybe Y/N got the courage to say something, he thought. Maybe Viktor finally dropped the whole “calculated patience” thing and admitted he was into her.

The thought alone made Jayce grin. He could already hear Y/N’s groan of embarrassment and Viktor’s exasperated sigh when he inevitably teased them about it. This was going to be great.

Still smirking, he reached the lab door, pushed it open—

And promptly walked directly into his worst nightmare.

Oh. Oh no.

His brain barely had time to process what he was seeing.

Viktor had Y/N practically pinned against the worktable, his hands gripping her waist like he never planned to let go. Y/N, definitely not minding it, had her fingers tangled in his hair, tilting his head just enough to deepen what was, without a doubt, one of the most indecent kisses Jayce had ever witnessed in real time.

This wasn’t some innocent, hesitant first kiss.

No.

This was full-blown, hands-wandering, breathless, pent-up tension finally breaking kind of making out. And they were thoroughly lost in it.

Jayce felt his soul leave his body. His jaw dropped. His brain short-circuited. His entire worldview tilted off its axis.

Y/N moaned into the kiss, her body arching into Viktor’s, and—

Nope.

Absolutely not. Jayce had seen enough. His survival instincts kicked in at the last possible second.

He made a slow, pained retreat, backing out of the lab as quietly as possible, because if either of them realized he was there, he might actually die.

He reached for the door handle with painstaking precision, moving inch by inch, praying to every divine entity in Runeterra that the door wouldn’t make a sound.

The moment it clicked shut behind him, Jayce let out a breath he didn’t even realize he was holding.

Then he just stood there.

Staring at the opposite wall.

Unmoving.

Expression blank.

Brain: completely fried.

There was no coming back from this. Nothing could unsee what he just saw. His best friends. His coworkers. His lab partners. Absolutely devouring each other like a pair of starved animals.

His entire understanding of reality had just been rewritten.

After a long, suffering pause, he slowly dragged his hands down his face. Then, pinching the bridge of his nose, he muttered to himself in utter resignation—

“Well.” A deep sigh. “That’s a thing now.” A pause. A long pause. Then, even quieter, “…Good for them.”

He meant it. He really did. But holy shit was he going to need at least a week to recover from this.

How the hell was he supposed to walk back into the lab tomorrow and look them in the eye?

How the hell was he supposed to work alongside Viktor when all he could think about now was the fact that the man could, apparently, make a woman melt into a worktable with a single kiss?

How was he supposed to deal with Y/N, the walking disaster who had somehow turned into the flustered one, only for Viktor to turn into a smug, confident menace?

Jayce sighed, rubbing his temples. He wasn’t built for this kind of emotional whiplash. And yet… a small smirk pulled at the corner of his lips.

Damn. He really did win this bet with himself. He had been right all along.

It had never just been harmless flirting.

They were gone for each other. And now, finally, neither of them could deny it.

Jayce shook his head, shoving his hands into his pockets as he turned to walk away.

He was never going to be able to look at either of them the same way again.

But, as much as he hated the fact that he had to witness it happen firsthand…

He was proud of them.

Now, if only he could find a way to erase the mental image from his brain. Maybe he should take a long vacation. Far away.

Somewhere very, very far away.

[neonovember]

Okay hear me out, how would carmen react to someone he's dating being a "picky eater" that has a VERY limited diet due to sensory issues👀

This is totally not self-indulgent /s

Eeeee

carmen berzatto x reader

enjoy some bear fam ribbing and carmen carmen carmen

honestly I think he’d be interested if anything! His mind is constantly on overdrive thinking of recipes and foods and the combinations of flavours, and how to change this and tweak that. He could run on fumes, just a jar of tums and his notebook and spend the night brainstorming dishes. We’ve all seen it, it might be a way for him to distract from the hellish that is his social life outside the Bear, by bringing it home too. So when he meets his girl, who’s got a palate that is entirely different to anything he’s seen before he takes it as almost a challenge to push himself to produce something amazing, creative and yours.

You’re his girl, he has this carnal need to take care of you, and can you imagine if you were nervous or worried about what he might think??? No he’d run his thumb along your thigh, while you're on either side of him wrapped in the covers that were warm from the morning sun and just raise his eyebrows and snicker in that way he does. And it hit him that your exes were dipshits and never listened to you and he’d gather you in his arms and murmur how you could watch him cook for you every day if you wanted to.

And he held true to that, he’d sit you down on the counter after hours in the Bear later that night. You’d sneak in, when you’re craving for something that the places around you can’t offer and Carmen is just fucking itching to serve you food and show off his fucking Michelin talent.

It would be a ritual, you watching and him making. He’d serve it to you all pretty and clean, leaving his serving to be eaten from the pan. And he watches every expression on your face, every quirk and flick of your eyebrow and he’d know, god he’d know what you were thinking in that moment. If you liked it or not, if it triggered one of your senses into overdrive and had you trying to hide the way your teeth scraping against a certain component left you shivering in disgust.

He’d know and he’d rush to give you water and make you spit it out despite your protests. And you shake your head in anger at the things you can’t control and Carmen will sit with you on the floor of the Bear and he’d smile in that way he does, as he’d ask about every part and force it out of you until he’d be changing the meal entirely. 

Showing you the things you can control which was making your boyfriend who cooked for a living, cook.

He’d be protective over you I feel like, after you tell him bad experiences that had ruined your relationship with food. Making sure no one gave you shit about it, always on guard, eyes in slits and voice gravelly when waiters double check your order or look anywhere but their fucking notepad.

The team is a whole other situation… I imagine it to be a whole team involved in a sit down investigation, an entire intervention by them because they are just so confused and scared (which is actually hilarious) that you were barred from eating certain foods or something.

-- -

“Okay, okay, how about pasta alla vodka” Tina muses, a grin pulling at her jaw as she leans back against the cheap plastic chairs that were reserved for the house.

“Nop, don’t like those bits of tomato they leave in the sauce” You shrug, chewing on your straw as you watch the way the rest of the team rears back in dismay.

Tina’s face drops, stubbornly pulling out a dollar bill and slapping it into Richie's grinning face.

“I thought I had it dammit” Tina groans, muttering about losing to a fake Italian divorcee who skimped her out of a chocolate bar.

You're all scattered in the back of the Bear, popcorn and peanuts are littered amongst half emptied bottles of beers on the large metal table that spans across the room. The Bear had been closed today, some sort of team building attempt at brainstorming new ideas for the menu and the Bear itself. 

Much to the annoyance of the rest of the crew, who had to make the commute in a freezing Chicago winter on a day that was supposed to be a break, somewhere along the fights that erupted at every suggestion and the stubbornness that remained in each of the team it did feel a little like family bonding.

At least it felt like it now, as they all collectively came together to study you.

That's where you found yourself, being pulled into the never calm-always-catastrophic environment of the Bear thanks to Carmen. You had protested at first, thinking you would be out of place in the sea of decorated chefs but as your phone dinged with messages from Syd and Richie, the latter earring on a very thinly veiled threat to ‘be there or i'll come and get you’ you found yourself throwing on a too thin jacket and knocking against on the Bear’s ‘closed’ sign after your shift.

You were greeted with the warmth of the Bear, breathing it in deeply before you realised that the smoky heat of the restaurant was as much fueled by the temperamental crew screaming out obscenities in the back as much as the radiator Fak had somehow fixed for the 15th time.

You didn't quite understand how you got here, you in the middle, and the team surrounding you firing out questions about your less than conventional palate. 

Carmen's disgruntled protest against the team channeling some sort of crud rip off of True Detective did little as the team went around listing dishes from escargot to cheese on bread to get your opinion. 

It was downright ironic, you know this. You are someone who couldn't stand the texture and smell of certain foods to the point of having them struck from your diet with a man whose entire life was surrounded by, and birthed from the complexities of texture and taste.

“It’s one of the stables of Italy!’ Richie barks, stuffing the dollar bill into his pocket hile shaking his head. 

The beer he had opened had gone cold in his hand since the beginning of the conversation. He couldn't stop his mouth from remaining hung open after every shake of your head and shrug of your shoulders towards the meals they loved.

You wondered if chefs have the same value systems as other..tightly knit organisations. One where disrespect leads to your swift removal…off the face of the earth. You don’t let yourself forget that they are skilled in the goddamn wielding of knives no matter their friendly chiding, you might be one shake of your head away from being prepared in all the ways you hate your food to be.

Carmen looked at you, his eyes straining across your body to check if you felt uncomfortable. He knew your tells almost as well as you know, and he'd be quick to shut it down and take you back home if need be. But as your eyes meet his, and the squint of a smile reaches them he shakes his head, mouths a “goddamn idiots”, and rolls his eyes at his families curiosity.

“Listen, I get that, I don't like bits of bone in my meat. But surely, for a dish that you know I know you know tastes like the fucking gates of heaven, you can make an exception” Syd blinks, her face filled with expectation, like she thought it was obvious.

You’re giggling at Sydney words, “Is this reassurance for me or for you”

“Me. It’s for me” Syd gulps, blinking as she registers the truth

“I just can’t eat food, no matter how good you guys tell me it is, that fucks up my sensory issues-”

“Alright, yeah, sensory issues, darling I bet if i could bring you to ONE dinner, one of our dinners at Carmen's Ma's we could easily persuade you-”

“Jesus fucking Christ-”

“No, no look Carmen. This is your woman ain't she? How can you let her walk around without letting her taste the delicate crossroads that produce Chicago- Italian cuisine? I mean you're seriously failing-”

“Fuck you”

“Goddamn fake”

The irony of it all was, you and Carmen had both met at a farmers market. Surrounded by food you wouldn't eat, at a place you didn't frequent, all for one particular food you did eat. And somehow, despite passing by 95% of vendors without even a swipe of your eye against their delicate colors and shapes, Carmen had bumped into you.

And he had apologies and you had crouched down to collect the runaway potatoes and fruits that tried to escape through his pouch, and your fingers had collided when you looked up to see the man who had interrupted your 15 minute venture.

Through the blurted out line of apologies, Carmen had stopped and looked at you and tried to reopen his hanging mouth. And you sat there half amused and half worried he was having a stroke.

“I know this is forward and you can tell me to go to hell, but could I take you out sometime?”

You had caught the last of the disobedient root vegetables when you raised your eyebrows in surprise, and let yourself be shocked again as you said yes.

Carmen had nodded and smiled when you told him you weren't exactly experimental with your diet, wanting to get it out of the way when you found out he was a chef and your sensory issues had been a problem for people who didn't make food for a living.

You expected the same ritual, the same dance of having to explain your diet to people and wait for them to actually understand that your pickiness wasn't just the usual ‘dislike’, but a very real thing that impacted how you eat everyday. You had no choice in it, that's what you told them every time and they had rolled their eyes and thrown your words in your face as they compared you to a petulant child that didn't want to eat their vegetables. You sighed and they did too, as they watched you flip every menu to the page for children and you cringed as the waiter looked around for your child and realised it was you.

Carmen was different though, of course he was. He didn't let his surprise go hidden, as he asked about every food you disliked and everyone you did. Noone before asked, they simply resolved to assume your diet was constricted in the small section of the kids meal. But Carmen asked, he did all night when you had brought it up after he asked to cook for you. Sitting on your couch, talking about you, and your diet, and your sensory issues for hours until he knew everything about them.

Until he simply nodded, and wrote something in his notebook and asked if you were still free on Thursday.

Of course the family was teasing, and of course they’d all tweak any dishes you were craving so that they weren't overloading your senses in any way. You’ve got a reserved seat at the Bear, and all your favourite dishes on standby if you ever wanted to come in to find something that didn't set you off and leave you anxious and sensitive.

It gets to an alarming rate of you coming in nearly every other day, in which Richie, Carm Syd and every other person in the Bear constructed some under the table deals with dea by restaurants to accommodate your sensitivities. They all like to feign ignorance when you walk in the next day all smiles, showing off your little takeaway box from the Portuguese spot you had so desperately to try before the stark textures and flavours of the menu you perused dashed the thought away.

Carmen hated seeing that excitement turn into defeated acknowledgement of the barriers you had around food. But also, in the same breath, Carmen knows how certain textures and tastes can trigger you into getting over-stimulated, leading to becoming frazzled and irritated. Which is exactly why he would never let you push yourself too far, supporting you if you ever wanted to try it out but immediately taking the dish away from you when he realised your heart was racing too quick and you were getting stiff..

“Baby, easy. Need you to go slow, yeah?”

“Alright, that’s enough. You did good sweetheart, I’m proud of you. Lemme make you something for tonight though yeah? Something you like?”

The truth was there were going to be some days where both Carmen's creativity, and your sensory issues outdo him. You were okay with that though, you were still catching up to reality that someone loved you enough to fit their life around yours.

And then Carmen copied your meals for a week when you told him this, until the Bear was relying on his memory of taste and you finally agreed that yes, there was no fitting needed.

[talonabraxas]

"Purusha alone is the Seer or Drashta. The Gunas and their modifications are the Drishyam or the seen." ~Swami Sivananda Drashta - The Seer Talon Abraxas The Active Drashta

The difference between the active drashta and the passive drashta is a simple idea. When you are not doing any physical activity and sitting with your eyes closed, then the only thing you can be aware of at that moment is what is happening on your mental screen, and you can observe the colours, the shapes, the forms, the figures, the thoughts, the feelings, the sentiments, the emotions – whatever emerges without any physical, sensorial, intellectual, emotional input, you are simply observing it. You are only doing this for about ten to fifteen minutes. When the practice is over you are out of that state. That is the passive drashta: I simply observe. The active drashta is extension of the awareness in all directions.

Once there was a program in a yoga centre. Pots and pans and spoons were being laid out. People who were working in the kitchen were well experienced and were doing a good job. Suddenly in walks Sri Swamiji. As he is walking, he is seeing everything that is happening there. While walking as he is coming to the row of pots, he simply bends down, picks up a spoon and changes the position, for one spoon was jutting out and could hurt someone's leg. He simply turned the position of the spoon so it was out of the way, pointing to the other side. Nobody had noticed what he had done. It was not in the awareness of people, they were more concerned with what they had to do, not in the placement of things which could become a barrier, an obstacle or hurt another person. In his normal way of walking, he saw and he simply turned the spoon away.

Some people were watching his action. Those who were watching could understand why he had done it, but others did not even notice. In that state of Sri Swamiji when he is walking and active, he is also a drashta at that time, asking: What is the right way to keep this? What is the right way to do that? His mind had extended in all directions. One simple, little act indicated the level of awareness. That is an active drashta, when one is engaged in the world.

The same concept of witnessing has to come into our day-to-day activity also. We don't have to see what is happening around us to fix it and think, 'Now I am becoming an active drashta because I am putting this and that in order.' No. The active drashta has to become part of our nature, as most of the time we react. The drashta feeling has to come in the normal state of mind, in the normal state of wakefulness. Even when I am walking, I know I am walking; not only I know I am walking, but also how I am walking, where I am walking and what are the difficulties or ease that I feel in my walk. I am aware of the ground on which I am walking, the sensation, hardness, softness, the heat, the cold, the whole experience involved in walking becomes visible. You are like the AI, artificial intelligence, for the normal intelligence doesn't work. Normal intelligence doesn't work, so you have to become an artificial intelligence, AI, so that you are more attentive to what you are receiving and what you are giving out. In the normal state of 'I', we are not attentive to what we receive or how we respond, however that awareness has to percolate down into normal activity.

You can try every day by saying, 'Today I will become the drashta of my actions for ten minutes.' Start with that. From the morning you wake up, until you go to the bathroom and come out ready for breakfast, you remain a drashta of your activities, your mind, your performance and action. The next week increase the drashta to the time at the breakfast table, from morning until breakfast time. The third week increase the drashta component until you sit in the car to go to your office or work, extend ten minutes more. The rest of the day you don't have to be a drashta. If you gradually increase every week ten to fifteen minutes in your morning time, then let that time become a personal observational meditation: 'I am observing myself while I am doing the normal activities, talking, cooking, cleaning, dressing, everything that I do. I am doing that without any break, but I am also maintaining the same awareness which I maintain in meditation to become the drashta.' Once this awareness dawns, the extension will happen outwards. That is the active drashta. ~Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

[linisiane]

The Self-Aware Player of Harry Du Bois

It's fascinating to me to think about how satire is used as the 'touch grass' or 'be fucking for real' genre. Oftentimes it's making fun of tropes/conventions by humorously contrasting them with reality, which is exactly what Disco Elysium is doing with the RPG!

It goes hand in hand with the idea of RPGs as escapist power fantasy. RPGs are often thought of as the ultimate self-insert fantasy by its detractors or worst players, ahem looking at all those DND horror stories about entitled mangsty murderhobos.

One of the most infamous criticisms of Disco Elysium is its lackluster combat.

ID A screenshot of a random forum discussion post by dungeon master Zed Duke of Banville. It reads: "Disco Elysium has neither combat nor exploration, and therefore is missing two of the three fundamental components (or sets of components) that define the RPG genre." End ID

The game has essentially bordered off your ability to make Harry into a power fantasy murderhobo because you just are physically unable to equip an longsword or cuisse to murder your average citizen on the street of Martinaise.

But even on a less mangsty level, it subverts a lot of the basic expectations of RPGs.

Like the encounter with the racist lorry driver! You never get the ability or quest to change his mind, you only choose how you react to him.

Where other RPGs might let you act as the white savior or the white knight of chivalric romance, no questions asked, you're changing the minds of everybody who's wrong so we can all get along, Disco Elysium really makes you confront your ability to whiteknight, makes you confront if whiteknighting is even helpful, and why you wanted to whiteknight in the first place.

It’s part of the fun/humor experience of Disco Elysium that you at first expect to solve the world’s problems with a couple quests and lines of ‘good’ dialogue and then get socked in the faced with the fact that yeah, you can’t do much, you’re one person, what did you expect, asshole? Cuno doesn't fucking care!

By subverting our RPG expectations, it forces us to become more aware that these expectations even exist and how they fall short of reality. Yet, despite this subversion, the world of Disco Elysium feels so much realer to us.

ID a screenshot of Disco Elysium dialogue YOU - "Don't call it a dump, you've made it nice and cosy here." NOVELTY DICEMAKER - "Yeah." She stares out of the window, not really hearing your words. "Or maybe it's the entire world that's cursed? It's such a precarious place. Nothing ever works out the way you wanted." "That's why people like role-playing games. You can be whoever you want to be. You can try again. Still, there's something inherently violent even about dice rolls." "It's like every time you cast a die, something disappears. Some alternative ending, or an entirely different world...." She picks up a pair of dice from the table and examines them under the light. End ID

Like, Neha is highlighting this little meta element of how you can stack your Harry in any RPG to pursue a certain ending or situation, but the actual outcome is still influenced by a dice roll out of your control.

A lot of the satirical humor in Disco Elysium comes from the absurdity that you can do everything right or everything wrong, and the dice can still fuck it up or save it for you—not just for things like high-fantasy attacks, but mundane things like remembering your name.

The dice are, at their core, about how RPGs aren't just for the control fantasy, of winning high-fantasy battles, but also can represent life as it is, mundane and uncontrollable.

Similarly, Harry is clearly written—complete with all the 'lore' that this would entail—to couch his RPG protagonist nature in the real.

If RPG characters are blank slates? Let's give ours amnesia! Need fast travel?! Kim teases the 41st Precinct for constantly running everywhere by calling it the Jamrock Shuffle. He needs to have deep and intimate conversations with everyone, even when they're strangers? Yeah, that's so weird we gave him the name 'Human Can-Opener,' and everybody remarks on his uncanny manipulation skills.

It's commenting on difference between controlling an RPG avatar and navigating in a human body.

As Kurvits said: “In reality we do not have control, or complete control, of our minds. Just like our body, it is something that we give-not even commands wishes to, and we hope it's gonna do it. We hope it's not gonna break down, we hope it's not gonna rebel against us.”

In one type of RPG fantasy, we don't even question our total control and even assume the joy is from the control.

But in Disco Elysium, we lack control and find joy in it anyway. That is the fun of the game making us, the players, 'self-aware' about its RPG elements, and it especially resonates with anybody not able-bodied, anybody neurodivergent.

[paused-waterfall]

Hot take: We shouldn't expect the admin-driven lore on QSMP to make sense.

Let me explain. First off, here's what I'm not saying: That no one should want it to make sense, or try to make sense of it. Those are both very normal things to do. But I think we'll all enjoy ourselves more if we let go of the assumption that the pieces of lore we're given will/must come together to form a comprehensible whole. Cause that's just not a result that this medium is good for.

Loosely admin'd player-driven improv is a medium that has proven amazing in a lot of ways, but it's a terrible system for creating internally consistent lore. In D&D, the DM listens to damn near every word the players say at the table, and can interrupt them at any time to give word-of-god rulings on anything that disagrees with the worldbuilding in their head. QSMP doesn't have that. The players spend significant stretches of time unsupervised, interpreting and interacting with the world in creative ways that could, at any point, contradict the admins' plans. If players were under constant pressure to detect grey areas of the lore and avoid interacting with them without consulting others, it would greatly hamper their creative options and break the flow of livestreams. (This was apparently a significant issue later on in the DSMP, and is probably a component of why the Hermitcraft world and lore regularly reset)

Even when an admin is around to give immediate feedback, they can't directly talk, nor can they be considered an entirely trustworthy source. The only fandom-accessible Word of God for the QSMP is Twitter-- a source that plenty of the fandom and at least one of the CC's never sees.

So, without any means for the admins to enforce a consistent world, what does that leave us with? Well, it leaves us with dozens of worlds! Every player has an interpretation of the lore in their head, plans for their own character, and interpretations of the rest of the characters. And in this whole cacophony, the admins have a choice: Should they make the admin-driven lore just one more world, running alongside the players' worlds and sometimes complementing them, but sometimes clashing with them? Or should admin lore be focussed on bouncing ideas off of the players, giving them juicy prompts and reacting to what the players want, without adhering to any strict plan?

I think the admins chose option 2. The admin lore drops do not look to me like hints at a big, pre-planned mystery. They look like creative writing prompts tailor-made for the players. And I hope the fandom doesn't feel let down when they don't all converge on a big reveal.

[paeliae-occasionally]

Strands and Simple components

Thank you @satohqbanana for asking about this!

Ok so it has come to my attention that I have a lot of strand and simple components lore that I have not fully explained so let’s get on that.

Alright so firstly:

In my world magic acts essentially like a different form of matter. It has no physical mass but can be measured and quantised like a particle. Creatures with a soul can interact with this matter, creatures without a soul cannot.

So what are strands and simple components?

Ok, so imagine the air around you. It is everywhere but if you zoom in close enough, you can see it is made up of compounds like N2 and H2O

Strands are like compounds.

A bunch of magic atoms with bonds between them form larger molecule called a strand.

In the same way, simple components are like elements. They bond together to make strands, and you can imagine the table in the magic systems post here like the periodic table of elements.

You can also think about it like a strand of DNA and the simple components are like bases.

————The types and mechanics of bonds are still under development. ————

So to recap, Magic is everywhere but at a base level it is made up of strands (compounds) and simple components (Elements) .

Refined and Unrefined spells:

So Unrefined spells cast full, naturally occurring strands (Druids)

Refined spells perform a ‘Reaction’ first to break off either a portion of a strand (Mages) or an individual simple component. (Runics)

Ok, so going deeper into the lore:

What makes an ability require less or more power?

This is actually a really interesting one.

It depends on 3 factors:

weight of the components

stability of the components

The strength of the bonds

Weight

Ok so when I say weight in reference to magic, I don’t mean physical as they have no mass, it just means how that component reacts to magical fields.

So in the ‘periodic table’ weight increases down the group and across the period. Particles that have a higher weight are more likely to exist in shorter strands or alone. It is easier to break bonds between heavier components to remove them from their strands.

It is however harder to cast heavier elements as they are harder to manipulate with your soul.

Stability

This means how likely a component is to decay. Stability decreases with weight, so the heavier a component is the more likely it is to decay.

Heavier components are usually more powerful because they release energy when they break down which can add power to the spell.

Less stable components are much harder to cast as you need a lot more control so they don’t decay when you interact with them.

The strength of the bonds

Typically lighter components form stronger bonds. Bond strength only matters for the types of casters who break bonds. (Mages and Runics)

Again the details of bonding are still under development so I will leave it here for now.

Mages usually only break 1 or 2 bonds to get a specific section of a strand. They don’t have enough power to break every bond in the whole strand.

Runics use runes as a sort of catalyst so they can break every bond by an alternate route that requires less energy.

Hope this answers the question. Let me know if anything doesn’t make sense.

@thelovelymachinery, @an-indecisive-nerd, @the-letterbox-archives, @oliolioxenfreewrites, @winvyre

@happypup-kitcat24, @wyked-ao3, @leahnardo-da-veggie, @alnaperera, @dearunreliablenarrator

@rumeysawrites, @urnumber1star, @seastarblue, @thecomfywriter

[learntechsolution]

Implementing a date picker in a React app can be done using various libraries, and one popular choice is react-datepicker. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to implement a date picker using this library

[learn-techsolution]

Implementing a date picker in a React app can be done using various libraries, and one popular choice is react-datepicker. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to implement a date picker using this library

[learntech-solution]

Implementing a date picker in a React app can be done using various libraries, and one popular choice is react-datepicker. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to implement a date picker using this library

[learn-tech-solution]

Implementing a date picker in a React app can be done using various libraries, and one popular choice is react-datepicker. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to implement a date picker using this library

[butterflytarot]

CRYSTAL WORK: An Extensive Beginner's Guide & AMA

Hey, there, beginners!

I've made a few posts like this but they were all brief guides. But a few months ago, I made an extensive presentation on crystal work for beginners, and I thought I'd adapt it into a post here to share some knowledge & experiences of mine. As per my usual disclaimer, these are simply my beliefs and my knowledge based on experience, research, cultural teachings, etc. You do not have to believe what I believe, but I hope some of this helps some of you somehow! Additionally, please note that this post doesn't have all information or all clarifications, but I tried my best to include a lot for you!

AMA

Though I'm sharing extensive information, I'm counting this as an AMA (Ask Me Anything) so feel free to comment! I am no expert, but crystal work is what my mentor started me with on my witchcraft journey, so I'd like to post about it and answer any questions!

Introduction

Here's a short table of contents of what I plan on going over...

꩜┊Scientific Findings ꩜┊Go-to crystals ꩜┊Crucial information ꩜┊Avoiding dangers ꩜┊Moving forward

Scientific Findings

Firstly, I wanted to talk about the scientific aspect of crystals. Now, many cultures have varying approaches to science that corroborate the workings of crystals. However, a lot of people value western science (which I completely understand, because I do too) and want to see things discovered in the western world as well.

Now, there are some resources about learning how crystals actually work - often times, it has to do with general energy work, but also interacting with our nervous system, electricity within our body, etc!

So, I want to share this excerpt from this resource that I found. You can learn more about the resource here.

From "Crystal Medicine" by Marguerite Elsbeth

Think of crystals like batteries. They charge up certain energies on frequencies that our bodies can understand & translate. The components of crystals, in a way, interact with the components of our bodies and nervous system, in a way that affects us, based on how the crystal acts and reacts.

In similar ways, crystals react to our environments, including plants and animals.

In many ways, this is why we feel "connected" to certain crystals. Within this connection, we may find that certain crystals were developed under similar circumstances as our bodies - such as geographical locations, like an island, the Great Plains, or a desert. Biologically, coming into touch (and being raised around) certain aspects of our environment, help us develop a deeper connection to these same aspects of our environment, including plants, animals, culture, and yes, crystals and stones (at an advanced level, this is a form of symbiotic relationships).

I wanted to also share an excerpt from this resource, which you can read below.

"Plant Ecology" by Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N.

This is an example of how some crystals and stones, like quartz, can impact the life, growth, and success of plants.

This is to show you that the impact crystals have on all of nature - including us - is very physical, and in many ways, the spiritual properties of crystals can be debated with the help of scientific evidence.

Go-To Crystals

The following crystals are crystals I recommend for beginners, with their properties or traits listed. Now to specify, anyone of any advancement can work with these crystals, these are just crystals that are easy for beginners to start with on average. Please note that there are other beginner-friendly crystals, but if I went over every single one, we'd be here much, much longer haha.

Smoky Quartz Also referred to as Morion (German, Danish, Spanish and Polish synonym)

Concentration.

Protection from negative, neutral, and positive energies, leaving you with your own energy. In this way, also very grounding and, depending on the person / how it affects you, can aid in making logical choices or enhancing awareness.

Masks your fear from spirits that mean you harm.

Labradorite and Rainbow Moonstone (aka “White Labradorite,” & also often shortened to “Moonstone” - but please note that Moonstone is also the name of another crystal)

Labradorite: Protection from negative and neutral energies (allows positive energies to reach you)

Rainbow Moonstone: Does the same thing for you, just at a higher frequency (i.e. "more efficient")

Clear Quartz The “Mother of Crystals” or “Mother of Protection Crystals” as well as “The Master Healer”

Protection (general)

Amplifier - intensifies the effects of other crystals around it (makes them work more efficiently / at higher frequencies)

Healing (general), harmonizes & balances

*When something is generally protective, it can mean one of two things depending on your intentions. 1) you conduct the energy of the crystal, meaning you use it to protect yourself from specific things, like negative energy, that you don't want. 2) If you don't utilize it conductively, then it (often) protects against everything, mostly harmful things but not explicitly.

Amethyst AKA Rose of France (if pale lilac in color)

Amplifier - intensifies the effects of other crystals around it (makes them work more efficiently / at higher frequencies)

Healing (general)

Tiger's Eye AKA Pseudocrocidolite

Wealth (attracting wealth, recognizing wealth)

Grounding

Protection (general)

Obsidian A volcanic glass

The most protective crystal in the world (general), possibly on the same level as black tourmaline but works a bit differently (learn more below when I talk about black tourmaline)

Defense-based protection (an attack or threat in order to defend; often used in sacred rituals)

Aids in (intense & advanced) shadow work

Fun fact: In technicality, obsidian is a stone, not a crystal. It is a natural glass that was originally molten magma, often associated with volcanoes because of this.

IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT SLEEP WITH OBSIDIAN! This is because the intense shadow work can happen in your dreams for lack of more articulate wording, and you can have very real reactions to the shadow work. It is a level of shadow work you need to prepare & work up towards. You can have very dangerous side affects, such as lack of restful sleep or even as severe as a heart attack. My best friend slept with obsidian for about 1-3 weeks, and had extreme health issues for just over a year because of this, so I try to tell everyone working with obsidian to not sleep with it!

Black Tourmaline AKA Schorl

Considered second to, or equal to, Obsidian in terms of protection (general)

Main difference from obsidian: this crystal is strictly defense-based protection, not offense-based defensive protection (like obsidian) - so for example, it isn't usually used in attacks or similar rituals, it's more so a very strong shield

Fun fact: Black tourmaline makes up about 95% of all tourmalines.

Rose Quartz “The Love Crystal" or "the crystal of love"

Self-love

Unconditional love

IMPORTANT NOTE: Rose quartz is great for beginners, but use it wisely. Remember, unconditional love can be dangerous if it's for the wrong person/thing. For example, if you're in an abusive relationship, unconditional love will put you directly in harm's way. Additionally, depending on how you utilize rose quartz and what you pair it with, too much self-love can turn into self-obsession or arrogance. This is a popular crystal, but be mindful when utilizing it!

Shungite AKA carbon black, or shungite natural black

Healing

Gives you, emphasizes, and cultivates inner strength

Stress reduction

Fun fact: Shungite is one of the most healing crystals out there. Because of this, it's semi-protective, but I wouldn't consider protection to be one of its properties. This crystal is so healing that cancer patients even wear it & see benefits from it.

Opalite AKA “Moonstone” (but this is inaccurate!)

Clears energy blockages (emotional, etc)

Calming & supports emotional balance

Aids in communication

Supports self-expression, intuition, & spiritual growth

Symbolizes light, healing & new beginnings

Fun fact: This is the ONLY man-made crystal that actually works like natural crystals. Because it's man-made, a lot of people tend to discount it, but it's generally a good crystal. It's not the strongest crystal, but it's beneficial for many people, and one of my personal favorites!

About the "moonstone" label: Moonstone is actually a sodium potassium aluminium silicate, with the chemical formula AlSi₃O₈, whereas opalite is a man-made glass. Many people refer to Opalite as Moonstone, but it's just not accurate geologically.

Calcite Various

Different calcites are known for different properties (used for different things). However, they are all known for their ability to ease into affecting you. They are "soft" in this way, gentle in how they affect you.

Any calcite is great for beginners because they're so "soft." The reason is because as a beginner, someone who may not have been around many crystals, you DO NOT want to shock your nervous system by exposing yourself to incredibly strong crystals. All crystals listed in this guide are great for beginners, calcites are great for sensitive beginners (and anyone interested in calcite). To reiterate: just because these are beginner-friendly crystals, does not mean that people more advanced in crystals can't use them, it just means they're (typically) friendly to your nervous system. I will talk more about how to tell if a crystal is working for you or not later in this post.

Selenite The charging crystal

This crystal can be paired with any crystal at any time! It’s sole purpose is to recharge your crystals, so that they work at their best & highest frequencies! The energy recharge also works with itself, and bodies/plants as a cleansing tool! You can also get things like selenite wands for energy redirection & conduction in your spells, rituals & other workings.

Crystals For Arthritis

I am thritically-inclined (my fun way of saying I suffer personally from arthritis), and a lot of people ask me for crystals that are great for arthritis, so I thought I'd include this list!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Malachite is not beginner-friendly (more about that later in the post)! But I would be doing folks an injustice to not include it as helpful in this area. Please do your due diligence before using it! ADDITIONALLY, crystals do not replace medical care! Crystals can help, but they aren't a fix-all and won't cure your illnesses whatsoever. Please seek professional care if you suffer, or think you suffer, from arthritis, or any other health condition.

Clear quartz - master healer, amplifier

Rose quartz - anti inflammatory

Amethyst - general arthritic support

Malachite - anti inflammatory, soothes physical pain

Howlite - soothes body/mind & makes you more aware of your body/mind; calming

Kunzite - emotional healing

Hematite - grounding, protection from negative energy

Fire

These are crystals that are connected to the fire element, whether in how they're made or in how they affect you. Some of them emphasize your pre-existing connection to fire, others ignite that element in you, etc. Please note that this is just a small list, as there are MANY crystals connected to ALL different elements.

Red jasper - the fighter’s stone

Carnelian - confidence & zest for life

Botswana Agate - fosters personal connection to fire

Obsidian - formed from magma

Ruby - passion

Amber - embodying natural warmth

Water

Larimar - stone of the sea

Amethyst - formed in water

Blue lace agate - soothing, calming, balance

Calcite - formed in underwater or mildly wet caves

Aquamarine - can soothe anxiety/stress & anger, aid in meditation, balance hormones, give clarity, & support overall health

Celestite - aids in meditation, relaxation

Larimar - tranquility, serenity, and brings inner peace & emotional healing when infused with water. Infusing a crystal with water can simply look like putting the crystal in a lake, cup of water, etc. SAFETY NOTE: Not all crystals are water-friendly or safe to be around water, so please research crystals before exposing them to water! Some you can't ingest, others have chemical reactions, some lose their colorations (the sun can cause this as well), etc.

Earth

Moss agate - supports physical health, rejuvenation, growth, focus

Tiger’s eye - grounding

Amber - patience

Flower agate - peace, calm, enhances awareness & sense of purpose

Ocean jasper - supports self-esteem, patience, grounding, sleep, & balance

Green apatite - connection with nature, energy, regulates metabolism, manifestation, physical growth

Jade - prosperity, harmony, love

Snowflake Obsidian - grounding, healing, and blood circulation

Green onyx - boosts energy levels, calming

Green calcite - boosts energy & awareness, emphasizes positive change

Moss agate supports in physical health: anti-inflammatory, boosts immune system, regulates circulatory system.

Now to clarify, many, many crystals grow in the earth in some way, so there's a lot that could help you bond with the force of Earth, but this is my list of recommendations.

Air

Apophyllite (referred to as the Angel's Crystal) - light and airy feeling, positivity, spiritual connection (astral travel, angels, clairvoyance, etc)

Fluorite - mental order & clarity, decision-making, stress reduction

Lapis lazuli - enhances spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, physical & emotional healing & care

Turquoise - tranquility, peace, protection, soothing & healing, and associated with the sky or heaven

Topaz - releases tension, overall good health, calming, joy, abundance, and generosity

Iolite - body detox, strengthens liver, authenticity, calms nerves, digestion support

Crucial Information

Yes, I think researching information is of the utmost importance when first exploring a concept or working (such as crystal work). However, due to new ageism and just the natural way of passing down practices, there's a lot of crucial information that is difficult to find online. This is part of why I always recommend people find themselves a mentor or someone advanced in the working to learn from. Regardless, I've decided to share some crucial information that I've learned with all of you, in hopes it helps.

STOPLIGHT SYSTEM

Green Light: Positive Response! This means that the crystal works well with you, and you can use it as you like!

Yellow Light: Negative Response! This is a GOOD thing! If you have a negative response to a crystal, it means that it vibes with you on a frequency that is compatible to you. It also just means that your nervous system isn’t ready for that specific crystal, so you can build up to it using any crystals that you get a negative response from. You can have a negative reaction to any crystal, and you can overcome the negative reaction. (In some cases, like with obsidian or shungite, you may also feel a negative reaction because the crystals are busy pulling the negativity and toxicity and sickness out of you, so you may be more vulnerable at first.)

Red Light: No Response! Having NO response to a crystal means it does not vibe at a compatible frequency with you. For most crystals, this renders them useless for you, but there are some exceptions like obsidian (as it is offensively defensive, so even if you don’t vibe with it, it can still defend or shield you as it does affect others still)

So overall, a positive response is a good response, but so is a negative response! Don't be scared if a crystal makes you feel unwell or uneasy, just work with a softer crystal and put that crystal away until you're ready for it!

How many crystals should I use at one time?

BODY: Whether it be wearing crystal jewelry, carrying crystals in your pockets, or something else, I recommend 3-6 per day. Otherwise, it can be a LOT for your nervous system, you may fall sick or just be overwhelmed and tired. *This may vary depending on person or purpose.

HOME: This depends on placement & purpose. For example, don’t sleep next to your entire collection, you’ll feel sick and it’s potentially dangerous as some crystals you can’t sleep near. However, putting crystals around your home for different effects is okay in larger numbers. Whether it be cups of 7+ crystals in each corner of the room, or holding onto a plateful of crystals during a protective ritual or practice, there are sometimes reasons why more crystals = better outcomes.

How do I know which crystals to use?

DAY BY DAY BASIS: For some people, it works much easier to pick different crystals that you’ll wear every day in accordance to what you think you’ll need or benefit from. For example, if you’re giving a presentation that you didn’t study for, maybe rose quartz (self love), labradorite (focus on positive energy), tiger’s eye (grounding, when giving the presentation), and perhaps a calcite for subtle calm.

DAILY CRYSTALS: For some of us, there are also crystals that we may pick every day in combination with chosen crystals per day, OR there are certain crystals we wear everyday regardless. I recommend pairing an amplifier and selenite with any set you choose (note: selenite is quite soft, so be careful if choosing selenite jewelry). Some crystals you may want everyday could be shungite (physical wellbeing), smoky quartz (protection, awareness, etc) and black tourmaline.

Avoiding Dangers

SLEEP SAFETY

AVOIDING OBSIDIAN: It is incredibly important that you avoid sleeping with/near obsidian. (It’s best to wrap up obsidian in something, like thick cloth or something airtight, and then put it in a drawer that closes.) This is because obsidian can aid in intense and advanced shadow work, which most people are not typically prepared for, in their sleep. There are cases of negative reactions, like long-term insomnia and paranoia, and even heart attacks.

HOW TO SLEEP WITH CRYSTALS: When sleeping with crystals, it’s best to have them as close to you as possible. Some people might put them next to their mattress on their bedframe, but it’s better to have them on the same level as you or in visible view (so that the energy it’s putting out isn’t blocked/won’t take longer to affect you). So perhaps on your windowsill if your bed is against the wall there, on a desk next to your bed, or wear it as jewelry. Some crystals though, are really nice to put under your pillow and by your feet - to do this safely, please have two pillows (or one padded pillow) on top of the crystal by your head (if you can, push it a little further back so that your head isn’t directly above it) or put it to the corner of your bed. When by your feet, put a folded blanket or pillow gently on top of the crystal, put it off to the side so that it is to the side of your feet rather than under. Do NOT put any crystal under your sheets (they will work slower and finding them if they move around/get lost is very annoying) but under your comforter is possible if it’s thin!

CLEANSING & RECHARGING

RECOMMENDED METHODS: There are many ways to charge your crystals. The most efficient method is by using selenite (to do this: set a crystal next to the selenite, preferably touching, for a few hours or overnight) - I recommend doing this once a week if you use your crystals daily or consistently, or once a month/as needed otherwise. You can also use incense to cleanse your crystals (to do this: visualize them being physically cleansed while you flick your wrist in a circle motion - from towards you, then out - and rotating the crystal in your other hand so that the smoke hits all angles). These are some of the best ways to cleanse your crystals. However, there are other efficient methods to cleanse & recharge your crystals, but note that these other methods are not safe or preferred.

To add, I would like to mention the idea of cleansing crystals. Some people believe that negative energies surrounding a crystal can affect its efficiency and energy. For example, some people prefer to cleanse crystals that are mined via child labor. To specify, I AM AGAINST CHILD LABOR! But, I think it's unrealistic to assume that we could rewrite the literal compounds of a crystal, simply by experiencing pain near it. Humans can't control everything in nature and it's arrogant to assume. A crystal has its energies and properties because of what it is, not who it is around, and it's important to respect that in my beliefs. Cleansing is okay in case anything lingering is on the crystal, but I don't think that's always needed either as being on a crystal is quite potent (which is why some people prefer wearing jewelry, for skin to skin contact with a crystal, rather than carrying it in a bag, pockets or purse). However, that's just my teachings, it's up to you what you believe.

OTHER METHODS: Sunlight - you can sit your crystals out in the sunlight to charge them. However, this makes it difficult to use them at certain points of the day (because they’re charging), and some crystals will lose their color when exposed to the sun for long periods of time (like amethyst, rose quartz, kunzite, and others).

Water - you can soak some of your crystals in water (moonwater or otherwise). However, do NOT drink the water (as it can be poisonous or toxic - you should not ingest most crystals in any way, even as makeup or drinking from water bottles made of crystals) and note that some crystals should NOT be near water either way (such as malachite, which will lose its form and releases toxins when around water, even in small amounts such as condensation in the air - so don't leave it in the bathroom!).

THE WRONG CRYSTALS

TOO MANY CRYSTALS: As I mentioned earlier, carrying too many crystals can overwhelm your nervous system. It can make you feel sick, disoriented, exhausted, and fuzzy. Even if all of the crystals are good crystals, if you REALLY want to start wearing more, slowly build yourself up to it (you can do this by gradually adding an extra crystal over time, and/or adding calcites to your mix). However, not everyone can build up a tolerance, so just keep this in mind.

COMBINATIONS: You can pair any crystals together that you think would help or benefit you, but listen to your body, pay attention to your reactions, and be aware of the crystals you choose. Sometimes, we pick crystals that make us feel bad. There are “bad mixes” so be aware of what crystals you’re using, when, and why. For example, I used kyanite on a first date and amplified it with clear quartz - kyanite is known for communication. In my head, I figured it would just help me be more communicative and precise. What really happened, was I had no filter when communicating, painting myself in poor light as every anxious thought crossed my mind and then was easily said aloud. It really pushed me to say everything that I thought or felt, without composure. For this specific event in my life, you can probably guess that the date didn’t go well. I was very intentional about being affected by the kyanite, and apparently am very sensitive to it, so this pairing was not good for me. Perhaps if I didn’t have an amplifier, or had something to ground myself - that would’ve been a better mix for me.

AVOIDING CRYSTALS

MALACHITE: Malachite is quite a popular crystal. However, it is not beginner-friendly (for most people). You have to be careful with malachite because it enacts big changes in your life, and if you’re not prepared, things will start to go wrong for you. You have to make sure that you’re fully ready to handle malachite before using it.

MOLDAVITE: Moldavite is similar to malachite but MUCH more intense. I recommend that NO ONE USES MOLDAVITE, beginner or not! It’s so intense that the majority of people cannot handle it (my guess is there’s probably an average of 2-4 people alive on the planet who could handle it, statistically). It overwhelms your nervous system, overrides internal balance, troubles your spirit, and in the end, your life comes crashing down into pieces. This is because moldavite is formed by meteors smashing into the ground - it’s quite literally alien rock mixed with earth. Not only do we not know the potential dangers of this substance scientifically, but spiritually it has some dangerous consequences too. I recommend avoiding this crystal at all costs and heavily cleansing yourself if you come into contact with it.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

ROSE QUARTZ: It’s important that you’re aware of what toxicity and abuse look like in your life. There are many people who have suffered longer than needed because they utilized rose quartz in the face of neglect, disrespect, and mistreatment. Not all love should be unconditional, and self-love does not always mean giving yourself what you want but what you need & deserve instead.

DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE: At the end of the day, it’s up to you to do your own research on various aspects of crystals. There’s a lot of important information out there, and there’s lots of varying beliefs. I’d recommend not engaging with any crystals unless you trust the sources you learn from. Though this presentation was put together after lots of research & cultural teachings, I am the first to say that you should learn on your own time as well to ensure that all information is accurate. Compare your sources, find what resonates with you, explore the scientific aspects of crystals, and make the best decisions you can. Crystals can affect your overall wellbeing and quality of life, so though they are quite an easy practice to get into, it’s still a serious spiritual concept. After all, it's called practice and work for a reason!

Moving Forward

This is some information I want to leave you with to keep learning more about crystals & practicing crystal work! I hope to set you up for success with this knowledge moving forward!

“Calling to me”: If a crystal is “calling out to you,” it means you’re drawn to or attracted by the crystal for some reason. It’s up to you whether or not you choose to use the crystal after this. I often recommend it. However, you do not NEED to be called by a crystal in order to use it.

Disappearing (crystals w/ specific purposes): At times, crystals that serve us very specific purposes (i.e. not a general or amplification crystal, like quartz, but maybe a crystal like red jasper or moss agate) disappear on us. This is their way of telling us that we no longer need them, or are too dependent on them (or it could be someone like an ancestor telling you this). They reappear when we need them again. Typically, protective crystals don’t do this.

Disappearing (basic crystals): When it comes to protective crystals (but any crystal, really), their disappearance could mean that they need you to utilize them in a different way - perhaps you need a piece with more clarity (crystals with more visual and geological clarity typically work at higher frequencies for their type), or to wear it everyday as a bracelet instead (skin to skin contact makes your connection with the crystal stronger).

Pricing: For many crystals, you’ll notice that every few months, or every couple of years, the prices of certain crystals rapidly drop or increase across various websites. Prices typically increase when mines for that specific crystal temporarily (or permanently) close. To see if it’s worth paying for a crystal on the higher end of the cost scale, look into whether or not the mines for this crystal are open or closed. If closed, you should be able to find this crystal for prices on the lower end of the scale.

Some crystals are always cheap (tiger’s eye, sodalite and selenite are three of many examples, and if you pay more than $10 for any of them then I’d say you’re wasting your money). (Selenite is often even given away free, as is tiger’s eye.) My favorite thing to do to see if crystals are typically lower or higher in price is to go onto Etsy and add the price filter. Many Etsy sellers sell high quality crystals, but they don’t have brand notoriety like Kay’s Jewelry, so you can get the crystals & crystal jewelry for what they’re worth.

Some countries have cheaper crystals, but much lower quality, because some standards and regulations do not prevent these crystals being man-made, watered down or mixed with other rocks, etc - the best places to get crystals would be shops located in the U.S, the UK, and the parts of the Caribbean. Canada might also be okay. I do not recommend places like China, India, or Hawai'i.

Identifying Calcite When Shopping: Generally speaking, many calcites are quite cheap in cost. However, they can look very similar to non-calcite crystals. Sometimes, if you’re not knowledgeable about how to tell the difference between a calcite and a non-calcite crystal, you’ll end up paying big bucks for a product that you could’ve paid five bucks for. A lot of shops, unknowingly and knowingly, will pass calcites off as other crystals - unfortunately this is quite common. So it’s important to know how to tell the difference. A tell-tale sign of knowing if you're handling a calcite or not is to look to see if it looks "wet" -- if it looks "wet," it's a piece of calcite. EXAMPLE: A LOT of people mix up aquamarine and calcite - aquamarine is arguably more expensive, but they'll sell you a piece of calcite instead. IT IS ALWAYS CALCITE if it looks wet, there are basically no exceptions to this rule - aquamarine does NOT look wet! Below are some examples.

Final Notes

Of course, crystals won’t be the answer to all of your prayers. They aren't "quick fixes." They won't resolve all of your problems. However, they can help. They are a tool you can use in your healing and protection. Additionally, not all crystals are used for protection, or are even considered safe. Please do your due diligence before interacting with any crystal or stone.

I hope this guide was somewhat helpful to all of you. I do have experience with various crystals, but I also have my favorites. Please do comment if you have any questions, and good luck with your crystal work!! Thank you for reading!

P.S. As a reminder, this is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) post! Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you're afraid of sounding stupid! I respect self-advocacy! I am not very tech-savvy in terms of Tumblr as I'm mostly new to this platform, but I will try my best to respond to all comments thoroughly!

[leavingsunsets]

hi, I saw you were taking requests and so, how about senku, gen, hyoga and ryusui (dr. stone) with a reader who's usually on her own world, gets distracted easily and is really helpful and nice to everyone, one day they're talking and suddenly the conversation moves to how the human brain works and reader starts talking about chemical components and processes of the brain (turns out she's into neuroscience), how would the boys would react to it?

it can be platonic or romantic, it doesn't have to be all of them, you could make it separate reactions or all of them reacting as a group, however you like best ^^

omg thank you for requesting! ill admit, i really cant imagine Hyoga of all people participating in casual group discussions, so ill just do them separately instead !

"𝖶𝖾𝗅𝗅, 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍'𝗌 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀."

(𝚏!𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛)

𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙠𝙪 𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙞

Pleasantly surprised. Who knew someone as usually airheaded as you was actually quite well versed in a field of science? You've peaked his interest.

Would enthuse with you about it. Maybe even be willing to pipe in now and then with his own knowledge.

Likes to listen to you ramble while he works. Not just because you absentmindedly work faster while talking (you usually can't even do a long task without your attention getting grabbed elsewhere).

Actually even learns from you a little.

Finds it a little funny considering how you're always off, either out assisting or daydreaming. You're all whimsy and chill until the moment someone mentions anything about nerves or the brain.

Likes the fact that you're similar to him in a way that you both are willing to part your knowledge to others. Whenever someone asks, or doesn't understand, you happily break it down for them. This gives you a raise in his eyes.

At least now, he knows where to go if at some point the power of neuroscience is needed.

𝙂𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙞

Surprised, and sweating. He just mentioned that Kaseki has some really good hand-eye coordination. Suddenly, you were talking about how signals travel through spine.

It's an interesting fact. Like a nice trivia. Little miss daydreamer has hidden stock knowledge about the nervous system enough to make her a definite neurologist in this primitive era. Luckily, there was no need to test that statement. And hopefully never any.

He does learn bits and facts from you. Although that's only sometimes because most of the time he's just wondering what the hell is a Broca's area.

But, as it's so rare to see this passionate side of you, he humors it.

Kind of observes you, you know. Nods along while you ramble, even taking advantage of it. Just hands you whatever work he was doing and you take it, too immersed in explaining to him how impulses travel through synapse.

"Is that so? That's pretty complex." he makes a thoughtful expression, putting the golden wire he was twisting into your hands. This spurs you to expound on the topic, not noticing how he's not even doing anything anymore aside from clasping his hands together and sitting back.

𝙃𝙮𝙤𝙜𝙖 𝘼𝙠𝙖𝙩𝙨𝙪𝙠𝙞

"..."

Just stands there silently. He's a good listener, yes, but when it comes to topics he doesn't know ass about, expect no feedback.

Most likely if you catch him at his free time, nothing on his mind, maybe he might? But it would be moreso comments about you.

"You're surprisingly knowledgeable about this."

Hyoga is a man all about efficiency. Quick trips, and doesn't really sit down a lot. So, he didn't really notice you that much at first.

This is one way to at least catch his attention though. Though you are now dubbed 'brain girl' in his mind.

𝙍𝙮𝙪𝙨𝙪𝙞 𝙉𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞

Would be the most willing out of all the boys in this list to actually sit down and discuss it with you.

He has time, plus, he sees how passionate you are about it. Why not?! Let him hear whatever you've got in that noggin!

Scene of both you round a table. You're chatting away while he leans back and sips on his mug. That kind of vibe.

Encourages this, as he doesn't see you this enthusiastic very often.

It doesn't mean he doesn't like your usual personality, but it's just that you seem brighter every time you talk about anything related to that topic!

Overall, he finds your love for neuroscience an interesting trait. He used to assume you as the kind airhead aboard, but now he knows a little more than that.

Aside from that, he also genuinely goes "Hmm." and strokes his chin, like whenever you tell him a fun trivia. Like, wow, he did not know that. Very interesting.

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