#teahouse trekking

[genshin-impact-unofficial]

Naughty Little Secret Pt.2

Reactions of Genshin men finding your spicy literature.

Ft. Childe, Albedo, and Alhaitham  (Aka blue eyed boy edition)

(PART 1) Ft. Diluc, Cyno, and Thoma  (PART 3) Ft. Scaramouche, Itto, and Xiao

Tags: PG-13, Sexual Themes, GN!Reader, Technically SFW, Crushes, TW!Blood (Albedo) but it’s very mild, LOTS OF TEASING Notes: I swear my first time writing a character always turns out so long. I so appreciate everyone cheering me on tho! Feel free to send suggestions to my inbox! 💘(Repost!)

Childe

Spicy romance novels were your guilty pleasure. After a rough week at work, you deserved to sit back at Yanshang Teahouse and let the flow of words on the pages guide your imagination. You held your newest purchase in your hand and pondered if the cover art was a coincidence. Perhaps deep down, you subconsciously picked the book with a pretty ginger boy on the cover.

Tartagalia hadn’t visited Liyue in a while... and maybe there was a part of you that missed the tall handsome Snezhnayan boy just a tiny bit. You were a tad totally heartbroken when your friend departed from the harbor. He would come by your work quite often just to chat and whenever he had time to kill. Eventually, his company and charming words just became a part of your routine. It was impossible not to be dazzled by the boy’s abundant attention. But as time passed and you felt confident that you were completely over your little crush. You shook your head of those thoughts, it wasn’t important why you chose the book you did. You were here to enjoy yourself and you were hell bound to do just that.

The orange haired protagonist finds himself swept up in trouble much bigger than himself. To protect what’s dearest to him, he becomes a spy to an organization he holds no loyalty to. While behind enemy lines, he meets a girl who sees right through the mask he puts on. She not only figures out he’s a spy, but also sees his bleeding heart that has the ability to turn for the better. Your heart ached for the boy. The way he was stuck between his duties and who he loved made you feel endless sympathy for the protag. He had to betray one in the end to accomplish the other. 

His mission was going to be completed in the morning. After that, he would never see the girl again. The handsome ginger spilled his feeling, laying himself out bare to the girl he loved. She knows, she always did, and she wanted to show him now on their last night. Emotions flood forward as their bodies tangle with one another. He wants her to feel his earnest passion.  He wants to bring her joy, to bring her the happiness she deserved, to bring her pleasure...  A low familiar whistle pulled your mind from the scene. No way...

“Huh, so this is what you do while I’m away...” A cheeky voice teased. You whipped your head to look at the widest shit eating grin that you’ve ever seen since.... well since he left.  

“Tartagalia? What- When did you?” You were reeling and sputtered in surprise and embarrassment. You attempted redirect his attention and tuck the novel behind you as a last ditch effort to save your pride. But alas, Ajax was not known to be a merciful guy.  

“Ah ah ah Y/N, I hadn’t got a good look at that last page. I just have to know about those ‘rippling abs’ mentioned.” Childe playfully reached behind you and snagged the book from your grip. You tried to swipe it back but his reflexes were too fast. “You don’t mind sharing right?”

“I’m serious give it back Childe!”  You threatened, but it only spurred him further. He had a whole head up on you, and was talking full advantage of it. Childe held the book open above you and dramatically cleared his throat before reciting naughty lines from the passages. Your felt your face burn red in both embarrassment and now absolute fury. 

This kid was so dead!

Albedo

There was urgency in your steps while you trekked through the snowy path. You visited Dragonspine enough times to know the beaten trail even when covered in fresh snow, but it was still your least favorite part of coming to the lab. If you had to list your favorite part, well...... your friend Albedo wasn’t exactly terrible to look at. You were glad to see him again so soon. Typically, you purposely spaced out your visits up the mountain, but when you received a letter asking for your assistance in a research matter you really couldn’t say no. 

As junior librarian of the knights, you were tasked with dropping off books and other study material to Albedo’s lab. It’s a grueling task but the two of you got along very well so you were always happy to do it. That being said, you weren’t exactly a person of science and opted reading into history and arts most times. Through years of knowing Albedo, you had to set a clear cut boundary on being a test rat for the alchemist. So far he has respected your wishes, so you didn’t assume it was why he’d call you out here. The curiosity was almost as bad as the blistering cold hitting your nose. As soon as the light illuminating from the lab was in view, you rushed forward desperate for warmth. 

“Y/N, I’ve been awaiting you.” Albedo greeted you kindly. 

“Hey Albe-” The words died in your throat when you caught sight of your friend. The blond’s hair was free from its usual up-do, messy locks framed the boys handsome features and flowed over his shoulders. Albedo’s neat attire was now lax, his knightly accessories nowhere to be seen. What could be seen was the expanse of the alchemist’s collarbone since two additional buttons were undone on his dress shirt. Somehow even while fully clothed, it felt indecent to witness him like this. “Is... everything alright Albedo?” You asked, averting your eyes to keep from ogling your friend. 

“Of course.” Albedo answered easily, his voice was low and sultry. “Please take a seat Y/N. I have something urgent that needs your eyes.” He directed you, cocking his head towards the small table. Your brain was short circuiting and all you could think to do was obediently sit. You had never seen the serious and calculated man like this but you weren’t exactly complaining either. Albedo served you a cup of hot tea and opted to lean against the table instead of sitting. 

“So... um what did you need me to look at.” You asked awkwardly, unsure what to do with yourself. 

“Well obviously I want you to look at me Y/N” A light smirk formed across Albedo’s lips and he smoothly leaned over your chair. Your eyes followed every single movement while your face quickly began to heat up. Where was all of this coming from? Should you be concerned? 

“W- what do you mean by that?” You blurted out, mind racing a mile a minute.

“I want you to-” Everything came to a screeching halt when your chair, that Albedo had been leaning on, began to tilt backwards. Both you and blond were sent crashing to the ground, ruining any kind of mood that was building. Your head ached from where you bumped it but Albedo intentionally took the brunt of it, completely face-planting into the hard floor. 

“Albedo are you alright??” You hovered over him. The boy simply turned to you and blinked. His stoic expression was more akin to what you typically were used to. 

“I apologize Y/N. It seems I didn’t fully grasp the concepts in the experiment before executing it. Are you hurt?” He stood up and carefully helped you to your feet. He examined you for any signs of injury, regardless of his obviously bleeding nose. 

“Im good, the chair broke most of my fall. You on the other hand...” You grabbed a handkerchief and try to assist him. “Wait... experiment? Is that what this is all about?” You accused, slightly irked. 

“Yes, I saw a fascinating book among the study material you left behind recently. I assumed that it was a new subject you had recommended for me.” Albedo stated simply. “Its contents was um... quite intimate at times, but I thought it was a interesting perspective on forming human connections.” You felt froze, but this time not from the blistering cold. 

“Did the book have um.... did it have a pair of cuffs on the front?” You asked, praying to the archons that you were mistaken.

“Yes, I studied it extensively.” Albedo replied without a hint of shame on his features.  You replayed his interactions and what had just transpired in your head and looked back over to your friend.

“Okay two things. One, don’t you dare breathe a word to anyone about that book or else I’ll be very upset with you. And two, that was fucking hilarious.” You bursted out in laughter at the absurdity of the whole happenstance. Albedo gazed back at you confused, but your amusement was undeniably infectious. He smiled fondly back at you. Although the experiment couldn’t be labeled a success, the outcome was still one he found pleasing.  

Alhaitham

It was grueling working in the Akademiya recently. The overthrow of power left everyone with plenty to do. You would go mad from attending meeting after meeting if you didn’t have some sort of stress outlet. Writing was a way you liked to ease your mind, like an escape of sorts. You loved writing loose plots for light novels and dreamed to one day send an entry to the “Wow This Novel is Amazing!” contest in Inazuma. You were far from a finished manuscript, but it’s days like these that gave you inspiration. After working through piles of paperwork, you earned yourself a moment of indulgence. Especially when stress was eating you alive, your scenes tended to take a turn for the... suggestive. 

The scene opened to the main character pondering why their mentor kept themselves at arms length. She respected him immensely and strives to uphold his reputation by improving her skill. He was young and handsome, skilled far beyond his years. They held a close bond, closer than either of them have ever experienced. Now it was unclear why he was giving her such a cold shoulder. She confronts her mentor about the reasons behind his actions. He expresses his pride in her, how she has come far in the their time together. But for her to achieve new highs, she must leave him behind. His feelings for her would only be a hindrance now. 

She felt the tension between them for some time now. It was lingered in soft bushes between fingers, meaningful glances over meals, and caring gestures done without thinking. She’s fallen for the beautiful man, to a point that it wasn’t logical. No words need to be exchanged, only body heat. Arms hold onto the other in yearning desperation. Lips hungrily meet, as if they’ll never to be sated. Her want clouds all her senses and she could feel his willingness to give her everything, all of him. Hot needy breaths trail down her body, discarding any clothes that stood barrier, until he finally put his mouth directly on- 

“Busy Y/N?” The amused man asked from the doorway. You jump in response, quickly pushing aside the parchment that you were writing on. 

“Alhaitham! What are you doing here?” You pipe up, surprised to see your friend for more than one reason. Alhaitham had been promoted to acting grand sage while the rest was still settling, he had to be incredibly busy. 

“I see you’re not very excited to see me,” Alhaitham teased, strolling casually into your office anyway. “Even after I went through the trouble of coming to grab the data reports myself and pay you a visit.” He tsked. 

“You came to see me? Ah, so you need a favor.” You playfully jabbed back, easily finding comfort in the other’s company. It really had been quite a while. If it weren’t for the man’s inflated ego, you might have told him that you’ve missed him. 

“You wound me. It’s not an oddity for colleagues reconnect reminisce while also carrying out an errand for the acting great sage.” Alhaitham replied smoothly, not bothering to go through the motions and pretend to act hurt.

“Yikes, already pulling the ‘acting great sage’ card.” You chuckle. Alhaitham and you have worked closely together for years, so you didn’t mind going out of your way to do him a favor. But maybe one day he would learn that all he had to do was ask nicely. 

“It would be foolish to not use the assets as they are presented to me.” The former scribe shrugged. He opened his mouth as if to continue the witty banter, but a beep from on his person alerted him of something. “I’ll have to brief you later. I’ll just take the data reports and be on my way.”

“Right, here it goes.” You handed him the prepared stack of papers on your desk and just like that Alhaitham was gone, off to his next endeavor. Wow he really is swamped now a days. You thought, ready to get back into your writing. Ideas kept flowing through you as you looked for the parchment you just had.... Wait it was just right here. Oh no.

-

“ALHAITHAM! I NEED THE DATA REPOR-” You barged into acting grand sage’s office, which was no easy feat. You were stopped again and again by all the matra crawling about. Your mouth ran dry when spotted the parchment in the smirking man’s hands. You wished the floor would just open up and swallow you whole so that you wouldn’t have to look at that cocky handsome face. 

“The data report? Certainly, it’s right over there on the desk.” Alhaitham stated, not bothering to take his eyes off your handwriting. “I’m still going over some of it now and I have to say, it’s quite in depth.” He went on.

“You are such a jerk! Give it!” You resorted to trying to snatch it, but the former scribe easily turned away without sparing you even a single glance. You knew what he wanted and damn did it feel like making a deal with the devil. “I’ll owe you a favor, no questions asked. Just hand it over and keep your mouth shut.” 

“Two favors.” He bargained without batting an eye.

“You’re pushing it-”

“One is for my silence and the other for the safe return of your... passion project.” Alhaitham interjected, finally tearing his eyes from your writing to shoot you a glance above the paper. You willed a stern expression onto your face, even while a furious blush bloomed cross your cheeks. A curt nod sealed the agreement and the man casually returned the parchment to you as promised. You snatched the paper from him and averted your gaze.

“Y/N you have quite the knack for imagery.” Alhaitham added slyly. You expected he would tease you a little longer, so you braced yourself for the worst. What you did’t expect was the tall man to lean over you with his hand braced on the desk. Your eyes shot up to his in surprise. “If you’re ever in need for another peer review, I’d be happy to offer my services.” He winked. 

<A/N: These men need to be stopped>

[stellamancer]

pairing: fem!reader x merman!satoru gojo

summary: you were excited to return home for the summer, but all that excitement is quickly thrown out the window and you nearly resign yourself to a quiet and lonely summer.

the insufferable merman you rescued, however, has other plans.

contents: degrees of social anxiety from the reader, fem!reader (no pronouns used, reader is referred to as physically smaller than gojo) 

notes: uh. this was written for the teahouse mermay collab! but, uh, gonna probably spend the summer writing this because somehow plot happened. will happen. this work will end up being a roommates to friends to maybe lovers fic so please look forward to it. uh. not sure what else to say. i usually don’t post multi-part fics to tumblr, but since i don’t expect this fic to get too long i figured it would be okay this time around lmao. i expect to eat my words. anyway this fic can also be found on ao3!  

word count: 4.3k

masterlist 

It’s the first time you’ve been home in a while, and honestly speaking, you don’t know how you feel about it.

At first, you were excited. As much as you enjoyed city life in Tokyo, you still missed your little seaside hometown. It was your parents’ idea to come home to visit, not so much because they missed you too, but because they wanted you to watch the house while they went on a summer long trek across Europe. As luck would have it, the time of their departure coincided with the expiration of your apartment’s lease. With no intent on renewing it, you figured you might as well return home for the summer and save a little bit on rent before moving into your new place.

Once your plans were settled, you’d texted your best friend, Minori, to let her know you were coming back, but… there was something a little off about her response. It’s not like you were expecting her to drop everything at the news of your homecoming, but you thought she’d at least be a little more excited. It did bother you a bit, but you merely chalked it up to being absolutely horrendous about keeping in touch while you were away. You’re almost positive that once you see each other it’ll be like you never even left.

Besides, if she really felt that awkward about seeing you, then she wouldn’t have agreed to hang out tomorrow.

Nor would she have forgotten to mention that there was a big hangout thing that was happening at the beach tonight.

Probably anyway.

It’d been one of your old high school classmates Kyohei Shinomiya who had mentioned the beach thing. You’d run into him working at the grocery store and while you really wouldn’t have considered Shinomiya a close friend, you were acquainted enough to chat amicably as he rang up your things. Most people you’d run into upon your return had asked about your life in Tokyo, but Shinomiya was oddly excited to hear about it. You’d gotten the feeling that not much had changed in your absence— but was the city really all that interesting? Shinomiya looked almost disappointed when all your things were bagged up, his face twisted almost as if he was debating something serious. Just as you were about to walk out the door he spoke up, and you realized that was what he’d been contemplating on all along.

“Are you gonna be at the hangout tonight?”

You’d tilted your head in confusion. “Hangout?”

“Yeah! On the beach at sunset!” He’d answered, his enthusiasm renewed. “If… if you’re not doing anything, then you should totally come by! Everyone from high school will be there!”

You’d immediately thought of Minori. She hadn’t mentioned anything of the sort. Had it slipped her mind? Or maybe she forgot? Either way, with no one waiting for you at home, and no other plans to speak of, your night was woefully free.

So, of course you showed up.

Shinomiya hadn’t been kidding when he said that everyone from high school would be here. You recognize basically every person on some level— not just people in your own year, but upperclassmen and underclassmen as well. Some of them recognize you too, a few of them even stop to chat a little, politely asking where you’ve been and what you’ve been up to, just like everyone else. Once you’ve made a lap around the group, you awkwardly park yourself near the barbeque where one of the upperclassmen is grilling skewers for everyone, unsure of where else to go.

Of all the people you’ve seen, Minori is not among them. Is it possible that maybe she wasn’t invited? You’ve seen some of her other friends here, though, so it wouldn’t make sense to leave her out. You start to reach for your phone to message her to ask if she knows, if she’s coming. Given how Shinomiya invited you, in the odd case she didn’t know, it probably wouldn’t be a problem if she showed up.

Probably.

Just as you start typing, you hear someone nearby yell. “About time you showed up! You’re late!”

You happen to look up to see who this latecomer is and it’s… Minori. But she’s not alone; at her side is someone else you recognize instantly: Hayato Tsuji. It’s been a while since you last saw him, but your heart stutters at the sight, your body remembering the feelings you harbored for him in your high school years. He’s grown even more handsome now; his features sharper and more mature now than when you were teenagers. Something about the two of them together nags at your mind, but you push the thought to the side, more relieved to see your friend here than anything.

Minori’s gaze moves from the person who called out to her, scanning the area before finally landing on you. There’s no missing the way her eyes widen in clear and obvious surprise, making it apparent that not telling you about this whole thing was a conscious choice on her part.

Still, she makes her way over to you, smiling sheepishly. her eyes now avoiding yours. “Hey! Didn’t expect to see you here."

"Shinomiya invited me," you explain almost flatly.

Minori hums as if you've said something very interesting. "Is that so…?"

"Yeah?"

"I thought you'd be doing something with your parents tonight," she offers, the reason of why she didn't tell you about this hangout threaded between her words.

"No, they left this morning."

"Oh."

You could have sworn you told her that, but maybe she got the day wrong or something. It’s no big deal; Minori was probably just trying to be considerate since it’s been a while since you’ve seen your parents, but still something feels… off. It’s fine. A little awkwardness is to be expected, you tell yourself.

“Minori!” Someone else calls and she whips her head around toward the voice to see who it is. You recognize it as one of her other friends, waving wildly to get her attention. Minori glances back at you, looking a little unsure.

“It’s fine,” you say, smiling, though it feels hollow. “We can catch up later. We’re hanging out tomorrow, aren’t we?”

She stares at you, the hesitation still flickering in her eyes before nodding. “Yeah.”

You wave her off as she heads toward the person calling her and you don’t miss how her expression looks considerably lighter as she walks off. Sighing, you turn back to the barbeque, thinking to busy yourself with some food. Will it be like that tomorrow? Awkward? Weird?

You shake your head. It’ll be fine.

“Skewer?” the upperclassman manning the grill offers you one, and though you thought to occupy your anxious hands by eating you find that you actually don’t feel all that hungry.

“No thanks,” you tell him, smiling apologetically. He doesn’t seem to take any offense, though, and nods. You move away from the barbeque so that you’re not in the way of anyone who might actually want to eat, but once again you’re not sure where to go. You feel like finding Minori again is out of the question, the earlier weirdness repelling you. Maybe Shinomiya then?

You make your way around and spot Shinomiya joking with some underclassmen, laughing jovially. Should you approach? You don’t want to interrupt anything though, so you lurk off to the side, teetering back and forth on your feet. Maybe you can come back later when there’s a lull in the conversation or something.

The only other person you can think of seeking out is… Hayato. Your heart skips a beat at the thought. You can’t say you’re friends but you’d talked a few times in high school, even worked on a few group projects together. It wouldn’t be all that weird to say hi, would it?

You look around again, your eyes straining to pick him out in the crowd. While you look, your thoughts get ahead of you. He was just a high school crush, but wouldn’t it just be something, if you guys ended up talking and it just… picked up from there? Reconnecting with something akin to an old flame and things developing into something more over the course of one fateful summer… You’re sure you’ve read a story like that somewhere before and the sheer possibility of fiction becoming reality makes your heartbeat accelerate in your chest.

When you find Hayato, your entire body goes still, nerves seizing control of your motor functions. It's fine, it's cool, you try to tell yourself. You are just saying hi. You can do that. You can say hi.

And if it goes beyond that… you’ll figure it out later.

You take a deep breath and take a step forward toward Hayato, then another, then… You stop short— breath catching in your chest when you notice, when you see.  

There's someone standing next to Hayato, leaning intimately into him while his arm slung snuggly over their shoulder. You know them— recognize them, because there's no way you wouldn't. There's no way you wouldn't recognize your best friend.

It shouldn't surprise you, it really shouldn't . After all, they showed up here together, you saw them show up together and yet…

You feel absolutely gutted. Questions race through your mind. How long has Minori liked Hayato? Why didn’t she tell you? Are they dating already? For how long? Why didn’t she tell you?

Why didn’t she tell you?

Minori says something to whoever she’s talking to and laughs. Hayato leans his head down to whisper something in her ear and she blushes and swats at him, embarrassed, but still with a fond smile plastered to her face. You feel like you’re a whole world away— an outsider peering in. The contents of your stomach are flipping like they’re competing in the Olympics and you realize that you’re very, very glad you didn’t accept that skewer.

Eventually, you turn away, even though you really just want to walk over there and find out for yourself what exactly is going on. The last thing you want is to start a scene though. You can just ask Minori what’s going on tomorrow; find out if this is why she’s been acting weird. She knew you had a crush on Hayato, and even though he’s still really handsome now, that was in high school. If they're dating now, it’s not like you’d hold it against her.

You start to walk off, but you bump into someone instead.

“Oh hey!”

It’s Shinomiya.

You look at him and catch his expression shift, from a smile to something of a concerned frown.

“You okay?” he asks.

“Oh, uh.” Your shock must show on your face. You try to smile, but it feels far too strained to be convincing. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

He doesn’t believe you.

“I’m, uh… gonna… go over there.” You feel so awkward that you want to disintegrate.

Shinomiya’s mouth opens slightly, brows furrowed, looking like he’s struggling to say something. “...do you want me to come with?”

You laugh in an attempt to alleviate his concern, but the sound is mechanical, fake. “Nah, I’m fine.”

Shinomiya doesn’t seem convinced, his mouth set in a frown. His expression is contemplative again, like it was when you were at the store. You take a step back, away from him and wave him off a little.

“Really,” you say, before whatever he’s thinking about just spews out of his mouth. “Just… gonna take a little walk. The... smoke from the barbeque is getting to me.”

It sounds like an excuse, but it seems reasonable enough you think. Shinomiya still seems doubtful, but he doesn’t press the issue as you take another step away from him. You give him one more smile, this one feeling  a little more natural, to reassure him that you’re fine.

Because you are.

No one else seems to notice as you slip away from the group, heading toward the shoreline. The tide ebbs back and forth, the water coming up to gently lap at the soles of your shoes. You stare out at the sea, the sun nearly set over the horizon, dyeing the sky in oranges and purples. Some of the people at the hangout are probably setting up a bonfire or two so that the get together can continue into the night. You could probably go help out to keep your hands busy, but you don’t particularly feel like it.

Instead, you continue walking down the beach, further away from the chatter of all the people you grew up with, their conversations sounding more and more like a foreign language with each step. Even when you were younger, when you still lived here, you could never slot yourself perfectly among your peers. Minori was the only one who really felt like a friend to you, so her silence weighs heavy on your heart. If you had done a better job at keeping in touch with her, then would she have been more forthcoming about what was going on in her life? At the same time, it’s not like she was any better at keeping in contact with you, but…

You sigh. You’ll talk to her tomorrow. There’s no need to keep mulling over it now.

The sun has completely set now and you realize you’ve actually walked quite a distance from the hangout spot on the beach; you can’t even see anyone anymore. In fact, you’re actually probably only a few minutes from your parent’s house now, their home almost practically on the beach itself. You’re just better off going home, rather than going back. It does feel a little bit bad to have left without saying anything though, so you pull out your phone and send off a quick message to Shinomiya apologizing for leaving without saying anything and thanking him for inviting you in the first place.

You turn, with the intent of heading home, but something on the beach catches your eye.

Something unnaturally shiny.

People are generally pretty good about picking up their trash when they’re on the beach; it's a rule, after all. Sometimes, though, there are some people who forget, or just don’t care. As you approach, you figure whoever left this mound of garbage on the shore is part of the latter group, simply not caring enough to pick up after themselves.

But someone cared enough to cover it up in sand and seaweed.

You lean over, prepared to dig out whatever can and other trash has been buried when you notice, when you see.

It’s not a beer can that’s half buried here.

It’s some kind of fish and it’s huge.

You’ve heard of the very, very rare instances of beached whales, but this thing has scales, shiny, pretty iridescent scales that remind you of opals and you wonder distantly if there’s a fish this big, this pretty, really out there. More than that, though, you wonder how in the world it ended up on the beach like this. When you’ve finally cleared everything away, you realize that this thing isn’t a fish.

It’s a person.  

Or half of one at least.

You gawk at the sight, your eyes traveling down the length of their body. From the waist down, they’re all fish, tail and fins and all, but from the waist up they look like a man, with arms, and a torso and a human head.

Merman.

The word echoes in your mind over and over. You shake your head. This has to be a dream. There’s no way. Merpeople aren’t real. If they were, surely there’d be some kind of record or something of them.

You raise a trembling hand, to confirm what you see with your own two eyes. Very, very quietly, you murmur an apology as your fingers reach out, brushing against this being’s waist, where their human skin meets their fish-like scales. Maybe it’s some kind of… swimsuit or something. You’ve seen stuff like that on TV. If that’s the case there should be some kind of waistband or something, but you find none. The junction between their human half and fish half is completely seamless.

The merman is real.

You gasp softly and look around. It’s only the two of you on the beach right now. What do you do? Should you just leave him here? In a few hours the tide will be high enough to pull the merman back into the water, but… what if someone comes between now and then? If they realize it’s a merman, there’s no guarantee that they’ll let him return to the sea. He could be sold off as a research subject or some kind of exotic pet. The thought disgusts you. Shouldn’t you put him back then? Make sure that he returns to where he belongs? He seems to be unconscious though, but surely he can breathe underwater while sleeping, right? You have absolutely no idea how it works.

The merman groans beneath you and you look back at him. His face is scrunched up like he’s in some kind of pain. Is he hurt, maybe? Is that how he ended up on the beach? Using your phone’s flashlight, you check his body, trying to find some kind of injury, but you don’t find anything. Could he be sick or something then?

You reach up toward his head, brushing some of the snow white hair sticking to his forehead out of the way before you press the back of your hand to his skin. It’s slightly warm to the touch, so he probably doesn’t have a fever.

Wait. Can merfolk even get fevers?

Is he maybe having a bad dream then? Or is he uncomfortable? You don’t know. You could try to wake him up, but if he’s in pain wouldn’t that make it worse?

The panic is starting to settle in your nerves. What do you do? You've never encountered anything like this before. Do you attend to him as if he were an animal? Or as if he were human? You start to reach for your phone to call someone for help, for advice but—

Who could you possibly call?

Your parents are on an airplane right now, hundreds of kilometers in the air and out of reach. You couldn’t possibly bother Shinomiya with this and Minori— The image of her laughing amongst her other friends, Hayato snuggling up next to her flashes in your mind, sudden and almost disorienting. Something ugly and frustrating wells up in your stomach at the thought but you do your best to dismiss it.

You can’t bother her with this either.

You’re all you’ve got right now.

With that thought in mind, you force yourself to take a deep, deep breath. Before you can do anything else, you need to calm down. Once the anxiety has dislodged itself from your chest, you go over the options once more. You can’t leave him here because someone else with far worse intentions than you might find him. You can’t toss him back in the ocean because there’s no guarantee that he’ll be okay if you do that. Then what else can you do?

Take him somewhere else? You glance down at the merman; his body is longer than you are tall and you’re sure that he probably weighs a ton. You wouldn’t be able to take him very far on your own, so if you take him somewhere it has to be close.

A lightbulb goes off in your head. It seems kind of crazy, but you could take him home; a year or two ago your parents renovated the bathroom so now the tub is disgustingly huge. You think it’s big enough to house this monster of a merman until you can ensure that you can return him to the sea without the fear that he might get eaten by a shark or something.

Now the question is… how do you transport him? If you had a wheelbarrow or some kind of cart then you could put him in it and just wheel him to your parents house, but…

A particularly large wave crashes against the beach and another lightbulb goes off. Your father has a really big longboard he used to use when he was a teen. Maybe you could roll the merman onto it and pull it kind of like a sled?

The idea sounds absolutely insane, but you can’t think of anything else. If it doesn’t work… Well, you’ll figure it out later.

“I’ll be right back,” you tell the sleeping merman before bolting off toward your parents’ house. You get there in almost no time flat and easily locate the longboard, tucked away in a storage room. The board’s leg rope probably won’t be able to support the merman’s weight so you grab some regular rope your father has in the storage and wedge it in with the leg rope, using it to secure the rope to the board. When you’re satisfied with it, you dash back to the beach.

The merman is luckily where you left him, unconscious and undisturbed. You toss the longboard onto the sand next to him, shoving it as close to him as you can before bending over and rolling him face up onto the board, taking great care to make sure his entire tail is on.

Like this you’re able to get a better look at his face and— he’s handsome, breathtakingly so. The sharpness of his jaw, the angle of his nose, the width of his shoulders, his collarbone, the sight of them all assembled together like this ups your pulse a bit.

You’re getting distracted.

With the merman in place, you grab the rope and start to tug your makeshift sled toward your parents’ house but, god, he’s heavy. You don’t get very far before you stop to take a break, your arms and shoulders screaming. A different tactic would probably be better. You move to the other end of the board and bend down, gripping both sides of the long board as you push.

This method works much, much better until you get to the house itself. You knew the board would only get you so far, but from here on out you’ll have to carry him. There’s no way a bridal carry will work, so you brace yourself, and after a fair bit of struggling you manage to sling this massive merman over your back.

Each step toward the bathroom is absolute agony and you’re so damn grateful that the house is only a single story. It feels like hours have passed when you finally get to the tub. You rip off the cover and toss it haphazardly to the side, but now you have a new problem: how do you get him in there like this?

You could attempt to shrug him in, but his weight combined with the fact you can’t see might result in him accidentally hitting his head on the wall or something. That wouldn’t be good. Instead, you step into the tub, nearly slipping as you step over the wall of it, but luckily you manage to keep yourself from falling. Then, slowly, you free one of your hands gripping the merman’s body to reach down and tuck his tail into the tub.

He weighs too much for your one hand to handle and this time you lose your balance.

Both you and the merman tumble backwards into the tub. You manage to angle your legs out of the way of the faucet and land against the merman’s body with a thud, the hand that was holding onto him twisted into an uncomfortable angle. Quickly, you roll around to make sure he didn’t didn’t get hurt or hit his head against anything.

Miraculously, he seems perfectly fine— as if you had gently lowered him into the bathtub.

You breathe out a heavy sigh; it feels like you just ran a marathon, but you’re not quite done yet. As much as you’d like to leave it where it is, you pull yourself up to retrieve your father’s longboard from outside. Leaving it could possibly lead to questions from the neighbors and the last thing you want to deal with is gossiping aunties.

Especially with a merman under your roof.

You drag yourself back to the bathroom after you’ve put the longboard away and he’s still asleep, grimacing a little, but still asleep. It’s absolutely wild to you that he hasn’t woken up at all. You wonder if you should fill the tub with some water. Would that make him more comfortable?

You reach over and start the faucet, making sure to lower the temperature. As the tub fills itself, you feel a wave of exhaustion wash over you, and you slump down next to the tub. Carrying the merman home really, really took a toll on you. Your eyelids feel heavy and you think it should be fine to close them.

Just for a minute or two.

It feels like the second your eyes flutter shut, they pop open again, your whole body awakening with a start. Your thoughts are all jumbled up. Why are you in the bathroom? Did you actually fall asleep here? Wasn’t the water running? Thank god your parents bought one of those super fancy bathtubs that regulates the amount of water in the tub. Surely the merman wouldn’t mind if the water overflowed but—

Right. The merman!

You sit up straight and turn your head toward the merman and sure enough he is still there. He wasn’t just some crazy dream you concocted; he’s real and, more than that, he’s awake.

He watches you, his lips curved up into an amused smile that reaches his eyes— bluer than the sunshine on the sea. Your heart hammers wildly in the cage of your chest as you rediscover, all over again, how supernaturally stunning this being you’ve brought into your house is. He tilts his head, his grin widening almost impossibly as he speaks, his voice a melodic timbre that you would almost swear resonates with your very soul.

“Well, good morning.”

next chapter  →

[thunderwavesolveseverything]

Sanguine Hunger

[Astarion x Named Tav]

The hair on the back of her neck stood. She wasn’t alone. Her hand grazed against something cold but familiar. It felt like an arm or a leg. She was too unnerved to discern whether, but she knew someone was kneeling beside her as she appeared to be asleep.

Vampire.

She froze. There was no way a vampire could’ve snuck into their camp without someone noticing. Astarion had offered to keep watch.

Oh, no.

The vampire got to him.

And she was next.

_

*high-pitched Mariah Carey voice* IT'S TIME!!!!!

Phayelynn's bite scene is finally here and can I say, I loved writing this chapter so much!!!!! This is also where it starts to diverge a bit out of canon 😁 I know I just posted, but I've never really had a schedule for posting, and really wanted to post this chapter so here it here. ❤

(word count:  3,585 )

Read on AO3 or below :)

Masterlist for Phayelynn's adventures here

Sanguine Hunger

 Phayelynn couldn’t sleep, no matter how hard she tried. 

 The journey to Ethel’s had been taking longer than any of them had expected. After a short rest, they started their trek back to the edge of the woods, only making one more stop to help the deep gnome, Barcus, who’d been tied and reeling on a windmill blade by a crowd of goblins. 

 As the day ended, with the sun setting, they decided to make camp before continuing to Auntie Ethel’s teahouse. 

 Phayelynn strained to keep her eyes closed, rolling onto her back for the umpteenth time since sinking into her bedroll. Her thoughts couldn’t quiet, moments from the day’s action flashing over and over in her mind’s eye. Lae’zel, strong and swift, surging ahead and slashing into goblins and orge. Gale shouting out spell after spell, a master in his craft. Shadowheart, shielding her, and then Astarion, quick as he cut down two orge on his own. 

 She’d been so close to death. Astarion’s previous lectures on self-preservation finally seemed to set in. She needed to be more careful. She had to start paying more attention. She needed to be more perceptive. 

 Mindflayers. Harpies. Goblins. Orges. 

 Phayelynn hadn’t thought she’d ever encounter anything like this. 

 She shifted again, moving, scratching at her hand anxiously. She moved to her side, fastening her eyes shut even tighter, praying to whichever god cared enough to listen to her to allow her to find some comfort in sleep. 

 She thought she had finally settled and found herself in a comfortable position but couldn’t shake off the persistent nagging to stay awake no matter how exhausted she was. 

 She breathed in. Then out. Again, deeper, slower- but it was no good. Her insides quivered, feeling a chill, and she gave another shift back. The hair on the back of her neck stood. She wasn’t alone. Her hand grazed against something cold but familiar. It felt like an arm or a leg. She was too unnerved to discern whether, but she knew someone was kneeling beside her as she appeared to be asleep.

 Vampire. 

 Her breath hitched in the back of her throat. 

 She had forgotten all about what they had found on the road here. What both Gale and Astarion had concluded was the cause of the dead boar. 

 She froze. 

 No.

 No, no, no, no. 

 Her mind was playing tricks on her from the lack of sleep. There was no way a vampire could’ve snuck into their camp without someone noticing. Astarion had offered to keep watch. 

 Oh, no. 

 The vampire got to him. 

 And she was next. 

 Shakely, she reached out, too afraid to open her eyes. She flinched, and so did whatever was crouched over her as her hand met what felt like a firm chest hovering over her. 

 Her eyes shot open, focusing on who recoiled above her. 

 Astarion. 

 “What?- what are you doing-,” Phayelynn’s voice was faint, gradually increasing in volume as his pointed canines bore down at her. She felt like she was slapped in the face as she saw him for what he was. “You’re--you’re the vamp-” 

 Terror struck him from the prospect of being caught. His deep, ruby eyes stood unblinking as he only reacted on instinct. Astarion didn’t allow Phayelynn to finish her sentence, cutting her off with a firm hand locked over her mouth, muffling her as she discovered what he was into fruition. 

 Kill her. Hide the body.

 He scowled down at her as he pushed back his initial thoughts. 

 No, he wanted to shake his head. No one would believe him come morning if he went that route and played innocent. He lifted his head, looking around the camp. They all hadn’t stirred, all still stuck peacefully in the bedrolls. 

 “Shit,” he closed his eyes. He could feel her lips tremble under his palm. 

 Of all the idiotic ideas, he cursed himself; he could’ve feasted on anything else tonight. He thought Phayelynn would’ve been easy prey. He should’ve known better. But his mind was clouded. 

 “Ah!” he cried out, pulling his hand away from her mouth after she gave it a sharp bit. “Did you just bite me?” 

 “Did you seriously just ask me that?” Phayelynn spat, pushing harshly against his chest. “Get off of me before I thunderwave you back to Avernus!” 

 He saw her eyes dart to the others. They all slept in their tents while she stood next to the campfire. Gale was the furthest away, so Astarion hadn’t feared him being woken up yet. But Lae’zel had decided to pitch her tent next to his own, which was just in view. And then there was Shadowheart, who, like Gale, kept her distance, but the girl was so nosey he was surprised she hadn’t already splashed him with the vile of holy water she had found. 

 He reached for her again, clasping his hand down over her mouth once more as he saw her open it, most likely to scream for help. He knew he wasn’t helping his chances at gaining her trust, but he couldn’t have her getting the others involved. He’d never stand a chance. He could already feel the stake piercing his heart. He had some of a chance of talking himself out of this if it stood just between the two of them. 

 “Don’t scream, please.” He even pushed through with the tadpole, pleading for her to stay quiet and let himself explain. He felt her start to calm, but he could still hear her heart pounding in her chest. “I wasn’t going to hurt you, I swear.” He slowly started to raise his hand, leaving them where she could see them to show he meant no harm. He studied her as she began to sit up, waiting to see her next move. 

 “You weren’t going to hurt me?” She pushed herself away from him, reaching for the dagger she had placed underneath her pillow. She grasped it tightly but made no move at him. 

 She glanced around, seeing that no one had awakened yet. She should scream. She should shout for help. But she didn’t. She saw a flash of dread in Astarion’s eyes as she stared back at him. She deflated narrowly, deciding to keep her voice low as she held her dagger tighter, jerking it towards him, “You were going to eat me.” 

 “I wasn’t going to eat you, gods.” He snapped, not liking how she was looking at him. Of course, he didn’t blame her, but that didn’t affect his sentiments about how she pointed her dagger at him like some monster that parents told their stories to their children about to keep them from venturing out at night. He loured, failing at hiding his offense.

 “Yes, I am a vampire, but I’m not a monster! I’ve been feeding on animals like that boar you cried over. Deer! I found a stray Kobold the other day. Whatever I can get, but it hasn’t been enough, thanks to all the trouble we’ve been getting ourselves into.” he rushed, trying to explain himself. He moved to stand, wanting to get ready if he needed to run. 

 “So you were going to skulk up on me for a midnight snack!” her eyes narrowed at him. She couldn’t help her voice as it rose. She didn’t like being below him, so she pushed herself up to stand with him. She kept the hand holding the dagger hung at her side while the other clenched into a fist on the other. 

 “Will you keep your voice down!” He hissed, taking a step forward. He saw her hand twitch, ready to strike him with her blade if he got too close. He bit his lip. He could disarm her quickly. Swipe her right off her feet. But he couldn’t do that if he wanted to escape this alive. He needed this group of weirdos to avoid turning into a Mindflayer. “I’m weak. I’m not used to all this....” his hands flapped about, trying to pick his following words carefully. “Fighting. It’s making me not be able to think clearly. I just need a little blood.” 

 Phayelynn didn’t say anything right away. He saw her gnawing at her cheek, deep in thought. He tried to reach out with his tadpole again, but she shut him out. She crossed her arms against her chest at his attempted intrusion. 

 “You really shouldn’t talk about stupid decision-making.” she shook her head at him. 

 She wrinkled her nose, unconvinced that he meant her no harm. This was why he had been acting so oddly with her. He’d been trying to trick her into friendship and a false sense of security. She wouldn’t lie and say she wasn’t a little relieved that that was why he’d been acting so shady with her. At least now she knew his motive. He was hungry. 

 She felt a pang of guilt when she grasped the desperation in his eyes. She didn’t need her tadpole to reach in to see it. He was at her mercy.

 “Have you been planning this all along?” 

 “What?” he said, clearly confused. 

 “This, why you’re, you know, nicer to me than the others” she urged, holstering her knife. She had gotten the sense that she wouldn’t need it. “The other night by the river. Did you want to try this then?” she gently stepped forward. 

 “What? Gods, no. No.” He shook his head and could tell she didn’t fully buy it. He sighed heavily. “I was hungry last night, yes, and the thought crossed my mind, but I didn’t plan to or want to.” 

 “Is that why you left so suddenly? To stop yourself?” 

 He paused at her next question. No, that wasn’t why he had left. He left because she had asked too many questions, giving him a taste of his medicine. Like she was right now. 

 “Yes,” he lied, and she bought it, giving him an empathetic frown. He kept it up, taking his step forward. “As I said last night, I trust you the most out of everyone here. Questionable of me, yes, given your track record, but I suppose mine is just as bad after tonight.” he looked down at the ground before looking up at her longingly. “I think that’s why I came to you, even in my bloodlust haze, because I knew you’d understand. Or hoped.” 

 Phayelynn was taken aback. When he said he had trusted her the most, she hadn’t considered the extent of it. Was he just putting on another show? She blinked slowly, ignoring what she had caught him about to do to her. Skimming over him, she saw how stiff he stood, how on edge he was. She had to avert her eyes as she chastised herself for doubting him. Lips pressed together in a conflicted grimace, she cleared her throat, helping her find her voice again. 

 “You’re right. I would’ve understood.” She wet her lips. “You could’ve told me.”

 “Could’ve told you,” he gave a quick snort. “Darling, as you’ve shown, my kind aren’t so received warmly.” 

 “Well, of course not. Not when you sneak up on people while they’re trying to sleep.” Phayelynn huffed. This was going nowhere. “If you had come to me beforehand, this would be completely different. Why say you trust me out of everyone? That you knew I would’ve understood if you still didn’t trust me with this? What’s the worst thing I could’ve done if you told me confidently?” 

 “At worst,” he said with a deliberate tilt of his head, “You’d ram a stake through my ribs or a dagger.” He motioned to her hip where it rested. “I do trust you, but I wasn’t sure if you trusted me. I wanted you to trust me.” 

 He looked away from her, unable to stomach her pity over him. He clenched his jaw. 

 Phayelynn shifted on her heels. She carefully weighed her options. She could tell him to act like this never happened. Tell him to go hunting, and she’d keep his secret from the others. That would be the easiest. The less painful and awkward for the pair of them. Or, she could wake the others and tell them about the vampire in their midst. But that would be cruel. Astarion wasn’t a monster. He could be an asshole, but he didn’t deserve a pike driven through his heart. 

 She bit her lip, pinching her eyebrows together. 

 “So, where are we doing this?” She asked, motioning around them. 

 Astarion squinted, looking back up at her uncertainly. She saw his stupor and rolled her eyes. She fixed a confident face, certain this was the right thing to do. 

 “I don’t think it’s a good idea to suck my blood out in the open. If the others woke up and saw you hovering over me, I don’t think neither of us could talk them out of killing you. Especially Lae’zel.” 

 “Really now?” he smirked, amused. He let out a light chuckle. “I’d wager she’d let me drain you dry. Saying something along the lines of, that’s what you deserve, for so foolishly allowing a vampire to feed on you.” He bobbed his head toward Shadowheart’s tent. “I’d be more concerned about our cleric. She may not admit it, but she undoubtedly has a soft spot for you.” 

 His playfulness didn’t last long, a solemn frown replacing his smile. He ground his teeth, looking out into the night. He assumed Phayelynn would keep his secret but didn’t appreciate her toying with him. 

 “Thank you for understanding, but I don’t need the gallows humor. That’s my job.” He gave her a stern look. 

 Phayelynn shook her head, taking another step forward. They were so close now. She wanted to reach out to him, to show him she had been serious in her offer. “It’s not a joke. You can feed from me.” The words felt peculiar when said aloud. She tried to muster up all her sincerity, “Truly, Astarion. It’s okay,” she laughed a little at his apparent apprehension. “Of course, only take enough to make yourself stronger so you can go hunt something bigger. There’s probably some more goblins lurking about.” 

 “Darling, I’d never stoop so low as to dine on those filthy bastards.” His playfulness returned for a beat. She noticed the slump in his posture. He tried to play it off, giving her an all-too-quick smile before deflating. There was no point. “Really? I-, are you sure?” he asked her tentatively as if she were luring him into a trap. 

 “Yes.” she nodded firmly, hoping he’d believe her. She motioned behind him, towards his tent. “Should we do it in there?” she blushed at her words. “You know, like I said.” 

 “Somewhere private.” He nodded before leading her towards his tent. He felt nervous and could only imagine she did, too. She was willingly giving herself to him, putting herself entirely at his mercy. She trusted him. 

 He pulled back the curtains, revealing an array of plush pillows and warm furs. A few books scattered about, and some of the trinkets and whatnots, but he kept his tent neat otherwise. He let Phayelynn enter first, a force of habit, before following her in, letting the curtain close behind them. 

 It was darker than outside without the moonlight. Astarion bent forward, reaching for the candle he left on a small crate he’d used as a nightstand. It was dim, but he could still see her tense. 

 “You don’t have to do this,” he sighed. The bard probably saw him as just another poor sod that needed help. 

 She turned to face him, a look of determination washing over her. “I know, now how should we do this? Standing? Or lying down? I--whatever’s easier for you?” 

 He gave a soft chuckle, bringing a hand up to motion to the furs. “Lay down, make yourself comfortable.” 

 She nodded, looking behind her and kneeling when she found a suitable spot. She tugged some pillows from where they sat and brought them closer before settling down on her back, making herself comfortable. 

 “Where did you find these? They’re so soft.” She sighed contently. Her neck had been getting stiff every morning from the nights sleeping on her bedroll. She’d been jealous of her companions, having found tents to pitch while she hadn’t. She did find herself thinking, wondering where they found them. 

 “The Grove. Where else?” Astarion chuckled, kneeling next to her. “You should invest in one. Really, what are you going to do if one night it decides to rain?” She pulled a face, unmistakably having not thought of that. He let out another laugh, giving her a once-over. “Are you comfortable?” She nodded, and he leaned down, “This will only hurt for a moment,” 

 Phayelynn closed her eyes, hands clenching the furs underneath her as she braced herself. His face was at her, the crock of her neck, his breath softly beating against her skin, making her gasp. Her heart beat fast again as she felt him unclench his jaw, mouth open and pressed against her. She arched her back, bringing a hand up to grasp his shoulder as his fangs pierced her skin like shards of ice. 

 Her body shook as the sharp pain struck her deep, and she was unable to stop the moan from escaping past her lips. It was numbing and throbbing at the same time. Her blood coursed through her, fleeting as he drank it up. Her grip on her shoulder tightened, but not in discomfort or fear. It was an unknown emotion, one she couldn’t find a word for. Exhilarating? 

 She shook, squeezing her eyes shut as Astarion tangled a hand in her hair, an effort to help her settle back down or make her growing desire worse, which one she didn’t know. She didn’t know how long she let him continue to drink from her, but she felt herself starting to slip. Opening her eyes, she saw spots and a wave of dizziness. She was going to faint. Her hand fell from his shoulder, her body heavy. She let her hand move to his chest, giving the most pathetic shove she could rally. 

 “...’Starion,” she hardly recognized her voice as she spoke. “Too much...” she moaned as she felt more blood leave her. 

 She swore he growled against her. It made her drop grip on his shirt, digging her fingers into the fabric to ground herself. Was she enjoying this? Why was she enjoying this? She wondered what would happen if she let him keep going. He would drain her dry, surely. No, he promised, not a drop more than he needed. But the numbness and the intimacy of it all felt good. She shook again as the grip on her hair tightened. What if she didn’t want him to stop? Shadowheart surely had some Scrolls of Revivify tucked away in her pact, right? 

 She caught her breath. Her pulse quickened. 

 No, this was bad. Phayelynn couldn’t let him continue. 

 With one hand still clinging to his shirt, readying to attempt to channel the energy to conjure a thunderwave if he didn’t budge, Phayelynn brought up the other, lacing her fingers through his white locks, sighing at how soft they were to the touch. She furrowed her brow, scolding herself for getting so quickly distracted. She gave him a weak tug, fingernails scraping against his scalp to gain Astarion’s attention. 

 “No, ‘Starion,” she winced, “please.” 

 She felt him tense above her, fangs still puncturing her, but he stopped lapping at her. He groaned, not in irritation for having to stop, but simply out of satisfaction, pleasure even. Feebly, he unlatched himself from her, giving her neck a lick to gather up the leftover blood. He took his time pulling away from her, the hand that held her head letting go, making her pout. He gave her a soothing chuckle, grinning as he brought that hand up to pull hers out of his hair, lacing their fingers together, a surprisingly tender gesture he hadn’t expected himself to do or make an attempt to end. 

 He stared down at her, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, letting their hands rest against her chest. He heard her pulse weakening but still flutter at the contact. He felt somewhat bad for taking so much from her. He couldn’t help himself. She was delicious. 

 “That was...that was amazing,” he finally spoke, his eyes blown in wonderment. “My mind is clear. I feel strong. I feel happy?” The haze he had found himself in was gone. His eyes flickered down at Phayelynn. She was struggling to keep her own open. 

 “I’m glad I could help.” Her voice was so quiet that he wouldn’t have understood it if he hadn’t been inches from her face. The hand holding onto his shirt dropped, landing unceremoniously on the floor. She closed her eyes, lulling to sleep. 

 “Rest,” he let go of her hand, giving her cheek a soft caress before catching himself. He squinted, glaring at the affection. “I won’t forget this.” He muttered before standing. 

 He watched her briefly before stalking out of his tent and closing the curtains. He paused, looking back, imagining Phayelynn curled up in his furs, surely getting drool all over his pillows. And even supposing that, he didn’t find himself annoyed by the thought. He sneered, shaking his head and refocusing. As invigorating as that was, he needed more. And he felt stronger. More confident. Ready to hunt. 

[owmyeyeballs]

Get to Know my Tav!

Doing @sporeservant 's ask game for another Tav, because hey, why not!

Cyrill | Gnome | He/Him

What is your Tav’s…

favorite weapon: His quick wits! Little guy is used to quickly thinking his way out of uncomfortable situations, and it turns out that translates rather well to adventuring.

style of combat: Panicked improvisation. He stays back and supports the heavy hitters with inspiration and magic and healing, all while muttering "Oh Gods, Oh Gods, Oh Gods..." under his breath. He really doesn't like to fight!

most prized possession: His violin. He plays a lot of instruments, but his violin is special. It was left to him by his first music teacher after he died, and losing it would be like losing a friend.

deepest desire: A return to peace and quiet and order and cleanliness, and just leaving all this trekking about in the wilderness behind! Although, if he could see that all these rather intimidating new friends are safe and well... He'd like that very much too...

guilty pleasure: Romance novels. Cyrill tries to keep his reading to more serious topics, but every now and then, he likes to snuggle up somewhere cozy and read some sappy love story. He's pretty sure he's never going to find someone special himself (surely his increasingly massive crush on Gale won't be reciprocated...), but it's nice to imagine.

best-kept secret: He doesn't have many secrets, really, but the biggest one at the moment is the fact that he's rapidly falling head over heels in love with a certain wizard. He hangs on Gale's every word, and delights in chatting with him about magic, music, poetry... He's absolutely certain he can't possibly be loved back, and doesn't know why he keeps hurting himself by imagining... But it's a nice kind of hurt.

greatest strength: Loyalty. Few people get close enough to timid little Cyrill to know it, but once he cares for someone? He'd sooner die than let them down. He'll follow them to the Hells and back, even if he's on the verge of a panic attack the whole way.

fatal flaw: The man just cannot voice his boundaries or discomforts if he thinks it might offend or upset someone. He's the sort to die of thirst rather than trouble someone for a glass of water, and it always goes terribly. Too nervous to tell the vampire that, hey, that's probably enough blood he's had now? Welp, now he's stuck in camp while his anaemic ass recovers. Can't tell his sweet druid friend that he's allergic to her cat form? Oops, just burst out sneezing during a stealth mission and now we're rolling initiative. Can't turn that sweet old lady down when she insists he come to her teahouse even though his gut tells him something's off? Oops, we're fighting a hag now!

favorite smell: Old books. Little man could spend the rest of his days quite happily in a library.

favorite spell or cantrip: Goes against his generally sweet nature, but Vicious Mockery. Sometimes all that pent up stress comes out in battle, because how dare that goblin hurt his new friend, and... oh, goblin is dead now. Did he do that?

pet peeve: Mud. Blood. Germs. The general grossness of adventuring. Makes his skin crawl. When Gale tells him he likes his musk he practically runs to the nearest body of water to try to clean himself.

bad habit: Being a doormat. Little guy really, really needs to learn to say no! Pretty much everything in his life has happened because he has such trouble telling people, no, actually, he'd really rather not.

hidden talent: Improv. Party needs a distraction? He can come up with songs on the fly with remarkable skill. He's going to really upset Raphael by turning his big bad villain song back at him!

leisure activity: Reading, and playing his various instruments. Maybe even a leisurely stroll if he's feeling adventurous! He... likes the quiet life.

favorite drink: A nice soothing cup of tea. Maybe a glass of sweet wine now and then, although he has no head for alcohol

comfort food: Buttered crumpets.

favorite person: From prior to the game, his old friend Sylvie, a fellow student from the bardic college he attended. She's very respectful of his timid nature, and knows not to pressure him. And now Gale, who as far as Cyrill is concerned, is just... magical.

favored display of affection (platonic and/or romantic): He's not huge on physical displays of affection (especially with larger folks... He's just a little guy!). Instead shows of affection tend to come in the form of offering a cup of tea, or listening to people as they vent. He's a very good listener. Also, taking song requests.

fondest childhood memory: He had a terrible stutter when he was younger, and it's why he first took singing lessons, since he didn't stutter when he sang. Finally having a way to express himself without feeling ridiculous was life-changing for him, and he looks back fondly on those first lessons.

Is there anything else you'd like to share? (feel free to include art or a screenshot of your Tav if available!): Cyrill was initially a little bit of a joke character, because I wanted a soft little guy to balance out my badass traumatized ladies, but I very quickly became genuinely fond of him. He's a sweet, special little guy <3

[just-more-trolls]

~Open Thread reply at your leisure~

> Your life wasn’t exactly the epitome of exciting; chores, food, job, food, chores, sleep. And it repeats night by night.

> Sometimes you can squeeze in extracurricular activities!

> So the fact you, with naught a second thought, chose a completely random direction to walk instead of making the trek to the teahouse was a slight surprise. You decided to listen to a small part of you to have an impromptu night off meandering with your hands in your hoodie pocket in an attempt to find something different.

> Something spontaneous.

[faithintaiwan]

July 22 - university, zoo, & teahouse

Fanny and I unfortunately stayed up late last night and started our day off exhausted. Our savior, the party bus was not with us, but we had a smaller shuttle which is infinitely better than the MRT. Our first stop was Yeh laoshi’s alma mater! We toured the dorms, the library, and got drinks at a coffee shop. Our lunch after was mid but the delicious drinks (osmanthus coffee and mixed berry smoothie) made up for it. Then we went to the zoo!! They had pandas here and I was so excited to see them!! We went as a group to look at them and caught one as it was being fed. It was sooo adorable and rotund!! I ended up buying panda socks and hair clips to commemorate the event.

Fanny, Eli, Andy, and I then made our way through the zoo looking at different animals and planning to end up at the red panda exhibit. It was unbelievably hot and the sun was beating down on us but the animals motivated me to continue. Two hours later when we finally reached the back of the zoo where the red pandas were we realized we couldn’t see them. It was devastating. All of our trekking for nothing!!

Thinking it was too hot for them, we left and went back on the shuttle. I bought some more plushies in the gift shop and soon found out that the red pandas were there but we needed to walk just a little further to their second enclosure. I wanted to kill myself. We had been so close. It’s ok though I’m sure we can find them elsewhere…

Finally, we went to a tea house and explored the area around it. It was so pretty but now I have six extra mosquito bites to add to my original three…

Academic Reflection

Yeh laoshi explained that her alma mater, National Cheng Chi University, is the second best university in all of Taiwan. During our bar crawl we also learned from our tour guide about how the application system works with multiple avenues to apply. People can apply using their grades, an interview, or more. This is kind of similar to the United States where our grades are mandatory to apply with and some universities offer or require an interview on top of them.

The second stop, the Taipei Zoo, was my favorite part!! China uses pandas as a diplomacy tactic. For example they gave them as a gift to Russia after they found color film of China’s current government founding. Taiwan first received pandas in 2008 (Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan) through EVA air (what Fanny and I flew!!) to encourage cultural exchange. Unfortunately, Tuan Tuan died in 2022 but Yuan Yuan and her cubs Yuan Zai and Yuan Bao are still at the zoo! The zoo also houses many other animals including the aforementioned red pandas, bison, and many different types of monkeys. One exhibit even had fake snakes to stare at with information about the actual creatures they were trying to replicate. It was so cool seeing all the animals, especially the pandas, since most zoos in the US don’t have pandas and some of the other species!

[fullmetalnihongostudy]

The Signs In Korea | Your Trip In Autumn | Will You Meet Someone?

🍂 Aries is a solo traveller. Headstrong and adventurous, you end up in Seoul by yourself but quickly make new friends who show you the Korean countryside and mountains wherw you trek and take amazing photos. You may not find love, but you're still in touch with them after the trip - and there were a couple of cute people who caught your eye...

🍂 For Taurus, the brilliant colors of a Korean autumn take you to a sensual heaven. Korea is full of amazing seasonal produce inspired by the natural world so now is the perfect time to travel. From traditional tea cookies to authentic kimchi there is never a boring moment.

🍂 As a Gemini, you've never wanted to stay tied to one thing for too long. As a result, you don't just stay in Seoul but find yourself travelling the country, checking out everything from remote trails to temples to regional specialities in Busan. There's not really much time for anything else in your packed itinery - but in the end it doesn't matter. You may be on a shoestring, but you're coming back next year.

🍂 As a Cancer, you have always been connected to the home and to your fourth house. On this trip you find yourself curled uo against the autumn chill in a traditional teahouse, after which the parents of your friends invite you back foe authentic cooking and more delicious hot tea. Warmed up from the inside, you don't want to leave, and you decide to stay another month in Korea. There's still time to find love!

🍂 Being a limelight-loving Leo, you naturally have to spend the time checking out Gangnam and the most loved spots of your favourite Kpop and Kdrama stars. You take tons of photos. It's sometimes hard to imagine yourself in their shoes, but in the end it doesn't matter. That cute person in the saju cafe was looking at you for way longer than they had any right to...

🍂 For Virgo, any trip has to be practical and take comfort into account. But the hotels are sparkling and top notch, and as you spend your time exploring the city, you begin to relax. In fact, browsing through cute Korean stationary and K fashion bring out your fun loving side enough that you end up striking up a conversatio n ;)

🍂 Hello Libra - you thrive in Seoul. In fact, you don't want to go back. As a sign of balance, a different culture completes you and broadens your worldview. You don't find love. However, you might find yourself instead.

🍂 Scorpio - you are the kind of person who looks at the hidden depths. As a result, Korean urban legends, mythology, and haunted places are perfect for you. You even meet another scorpio who introduces you to Korean horror and takes you to the parts of the city no tourists see. Til death do us part?

🍂 For Sagittarius, your bold and proactive attitude means you quickly get involved in thw dating scene. You also have no trouble singing karaoke with friends or just strolling in a local park. As a result, you find love - and you may even decide to stay in Seoul to see it blossom.

🍂 Earthly and traditional Capricorn has a deep sense of history. You spend your time visiting royal palaces and marvelling at historical Korean culture. Sometimes, the bright lights of Seoul shake you out of your reverie. You may not find love, but you are so involved it's a kind of romance in itself.

🍂 For Aquarius, Korea is almost like a spiritual experience. You've always been interested in the wider universe and a trip spent amongst shrines, temples, and untouched forests fulfills this deep within you. You may not find love, but you also may not need it.

🍂 Pisces, you have always been different and very dreamy. Somehow, as things come to pass, you find yourself far from the capital on the south coast, heading over to Jeju Island with a special someone. Unfortunately, life calls you back home - but you stay in a relationship. And despite the distance between you, you find it doesn't matter.

• • • • • • • • • 사랑 ☆ 평화 ☆ 모험 • • • • • • • • •

[adventurelandnepal]

Ghorepani Trek in Winter Season

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek can be organized in the winter season as well. While the winter months (December to February) bring colder temperatures and occasional snowfall, the trek is still feasible with proper preparation. Here are some considerations for trekking in the winter season:

Weather: Winter in the Annapurna region can be cold, especially at higher elevations. Daytime temperatures may range from mild to cold, and nighttime temperatures can drop significantly. Snowfall is possible, particularly at higher altitudes.

Clothing: It's essential to pack warm clothing, including insulated layers, a good-quality down jacket, thermal wear, and waterproof gear. Be prepared for chilly mornings and evenings.

Accommodation: The teahouses along the trail are generally open during the winter season, but it's advisable to check and confirm availability in advance. Accommodations may be less crowded compared to the peak trekking seasons in spring and autumn.

Trail Conditions: Depending on recent snowfall, some parts of the trail may be covered in snow. Proper trekking boots and trekking poles can be beneficial in navigating potentially slippery sections.

Poon Hill Sunrise: While the sunrise views from Poon Hill are still spectacular in winter, there may be a chance of cloud cover or fog. It's a good idea to check weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

Less Crowded: Winter is considered the off-season for trekking in the region, meaning fewer trekkers on the trail. If you prefer a quieter experience and don't mind the colder weather, this could be an advantage.

[whileiamdying]

Yoko Ono and the Dakota

Word that the pop culture icon has left the fabled Upper West Side apartment building that she defined for a generation has sparked reflection on her impact as a resident there for 50 years.

Derek Hudson/Getty Images

By Anna Kodé Published July 21, 2023 Updated July 24, 2023

Much is transient about New York City real estate. Buildings are demolished, cafes turn into Duane Reades and rents go up. But for the last 50 years, there was a constant — Yoko Ono lived in the Dakota. She stayed even after that tragic December day in 1980 when John Lennon was fatally shot right outside the building.

For years, tourists and New Yorkers alike trekked uptown, hoping to catch a glimpse or have the chance to meet the artist, singer and New York icon. Ms. Ono’s presence sustained the mystique of the Dakota — already well known as a coveted quarters for celebrities and artists when she and Mr. Lennon moved into the Upper West Side apartment complex in 1973.

To the distaste of some other residents, the couple at one point owned five units at the Dakota, which — in addition to being their primary residence — they used as a guest home, a storage space and a studio for Ms. Ono. The living space and studio alone had a combined square-footage of nearly 6,000 square feet, New York magazine reported in 1996.

Stories of the couple’s rumored lavish expenditures spread in tabloids and magazines, such as one 1979 report that Ms. Ono and Mr. Lennon imported a Japanese teahouse for their first-floor apartment, which they promptly returned upon realizing it was too large for the space. More mundane activities made the news too, including the couple contributing sushi to a building potluck.

Yoko Ono and John Lennon moved into the Dakota in 1973. Credit… Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images

After a half century of eccentricity, opulence and tragedy, Ms. Ono has moved out of New York City to the sprawling Catskills farm she bought with Mr. Lennon in 1978, according to reports earlier this year. For many, it signals that yet another link to old New York — the one filled with grit and glamour, run by artists and musicians — is missing. City residents and artists feel a sense of loss knowing that the odds of a momentary sighting or fleeting run-in with Ms. Ono are now even lower, and some have started writing tributes to her time in New York in blogs and small outlets.

The thought of New York without Ms. Ono is a New York with a little less magic.

After hearing the reports, author Lorraine Duffy Merkl wrote in the local news site The West Side Spirit, “I’m still in the ‘New York or Nowhere’ zone, but I have to confess, this native, Bronx girl was beginning to fade.”

“I think Yoko lent such a great romance to the Dakota,” said Julie Lucas, a trustee of the Emmy Awards.

In the early 2000s, Ms. Lucas briefly met Ms. Ono in the elevator of the Dakota. The interaction was fleeting, but impactful for Ms. Lucas, who remembers it sharply to this day.

“That was the one person, as we came into the Dakota, I had always hoped to see — not even talk to, but just see,” said Ms. Lucas, 71, who was there for a cocktail party hosted by television personality Maury Povich. “She had this wonderful calmness and sense of welcoming about her.” For the next 45 seconds or so, until the elevator opened its doors and the two went their separate ways, they spoke about a recent art exhibition of Ms. Ono’s.

“That building represents so much of the hopes of the ’70s and ’80s,” Ms. Lucas said. “And then when John Lennon was killed, she soldiered through all of that grief and stayed on in that building.”

Ms. Ono, who turned 90 earlier this year, no longer participates in interviews, Elliot Mintz, a representative for her, said in an email. Mr. Mintz said she “continues to own her apartment at the Dakota” and added that information on her whereabouts is kept private for security reasons.

‘The Capital of the Capital’

“I think Yoko lent such a great romance to the Dakota,” said Julie Lucas, a trustee of the Emmy Awards. Credit... Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images

The mid-rise, gothic style building sits at 1 West 72nd Street, overlooking Central Park, and was built by developer Edward Clark, who died before its completion in 1884. All 65 units in the complex were rented out before its doors even opened. As the popular tale goes, the Upper West Side was largely unclaimed at the time, so the building’s name came from the notion that it was so far away from developed downtown Manhattan that it might as well have been in Dakota, so say many guidebooks and New Yorkers. But in 1993, The Times reported that Mr. Clark wanted to name his projects after the new states and territories which were named in “excellent taste” (he also suggested Montana Place for Eighth Avenue and Idaho Place for 11th Avenue, but those didn’t stick).

Though it was sumptuous from the start, it wasn’t always the most expensive — there was a period of time where it was rent-controlled, drawing in creative types. Yet its design lends itself to a private way of life that celebrities would naturally seek out; the building encircles its courtyard, so it isn’t visible from the street. The ornate exterior and strict security make it obvious that it isn’t a place anyone can just stroll into.

As the setting for the 1968 classic horror film, “Rosemary’s Baby,” the building’s lore grew. If “New York were considered to be the capital of American art, culture and fashion, the Dakota seemed to be the Capital of the capital,” wrote Stephen Birmingham in his 1979 book, “Life at the Dakota.”

John Lennon and Yoko Ono lived together on the seventh floor of the Dakota. Credit... Scott Cardinal

Roberta Flack, Graydon Carter, Rosemary Clooney, Leonard Bernstein and Judy Garland have been on its long list of notable residents. It takes more than fame and wealth to get in — the co-op’s notoriously stringent board has rejected Billy Joel, Madonna and Cher.

The building’s board once stopped the documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, who was also a collaborator of Ms. Ono’s, from selling his unit to actress Melanie Griffith. “More and more, they’re moving away from creative people and going toward people who just have the money,” Mr. Maysles had told The Times in 2005.

Today, there is one unit listed for sale in the building: a 6,000 square-foot, five bedroom, nine bathroom apartment on the eighth floor. It has its own separate studio unit, and the listing price is $20 million.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday

Those who haven’t been inside the Dakota have been able to vicariously experience it through the stories and photos. One homey image, taken by rock ’n’ roll photographer Bob Gruen in 1975, shows Ms. Ono and Mr. Lennon sitting comfortably in bed with magazines splayed. In it, Mr. Lennon, who is wearing a robe, holds their newborn son, Sean. In 1980, Annie Leibovitz photographed Mr. Lennon nude and curled up, with his arms wrapped around Ms. Ono’s head while kissing her cheek. It would later run on the cover of Rolling Stone, but just hours after it was taken, Mr. Lennon was killed.

The Imagine mosaic is part of Strawberry Fields, a memorial for John Lennon in Central Park. Credit... Justin Lane/EPA, via Shutterstock

A crowd gathers in front of the Dakota a day after John Lennon was murdered. Credit... Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times

Another from Mr. Gruen, taken in 1981, shows Ms. Ono at work, photographing Mr. Lennon’s bloodstained glasses from that day for the album cover for “Season of Glass.”

Ms. Ono’s life in the Dakota was spent in the company of friends and collaborators.

Before Ms. Ono had moved there, in 1966, Mr. Maysles, the documentarian who also lived in the building, and his brother had filmed Ms. Ono’s performance work “Cut Piece.” The performance, which eventually became an influential work of Fluxus art, involved Ms. Ono inviting audience members to come up to her and cut off a piece of her clothing.

Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer of “Killing Me Softly,” had lived next door to Ms. Ono. In “Roberta,” a documentary about Ms. Flack, Sean Lennon said, “At first, you know, I didn’t even think of Roberta as this incredible artist and musician, she was just this really cool neighbor. We used to call her Aunt Roberta.”

“We’re very close to each other and our kitchen is connected,” Ms. Ono said in the documentary.

Erika Belle had heard the stories. So when Keith Haring, a friend of Ms. Belle’s, invited her to dinner at Ms. Ono’s apartment on a rainy Tuesday night in the 1980s, she let out a squeal. “I’d been obsessed with that building, like many lifelong New Yorkers, for years,” Ms. Belle, who is in her 60s, said in an interview. “It had so much old, ’50s Hollywood glamour.”

“To arrive at that building and to know that I was meeting Yoko, was like ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Happy birthday’ all rolled into one,” said Ms. Belle who co-owned the nightclub Lucky Strike and is a model. Ms. Belle was also a backup dancer for Madonna, who she said came to the Dakota with her that evening.

After taking off her shoes to enter, the first thing Ms. Belle noticed about Ms. Ono’s apartment was “how high the ceilings and how wide the hallways were. You could drive a car through those hallways.”

The dinner menu was simply takeout from a Chinese restaurant, but the highlight of the night was getting an apartment tour from Ms. Ono. “She held my hand — even saying it now, I get goose bumps — and asked, ‘Do you want to see the apartment?’”

It was an obvious yes from Ms. Belle. What she remembers most from that intimate walk-through wasn’t a work of art or an expensive piece of furniture, but a bathroom. “Yoko took me to see this bathroom, and she said she left it the same as the day John was murdered,” Ms. Belle said. “She’s like, ‘I haven’t touched this bathroom.’ And that was very touching and moving.”

‘New York Is Like an Old Friend’

Before Ms. Ono was associated with the glamour of the Dakota, she lived downtown, where she became a pioneer of conceptual art.

After moving from Japan in the early 1950s, Ms. Ono attended Sarah Lawrence College in a suburb north of New York. She dropped out in 1956, and then moved to the city. Many of the places she lived and spent time in became meeting places for artists and are now unofficial landmarks of the downtown art scene. In the early 1960s, her Chambers Street loft was where she organized performance events with composer La Monte Young. This became the Chambers Street Loft Series, which was attended by John Cage, Peggy Guggenheim and Marcel Duchamp.

For her 2015 MoMA show, Ms. Ono reflected on that time in her life. “By then, I knew a few people. And I realized that all these people usually create music in New York City,” she said. “But there’s no place for them to present their work. And I said, you know, I think it’s a great idea if we created a place where all of us can present our music.”

The Chambers Street loft was a far stretch — in city blocks and in essence — from the Dakota. “It’s a cold water flat, and it was in the winter. It was so cold, you know? We didn’t even have electricity,” Ms. Ono said.

Ms. Ono and Mr. Lennon first met at an exhibition of her work in London in 1966. Credit… Getty

In 1965, Ms. Ono performed “Morning Piece” at 87 Christopher Street, where she briefly lived and worked as a superintendent. She and Mr. Lennon met in 1966, at an exhibition of her work in London — she had a work titled “Apple,” which featured a real apple on display, and Mr. Lennon went up and bit into it.

The couple soon moved to 105 Bank Street, which is now memorialized as “John Lennon’s First New York Home” on Google Maps. They lived there from 1971 to 1973, when they, as the Plastic Ono Band, released the album “Some Time in New York City.”

In more recent times, Ms. Ono has expressed her evolving relationship with New York through posts on Twitter. “John once said that he fell in love with New York on a street corner,” she said in January of this year.

After half a century of Ms. Ono living at the Dakota, and even longer in New York altogether, New Yorkers are filled with nostalgia, melancholy and gratitude for the various ways she has shaped the city and their life in it.

To many people, Ms. Ono will forever be a part of New York. The writer and curator Phillip Ward — who organized a public 90th birthday celebration for Ms. Ono earlier this year — thinks of the artist every time he passes by the Dakota. “I always look up and just smile and say, ‘Thank you,’” he said.

Ms. Ono, too, has felt reflective about her time in New York.

“New York is like an old friend. It has its moods,” Ms. Ono wrote in 2017. “But I know them all.”

“John once said that he fell in love with New York on a street corner,” Ms. Ono said in January of this year. Credit… Derek Hudson/Getty Images

Susan C. Beachy and Kirsten Noyes contributed research.

Audio produced by Parin Behrooz.

Anna Kodé is a reporter for the Real Estate section of The Times. She writes about design trends, housing issues and the relationship between identity and home. More about Anna Kodé

[missionhimalayatrek]

Trekking to Everest Base Camp: A Journey of Discovery

Welcome, adventurers! Today, I'm thrilled to share with you the exhilarating experience of trekking to Everest Base Camp. Join me as we venture into the heart of the Himalayas, navigating rugged trails, charming villages, and breathtaking vistas along the way.

Introduction to Everest Base Camp: The Everest Base Camp trek is an iconic journey that takes trekkers to the foot of the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest. Located in the Khumbu region of Nepal, this legendary trail offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the majesty of the Himalayas up close.

Preparing for the Trek: Our journey begins with careful preparation and planning. We gather our gear, lace up our boots, and set off for the trailhead in the village of Lukla. Excitement fills the air as we take our first steps on the trail, eager for the adventure that lies ahead.

Traversing Diverse Landscapes: As we trek through the Khumbu region, the landscape transforms around us. We pass through lush forests, terraced fields, and high-altitude valleys, each offering its own unique beauty and challenges. The ever-changing scenery keeps us captivated as we make our way towards Everest Base Camp.

Encountering Local Culture: Along the way, we have the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the rich culture and hospitality of the Sherpa people. From cozy teahouses to bustling mountain villages, each stop along the trail provides insight into the daily life and traditions of the local communities.

Ascending to New Heights: As we ascend higher into the mountains, the air grows thinner, and the trail becomes steeper. We navigate rocky terrain, cross swinging suspension bridges, and climb countless stone steps, all in pursuit of our goal – reaching Everest Base Camp.

Reaching the Base Camp: Finally, after days of trekking, we catch our first glimpse of Everest Base Camp nestled amidst the Khumbu Glacier. The sight of colorful tents and fluttering prayer flags against the backdrop of towering peaks is a moment we'll never forget. We pause to soak in the achievement and reflect on the journey that brought us here.

Reflecting on the Journey: As we make our way back down the trail, we reflect on the incredible journey we've undertaken. The challenges we've faced, the friendships we've forged, and the memories we've made – each moment has been a testament to the power of adventure and perseverance.

Conclusion: Trekking to Everest Base Camp is more than just a journey – it's an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. So lace up your boots, pack your bags, and join us on this epic adventure into the heart of the Himalayas. Until next time, happy trekking!

[thessalian]

Astrid vs The Hag

Trekking through the swamp

Astrid: Huh. There's a teahouse up there.

Astarion: Darling, that's a hovel.

Astrid: You remember Baldur's Gate. I've played in worse. Oh, wait. Who's that up there?

Astarion: Oh. That would be a Gur. Filthy animals.

Gandrel: Eh, I've been called worse. Out here hunting a vampire spawn named Astarion.

Astarion: *noticeably nervous*

Astrid: Did you get a description of this 'Astarion'?

Astarion: *winces*

Gandrel: No, unfortunately. That's why I'm up here to do a deal with the local hag.

Astrid: You're ... willing to pay a blood price to a swamp hag to kill one vampire spawn?

Gandrel: Well, to bring him back alive, actually. Them's the orders. He's wanted down in Baldur's Gate.

Astrid: Well ... good luck. If you're dealing with a hag, you're going to need it. Have a good one!

Astarion: ...once again I am in the position of having to thank you...

Astrid: Just remember, this means that you don't get to glare disapprovingly at me if the hag offers power to spare her life. Because her dying means she's not alive to help Dude Up There hunt you. We've established he doesn't have a description, so we'll know you're safe for awhile until whoever hired him gets smart enough to actually provide a description of you.

Astarion: ...oh fine.

Some while later, in the 'tea room'

Astrid: I mean ... some of this is useful, but I don't think I want to take any of this food back to camp...

Gale: Look ... I know we're about to go in there and ... you know, fight a hag and all, but ... I'm not in very good shape right now and--

Astrid: *hands him Gloves of Sparkling*

Gale: Thank you. You're ... going to ask how this happened and I'm not going to be able to tell you and it will be, as you put it, "A Thing", but--

Astrid: We're about to chase a swamp hag into her own lair, Gale. As long as you don't want my missle-snagging mitts, we're fine.

Gale: ...no promises, I'm afraid.

Astrid: ...Nuts. Never mind. Time to save a damsel in distress.

Several traps, brainwashed thugs, and novel ways to fuck someone over in a bargain later

Hag: *Vicious Mockery resonance* THOU PASTY POX-PITTED PULTROON!

Astarion: Points for alliteration, but compared to the blonde up there, that's amateur hour. *SHANK*

Astrid: Actually, I've got something better in mind for her.

Astarion: Oh, this should be interesting...

Astrid: *Dissonant Whispers hiss* Contract. Lawyers.

Hag: *failed save* NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! Look, you, half-elf!

Astrid: Sorry; little busy killing you.

Hag: No, you're too much a cinnamon roll. I meant the other half-elf.

Shadowheart: Excuse you?

Hag: Look, just leave, and let me have the girl, and I'll grant you power! You know you want it!

Shadowheart: Can't say I don't. Still. *Sacred Flame*

Astrid: *NOW the Vicious Mockery resonance* LOSING YOUR TOUCH, THERE, OUR LADY OF LOOPHOLES THE SIZE OF A DRAGON?!? OR DID YOU LOSE YOUR WITS AS WELL AS THIS FIGHT?

Hag: *straight-up dies*

Astarion: I am not allowed to glare at her for wanting to kill the hag instead of bargaining. But ... why did you not go for it?

Shadowheart: Two very pragmatic reasons. One - I have no wish to be insulted to death by the Mistress of Mockery over there. Two - the hag's worst nightmare was the very concept of contract lawyers. I feel like I would have had the worst end of that from both of them if I'd agreed.

Astarion: Mm. Fair. However, she did seem to have an idea about our tadpole passengers...

Gale: You ... did see how she interpreted people's wishes before, yes?

Marlina: You assholes!

Astrid: ...Um ... you were ... in a burning cage...

Marlina: She was going to bring back my husband in exchange for my baby, and my baby would have had everything and I'd have had my husband back! I HATE YOU!

Gale: Madam ... your brothers died following you here and however precipitate they were in refusing our help, they're still smarter than you. As in ... the actual corpses are smarter than you. The hag would never have given you exactly what you wanted--

Astarion: She was making you eat a spoiled treacle tart, madam. That can't have been good for--

Astrid: Um ... I was digging around in the back room and I found ... this wand ... with your husband's name on it?

Marlina: ...All is forgiven! Come on! Let's bring him back!

Gale: This ... I mean, all right, but ... we know this is going to end badly. Yes?

Astrid: Probably, but I don't think talking to her is going to help at all. Some people need to see for themselves.

Awhile later, back at camp

Astrid: Why are you looking at an image of Mystra like--

Gale: ...Reverence of magic itself. Yes. That. ...Channel the Weave with me?

Astrid: Sure. Hopefully it'll take my mind off Marlina dragging her husband's necromancy-reanimated corpse to Baldur's Gate...

That entire scene: *is just too adorable to really mock*

Romance option for this playthrough: *officially decided*

[missionsummittreks]

Everest Base Camp Trek - Conquer the Roof of the World!

🏔️ 📅 Trip Duration: 14 days 

📍 Destination: Nepal 

🏞️ Trip Difficulty: Strenuous 

🚍 Transport: Kathmandu - Lukla - Kathmandu 

🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (BLD) during the trek 🏠

 Accommodation: Cozy Teahouses & Lodges 

👥 Group Size: Small & Personalized (Min. 1 / Max. 15) 

⛰️ Max Elevation: 5,364m - Everest Base Camp 

⏰ Walking Hours: 5-7 hours daily 

🏁 Start/End: Kathmandu/Kathmandu 

🚶‍♂️ Trekking Type: Local Lodge-based Tea House Trek 

🌈 Best Season: February to May, September to December

🌟 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Trek to the base camp of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest.

Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Khumbu region.

Witness stunning panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and more.

Explore the Sherpa culture and traditions in mountain villages.

Visit the famous Tengboche Monastery and receive blessings for a successful trek.

Travel with a small group for an intimate and personalized experience.

📋 DETAILED ITINERARY

 Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu Arrive in Kathmandu, 

the bustling capital of Nepal. Meet your trekking guide and fellow adventurers. Rest and prepare for the exciting journey ahead.

Day 2: Flight to Lukla, Trek to Phakding (2,651m) 

Take a thrilling flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region. Embark on the trek to Phakding, passing through picturesque landscapes.

Day 3: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,440m) 

Continue the trek along the Dudh Koshi River. Climb up to Namche Bazaar, the vibrant Sherpa trading hub.

Day 4: Acclimatization Day in Namche Bazaar 

Acclimatize to the increasing altitude in Namche Bazaar. Explore the town and enjoy panoramic views of Everest and surrounding peaks.

Day 5: Trek to Tengboche (3,867m) 

Trek through rhododendron forests and reach the Tengboche Monastery. Experience the serene ambiance and panoramic mountain vistas.

Day 6: Trek to Dingboche (4,260m) 

Descend to Debuche and cross the Imja River. Climb uphill to Dingboche, a beautiful village surrounded by mountains.

Day 7: Acclimatization Day in Dingboche 

Take a day to acclimatize in Dingboche. Hike to Nagarjun Hill for breathtaking views of Ama Dablam and Lhotse.

Day 8: Trek to Lobuche (4,930m) 

Trek through the moraines of the Khumbu Glacier. Reach Lobuche, a popular stop before reaching Everest Base Camp.

Day 9: Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and Gorak Shep (5,140m) 

Ascend to the ultimate destination, Everest Base Camp. Witness the majestic Khumbu Icefall and the towering Everest. Descend to Gorak Shep for overnight stay.

Day 10: Hike to Kala Patthar (5,545m), 

Trek to Pheriche (4,371m) Early morning hike to Kala Patthar for a stunning sunrise view over Everest. Descend to Pheriche, another beautiful Sherpa village.

Day 11: Trek to Namche Bazaar Trek back to Namche Bazaar, 

enjoying the scenic landscapes. Relax and celebrate the successful completion of the trek.

Day 12: Trek to Lukla Continue the trek to Lukla, 

the last leg of the journey. Reflect on the incredible adventure and bid farewell to the mountains.

Day 13: Flight to Kathmandu Fly back to Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel. Rest and celebrate the achievement of reaching Everest Base Camp.

Day 14: Departure Say goodbye to Nepal, 

carrying with you unforgettable memories. Depart with a sense of accomplishment and a love for the Himalayas.

💰 COST INCLUDES

Airport transfers upon arrival and departure.

Domestic flights (Kathmandu - Lukla - Kathmandu) with airport taxes.

Accommodation in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast.

Tea house or lodge accommodation during the trek.

All meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) during the trek.

Licensed English-speaking trekking guide.

Porter service (1 porter for 2 trekkers) to carry your trekking gear.

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit.

TIMS card (Trekker's Information Management System).

All government taxes and official expenses.

🚫 COST EXCLUDES

International airfare to and from Kathmandu.

Nepal entry visa fees (available upon arrival at Kathmandu airport).

Travel and rescue insurance (mandatory).

Personal expenses such as additional meals, drinks, and snacks.

Tips for trekking staff (guide, porter, etc.).

Any extra costs incurred due to unforeseen circumstances (natural disasters, flight delays, roadblocks, etc.).

Any services not mentioned in the "Cost Includes" section.

🗨️ FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS, CONTACT US: Email: info@missionsummuittreks.com WhatsApp: +977-9808262524

https://www.missionsummittreks.com/trip/everest-base-camp-trek/

🌄 Embark on a journey to conquer Everest Base Camp! 🌄

[glorioushimalaya]

How much does it cost to trek to Everest Base Camp?

It is a most asked question amongst the thrill seekers who wanted to visit Everest Base camp once in a lifetime. Whether you hike to Everest Base Camp on your own or with a guide will affect how much it will cost. In addition, numerous other considerations, such as the route you take, your meals and lodging, come into play. An average classic Everest Base Camp trek, which most hikers complete and begins in Lukla, can cost roughly *USD 1,200. Luxury expeditions to Everest Base Camp might run you between $3,300 and $4,500 per person. The price of the Everest base camp trek also depends on the days you choose. There are 12 Days Everest Base Camp Trek and 14 Days Everest base camp trek itinerary.

How much does it cost to trek to Everest Base Camp? Here are the expected cost breakdowns for the Everest Base Camp trip, including guide, porter fees, travel expenses, permits, and the cost of trekking supplies and transportation.

The cost of lodging

During the trek, you will mostly stay in basic teahouses known as teahouses. However, if you’ve signed up for a luxury journey, you’ll stay in the well facilitated lodges at some places. Major trekking hubs like Lukla, Phakding, and Namche Bazaar provide a wider range of lodging options.

The cost of a twin-sharing room in a basic teahouse ranges from USD 5 to USD 10 per day. It means, for a 12-day hike, your total accommodation costs will around USD 200. Luxury lodging can cost more between $200-250 per night.

Permit expenses

Trekkers are required to obtain two permits for Everest base camp trek that are Sagarmatha National Park Permit and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit.

Cost of trekking equipment

The costs of the trekking gears are depending on the quality you choose. You can easily get all the qualities trekking equipment in Thamel. In the Himalayas, weather and terrain conditions might be difficult, so it makes sense to take quality equipment.

Backpacks, trekking poles, polarized sunglasses, route maps, torches, extra batteries, and rain jackets are all included in the list of trekking necessities. Additionally, the tools can be rented. Your total trekking equipment should cost you between USD 300 to USD 500.

Lukla flights or ground transports expenses.

Normally, a starting point of this trek is Lukla, and is often reached by flight from Kathmandu or Ramechhap. The approximate cost of the round trip flight is USD 390 per person.

Alternatively, from Kathmandu, you can take a local bus or jeep drive to Jiri or Salleri.  After reaching Salleri or Jiri, you need to trek about 2-4 days to get. It is a legendary foothill trail that was followed by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey Sherpa in their Everest Expedition in 1953. The cost of hiring a jeep is from $150-200 and $12-15 for local bus ticket.

Cost of independent trip versus a guided tour

Local trekking companies in Kathmandu operate guided group tours to Everest Base Camp. If you trek with an organized group all of your logistics, including accommodations, foods, transportations, guide, permits and porters are arranged by the agency.

A fully guided trek ought to cost between USD 1,300 and USD 1,500. You can trek with both guide and porter, or only with porter who serves as both a guide and a porter for independent treks.

The cost of the independent trek can be varying, depending on how much you eat food and the lodging you choose. Normally, it would cost between $ 1000-1200 including all your meals, Lukla flights, porter, accommodations and foods during the trek.

Note: Trek to Everest Base Camp with an organized group through local agency or with local guide and porter is much safer than the independent hike.

Porter wages

If you need porters for the Everest base camp trek, you can hire them from Lukla. A porter from Lukla typically charges USD 20-25 per day and can communicate in English. A porter is advised if you are a novice trekker. Hiring a porter can make your trekking in Nepal more comfort and pleasurable.

Food and drink expenses

The costs of food are variable depending on what you choose in your meal. Food and water prices may increase as you go higher. There are plenty additional choices for meal, including soups, momos, fried rice noodles, and spring rolls. Pasta, pizza, or chicken sizzlers are also available at a high cost. You should expect to pay between USD 5-7 for a basic breakfast and USD 6–12 for lunch or dinner. Bottled water might cost anywhere between USD 1.5 to USD 4. You can refill your bottled with boiled or filtered water as an alternatives of buying bottled water.  

Travel insurance costs

Having a full coverage of travel insurance is beneficial for Everest base camp trek in case of any losses or emergencies.  Altitude sickness, mishaps, and canceled flights are additional scenarios that could be difficult. Due to this reason, travel insurance is required to reduce all of these hazards. You can purchase full coverage of insurance around $150-200 dollar that covers all your medical, health and emergency rescue services. It is highly recommended for your financial security.

[trekkingroutes]

"Unveiling Mardi Himal: A Trekker's Paradise"

Nestled in the Annapurna region of Nepal, the Mardi Himal trek is a stunning journey that offers trekkers a unique experience away from the more crowded trails. Known for its breathtaking views, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural encounters, this trek is a perfect choice for those seeking adventure and tranquility.

The Route

The Mardi Himal trek typically begins in the lively city of Pokhara, where trekkers can enjoy the serene beauty of Phewa Lake and the backdrop of the Annapurna range. From Pokhara, the journey commences with a short drive to Kande, the starting point of the trek. The trail winds through lush forests, charming villages, and terraced fields, allowing trekkers to immerse themselves in the local culture.

As you ascend, the landscape transforms dramatically. You’ll traverse through rhododendron forests, where vibrant flowers bloom in spring, and catch glimpses of the towering peaks of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and Machapuchare, also known as Fish Tail due to its unique shape.

Highlights of the Trek

Mardi Himal Base Camp: The highlight of the trek is undoubtedly the Mardi Himal Base Camp, situated at an altitude of 4,500 meters. The panoramic views from this point are nothing short of spectacular, providing trekkers with a stunning backdrop of the Annapurna range. The sunrise view from here is a magical experience, painting the peaks in hues of orange and pink.

Cultural Encounters: The trek also offers opportunities to interact with the local Gurung and Magar communities. Staying in teahouses along the way allows trekkers to savor traditional Nepali cuisine and learn about the rich cultural heritage of the region. Enjoying dal bhat (rice and lentils) with local families is a highlight, as is participating in evening storytelling sessions around the hearth.

Less Crowded Trails: One of the significant advantages of the Mardi Himal trek is its lesser-known status compared to the popular Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp treks. This means you can enjoy a more peaceful trekking experience, surrounded by the sounds of nature rather than large crowds.

Diverse Flora and Fauna: The trail is rich in biodiversity. Trekkers may spot various species of birds, unique plants, and even the occasional Himalayan deer. The changing landscapes—from lush green valleys to rocky terrains—add to the trek’s allure.

Preparation Tips

Preparing for the Mardi Himal trek is essential to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:

Physical Fitness: While the trek is moderately challenging, good physical fitness will enhance your experience. Incorporate cardio, strength training, and hiking into your routine before the trip.

Acclimatization: Allow yourself to acclimatize to higher altitudes to prevent altitude sickness. Take your time on the trail and stay hydrated.

Guide or Solo: Consider hiring a local guide. Their knowledge of the terrain, culture, and weather can enhance your trek and provide a safer experience.

What to Pack

Packing wisely is crucial for a successful trek. Here’s a basic checklist:

Clothing: Layered clothing is key. Bring moisture-wicking base layers, warm insulating layers, and a waterproof outer layer. Don’t forget a warm hat, gloves, and a buff.

Footwear: Sturdy trekking boots with good ankle support are essential. Break them in before your trek to avoid blisters.

Sleeping Gear: A good sleeping bag rated for colder temperatures will enhance your comfort during nights at higher altitudes.

Hydration and Nutrition: A reusable water bottle and purification tablets are recommended. Snack bars and trail mix can provide quick energy during long trekking days.

First Aid Kit: A basic first aid kit with personal medications, blister care, and altitude sickness remedies is a must.

Personal Reflections

Many trekkers describe the Mardi Himal trek as transformative. The stunning natural beauty, combined with the peaceful ambiance and cultural experiences, often leads to moments of reflection and appreciation for nature. Whether it’s sitting at a viewpoint with fellow trekkers, enjoying a moment of solitude, or simply taking in the vastness of the mountains, the trek leaves a lasting impression.

Conclusion

The Mardi Himal trek is a breathtaking adventure that showcases the beauty of the Himalayas while allowing trekkers to experience the rich culture of Nepal. With its stunning landscapes, serene surroundings, and unforgettable memories, it’s a trek that beckons both seasoned adventurers and those looking for their first taste of the high mountains. So, pack your bags, lace up your boots, and prepare for an unforgettable journey to one of Nepal’s hidden gems!

MardiHimalTrek#TrekkingNepal#HimalayanAdventure#ExploreNepal#AnnapurnaRegion#TrekkingJourney#MardiHimal#NatureLovers#NepalTrekking#Himalayas#AdventureAwaits#MountainViews#HiddenGems#Wanderlust#TravelDiaries

[letstravelsworld]

Why Nepal Vacation Should Be on Your Travel Bucket List?

Nepal, nestled between the majestic Himalayas and the diverse landscapes of the Indian subcontinent, is a travel destination that captivates adventurers, nature lovers, and cultural enthusiasts alike. A Nepal Vacation Tour offers a unique blend of spiritual experiences, thrilling outdoor activities, and breathtaking scenery. Whether you’re seeking to explore ancient temples, hike up some of the world's tallest peaks, or immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture, Nepal is an experience unlike any other. Here are several compelling reasons why Nepal should be on your travel bucket list.

Reason to select Nepal for Vacation Tour-

The Stunning Natural Landscapes

Nepal is home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest, making it a paradise for trekking and hiking enthusiasts. The iconic Annapurna Circuit, the Everest Base Camp trek, and many others attract adventurers from around the globe. Whether you are a seasoned mountaineer or a casual hiker, Nepal's natural beauty offers unforgettable vistas at every turn. But beyond the mountains, Nepal’s landscapes also encompass lush jungles, rolling hills, and tranquil lakes. Pokhara, known for its beautiful lakes and laid-back atmosphere, provides a peaceful retreat where visitors can enjoy boating and reflection.

A Rich Cultural Heritage

Nepal boasts a rich cultural heritage that reflects a harmonious blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions.The birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini, is open to visitors and is a popular Buddhist pilgrimage destination worldwide. The historical city of Bhaktapur and the temples of Patan Durbar Square offer insights into Nepal's architectural brilliance, reflecting centuries-old craftsmanship. These locations transport travelers back in time and provide a deeper understanding of Nepal’s cultural roots.

Thrilling Adventure Activities

For adrenaline junkies, a Nepal Vacation Tour offers a plethora of adventure sports and activities. Paragliding aficionados flock to Pokhara because of its tranquil Phewa Lake and expansive views of the Himalayas. Nepal’s fast-flowing rivers make it an ideal destination for white-water rafting, while its diverse landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for mountain biking and canyoning. Nepal promises to be an exciting and thrilling adventure destination.

Warm and Welcoming People

One of the highlights of visiting Nepal is the warm hospitality and friendliness of its people. Whether you’re staying in a teahouse during a trek or chatting with a shopkeeper in Kathmandu, the people of Nepal will make your stay truly memorable.

Perfect Destination for Wellness and Spiritual Retreats

Nepal’s serene environment and spiritual history make it an excellent destination for wellness retreats. Many travelers visit Nepal for meditation, yoga retreats, and spiritual healing, taking advantage of the country’s peaceful surroundings. With several monasteries, meditation centers, and yoga retreats, Nepal offers travelers the opportunity to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect with themselves.

Easy Access from India: Combine with an India & Nepal Tour Package

For travelers coming from or exploring India, Nepal is an easily accessible destination. Many choose to opt for an India & Nepal Tour Package, which allows them to experience the best of both worlds. By combining the cultural richness of India with the natural beauty and adventure of Nepal, visitors can enjoy a more comprehensive travel experience. Whether you're exploring the palaces and forts of India or trekking through the mountains of Nepal, this combined tour offers a seamless journey between two neighboring countries that share a deep cultural connection. With convenient flight routes and visa-on-arrival options, planning an India & Nepal Tour Package is easier than ever.

Affordable and Diverse Accommodation Options

From luxury hotels and boutique stays in cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara to budget-friendly guesthouses and teahouse lodges on trekking routes, travelers can choose an option that fits their preferences. For those seeking a more authentic experience, staying in local homestays allows visitors to immerse themselves in Nepalese culture while supporting local communities.

Conclusion A Nepal Vacation Tour provides an exceptional travel experience, combining adventure, culture, spirituality, and natural beauty. From trekking the world’s tallest mountains to exploring ancient temples, Nepal offers something for every type of traveler. Because of its amazing people, rich history, and stunning scenery, this place is a must-see. Whether you're looking for thrilling outdoor activities or peaceful retreats, Nepal is the perfect addition to any travel bucket list.

[junesmith]

Necessary Equipment for Ghorepani Poonhill Trek

The Ghorepani Poonhill route offers a magnificent experience. The breathtaking vistas of the Annapurna range, the lovely forests, and the kindness of the local villages leave a lasting impression. However, as gorgeous as this walk is, being well-prepared is vital for properly enjoying it. I learned this the hard way on my first attempt, when I overlooked certain essential supplies and had to endure unnecessary discomfort. So, if you’re planning a stroll along this magnificent trail, here’s a list of must-have gear.

1. Good Hiking Boots

A solid pair of hiking boots can make or break your trek. The trails are a mix of rocky paths, steep ascents, and sometimes muddy terrain. On my first day, I met a fellow trekker who had worn casual shoes. By day two, she had blisters and could barely walk. My heart went out to her as I saw her limping up the trail, struggling with every step. Don’t make the same mistake — invest in comfortable, waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support. Break them in before the trek so your feet can adjust to them.

2. Layered Clothing

The weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. Mornings and evenings are often cold, but during the day, you’ll warm up as you hike. I remember starting the day all bundled up, only to strip down to my t-shirt an hour into the trek as the sun came out. Pack in layers — a moisture-wicking base layer, a warm fleece, and a windproof jacket will cover most conditions. It’s not just about comfort; it’s about staying safe from the cold or overheating.

3. Rain Gear

Even if you trek during the dry season, rain can surprise you in the mountains. A poncho or a lightweight rain jacket is a must. On one of the days, halfway through our hike, clouds suddenly gathered, and it poured. I watched some trekkers scramble to find shelter under trees, but they were soaked within minutes. I had my rain jacket handy, and it made all the difference. Staying dry keeps your spirits high when the weather turns.

4. Trekking Poles

Trekking poles may seem unnecessary to some, but they were lifesavers for me, especially during the steep descents. Your knees will thank you after hours of walking down rocky steps. I remember feeling my legs tremble as we descended toward Tikhedhunga after a long day. The poles provided extra support and helped me keep my balance.

5. Warm Hat and Gloves

Poonhill itself is chilly, especially if you’re heading up for the sunrise. I made the mistake of leaving my gloves at the lodge one morning and regretted it while standing at the viewpoint with numb fingers. The panoramic view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges was breathtaking, but it was hard to focus when I could barely feel my hands.

6. Headlamp

Power outages are common in the mountains, and many guesthouses don’t have electricity at night. A headlamp is crucial, especially if you plan to catch the early morning sunrise at Poonhill. On my second night, the power went out, and I had to fumble through my bag in complete darkness. A small headlamp would have saved me so much frustration.

7. Reusable Water Bottle and Purification Tablets

Staying hydrated is key during the trek, but buying bottled water at every stop can get expensive and isn’t eco-friendly. Carry a reusable water bottle and use water purification tablets. I felt a strong sense of guilt every time I saw the empty plastic bottles along the trail. It’s our responsibility as travelers to leave these beautiful places as we found them.

8. Snacks

Even though you’ll find plenty of teahouses along the way, it’s always nice to have some trail snacks. Energy bars, dried fruits, and nuts can give you that extra boost when you’re feeling tired. I shared some of my snacks with a fellow trekker who was exhausted after a long climb, and it felt good to offer some comfort. The simple act of sharing a snack can create small, meaningful connections along the trail.

9. Basic First Aid Kit

It’s always smart to carry a basic first aid kit with items like band-aids, antiseptic cream, and painkillers. On my trek, one of the hikers twisted her ankle, and having a few pain relievers on hand helped her manage the pain until we reached the next village. It’s a small thing, but being prepared can make a big difference for yourself and others.

10. Permits and Documents

Don’t forget your permits — the TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System) card and the Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP). You won’t get far without them, and trust me, the last thing you want is to be turned away at a checkpoint after all the excitement of starting your trek.

Final Thoughts

The Ghorepani Poonhill Trek is a relatively short and moderate trek, but the more prepared you are, the more enjoyable it will be. Having the right gear made my trek much smoother and allowed me to focus on the incredible beauty around me. There were moments when I stood in awe of the sunrise at Poonhill or the peaceful forests, and I felt grateful to be there, fully immersed in the experience without distractions.