#the healer befriending the disease

[a-world-of-whimsy-5]

Ficlets for @hotd-bigbang week 1 winter prompts: Fire | Furs | Forest

Pairings: Daemon/Laena | Alicent/Viserys | Rhaenyra/Harwin

Warnings: Canon Targaryen/Velaryon marriage | Pregnancy | Illness | Self-harm | Blood | Alcohol consumption | Mention of open marriage | Blood | Animal death

Minors DNI | 18+ | You are responsible for the media you consume

Winter divider by @mikeykuns

“Little dragon”

Pairing: Daemon/Laena | Prompt: Fire

Themes: Soft

Warnings: Canon Targaryen/Velaryon marriage | Pregnancy

Word count: 203 words

Summary: Daemon and Laena talk about their soon to be born baby.

Daemon rested his hand on his wife’s belly, his smile broadening when he felt something akin to a flutter against the flat of his palm.

“This one is strong,” he murmured when he felt another kick. A third followed when he leaned in and whispered softly in Valyrian.

“Our little dragon,” Laena sighed, grateful for the cushions against her back, the stool beneath her feet, and the fire in the hearth. “Or dragons, if what the healers say is true. Twins, curse my luck.”

“I think the one who should be cursed in this instance is me, I think. I am why you are with child.”

“Yes,” she agreed tartly, and she rubbed her belly. The babe was strong, and seemed determined to give her no peace. “And I will make sure to remind you of that when I begin my labors.”

“Knowing you, each reminder would be quite colorful and inventive, to be sure.” Daemon rose and went to the hearth when Laena shivered. She watched him kneel beside an old wooden box and add more logs to the fire. “Is that better?”

The room grew warmer, and more comfortable. Laena closed her eyes in contentment and said, “Yes, husband. Much better.”

“Misery”

Pairing: Viserys /Alicent| Prompt: Furs

Themes: Angst-ish/Dark

Warnings: Illness | Self-harm | Blood

Wordcount: 274 words

Summary: Alicent reflects on what became of her life after she wed the king.

“You are cold, my lord.” Alicent brought forth another pelt. When she draped it over her husband’s withered shoulders, he startled, and turned to face her. His eyes, once a most bewitching shade of lilac, were now clouded from age and disease. Alicent bit her tongue, silently awaiting the answer her husband, the king, had been wont to give long before their youngest, Daeron, was even born.  

“My thanks, Aemma.” Viserys turned his gaze toward the fire. His body—weak and buried beneath numerous furs—collapsed into his seat as he slowly lost himself to a world of dreams. His wife stood behind him, seething to herself and pinching at her fingers until she gasped in pain. Alicent looked at her hand. Her thumb was bleeding around the nail.

All these years of forfeiting mine own happiness and toiling on behalf of my father and this husk I call a husband, and for what? She thought bitterly to herself. Misery and loneliness of the acutest kind? Is this to be my reward for duty? Is this to be my reward for sacrifice?

It was wholly unfair. It made Alicent want to tear at her hair and scream and then gather her children and leave for some faraway place where they could all live out their lives in peace. And she could not, no matter how much she yearned to do so. This was the cup that was passed on to her when she acquiesced to her father’s request to befriend the freshly widowed king. And Alicent had to drink from that cup yet again. She found the vintage to be as bitter as always.

“Mulled wine”

Pairing: Rhaenyra/Harwin | Prompt: Forest

Themes: Soft/NSFW  

Warnings: Canon Targaryen/Velaryon marriage | Alcohol consumption | Mention of open marriage | Blood | Animal death

Wordcount: 303 words

Summary: Harwin and Rhaenyra share mulled wine on a stormy night in Dragonstone

Harwin poured a measure of mulled wine for the princess before serving himself and moving to stand by a window. The storm that swept in from the sea was still raging. He could hear the wind howl like a living thing even as it hammered against the imposing stone towers of Dragonstone and the guards unfortunate enough to be on duty on such a wretched night.

“Is the wine pleasing to you, my lady?” He asked.

Rhaenyra had a taste. It was light and sweet, and the sigh that followed was one of absolute bliss.

“Most pleasing, ser,” she replied, and she savored another sip. There was honey in the wine, and rare spices. A nobleman’s vintage, some called it, for only a nobleman with enough coin could afford it. “And appropriate, I think, for a night such as this. I just hope the noise does not frighten the boys.”

Harwin turned to face her with a slow, brittle smile. “This storm will not trouble the boys, princess.”

For they are my sons. The words went unspoken. Harwin looked pained, and Rhaenyra felt for him, for while Laenor claimed the children born from her belly, it was Harwin who sired them. And it was Harwin who had to stand aside and watch another man raise them and call each of them "son.”

“Do you regret our arrangement?”

“No, princess. When I watched you ride out of that forest, all covered in blood and with a boar dragging behind your horse, I knew there and then no other would do. And so long as your lord husband does not object to my presence…”

“He does not,” Rhaenyra replied in an effort to soothe him. “I assure you of this. Now tell me more of that day in the Kingswood while we finish this wine.”   

[litandroses]

Book Recommendations for when you’re feeling low

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett

A lost young woman returns to small-town New Hampshire under the strangest of circumstances in this one-of-a-kind novel of life, death, and whatever comes after from the acclaimed author of Rabbit Cake.

It was a source of entertainment at Maple Street Cemetery. Both funny and sad, the kind of story we like best.

Natural-born healer Emma Starling once had big plans for her life, but she's lost her way. A med school dropout, she's come back to small-town Everton, New Hampshire to care for her father, dying from a mysterious brain disease. Clive Starling has been hallucinating small animals, as well as visions of the ghost of a long-dead naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes, once known for letting wild animals live in his house. This ghost has been giving Clive some ideas on how to spend his final days.

Emma arrives home knowing she must face her dad's illness, her mom's judgement, and her younger brother's recent stint in rehab, but she's unprepared to find that her former best friend from high school is missing, with no one bothering to look for her. The police say they don't spend much time looking for drug addicts. Emma's dad is the only one convinced the young woman might still be alive, and Emma is hopeful he could be right. Someone should look for her, at least. Emma isn't really trying to be a hero—but somehow she and her father set in motion just the kind of miracle the town needs.

Set against the backdrop of a small town in the throes of a very real opioid crisis, Unlikely Animals is a tragicomic novel about familial expectations, imperfect friendships, and the possibility of resurrecting that which had been thought irrevocably lost.

Martita, I Remember You/Martita, te recuerdo by Sandra Cisneros

A long-forgotten letter sets off a charged encounter with the past in this poignant and gorgeously told tale masterfully told by Sandra Cisneros, the celebrated bestselling author of The House on Mango Street, in a beautiful dual-language edition.

As a young woman, Corina leaves her Mexican family in Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming a writer in the cafes of Paris. Instead, she spends her brief time in the City of Light running out of money and lining up with other immigrants to call home from a broken pay phone. But her months of befriending panhandling artists in the subway, sleeping on crowded attic floors, and dancing the tango at underground parties are given a lasting glow by her intense friendships with Martita and Paola. Over the years the three women disperse to three continents, falling out of touch and out of mind--until a letter unearthed in a closet brings Corina's days in Paris back with breathtaking immediacy.

Told with intimacy and searing tenderness, this tribute to the life-changing power of youthful friendship is Cisneros at her vintage best, in a beautiful dual-language edition.

Fight Night by Miriam Toews

The beloved author of bestsellers Women Talking, A Complicated Kindness, and All My Puny Sorrows returns with a funny, smart, headlong rush of a novel full of wit, flawless writing, and a tribute to perseverance and love in an unusual family.

Fight Night is told in the unforgettable voice of Swiv, a nine-year-old living in Toronto with her pregnant mother, who is raising Swiv while caring for her own elderly, frail, yet extraordinarily lively mother. When Swiv is expelled from school, Grandma takes on the role of teacher and gives her the task of writing to Swiv's absent father about life in the household during the last trimester of the pregnancy. In turn, Swiv gives Grandma an assignment: to write a letter to "Gord," her unborn grandchild (and Swiv's soon-to-be brother or sister). "You’re a small thing," Grandma writes to Gord, "and you must learn to fight."

As Swiv records her thoughts and observations, Fight Night unspools the pain, love, laughter, and above all, will to live a good life across three generations of women in a close-knit family. But it is Swiv’s exasperating, wise and irrepressible Grandma who is at the heart of this novel: someone who knows intimately what it costs to survive in this world, yet has found a way—painfully, joyously, ferociously—to love and fight to the end, on her own terms.

Marikit and the Ocean of Stars by Caris Avendaño Cruz Pub date: October 18, 2022

A magical middle grade debut, inspired by Filipino folklore, about a ten-year-old girl who embarks on a quest in the world of gods and spirits to save her and her family from a sinister shadow god. Perfect for fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and When You Trap a Tiger.

Marikit is used to wearing recycled clothes. Her mother, the best seamstress in the barrio, has become an expert at making do ever since Marikit’s father and brother were lost at sea. But for her tenth birthday, all Marikit wants is something new. So when her mother gifts her a patchwork dress stitched together with leftover scraps from her workshop, Marikit vows to never wear it. That is, until the eve of her birthday, when shadow creatures creep into their home, attempt to take Marikit away, and upend the very life she knew.

When she’s swept away from the human world, Marikit discovers that her dress is a map, one lovingly crafted to lead her to safety in the magical lands of the Engkantos. She trudges through the enchanted lands of mythical creatures, making friends out of monsters and challenging gods. With the help of her friends, including an exuberant firefly and a cursed boy, Marikit journeys through the land of the Engkantos to find the key to saving her family, all without being eaten alive.

[abuganaf5]

O Allaah, guide me among those whom You have guided, pardon me among those whom You have pardoned, turn to me in friendship among those on whom You have turned in friendship, and bless me in what You have bestowed, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can influence You; and he is not humiliated whom You have befriended, nor is he honoured who is Your enemy. Blessed are You, O Lord, and Exalted. There is no place of safety from You except with You

O ALLAH, on this day, beautify me with covering and chastity, cover me with the clothes of contentment and chastity, let me adhere to justice and fairness, and keep me safe from all that I fear, by Your protection, O the protector of the frightened

Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-hamm wa’l-hazn wa’l-‘ajz wa’l-kasal wa’l- bukhl wa’l-jubn wa dala’ al-dayn wa ghalbat al-rijaal (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from distress, grief, incapacity, laziness, miserliness, cowardice, the burden of debt and from being overpowered by men). ’”

ﺍﻟﻠَّﻬُﻢَّ ﺭَﺏَّ ﺟَﺒْﺮَﺍﺋِﻴﻞَ ﻭَﻣِﻴﻜَﺎﺋِﻴﻞَ ﻭَﺇِﺳْﺮَﺍﻓِﻴﻞَ . ﻓَﺎﻃِﺮَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻤَﺎﻭَﺍﺕِ ﻭَﺍﻷَﺭْﺽِ . ﻋَﺎﻟِﻢَ ﺍﻟْﻐَﻴْﺐِ ﻭَﺍﻟﺸَّﻬَﺎﺩَﺓِ . ﺃَﻧْﺖَ ﺗَﺤْﻜُﻢُ ﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﻋِﺒَﺎﺩِﻙَ ﻓِﻴﻤَﺎ ﻛَﺎﻧُﻮﺍ ﻓِﻴﻪِ ﻳَﺨْﺘَﻠِﻔُﻮﻥَ . ﺍﻫْﺪِﻧِﻲ ﻟِﻤَﺎ ﺍﺧْﺘُﻠِﻒَ ﻓِﻴﻪِ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟْﺤَﻖِّ ﺑِﺈِﺫْﻧِﻚَ ﺇِﻧَّﻚَ ﺗَﻬْﺪِﻱ ﻣَﻦْ ﺗَﺸَﺎﺀُ ﺇِﻟَﻰ ﺻِﺮَﺍﻁٍ ﻣُﺴْﺘَﻘِﻴﻢٍ Allaahumma Rabba Jibreela wa Mikaa’eela wa Israafeel, faatir al- samawaati wa’l-ard, ‘aalim al-ghaybi wa’l-shahaadah, anta tahkumu bayna ‘ibaadika fima kaanu fihi yukhtalifoon, ihdini lima’khtulifa fihi min al-haqq bi idhnika, innaka tahdi man tasha’ ila siraatin mustaqeem ‘O Allaah, Lord of Jibraeel, Mikael and Israfeel, You are the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the One who has all knowledge of the unseen and what is visible. You judge between Your worshippers in what they differ, guide me to the truth by Your permission in what they differ, indeed You are the One who guides whom You want to the straight path....

O Allah, make me adhere properly to my religion on which all my affairs depend; make this world good for me in which is my livelihood; make my Hereafter good for me in which is my ultimate destiny; make my life increase in every good deed and make my death a respite from every evil. "And grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us the grace to lead the righteous.

‘O Allah! There is nothing easy except what You make easy, and You make the difficult easy if it be Your Will’

hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan fihi mil’ al- samawaati wa mil’ al-ard wa mil’a ma baynahuma wa mil’a ma shi’ta min shay’in ba‘d (Our Lord, to You be praise, much good and blessed praise, filling the heavens, filling the earth, filling what is between them and filling whatever You will besides)

Subhaan Allaah ‘adada khalqihi, Subhaan Allaah ridaa nafsihi, Subhaan Allaah zinata ‘arshihi, Subhaan Allaah midaada kalimaatihi (Glory be to Allaah the number of His creation, Glory be to Allaah as much as He is pleased with, Glory be to Allaah the weight of His Throne, Glory be to Allaah the extent of His words)

Adhhib il-ba’s Rabb al-naas ishfi anta al-Shaafi laa shifaa’a illa shifaa’uka shifaa’an laa yughaadiru saqaman (Remove the harm, O Lord of mankind, and heal, You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your healing, a healing which leaves no disease behind.’

O Allah, put a great distance between me and my sins, as great as the distance You have made between the East and the West. O Allah, cleanse me of sin as a white garment is cleansed from filth. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and water and hail." Ameen.

Rabbi Zidni Ilma’ <<O my Lord increase me in knowledge

Allahumma alayka bi man adkhala ila biladina wa biladil- Muslimeenal-Mukhaddirati wal-muskirat, Allahumma alayka bi man adkhalaha, Allahumma alayka bi murawwijehaa, wa sani iha wa tujjariha, Allahumma alayka bi muharribiia wa ba’iha wa man a ana alan- tishariha. O Allah! Destroy those who brought to our land and the land of Muslims, drugs and intoxicants. O Allah! Destroy who brought them. O Allah! Destroy those who spread them and who make them and who trade in them. O Allah! Destroy those who smuggle them and sell them and help to distribute them.

ﺭَﺏِّ ﭐﺟْﻌَﻠْﻨِﻰ ﻣُﻘِﻴﻢَ ﭐﻟﺼَّﻠَﻮٰﺓِ ﻭَﻣِﻦ ﺫُﺭِّﻳَّﺘِﻰ ۚ ﺭَﺑَّﻨَﺎ ﻭَﺗَﻘَﺒَّﻞْ ﺩُﻋَﺎٓﺀِ O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring, O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer

Alihamdulillah ladhi ah yana ba dama amatana wa ilaihin nushur All praise for Allah swt who gave life after taking it. Unto him we are bake from this world.,,,Allahumma-ja lni khayran mima yadhunoon wa-ghfir li ma la ya lamoon wa la tu akhidhni bi ma yaquloon. O Allāh, make me better than what they think of me, and forgive me for what they do not know about me, and do not take me to account for what they say about me.

"O Allah, don t let me ever turn away from You, no matter how many trials and difficulties You test me with. Let these difficulties serve to make me a stronger Muslim and more sincere to You." - Ameen

Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika min al-hamm wa’l-hazn wa’l-‘ajz wa’l-kasal wa’l- bukhl wa’l-jubn wa dala’ al-dayn wa ghalbat al-rijaal (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from distress, grief, incapacity, laziness, miserliness, cowardice, the burden of debt and from being overpowered by men). ’”

ﺍﻟﻠَّﻬُﻢَّ ﺭَﺏَّ ﺟَﺒْﺮَﺍﺋِﻴﻞَ ﻭَﻣِﻴﻜَﺎﺋِﻴﻞَ ﻭَﺇِﺳْﺮَﺍﻓِﻴﻞَ . ﻓَﺎﻃِﺮَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻤَﺎﻭَﺍﺕِ ﻭَﺍﻷَﺭْﺽِ . ﻋَﺎﻟِﻢَ ﺍﻟْﻐَﻴْﺐِ ﻭَﺍﻟﺸَّﻬَﺎﺩَﺓِ . ﺃَﻧْﺖَ ﺗَﺤْﻜُﻢُ ﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﻋِﺒَﺎﺩِﻙَ ﻓِﻴﻤَﺎ ﻛَﺎﻧُﻮﺍ ﻓِﻴﻪِ ﻳَﺨْﺘَﻠِﻔُﻮﻥَ . ﺍﻫْﺪِﻧِﻲ ﻟِﻤَﺎ ﺍﺧْﺘُﻠِﻒَ ﻓِﻴﻪِ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟْﺤَﻖِّ ﺑِﺈِﺫْﻧِﻚَ ﺇِﻧَّﻚَ ﺗَﻬْﺪِﻱ ﻣَﻦْ ﺗَﺸَﺎﺀُ ﺇِﻟَﻰ ﺻِﺮَﺍﻁٍ ﻣُﺴْﺘَﻘِﻴﻢٍ Allaahumma Rabba Jibreela wa Mikaa’eela wa Israafeel, faatir al- samawaati wa’l-ard, ‘aalim al-ghaybi wa’l-shahaadah, anta tahkumu bayna ‘ibaadika fima kaanu fihi yukhtalifoon, ihdini lima’khtulifa fihi min al-haqq bi idhnika, innaka tahdi man tasha’ ila siraatin mustaqeem ‘O Allaah, Lord of Jibraeel, Mikael and Israfeel, You are the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the One who has all knowledge of the unseen and what is visible. You judge between Your worshippers in what they differ, guide me to the truth by Your permission in what they differ, indeed You are the One who guides whom You want to the straight path....

O Allah, we seek your guidance and help from fail in all muslims marriage. O Allah please allow all our marriage to work and make it stronger. In you we put our faith, and from you we seek forgiveness and guidance; O Allah allow all couples to have a fresh reborn love, and appreciation for each other; Ameen...

Ya Allah, Please guide us on the right ways of living life, understanding Quran and understanding Sunna and following it. Please show us the path of righteous deeds. Please make us well behaved with others and make dua for others (ummat) as others on the righteous path did before us. Please forgive our mistakes done intentionally or unintentionally , and help us remove our bad habits, which refrain us from doing good deeds. We dont know how to ask for things, apart from those what you have taught us. You are knower of unknown, what is hidden in our hearts. Please grant us what is haqq and Jayaz for us. We seek your refuge from Shaitaan. Please forgive Whole Muslim Ummah and save them from the Evils of Kuffar. Aameen..

O Allah! Assist me in remembering You, in thanking You, and in worshipping You in the best of manners.

O Allah! Let not our hearts deviate now after thou as guided us to Islam, but grant us mercy from thy own presence; for thou art the grantor of bounties witout measure.

Oh ALLAH! be with us at every step we take, Oh ALLAH! guide us in each decision we make, Oh ALLAH! help us when life gets rough, Oh ALLAH! bless us with more than enough, Oh ALLAH! protect us when we fall, Oh ALLAH! hear us when we call, Oh ALLAH! sooth our heart when we don t understand, May we Always be in ALLAH s loving hand. Aameen ...

Oh ALLAH bless me with much halal wealth that i will be spending on YOUR ways and bless me with many children and put barka in everything you give me... Ameen...

Ya Allah... Show me the light The light that shines so bright And show me the path to my future A future full of happiness and peace Show me the path to a place A place where I can fly free Send me the love The love that will last for eternity Let me not forget why I am here For you are the reason I want to live So Ya Allah Show me the path that leads me to your way! Ameen..

ﺭَّﺏِّ ﺯِﺩۡﻧِﻲ ﻋِﻠۡﻤٗﺎ

Allahumma a inni alaa dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni ibaadatika (O Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, and to worship You in an excellent manner)."

"Allaahumma innee as alukal-jannata wa a oothu bika minan-naar." ("O Allah , I ask You for Paradise and seek Your protection from the Fire.")

Allahumma arinal-haqqa haqqan warzuqnat- tiba ah, wa arinal-batila batilan warzuqnaj-tinabah, bi rahmatika ya arhamar-rahimeen.

O Allah! Protect us from polytheism, disbelief & from hypocrisy, protect us from living to please the people and guide us to live for Your Sake alone! Ameeen! ♥

Ya Allah protect us and grant us guidance and strength in this time of extreme fitnah. We only want You and nothing else but You. Grant us the perseverance to overcome falsehood." Allahumma Ameen ..

Subhaan Allaah ‘adada khalqihi, Subhaan Allaah ridaa nafsihi, Subhaan Allaah zinata ‘arshihi, Subhaan Allaah midaada kalimaatihi (Glory be to Allaah the number of His creation, Glory be to Allaah as much as He is pleased with, Glory be to Allaah the weight of His Throne, Glory be to Allaah the extent of His words....

"Ya Allah protect us and grant us guidance and strength in this time of extreme fitnah. We only want You and nothing else but You. Grant us the perseverance to overcome falsehood." Allahumma Ameen ..

"Ya Allaah, Ya Ar Rahman, Ya Al Mujeeb! Make the Quran the delight of our hearts and the light of our chest and the remover of our pain, sorrow and discomfort." Allahumah Ameen!!

“Oh Allaah, I seek refuge with you from an evil neighbour; and from a wife who causes me to grow old before old age; and from a son who will become a master over me; and from wealth which will become a punishment for me; and from a cunning friend whose gaze is upon me & whose heart is plotting & planning against me, such that if he sees something good, he buries it & if he sees something bad he spreads it.” ﺍﻟﻠﻬﻢَّ ﺇﻧﻲ ﺃﻋﻮﺫ ﺑﻚَ ﻣﻦ ﺟﺎﺭِ ﺍﻟﺴُّﻮﺀِ ، ﻭﻣﻦ ﺯﻭﺝ ﺗﺸﻴِّﺒﻨﻲ ﻗﺒﻞَ ﺍﻟﻤﺸﻴﺐِ ، ﻭﻣﻦ ﻭﻟﺪ ﻳﻜﻮﻥُ ﻋﻠﻲّ ﺭَﺑّﺎً، ﻭﻣﻦ ﻣﺎﻝٍ ﻳﻜﻮﻥُ ﻋَﻠﻲّ ﻋﺬﺍﺑﺎً ، ﻭﻣﻦ ﺧﻠﻴﻞٍ ﻣﺎﻛﺮٍ ﻋﻴﻨُﻪ ﺗﺮﺍﻧﻲ ، ﻭﻗﻠﺒُﻪ ﻳﺮﻋﺎﻧﻲ ؛ ﺇﻥْ ﺭﺃﻯ ﺣﺴﻨﺔً ﺩﻓﻨَﻬﺎ ، ﻭﺇﺫﺍ ﺭﺃﻯ ﺳﻴﺌّﺌﺔً ﺃﺫﺍﻋَﻬﺎ

Allahumma innee a’udhu bika min Jaaris Suu, wa min zawjin tashayyabanee qablal masheeb, wa min waladin yakoonu alaiyya rabban, wa min maalin yakoonu alaiyya ‘adhaaban, wa min khaleelin maakirin, ‘ainuhu taraanee, wa qalbuhu yar’aanee, in yaraa hasanatan dafanahaa, wa in yaraa sayyi’a’tan adhaa’ahaa“

O Allah, I repent to You from everything that opposes Your will, or removes Your love, of the thoughts of my heart, glances of my eyes, and the utterances of my tongue. A repentance through which every body part will remain safe in itself, from Your punishment, and be safe from what the transgressors fear of Your painful punishment. O Allah, so have mercy on me being alone before You, the pounding of my heart in Your fear, and the trembling of my limbs in Your awe. Ameen...

Ya Allah Fullfill My All Right Dreams : ( Ya Allah Give Me A Great Success : ( Ya Allah Give Me A Bright Feature : ( Ya Allah Give Me Those Things Which Is Perfect For Me : ( Ya Allah Protect me From Devil Works : ( Ya Allah Give Me The Money&Time Which Can I Spend On Your Way : ( Ya Allah Give Me A Good Health : ( Ya Allah Give Me A Halal Wealth : ( Ya Allah Bless My Parents : ( Ya Allah You Cann Do Any Thing Please Fullfill My All Right Dreams : ( - Aameen

O Allaah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your maidservant; my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety)...‘Allaahumma inni ‘abduka ibn ‘abdika ibn amatija naasyati bi yadika, maada fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka. As’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghayb ‘indaka an taj’al al-Qur’aana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa’ huzni wa dhihaab hammi)

"O Earth, my Lord and your Lord is Allah. I seek refuge in Allah from your evil and the evil of what is on you and the evil of what has been created upon you and the evil of what walks upon you. I seek refuge in Allah from lions and large black snakes, and from snakes and scorpions, and from the evil or all that inhabit the land, and the evil of a father and what he has fathered."

Rabb ighfir li wa tubb ‘alayya innaka anta al- Tawwaab al-Raheem (O Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance, for You are the Acceptor of repentance, the Most Merciful)

"Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things." (Al Quran 66:8)

Oh My ALLAH, Give Health To ill People Oh My ALLAH, Give Us Strength to Do Good Deeds Oh My ALLAH, Save us From The Shadow of Evil/Shaitan Oh My ALLAH, Help Every Muslims in Troubles Oh My ALLAH, Give Every Muslim to Chance See Your House Oh My ALLAH, Open The Doors Of Mercy For Us. Aameen

Subhanaka Allahuma wabihamdika la ilaha ila anta astaghfiruka wa atooboo ilaika’ (‘Far are You O Allaah from imperfection, and You have all praise, there is none worthy of worship in truth except You, I seek forgiveness from You and I repent to You)

Oh ALLAH marry me with best wife, that will please my eyes, that will love me and love sunnah of our noble prophet and that will give me best children who have good wisdom and knwledge most especially on your deen... Ameen...

( ﺍﻟﻠَّﻬُﻢَّ ﺻَﻞِّ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﻣُﺤَﻤَّﺪٍ، ﻭَﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺁﻝِ ﻣُﺤَﻤَّﺪٍ، ﻛَﻤَﺎ ﺻَﻠَّﻴْﺖَ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺇِﺑْﺮَﺍﻫِﻴﻢَ ﻭَﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺁﻝِ ﺇِﺑْﺮَﺍﻫِﻴﻢَ، ﺇِﻧَّﻚَ ﺣَﻤِﻴﺪٌ ﻣَﺠِﻴﺪٌ، ﺍﻟﻠَّﻬُﻢَّ ﺑَﺎﺭِﻙْ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﻣُﺤَﻤَّﺪٍ، ﻭَﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺁﻝِ ﻣُﺤَﻤَّﺪٍ، ﻛَﻤَﺎ ﺑَﺎﺭَﻛْﺖَ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺇِﺑْﺮَﺍﻫِﻴﻢَ، ﻭَﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺁﻝِ ﺇِﺑْﺮَﺍﻫِﻴﻢَ، ﺇِﻧَّﻚَ ﺣَﻤِﻴﺪٌ ﻣَﺠِﻴﺪٌ ) ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA SALLAITA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID. ALLAHUMMA BAARIK ALA MUHAMMADIW WA ALA AALI MUHAMMADIN KAMAA BAARAKTA ALA IBRAHIMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHIMA INNAKA HAMIDUM MAJID

I ask Allaah azza wa ja’al to bring us closer to Him and to distance us from that which does not please Him...

I ask Allah to unite all muslims on sunnah of our noble prophet here and to unite us under the shade of His throne on the day where there will be no shade but underneath His throne. Ameen. Say Ameen!

My Lord,my dearest thought is remembrance of You,the sweetest word on my tongue is praise of You and my dearest hour is the hour I meet You_Dear ALLAH, I come to you as humbly as I know how. I confess my sins, those known and unknown. I am not perfect and I fall short everyday of my life, but I want to take time out to say Thank You For Your mercy, my health, my family and my friends, the roof over my head, food on my table, and everything I have. ALHUMDULILLAH..

Allahumma Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyoom, bi rahmatika nastagheeth, aslih lana sha nana kullahu wa la takilna ila anfusina tarfata aynin wa la aqalla min dhalik. O Ever-Living! O Self-Subsisting! and Supporter of all! By Your Mercy we seek assistance, rectify for us all of our affairs and do not leave us to ourselves ever for the blink of an eye or less than that.

O Allah, bless us all with love, guidance, mercy, peace, forgiveness, prosperity, morality, humility, knowledge, and most importantly paradise..

May Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah (swt) be on all of you. SUBAH AL-NOOR, ALHUMDO LILLAH for giving another day. Include all muslims in your prayers.. may ALLH bless all of us.

YA ALLAH PLZ ACCEPT OUR GOOD DEEDS AND PLZ FORGIVE US ALL : ( plz bless us with ur Love and with ur mercy "There is no lord But, Only You ... There is none worthy of worship but, only You ... Ya Allah You are the most Glorious and praiseworthy .... I Love You Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much..

may Allaah raise the rank of our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions and may He grant them all peace. I ask Allaah azza wa ja’al to bring us closer to Him and to distance us from that which does not please Him.

Ya Allah, I pray to you to increase my patience, strengthen my faith and help me walk through this difficult journey. Many a times I forget Your presence, many a times I choose to walk the wrong path and I have never thank You enough. Sure I do say Alhamdulillah, whenever I can but it would never be enough. Your holy words have touched me. Your signs amazes me. But why do I still choose to follow my corrupted heart and do things that I am not supposed to? I pray to You to not only help me but also my family members who might also feel in despair at times(I may never know). Let’s not stop at only family, I pray to You for everyone I’ve known or I have yet to meet. Ya Allah, please forgive me for not adhering to Your rules. I have been bad for not listening to You but I am trying my best here. ...Amin Rabbil Alamin.

A‘oodhu bi kalimaat Illaahi’t- taammah min kulli shaytaanin wa haammah wa min kulli ‘aynin laammah (I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from every devil and every vermin, and from every bad eye)”

[naturecoaster]

Books by Clint Bennett: The Jesuit Warrior and Jason the Slave Warrior

Clint Bennett, Award-winning Author A fourth-generation Floridian, whose family lived and thrived in the southern part of the Okefenokee swamp near Jasper, Florida, Clint Bennett was born in Dunedin, Florida and moved to Homosassa in 1976. During four years in the U.S. Navy, he had the opportunity to tour the countries bordering the Mediterranean. Spain was one of his favorite ports of call. Up from the port was a Jesuit monastery, and Clint met and befriended several Spanish Jesuits, learning about their culture and history, especially the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. Three topics have always fascinated Clint: the horrendous suffering of the Europeans during the Inquisition, the impact the indigenous tribes of Florida by the arrival of Europeans, and the life and culture of the west Central Florida indigenous populations. The Jesuit Warrior After retiring from his professional writing job in 2000, Clint seriously researched and studied the Nature Coast area’s indigenous culture to begin creating his first novel, “The Jesuit Warrior,” a work of historical fiction that tells the story of a disillusioned Jesuit student living in Valencia, Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. After witnessing a personal horror that causes him to question the teachings and agenda of the Jesuit priests, he boards a ship that will deliver slaves to central Florida. He is captured by the native people in Crystal River. Using his Jesuit medical training as an asset, he becomes a member of the Calusa village, eventually helping them survive attacks by the French and Spanish slavers. Set in the Nature Coast, from Aripeka to Steinhatchee, including Crystal River and Homosassa, the novel is a wonderful work of historic fiction that grips the reader and teaches about the Calusa, the Timuc and the Appalachia Indian tribes that once thrived on west central Florida’s shores. There are five-star reviews of his work on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and other retailers. Jason, The Slave Warrior Next, Clint wrote, “Jason the Slave Warrior,” which begins in New Orleans, and is the story of a young slave and his wife who escape their masters during a hurricane. They steal a sailboat, heading for “a place in central Florida where the slavers are afraid to go.” The two make their way to crystal River, where they are welcomed into the Calusa tribe as honored members. Martha is a renown healer, and Jason a welcome translator and who becomes a valued warrior. The geographical setting for the book is primarily Crystal River, the Homosassa River, Steinhatchee north to Deckle – and south to Tampa, Florida. The Calusa, the Timuca, and the Appalachia Indian tribes and their culture are heavily described in this gripping historical fiction novel. After ordering one, or both, of these novels, email Clint by clicking here to make arrangements for him to autograph your copy. More About the Author, Clint Bennett “I was born in Dunedin, Florida in 1945 and have fished and explored the waterways from Dunedin to Steinhatchee since I was old enough and strong enough to hold a paddle, a set of oars, or operate an outboard motor. I have canoed, camped, and explored most of the Suwannee River from the Okefenokee Swamp to Branford, Florida. Today I live in Crystal River, Florida with my wife and we continue to fish and explore the areas described in my books. I will gladly sign and personalize copies of my books,” Clint explains. "During four years in the U.S. Navy, I had the opportunity of tour the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Spain was one of my favorite ports of call. The squalid conditions in Spain during the early 18th century are accurate as described. My experiences in Europe helped to further my interest and research into the Spanish Inquisition and the numerous diseases and plagues that so devastated Europe for centires. I have also spent time in South Africa where I became interested in the horrors experience by the slaves and the savagery of their captors." Read the full article

[prof-peach]

Hello Professor Peach!

I've followed your account recently and I was wondering. What types of Pokemon would I need to run a sucessful greenhouse like yours?! I know that I would obviously need Grass Types and maybe Bug Types, but what others would I need?

Thanks in advance!

From a fellow Grass Type and Nature Lover!

We have several greenhouses on the island, as we specialise in grass Pokemon, so I’ll run though what each has and why.

Seedling house

Set up for young sprouts, both plant and Pokemon based, with some areas shaded with netting, others in full sun. This space needs to be easy to clean, and you’ll find yourself disinfecting between sowing, to reduce fatalities and get the most out of your seeds!

Bulbasaur (potato) a good boy, old as sin now, but his gentle lullaby helps young plants grow, and keeps the baby Pokemon calm and settled. You DO NOT want a whole greenhouse worth of baby Pokemon crying, trust me. He’s stern but patient, and this is why he works well in this space, as he will not tolerate bad behaviour, and raises the youngsters with a firm but kind vibe. His vines are delicate and intricate enough to handle young seedlings, and because he himself is partially plant, he understands the needs of actual plants very well. His age also helps, he’s quite good at delegating and can boss the other workers around, and hold their respect. He has a few underlings he is training to help while he’s away, a sunflora, a turtwig, and a nuzleaf, all of which enjoy the work too.

Lotad, we keep a lot of these, as they tend to come and go. Usually we have around 4-5 in the seedling house at any one time, their broad leaves make them good at carrying things, moving trays of babies, and genrally handling youngsters, and they can usually learn water gun with some training, thus making them excellent at keeping the place well watered (but not too much). Their plant nature means they’re quite respective of small species,and tend not to crush any small sprouts if they can avoid it. They do however hibernate if it gets too cold, so it may be worth employing the help of a more winter tolerant water Pokemon if need be. We swap the Lotad out for Wooper in winter, they are small, not often too hard to handle, easy to find in our area, and kind natured on average.

There’s a old Pangoro that hangs out in this house, often happy to help lifting tables to move and rearrange spaces for new species, or to help do the big spring cleaning jobs each year. His disposition is far mor W gentle than normal, so I’d advise finding a patient, gentle Pokemon, who can do some heavy lifting. It’s always worth having a powerful individual here, as lots of Pokemon look to seedlings as snacks. As a defence, this pangoro works well, and birds and bugs tend not to enter the zone without his watchful eye on them.

A rather old Espeon without a tail likes to sleep in there too, her psychic powers means she can handle threats without big brash movements, and she tends to quietly spend her days just keep guard, and genrally being a watchful eye should the Pangoro mosey off to eat or bathe outside the greenhouse. This is a good example of shift Pokemon. When one is gone, the other is more alert and active as a guard. Never have just one Pokemon to a job, as they too need time out, breaks, vacations and down time to enjoy and relax. It’s too much to expect one individual to do everything.

Youngsters often enjoy a nightlight, so we let the volbeat and illumise into the greenhouse at night, to dance and keep a gentle glow in the area. The young seedling Pokemon are often stuck in pots, unable to move about yet, so they enjoy entertainment, and some are not keen on the deep dark of night outside. This settles them, and these bug types don’t eat seedlings, so they’re often great company.

In winter, we move one of greys charizard in to heat the space and protect the babies from frost. We have around 6 charizard on the island, and they are sometimes well behaved. We have the most calm and maternal in this house, she is a gentle soul, and I’d often not advise others to use this species for this work. A better fit would be Torkoal, known for exuding gentle heat continuously with enough food, or perhaps a Darumaka, Numel, or carkol. They tend to have much calmer natures for fire types, and ambient lay heat spaces well. Frost is a killer for seedlings so this is very important. As a grower, you also end up with infected or sick plant matter (trimmings and such) and the only way to responsibly dispose of that is to burn it. This keeps the risk of spreading infections far lower, and you won’t end up putting sickly, potentially fungus filled material into your compost, and in turn spreading it around. Fire is very important in the garden, in a controlled and careful way of course.

Healing house

This space is half open space, half I solated zones, built for recovery and care. When a Pokemon or plant becomes sick, they need specialist care, and sometimes they can spread their illness to others, so having an area to quarentine them and cure any issues is very important. This space needs to be fuss free, able to be disinfected easily, ideally with drains in the floor (much like you’d see at a swimming pool or something) so you can slosh down some disinfectant and ready the spaces for the next patient. Think of a glass topped kennel, that’s what you’re going for here.

Meganium, (summer) a lovely lady who’s been with me a while now, she’s quite resistant to disease thanks to her variation, and so she’s ideal for working in these kinds of environments. Despite this I would not mix her with a Pokemon who’s seriously sick, she’s more the “nurse” figure of the greenhouse, who oversees everything while I’m away. Her roles require her to be caring, and very calm despite seeing many in alarming states. The Pokemon doing this job needs to have a will of steel, and a strong stomach. Some diseases are quite unnerving to see progress. Keeping a bright outlook is a key component to this work. She’s able to emit a soothing aura, filling a space with gentle scent that can calm, energise, or even put patients to sleep. Her vines make her dexterous enough to hold tools and perform general care tasks like sweeping and watering ect.

I have befriended some Marill, a small pod of about 12, who come and go to help water and keep the place cleaned up. Their jolly natures are great for patients who are isolated while healing, and as they aren’t grass types, many of the individuals inside this space can interact with them, and not risk spreading illness (most of the time). They’re a little more rough and ready than the seedling watering team, but this is ok, as we don’t often keep youngsters in this house. They like to be paid in snacks, but others prefer toys, stories, games, and even tv time. Negotiating a fair deal for everyone is very key here, a Pokemon taut feels cheated will do a bad job. If they’re happy, you’ll be happy, trust me.

Audino, not often a Pokemon I discuss much, and don’t even use in the main lab, as this particular Audino has been trained to deal with grass issues specifically. She flunked out with her old trainer at medical college, so I took her on and tried to focus her in on something a bit more practical. She’s not able to catch a lot of grass issues due to her normal nature, and is a handy healer to have around. She’s actually quite a lazy individual, and is often found asleep in the staff room when not working.

This space will also require a dedicated burner Pokemon, a fire type to remove infected and dangerous tissues taken from infected patients. I often use Valka (vulpix) for this job, as she’s usually with me, and this greenhouse is where I spend the majority of my time, and she’s very efficient.

I advise you not use grass Pokemon so much in this greenhouse, as sick grass Pokemon tend to be more infectious to other grass types. You’ll often find me using normal, ground, or rock types, with strong immune systems, or individuals with calm natures, as this space sees a lot of unnerving things, and needs level headed individuals.

Tropics house

Also known as the hot house, as when you enter it you break into a sweat. Humidity is high, temperature is high, ceilings are high. This is a 4 floor tall building, all glass, planted like a jungle, with varying canopy levels, sunken pond spaces, and dense lush greenery. I also keep my orchid collection here, and you’ll find many bug types are drawn to the colours and smells. This is the highest skill level greenhouse behind the healing house, and I’d advise you try to start with one of the more simple ones firstly, should you be new to this kind of work. Heating this space is done with hot water pipes, and the whole building is lined with sprinkler systems that runs on a timer. Every 15 minutes everything gets doused with a thick, cooling fine mist.

This is where the Queen of my Bellossom clutch hangs around, she’s quite something to see, far larger, with soft pink coloured petal skirt, and a real air of royalty about her. The whole greenhouse respects her as she’s proven her skill as a leader many times, resolving conflicts with reason and patience. She may not be the strongest, but she’s certainly smart, and can lead with an iron fist need be. She is good with visitors, as this greenhouse is public, and open to visitors, unlike the previous ones mentioned above. She is a good overseer, and saves me a lot of time and trouble, fixing squabbles and keeping everyone calm. She is at the top of the hierarchy, and can request help from just about everyone else within this space, and they’ll oblige.

There’s a substantial Tangrowth who chills out in this zone, usually sleeping in a sunny patch at the back, he’s usually left child minding, as many of the Pokemon within have young of their own, and need a good baby sitter. Something that’s sturdy, with a lot of arms to keep tabs in them all (he just ties a vine to them and lets them run riot while he dozes) he can be quite defensive of the young but this is good, as the public spaces are more likely to be stolen from, and as we handle a lot of variants, security is needed. People like to steal young Pokemon when they’re unusual or rare.

Tsareena, a power house, acts as a guard, and works with a couple of Lurantis, who all enjoy the heat and have high prey drives. Should someone try to nab a baby, wade into a dangerous area, or start a fight within the greenhouse, they’ll step in, crushing most things in their path without too much issue. The Lurantis is actually one of quite a few, and should they become overwhelmed, they’ll call the others in as backup. This lot keep the peace physically, and can stop fights (as you don’t want broken glass in this space).

The windows need to be cleaned to keep the light levels high, so we often employ flying or psychic Pokemon to get us up higher to handle this work. I use whatever is around at the time, but often a good ladder will do the trick if you have a shorter building than ours.

Watering is actually done mostly with hoses and irrigation in this greenhouse but we do have one water type who resides within, in a deep pond in the centre. A Dreadnaw, Tobi, who came back with me from Galar quite recently. He’s very docile for his type, so we figured he’d enjoy the calm jungle vibes of this zone. He occasionally wades out to wander around and water things, keeping a close eye on everyone. Their species is renown for biting and aggression but Tobi is rather chilled out, and has taken to being the biggest water type in the space quite well. He shares his pond with a couple of small relicanth, and the odd little water type who comes in out of curiosity, along with a small pod of Lotad. He keeps things very damp, even in the dry corners, and often will listen to grass Pokemon who need extra water, and come over to assist.

No fire type in this building as all damaged or trimmed material should be collected and removed from the area, to be either composted, burnt, or used as cutting material elsewhere.

We encourage bug types in this space for the most part, as they feed other Pokemon, and also pollinate. This space has fruit trees and flowers, so we leave the windows open for whatever may want to enter to look around (and for airflow). The general temperament of the greenhouse is pretty calm, tanks to the balance of staff Pokemon, so if an aggressive bug comes in, it’s soon chased out. causing trouble isn’t tolerated within this space.

This greenhouse is abll about emulating nature, so taking trips to more jungle locations may benefit you here. I’d suggest doing detailed research, and studying established locations before building this zone, as there’s a lot of foundation work to be concidered, like water, piping, irrigation, airration, and light levels.

Desert house

Hot in the day, cooler at night, dry, often sparser in style. Very bright! This is a common space for a lot of variations, and also cacti based Pokemon. We have an array of desert species hanging out here, but also a lot of rock types. This is a petty easy going space, not a lot of water needed, but certainly care none the less.

A heater! We use a Heatmore, who seems to enjoy the general ambience, and is stroppy enough that the cacti Pokemon can’t bully him or get into too much trouble. He keeps the space hot in the winter, and not too cold at night, he will occasionally drop his workload in the summer when the temperatures are high enough without him. We trade him out with a Slazzle from time to time, should he require time out.

Watering is sparse, we call in one Politode now and then to drench the space, then leave it to dry out quite a bit. There’s of course places for Pokemon to drink from, small water features and the odd trough to get a drink from, but the species here don’t require half as much as others, and will happily go two or more weeks without more than morning dew. We tend to keep an eye on things and use a hose when we catch the odd Pokemon or plant who needs a little extra.

Cacturn is the boss of this space, and works hard to maintain a firm level of control over the many little Pokemon who live in this house. He’s old now, with many arms, not just the initial two, standing at around 9ft tall, with very thick limbs. He’s not kind as such but only really shows his mean side if you mess with him or the ones he protects. This is a space that’s open to the public, so we have to employ his power to protect from theft.

This space contains a lot of young alpine Pokemon too, bulbasaur, oddish, and some fun variants of Crustle who have plants atop their backs. There’s a strong nod to those who can handle drought, and so it’s a great starting greenhouse for anyone who’s a little forgetful. We also keep quite a few Sudowoodo and their pre-evolutions here, as they dig the dry air. They also help in creating rockery areas with their attacks and strength, that suit the area and the Pokemon within.

Carnivorous house

Not easy to plan but simple enough to keep. They need boggy conditions, lots of open light areas, and genrally this space is quite wild looking, certainly not tended, and I’d advise you get some waders or wellies for the work done here. Water types and bog Pokemon will love this space, and it should be protected from the frost, for those who do not like the cold.

Carnivine, often found hanging from vines within the space, they have a very particular diet, and I tend to run the tours for visitors to this greenhouse, to make sure no one gets chewed on. There’s quite a few colours and shapes, but they don’t do,innate the space as much as others. Their ungodly shrieking can be wonderful alarms to danger, and I totally advise having a few around, even if only for their comedic value and friendship.

The champions of this space are Victreebell and it’s pre-evolutions. I’ve kept many, and variants are something I research, so you can imagine the amount collected here. They’re very handy in summer should you get large infestations of bug Pokemon anywhere else, as their diet is all about eating other living things, and they don’t like rich soil or plant feed at all. Herd them to the bugs that bother you and let them hunt, you’ll soon have things under control again.

There’s a lot of Mudkip, Stunkfish, Quagsire, you know, mud lovers, and their watery ways can mean you have a lot of Pokemon able to keep the water levels high. This space needs to almost be submerged in water at all times, dry roots can lead to unhealthy buddies.

One thing to note is windows. You need to have access for bugs in this space. The species within have specific diets that Pokemon food doesn’t quite do justice, so allowing them to lure bugs in with their scent, and eat healthy correct diets will lead to far better health for your carnivorous friends.

Extra notes:

Theres the obvious, a standard, sturdy, average grow house. The beautiful basics to all the areas I’ve discussed above. Without just a space to store, to care, to grow, and to keep, none of the beautiful public spaces would look half as good. We have overflow greenhouses for winter, for overcrowding, for if the torterra want to come in, or if we get a large herd of Tropius sent to us who hate the frost. Grass types come in a lot of shapes and sizes, but should a large set come your way, these spare zones come in handy. If you have the space, set a few up, even if they’re storage most of the time, they will come in handy eventually. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes, so make room for this.

THERE IS NO RIGHT SET OF POKEMON. I mean this seriously, I picked who I knew would suit the work, it’s not right for everyone. Grass Pokemon may have a good understanding of what plants and other grass types need, but you need to find species who are caring and patient. I’ve seen a lot of grass Pokemon who are fighters, impatient, stroppy and even aggressive, and they’d not suit this kind of work at all. You need to pick your team based on their personality, not just their type or species. Take your time and don’t be afraid to switch out their work load, try new things, and test an unusual Pokemon in a job position if you see potential in them. It’s a myth that grass Pokemon will be best for other grass Pokemon. I find I use a lot of other types to handle them, and often bugs will chew and eat at your grass types, so you have to pick carefully. Be clever with your research on this all.

Don’t think this set of Pokemon will take the workload off of your shoulders. A greenhouse needs YOUR time too, you need to throw some tough gloves on and get stuck in, or your team mates won’t feel enthusiastic about the work. Lead by example, work hard with them, weed and sow seed, trim, care for, and be part of the process, and it will feel all the sweeter when plants and Pokemon bloom and grow into beautiful things.

I find if you get stuck, if a Pokemon or plant won’t grow right, or keeps getting sick, take a step back, reevaluate what your method is, and take a look at their home. We forget that every plant and Pokemon has an actual originating location, and if we can emulate those conditions, their survival chances go up drastically! It’s not always easy, so don’t be afraid to google stuff, whip your phone out and have a good scroll around. There’s no such thing as a stupid question, so ask anything and everything.

A cheeky helpful tip, some Pokemon learn sleep powder, and many think that this move doesn’t affect other grass types, which is a pain because this move is very handy when dealing with difficult Pokemon. It in fact does affect other grass types, but only those who cannot also learn the attack. So an oddish can put a Leafeon to sleep who cannot learn the move, but not a Morelull, who can also learn sleep powder.

This was a BIG ONE but we have a lot of greenhouse, all catered for differently, so here’s hoping this helps your endeavours.

[fromthehellmouth]

One for Sorrow, Two for Mirth

Word Count: 2.6k

A/N: Maledictus! Femme! Gryffindor! oc. Regrettably, there is so much angst... Part One!

Maledictus prompt requested by @hyacinthsandbooks I had so much fun creating this character, thanks for the prompt! Feedback is greatly appreciated! 

Drawing by me and inspired by scenes from the story. I hope you enjoy!

Overview: 

Tom Riddle befriends an unlikely victim of a powerful blood curse

I had increasingly found myself in a perpetual state of insomnia and dread. There was almost nothing I could occupy my mind with that would take it from my lingering anxiety and melancholia surrounding my condition. My nights were long and restless, and I had to become endlessly creative in order to find ways that would keep me out of trouble as well as keeping me occupied during the long dark nights in the Gryffindor common room alone past curfew. Often, it would result in me exploring the castle grounds in my other form, or writing down my thoughts to pass the time. Perhaps it was the concept of literature that I would gravitate to because of its mysterious qualities of immortality. It was chilling but also somewhat comforting to know that my works would remain with me far after I had irreversibly changed. It was not something I liked to dwell on, but it was something that I knew I could not escape from--it was always there, nagging, prodding, looming over my decisions, my psyche--it was a horribly cruel curse. 

Over a century ago my family had gotten involved with a group of vengeful wizards who were known for their adaptations of some of the darkest corners of the dark arts. They fled the country but the curse went with them. Once a curse of that strength had penetrated its way into your bloodline, it would permanently dwell there, feeding off you, like a tumor, like a degenerative disease, like a leech, essentially, it declared its power with its name; it was a blood curse. It was only a matter of years before there would be nothing more I could do, and I would have to accept my change and my fate with it. At least there was no need to study for N.E.W.Ts. My parents had begged me for years not to accept such a pessimistic attitude, to care about my studies, my dreams, and my aspirations. Over the past few months, through our owl correspondence, I felt they had lost the motivation to keep pestering me about a life that had been taken from me the moment my grandmother told me what I was: a maledictus. 

Fortunately, at this point in my development, my transformations were still voluntary. When I was very young, I remember having frequent visits to the Ministry of Magic with my parents. They would have me seen by famous dark wizard catchers, legendary curse-breakers, healers, and talented seers. From the beginning we knew there was no known cure for this type of blood curse, but I think the little security the aurors offered was necessary for my parents to hold onto. They needed expert opinions, that unfortunately would continue to tell them there was nothing to be done. Of course, my childhood self had virtually no knowledge of the severity of my condition, and thought it was simply enchanting to see mommy and daddy’s workplace.

Since my first year at Hogwarts, I had told no one about my condition except headmaster Dippet, professor Stump—my head of house, and professor Merrythought who was an expert in the dark arts because after all, she was the DADA teacher. I liked professor Merrythought quite a bit. She was an older woman with grey-blonde hair pinned back in a loose braided bun which she always had hairs escaping from. She was one of the few people who did not immediately resort to pity and fear when I told her what my bloodline had been cursed with. She was calm and interested, she told me how special I was and got me involved into studying more about blood disorders involving dark magic. Unfortunately, there had been rumors of her leaving Hogwarts and retiring—yet another thing I would be attempting to repress. My mind had become an expert at most coping mechanisms, my methods of choice being denial, repression, and sublimation--primarily writing. 

In a sense, knowing my future was carved into stone was somewhat freeing. It allowed me to live fully and completely in the moment, and not have to plan or study for my future. In another sense, the looming dread was very real, and seemed to be working its way into the grooves of my personality--settling in the fine lines of my psyche. My dull despair had become a part of me. I never doubted my purposelessness until I met Tom Riddle. 

***

It was nearly 1:45am when I noticed his figure contrasted against the shamrock-green hills. In a defeated attempt to become more comfortable with my animal form, I had begun to fly over the castle grounds more recently during the night when I felt my insomnia had become too much for me to ignore by lounging in the Gryffindor common room long after the other students had taken leave. I was never in the mind of being rebellious or secretive, and I was almost positive that if I had told professor Merrythought, she would have kept the sensitivity of my travels safe. Spotting a dark-clothed figure, I circled closer, still keeping my distance. Edging in tiny fractions closer to the tops of the forbidden forest’s trees, I made my way closer to the figure. I was presently slightly concerned for encountering the kind of person who would be coming from the forbidden forest at nearly 2 o’clock in the morning, but my growing curiosity controlled me, and I eyed the figure from above, still slowly cruising lower and lower. When I had reached the grass, the figure had entered the covered corridor leading to the clock tower, and I decided to present myself to the figure who couldn’t have been more than 6 feet away from me. It was always fun to play out a little scare. I let out a shrill, stuttering call. The figure froze, spinning swiftly with a hand to his mouth. I could see his shoulders quivering as he stared at me. 

“...it’s just a magpie, Tom...” he whispered to himself as if he needed convincing. As he turned to face me, I immediately recognized him as a popular Slytherin boy from... history of magic...? divination...?

“Unless...” 

Defense against the dark arts. That was it. 

“Are you... an animagus?” 

I froze. How could he have known? There was no way he could have known... Silently and immediately I flew back outside the covered corridor back into the open air, and faster than I had ever flew before, I found my way back to the Gryffindor tower, perching on the windowsill I had left open, dropping inside, and in the darkness transforming back into a student and swiftly slipping under the thick covers, I fell asleep suprisingly effortlessly. 

***

In the morning I awoke earlier than usual. It was as if my mind knew I had been gifted with a long sleep and didn’t want me to get comfortable. I had become accustomed to falling asleep late and waking up early—both situations leaving me awake while the rest of the castle lay unconscious. I put on my uniform and brushed out my hair. I found that the more I transformed, the silkier my hair had become, it was as if the strands were becoming more feather-like, and tended to reflect the light more. I had gotten nearly a dozen requests for the enchantment I had used, always leaving me with an awkward and less than satisfactory “it must just be oily.” I descended the stairs to the common room where I read the clock.

5:30.

Defeatedly, I gathered all my schoolbooks and began to review the material for my first class of the day. Herbology.

***

I decided to take a walk to the kitchens to pick up a cup of tea before breakfast, which begun at 9am each morning. I still had a few hours before breakfast, so after I made myself a cup I circled back to the clock tower courtyard near where I had departed from the boy I had followed last night. I sat on the ledge of the fountain and began to re-read the textbook required for this upcoming unit in herbology on uses and cautions of aquatic plants. We would be taking a guided field trip to the Black Lake for research, which I was quite excited for. While my eyes danced across the finely-scripted writing in the yellowing book, my mind wandered to last night. I found myself retracing my steps, and visualizing the boy’s face above me, shocked and intrigued. What did he know?

***

After herbology class, which had been held at the Black Lake, I followed the mass of students back to the main castle grounds. My days at school were mostly spent alone either studying or hopelessly wandering in my mind to places where I no longer had to abandon my future. I recognized very few people as friends, and I stood out from my fun-loving, reckless, and colorful housemates. It was as if my natural personality I remembered glimpses of from childhood had been veiled with a layer of plaque, tarnished and dusty. I didn't mind the aloneness. I often felt most secure when I didn’t need to reveal my secret to anyone, and was able to choose my schedule the way I saw fit. Back in the castle, I followed my normal crowd of Gryffindors who I shared my first two classes with. These were the students who I sat with at meals, went to study parties with, sat in the common room after hours with, but never ended up knowing very well. It was a polite relationship. They asked me what I thought about our next class’ lesson. 

“Can’t say I’m excited.” I rolled my eyes, my hands rested deep in the pockets of my skirt. 

“Don’t want people to know what you’re scared of?” 

“Must be it.” 

Defense against the dark arts with professor Merrythought was next, and the notorious lesson on boggarts had been expected by most students for months. Undoubtedly there was excitement for exposure to mysterious and dark creatures as well as teasing material for students with childish fears. I couldn’t help think of the boy I had encountered by the clock tower who I would inevitably see again this upcoming class. I hoped my nervous habits would not give me away as suspicious. For some reason, I felt the need to be wary of him.

***

The classroom had been completely rearranged for the upcoming lesson, with the chairs and desks pushed to either side of the long room, and professor Merrythought’s figure standing in the back near a large ornate chest. As the students trickled in, the rumblings of the crowd grew louder as giggles and anticipation filled the cold air. My hands wrapped around my arms as I attempted to retain my warmth. 

Am I the only one who notices that draft?

Merrythought calmed us down and begun her lecture on the history of the discovery and initial magical responses to the boggart. It takes the image of what you most fear... Its true form has never been seen... It withers at the sound of laughter... The students got called up one at a time as she showed us the counter-curse Riddikulus! which would obstruct the boggart’s form and intercept its visual manipulation. Riddikulus! the steep chasm of a split cliff lets out a nasty fart and the room explodes in laughter. Riddikulus! a swarm of wasps turn into winged lemons and drop to the floor, rolling around and colliding with each other, and the class cackles. 

Godric, would she just close that bloody window?!

“Lucia!” the room’s roaring died down and I felt my face turn red hot. My stomach twisted and contorted within me and my walk was feeble as I approached the large chest. 

“And when the boggart is released, remember the incantation!” I swallowed hard and in a second, the lid of the chest flew open and a swirling silvery mass flew toward me and shifted into a bird, its head, beak, and breast were black mimicking a raven, but its belly was white and the under-feathers of the wings and long elegant tail that caught the light shimmered hints of deep phthalo green and royal Prussian blue. The bird began to lunge toward me and in a panic I shouted the incantation much louder than I expected. 

“Riddikulus!!” The bird’s feathers erupt in every direction, leaving the creature completely bald and resembling an uncooked chicken, struggling to stay suspended in the air. The class giggled and Merrythought propelled the creature back into the chest and called forward the next student as I slipped back into the crowd. 

“Tom!” The boy approached the chest in a single fluid moment. He wore his school robes to every class unlike the majority of students who only wore the required minimum of a blouse, sweater and trousers or skirt. He stood out not only because of his height but because his ebony-black hair glistened under the  lantern-lit room. His robes seemed to be an extension of his broad square shoulders, and as he readied his wand I felt the room muffle in an unnatural stillness. The boggart shifted into the body of a young boy, with the same black hair as Tom, the same pale skin and full, pink lips, but the boy’s eyes were closed, his face was hollowed and gaunt, and he was lying on the floor, seemingly lifeless. The class seemed to collectively hold its breath as the dead body of a young boy nearly identical to the older Tom lay before us. Tom lifted his wand and smoothly uttered, 

“Riddikulus.” The black robes along with the body of the boy melted into a thick black bubbling slime that seemed to shake and bounce slightly. This time there was no laughter. There was no reaction. Professor Merrythought quickly swooped up the transformed boggart with her wand and tossed it with a graceful flick back into the large chest. 

“Well done class! Quite the show. That’s the end of the lesson for today, we’ll continue where we left off tomorrow!” The students murmured with the abrupt dismissal and I couldn’t help myself from straying my gaze to look at Tom. To my instant shock his piercing aquamarine eyes shot right back at me and I almost let out an audible gasp at the sudden intensity of his stare. I felt my heart-rate race and I nearly ran from the classroom. 

*** 

Later that night my mind was racing, I had to know what he knew, why he had stared at me back in class, did he know I was the bird who had followed him last night? I sat by the crackling fireplace of the Gryffindor common room. The clock read “12:10,” and there was only one girl left in my company. She sat at the other corner of the room and I could hear the shuffling of books which meant I would soon be alone and she would be going to sleep. I caught myself staring into the flames, the fire dancing and glittering into smoke and stray glowing embers. 

“Goodnight!” the girl called out as she ascended the stairs to the dorms. 

“Goodnight.” I replied, my voice was tired but my mind was wide awake. My eyes lazily flew over the spread of books before me. 

There was no way I would be able to study with Tom on my mind. 

I couldn’t stop thinking about the way his bright eyes flashed in that cold room. It was as if the only thing my head could focus on were those piercing eyes and the image of that magpie lunging right toward me.

If you’d like to read Part Two, click here

Tags: @tmr-simp-pride

[kaminobiwan]

in sickness and health

pairing: obi-wan kenobi x jedi!reader

summary: Confined to a day in bed, Obi-Wan is enlisted to keep you company. Featuring mild spoonfeeding I make no apologies

a/n: First off, THANK YOU FOR 300 FOLLOWERS! WOW oh my goodness that happened so fast. I’m still working through the prompts from my 175/200 follower celebration (of which this is a part of), and I can’t wait to figure out a way to celebrate this milestone as well! I’m so grateful to all of the support and love I’ve gotten so far; your kindness and readership means the world to me, and I’m so glad to share my stories with you :-) Without any further ado, here is the return of Padawan!Obi....and if you’d like to join his fanclub, might I direct you to my co-president @highlycommendable lovely dove

Before I forget, taglist masterlist all that shite. Enjoy my bubs

On his way back to the dormitories after an early morning meditation session, Obi-Wan hears arguing.

Though it’s not uncommon to hear discord in the wing of the temple where the Padawans make their residence, it isn’t the usual ruckus of Quin and Kit wrestling, or Shaak Ti demanding to know who had taken her Akul-tooth headdress again.

This time, it’s the voice of a Master filling the halls, berating his student with fond persistence.

“Padawan, my word is final.” Obi-Wan turns the corner as Plo Koon raises a talon at a figure huddled in blankets in the doorway. “You are too ill to travel.”

“But I’m almost better! And Shaak’s told me so much about the Togruta, and I want to see how big of an Akul she’s killed!” He recognizes the protests coming from your distinct yet muddled voice, and his vision confirms his guess as you come into sight, fabric draping across your body like a spirit. “I promise I’m fine, Master, please!”

Despite his mouth being completely covered by his breathing mask, Obi-Wan can almost detect the makings of a smile across the Jedi’s features. “The healers were adamant, my student. You’re to rest one more day. Perhaps, instead of stories of Akul, you can detail our sightings of the neebray mantas to your peers. I assure you, they are much bigger than any Akul you hope to see.” Abruptly, he turns to Obi-Wan in a way that makes him think the Master had sensed his presence long before he’d approached. “Padawan Kenobi, if you’re not terribly occupied, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Obi-Wan comes to a stop in front of the pair of you, your eyes dragging to his frame after shooting a disgruntled glance at your Master. “Master Koon?”

“I’m set to depart for Shili within the hour, and unfortunately, this one,” he gestures a robe-covered hand towards you, “is recovering from a mild case of Balmorra Flu and will be unable to accompany me. I would appreciate it immensely if you’d monitor my student to ensure that she does, in fact, fulfill her last day of bed rest.” Obi-Wan notices as you bristle at the notion of being babysat like a child, but says nothing as Plo continues. “The healers have been kind enough to deliver medicine and food. You’d need only to stay within the room.” Before Obi-Wan can reply that he’d have to seek the approval of his own Master, Koon finishes for him. “I’d be happy to request an excuse from the rest of your duties, but if I’m being quite honest, I’m aware that most of your training for the day has already been completed.”

Obi-Wan schools his own features in haste from revealing how impressed he is. Though, he really shouldn’t be surprised. Plo Koon was legendary amongst the younger generations for both his intuition and skill with a lightsaber. Still, he pauses.

“There’s no cause for worry, young one, she’s not contagious any longer. The sickness is in its last stages.” The Kel Dor assures him, somewhat humorously, but that’s not why Obi-Wan is hesitating.

He’s nervous — he’s never spent much time alone with you. It’s not that you’re unlikable, or intimidating — okay, maybe you are a little — but actually, you’re quite popular with the rest of his crèchemates. He’s only had the opportunity to spend time with you in the midst of his other friends, and the times you have had conversations by yourselves, he gets an uncomfortable twist in his stomach that he’s not sure he likes.

But Obi-Wan is a good Padawan. Trying to be, at least. And Master Koon is close friends with Qui-Gon.

“Certainly, Master.” He gives a slight bow at the middle of his waist. “I would gladly be of service.”

The Jedi nods at him gracefully, and bids a soft farewell to you as he departs the conversation and the dormitory wing. You mutter a goodbye of your own moments after, followed by what Obi-Wan thinks is a variation of be safe. Then, you turn haughtily into your bedroom, retreating with your nose high in the air. He follows with a smirk of amusement.

“Sorry you’ve been sidelined.” He offers, as you face plant dramatically onto the bed. You bounce head-first into the pillows, and he can feel the irritation radiating off of you. “I know it that goes.”

You lift your body enough to place your chin in your hands, and regard him with a softening quirk. “It’s okay. I was just excited to get out on a mission again after my last one got cut short. This wretched flu.”

You flop onto your back, but Obi-Wan can sense your resentment quickly fading as you pull up the sheets to your chest. He notes that you already seem to be complying with your Master’s orders, grateful at the thought of not having to force you into bed. Another thought passes through his head, reminding him of the specific name Plo Koon had mentioned earlier.

“Balmorra flu? Weren’t you on Dantooine?”

“We were. Unfortunately, the illness is not limited to the planet for which it is named. But how it made its way to Dantooine, the middle of nowhere, I’ve no idea.” You sniff harshly. “It’s a shame, too. I wanted to take some time to admire the grasslands, but Master Koon wanted to get us back to the temple before I got worse.” The pout on your face morphs into a far-off look, and while you’re daydreaming, he takes the time to admire you. “It was majestic, Obi-Wan, the rolling plains, the rivers — you’d have loved it, I think.”

To himself, he smiles warmly. Here you are, sinuses stuffed to the brim and wallowing in the discomfort of sickness, yet you still found it within yourself to think of him. He can see why you’d been spoken so highly of by the others before he’d had the courage to befriend you.

You had a good heart.

“I know what you mean.” He presents you with a new tissue as you toss a used one into the wastebasket by your bed, and you watch him speak intently. “Once, on a mission to Alderaan, my Master told me he’d save time to hike one of the mountains if we finished early. A meditation retreat, of sorts. We did, but just as we were prepared to go, I came down with nerf-pox. A youngling sneezed on me in the middle of the assignment.” Disdain paints his appearance, and you cough out a laugh at him behind your fist as you reach for something off your bedside table, where a steaming bowl and cup of water sits.

“To the experiences that disease took from us,” you raise the cup in the air as if you’re making a toast, and although he’s not holding one of his own, he mimes the action with a grin. “Here’s to hoping we’ll get to do them someday.”

As you raise the drink to your mouth, Obi-Wan can’t help but notice the way it trembles in your hand. Eyes narrowing, he takes in the slight shake of your arm. “You’re quite weak,” he moves closer to take the cup from you and set it back on the table. “I think I should feed you.”

Your eyebrows knit in defiance, but he’s already holding the bowl of soup, stirring the spoon in its depths. Immediately, his nose wrinkles in distaste.

“This smells horrible.”

You sigh in agreement, leaning your head back against the pillows. “Rootleaf stew. Master Yoda’s personal recipe.” As he lifts the utensil to your still-moving mouth, you add, “Thankfully, it doesn’t taste as bad as it stinks.”

He snickers quietly as you drink the liquid down with a small noise of disgust. Your face seems to relax after a minute, however, and he hopes the warm broth is soothing your throat. He offers you a bit more, but this time, you stare straight at him as your lips close around the spoon, and his wrist falters when you peer at him from beneath your lashes.

Soup dribbles down your chin and neck as you squeal in surprise, the heat of it making you jerk back. Obi-Wan drops the bowl onto the table as he frantically snatches up tissues to offer you between panicked apologies, not trusting himself to dab the droplets on your skin away himself.

“Sorry! I’m so sorry, I —” he stammers as you clean up what you can, blinking at him in amused surprise. You don’t look angry at him, but stars, does he feel bad. “Ah, I didn’t mean to. So much for helping you.” From the shoulders up, he burns bright with remorse, but you shake your head amusedly with bright eyes.

“It’s okay. I probably would have done the same to myself. You were right, I am too weak to carry anything.”

Sheepishly, Obi-Wan picks up the stew again, but places it in his lap for a moment as he waits for his body to stop freaking out, for lack of a better term. It’s good timing, too, because you promptly break into a hacking fit, coughing violently as he winces in his seat. After you blow your nose loudly, you seem to notice his expression, because you suddenly turn self-consciously away from him.

“I’m sorry, too. I can’t imagine I’m a pretty sight to see as of right now.”

He disagrees. Surprisingly, your physical state hasn’t been too affected. And even in spite of your slightly ruffled exterior, you’re still exuding the same liveliness that he can’t help but find attractive. In his mindlessness, Obi-Wan’s mouth acts before his brain as he responds. “I think you’re always pretty.”

You both freeze, eyes meeting in shocked gazes as he attempts to backtrack. “I — I mean, you’re a pretty sight to see —” Nope, that’s worse, kill me, Maker, kill me now —

“Obi — it’s okay,” you cut him off from embarrassing himself further, though your own voice is shrill. “I appreciate the compliment.”

His face flushes again, this time at the nickname more than his stupidity. He stares resolutely into the swirling broth as he fiddles with the spoon, and deafening silence fills the air between you as you both look anywhere but each other. Soon enough, though, you’re brave enough to break the quiet. With an even braver comment of your own.

“You know, you’re not too bad-looking either,” he peers at you cautiously, and your eyes are kind, offering comfort. He breathes out a long sigh, but manages a weak smile in return.

“Thanks,” he mumbles, and you nod at him easily. He’s jealous of the way you’re expressive, yet so effortlessly at ease in any scenario — someday, he swears, he’ll nail down his composure. He’ll be in complete control of his every emotion and have the coolest demeanor of all the Jedi.

Just, not today.

Obi-Wan forces himself to steel the muscles in his arms as he brings another spoonful of soup to your waiting mouth, and exhales in relief when he successfully avoids causing another mess. Unfortunately, it seems that you’re intent on making one, because as soon as you swallow, you’ve got another remark that you deliver all too casually for Obi-Wan’s liking.

“In fact, I’d say you’re the prettiest Padawan in the Order.”

He spills the entire bowl across your sheets.

[carynsilver]

Favorite Fics: Drarry Edition

Like I mentioned last time, reading has been a big comfort to me with all this craziness and sheltering at home, so I want to pay it forward and send love to some of the writers whose work has been brightening my quarantine. Thanks, guys!

For this list, we’re leaving the MCU for a while and heading over to the Wizarding World. I liked Harry Potter when it came out, but I never really read much fanfic until I realized a couple of years ago how much a redeemed Draco fit into the redemption trope that I loved in Harringrove, LoVe, SnowBaz, and other fandoms and ships. Once I started perusing the fics out there, I realized that one of the strengths of this fandom is the length and quality of the stories. I love stories that are a meal, and Drarry provides so many!

As I’ve gotten into the ship (so many years late, lol), these are my top 10 favorites.

dirtynumbangelboy by @magpiefngrl

This is probably the Drarry fic that I most enjoy. I come back to it fairly often when I need just a good read in the HP world. Fake dating is one of my absolute favorite tropes, which made this one an automatic win for me, but it’s written with such heart. I really, really love Draco in this fic. His uni studies and his flat being so different from the diffident image he projects. This is also probably the best Astoria I’ve ever read. Also--Jam Today! Read it now!

Do It All Over Again by DracoWillHearAboutThis

I only discovered this series earlier this year, and I’ve already read it at least three times from beginning to end. It’s a re-telling of the original series starting from Book 1. Draco sends himself a letter from the future basically saying that his dad is wrong, and he needs to give up his pure blood ideals and befriend Harry, then--boom--the Golden Trio’s adventures all happen with Draco in tow (and eventual romance, of course). The plot is fairly similar to the actual series, but I am there for the angst and the character growth. Narcissa kicks ass in this ‘verse, and Draco/Hermionie as besties is a treat! Book 4 and Book 6 are both amazing. And her titles are hilarious. This is the only series on my list that is still a WIP, but there’s plenty to read. Books 1 - 6 are complete, and a new chapter for 7 comes out every two weeks. It’s a safe bet so far, and it’s so good--why wait?

A Secondary Education by Thunderbird587

In this fic, Draco takes a job as Potions Professor at Hogwarts after getting divorced under horrible circumstances and renews his acquaintance with Harry, who is the DADA Professor. It’s got a bisexual awakening, and manages to combine friends with benefits with some supreme pining. Like a whole pine forest. Thunderbird587′s Draco POV is so fleshed out, and yet it also lets us see how Harry is pining, even when Draco himself doesn’t. Plus, at over 200K, it is long enough to get lost in for ages, which is perfect right about now. And when you finish the main fic, there are three other ancillary fics, two in Harry’s POV that take place during the main one. The cufflinks one is my favorite, but the writing is so good that I even thoroughly enjoyed the third sub-fic that fleshed out an OC. So, so worth the read--all of it!

The Foundations!verse by Saras_Girl

All of the fics by Saras_Girl are great. You can’t go wrong with any of them. But Reparations, Foundations, and all the little one-shots after are my favorite. It honestly surprised me at first, because alcoholism is a trigger for me, but this fic actually helped me realize that it’s the addiction part, the fall to rock bottom that triggers me. Recovery stories are different. And, I guess, this one is a bit different in that, though it has plenty of characters recovering, Draco himself is actually in a healthy place and facilitating recovery without relapsing. Harry is a Healer in this one, which is not the usual, and I quite enjoy his other relationships in this ‘verse, as well. He, Ron, and Hermione’s friendship is great in this one (their pub nights crack me up), but I also really like Harry’s friends at St. Mungo’s. My second favorite Terry Boot ever, and two awesome OC chicks. And the process of Drarry going from can’t stand each other to in love is slow and prickly and yet really believable. Oh, and Harry and Narcissa’s relationship in this one is just fabulous.

Golden Age by zeitgeistic (faire_weather)

The Hufflepuff in me was bound to fall in love with this fic. I really enjoy Eighth Year fics, especially the ones that embrace inter-house unity (shouldn’t have taken them a war to see the need for that!). This one takes it to a new level when everyone in... I think it was 6th - 8th years were resorted at the welcome feast, and the whole 8th year dynamic is shaken up. Harry, Draco and Neville become Hufflepuffs; Hermione and Pansy become Ravenclaws; Ginny becomes a Slytherin; and somehow Ron and Blaise are the ones who stay in their houses because the hat thinks they are basically the uber Gryffindor and Slytherin. But with the rest of them, we get to see them embrace other facets of their personalities, which is super interesting. And then, after the resorting, we find out that Hufflepuffs have a whole different world going on that basically no one outside their house knows about, and that world is brilliant. Even Hufflepuff food in the Great Hall is different! Everyone would enjoy this story, I think, but if you are a ‘Puff, you really, truly should not miss it. And if you like this one, check out some of zeitgeistic’s other works. Her world building is fabulous.

Life skills outside the curriculum by Endrina

In this fic, Harry gets fed up with the Dursleys before his 11th birthday and runs away before he gets his Hogwarts letter. He ends up on the streets and somehow embraces this kind of instinctual magic that is really fascinating. A few years later, Draco runs away rather than get involved more closely with the Dark Lord, and of course they meet up. This whole fic is super compelling. Harry’s world view and the way people gravitate toward him even without chosen one status. Also, this fic has one of my favorite versions of Remus and Sirius ever. I really wish there was a part two that went in depth on everything that happened after the end of this one, but even on its own it is so worth the read. And everything is wrapped up. I’m just greedy and would’ve loved more. :-)

A Convenient Impracticality by @firethesound

This fic combines friends with benefits and fake dating into a really enjoyable story. Harry is so oblivious, but it all works out in the end. And Draco is a secret mastermind, but in a good way. So is Hermione. Unlike some of the other, angstier stories on my list, this one is so fun, and I love it. And if you like it, check out more of firethesound’s work, as well. It’s worth it!

you’ve got the antidote for me by kandakicksass

And then, back on the angst train, lol. Soulmates, red string of fate, rejected bond = terminal disease. Whew! There’s a lot to unpack in this one, but after I read it, I never forgot it. I read a lot of fic in a lot of fandoms, and I always know a story is going to become a favorite if it stands out so much that I remember it later and think about it. That surely happened here.

(We’ll Call This Fixer-Upper) Home by phdmama

This is one of the first fics I read on my first Drarry binge, and I’ve always remembered it. Just like I love Eighth Year and Hogwarts professor fics, I also love fics where they have really unexpected jobs--pretty much anything other than Aurors. In this one, Harry is an artist/photographer and Draco is an up-and-coming rock star. The music and art, the creativity is important in this fic, but it also really looks at Draco’s recovery after the war in ways I haven’t read since, and I’m also a sucker for our favorite characters actually addressing and recovering from their trauma. 

Boom Clap (The Sound of My Heart) by @femmequixotic and noeon (noe)

This fic takes the Eighth Year trope to the next level. Draco, Harry, Hermione, and some other faves are teaching fellows at Hogwarts. Junior professors, kind of. It read like if the HP crew went to college. And, of course, Draco and Harry fall in love along the way, but not without much angst and obliviousness. I really enjoy the Draco POV in this. His worries and anxieties feel so real for that stage in his life, but amped up because of the past. This was one I read, never forgot, and then had to go back and find so i could read it again.

So, those are my top 10, but there is lots of other good Drarry out there--both from these authors and all the others in the ship and the fandom. Thanks for all the writing you guys do.

Oh, and tagging @virtual-insomnia, but only because she said she might want to make some quarantine fic lists of her own. :-)

[apprentice-liuyin]

Liuyin Mei

“Uneasy are souls that awaken in smoke”

General information

Known as

Sima Liuyin: Birth name

Leonie Mei: Alias

Occupation

Shop Keeper

Magician

Spirit medium

Medical apprentice

Favorites

Favorite meal: Lamb skewers

Favorite drink: Chrysanthemum tea

Favorite flower: Tea rose

Personality traits

Birthday: January 23rd

Age: 26

Zodiac sign: Aquarius

MBTI: ISFJ-T

Pronouns: They/them only

Main(s): Asra (primarily), occasionally Julian as well

Patron Arcana: Death, Page of Pentacles

Relatives

Note that their family back in Langya would still utilize the traditional naming format of <surname, given name>, unless they have specific titles.

Liya Zheng: Paternal aunt, their father’s elder sister who left Langya and settled in Vesuvia. Liuyin inherited her magic shop.

Lieutenant Zheng: Father, subordinate to General Sima. A harsh and temperamental man, from whom Liuyin became estranged.

Sima Yu: Mother, daughter of General Sima. A healer and free spirit who became fettered by the expectations of family.

Sima Xiaoping: Younger brother, five years Liuyin’s junior, born when Liuyin was still living with their grandparents.

Sima Qianren: Younger brother, eight years Liuyin’s junior, born when Liuyin was still living with their grandparents.

General Sima: Maternal grandfather and patriarch of the Sima family.

Madam Sima: Maternal grandmother, wife to General Sima, owned a teashop in her youth.

Zheng Xuan: Paternal grandfather and guardian, a countryside farmer with an affinity for magic, though no abilities of his own.

Sarnai: Paternal grandmother and guardian, wife of Zheng Xuan, a Kokhuri-descended magician who was Liuyin’s first teacher.v

Physical description

Gender: Nonbinary

Height: 5′6′’

Eye color: Plum-purple

Hair color: Black-brown with orange and red undertones

Appearance

Liuyin is a youth with a compact frame, plum-colored eyes, a long and pointed nose, and dark hair that shines copper in sunlight. Their bearing is collected and serene, with a slight smile to their lips. Their customary outfit consists of an inner blouse that resembles an ao, or Chinese upright-collared blouse popularized in the Ming Dynasty that was usually worn outside the tucking of a skirt, as well as an outer cross-collared robe, and any other clothing they may wear would come in shades of blue, grey, and white. They often wear clothing with butterfly motifs on it, as a silver butterfly was their familiar before their death. Their hair is usually left half-up in buns decorated with butterfly pins, and half-down, with sideswept bangs and locks of hair looped over their ears before being pulled back into a bun.

Personality

Liuyin is a person who is serene and demure on their exterior, almost to the point of seeming withdrawn, aloof, or distant from others. However, they bear a naturally warm aura, with a high-spirited but practical-minded personality with a quick wit, being able to banter easily. They have a sincere and well-meaning heart, as well as loyalty to those they care for, to the point they may act recklessly, going against their usual analytical approaches wherein they slice every action down to its bits and pieces, to save those they love. Thus, they rarely get angry unless someone they love is at risk. They hate boredom and insincerity.

History

Family background

Liuyin Sima was a member of the House of Sima, a noble clan of the nation of Langya, a kingdom to the south of Vesuvia which was located east of the Shining Steppe and west of the Strait of Seals.

Their grandfather was General Sima, a powerful military official overseeing the command of the cavalry of the nation, as well as the current patriarch of the House of Sima.

Their mother was the daughter of General Sima and his wife, and an adept healer.

Their father was a lieutenant under General Sima who was arranged by Madam Sima to marry the general’s daughter.

Childhood

They were pretty unplanned as far as children goes-- their mother had to put their studies to become a healer on hold to carry Liuyin to term, and once they were born, they were sent to live in the countryside with Liuyin’s paternal grandparents, since there’s really no place for a baby either in the barracks or in a healer’s academy.

Their paternal grandmother, Sarnai, when she was young, was a Kokhuri shaman and magician, before marrying her husband and settling down as a farmer in the countryside. Liuyin had gained some degree of healing magic ability from their mother, and Sarnai helped hone Liuyin’s paternal magical capabilities, in communicating the restless dead as well as creating an entrance and space within the spiritual plane akin to magicians’ gates and Asra’s oasis, respectively.

Adolescence

When Liuyin was ten years old, they moved back to the General’s manor to live with their father and mother, and their two younger brothers, one of whom was already 5, and one who was 2 at the time. Due to the strict disciplinarian method of parenting their parents and maternal grandparents enforced, Liuyin, who was raised in a more casual and relaxed environments found themselves miserable and often butted heads with their parents, which was then duly punished.

They, at this point, practically lived only for summer visits to their grandparents, where their magical growth increased by leaps and bounds. When they were 16, their father forbade them from seeing their grandparents, and Liuyin had run away from home in retaliation, first stopping by their grandparents’ house, who then sent them on their way to Vesuvia, where their father’s elder sister, Liya, had opened a magic shop.

Arriving in Vesuvia

Liuyin arrived in Vesuvia on the eve of the Masquerade, where they were received by their aunt. They found Asra reading fortunes behind the shop, and they befriended him under the pseudonym of Leonie Mei-- over the course of the next half year or so, Liya had taught Liuyin all she knew about magic, after which Liya had received an offer of professorship at a prestigious academy in Zadith, leaving the shop to be tended to by Liuyin and Asra.

The Red Plague

By the time the Red Plague struck, Liuyin had shed the name of Leonie Mei and went by Liuyin Mei instead, eschewing their family name completely. When the plague broke, Liuyin and Asra had argued over whether to leave the city or stay and help-- Liuyin stayed, Asra left. Liuyin initially tried to ease the pain of the deceased’s families through her divination abilities, trying to allow the spirits to move on.

Somewhere along the line, realized that wasn’t enough and apprenticed themselves to Julian as a medic. It was there in the palace, researching for a cure, that Liuyin succumbed to the disease, dying alone, and being sent to the Lazaret, where they were eventually cremated.

The Masquerade

Broken by their death, Asra resolved to resurrect them. Meanwhile, Count Lucio, failing rapidly from their battle with the Red Plague, hosted a feast on the night of the masquerade designed to gift him a new body, a ritual that Asra sabotaged, stealing the body to resurrect Liuyin. And the rest, from that point, is history...

Powers

Smoke divination: Liuyin has the ability to use a special blend of incense smoke to induce within themselves a hallucination or dreamscape, in which they would be presented with a series of seemingly-disjointed visions, from which they had to determine a storyline or solution to their question. They can also inhale this in the presence of a corpse or scene of crime, and it would show them things that, if interpreted correctly, would show them the cause of death or how a crime was committed. They can also contact more recently-deceased spirits when inhaling this smoke, and thus can use this in a manner similar to an exorcism, laying a spirit to rest.

Potion making: Liuyin is talented at potion-making as well as cooking, as well as a hobby in

Personal gate: Liuyin’s gate to the Arcana realm, taught to them by their grandmother. Later, with Asra’s help, they rediscover and unlock their gate.

Trivia

Liuyin’s inspiration draws from both Chinese folklore as well as popular culture.

Liuyin’s initial inspiration was from Lan Caihe, a nonbinary Taoist immortal said to be patron to florists and gardeners. They traveled the kingdoms wearing a single shoe and ragged blue robes, singing improvised songs about the impermanence of youth.

Other inspirations for Liuyin come from Mei Changsu, Guo Deyou, Kuang Lu, Xiaolongnu, and Lan Wangji

Their name, Liuyin, means “shadow of the willow”. Their birth surname, Sima, means “master of the horse”, and their given surname, Mei, means “plum”.

Their favorite season is winter

Their voice is mid-tone, and a bit husky.

They speak three languages-- the common tongue of Vesuvia, the common tongue of Langya, and the common tongue of the Steppes.

Template credit: apprentice-liuyin

[vivinightingale]

Hanahaki disease and Star tears head canons Part 3 of 3

Since i already wrote hanahaki headcanons for Bakura here , i will be replacing him with my girl Mai Valentine

Hanahaki Disease: An illness born from one sided love, where the victim's throat will fill up with flowers. They will then begin to throw up, or cough up the petals. In serious cases the flowers themselves. There are only two ways to get rid of the said disease. If the person the victim loves loves them back (strong friendship isn't adequate enough) or through surgery. If neither work the victim will suffocate on the flowers resulting in death.

Star Tears: The Sparkly star-like tears, accompanied with twlinking sounds. It's a disease that is caused by unrequited love. The only cure for these glimmering tears is for the love to be returned;  however, if they are not then the light from the shining stars will blind the victim. 

Flowers mentioned: 

Tulip: Love and, Confidence 

Sunflower: Adoration, Loyalty 

Hydrangea: Emotion, Understanding 

Lychnis

~Mai Valentine Stars tears:

~If she got the disease

Since she was little Mai knew she was meant to be alone. Her parents didn't want anything to do with her so what made her think anyone else wanted anything to do with her?

 Yugi, and his friends that's what made her believe otherwise. She grew so attached to the group, and to you. You guys were what anchored her to earth when her thoughts took over, and she will always be thankful to them for that, but you ….you were different. 

From the moment the two of you made eye contact she knew she wanted to be closer to you.

At first she thought it was because she wanted to be friends with you, but as time carried on and she spent more time with you she felt her heart race whenever you smiled at her, she noticed her eyes wonder to you when you guys hung out with the group.

She was in love with you and that alone terrified her. That fear turned into tears, and those tears turned into stars.

She knew what these stars were; she witnessed them first hand from a maid that worked in her parents' mansion.

She hated this, the feeling of fear and the blinding stars. So she decided to do the one thing she could do to get rid of the star. She was gonna confess her feelings for you.

Ever since she was a little girl she knew she was meant to be alone, and since the last thing she saw before the darkness took over  was you confessing to another she knew these words to be true.

She never felt so alone in the darkness she now faces.

~If you got the disease:

You knew the world was a beautiful place, even when dark forces try to take over the world the beauty always seemed to shine through.

It especially got brighter when Mai came into view, to you Mai was something that walked out of your dreams, and you felt lucky enough to know her.

The more she hung out with the group however, the more you came to have feelings for the woman. Everything about her called out to you, and you would be stupid to refuse the call. However, that wasn't in the cards for you.

You werent the one she had eyes for, she had eyes for Joey, and as much as you wanted to steal her attention away from the blonde you couldn't bring yourself to do it. 

You could tell from the looks of both of them that it was mutual, and you couldn't take that away from them or push your feelings on to her.

So instead you acted unaffected as their relationship escalated from friendship to more, but that tough act only lasted so long before the tears came into effect and your ability to see started to leave.

You never went to the doctor to find out why these tears were there because they helped not see the love that flourished between Joey and Mai. So when you finally lost your sight due to the tears you found it both a blessing and a curse. 

~Yami Bakura Hanahaki disease:

~If he got the disease:

The Thief King remembers what his village was like Before it was destroyed, he also remembered you. The person who despite his mean demour went out of their way to befriend him.

He thought nothing of you at first, but as time continued he despised your company less and less till he eventually looked forward to it.

Your smile was more dazzling then any stone he has ever seen, you sparkled like the star at night, and your beauty rivaled the queens. 

He knew he was in love with you but didnt know how to approach such a subject. He was used to the roughness of the streets, not your gentle caress. He didn't have much time to think on how to approach it until the flowers started growing in his lungs.

He didn't know what he hated more, the fact that he was in love with you, or the flowers growing in his lungs.

He didn't try to beat around the bush, when they first started growing he seeked you out immediately. When you greeted him with your bright smile he felt the flowers growing more.

“(y/n)” he gruffed ”….i think i love you”  you surprised that the tall rough man was the first to say it.

The only thing you could do was jump into his arms, and hold him close.

Bakura didn't know why he thought of that memory when he saw the (h/c) walk past him,but he suddenly felt the flowers once again.

~If you got the disease:

Growing up in a small village you knew everyone, well almost everyone. So you made it your goal to get to know Bakura. I took a lot of time and effort to befriend the gruff man.

He made it difficult to get close to him, but eventually you did. Even though he hated when you got close he never pushed you away, even though he hated when you talked to him he never asked you to stop, and even though he said you were the most annoying thing he has ever come across he protects you wherever you get in trouble.

You fell for him, and you fell for him hard. As much as you wanted to avoid him you couldn't. You were drawn to him like a moth to a flame. 

Even as the flowers began to grow in your lungs you couldn't stay away. You got better at hiding the flowers from Bakura, but not from the others.

The local healer noticed the flowers spewing from your mouth as you hid in on the many alleys, but she wasn't the only one who noticed.

When you told Bakura that you had errands to run he became suspicious, so he followed you to check on you. Him and the doctor rushed to your side. The doctor sat you down so you could get your breath back. Mindlessly the doctor told you and Bakura what the disease was and what could happen. Bakura looked at you upset and worried. 

“Who is it then (y/n)?! Don't let this take you from me!” you looked at him with tears in your eyes. “Its you,” you whispered. 

The doctor excused herself as Bakura grabbed your wrist  and pulled you to him.

Bakura was a rough man, but he has never been so gentle as when he held you like this, and here you knew that no matter what you were safe with him.

~Yami Marik Star Tears:

~If he got the disease: 

Yami Marik didn't have the time for feelings, he had a plan set in motion. However fate had other plans for him. When he saw you at Kaiba’s side during battle city, he knew he had to have you at HIS side.

He tried everything to get you, but everytime he tried it was either foiled or you were surrounded by too many people. He didn't know how to go about this, and this frustrated him more than anything.

That's when the tears appeared. They fell endlessly from his eyes and it irritated him more that he didn't understand how to stop them.

While the others were in the virtual world Marik stayed in his room trying to get rid of the tears. That's when you walked in.

You walked calmly to his side “star tears..” he side eyed you as you explained the effects of the disease. You kneeled down to his level, and put his face in your hands. “The future Pharaoh can't go blind.”

Slight confusion came across his face before it was replaced with a smirk “The heal your Pharaoh” the two of you shared a kiss as the tears faded. Now it was time for him to take over the world with you at his side.

~If you got the disease:

You have been friends with Kaiba brothers for a long time, and that had some perks. Like getting into the battle city finals without dueling, and getting to see this demon named Marik.

As you watched him fight Mai something in you felt a fire that you never felt before, and you knew then that you wanted to follow him into whatever pits of hell he came from. 

The problem with these new affections was the tears that soon followed. You knew what these tears were, and you knew how to stop them

Or so you thought When Noah called all duelists to meet with him that unfortunately meant you as well. So you end up in their little charade as you slowly lose your sight.

When you finally did lose your sight in the virtual and real world you distanced yourself from everyone until you eventually faded from everyone's memory. 

~Marik Ishtar Hanahaki disease:

~If he got disease:

Marik has known you for years due to your loyalty to his family. He was close to you, closer then he has ever been with anyone.

Even after he ran off vowing to take down the pharaoh you stayed by him, and acted as one of the rare hunters.

With the more time he spent with you the more his affections grew for you, and he came to realize how much he loved you.

However before the flowers grew Ishizu warned him of the future he had with you, he ignored her warnings but never forgot them.

So when the flowers began to grow in his lungs he knew why, and thus he sent you on less missions just to keep you at his side. 

The flowers grew more and more until he couldn't take it anymore. So one night he pulled you aside away from all ears.

When you went to question him he stopped you with a kiss “I want…..no i need you (s/o) only you are worthy to stand by my side.”  Though you were surprised you accepted his affections and hugged him tightly. “You forever have me my Pharaoh.”

~If you got the disease:

Working for the Ishtar family was never easy, but you enjoyed the company of your younger master Ishizu and Marik. They both treated you like one of their own, and you couldn't be happier.

However Marik was the one you longed for, but you knew you couldn't be with him. You were but a simple servant and nothing more.

When he left the tomb to start his hunt for the Pharaoh, despite Ishizu’s wishes you followed him, and that when the flowers began to grow.

Because you became a rare hunter you were able to hide the flowers from not only Marik, but the rest of the followers. 

It stayed this way until you couldn't take the flowers anymore and you eventually went to the hospital, the doctors told you of the disease, and your options. Instead of taking the first option you got the surgery to remove the flowers.

You may not have feelings for your master,but you can at least still be loyal to him, and that's all that matters to you.     

[femalechibiblogger]

My 15 Favorite Isekai Manga

1. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

Satoru Mikami is an ordinary 37 year old corporate worker living in Tokyo. He is almost content with his monotonous life, despite the fact that he doesn't have a girlfriend. During a casual encounter with his colleague, an assailant pops out of nowhere and stabs him. While succumbing to his injuries, a mysterious voice echoes in his mind and recites a series of commands which he could not make sense of.

After regaining consciousness, Satoru discovers that he has been reincarnated as a Slime in an unfamiliar world. At the same time, he also acquires new-found skills, particularly the ability called "Predator," which allows him to devour anything and mimic its appearance and skills. He stumbles upon Veldora, a Catastrophe-level 'Storm Dragon', who was sealed for 300 years for reducing a town to ashes. Feeling sorry for him, Satoru befriends the dragon, promising to help him in destroying the seal. In return, Veldora bestows upon him the name Rimuru Tempest, to grant him divine protection.

Now free from his stale past life, Rimuru embarks on a quest to prove his worth. As he starts to get used to his current physique, word of his weird accomplishments start to spread like wildfire across the world, changing his fate completely.

2. The Scholar’s Reincarnation 

A martial artist, claiming himself to be a “murderer” is defeated by a suicide attack in battle and is reborn as a first born child to a local lord. Having a fresh start, a warm family and a little sister to protect – he decides to become a better person in his new life.

3. Tensei Kizoku no Isekai Boukenroku ~Jichou wo Shiranai Kamigami no Shito~

Shiina Kazuya, our protagonist who got killed by a stranger when he tried to protect his childhood friend and little sister, reincarnated into Cain Von Silford as the third son in the world of sword and magic. Cain grew up being surrounded by Gods who doesn’t know self-esteem, the upper noble and the girls who are swayed around him. Being given so many protection from the gods, He overcame any obstacle (aka Flags) while hiding his unbelievable status. The noble path fantasy story of a young boy who sometimes wicked and clumsy.

4. They Say I Was Born A King’s Daughter

After spending most of her youth fielding the attention of countless wealthy suitors, Suhee Kim finally finds true love with a steady boyfriend named Jinsu Han. But then tragedy strikes, and Suhee is murdered in cold blood. To Suhee’s surprise, she is immediately reincarnated as a baby girl named Sanghee Kim, who just so happens to be a princess! Plus, she is fully conscious of her past life. 

There’s just one problem: In this society, women are seen as totally inferior, even princesses. Appalled by the treatment of women, Sanghee is determined to change the kingdom’s patriarchal ways. Will Sanghee be able to succeed, or will she be stuck living her second life being treated as a lowly woman?

5. Parallel World Pharmacy

A young pharmacologist and researcher in Japan died from overworking, and was reincarnated in a Medieval Parallel Europe. He was reincarnated as a 10-year-old apprentice to a famous Royal Court pharmacist, had attained an inhuman skills of ability to see through disease, material creation, and material destruction. In a society in which dubious medical practice are rampant, price gouging thru the monopoly of the pharmacist guild, and good medicine aren't available to the commoners. He was recognized by the Emperor at that time and opened a Pharmacy at the corner of the town. He will wipe out the fraud that has swept the world, and deliver to the commoners a truly effective medicine that was developed using present day pharmacology. Thus the boy pharmacist will cheat by using his previous knowledge to create innovative medicines while helping the people of the parallel world, a story about living his new life to the fullest this time.

6. I Am A Child Of This House

“Pink Eyes” has always lived a relatively normal (?) life, with two exceptions: first, she has gained memories of her previous life as Seo Young, and second, she is someone’s illegitimate daughter in I Am a Child of This House Manga.

One day however, when she turns 11 years old, her prostitute mother takes her to the empire’s sole duke and claims her as his child. Although he seems to not believe her, he nevertheless buys “Pink Eyes” for 20,000 gold. With that, her new life as “Estelle” starts.

But what truly awaits her? And is she really a child of this house?

7. Daughter of the Emperor

Ariadna Lereg Ilestri Pre Agrigent. And so my life begins with this ridiculously long name, born to royalty and the center of attention — all because of one dangerous man; the veritably insane tyrant king, ruthless conqueror of ten empires, nightmare of all continents… and my father?! Will I be able to survive this maniac?

8. The Cute Little Granny Hinata-chan

Worldly knowledge and artistic refinement! Hinata-chan is on a completely different level to your average toddler. But she has a secret... that she's the reincarnation of an 88 year old grandma, with her memories intact! Enjoying green tea on the veranda, a taste for pickles, and an old-fashioned dialect! Why has she been reincarnated? A comedy full of old-wives wisdom.

9. Isekai de Mofumofu Nadenade Suru Tame ni Ganbattemasu

After various things happened, I got an ability from God and reincarnated to another world! While being watched over by my high-spec family, the super ordinary me fully enjoyed other world life. Using the ability I received from God, I had a daily life of just fluffing and petting fantasy animals. There are some shady movements too, but while being led by the nose by God, I’ll do my best at various things with my cheat-like comrades!

10. In Another World, I’m Called: The Black Healer

One day, 22-year-old Kanzaki Misuzu is suddenly transported to a strange world. Based on the pop-up screens she can access, it seems she's entered some kind of RPG as a magic user! Luckily, she can use the gaming skills she acquired as an otaku to make her way in this new world. But before she knows it, people start calling her "the Black Healer"!!

11. The Youngest Princess

The archmage who ruled over a magic kingdom. One day, she was reborn as the youngest daughter of the empire! “I’ll just play along and pretend to be a baby. ...But don’t you think you guys like me a little too much?” They won’t leave her alone. The youngest princess is tired today as well.

12. Freeter ga Jimini Isekai Teni suru 

Meet Tanaka. He’s a 26-year-old freeter - a guy who makes his living on various part-time jobs. He works in warehouses, directs traffic, and generally does whatever work he can find in order to get paid. However, recently Tanaka has had a problem. He occasionally is transported into another world, usually in front of people who need help. Knowing nothing, can Tanaka add another part-time job to his repertoire?

13. The Small Sage Will Try Her Best In The Different World From Lv.1!

Kujo Yuuri, who had been playing Elysia Online, finally changed her occupation to the sage of her desire. Then, she was asked whether to go to the true Elyasia or not and selected [Yes], and somehow went to another world. Furthermore, she became a small child.

The small sage Yuuri and her companions’ love and adventure fantasy.

14. Beauty and the Beasts

As soon as she fell into the world of beast men, a leopard forcibly took her back to his home. Indeed, Bai Jingjing is at a complete and utter loss. The males in this world are all handsome beyond compare, while the women are all so horrid that even the gods shudder at their sight. As a first-rate girl from the modern world (she's even a quarter Russian), Bai Jingjing finds herself sitting at the center of a harem filled with beautiful men -- at the very peak of existence.

15. The Beast and His Pet High School Girl

On the way home from school, Kashiwagi Aki is kidnapped and finds herself in a world populated entirely by beastmen. She ends up in a pet store where the overzealous and impulsive wolfman Zinovy becomes infatuated with her and buys her on sight. Thus begins their strange and chaotic, albeit incredibly cute life.

[companaich]

Intelligent Systems gave me nothing to work with, so this is My City now. Also reminder that Intsys says that Tanith is in her 20s but that is stupid and they are Cowards, so mine is in her mid 30s by the time Path of Radiance happens.

Tanith Culbert was the third born child and eldest daughter of the Count of Culbert and his wife. She spent her childhood years mostly apart from her parents, spending more time with her two older brothers and eventually her younger sister, Annath.

As a child and through her early teens, Tanith was far closer in personality to Marcia than she would later care to admit. She was dedicated and stubborn, yes, but had her airheaded moments of forgetfulness and frequently lacked focus on specific things.

Of her two elder brothers, Tanith was closer to the middle child of the family, Salim. While Kothar, the eldest, would vanish for almost weeks at a time to learn more about Culbert and how to run it from his parents, Salim would train with the local militia and pass on what he learned in snippets to his younger sister. As the martial skills were seen as unbecoming of a lady without designs to join the military. At her younger age, Tanith would often declare that she had no plans for the future, and would simply enjoy trying a 'little bit of everything'. Kothar's attempts to bond with her usually resulted in her growing frustrated with the logistical problems he gave her, although the pastry bribes he offered as a reward normally made her push through them.

When her younger sister was born Tanith was already twelve years old, and spent little time with her - although she still grew attached despite the distance. As the years went by, her desire to do a 'little bit of everything' concentrated on the intensely practical, with her eye already shifting to either the military or perhaps some kind of charity work. She did attempt to learn how to become a healer, but found her then-flighty concentration was a poor mix with the abilities required to heal efficiently.

The majority of her interactions with her father and mother consisted of them attempting to arrange their most valuable daughter into assorted marriages, with the most persistent courtship she had to suffer being that of Baron Elgin, a minor noble who had designs to put his son Valtome on the Culbert seat one way or another.

Tanith hated Valtome. She hated him almost from the moment she first saw him, and as the arrangement became closer and closer she found herself with very few options to escape it. She could either join the clergy, or the military - after all, members of the Holy Guard in partiucular were considered in a very specific level of society, and could hardly marry a Baron's son when their focus had to be on protecting the Apostle. Kothar helped her come to this conclusion and then used his burgeoning diplomatic skills to spin it for her parents, presenting it as a secret dream she had always had - and finally providing an adequate excuse for all the times she slipped away to train with Salim. Packing her bags, Tanith set off for the capital, unaware of the damage her decision would bring.

Arriving at the capital, Tanith befriended a fellow recruit from another distant noble family in the form of Sigrun. She started to buckle under the weight of the intense training program at first, until Sigrun encouraged her to stick with it instead of quitting at the end of the first week as she had intended. With newfound dedication and a slowly growing love for the profession and the skies in particular, Tanith hurled herself into the program and rapidly became the second highest ranked student of her year.

She was, constantly, always behind Sigrun, something that she could never quite escape from.

When Tanith turned eighteen and was about to complete her training, tragedy struck at home. What appeared to be a deadly string of disease struck her family home, leading to the deaths of her parents and her elder brothers. Her younger sister was barely clinging on to life and ruled Culbert now, and likely wouldn't survive past the week. As she returned home for the funerals, Tanith discovered to her horror that Valtome had ascended through the ranks enough to be the heir to Culbert instead. She was presented with a choice: either leave the Holy Guard and rule Culbert, or remain there and hand it over to him when her sister perished.

Tanith had the longest conversation she'd ever had with her sister that night. Annath eventually convinced Tanith not to abandon what had quickly become her main passion in life, and she reluctantly turned her back on her home province. Ever since, as she watched how Valtome treated her people and how he acted among the Senate, she'd always wondered if that plague which had killed her family and so many of their servants hadn't in fact been something far more insidious.

Tanith returned to the ranks a changed woman, growing harsher and more stern. Completing her training and being an active member of the Guard accelerated that, and while she could never pass Sigrun (who she had now been in a romantic relationship with for several years) in terms of ability or respect, she was still earmarked as a prodigy in her own right. Eventually, Sigrun was promoted to Commander, and Tanith to Deputy Commander - a year before Sanaki was forced to become the new Apostle and Empress at such a young age.

The promotions, however, also turned out to be the final nail in the coffin for Tanith and Sigrun's romantic relationship. With her newfound professionalism and drive being her main focuses in life, Tanith couldn't bring herself to break the command structure in such a way as dating her superior - the two of them having always been the same rank before. They called the relation off, amiably, and continued to be friends instead.

As Path of Radiance picks up, Tanith has been serving Sanaki for almost all of her life. While Sigrun outranks her, the fact that Tanith needs to deal with less of the minutae of running the Holy Guard means that she spends far more time than her as the Apostle's immediate bodyguard, being around her almost as much as her actual guardian in Sephiran. Her connection with Sanaki grows to be the most important she had outside of Sigrun since her family's death, and she is slowly starting to open up to other people again as well.

Quasi Related: She sees far too much of her younger self in Marcia, which absolutely terrifies her at times. Her own memory of her relationship with her siblings is also why she is so (comparatively) easy on her after learning the reasons why Marcia resigned before Path of Radiance began, as well.

[asweethistory]

La Dame Blanche

Burdock Clotted Cream Ice Cream Sandwiches with  Coffee Chocolate Cookies with Lemon Sea Salt

Season 5 of Outlander, a time-traveling historical drama, premiers today. While we can’t confirm that time travel has ever been possible, the TV show, based upon a soon-to-be nine-part series by Diana Gabaldon, does have many real historic underpinnings. The adventure begins with Claire Randall, who, after serving as a nurse in World War II England, celebrates her honeymoon in the Scottish highlands. While exploring one day, she is magically transported by the standing stones of Craigh Na Dun to 200 years prior. Now stuck in the middle of the 18th century, accused of being a spy for the British redcoats, Claire ends up marrying out of necessity and but then falls in love with her new husband, Jamie Fraser. Claire is valuable because she not only is aware of the tragic Jacobite loss that will take place, but she also is considered a healer since her medical knowledge from the future and her familiarity with botany permits her to greatly assist the sick. Women physicians were unheard of, though, causing Claire to be accused of witchcraft, along with a fellow time-traveling healer. While Scotland had its fair share of witch trials, the one portrayed in Outlander actually happened after Scotland had declared it illegal to accuse someone of being a witch.

Claire’s work as a healer is amplified in the second season when she and Jamie spend time in Paris in an attempt to squash the Jacobite uprising. Here, Claire volunteers her time at local hospital, uses medicine to simulate the symptoms of smallpox for a group of enemy men, and befriends Master Raymond, an apothecary and possible ancestor of Claire.  Here also, Claire is believed to be La Dame Blanche, the white lady, a rumor started by Jamie and perpetuated by Raymond. In European folklore, La Dame Blanche is a witch or healer, often benevolent, yet some believe these healers seek revenge and attract death. Still, this title saves Claire from being attacked by a group of men who beat one of her companions and rape another. Claire is called upon by the King to use her powers to determine if Raymond and the Fraser’s enemy,  The Comte St. Germain, are Sorcerers as they stand accused. Raymond and Claire safely consume poison while the Comte does not make it out alive.

Herbs and other natural remedies including the use of gem stones were still actively used during this period to heal and prevent disease, but France at this time was slowly entering modernity as medical schools were growing and physicians learned new techniques, which in turn made healers, specifically women, suspicious. Claire returns to America at the end of season 2 and while in Boston she trains as a surgeon, which of course comes in handy when she goes back in time and settles as a physician in the new colony of North Carolina with her family.

[naturecoaster]

Books by Clint Bennett: The Jesuit Warrior and Jason the Slave Warrior

Clint Bennett, Award-winning Author A fourth-generation Floridian, whose family lived and thrived in the southern part of the Okefenokee swamp near Jasper, Florida, Clint Bennett was born in Dunedin, Florida and moved to Homosassa in 1976. During four years in the U.S. Navy, he had the opportunity to tour the countries bordering the Mediterranean. Spain was one of his favorite ports of call. Up from the port was a Jesuit monastery, and Clint met and befriended several Spanish Jesuits, learning about their culture and history, especially the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. Three topics have always fascinated Clint: the horrendous suffering of the Europeans during the Inquisition, the impact the indigenous tribes of Florida by the arrival of Europeans, and the life and culture of the west Central Florida indigenous populations. The Jesuit Warrior After retiring from his professional writing job in 2000, Clint seriously researched and studied the Nature Coast area’s indigenous culture to begin creating his first novel, “The Jesuit Warrior,” a work of historical fiction that tells the story of a disillusioned Jesuit student living in Valencia, Spain during the Spanish Inquisition. After witnessing a personal horror that causes him to question the teachings and agenda of the Jesuit priests, he boards a ship that will deliver slaves to central Florida. He is captured by the native people in Crystal River. Using his Jesuit medical training as an asset, he becomes a member of the Calusa village, eventually helping them survive attacks by the French and Spanish slavers. Set in the Nature Coast, from Aripeka to Steinhatchee, including Crystal River and Homosassa, the novel is a wonderful work of historic fiction that grips the reader and teaches about the Calusa, the Timuc and the Appalachia Indian tribes that once thrived on west central Florida’s shores. There are five-star reviews of his work on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and other retailers. Jason, The Slave Warrior Next, Clint wrote, “Jason the Slave Warrior,” which begins in New Orleans, and is the story of a young slave and his wife who escape their masters during a hurricane. They steal a sailboat, heading for “a place in central Florida where the slavers are afraid to go.” The two make their way to crystal River, where they are welcomed into the Calusa tribe as honored members. Martha is a renown healer, and Jason a welcome translator and who becomes a valued warrior. The geographical setting for the book is primarily Crystal River, the Homosassa River, Steinhatchee north to Deckle – and south to Tampa, Florida. The Calusa, the Timuca, and the Appalachia Indian tribes and their culture are heavily described in this gripping historical fiction novel. After ordering one, or both, of these novels, email Clint by clicking here to make arrangements for him to autograph your copy. More About the Author, Clint Bennett “I was born in Dunedin, Florida in 1945 and have fished and explored the waterways from Dunedin to Steinhatchee since I was old enough and strong enough to hold a paddle, a set of oars, or operate an outboard motor. I have canoed, camped, and explored most of the Suwannee River from the Okefenokee Swamp to Branford, Florida. Today I live in Crystal River, Florida with my wife and we continue to fish and explore the areas described in my books. I will gladly sign and personalize copies of my books,” Clint explains. "During four years in the U.S. Navy, I had the opportunity of tour the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Spain was one of my favorite ports of call. The squalid conditions in Spain during the early 18th century are accurate as described. My experiences in Europe helped to further my interest and research into the Spanish Inquisition and the numerous diseases and plagues that so devastated Europe for centires. I have also spent time in South Africa where I became interested in the horrors experience by the slaves and the savagery of their captors." Read the full article

[larentia-ray09]

Here’s my self-insert for the Royal AU by @skesgo

 ⚜

  Name: Hael Rhys.

 Race: Human.

 Age: 23 yrs.

 Occupation: Resident healer and illegal vet to dangerous creatures that can bite your head off. She works under a sweet fox monster named Nicolette who runs a clinic in the capitol.

 Relations: Trish Rhys (younger sister by one year)

 Soul trait: Kindness with underlay of perseverance.

 Personality

💚Hael is actually inspired by Newt Scamander from ‘Fantastic Beasts’ due to her vast knowledge over animals, both mundane and magical. She doesn’t really fit in with a crowd since she has no clue over to how to interact with a person without annoying them (in other words, she’s imbibed a whole other level of social awkwardness). The only human she can actually have a conversation with without upping and leaving is her younger sister, Trish.

 💚Hael usually keeps her calm in certain highly stressful situations unless her limits are tested sorely. She’s a little to the quiet side, keeping to herself; in fact, the only reason she ventures out of her house is to go to work, keep a lookout for any new animals so that she could ‘observe’ (conduct intensive research) or simply get some air.

 Trish: Why aren’t you panicking???

Hael: *Frowns* Should I be?

Trish: *points at the lion lounging before them* HELLOOO?! LION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET?!

Hael: Oh. Ain’t he the cutest >3<?

Trish: *slaps forehead*

 💚She’s working on a way to get people to understand the behaviors and mentalities of certain creatures, especially dragons. In fact, she usually houses any injured magical creatures (mostly the illegal ones), helps them recuperate while observing their activity and finally sets them free.

 💚She has an acute phobia for small, confined spaces and a deep seated hatred for shoes.

 💚If Hael has a crush on someone, she usually refers said person’s positive traits to her favorite animals.

 Hael: I-I wasn’t trying to be insulting or anything! I’m just saying that you’re a silent head.

Random person: I’m sorry…what?

Hael: The silent head of a Cerberus is usually the thinker…it’s the one that keeps the other heads in check whenever it’s facing a life and death situation.

Random person: …oh…

 Backstory: Hael and Trish were raised with love and care by their (intimidating) mother, a widow who lived in a village a few leagues away from the capitol. For the longest time, she usually spent her time in the pastures and fields, preferring the company of animals more than people while Trish socialized with all the other girls in the village.

 Trish ended up banding a group of girls called the ‘Rescue Hael from Imminent Danger’ or the RHID squad since Hael was always doing weird stuff that gets her into trouble.

 Due to her social awkwardness and strange behavior, she didn’t really have a lot of friends and was often the odd one out in plenty of gatherings and such. Due to this, she had a pretty lonely childhood which she quickly grew used to. Their mother worked in the fields ever since the death of their father from a mining accident to keep their family afloat. At the side, she also learnt some magic from a monster.

 After their mother’s death from a strange disease, Hael at the age of seventeen moved out of the village to research more magical creatures, Trish tagging along to keep her company. In the end, she settled down in the capitol and started working with a fox monster named Nicolette who ran the local clinic while Trish decided to work for a blacksmith.

 It was after she heard of the widespread hunting that she started harboring dragons and other dubbed ‘illegal’ or ‘dangerous’ creatures in the wood next to her house to heal and befriend them. Trish didn’t approve of the action, but she let her go and made sure no one was on her trail.

 Sometimes children approach her to heal their pets.

 Bleu: Do you think you can heal my baby dragon without telling anyone even though this is a serious offence?

Hael: *blinks* You can put him with the other baby dragons I’m illegally healing.

 While some kids usually approach her to reprimand her for her weirdness.

 Vaio: You’re covered in shit.

Hael: *Sincerely* Oh...that hurt my feelings. Can I have a hug?

 And other kids just hang out.

 Trish: Let’s go to the marketplace!

Hael: *proceeds to glue herself in a corner*

 Abilities: Hael dabbles in healing (green) magic and binding (purple) magic, though the latter isn’t as powerful. She usually uses it to restrain a particularly violent or volatile creature or patient during the healing process.

 ⚜

 PLEASE DO NOT COPY, TRACE OR STEAL MY ART!

[jocotheoddity]

   Half of the DND campaign I’m in is experienced, the other half isn’t. I’m one of the “isn’t” half, and have managed to keep my child alive. One of the experienced and the other two newbs have lost their original character of the campaign, and the only one who wasn’t actively trying to die was the fucking noob dwarf called Bush. Fucking Bush outlasted a DRAGONBORN and a bear. 

   We call the dwarf Bush because, in our first encounter, he chased some bad guys into the woods. He ran out of movement but could do a single action, so he yelled “I’m a bush!” and fell backward into a nearby bush. He kept this bush until we entered the town we were headed to, because they have a rule of “No outside shrubbery.” It was very sad.  In that first encounter, the only thing I managed to do was set loose the horse which then proceeded to kick ass.

   The Dragonborn was an experienced player, but he fucked around in an antique shop, threw potions at me, and got taken down by an old woman named Tina of unknown age. We love Tina, I bonded with her while the others were trying and failing to kick ass and she gave me candy and a kiss on the forehead. So, the dragonbitch goes to jail and is presumably killed. 

   Then, we go to this swamp town area and, with Bush in a storage hole the carriage, the bear above him sitting on the door near our best healer while the rest of us are talking to locals and shopping. At this point we’re overthrowing the government of the town Tina lives in, but healer doesn’t know that ‘cause he’s Lawful Good and the others are idiots who didn’t think to tell him the why. Bear tells healer the plan but not the why, they try to take off, get knocked in the water, and it ends with Bush having gotten stabbed (which punctured a lung) and nearly drowned, healer just cowering in the water because we’re on You Fucked Up Mode, and the dragonbitch’s replacement having poured WAX DOWN BEAR’S THROAT. Suffice to say we got healer on board with the plan, the locals got some nice bear fur, I got some bear meat, and we continued on with life. 

   THEN, for a trial, we have to find and stop a fucker who SET TINA’S STORE ON FIRE. So, I bring Bush with me into the store to save Tina, which we do. She’s fine, some locals end up helping her more than I could ever hope to. Bush gets the idea to search the sewers for the culprit. He finds rats. Large rats, normal-size rats, all of them diseased. He fails so many rolls that, by the end of the chase and murder of the perpetrator, his body has disintegrated because of all of the diseases shoved into it at once. His bones were claimed by healer to be used as a skele-slave, I absolutely annihilate the bad guy with the power of heaven and hell, we all head to a lake following Bear’s replacement, and we get sucked into a training dimension because we suck too much to take down a government. 

   In said training dimension, we get taken down immediately. Bush’s replacement shows up, gets knocked out too, and we all wake up in a pit with our money and magic stuff stolen. Except for the goddamn saddle I stole from a dead guy’s skeleton horse (it’s ok they were trying to kill us but we befriended the guy. I exploded the horse, and one of our players lost his head to the guy so it’s an even trade. Newly headless guy got a new pumpkin head). This saddle starts floating away, so I hop on and it heads on top of a fucking house, which then also starts moving. The gang all head into the house and get ambushed by a fucking weird worm thing (think SUF wormy boy), Bear replacement and Bush replacement (who is a halfling) getting swallowed. Bear replacement is dead. Halfling is not. I can tell the worm to do one-worded actions. It’s a mess.